DMK functionaries 'force' Dalit presidents to fall in line

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Madurai, Feb 22 (UNI) Presidents of the three controversial reserved panchayats, Pappapatti, Keeripatti and Nattarmangalam, who threatened to quit in the wake of the District Collector's transfer, were today 'persuaded' by DMK functionaries to retract their stand.

Escorted by DMK leaders, they were twice brought to the Collector's residence, around noon and in the evening.

This evening, they were brought there in vehicles by DMK MLA and Madurai (Rural) District Secretary P Murthy, along with party Chellampatti Union Secretary Ukkirapandi, Usilampatti Municipal Chairman O S R Thangapandian and some other DMK functionaries.

The three, Peria Karuppan (Pappapatti), M Balusamy (Keeripatti) and K Ganesan (Nattarmangalam), were kept in 'safe custody' at a hotel in the city, along with their vice-presidents. Elected to office after a decade of poll boycott by the dominant castes, the three planned to proceed to Chennai this evening to press for stalling the transfer of T Udhayachandran to Erode.

The drama ended with the new collector Dr Karthikeyan giving an assurance to the presidents. DMK leaders were present at the meeting.

Emerging from the meeting, Mr Ganesan and others said they had retracted their stand following an assurance that the administration would not slacken developmental work. Even as they were talking to media, Mr Murthy raised his voice, asking them to join him.

The CPI(M), which supported Mr Balusamy from the day he filed nominations, was conspicuous by its absence. CPI(M) MP P Mohan called upon the government to allow Mr Udhayachandran, instrumental in holding elections to the three panchayats, to continue as Collector.

Yesterday, all three expressed fear on their safety and security and whether the transfer would hamper the pace of development work taken up after a gap of ten years. They queried the bonafide of the transfer, alleging it was due to political interference.

Earlier, Mr Murthy and other DMK men rushed to the panchayats, 'brought' them here and then to the Collector's residence. When contacted over phone prior to the meeting with the Collector, the presidents, from their hotel, confided that they were being forced not to resign. They admitted they had little option left.

Meanwhile, police foiled attempts to hold a demonstration at Usilampatti, protesting the transfer. A large police posse was deployed in Usilampatti, contiguous to the three panchayats. A group of people from Pappapatti, proceeding to the city for a protest, were detained at Valandur.

UNI

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