VengaiVayal: The DMK Regime Sinking in the Stench of Casteist Oppression

People's Democratic Youth Association

February 11, 2025 

Click here to read the story in Tamil

The stench of "shit" in the VengaiVayal drinking water tank, lingering since the December 2022 incident, still chokes us—over two years and counting. This dominant caste fanaticism—with its nauseating "shit" stench—rises above even the bloody odor of relentless caste-based honor killings under the DMK's four-year reign. Impotent in the face of real criminals and a safe haven for dominant caste bigots, the DMK government exposes its horrific, fascist face by turning the victims of Vengaivayal into the accused.

The DMK Government's CBCID Indictment: A Façade of Falsehoods

In the days leading up to Republic Day 2025, the residents of Vengaivayal made a powerful statement by erecting a banner declaring their boycott of the Republic Day celebration. This was a direct response to what they perceived as the DMK government's inaction, with the CBCID remaining dormant despite their desperate plea for long-overdue justice. This act of defiance quickly gained traction across online platforms. Simultaneously, actor Vijay, head of TVK, visited the people of Parandur. He then publicly announced his intention to visit Vengaivayal, thrusting the Vengaivayal issue back into the media spotlight, reigniting public debate. Subsequently, during a High Court proceeding concerning the case, government representatives, on January 24th, asserted that the Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department (CBCID) had already submitted the chargesheet – a status report – to the Prevention of Atrocities Court on January 20th. Furthermore, a blanket ban was declared, prohibiting entry into Vengaivayal village.

The indictment stated:

• The chargesheet outrageously names three young men from the victimized Vengaiyaval village – Murali Raja, Sudarsan, and Muthu Krishnan – as the perpetrators.

• The CBCID shamelessly claims that supposedly recovered deleted photos, videos, and audio from Sudarsan's phone serve as evidence. This includes: a picture of the full water tank; a picture showing feces in a polythene bag placed atop the tank; a shot of feces floating despicably in the tank; a video clip of Muthukrishnan and Sudarsan laughing and conversing; and an audio recording where Sudarsan’s relative advises him, “Son, do not admit guilt”. The chargesheet appears to be a fabricated narrative based on selectively edited and disseminated information propagated by the RSS-BJP.

• Adding insult to injury, the chargesheet dismisses this as a mere act of personal vengeance, alleging it was motivated by animosity towards the Panchayat leader, completely denying the caste-based atrocity; thus, it submits a most repulsive, dominant-caste-driven chargesheet.

Moreover,

• Through the DMK government's propaganda machine, led by its shamelessly subservient media lapdogs like News18 and its rabid IT wing, the regime has launched a full-scale character assassination against these three individuals—churning out outright fabrications, poisoning public discourse with cesspool-level debates, and deploying every dirty trick to distort reality and crush dissent.

• The DMK government asserts that the contamination of the tank occurred solely between 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM on December 26th and maintains that the residents of Vengaiyaval did not consume the water tainted with feces.

The CBCID  of the DMK government—which shamelessly boasts of a police force equivalent to Scotland Yard but is incapable of delivering justice by bringing the true culprits to account—has fabricated these lies. How do these falsehoods propagated by the CBCID bolster the DMK government's casteist fascism, and how do they expose the vested interests of the dominant caste? Let us briefly dissect the actual events, one by one.

Is it really true that the people of Vengaivayal never drank the fecally contaminated water?

The fact that the drinking water tank was contaminated with feces only came to light for the residents of Vengaivayal on December 26, 2022. However, it's important to note that about a week before this discovery, some children from the village, including Yogashri, had already become ill and sought treatment at the hospital. The doctor treating them attributed their condition to water contamination. Then, on December 26th, Muraliraja, an Armed Forces constable who was home on leave, was filling up water when he noticed a strange, foul smell in the tap water and questioned his mother about it. When others in the neighborhood reported the same issue, suspicions arose, and the villagers decided to inspect the overhead tank to see if any birds or animals had died inside. Following this, young men Sudarsan and Muthukrishnan, in the presence of other villagers, climbed the tank and were shocked to discover feces, which they immediately reported to those below.

This account was supported on January 11, 2023, when Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stated in the Legislative Assembly: "Two children from Vengaivayal village were admitted to the Pudukkottai Government College Hospital due to ill health. As the number of patients with similar infections from the village increased, doctors insisted on testing the drinking water. Upon inspection of the Vengaivayal overhead water tank, human waste was found".

