Dalit outfit snaps ties with AIADMK

Chennai, Oct 7: Dalit outfit Puthiya Tamizhagam today (Oct 7) announced snapping its ties with the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu saying there was no 'visible change' in the party leadership's 'attitude' towards Dalit community.

Citing the recent Paramakudi police firing in which seven persons were killed during a protest by Dalits, party founder Dr K Krishnasamy alleged Chief Minister Jayalalithaa not even expressed sympathies with the victims and instead "tried to shield the police officers," responsible for opening fire on the protestors.

"While many atrocities were unleashed against the Dalits during the 1991-96 AIADMK rule including incidents of police firing, we were hopeful of a change in the party high command's attitude towards Dalits. But we were proved wrong following the Parmakudi firing incident," he told reporters.

The party, which forged an alliance with AIADMK for the April 13 Assembly polls, has two MLAs including Krishnasamy. While many including his party had demanded suspension of "erring" police officials responsible for the firing incident that occurred on Dalit leader Immanuel Sekaran's death anniversary on September 11, no action was taken, he said adding "we don't have faith," in the juicial probe ordered by the state government into the incident. He said his party would not support the AIADMK in the October 13 Tiruchirappalli (West) assembly by-election.

PTI