Puthiya Tamilagam leader K Krishnasamy today said the Centre should consider their demand of exclusion of 'Devendrakula Vellalar' from the Scheduled Caste category, as the party has grown manifold in southern parts of Tamil Nadu.
"Two years back, a small group of our community from Madurai met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But now we have grown strong in south Tamil Nadu and have become the most popular political party," he said.
In 2015, the Dalit party had met Modi seeking exclusion of their community from Scheduled Caste and including it in Other Backward Class category.
A demand to commonly name all their seven sub-castes - Pallar, Kudumbar, Pannadi, Kaalaadi, Kadayar, Devendrakulatar and Vadhiriyaar - all spread across southern part of Tamil Nadu, as 'Devendrakula Vellalars' was also put forth.
Krishnasamy, who belongs to Kudumbar sub-caste, said, "We are wrongly included in the Scheduled Caste. As a result, we have undergone hardships because of the stigma associated with it. We are not allowed to mingle with the majority community".
The Dalit leader said the central government should consider their demand seriously this time, and that a memorandum would be submitted to the prime minister soon.
Puthiya Tamilagam party leaders along with members of Devendrakula Vellalar community also took out a 'Pride March' in the national capital today to escalate their demand.
JD(U) national general secretary Akhilesh Katiyar also took part in the march and said his party would support the cause.
"In the coming months, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Patidar leader Hardik Patel will join the convention to be organised by Puthiya Tamilagam," he said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
