The Hindu : `Remove untouchability'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

`Remove untouchability'

By Our Staff Reporter

Thanjavur Dec. 25. Removing untouchability, still prevailing in the society, will be the best homage to 44 martyrs, burnt alive at Keelavenmani in Nagapattinam district on December 25, 1968 by landlords, said N. Varadarajan, State secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist), today.

He along with other party leaders placed wreaths at the memorial in the village.

Later speaking to presspersons, he said the Government itself has accepted that untouchability prevailed in 1000 villages in the State. ``Mortal remains of the Keelavenmani martyrs might have been consumed in flames. But the feelings and the objectives they stood for like land for tillers, welfare of labourers remain to be fulfilled. The pledge to be taken on this day is to remove untouchability''.

The CPI (M) would take out `Prachara Jatas' from Udhagamandalm, Krishnagiri, Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari and Chennai on January 26 next and issue pamphlets on untouchability, unemployment, labour problems, communalism and create an awareness among the people on the need for supporting a secular front. The Jata would converge in Madurai on February 5.

In the evening, R. Umanath, politburo member, R. Nallakannu, State CPI secretary; N. Srinivasan, Thanjavur district CPI (M) president and others paid homage. People from various parts of the State paid homage at the memorial.

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