In a blistering attack on the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss accused Chief Minister MK Stalin of "burying social justice" by refusing to carry out a caste-wise survey in Tamil Nadu. Speaking at a massive rally in Chennai on Wednesday, Ramadoss argued that the state has the full legal authority to conduct such an exercise but is intentionally stalling through a series of "lies."
According to the PMK leader, the Chief Minister is hiding behind three false claims: that only the Centre can handle it, that the courts will strike it down, and that the state lacks the necessary legal powers. Ramadoss was quick to draw a distinction between a national census and a state-level survey. While the Centre manages the census, he pointed out that states like Bihar, Karnataka, and Telangana have already proven that state-led surveys are legally sound and practically possible. He even cited recent Karnataka High Court orders to back his claim that the state's hands are not tied.
The push for updated data isn’t just about numbers; Ramadoss framed it as the only way to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s 69 percent reservation policy. He highlighted deep internal imbalances, noting that within the 76 Scheduled Caste sub-groups, a mere handful of communities grab nearly 90 percent of the benefits, leaving 68 others in the dark. He argued that a survey would allow for the kind of targeted welfare seen in Bihar, where data helped identify nearly 94 lakh families living on less than ₹6,000 a month.
Ramadoss didn't mince words when calling out what he sees as political hypocrisy. He mocked the ruling party for its ability to meticulously track voter data by caste during elections while claiming it's too difficult to do the same for education and jobs. He estimated that with about ₹500 crore and one month of work, the state could gather data that would drive progress for the next 50 years.
The rally saw a rare display of cross-party support, with leaders from the BJP, AMMK, and Naam Tamilar Katchi joining the PMK on stage. Ramadoss ended with a stark warning to Stalin, stating that "history will not forgive" a leader who blocks an exercise essential for the upliftment of the state's most marginalised communities.
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