Families of Vanniyar reservation martyrs also deserve State government jobs, says Anbumani

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday demanded that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay provide government jobs to family heirs of those persons killed in the police firing during the Vanniyar reservation agitation, just as his government had done for the family members of the Karur stampede victims.

In a statement, he said that while the compassion shown by Mr. Vijay was welcome, such relief should not be limited to one group alone, and it should be extended to everyone who had suffered in similar circumstances across different periods. Similar assistance should also be provided to the families of the 25 people — including 21 who were killed in the police firing and others who died due to various forms of repression — during the week-long road blockade agitation that began on September 17, 1987, he asserted.

Dr. Anbumani added: “The families of those who were shot dead during the reservation agitation have every right to receive government employment and other forms of assistance. The government has both the duty and responsibility to provide them.”