Misquoted on Vanniyars, says OPS to cool PMK

“There are comments on social media that I (Panneerselvam) have spoken against reservation for Vanniyar community. Public should not believe such baseless comments,” he said in a tweet.

Recently, at a meeting in Theni, Panneerselvam had recalled the history of PMK protests and claimed that AIADMK was not responsible for the death of 21 protesters in 1987. He had also allegedly criticised the protest.

When his comments were made viral on social media, PMK founder S Ramadoss made a series of tweets on the issue.

“Except for Vanniyar community no other community protested for 20 per cent reservation and in the protests 21 lives were lost, but former DMK chief M Karunanidhi added 107 more castes in Most Backward Classes category. So, the 20 per cent reservation should rightfully be given to Vanniyar community alone,” he said.

So the PMK has been pressurising the state to announce 20 per cent reservation before elections. Though a couple of Ministers met Ramadoss to invite him for the first election meeting in Chennai, the PMK was unhappy as the Ministers did not raise the reservation issue.

To diffuse the tension, Panneerselvan tweeted that he has been on the sides of Vanniyar community in the past and in the future too, he will work for their upliftment.