In a bid to forge a social alliance of like-minded outfits, VCK founder and MP Thol. Thirumavalavan on Sunday met the office-bearers of the Dalit Panthers of India’s Maharashtra unit. The meeting took place in Goa.
Mr. Thirumavalavan has been seeking new avenues to build his party by taking part in events in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh organised by the party units. Recently, he unveiled the statue of the Father of the Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar, along with Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, at an event organised by the Adi Dravida Mahajana Sangam at Dharavi in Mumbai.
On that occasion, Mr. Thirumavalavan, while reiterating that Dr. Ambedkar should not be regarded only as the leader of the Dalits, said that though he and Mr. Athawale were on opposite sides of the political spectrum [Athawale is a BJP ally], they would join forces if there was a threat to the Scheduled Caste population in India.
