Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded the election bugle in Tamil Nadu during his visit to the state on Sunday as he reached out to the Dalit sub-sect of the Devendrakula Vellalar community.Addressing a gathering in Chennai, the Prime Minister announced that the Centre had accepted the community's long-standing demand to be known by their heritage name of Devendrakula Vellalar.As of now, seven communities use the Vellalar surname as listed in the Schedule to the Constitution.
Prime Minister Modi further announced that the draft Gazette to amend the constitutional schedule to correct their name as Devendrakula Vellalar had been approved by the central government.Thanking the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamgovernment for the detailed study done on this demand, the Prime Minister recalled the 2015 meeting in New Delhi with representatives of Devendrars.Prime Minister Modi said, "Their sadness could be seen. Colonial rulers took away their pride and dignity. For decades nothing happened. They told me, they pleaded and pleaded to governments but nothing changed. I told them one thing. I said that their name Devender rhymes with my own name- Narendra."
"I understand their emotions. This decision is more than a change of name. It is about justice, dignity and opportunity. We all have lots to learn from the culture of the Devendrakula community. They celebrate harmony, friendship and brotherhood. Theirs was a civilisational movement. It shows their self-confidence and self-pride," he added.Social Justice and Empowerment Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar had on Saturday introduced the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which sought to combine seven Scheduled Caste communities in parts of Tamil Nadu under Devendrakula Vellalars.The Bill, however, does not address their major demand of removing their caste from the Scheduled Caste list.
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