Chennai: BJP councillor tears Chandru panel report

CHENNAI: The lone BJP councillor in the Greater Chennai Corporation Council, Uma Anandan, on Monday tore up Justice K Chandru’s report on eliminating caste discrimination in schools and walked out of council meeting .
When the council reconvened after a three-month election break, Uma Anandan wanted mayor R Priya to pass a resolution against the report, claiming that it was “against the majority Hindu religion.” The mayor rejected the demand, saying the council’s discussions should be limited to civic issues, prompting DMK councillors to urge Anandan to sit down.
Anandan then tore up the report and left the hall. VCK councillor Ambedvalan immediately called for her suspension from the council for three months.
Speaking to reporters outside the council hall, Uma criticised the report’s suggestions for schools to prohibit students from wearing coloured wristbands, rings or forehead marks that are caste markers. “The report is biased and the GCC council should condemn it. As they did not, I tore up the report,” she said.
Justice Chandru committee was appointed by the state govt in Sept 2023 following the attack on a 17-year-old dalit student by his classmates in Nanguneri.