Despite this, the DMK government is now allegedly claiming that no one in Vengaivayal actually drank the fecally contaminated water. They are supposedly attempting to obscure the truth by falsely claiming that the contamination occurred only during a narrow window between 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM on December 26, 2022. This is viewed as an obvious attempt to bury the issue.

Primary Evidences Obliterated

The DMK government attempted to bury the Vengaivayal incident by:

• Discarding the fecal matter retrieved from the drinking water tank into the garbage.

• Completely emptying the water from the tank, ignoring strong objections from the Vengaivayal residents.

• Demolishing the drinking water tank—a crucial piece of evidence—while the investigation was ongoing.

When the Vengaivayal community demanded the case's registration under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, Muthaiah allegedly intervened. He purportedly misled them by promising to file the case through the Panchayat leader, falsely claiming it would guarantee a proper investigation. Subsequently, he hastily disposed of the feces-contaminated water, a vital piece of primary evidence. Despite the incident surfacing two days prior, a case was not registered until Kanagaraj, the affected child's father, lodged a complaint. Yielding to sustained public pressure and protests, the government eventually initiated an inquiry.

Scandalously, the investigation was redirected against the victims! Instead of investigating who dumped the feces in the tank, the focus shifted to identifying the feces' origin. The waste remained in the tank for approximately a week, likely due to a bucket's worth being dumped. Initial chemical analysis revealed the feces was a mixture from multiple individuals, making it impossible to pinpoint a single culprit. Consequently, investigators allegedly resorted to extreme manipulative tactics, such as collecting feces from areas where Dalit people relieve themselves and comparing it to their DNA. Yet, the DNA or fecal matter from the Padma-Muthaiah group was never tested. As a result, all DNA tests proved fruitless for the government, preventing them from falsely incriminating the victims. Currently, with the assistance of caste organizations, the BJP-RSS alliance is portraying the victims as the guilty parties.

Even two years prior, the BJP's IT wing disseminated photos and videos online, falsely branding the residents of Vengaivayal as the perpetrators. The group engaged in these reprehensible actions while the investigation was active. Instead of suppressing this misinformation, the DMK government's CBCID has reportedly used these deceptive claims as evidence.

Is it accurate to frame this as a matter of personal conflict, rather than a caste-based act of violence?

Firstly, the assertion that this region is free of caste atrocities is demonstrably false.

The oppressed communities here experience daily indignities, including being forbidden from entering temples, the discriminatory practice of "double tumblers," refusal of service at shops, and prejudice within schools. The truth is that Pudukkottai remains a district plagued by widespread caste atrocities.

In VengaiVayal specifically, members of the Paraiyar, Navidar, Vannar, Kuyavar, and Mutharaiyar communities historically received land usage rights under the Umbalam system (a type of feudal land tenure) connected to the Aiyanar temple. In return, they were required to perform services for the temple. However, a dominant elements from the Kallar and Mutharaiyar castes in the area has been seizing these Umbalam lands from the oppressed castes. As a direct consequence, for roughly 60 years, these oppressed people have been prevented from participating in the Aiyanar temple festivals and from entering the temple itself. Furthermore, the discriminatory "double tumbler" system continues to be used in local tea shops. 

These incidents, which we directly witnessed, emerged in the presence of government officials, including the District Collector, following the incident of feces being mixed in the water tank. These events were major news items at the time. Therefore, the denial of caste atrocities in the area is clearly untrue.

Moreover, the suggestion that this is merely personal animosity is also incorrect; it is undeniably a caste atrocity. This is simply a continuation of dominant-caste fanaticism.

According to Sadhasivam, a resident of VengaiVayal, members of the Mutharaiyar caste have consistently subjected them to caste-based discrimination. They have been continuously verbally and physically abusive towards them because of their caste. The claim that Muraliraja, son of Jeevanantham, committed this act to avenge an attack on his father is demonstrably false.

The previous Panchayat leader, Chidambaram, from the Kallar caste, listened to the concerns of these people. In contrast, the Padma-Muthaiya group, belonging to the Mutharaiyar caste, ignored their basic needs and problems. As a result, the residents of VengaiVayal did not support the Muthaiya group in the Panchayat elections. Spurred by this resentment, the Padma-Muthaiya group has intensified its campaign of caste atrocities against them.

