Puthiya Tamilagam leader K Krishnasamy today said to reduce animosity with other communities, he would advise members of his community -- Devendrakula Vellalar -- not to lodge complaints under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Speaking to PTI, Krishnasamy also claimed that members of his community did not belong to the scheduled castes category according to historical evidences.
"I will advise members of my community to file complaints under the IPC (Indian Penal Code) and not under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989," he said, adding that doing so would reduce animosity with other communities.
Puthiya Tamilagam, a party representing dalits and Pallars in south Tamil Nadu, along with members of the Devendrakula Vellalar community yesterday took out a 'Pride March' here.
They demanded that the Centre exclude their community from the schedule caste category and include them under other backward classes.
Krishnasamy alleged that the reservation policy in Tamil Nadu was not fully implemented and there was discrimination as members from the community were being given "menial" jobs.
"We are not given the opportunity to take up Group I, II and III jobs in the government, but ample opportunities are given for menial jobs and Grade IV jobs," he said.
They also demanded a common name -- Devendrakula Vellalar -- for all their seven sub-castes -- Pallar, Kudumbar, Pannadi, Kaalaadi, Kadayar, Devendrakulatar and Vadhiriyaar -- based in southern parts of Tamil Nadu.
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