‘Ambedkar Would Be Ashamed If He Were Alive Today’: TVK Chief Vijay Slams BJP, DMK For Atrocities Against Dalits

Last Updated:December 07, 2024, 10:20 IST

The actor-turned-politician blamed both the Centre and Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK for straying widely from the path shown by the icon

Actor Vijay, who has declared his political ambition for Tamil Nadu, will contest the 2026 elections. (PTI)

Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay has said India’s revered jurist and social reformer BR Ambedkar “would hang his head in shame" looking at the “still-downtrodden" social position held by Dalits today as he sought to blame both the Centre and Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK for straying widely from the path shown by the icon.

Vijay was speaking at a book launch in Chennai, held alongside Ambedkar’s death anniversary on December 6.

“Thinking about Ambedkar, one cannot but think about law and order and the state’s role in keeping it intact. But, looking at what is happening in Manipur, it is clear there is a government ruling us without giving a shred of attention to what is happening there," he said.

Continuing his attack on governments, Vijay took a hit at the DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu government. “In Tamil Nadu, we all know what happened in Vengaivayal," he said, alluding to a village in Pudukottai district where miscreants befouled the drinking water allocated to a Dalit community, allegedly a casteist crime. “The government [TN] does not seem to have taken any action."

“If Ambedkar were alive today, he would hang his head in shame. We see and read about so many atrocities against our people. To solve this once and for all, we need the only solution — a government that truly loves its people," Vijay thundered, and raised his hands in a celebratory gesture, setting waves of festivity across the crowds.

The current DMK government is in alliance with VCK, led by Thol Thirumavalavan, who has been a long-standing proponent of Dalit rights. Vijay said “governments completely dependent on alliance arithmetic" with little regard for people welfare will be taught a lesson in the 2026 state polls.

Interestingly, Thirumavalan announced on Friday morning that he wouldn’t participate in the book launch. Vijay blamed pressure from the alliance partner, alluding to the DMK, for Thirumavalan’s absence and said: “his [Thiruma’s] heart is nevertheless here".

Actor Vijay, who has declared his political ambition for Tamil Nadu, will contest the 2026 elections. After the mammoth success of his first political extravaganza in Vikravandi, his next conference will be announced soon.

News politics ‘Ambedkar Would Be Ashamed If He Were Alive Today’: TVK Chief Vijay Slams BJP, DMK For Atrocities Against Dalits