Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Explained

Party Name:Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
Chairman:Thol. Thirumavalavan
Political Position:Syncretic[1]
State Seats Name:Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
State Seats:[2]
Foundation:1982
Alliance:
Ideology:Tamil nationalism
Ambedkarism
Social Justice
Secularism
Split:Dalit Panthers[3]
Eci:State Party[4]
Abbreviation:VCK
Founder:M. Malalchami, D. Amukurajah
General Secretary:D. Ravikumar
Colours: Blue
Red

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (; VCK), formerly known as the Dalit Panthers of India or the Dalit Panthers Iyyakkam (; DPI), is an Indian social movement and political party that seeks to combat caste based discrimination, active in the state of Tamil Nadu.[5] The party also has a strong emphasis on Tamil nationalism.[6] [7] Its chairman is Thol. Thirumavalavan, a lawyer from Chennai, and its general secretary is the writer Ravikumar.[8] [9] [10]

History

The Dalit Panthers Iyyakkam was formed in 1982 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.[11] The group was found to seek protection of Dalits from caste-related violence.[12] Founded by a group of disaffected Dalits under the leadership of M. Malalchami, it emerged as a loosely organised group of local activists seeking assistance and protection through the association of a larger movement. The movement was inspired by the Dalit Panthers of India, a social movement which itself had formed earlier in the 1970s in Maharashtra which itself was inspired by the Black Panther Party, a socialist movement that sought to combat racial discrimination in the United States.[13] [14]

In 1989, after the death of the founder of Dalit Panthers of India (DPI), Thirumavalavan became its leader. In the 1990s the party grew by highlighting discrimination and caste-based violence. In 1999, VCK contested elections for the first time.

VCK was allotted different election symbols in every election. In 2014, Madras HC ordered the Election Commission of India to consider VCK's request for star as their election symbol.[15]

Party principles

The main aim of the party is to abolish the differences among Tamil people and to lift up the socio-economically weaker sections of society. The party supported the freedom movement of Tamil people in Tamil Eelam, as well as the security of Tamil people living abroad. The party also declared that Mahinda Rajapaksa should be charged with war crimes for the alleged assassination of thousands of innocent Tamil people during war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. In the Parliament of India in May 2012, Thirumavalavan joined other leaders and raised issue of the Ambedkar cartoon, sparking a controversy in Parliament.[16] [17]

Ahead of the 2016 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Thirumavalavan stated his willingness to form a coalition with any party apart from the DMK, AIADMK, BJP and PMK.[18]

Tamil Eelam

VCK formed Tamil Eelam Supporters Organization (TESO) along with DMK, DK, NTK, and demonstrated protests demanding credential probe into war time crimes against the Sri Lankan government during the war between LTTE and the Sri Lankan government.[19] [20] [21] Thousands of innocent Tamil people were brutally tortured and murdered during the war.[22] Many countries raised complaints against the Sri Lankan government in the United Nations International Criminal Court of Justice. VCK demanded that former Sri Lankan President Rajapakse should be charged with war crimes.[23] [24] Many of its party men were arrested by Tamil Nadu police for creating public discomfort during protests against the Sri Lankan government. The party is heavily criticised for supporting LTTE and its leader Prabakaran, since LTTE is banned in India.

VCK is accused of promoting Tamil nationalism and supporting the banned group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.[25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] Although major Tamil political parties DMK and ADMK both are accused of indirectly supporting LTTE, VCK is accused of supporting LTTE leader openly in its party posters. The LTTE was involved in the assassination of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. VCK Party has demanded the premature release of the assassination convicts along with major Tamil parties like NTK, MDMK, PMK, SMK, AIADMK and DMK. It has also celebrated the birth day of slain LTTE leader Prabakaran along with other Tamil parties.[31]

Controversies

In April 2019, members of the RSS affiliated, Hindutva group Hindu Munnani broke an earthen pot, the election symbol of VCK at the village of Ponparappi, Ariyalur block, Tiruchi.[32] The incident happened in front of the Panchayat Office where the Tamil Nadu general election polling was going on which lead to a quarrel. This is said to have resulted a retaliatory violence against the Dalits. The Hindu reported a mob of 100 engaged in violence against the Dalits and at least 20 tiled houses which had the VCK symbol were totally damaged. A. Kathir of Evidence, a rights organisation based in Madurai claimed 13 people were admitted at hospitals, 25 houses were fully damaged and 115 houses were damaged. Tirumavalavan after visiting the area, told the media that the PMK and Hindu Munnani were responsible for the violence.[33]

In December 2022, VCK protested the saffronisation of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the secular Indian Constitution.[34]

Electoral performance

Lok Sabha elections

!Year!Seats won!Percentage of votes!Remarks
1999-As Tamil Maanila Congress candidates
2004-As Janata Dal (United) candidates
20090.18%
20140.11%
20190.8%Ravikumar (writer) contested in Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam symbol
20242.25%

