“Name Madurai airport after Thevar and Dalit leader”
Government should pave way for harmony in southern districts: Krishnasamy
MADURAI: The Tamil Nadu Government should name the Madurai airport jointly after freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar and Dalit martyr Immanuel Sekaran, Puthiya Tamilagam president K. Krishnasamy said here on Tuesday.
“The Government should come forward to pave way for harmony (among warring castes) in southern districts,” he told reporters. He criticised the proposal to name the airport after Thevar, saying it “violated” the decision of an all-party meeting in 1997 not to name any government organisation after caste leaders.
The British Government had snatched over 1,000 acres from Dalits at Chinna Udaippu to construct an air-strip for military purpose in 1932, 1935 and 1942. Again, their land was acquired for the airport in 1950 and 1999.
“Such being the case, it will be befitting if the airport is named after Immanuel Sekaran, relative of those who had given their land. However, we are generous enough (for a compromise) to jointly name the airport after the Thevar and Dalit leaders,” Dr. Krishnasamy said.
The State Government could reverse its 1997 decision only after elucidating the views of all parties, he said.
Alleging that oppression of Dalits was increasing, he condemned the State Government for its “anti-Dalit” attitude.
Earlier, he was arrested and released by the district police while proceeding to Ramanathapuram to pay condolence to a Dalit teacher murdered recently.
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