Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has declared the decision to celebrate the birth anniversary (September 17) of Periyar’ E.V. Ramasamy, a well-known social reformer and founder of Dravidar Kazhagam as ‘Day of Social Justice’ in Tamil Nadu.
Chief Minister M K Stalin recalled ‘Periyar’ eventful life and said that he spoke and wrote words that others hesitated to utter.
Abolition of caste and equality of men and women were the reformer’s two primary principles, M K Stalin said.
“The first amendment to the Indian Constitution came about because of this man, who never went to the Parliament,” Mr. Stalin said. Periyar questioned all that were against these two principles and posed questions based on science and went on to motivate people to question like him, Mr. Stalin pointed out.
Legislators of opposition parties also welcomed M K Stalin’s announcement. PMK floor leader G.K. Mani (Pennagaram), BJP floor leader Nainar Nagendran (Tirunelveli), AIADMK legislator R. Vaithilingam (Orathanadu) and MLA M. Jagan Moorthy (Kilvaithinankuppam) spoke in support of the announcement.