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections

Election Year Election Votes polledWonChange of SeatsAllianceResult
200613th Assembly426,321 2ADMK +! style="background:#98FB98;" Won
201114th Assembly555,965 2DMK +! style="background:#FFA07A;"Lost
201615th Assembly331,849 noneDMDK+! style="background:#FFA07A;"Lost
2021457,763 4DMK +! style="background:#98FB98;"Won

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Waghmore, Suryakant. Civility against Caste: Dalit Politics and Citizenship in Western India. 2013-09-30. Sage Publications India. 978-81-321-1886-2. 15–19. en.
  2. Web site: Tamil Nadu polls: VCK wins four seats including two general constituencies. 4 May 2021.
  3. Web site: How the VCK Emerged as More Than 'Just a Dalit Party' in the Tamil Nadu Elections. The Wire.
  4. Web site: List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013. Election Commission of India. 9 May 2013. India. 2013.
  5. Book: Wyatt, Andrew. Party System Change in South India: Political Entrepreneurs, Patterns and Processes. Routledge. 2010. 978-1-135-18201-4. 116–133. en.
  6. News: Strong ingredients of Tamil nationalism in VCK manifesto. The Hindu. March 24, 2011.
  7. Web site: Tamil nationalism, then and now. Frontline. 9 January 2013 .
  8. Web site: Business News Today: Read Latest Business news, India Business News Live, Share Market & Economy News. The Economic Times.
  9. News: Why caste battle in Tamil Nadu never ends. The Times of India. 24 August 2015 .
  10. News: Naig. Udhav. 2020-06-24. Prosecution deliberately bungled in Shankar murder case, VCK leader says. en-IN. The Hindu. 2020-07-08. 0971-751X.
  11. Book: Gorringe, Hugo. Untouchable Citizens: Dalit Movements and Democratization in Tamil Nadu. Sage Publications. 2005. 978-0-7619-3323-6. en.
  12. News: TK . Smitha . Decoding VCK, The Face of Assertive Dalit Politics in Tamil Nadu . 11 January 2022 . The Quint . 5 January 2021 . en.
  13. 1974. Dalit Panthers: Another View. Economic and Political Weekly. 9. 18. 715–716. 41497050. 0012-9976.
  14. Web site: Madhavan. Narayanan. 2016-06-05. How Muhammad Ali inspired India's Dalits. Hindustan Times. en.
  15. News: Madras HC orders ECI to consider VCK's request for star symbol . 11 January 2022 . India TV News . 4 April 2014 . en.
  16. Web site: Row over Ambedkar-Nehru cartoon in NCERT textbook: Top 10 developments. NDTV.com.
  17. News: Parliament's stand on Ambedkar cartoon disturbing: Panikkar. G.. Krishnakumar. The Hindu. May 16, 2012.
  18. Web site: Tamil Nadu: Will Thirumavalavan be able to form coalition government in the state?. 2015-08-24 . 2015-05-06 . Akshaya . Nath . Saddahaq .
  19. Web site: TESO Observes Black Day to Protest Rajapaksa's Address. The New Indian Express. 26 September 2014 .
  20. Web site: About listing. The Indian Express.
  21. Web site: VCK condemns MEA's letter to TESO Organizers to drop word Eelam. news.webindia123.com.
  22. Web site: Sri Lanka's hidden genocide The Star. Toronto Star. 4 November 2013.
  23. Web site: Error. globaltamilnews.net.
  24. Web site: Thiruma calls Rajapaksa war criminal. The New Indian Express. 16 May 2012 .
  25. Web site: Furore in TN assembly over VCK leader's remarks. Outlook (India).
  26. Web site: VCK Leader Calls for Support to Tamil Eelam. Outlook (India).
  27. News: PMK, VCK want ban on LTTE lifted. The Hindu. October 18, 2014.
  28. Web site: Lift ban on LTTE: VCK to Centre. January 27, 2008. Oneindia.
  29. Web site: Revoke ban on LTTE - VCK. dailymirror.lk.
  30. News: VCK man held for smuggling boat parts to LTTE in 2007. The Times of India. 5 February 2012 .
  31. News: Naraka, Tamil Outfits Celebrate Slain LTTE Chief's Birthday. https://web.archive.org/web/20151130021335/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Tamil-Outfits-Celebrate-Slain-LTTE-Chiefs-Birthday/2015/11/27/article3148855.ece. dead. 30 November 2015. November 27, 2015.
  32. News: Simmering animosity led to attack on SCs in Ponparappi: fact finding team. 2019-04-25. The Hindu. 2020-01-09. en-IN. 0971-751X.
  33. Web site: Dalits in Tamil Nadu village attacked for voting in election. Rajasekaran. Ilangovan. Frontline. 20 April 2019 . en. 2020-01-09.
  34. News: Indu Makkal Katchi functionary arrested for putting up posters of saffron-clad Ambedkar . . 6 December 2022 .

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