Father of slain SC youth Kavin meets Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, requests protection for his family

C. Chandrasekar, the father of C. Kavin Selvaganesh, a youth from a Scheduled Caste (SC) Community who was murdered by the brother of the caste-Hindu girl with whom he was in love, met Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Secretariat along with VCK founder Thol. Thirumavalavan and requested protection for his family.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Thirumavalavan said Mr. Chandrasekar urged the Chief Minister to ensure punishment for all those involved in his son’s murder. He also requested employment for Kavin’s sibling. “The Chief Minister gave a kind hearing to the requests. We hope he takes the appropriate steps to fulfil them,” Mr. Thirumavalavan said. A request to transfer Kavin’s mother, a teacher, to a school near her home was also made, “as going out was not safe for her,” he said.

Responding to a query on whether any demand was made on the welfare of conservancy workers, Mr. Thirumavalavan said: “We did not speak about that today. The appointment was sought primarily for him [Mr. Chandrasekar]. Since we had a prepared representation, we submitted that too.” He pointed out that his party had been demanding the regularisation of the conservancy workers too.

Asked whether opposition parties had only been criticising the government over caste-based killings since elections were near, Mr. Thirumavalavan said: “This is a serious issue, and it should not be seen in the light of electoral politics.” He further maintained that whoever was in power had the responsibility to act against caste-based killings.

As for issue relating to conservancy workers, Mr. Thirumavalavan said his opinion expressed earlier was misunderstood and received criticism. “From the day the Government Order 152 was issued, we have been demanding its withdrawal, against privatisation and to let them continue as workers under the National Urban Livelihood Mission and have been staging protests.”

Mr. Thirumavalavan further said his party has been demanding to regularise their services too. “But, we have only pointed out that it should not be regularised on the ground that only those from a specific community should be associated with the trade.”

He advocated for a situation where people from across communities could undertake conservancy work with the use of latest technology available. “There is no change in our stand on regularising their services.”

V-P election

Mr. Thirumavalavan said the VCK had sent emails to all 40 MPs from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry seeking their support for INDIA bloc’s Vice-Presidential candidate and former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy.

His party would would also send emails to those in the Rajya Sabha and later to all MPs across the country. The retired Supreme Court judge was a champion of human rights and has been keen on protecting the basic provisions of the Constitution, he added.

“He should be elected as the Vice-President. We underline that identity politics of whether one is a Tamil is unnecessary,” he added. To a query on the clearances granted for the hydrocarbon project in Ramanathapuram district, he said the State government has clarified on the matter.