AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam on Monday assailed the DMK regime for having taken a stand against the inclusion of Badagas in the list of the Scheduled Tribes (STs).
In a statement, Mr. Panneerselvam referred to the reported observations of Forest Minister K. Ramachandran on the issue, wherein he was said to have ruled out the possibility of their inclusion in the STs list. The AIADMK leader also recalled the ruling party’s assurance in this regard at the time of the Assembly election. He pointed out that former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had, in September 2003 and later in July 2011, demanded that the community be brought under the ST category.