In 2017, funding was allocated to the Muthukkadu Panchayat Union for the construction of a water storage tank as part of the Cauvery Combined Drinking Water Scheme. This overhead tank was erected in Vengaivayal village because the existing 30,000-liter tank in Iraiyur had no space for another tank, and Vengaivayal's elevated location hindered proper water flow. Despite its construction, the tank was not operational until 2021. Approximately ₹7 lakhs was allocated for a deep borewell to serve the tank; however, the Muthaiya group allegedly misappropriated these funds too. The issue surfaced in 2022 during pipeline work under the Jal Jeevan scheme. Shanmugam, a Mutharaiyar caste member working as the tank operator and affiliated with the C.I.T.U. labor union, confronted Muthaiya in the presence of Vengaivayal residents. He asked, "The pipe coming from Iraiyur is already broken, and water comes to Vengaivayal only in trickles, or mostly doesn't come at all. Why not install a deep bore well and raise it to a new tank with the allocated funds?" Annoyed by this, Muthaiah spewed casteist venom, saying, "Why are you asking me questions in front of these pariah fellows? Are you trying to humiliate me?" and fired Shanmugam from his job. He complained to the Collector through the trade union, and the people of Vengaivayal also supported him. The Collector also ordered his reinstatement, stating that Muthaiah did not have the authority to fire him. However, Muthaiah refused, saying, "Do I have to listen to what the Collector says?" and appointed his loyalist Kasi Viswanathan as the operator through his wife Padma, who is the Panchayat leader. Furthermore, a caste fanatic named Gandhi challenged, "Why the hell should each house in the pariah street have its own tap? I’ll be seeing how you lot get your water,”.

Amidst this backdrop, during the Gram Sabha meeting on Gandhi Jayanthi, October 2, 2022, a resolution was read out, stating that some amount had been spent to provide purified drinking water to Vengaivayal village. However, Sadasivam, a resident of Vengaivayal, objected to this, questioning why they were being supplied with salty borewell water twice a day, morning and evening. Unable to stomach this, Muthaiya allegedly threatened him, "Hey, you pariah sons of bitches, no matter how much we do, you guys never show any gratitude, do you? Do whatever the hell you can!" Sadasivam shot back, "Are you the leader? Your wife is the leader; tell her to conduct the meeting!" This further ignited Muthaiya's anger, leading to a confrontation.

Therefore, it's blatantly clear that this incident is not just some personal quarrel; it's a continuation of the dominant caste bigotry that has been festering in this area for over 60 years.

Kasi Viswanathan, who Muthaiya hired as an operator, died mysteriously last year after the fecal matter was discovered in the tank. This has only deepened the suspicion among the villagers that Muthaiya is the real culprit.

Furthermore, Sadasivam declared that he questioned Muthaiya, the Panchayat President's husband, about why the funds meant for the welfare of Vengaivayal's people were being embezzled instead of being used for maintenance. He added that it's wrong to pin the blame on Jeevanantham, Muraliraja's father. For the sake of argument, even if one assumes revenge as the motive, wouldn't those seeking revenge have mixed the shit into their own tank? Would we knowingly contaminate the very water we drink? Muthaiya orchestrated this disgusting act in the drinking water tank by hiring his goons. But the CBCID is now maliciously framing these three educated young men, who are the hope for our village's future, as the criminals, simply because they exposed this horrific incident.

The DMK government? Way more brutal to victims than even the Castefilthics

To expose this injustice to the world, Sudarsan photographed the feces floating in the water tank on his phone. Needing to zoom in and record a video, the victims recount laughing painfully, realizing they had to zoom in to capture the full extent of the horror they faced. Then, they take another shot of the removed shit piled in a plastic bag on top of the tank. These images and videos were then shared in WhatsApp groups. Within days, news of this outrageous incident against the Dalits ignited widespread outrage, severely undermining M.K. Stalin's claims of upholding social justice.

This all happened in plain sight of the villagers. Panchayat leaders, government officials, and the MLA himself were present. Appallingly, the MLA's driver, David, and other aides were ordered to climb up to confirm the fecal contamination.

