The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has asked the managing director of Murasoli Trust Udhayanidhi Stalin to appear before before the commission on November 19 in Chennai in connection with the Panchami land issue. Panchami land is the land assigned to be distributed for the Scheduled Caste people in Tamil Nadu during the British rule in 1892. It can neither be sold nor re-classified.
The case relates to allegations that the Chennai office of DMK mouthpiece Murasoli is constructed on Panchami land. The Murasoli building is located in Kodambakkam, one of the prominent areas in Chennai.
The summons has been sent to Murasoli Trust’s managing director Udhayanidhi Stalin and Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam based on a complaint filed by the BJP.
“It is directed to inform that Dr L. Murugan, honourable vice chairman, NCSC headquarters, New Delhi, has re-fixed hearing in the above case with your good self on 19.11.2019,” reads the notice. Shanmugam and Udhayanidhi Stalin have been asked to appear before the commission with “up-to-date action taken report and all relevant documents, including the relevant files, case diaries to facilitate the hearing.”
The commission has also asked the petitioner, prof. R Srinivasan, BJP state secretary, to be present on the day of hearing.
Originally, it was PMK founder leader DR S. Ramadoss who raised the issue, a few days before the bypolls to Vikravandi and Nanguneri constituencies after DMK’s M.K. Stalin spoke about reservation to Vanniyar community. Responding to Ramadoss’s charge, Stalin shared the 1985 deed of the Murasoli land. But BJP’s Tada Periyasamy, who has been copied by the NCSC commission, said only the original documents dating back to 1923 permanent register can prove if Murasoli office is located in Panchami land or not. Meanwhile, Srinivasan filed a complaint with the NCSC, seeking action in this regard.
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However, in a detailed statement, Stalin had clarified that Murasoli is not located in Panchami land and that it will be proved in the appropriate forum and time. But it seems, off late, be it the Panchami land issue, Saffron robe for Thiruvalluvar or the Stalin’s MISA detention issue, the BJP seems to be playing its card to discredit DMK in the state. Stalin, who rode his party to a massive victory in the Lok Sabha polls, has been facing trouble over these minor issues.
While the BJP’s intention in the state is to oppose DMK politically and discredit it, the manner in which the NCSC has acted in this issue is surprising, according to political observers. In fact, the commission had already sought an explanation from the chief secretary of Tamil Nadu.
“More than legal, this Panchami land is a political issue. Though there may not be any immediate serious repercussions, the DMK is facing yet another salvo fired by the BJP. It may be an irony of sorts that the Dravidian major DMK, which commands more than 25 percent of votes, is forced to fight the saffron party which is having a tug of war with NOTA as far as its vote bank is concerned in the state,” says senior journalist R. Mani.
