Chennai: After a viral video showed a shopkeeper denying candy to Dalit kids due to local diktats, two persons were arrested by Tenkasi district police on Saturday. The viral video showed the shopkeeper denying candies for the kids "owing to local diktats" and he was also seen saying that the children should not visit the shops in the village anymore.
In the viral video, a shopkeeper from Tenkasi is found denying candy to the Dalit kids of Adi Dravidar school. He is found saying that there had been a meeting in the village and they have decided to not sell anything to them. He also added that the children should not come to the shops in the village.
He told the children to inform about it to their parents as well.
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After the video went viral, Tenkasi police said, “A discriminatory video pertaining to KV Nallur area in Tenkasi district has been found circulating in social media platforms today (Friday). Took cognizance of it and immediately an FIR has been registered and will be investigated. Action is being taken as per law”
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The incident took place a day before Tamil Nadu Social Justice Day. Last year, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin announced that every year the birthday of the father of Dravidian movement Periyar, September 17, will be celebrated as the social justice day.
On Saturday, Stalin also paid respect to Periyar on his 144 birth anniversary in Chennai.
However, while Tamil Nadu hails itself as the land of social justice the viral video showing caste discrimination against Dalit has sent shock waves across the state.