CHENNAI: Two days after the ‘honour killing’ of 27-year-old software engineer Kavin Selva Ganesh, belonging to a SC community, by a youth from the intermediate ‘Maravar’ community in Tirunelveli, most leaders of major political parties in the state were belated, subdued or silent in reacting to the brutal murder.
Only VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan, NTK chief coordinator Seeman and Puthiya Tamilagam president K Krishnasamy reacted on Monday when the news of the murder that happened on Sunday broke. Thirumavalavan and Seeman demanded separate legislation to tackle ‘honour killings’, while Krishnasamy announced a protest on Thursday.
Thirumavalavan expressed concern about repeated instances of such caste-based atrocities in southern districts. He spoke to Kavin’s father over phone to express condolences. CPM issued a statement on Tuesday evening, demanding a separate legislation.
Importantly, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, who is on a whirlwind tour to expose alleged failures of the DMK government especially on the law and order front, reacted swiftly on social media platform X regarding the shooting of an 18-year-old offender in self-defence by a cop in the same Tirunelveli district on Tuesday. However, he did not comment on the murder even while talking to the media in Tiruchy later on Tuesday. His relatively subdued reaction, through a post on X, came only after 10 pm on Tuesday.
He said ‘honour killings’ and caste clashes were recurring under the DMK rule. Stating that he was saddened by the murder of Kavin, EPS condemned the government, citing reports that tension prevailed in the region following the incident and complaints that the police were acting in a “partisan” manner. He, however, did not explicitly mention who the police were biased towards.
BJP state president and Tirunelveli MLA Nainar Nagenthran was silent, although he attacked the DMK on Tuesday regarding reports of sexual assaults on four girls in Krishnagiri in the past one week.
TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai, whose account on X had around 25 posts since Monday, posted against the murder only at 6 pm on Tuesday, expressing his strong condemnation.
MNM president Kamal Haasan posted against the murder around 7 pm. PMK issued five statements since Monday on various issues. However, neither its founder S Ramadoss nor his son Anbumani, condemned the murder.
TVK president Vijay, who issued a statement on Monday evening, blaming the DMK and the BJP for being in a tacit alliance, did not comment on the murder. However, party’s general secretary for election campaign management Aadhav Arjuna reacted on Tuesday evening, demanding a special law against ‘honour killings’. Leaders in DMK’s alliance, including MDMK general secretary Vaiko, CPI state secretary R Mutharasan, MMK president M H Jawahirullah and IUML president K M Kader Mohideen, did not react until 11 pm.
The ruling DMK was silent as well. CM M K Stalin, in separate messages on X since Monday, criticised the harassment of Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh and hailed DMK’s legal intervention that ensured medical seats for OBC students across India. The CM issued a statement two days after the caste-motivated attack on a schoolboy in Nanguneri in 2023.
Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi and social welfare minister Geetha Jevan also did not react, although the latter posted on X about DMK’s campaign.