From the very beginning, the DMK government has failed to empathize with the victims. To this day, the Chief Minister has not personally visited or offered comfort to those affected. Instead, this reprehensible group, motivated by vote-bank politics, has focused its investigation on the three young men who exposed this atrocity, effectively shielding the dominant caste perpetrators. Despite accusations from not only the affected people but also from working-class people within the dominant caste, the police have conspicuously avoided including Muthaiya, the husband of the Iraiyur Panchayat leader from the Mutharaiyar caste, in their investigation. These caste fanatics and political entities, driven by their hunger for votes, are a major obstacle to the unity of working class of all castes. 

While they speak of personal vendettas on one hand, this shameless gang hasn't mentioned Muthiah’s name even once in the 370-page charge sheet. The DMK government has addressed this entire incident with a repugnant casteist prejudice, presuming that dominant castes are inherently virtuous and incapable of such acts, while unfairly implying that Dalits are the likely culprits.

"Karuppu Muruganandam and Tada Periyasamy, mere tools of the RSS-BJP faction, traitors within us, also stood in opposition to the affected people. Nirmal Kumar of the BJP and its IT wing immediately began their work of clipping, cutting, and pasting videos and photos posted by these young men in their WhatsApp group, twisting them into a campaign against the very same youths. Caste-fanatic organizations affiliated with the RSS, such as the Adi Mutharaiyar Sangam, began spreading these fabrications. Thanks to the casteist support of former AIADMK minister Vijayabaskar and current DMK minister Meyyanathan, the government turned its spear against the victimized, while allowing those identified as criminals from the Mutharaiyar caste to walk free. The DMK government, the RSS-BJP, the AIADMK, and caste associations, all colluded, forming a united front against oppressed caste people. The 3 youths were hauled in and, under the pretense of investigation, were threatened, beaten, and pressured to confess to a crime they didn't commit with promises of money. But the youths stood firm in their refusal. Meanwhile, parties including VCK, Marxist parties, and M.J.I.K (Makkal Jananayaga Ilaignar Kazhagam - People's Democratic Youth Association), among other organizations, mounted continuous protests condemning these actions, leading the DMK government to pass the case off to the CBCID.

Images above: Comrades of the M.J.I.K. (Ma.Ja.I.Ka) conversing with the people of Vengaiyaval in January 2023, regarding the injustice that occurred to them.

February 5, 2025: Condemnation demonstration in Cuddalore against the DMK government, with a pledge to tear apart the CBCID charge sheet.

Even the CBCID concealed the truth, choosing to target the 3 youths. For two years, they have been torturing them in various ways, all under the guise of investigation. It's as if this group's heads are filled with nothing but the “filth” of caste fanaticism; which explains why they've presented such a sham charge sheet without a hint of shame. The CBCID has approached the issue by simply mimicking the methods of the previous investigating officer".

• They tried to bribe Muthu Krishnan with 2 lakh rupees to confess that the other two were the perpetrators, but he refused.

• The same way, they tried to hook Murali Raja with a S.I. promotion if he'd just confess. But he shot back, like a slap in the face, asking how he was supposed to get a promotion if he confessed to something he didn't do and would only get punished for it.

• Sudarshan didn't fall for their intimidation tactics either. In the end, while he was being interrogated, they took a phone recording of him talking to his mom and twisted it to make him look guilty. In the recording, she's practically begging him, "Son, don't be afraid of the police investigation, or their sweet talk, or their threats, and don't admit to something you didn't do!" They snipped out parts of that and used it as "proof".

• They also grabbed their cell phones, saved all the pictures and videos, and then spun some tale about recovering deleted stuff to use as evidence in their charge sheet.

Instead of giving the victims updates on the case like they're supposed to under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, they dug up fake evidence against them and leaked it to the media. The people trusted the government to do a fair investigation, but this government stabbed them in the back. The people trusted the government to run an honest investigation, but this government stabbed them in the back. So, the caste-blinded DMK's CBCID is trying to pin the whole thing on these three, who actually saw the Vengaivayal people get victimized. In other words, the DMK government is claiming that the oppressed caste committed caste atrocities against themselves. They have unleashed casteist fascism on the victims for vote bank politics.

"Just kill us instead of putting the blame on us."

