In an alleged instance of caste dominance and misogyny in Krishnagiri district’s Athipaadi panchayat in Uthangarai, a newly constructed concrete base for a flag pole was vandalised by PMK cadre at the instigation of a ruling DMK functionary on Saturday. The desecrated base, still wet with cement, was to bear a plaque etched with the name of the first woman Schedule Caste panchayat president Sudha Kumar, a DMK member herself.
The vandalism took place hours after the construction of the base. Hoisting the national flag and presiding over the Gram Sabha on Independence Day, Ms. Sudha told The Hindu the flag base was constructed after the concurrence of everyone.
“The old pole was rusted and boys climb it to fasten the flag. I felt since it is the 75 th year of Independence celebrations, it would be good to have a new pole [with a concrete base]. The o oru gounder (unelected nominal village head) and others had agreed, and the construction began on Saturday. That same night, we got a call saying the ex-panchayat president Moorthy (DMK) and some PMK men were destroying the pedestal,” she said.
