Hindu Munnani has urged the Election Commission to closely scrutinise candidates contesting from reserved constituencies in Tamil Nadu, alleging that some are attempting to enter these seats using improper caste certificates.
In a statement issued in Tiruppur, state president Kadeswara Subramaniam said Tamil Nadu has 234 Assembly constituencies, of which 46 are reserved. He claimed that certain individuals who have converted to Christianity or other faiths, or follow those religious practices, are obtaining certificates and contesting as members of Hindu Scheduled Castes.
The organisation argued that reserved constituencies are meant for Hindu Scheduled Caste candidates and cited a recent Supreme Court ruling which, it said, clearly states that converts cannot avail Scheduled Caste benefits.
Hindu Munnani alleged that some people who obtained Scheduled Caste certificates in childhood later changed religion but continue to use earlier documents to contest, affecting the rights of Scheduled Caste communities.
It demanded that the Election Commission conduct a proper verification of candidates and their caste certificates, cancel allegedly fake certificates, and reject such nominations. It also called for direct inquiry into objections raised across parties, and asked tahsildars to monitor candidates in their respective constituencies and take immediate action where false certification is confirmed.
