'Dalits denied entry in many temples'

By Our Staff Reporter

THANJAVUR, DEC. 20. Entry into temples still remains a distant dream for Dalits in many parts of the state and the Government should take steps to undo this injustice, Mr. John Pandiyan, president Thamizhaga Munnetra Kazhagam said here today.

Talking to presspersons, he said Dalits were barred from entering temples at Maranthai in Ramanathapuram district, Kandadevi in Sivaganga district and in many places in Tirunelveli district. If the Government did not act, volunteers of his party would organise agitations and enter temples.

Mr. Pandiyan said the TMK did not favour a third front in Tamil Nadu. Joining either the DMK-led front or the AIADMK-led front would be decided at the time of elections. But his party would not join the front in which Mr. Krishnaswamy's Pudhiya Thamizhagam was a member.

He said he toured the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam and found the samba crop starving for water.

He demanded release of adequate water from Mettur to save the crop.

He contested the claim made by the DMK Government that it had provided infrastructure facilities to villages.

He said there were no proper approach roads to many villages. There were villages which had no electricity, he claimed.

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Section  : Southern States
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