The ongoing public rift between Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S Ramadoss and his son, party president Anbumani Ramadoss, has intensified with the father filing a police complaint against the son. Senior Ramadoss had lodged a police complaint with the Director General of Police (DGP) seeking effective measures to prevent Anbumani’s 100-day padayatra.
Anbumani was all set to embark on a statewide tour from July 25 to reclaim the rights of the Tamil people. Called ‘Tamil Nadu People’s Rights Retrieval Journey,’ Anbumani had launched the logo for the tour on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters at his residence in Thailapuram near Thindivanam, Ramadoss said that the police should stop Anbumani from going on the padayatra as “it will give rise to law and order problems in north Tamil Nadu.”
He also said the police should intervene and prevent anyone else from using the PMK flag during the padayatra. “As I said earlier, he cannot use my name in any context. But he can use his initial.” He also said that he has already appointed the office bearers to run the party and no one can prevent them from performing their duties. “ If anyone prevents them from doing their duties or falsely claims as office bearers they will be referred to the disciplinary action committee and will be removed from the party,” Ramadoss added. The father had actually revamped the whole party with his supporters and had expelled those who were with his son. He said the new list of office bearers appointed by him, including the honorary president, treasurer, and general secretary, have been furnished with the Election Commission of India.
Incidentally, this is the second time in the past four months the father had lodged a police complaint against the son. The first time was when he said that a bugging device was allegedly planted near his chair at his Thailapuram residence. The police have already started an investigation into this. Ramadoss called it as a spying device and said that it was a high-end device and said that it was imported from the United Kingdom. “I want the police to expedite the probe into the case. I know the person who planted the device. But I cannot reveal the names as it will affect the police investigation,” Ramadoss said.
However, the father-son fight has led to a huge rift in the party and a gap in the Vanniyar community votes, which is a larger chunk in Tamil Nadu. The PMK came up with the back of the Vanniyar reservation movement in the 1980s. With over 15 to 17 percent votes across Tamil Nadu, the Vanniyars belong to the Most Backward Class status, which was granted to them in the late 80s after the Vanniyar reservation movement taken up by Ramadoss and his PMK.