P. Shanmugam, who got justice for Vachathi victims, is CPI(M) State secretary

P. Shanmugam elected CPI(M) Tamil Nadu secretary, known for activism against police brutality, vows to oppose BJP and DMK policies.

P. Shanmugam, the secretariat member of the CPI(M), was on Sunday unanimously elected the secretary of the party’s Tamil Nadu unit at its 24th State conference in Villupuram.

Mr. Shanmugam, who was the general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Tribals’ Association, was the first person to enter Vachathi, the residents of which were subjected to brutal attacks and rape by police and forest personnel in 1992. The efforts of the association and CPI(M) leaders drew the nation’s attention to the atrocities, and succeeded in bringing about an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

A native of Peruvalanallur near Lalgudi in Tiruchi, Mr. Shanmugam was active in the SFI and became its State president and general secretary. Currently, he is the president of the Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association.

Addressing the media, Mr. Shanmugam said the party would continue to oppose the BJP.

“In Tamil Nadu, the party would also oppose the policies of the ruling DMK that affect the livelihood of the people,” he said.

Mr. Shanmugam said the flawed policies of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre had resulted in the loss of employment for the youth. 

Replying to a question on outgoing State secretary K. Balakrishnan’s criticism of the ruling DMK over the denial of permission for a rally, Mr. Shanmugam said the right to stage protests and agitations was guaranteed to all people under the Constitution, and no government could deny them the right.