TVK, DMK trade fierce barbs in assembly over social justice and Dalit empowerment
The Tamil Nadu Assembly saw a heated argument on Thursday between the ruling TVK party and the opposition DMK. The main topic of discussion was how well both parties have actually supported Dalit rights and social justice.
TVK Minister Aadhav Arjuna questioned the DMK’s past actions. He asked why the DMK stayed in an alliance with the BJP between 1994 and 2003, especially after the 2002 Gujarat riots. He also pointed out that crimes against Scheduled Castes went up by 67% in Tamil Nadu between 2019 and 2023 under the previous DMK government. Citing official audit reports about unspent welfare money, Arjuna said that true Dalit empowerment means giving people real authority, not just basic housing and water.
The DMK strongly defended its record. DMK leader K.N. Nehru explained that leaving 6% to 7% of budget funds unspent is completely normal for any government and happens all the time in official audit reports. Another DMK leader, Govi Chezhiaan, reminded the Assembly that former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi built concrete houses for Dalits and passed laws allowing people from all castes to become temple priests. When asked why the priest scheme was delayed, former Minister P.K. Sekar Babu explained that 32 people were given jobs before the court put a hold on the process. The DMK also added that they couldn't run a state caste survey because of Supreme Court restrictions.
The argument grew more intense when Minister A. Rajmohan brought up an old statement by a DMK leader who had called Dalit appointments to judgeships "alms" from the Dravidian movement, though DMK members pointed out that the leader was reprimanded for that comment. Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu also criticized the DMK for never sharing cabinet power with its ally VCK in the past, unlike the current TVK government. He added that mocking the TVK as a "sofa model government" felt like dominant groups making fun of Dalits for buying nice clothes or cars.
Seeing the long debate, DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakant asked the Speaker to bring the focus back to public problems, saying the Assembly should be a place to solve people's issues rather than fight over politics.
