Why Did Anbumani Ramadoss Condemn the Assault on an Elderly Man at the 'Ungaludan Stalin' Camp?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Assault on Elderly: The brutal attack on a senior citizen raises alarms about the treatment of vulnerable populations.
- Accountability Required: There is a pressing need for officials to be held accountable for their actions.
- Grievance Mechanism Issues: The incident highlights systemic failures in the grievance redressal process.
- Public Empowerment: Initiatives should empower citizens rather than suppress dissent.
- Call for Reform: This event underscores the need for reform in how petitions are handled by authorities.
Chennai, September 4 (NationPress) PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss expressed strong disapproval of the attack on a 64-year-old petitioner during the ‘Ungaludan Stalin’ grievance camp held in Sathur village, located in Tamil Nadu's Ranipet district, labeling the act as “inhuman and unforgivable”.
In his statement, Anbumani accused Village Administrative Officers and police personnel of violently assaulting the petitioner, Venkatapathy, after he inquired about the lack of progress regarding a petition he had previously submitted at a similar camp in Muthupettai village.
Eyewitnesses and a viral video circulating on social media revealed that Venkatapathy was merely seeking clarification on the status of his petition and asked for an acknowledgment slip before being subjected to mistreatment by officials.
The situation escalated as a police sub-inspector reportedly struck the elderly man in the chest.
“Officials are obligated to respond when citizens question the status of their petitions. To assault and demean a senior citizen is a serious offense, and those accountable must face consequences,” Anbumani stated.
He also seized the opportunity to criticize the ruling DMK government’s flagship grievance resolution initiative.
“From the outset, I have maintained that the Stalin camp serves merely as a facade to deceive the populace. To date, 3.5 million petitions have been submitted, yet over 90 percent remain unresolved. More than two million applications concerning women’s rights have been lodged, but not a single individual has had their rights acknowledged after 50 days. This stands as undeniable evidence of the program’s complete failure,” he remarked.
Anbumani further asserted that instead of fostering trust among citizens, the Stalin camp has turned into a tool to stifle dissent.
“This initiative is not designed to silence those who seek answers; it should empower the public. The arrogance of power is fleeting, and the people will deliver a lesson to those who disrespect them,” he cautioned.