“British rule paved way for emergence of Justice Party”

Though there is no difference of opinion that the British should leave the country, non-Brahmins could not have received education but for the British rule in India, Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan said on Saturday.

Participating in a function organised to commemorate the 95th year of the Justice Party, he said though British treated their subjects as slaves, they acknowledged their rights and provided them education.

Mr. Anbazhagan said even if poets like Bharathiyar and Tamil scholars such as Parithimarkalaignar viewed Tamil as a great language and their works had a sense of objectivity, the credit should go to the British rule that effected a change in their attitude.

He argued that the change brought in by the British rule paved the way for emergence of Justice Party which first raised its voice for the rights of non-Brahmins.

Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani said in four months time all efforts would be completed to install the statues of Pitty Thiyagarayar, T.M. Nair, C. Natesan and Muthiah Mudaliar, the founders of Justice Party.

Former Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly A. Eswar Reddy and University of Madras Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam were among those who participated.