CPI(ML)'s Tamilnadu State Committee organized a Convention in Madurai on 9 December 2008, on the issue of protecting democratic rights of Dalits. Tamilnadu witnessed several caste clashes in the last two months. A fact-finding team under the leadership of Com Balasundram, State Secretary, and including advocates and students, met the people of the affected areas of Elumalai, E Kottapatty and Uthapuram. A report was produced based on the major findings of the visit and it was released in the convention at Madurai.
A separating wall was erected between the Dalit and non-Dalit areas in Uthapuram village in Madurai district. Dalits there were attacked as they protested against the maintenance work of the caste wall. The fact-finding team found that the police at Uthapuram had sided with upper caste goons. Holding the government and political parties to blame, the team demanded that action be taken against the police and revenue officials.
The dalits' demands included removal of the encroachment in the common path (that is, demolition of the caste wall), restoring worshiping rights of the dalits (that is demolition of another caste wall built around the worshipping area and removal of encroachment on the banks of the Kanmoy-Water Body), construction of a Bus Shelter and so on. Instead of meeting these straightforward demands and implementing the law, the Government was conducting peace committee meetings. When the government was forced to concede the demands eventually, the local casteist group attacked a convoy of Dr. Krishnasamy (Leader of Puthiya Tamilagam) and initiated a fresh round of clashes and attacks in and around Madurai district. Dalits were attacked in many villages and police killed a youth in E Kottaipatti in an attempt to suppress the voice of Dalits. The latest assault was the well-planned attack on dalit students of Dr. Ambedkar Law College of Chennai, aimed at sparking off a fresh round of castiest frenzy.
The report was released by Comrade Gundumalai and received by Comrade Thangapandiyan, editor of Puthiya Poraali (New Fighter or Militant) magazine. Comrade Mathivanan, who presided over the convention, briefly narrated the major findings. Comrades Sankara Pandiyan, Bharathi and Usha (State Committee members) addressed the gathering. Comrades Bhagat Singh (Advocate), and Vaiyavan (Tamilaga Manavar Munnani (Tamil Nadu Students Front) also spoke on the rights of dalits. Comrade Balasundaram, state secretary asserted that protecting the rights of dalits is an integral part of democratic struggles.
The convention demanded that the rights of dalits over land and livelihood should be protected and the dignity of dalits should be maintained, the notorious elements behind the attack should be arrested, and erring civil and police officials should be suspended or transferred and action against certain officials be taken under the PCR act. The convention also demanded that the government should stop sponsoring 'Thevar Jayanthi' (‘Birthday of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar’) as the annual event is being used by reactionary forces to instigate caste frenzy.
More than 200 rural poor mostly women and agriculture workers participated in the convention.
