Tamil Nadu: DMK Leader T Manickam Seen Verbally Abusing Scheduled Caste Youth In Salem; Suspended From Party

T Manickam, a union secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Salem district was suspended by the party today after a video of him using expletives against a youth belonging to a Scheduled Caste community went viral.

The suspension order said that action was being taken against him for bringing a bad image to the party by acting against its policies.

Manickam was enraged because the youth had entered the village temple.

Reacting to the video, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai asked if this was the DMK's model of social justice.

No police complaint had been registered against Manickam even though the incident had occurred more than a week ago and the DMK's action against him came only after the video went viral on social media.

In his defence, Manickam said that he had scolded the youth because he was 'drunk' and there was no restriction on Dalits entering the temple.

According to news reports, while the temple is under the control of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) department, it is maintained by the Vanniyar community.

This comes after massive outrage over the discovery of human feces in a water tank used by the Scheduled Caste community of Vengaivayal village in Pudukkottai district.

Also Read: ‘Number Of Villages Practising Untouchability Highest In Tamil Nadu’, Says Annamalai In Critique Of Dravidian Model Of Social Justice