December 2:
Birthday Greetings to our Leader Dr.K.Veeramani, Leader of Periyar movement, President of Dravidar Kazhagam, Chancellor of Periyar Maniammai University, on his 84th birthday.
Social Revolutionary Periyar and Periyar movement has done yeomen service in the field of social justice, which we all know.
Two historic and significant events expose the contributions of our Leader Dr.K.Veeramani.
In 1979, then Chief Minister of Tamilnadu Dr.MGR brought income criteria to determine the backwardness of a community for availing reservation in education and jobs for Backward Classes in the State of Tamilnadu. He issued a GO whereby families belonging to BC community earning annual salary of Rs.9000 and above per annum are not eligible to avail reservation of 31% to their sons/daughters in the matter of education and employment in Tamilnadu.
It was Dr.K.Veeramani who fired the first shot against the GO issued by MGR, which triggered a series of protests from all political parties, social organizations. Result: In the Parliamentary election that held subsequent to this order, MGR tasted the first defeat in his political life. Realising the gravity and ground reality of the situation, MGR called an all party meeting and leader Dr.Veeramani was asked to explain the ill effects of Rs.9000 GO.
Thereafter, MGR not only withdrew the GO but also enhanced the reservation to BCs from 31% to 50%, thus making the total reservation to 68%. Then during Dr.Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s term, he introduced 1% reservation for ST and thus 69% reservation to BC, SC and ST was implemented in Tamilnadu.
The second event was after the Supreme Court verdict on 27% reservation to OBCs in Central Government jobs introduced by Saviour of Social Justice Hon’ble V.P.Singh. While upholding the 27% reservation, Hon’ble Judges further ordered that reservation percentage should not go beyong 50%.
Based on this judgement, petition was filed in Supreme Court by vested interests against 69% reservation that was in force in Tamilnadu. Unfortunately, Supreme Court stayed 69% in 1993.
Again our Leader Dr.Veeramani protested and gathered the public opinion and urged the State Government to protect the 69% reservation. Further, citing Article 31-C of the Indian Constitution, Dr.Veeramani sent a draft bill and the same was accepted by Dr.J.Jayalalitha, who was also CM during that period. The Bill was enacted in State Assembly and the same was assented by President of India on 19th July 1994. Thereafter, the same was included in ninth schedule of Indian Constitution.
It was the first Reservation Act in India that was enacted by a State Government and included in 9th schedule to gain protection from legal hurdles.
The above two historic events initiated and succeeded by Leader Dr.Veeramani, will ever be remembered by the BC, SC and ST sections including Minorities of Tamilnadu.
Once again our respectful greetings and wishes to our Leader Dr.Veeramani on his birthday for a healthy and active life and service for the deprived sections who form the majority of this country.
-G.Karunanidhy, Gen.Secretary, AIOBC Federation
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