Chennai: For once, the BJP workers have taken a cue from the comrades in Tamil Nadu. On Monday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) announced that its party offices would be open to young couples who want to solemnise love marriages, especially inter-caste unions. BJP former state president K. Annamalai soon followed suit.
“In a society where honour killings and caste oppression still exist, couples who choose love marriages—particularly inter-caste marriages—face enormous hostility from their own families and society. Since there is no safe avenue, we are opening all our CPI(M) offices to them. They can walk in, find protection and we will help them legally register their marriage,” Shanmugam said in a post on ‘X’ on Monday evening.
At Pudukkottai district, a young couple, Pragadeeshwaran and Aishwarya, got married at the CPI(M) office on the day of announcement.
The party’s move comes after a Dalit software engineer was brutally murdered for being in relationship with a dominant caste girl in Tirunelveli district. The youth, a native of Tirunelveli district, was killed allegedly by the girl’s brother, when he reached the hospital where she worked.
The CPI(M)’s announcement taps into its long-standing ideological position, championing inter-caste harmony and social justice. Party leaders framed the initiative not just as an act of support for individuals in distress but also as part of a fight against caste oppression.
“Caste has divided this society for centuries. Inter-caste marriages strike at the very roots of this hierarchy. We want to tell young people that they are not alone. Our offices will serve as your shelter,” Shanmugam said, while emphasising the need to bring in a separate law against honour killings.
Following the footsteps, Annamalai also announced that party offices would be open for the young couples to marry.
“What CPI(M) has said is welcome. But beyond symbolism, Tamil Nadu requires a strong legal framework. Honour killings continue to claim innocent lives. We demand that the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) government bring in a special law addressing honour killings with stringent punishment,” the former BJP state chief told reporters in Madurai.
While existing sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) cover murder and criminal conspiracy, he said, a dedicated law would help deter families from resorting to violence against their children.
Both the CPI(M) and the BJP move has put the ruling DMK in a tight spot. The DMK, which traces its ideological roots to Periyar’s rationalist movement, has been historically supporting inter-caste marriages. Yet, it has stopped short of bringing in a law against honour killing cases, despite repeated demands from the political parties in the southern state.
On Friday, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thirumavalavan took Kavin’s family members to meet Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. After meeting the CM, Thirumavalavan told the media that they have sought protection for the family of Kavin as they are still in the same village.
“They felt insecure in their home town. Hence, we met the chief minister and requested to make necessary arrangements for their protection in the same place,” Thirumavalavan said, adding that they have already demanded the CM to bring in a separate law against honour killing cases.
Apart from its strong emphasis on Tamil nationalism, the VCK campaigns against caste-based discrimination and violence, particularly concerning the Dalits.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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