Date:04/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/04/stories/2007100458040300.htm

Tamil Nadu

CPI (M) rally against untouchability

Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI: Volunteers of Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a demonstration in front of the Revenue Divisional Office here on Tuesday, urging the district administration to check the practice of untouchability in certain parts of the district.

The agitation was led by party district executive member P. Shanmugam. They alleged that Dalits were denied entry into a temple in Idaiyathur village in Ponnamaravathy block. Dalits were being discriminated against in a few other villages in the district, they said.

District secretary M. Chinnadurai, State executive member A. Lazar and CPI district secretary S. P. Muthukumaran spoke. They demanded stern action by police, revenue and other officials to check the humiliation of Dalits.

They also wanted reconstitution of the district-level monitoring committee for eradication of untouchability.