DMK leader claims Narikuravar students forcibly removed from government bus

Manickam Tagore, a senior leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), has raised serious allegations that students belonging to the Narikuravar community were forcibly removed from a state-operated bus in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu. The incident has sparked debate over discrimination against the historically marginalized community in access to public services. Tagore's allegations come at a time when Tamil Nadu continues to grapple with caste-based discrimination in various sectors, particularly in educational access. The Narikuravar community, traditionally classified as a nomadic group, has long faced social and economic barriers to education and public service access. Authorities in Pudukkottai district have not yet issued an official response to the allegations. The incident has drawn attention to potential gaps in enforcement of anti-discrimination policies in public transport systems across the state.