DMK chief diluted reservation quota for SCs, says Dalit leader

Chennai:

The then DMK government under Chief Minister M Karunanidhi diluted the reservation quota for Scheduled Castes in the state without getting the approval of the parliament, according to scheduled caste community leaders.

Dr Nagore Kani, founder of Scheduled Caste Reservation Protection Movement told Express that Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has provided three per cent quota to the Arundhatiyars in the 18 per cent reservation for scheduled castes and diluted the quota system.

Not only that, Government Orders 50, 61 and 65 were also passed recognizing the 3 per cent quota for scheduled caste arunthathiyar (SCA), said Kani.

He said that only the President of India has the power to bring in amendments in the act. “On one hand, only six per cent of the 18 per cent reservation quota for dalits is implemented and now with another three per cent taken over unconstitutionally, the dalit population has only three per cent reservation,” rued Kani.

Highlighting that the previous DMK government did this to get the votes of Arunthathiyars, he said the whole issue has resulted in dalit community fighting among themselves to get back the three per cent reservations rather than for the alleged non-implementation of 12 per cent of the quota.

He said the new outfit would work towards creating awareness among the dalit population in this regard.