S. Ramadoss
 |
S. Ramadoss is an Indian politician. He is the founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, an Indian political party.[3]
S Ramadoss | |
|---|---|
Founder of Pattali Makkal Katchi  | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 July 1939 Keezhsiviri, Villupuram, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Spouse(s) | Saraswathi |
| Children | Anbumani Ramadoss |
| Residence | Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Alma mater | Madras Medical College[1][2] |
| Occupation | politician |
Vanniyar reservation protest
In 1987, Ramadoss staged a road blockade by cutting down trees. The protestors demanded 20% reservation in Tamil Nadu government jobs for the Vanniyar community. Ramadoss-led protesters committed arson on settlements of Dalits in the South Arcot district to draw attention.[4]
Controversy
Threatening journalists
S Ramadoss is known for using unparliamentary language in press meets and public meetings. On June 2019 he stoked a controversy, saying that he would kill journalists who question him about hundreds of trees cut down by his party workers during his arrest by the J Jayalalithaa government. He said, "if we protest again we will not cut trees but hack down those who ask these questions, and throw their mangled bodies across the road."[5] He also called the journalists "dogs" and "Kammanati pasanga", a derogatory phrase used for 'son of widow'.[6][7]
Anti-Dalit campaign
Ramadoss is notorious for his anti-Dalit rhetoric and violence. On December 2012, Ramadoss initiated a controversial campaign to prevent Dalit men from marrying non-Dalit women, especially those women who belong to the Vanniyar community.[8] In Tamil Nadu, many political parties wanted legal action against him. In an event in 2010, he said, "Dalit men sporting jeans, t-shirts and fancy glasses lure our women into marriages that don't work." M. Karunanidhi asked the government of the state to "act against those stirring up a caste passion". The campaign provoked the 2012 Dharmapuri violence, where hundreds of Dalit houses were charred by arsonists.[9][10][11] Ramadoss strongly campaigned for raising women's legal age of marriage to 21 as he believes upper caste women in their late teenage are easy targets for Dalit men.[12] Ramadoss convened a meeting with leaders representing intermediate castes to crusade against SC/ST Act, a law that criminalizes caste discrimination, alleging that Dalits misuse the law and register false cases to settle personal scores.[13] In 2013, he was arrested for inciting caste riots. Jayalalitha blamed PMK and Vanniyar Sangam for the 2013 Marakkanam violence. Following his arrest, PMK organised a statewide violent protest that resulted in the injury of several people and losses to public property.[14][15] VCK accused PMK of murdering two Dalit youths in Arrakonam in April 2021.[16]
Notes
- ↑ "Ramadoss, MMC '60 class recall medico days". Meera Vankipuram. The Times of India. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ↑ "Quiet Ramadoss joining politics was big surprise: College alumni". Deccan Chronicle. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ↑ "From a sectarian leader, Ramadoss has come a long way". Rediff.com. 30 August 1999. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
- ↑ Venkatramani, S. H. (15 October 1987). "Agitation by backward Vanniyar community rocks Tamil Nadu". India Today. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ↑ "'Will cut journalists who suggest I'm a tree-cutter': S Ramadoss". The Federal. 24 June 2019.
- ↑ "Tamil Nadu: Viral video shows Ramadoss threatening to hack journalists". The Week. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ↑ "Ramadoss threatens journalist who questioned him on tree felling". The Hindu. 23 June 2019. ISSN 0971-751X.
- ↑ "On the heels of another murder, PMK rakes up 'fake love' again". thefederal.com. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ↑ "PMK chief's anti-Dalit campaign sparks outrage". NDTV.com. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ↑ Kolappan, B. (2 December 2012). "Ramadoss consolidates intermediate caste groups against Dalits". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ↑ Ravishankar, Sandhya. "Who's who in Tamil Nadu elections: S Ramadoss". Scroll.in. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ↑ "'Marriage age for women should be made 21'". The Times of India. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ↑ Kolappan, B. (2 December 2012). "Ramadoss consolidates intermediate caste groups against Dalits". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ↑ "PMK leader S Ramadoss comes out of jail on bail, slams J Jayalalithaa government for his arrest".
- ↑ "CM holds PMK, Vanniyar Sangam responsible for Marakkanam riots". The Hindu. 29 April 2013.
- ↑ "Two youngsters stabbed to death in clash at Arakkonam in TN, VCK blames PMK for murders - the New Indian Express".
References
- Bhūẏām̐, Dāśarathi (2007). Role of Regional Political Parties in India. ISBN 9788183241915.
- Wyatt, Andrew (2009). Party System Change in South India: Political Entrepreneurs, Patterns and Processes. Routledge. ISBN 9780203862209.