TVK must ensure Governor’s address mentions about caste-survey: Anbumani

PMK chief Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday urged the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led government to ensure that the Governor mentions his intention to conduct a caste-based survey in his speech in the upcoming Budget session.

Speaking at a multi-party and community leaders meeting in Chennai on the need for a caste-based survey to maintain 69% reservation for OBCs, SCs and STs in Tamil Nadu, he said: “There are 141 communities in the Backward Classes category and 115 communities in the Most Backward Classes category. There are 76 communities and 36 communities within SCs and STs. When the Prime Minister came to my house, I told him that we can formulate plans only when we understand the situation of 8 million people. The Prime Minister also gave our opinion.” Reservation is just one part of social justice, but in Telangana the State government asked 74-75 questions – religion, caste, educational qualification, employment, agricultural land ownership….

He reminded that the AIADMK regime managed to amend the constitution in 1994 and made 69% reservation in the Ninth Schedule to provide legal protection.

“While courts generally cannot interfere with anything under the Ninth Schedule, the Supreme Court in 2010 raised the question of why Tamil Nadu alone has a 69% reservation when the reservation limit in all other States is 50%. They have stated that if a caste-based census is conducted in Tamil Nadu within a year and the data is submitted to the court, they will examine it and extend the reservation. We must conduct a caste-based census in our state, we will submit appropriate data to the court and present the 69% reservation.” “We will maintain our reservations,” he said.

A resolution passed in the meeting urged the State government to “conduct a Social Justice Survey in the form of caste-based census to maintain 69% protection in Tamil Nadu and implement social justice schemes for Backward, Most Backward, Minority, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008.”