Meenakshipuram has turned into a forest fire engulfing the entire Tamil Nadu, if not the country. An Indian Express report says the Government of India appears to be very much worried about this fast-spreading epidemic that is sweeping the South. Reports of conversion are coming from Kanpur and Gujarat also.
While every conscious Dalit should be happy about these developments – the revolt of the Dalits -they should be equally concerned about its consequences. As we have hinted in our previous issue, our fears about the prospects of a communal riot rocking TN are expressed by both Muslims and Dalits.
Since then, we had reports of a clash in Wandiwash in TN. Our information is that a big preparation is going on. Communal and political interests are out to exploit the present situation and see that TN is seized from the hands of Periyar’s followers who have been ruling the country’s most progressive State. This is the one State in India where the RSS is weakest. The trick it always adopts to gain a foothold is to start a communal riot and then pitch its tent. This is what it did in Kerala, where it has gained sufficient following.
CPM – RSS clashes are a daily feature there. Over 100 have been killed so far. It wants to repeat the same thing In TN by starting a series of clashes, if possible, between the SCs and Muslims themselves. If this is the game of the communalists, anti-Periyar political leaders are wanting to seize TN by raising the bogey of law and order and proving that the lives of the SCs and Muslims are not safe under MGR’s ADMK Government. The very same political and communal forces are collaborating in Kerala and the same pattern will be repeated in TN – at the cost of much bloodshed of the poorest of the poor.
Unfortunately, our CPM-CPI comrades have not till now opened their mouth on the TN conversions. Perhaps, they are also welcoming the bid to oust Periyar’s followers and restoration of the Brahmin rule in TN. Therefore, once again we call upon all progressive forces led by the DK, DMK, Left forces, Dalits, Muslims and Christians to frustrate the game of this unholy communal-political axis and keep alive the torch of Periyar EVR in TN.
Fascist clouds are gathering over TN. Dalits must not only revolt but also give no room for fascists.
