San Francisco Frontiers - Omitted Social Justice Figures Trigger Dispute Over Tamil Nadu Policy Note

Tamil Nadu’s latest policy note for the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department has omitted historical references to Thanthai Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and the Justice Party, generating a political dispute over the C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamiliga Vettri Kazhagam government’s presentation of social justice history.

The 2024 document, tabled under the previous DMK administration, described Periyar’s role in the 1951 agitation after the Supreme Court struck down the Communal Government Order. It connected that campaign with the First Constitutional Amendment, advanced when Nehru was prime minister and Ambedkar was law minister.

That amendment added Article 15(4), authorizing states to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes. The new policy note, presented in the Assembly on Thursday, does not include the section. Material describing the Justice Party’s contribution to Tamil Nadu’s social justice movement is also absent.

The changes drew particular attention because the TVK government has repeatedly used Periyar’s phrase “Ellarkkum Ellam,” or “Everything for Everyone,” to describe its social justice commitments. Responding to debate on departmental grant demands Friday, Minister V. Sampath Kumar said Periyar’s central principle formed the foundation of the government.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi general secretary Sinthanai Selvan asked Chief Minister Vijay to intervene. Selvan shared an image of the material removed from the current policy note, helping propel the subject into a broader political discussion.

Rather than directly accuse elected leaders, Selvan attributed the omissions to civil servants. He sought an apology from the Chief Secretary and the department secretary for altering the historical discussion.

The controversy emerged amid separate criticism of senior officials from figures within the governing alliance. Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu alleged in an interview that many bureaucrats and police officers held right-wing views and followed Manusmriti instead of the Constitution. His comments echoed earlier statements by VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan.

Political parties had also objected to a recent bureaucratic circular about monitoring students involved in left movements and collecting information on members of left-wing parties. CPM State secretary P. Shanmugam and CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian blamed Chief Secretary Sai Kumar and demanded action.

The government had not publicly explained why the names and Justice Party material included in the 2024 note disappeared from the 2026-27 version. Until it does, the omission is likely to remain a test of how the administration reconciles its stated commitment to social justice with its official account of the movement’s history.

W.Carter--SFF