CHENNAI: Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Wednesday accused the CPM leaders in the State of instigating the people of Uthapuram to create trouble in that village where both Dalits and Vellala community people were living in peace.
"After the State government's efforts to resolve the issues in Uthapuram a few months ago, the people of that village live in peace now. But the frontline leaders of the CPM cannot digest this peaceful existence and has been attempting to create trouble by instigating the people once in a month'', the Chief Minister said writing for DMK mouthpiece Murasoli. He also charged that the CPM was deliberately acting in this manner to malign the image of the DMK government.
"Though the demand for removal of the controversial wall in the middle of Uthapuram has been there since the 1980s, the previous AIADMK regime or the communists did not take any step to remove it. It was the DMK government that had removed the wall'', the Chief Minister said and recalled that election of Dalits as leaders in four villages - Pappapatti, Keeripatti, Nattarmangalam and Kottakkatchyendhal in Madurai and Virudhunagar districts where elections could not be held for many years became possible only by the DMK government.
The DMK chief said on the day when the CPM leaders staged a demonstration, the panchayat president of Uthapuram and some other leaders had issued a statement the people of that village were living peacefully and that certain political parties were "using" that village for gaining political mileage. They also said that the district administration had provided better infrastructure facilities.
When the government came to know in 2008 that there were issues in Uthapuram, all efforts were taken to resolve them and the wall which was demolished. Also, developmental works were carried out in the village at a cost of Rs.1.12 crore.
After the demolition of the wall, members of Vellala community went away in protest and stayed at Thazhaiyuthu hills. Madurai District Collector and District SP had held many rounds of talks with Dalits and Vellala community people. Only at this juncture, CPM leaders including T K Rangarajan and others staged a demonstration in front of the Madurai District Collectorate pressing for various demands including permission for Dalits to offer worship at the peepul tree in Muthalamman temple at Uthapuram and remove the encroachments of members of Vellala community near the temple.
During the talks with the agitating leaders, Madurai District Collector had pointed out that he had assumed office very recently and that he would take a decision on the demands of the CPM after visiting Uthapuram. It was clarified that allowing Dalits to offer worship to the peepul tree before ensuring cordial relationship between the communities would only pave way for law and order problems. Besides, it was also intimated that steps would be taken to remove the encroachments.
However, the CPM leaders demanded that the assurances be given in writing and started staging dharna. As the agitators laid down on the road, the police had to remove them forcibly from the place. Despite many objections raised by the government departments for the release of the arrested CPM leaders, he had directed the authorities to release them on the same day.