Chennai: Against the backdrop of a leadership struggle in the party, the PMK protest demanding 10.5% quota for vanniyars turned into a show of strength by party president Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday in Villupuram.Speaking amid PMK cadre who gathered from various districts, Anbumani said that ideally vanniyars should be given 18% reservation proportionate to their population. But the 10.5% quota was non–negotiable, he said.Party founder S Ramadoss skipped the protest organized by Anbumani and cracked down on Anbumani supporters by announcing that three PMK MLAs who participated in the stir were being suspended from the party.Nevertheless, Anbumani praised his father Ramadoss during the protest which coincided with the 46th foundation day of Vanniyar Sangam. Anbumani said the ‘45 year long protest’ by Ramadoss for a separate reservation for vanniyars was longer than the independence struggle undertaken by Gandhi. “Gandhi came to India in 1915 and protested for India’s independence until 1947. When compared to that protest, the protest by our ayya (Ramadoss) for a separate reservation for Vanniyars is even longer,” Anbumani said.Anbumani attacked the DMK govt for not providing reservation for vanniyars while using the community to get votes. “As many as 23 of the 133 DMK MLAs and 5 MPs are vanniyars, but the party is refusing to provide reservation for vanniyars. Even vanniyar MLAs in DMK are not demanding separate quota for the community,” Anbumani said.Earlier, Ramadoss hoisted the Vanniyar Sangam flag at his Thailapuram residence marking the foundation day. Speaking to reporters, Ramadoss said he “wishes success for everyone who protests for the vanniyar cause.”However, after the protest, Ramadoss announced that three party MLAs, S Sadhasivam (Mettur), C Sivakumar (Mailam), and S P Venkateshwaran (Dharmapuri), and party spokesperson K Balu will be suspended from the party for “acting against the interest of the party.”
