Why is PMK Protesting in Villupuram for Vanniyar Reservation?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PMK protests for Vanniyar community rights.
- Supreme Court ruling remains unimplemented.
- Anbumani Ramadoss leads the demonstration.
- Calls for social justice for all communities.
- Warning of escalating protests.
Chennai, July 20 (NationPress) The president of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Anbumani Ramadoss, spearheaded a significant protest in Villupuram on Sunday, advocating for the Tamil Nadu government to enforce internal reservation for the Vanniyar community, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
The demonstration took place at the municipal ground adjacent to the new bus stand, attracting thousands of PMK supporters, including influential party MLAs Sadhasivam, Venkateswaran, and Shivakumar.
This agitation was organized to denounce the DMK government for its persistent refusal to apply the 10.5 percent internal quota for the Vanniyar community under the Most Backward Classes (MBC) category, even though the Supreme Court upheld the reservation 1,208 days ago.
While carrying a banner stating “DMK: Betrayer of Social Justice,” Anbumani launched a fierce critique of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the ruling DMK, accusing them of abandoning the Vanniyar community.
“The Supreme Court has explicitly stated that internal reservation and a caste-based census for the Vanniyars can be enacted. If the DMK genuinely championed social justice, it would have implemented the reservation within a month of the ruling,” Anbumani emphasized.
He highlighted that the DMK comprises 28 MLAs, five MPs, and four ministers from the Vanniyar community.
“Has any one of them advocated for this reservation? Their silence is telling,” he remarked.
Issuing a strong warning, Anbumani announced that PMK would escalate its protest if their demands remain unmet.
“If the DMK continues to ignore us, our next course of action will be a mass jail-filling protest. If that fails, we will take to the streets and obstruct roads statewide. This isn't solely a Vanniyar issue; it represents a struggle for social justice for all communities,” he stated.
He urged the public to send a message to the DMK in the upcoming elections.
“Not a single vote should be cast for the DMK in the next election. Let this be a definitive message to Stalin and his administration,” he declared.
This protest in Villupuram signifies a crucial escalation in PMK’s fight for Vanniyar rights, underscoring the widening rift between the party and the ruling DMK as the 2026 assembly elections approach.