A video of a Dalit Govt. employee falling at the feet of a man from Gounder community who bullied him into an apology in Annur taluk causes furore amongst activists and public
Coimbatore: An elderly Government employee from the Dalit community was allegedly forced to fall at the feet of a man from the Gounder community over a dispute that arose while verifying land documents.
Muthusamy, a Government employee at a village administration office in Ottarpalayam village of Annur Taluk in Coimbatore was made to bow down at the feet of Gopalasamy, a caste Hindu man from the region. The incident surfaced online and created a stir among several Dalit rights associations.
Sources say that the incident took place when Gopalasamy belonging to Gounder community argued with the VAO Kalai Selvi after being told that the documents he had brought in for verification did not have adequate valid information. Kalai Selvi requested Gopalasamy to bring the right documents for verification. Unable to digest this, Gopalasamy reportedly argued with her and used foul language during the course of the argument.
Gopalasamy reportedly reprimanded her saying, "I know law and order too,” at which Muthusamy, the Assistant of the VAO interrupted and asked Gopalasamy not to speak in a disrespectful manner. Thereafter, an enraged Gopalasamy allegedly dragged Muthusamy and used caste slurs against him in the process of asking him to stop interfering in the argument. Gopalasamy reportedly insulted Muthusamy saying, "You cannot be in this town and in the position where you are right now. I will use my caste influence to strip you off your position and will file a fake case on you in the court. Fall on my feet and apologise, if you don’t wish that to happen."
Petrified at the abusive words, Muthusamy reportedly fell at Gopalasamy's feet. In a video that has surfaced online, Muthusamy was seen begging Gopalsamy for pardon. Kalai Selvi, the VAO was seen urging Muthusamy to get up since it was wrong to fall on anybody’s feet. Seconds later, Gopalasamy reportedly stood up and pulled Muthusamy up and said, "The fault was on my side too and I forgive you, get up!”
Meanwhile, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam staged a protest against the behaviour of Gopalasamy and called out the caste atrocity still being practised against the Dailt community. Covai Ramakrishnan who belongs to Thanthai Periyar Kazhagam said, "The caste atrocity against the Dalits has not stopped. It is worrying that even after multiple protests and complaints raised against caste indiscrimination, these people are not willing to be inclusive of all."
Karuppaiah from Dalit Viduthalai Katchi said the reoccurrence of such incidents are due to the failure of the Government in taking action against caste indiscrimination. He questioned the Government’s inability to take action against caste indiscrimination and also reiterated that such incidents keep occurring in Kongu region since it has the support of both ADMK and BJP.
Karuppiah stated, "These incidents of caste indiscrimination would have been stopped had the Government taken any step. The SC/ST Act must be enforced strongly and the employees under this group should be given security. Only then such incidents will stop."
Founder of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, Kolathur Mani also opined that even though cases can be filed against such supposedly upper class men, it does not hold good since politicians in the region rush to their rescue. “Many incidents have been witnessed in the last few years and during the period of the late former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha, but very few offenders have been booked," he lamented. "Unless the Government acts strongly and books offenders in this regard, there won’t be any change and these so-called upper class people will continue to behave the same," he added.
The Coimbatore district administration has taken note of the issue as it came to light through the online video and have ordered a probe.