Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala visited the Ambedkar colony at Gopalapuram where Dalit residents alleged that a section of Hindus in the neighbourhood were practising untouchability. He extended solidarity with their ongoing struggle demanding equal treatment.
He said the continuing untouchability against the Tamil-speaking Dalit colony was a shame and the residents owed an explanation from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. He demanded registering of criminal case against local CPI(M) MLA K. Babu for portraying the colony as a pack of drunkards.
‘‘I am wondering what had happened to the Scheduled Caste commission and various government bodies meant for Dalit welfare. The refusal of SC/ST Welfare Minister A.K. Balan to visit the colony is also disturbing,’’ he alleged.
The UDF was considering it as a social issue and not aiming at making any political mileage out of it, he said.