‘Work to get Dalits in private sector’

Recalling a recent statement of a senior central government officer about providing reservation to Dalits in the private sector, Karunanidhi said, “Though one could be led to believe that the BJP may have come up with such a major announcement to placate Dalits who were being attacked by right- wing elements across the country, and with the ensuing UP elections in mind, there could be no second thought in welcoming the announcement, if Centre had made the announcement with the conviction to help uplift Dalits.”

Karunanidhi also said the people espousing the principles of social justice should unite and speak in one voice to get the Centre to implement the proposed reservation to Dalits in the private sector in letter and spirit. 

The DMK chief said that it would be appropriate to recall the historical fact that it was DMK, which had increased the reservation to Dalits from 16% to 18% in 1971, one percentile to STs in 1990 and later three per centile (compartmental reservation) to Arundhathiyars, when it was in power.