Era. Saravanan, the director of the Nandan (cinema) movie, shared a video on his Twitter account, stating: "When we visited Vengaivayal, a woman was weeping, begging for the person who contaminated their drinking water with feces to be found. Now, the police are turning some of the victims into the accused. Would anyone contaminate water with feces and then drink it themselves? Is it fair for the affected to be made the guilty?" In the video, a distressed woman from the village says: " We're just sitting here, waiting to see who did this. We’d even fall at their feet if it meant getting the truth... How could anyone even think of touching that stuff, let alone mixing it in our drinking water and making us drink it? We can’t even bring ourselves to say it out loud... And the government? They keeps promising us this and that, basic stuff. We don't want any of it. Take all the time you need. Just show us who messed with our peace and stole our joy."

Adding to this, Era. Saravanan arranged for Vikatan to publish an interview with the three innocent young men who were being falsely depicted as fugitives. In the interview, 

Sudarsan stated: "...The investigating officer, Kalpana, took me to the temple and told me I should just confess to the crime. If they've already determined we're guilty and have proof, why would they be begging us to confess? The CBCID is a powerful organization… they have unlimited authority. Yet, they can't present any evidence against us, because we didn't do anything wrong in the first place… In their eyes, the problem isn't that feces was mixed in the drinking water… the problem is that it was revealed to the outside world. Please don't think we are trying to evoke pity by bringing up caste now… The only mistake we truly made was being born into this caste…" He expressed his deep resentment toward the oppression they face simply because of their birth.

Muthu Krishnan, while speaking, said, “...Can they possibly try to conclude the case by placing the blame on us, the very people who drank that water? During the CBCID inquiry, an officer would ask what happened that day. After we'd finished answering him, another officer would come. And he'd ask the exact same question. We would answer. In a single day, 17 officers came one after the other, asking the same question, to see if we would change our story. They even told us, 'We have satellite images of you mixing the faeces in the water. You cannot escape.' The entire household and village drank that water. How could we possibly mix faeces and then drink it ourselves?" He further expressed his distress, saying, "We are the ones who were affected... we're the ones who fought for a fair investigation... we're the ones who kept pushing for the culprits to be found quickly... and in the end, we're the ones being framed as culprits...”.

Murali Raja stated, “...We viewed the atrocity of mixing faeces in the water as a huge problem. But to everyone outside, it just seems like a normal thing. The act of mixing faeces into drinking water, and the fact that everyone, from children to adults, consumed it, did not seem to stir anyone's conscience. All people keep asking is why we felt the need to make this a public issue. They are portraying those of us who spoke up as the guilty parties, instead of the actual perpetrators. Fair laws, fair investigations... and yet, here we are, sir?... Power and caste-fanaticism are destroying us. Instead of placing the blame on us, just kill us! ...We already know how Dalit people are perceived in this land. Following this accusation, how much more shamefully will they treat us? Wherever Dalit people are harmed, it will be propagated that they did it to themselves and are blaming others. The very thought of being in such a helpless situation makes one wish for death, sir. Those who have brought us to this point are far worse than those who actually mixed the faeces in the water!” These innocent young men directed their questions toward the DMK government and in a way that is intended to provoke the conscience of the general public.

The DMK Government's Betrayal: A Continuing Saga from Venmani to Vengaivayal

Under the DMK's governance these past four years, caste atrocities have been absolutely rampant. In just the last year, there have been over 75 caste-related honour killings, the denial of educational rights to Scheduled Caste students, prohibitions on entering temples resulting in their closure, the torching of homes, and the deprivation of basic political rights, with the DMK government treating these citizens as less than third-class. In Tamil Nadu, more than 2,000 caste-based acts of violence occur annually. We have consistently exposed that these incidents have increased by over 40% compared to the previous administration. Back then, some would ask, "Is the DMK government to blame for this? Didn't all of this happen under the previous administration?"... What will they say now, when the government unleashes violence on the very oppressed caste youth who are the victims? The DMK government has carried out this act of brutality in collusion with dominant casteist organizations and the RSS gang. Yet, they insist that we must remain silent of it; these sycophants of the DMK headquarters and some pro-DMK Marxist-Leninist groups claim that speaking out would turn it into an anti-fascist "payasam", as they put it. While the BJP government is giving a religious colour to fascism by focusing on Muslims, the DMK government, which pretends to oppose it, is expressing its fascism as casteism.

