After taking up larger pan-India, pan-Tamil issues such as State rights, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi appears to be pivoting towards issues surrounding its primary support base — Adi Dravidars and Paraiyars — in politics and other spheres in Tamil Nadu.
The idea was put forward at a recent webinar on Rettaimalai Srinivasan, conducted by the party and presided over by its leader Thol. Thirumavalavan. The party’s general secretary and Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar was part of the webinar.
Expanding on the principle, in an interview with The Hindu, Mr. Ravikumar demanded that around 60 castes that come under the Scheduled Caste list in Tamil Nadu (barring the Devendrakula Vellalars and Arundhathiyars) be identified as ‘Adi Dravidars’.
“According to the 2011 census, there are 76 castes in SC list. Out of these, 2 castes have no members; 14 have already separated – 7 identify…