Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi. File
| Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj
Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Friday citing National Crime Records Bureau data said Tamil Nadu has seen a 40% increase in crimes against Dalits over the last three years. He claimed despite political parties speaking all the time about social justice, Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is either being used as a slogan or invoked to project oneself as a “champion of social justice”.
Participating in the 69th memorial day of B.R. Ambedkar observed as Mahaparinirvan Diwas at Raj Bhavan in Chennai, Mr Ravi said “When it comes to delivering justice to victims of crimes, where are we? There has been a sharp decline in conviction of those who have committed crimes against Dalits. The most heinous crime…is the rape of the Dalit woman. In our state, the rate of conviction in cases of a Dalit woman is less than half of national average. This is disturbing and not acceptable.” he said.
“I get complaints that a Dalit person who has been elected as panchayat president is not allowed to assume office (duties). Are we following Babasaheb’s ideals of social justice?,” he asked.
He added that the Indian Constitution was a ‘beautiful document…a most remarkable blend of strength and resilience’.
“Equality of all human beings was something that was dear to his heart. The constitution carries a dream…a goal where the country must reach, encapsulated in the preamble of the constitution. It also talks about Justice – social, economic and political. Today, some people believe that social justice is a franchise of that political organisation. No, it is fundamental principle of Constitution,” he said.
He said Ambedkar ‘remains grossly under appreciated leader of the country’.
“He ought to have been celebrated all through as the most revered leader of this country. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. He was a man of principles. Dr. Ambedkar resigned in protest against why women were not being given equal rights. There were obscurantist forces who were not agreeable at that time and he resigned. But some decades later, a woman goes to Supreme Court seeking relief because her husband had divorced her without giving any compensation, and SC gives her compensation, and we had a leader, who went to parliament, made a law negating the SC order, denying equal rights to women. Look at the contrast,” he said.
Ilamurugu Muthu, president, Ambedkar Makkal Iyakkam, appreciated Governor Ravi for turning ‘Raj Bhavan’ into ‘Makkal Bhavan’.
“All great leaders – Chief Ministers – take oath here. This is a historical place. Our Ambedkar people movement was founded in 1977 in front of then Governor Prabhudas Patwari and today, in 2024, after 47 years, we had a great opportunity with the Honourable Governor. There have been many governors in Tamil Nadu, but present Governor is special. Raj Bhavan was open only to ‘big’ people, but he has turned it into ‘People’s Bhavan’. This is the first time I am here at Raj Bhavan. Not only me, how many in the audience have visited Raj Bhavan? I express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the Governor for recognising our movement,” he said.
Former Principal Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, retired IAS V. Varaprasad Rao, also spoke at the event.
Published – December 07, 2024 12:59 am IST