Periyar, Ambedkar and Nehru References Dropped From TN Policy Note

CHENNAI — A political controversy has emerged after the policy note for the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department omitted historical references to social reformer Thanthai Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, B.R. Ambedkar, and Jawaharlal Nehru that were included in previous government documents.

The policy note, which was tabled in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday, removed a section that had been detailed in the 2024 document. That earlier text highlighted Periyar’s role in the 1951 agitation against the Supreme Court’s striking down of the Communal Government Order (GO).

The previous document had also linked that agitation to the First Constitutional Amendment introduced by then Prime Minister Nehru and law minister Ambedkar. The amendment introduced Article 15(4), enabling the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes. References to the Justice Party’s contribution to Tamil Nadu’s social justice movement were also excluded from the newly tabled note.

The omission prompted criticism, with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) general secretary Sinthanai Selvan publishing a social media post questioning the exclusion of the names and references from the 2026–2027 policy note.

On Friday, Minister V. Sampath Kumar addressed the Assembly during the debate on the demands for grants. He stated that the foundation of the government remained laid on Periyar’s core ideology of "Everything for Everyone" ("Ellarkkum Ellam").