This is not a recent phenomenon! The DMK, along with its progenitor, the Justice Party, have been anti-Dalit parties since their inception. The Justice Party, while publicly opposing Brahmin priests, served British imperialism and the Bobbili kings. Today, the DMK government, while posturing against fascism, serves American corporate interests like those of Adani, TVS industrialists, and figures like S.V. Shekar. During the Venmani massacre, when agricultural labourers were burned alive, the Annadurai government sided with the dominant caste, with landlord Gopalaswamy Naidu claiming that such actions would not be committed by big landlords and that the victims had set the fire themselves to put the blame on him. By endorsing these claims, Periyar placed the blame on the Communist Party. Similarly, in Vengaivayal, the M.K. Stalin government has falsely asserted that dominant caste people would never even touch faeces and that arresting them would cause caste-based riots, thus unjustly turning innocent, oppressed caste youths into criminals. All Dravidian parties, including the DK (Dravidar Kazhagam), DMK, and AIADMK, have perpetrated injustices against Scheduled Caste people. In Venmani, the agricultural laborer Ramiah supposedly set his own hut on fire; in Manjolai, the plantation laborers drowned in the Tamirabarani River because they didn't know how to swim; in Paramakudi, the oppressed people supposedly shot themselves with rifles; Ilavarasan conveniently laid his own head on the railroad tracks; Shankar slit his own throat; the people of Vengaivayal village supposedly mixed feces in their own drinking water... How many more such absurd accusations will be made during the rule of these Dravidian parties? Enough of your so-called social justice(!!)

In Vengaivayal village, the DMK government has turned the area into an open-air prison, imposing a heavy police presence and setting up multiple checkpoints to control access. Women cannot even relieve themselves without being monitored. The government is denying access to media and opposition parties. Two VCK (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) members who tried to visit the village were arrested. Due to the immense stress caused by these tragic events, Muraliraja's grandmother passed away - yet even her own family was forbidden from entering the village. When villagers protested this appalling treatment, their demonstrations were brutally suppressed. The DMK government has, in effect, imposed an undeclared state of emergency in the region. The Fascist DMK Regime is enforcing social untouchability and acting in direct violation of the constitution.

Judiciary Abetting Casteist Fascism

During the hearing of a petition submitted by VCK to the Madurai High Court, seeking permission to stage a protest in Pudukkottai, a judge has sided with casteist fascism. The judge stated, “Several demonstrations have already been held regarding the contamination of the Vengaivayal overhead tank with human excrement. The State Public Prosecutor, representing the government, has presented all electronic and forensic evidence related to the events of that day between 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM. Therefore, this court will not be used as a political platform." This action is said to negate the minimal democratic recourse guaranteed by the constitution to victims seeking justice through judicial means, protests, and advocacy.

Furthermore, it's reported that on February 3, 2025, the Special Court for the Prevention of Atrocities Act accepted the flawed charge sheet submitted by the CBCID and rejected Kanagaraj's appeal. The court purportedly determined that the case does not fall under the purview of the Prevention of Atrocities Act, transferring the case hearing to the Pudukkottai Criminal Magistrate Court. Subsequently, the court allegedly announced that measures would be taken to apprehend the youths in question. Thus, these unjust courts have purportedly aligned themselves with fascism.

The State and the ruling class purportedly view the Prevention of Atrocities Act as an impediment to maintaining their fascist rule and exploiting marginalized communities. Consequently, they undertake actions to dilute such laws —laws that, even if only on paper, offer some level of protection—by fabricating false accusations. It is crucial to recognize this as a deeply dangerous fascist tactic.

The Stances of Other Parties

We have previously highlighted how the RSS-BJP and AIADMK factions have been complicit in the DMK government’s dominant casteist oppression. It is evident that both the ruling party and the opposition, as part of the State Executive, have collectively perpetrated injustices against the Scheduled Caste community.

On one hand, the DMK government flaunts its allegiance to dominant castes by inaugurating a memorial hall for Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar in Trichy. On the other, it engages in a hollow display of social justice by announcing the waiving of education loans for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Meanwhile, it humiliates oppressed caste members by staging tokenistic events—such as a Commensality Feast(Samabandhi) with Scheduled Castes—led by DMK Minister Meyyanathan, himself from the Mutharaiyar caste. The VCK, which goes along with the DMK’s theatrics, demands a CBI investigation while simultaneously deceiving the affected families in Vengaivayal with hollow promises of pattas (land deeds). Instead of launching robust protests to secure justice for the victims, they are constrained by their so-called coalition dharma(!?). They are even reluctant to directly criticise the DMK, even when their own party members are targeted. The party, which once proclaimed 'cheris (slums and their people) as cheetahs,' has ultimately bartered away the rights of Scheduled Caste people to these Dravidian ruling-class parties—all for the sake of its vote bank.

