Table of Contents
The News
- Last month the TN CM MK Stalin cleared the implementation of 10.5 per cent reservation for the Vanniyar community in admissions and government jobs.
- This month he announced construction of a memorial in Villupuram for those killed in police firing during an agitation to demand separate quota for the community in 1987.
- Note: Mk Stalin in made a promise during the Vikravandi by-election in 2019 that DMK will construct a memorial for vanniyar community. The government now will be spending Rs 4 crore for this memorial construction.
Who are Vanniyars?
- Vanniyar or Vanniya are a community found in the northern part of Tamil Nadu mainly concentrated in Chengalpattu, Vellore, Thiruvanamalai, Villupuram, Dharmapuri & Salem.
- Vanniyars are considered as one of the largest and most consolidated backward communities in Tamil Nadu. Vanniyars form around 25% population of Tamil Nadu.
Vanniyar Movement
- Vanniyars consolidated themselves in 1980s and raised massive protests in the mid-1980s demanding 20% reservation in the state, and 2% in central services.
- Their movement was backed by the Justice Party as well as the Self-Respect Movement. Organised protests began with the formation of Vanniyar Sangam, headed by S Ramadoss who later founded the political party PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi).
- Apparently in 1986 activists sent hundreds of letters and telegrams to then CM M G Ramachandran. There was no response from MGR and the then Rajiv Gandhi government.
- The protesters started demonstrations in community strongholds, then went on to blockading rail and road traffic. In May 1986 movement brought traffic in the entire state to a halt, and thousands were arrested.
The Tragedy
- The Vanniyars had declared an agitation from September 17 to 23, 1987, which turned violent.
- Around 21 protesters were killed, mostly in police firing and clashes with members of other Scheduled Caste communities.
- This incident shook the entire state establishment. No immediate solution emerged. CM MGR died three months later in December 1987, leaving the question of reservation of vanniyars open.
Reservation & Politics
- In 1989, DMK came to power. The government headed by M Karunanidhi announced the reservation for Vanniyars.
- The OBC quota was split into two:
- Backward Castes
- Most Backward Castes
- The Vanniyars were categorised among the MBCs with 107 other communities with 20% reservation.
Reservation & Politics now…!!!
- In 2021, on February 27, just hours before the model code of conduct kicked in ahead of the elections, the then AIADMK government headed by E Palaniswami pushed through the 10.5 per cent quota Bill for the Vanniyar community in the legislative assembly.
- Clearly, E Palaniswami’s move was appease Vanniyars ahead of the 2021 polls.
- This move was heavily criticised later by the AIADMK camp led by O Panneerselvam, who belongs to another powerful backward community, Thevars.
- The rival group claimed that the pro-Vanniyar announcement not only failed to help AIADMK in the polls but also turned other backward communities against the government.
Reservation & Politics now…!!!
- The reservation for Vanniyars has been a long-standing demand of the Pattali Makkal Katchi for 20 per cent quota in government jobs and education for the community members.
- The reservation is based on the argument that their community accounts for 25 per cent of the state population but got about 8 per cent representation in the reservation system.
Reservation & Politics now…!!!
Reservation & Politics now…!!!
- The new DMK government after coming to power have endorsed the previous AIADMK government’s decision to give exclusive 10.5% reservation to vanniyars.
- Now, the DMK government has allocated 4cr for construction of Vanniyar Memorial in villupuram in memory of 1987 tradegy.
- These are being seen as strategic moves by the DMK mainly to redcue the clout of PMK which is an ally of AIADMK.
The Big Question
- Will DMK gain from this politics of Vanniyar reservation?
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