By IANS,
Chennai : PMK founder S. Ramadoss, whose party has broken with Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK-led alliance, Saturday lashed out at Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, alleging that the DMK was trying to win over its legislators.
“The DMK government is insecure due to its minority status and is attempting to lure our MLAs (legislators),” Ramadoss said at a rally in neighbouring Villupuram district.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) June 17 broke its relationship with the PMK after Karunanidhi alleged that it repeatedly assailed the DMK “in a woundingly insulting manner”.
In separate rallies Saturday, Ramadoss alleged that the government was spreading a “liquor culture” in the state by increasing the number of vends and also called for immediately eschewing the untouchability practised against Dalit Christians.
Addressing a meeting attended by Dalit leader and VCK boss Thol Thirumavalavan, Ramadoss spoke vehemently against the continuing practice of untouchability against the Scheduled Castes who had converted to Christianity.
“Untouchability is an abomination and does not fit into our society at all. It is imperative that all of us work towards its extinction. In this connection, the government should include Dalit Christian converts in the Scheduled Castes’ lists without delay,” Ramadoss said at another meeting in the same district.
Though PMK was edged out of the DPA, it continues in the United Progressive Alliance coalition – of which the DMK is also a part – in New Delhi. Anbumoni Ramadoss, the PMK founder’s son, is the union health minister.