Periyar followers hold rally, warn actor Rajini not to insult protestors

Coimbatore: The Federation of Followers of Periyar on Sunday took out a ‘Blue Shirt’ rally from Anna Statue junction to Government Women Polytechnic College junction on Dr Balasundaram Road and passed a resolution against actor Rajinikanth, condemning him for his recent statement belittling people’s protest for various causes. It warned the actor to stop insulting the protestors. More than 2000 people participated in the rally. It has decided to conduct a state-wide protest and burn manu dharma books on May 21.
The federation also held a public meeting on abolition of caste. Addressing the gathering, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan said the people who were speaking about Tamil Desiyam were not ready to accept intercaste marriage. “Those involve in honour killing would have a Hindutva or Sangh Parivar background. So, we have to be careful of them. Ambedkarists, Periyarists and leftists should not allow Hindutva forces to set their foot in Tamil Nadu.”
Dravidar Kazhagam leader K Veeramani, meanwhile, presided over two intercaste marriages on the stage. He said it was the government’s duty to treat everyone equally and abolish the caste system. “The caste system should be eradicated from the country and the government should take initiative in this regard. In New Delhi, one person opened fire at anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protestors while police remained mute spectators. The country is ruled by the people who believe in Manusmṛiti and they are trying to divide the people. So, we are ready to sacrifice our lives to protest this,” he said.
On his part, May 17 Movement coordinator Thirumurugan Gandhi said the CAA was not only against Muslims. “If we are not standing with the Muslims, in future the act will affect us all. The Union government is working against the general public in matters related to education, employment and reservation. So, we have to unite and fight.”