CPI(M) Tamil Nadu opens party offices for inter-caste marriages

An inter-caste marriage took place at the Communist Party of India (Marxist) office in Thiruthuraipoondi on the occasion of Vinayaka Chaturthi, Wednesday.

According to police reports, for the past seven years, the bride, Amirtha, a postgraduate from Varambiyam near Thiruthuraipoondi in Tiruvarur district, had been in a relationship with the groom, Sanjaykumar, from Maathur in Pudukottai district. Sanjaykumar, who holds an undergraduate degree in business administration, was employed at a private firm in Tiruchi.

Though the couple came from different communities, both families had initially agreed to the marriage and planned to hold the ceremony at a prominent Hindu temple in Tiruvarur district on August 27. Invitations had already been printed and distributed among relatives.

However, tensions arose when Sanjaykumar’s uncle, who opposed the match, allegedly abducted him in an attempt to prevent the wedding. Following this, a complaint was filed with the Thiruthuraipoondi police seeking their help in tracing and rescuing him, Maktoob Media reported.

On Vinayaka Chathurthi, police rescued Sanjaykumar and brought him safely to the Thiruthuraipoondi police station. The wedding was later conducted that evening at the CPI(M) office in Thiruthuraipoondi.

According to a post on X by CPI(M) State Secretary P. Shanmugam, the marriage was officiated by State Committee member I.V. Nagarajan in the presence of Tiruvarur District Secretary T. Murugaiyan. The party also submitted a petition to the Thiruthuraipoondi police seeking protection for the couple.

This incident followed closely after P. Shanmugam’s announcement on Monday that inter-caste marriages facing family opposition could be held at CPI(M) offices across Tamil Nadu.

While addressing a meeting in Chennai against caste-based killings, he mentioned that a similar marriage conducted at the party’s Tirunelveli office had led to the bride’s relatives ransacking the premises.

Despite such challenges, he stressed that the CPI(M) would continue supporting inter-caste marriages and called for progressive forces from all communities to unite against caste discrimination.

P. Shanmugam recalled that in 2015, former CPI(M) Legislative Party leader A. Soundararajan had introduced a Bill in the Assembly seeking a special law to curb caste-based killings, but the proposal was rejected.

He pointed out that ongoing misunderstandings between intermediate communities and Scheduled Castes have frequently led to the murders of young couples, emphasising the urgent need for legislation to prevent honour killings carried out in the name of caste pride.

Shanmugam further stated that he, along with CPI State Secretary R. Mutharasan and VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, had already met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to request the introduction of such a law.

He mentioned that they had explained the situation to the Chief Minister for about 30 minutes and felt that Stalin appeared supportive of the demand. Shanmugam urged the government to introduce the legislation in the upcoming Assembly session.

He also highlighted the alarming scale of the issue, noting that Tirunelveli district alone recorded 240 such killings in a single year, describing the situation as “completely out of control.”