Ilayaperumal Centenary Memorial will be set up in Chidambaram: Stalin

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday announced that a memorial would be constructed in commemoration of the centenary of former state Congress president and champion of Dalit rights L Elayaperumal of Cuddalore.

Making a statement under Rule 110 of the State Assembly, Stalin said that the Dravidian model government considers it a duty to celebrate a social revolutionary like Elayaperumal who valiantly fought for social reform like Ayothidas Pandithar, Rettamalai Srinivasan, MC Raja, N Sivaraj and LC Gurusamy. Crediting Elayaperumal with opening the "gates of rights" for scheduled caste people across the country, Stalin said that Elayaperumal led major social struggles in the integrated south Arcot district (Thanjavur) that triggered an uprising among the scheduled caste people.

Informing that even the great BR Ambedkar was surprised by the sheer number of protests he had led against untouchability in South Arcot district, the CM said that Elayaperumal had served as the MLA of Egmore from 1980 to 1984, MP for three terms, president of the state Congress and All India Untouchability Eradication Committee president.

Recalling former DMK president M Karunanidhi's participation in the social justice conference of Indian Human Rights Party, the Chief Minister told the House that they must resolve to uproot the caste structure to eradicate untouchability.