In lieu of Editorial:
We salute V.P. Singh, the Saviour of
Social Justice
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The following is the message issued by Dr. K.Veeramani, President of Dravidar Kazhagam on the demise of Thiru V.P.Singh former Prime Minister of
India on 27th November :
We are grieved beyond measure to hear the terribly sad news that former Prime Minister V.P. Singh has passed away in the Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, today (27th November).
In the history of Social Justice he has added a golden chapter by implementing the Mandal recommendation that was sought to be buried by vested interests. By opening up the portals of the Union Government jobs to the OBCs, he has earned the everlasting gratitude of millions and millions of the downtrodden people of India.
He declared that he was ready to lose his position as Prime Minister any number of times to uphold the principle of Social Justice and to promote the policy of reservation for the historically disadvantaged sections.
In this context he gave the sage counsel that we should pay the due price to achieve our ideals. Now we have lost that greatman of unfailing rectitude, a wonderful idealist. That is Nature’s pitiless course!
We live at a time when we find people in public life ready to sacrifice principles to attain position and power, but V.P. Singh was a monumental example of a rare person who had sacrificed his position as Prime Minister to uphold noble principles. Now he is enthroned in the hearts of crores of people. He was not an individual, but a movement.
He was shocked and very saddened on hearing the news of the destruction of Periyar Centre, New Delhi on December 3, 2001. He declared at public meeting on that occasion in Chennai, “If I were in Delhi on that day I would have stood before the bulldozer and lost my life rather allow the Periyar Centre to be demolished.’
V.P. Singh had not seen Periyar, but was fascinated by his principles. The followers of Periyar are indebeted to him for ever and ever.
He had greatly loved and respected Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi for more than twenty years, since they became friends in late 1980’s.
V.P. Singh took special interest in our movement, Dravidar Kazhagam, in the educational institutions run by Periyar Trusts and had unfailing love and warm regard for us.
V.P. Singh led an unsullied life. We feel his passing away as the fall of a great mountain. His loss is irreparable and hard to compensate. The socially oppressed people are orphaned by his demise.
We pay our homage to the great man, V.P. Singh who had accomplished a social revolution in the history of India.
We send our sincere and deep felt condolences to his bereaved wife and his children on behalf of Dravidar Kazhagam, followers of Periyar and on our own behalf.
Dravidar Kazhagam will observe three days mourning and the flags will fly half - mast.
Dravidar Kazhagam proposes to organise a condolence meeting in the first week of December to pay homage to V.P. Singh and to find consolation for ourselves.