It's certainly a welcome move that the CPM party has criticised the state government's actions. However, they've confined themselves to just calling for a CBI investigation, accepting the nature of a CBI investigation without any critique. Furthermore, their failure to build robust protests and maintaining silence is also open to criticism.

Veeramani of Dravidar Kazhaga, who seems to have taken out a complete lease on social justice, is expressing his opinions, in a Periyar-esque manner, in support of dominant caste bigots. He claims that, Tamil Nadu is a haven of peace; the government has diligently conducted its investigation; and this shouldn't be politicised. And yet, they call this ‘velakkamaaru’ (broom) a silk tassel… (!!) What a joke!. Certain M.L. movements associated with the Periyarist Federation and the DMK's red wing, who once proclaimed the DMK government to be virtuous and that some RSS and Sanghi elements had infiltrated the administration, are now actively engaged in sanctifying the police and the DMK government. They claim that the police have carried out a scientifically sound investigation and presented a report. They're prioritising (Naam thamizhar katchi) Seeman's opposition to Periyar, thereby pushing the Vengaivayal issue into the background.

And if this is Veeramani’s stance, Mutharasan of the CPI is no different. Just a month ago, he dismissed the issue, saying, "Vengaivayal? What's that? Oh, that old issue? Why are you bringing it up now? The government is investigating." Now, he has released a statement saying, "The police have identified 3 individuals as having committed that vile act in the Vengaivayal atrocity. The leaders of VCK-CPI(M) have demanded a CBI investigation. That is their stance; we aren't asking for it." This group parades around calling themselves communists, yet they sell out for just four or five MLA seats. The CPI is prepared to commit Sati alongside the DMK. They've shattered the public's belief that communists will always stand with the affected people. Just as Periyar faced historical condemnation for standing against the victims of the Venmani incident, the CPI party is ready to shoulder the historical blame for siding with the dominant casteists, rather than standing up for justice for the oppressed people in the Vengaivayal atrocity.

Tear Apart the Oppressive Casteist Indictment!

Therefore, it is our most immediate duty not only to vehemently protest the court's acceptance of the indictment—lodged by the DMK government's CBCID, which protects the interests of the dominant caste against oppressed caste peoples—but also to fight relentlessly for the establishment of a fact-finding committee and a special investigative team. This body must be under the direct and unyielding command of the High Court, comprising judges, revolutionary democratic forces, Dalit organisations, and human rights organisations. This is crucial for conducting a thorough and renewed investigation.

Furthermore, we must forge a powerful and unwavering mass struggle, uniting working class of all castes, against the rampant and brutal caste atrocities prevailing under the DMK regime. This movement must be propelled forward to dismantle the semi-feudal, neo-colonial mode of production—the very economic material basis of these caste atrocities—and to fight for the establishment of a people's democratic republic.

Therefore, we issue a clarion call to rally and fight against the DMK government under the banner of the following slogans...

• Let's uproot the casteist fascism of the DMK government, which falsely claims that oppressed caste people committed caste atrocities against themselves in VengaiVayal!

• Let's tear apart the CBCID charge sheet —crafted by the DMK government—that protects the dominant caste while targeting the oppressed!

• Let's resist the the combined atrocities of the DMK government's police, dominant casteist organisations and the RSS gang against the people of Vengai Vayal!

• Let's fight for a reinvestigation by forming a special investigation team under the direct supervision of the High Court!

• Let's fight for a judicial inquiry by appointing a fact-finding committee comprising judges, revolutionary democratic forces, Dalit organisations, and human rights organisations!

• Let's expose the DMK government’s unconstitutional act of  imposing social untouchability by turning Vengai Vayal into an Open-air prison!

• Let's identify the "black sheep," including the DK, who enable the DMK government’s shit-stinking casteist fascism!

• Let's rise up against the rampant caste atrocities under the DMK regime!

• Let all working class, across all castes, unite to overthrow the so-called "Dravidian Model" – a safe haven for dominant casteist gangs!

People's Democratic Youth Association

- Vijayan (In English)