Sun Sep 14 10:29:24 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**New CPI Secretary Calls for Social Science Education to Combat Caste System in Tamil Nadu**

CHENNAI – Mu. Veerapandian, the newly-elected Tamil Nadu State secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), has stated that laws alone are insufficient to eradicate the deeply-rooted caste system. Speaking to The Hindu on Sunday, September 14, 2025, Veerapandian emphasized the need for continuous social science education aimed at challenging the notion of superiority based on birth.

“Law offers protection, but the vital point is to subject caste to questioning,” Veerapandian said. “Social science, questioning the superiority based on caste, should be taught in classrooms.” His comments came in response to calls from Left parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) for a law to prevent ‘honour’ killings in Tamil Nadu.

Veerapandian, a 63-year-old native of Vyasarpadi in Chennai, replaces R. Mutharasan as state secretary. He highlighted Tamil Nadu’s rich culture and tradition, suggesting the state could reach greater heights with the elimination of the caste system. He also warned against the rising threat of communal forces and fundamentalism to the state’s tolerant ideals and parliamentary democracy. “Tamil Nadu is a modern State known for its tolerance towards differing ideas…But all its lofty ideals are under threat from fundamentalism,” he said.

While acknowledging the CPI’s numerical limitations, Veerapandian affirmed the party’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding democracy and unity, stating that communists have consistently been at the forefront of defending these principles. He referenced Inderjit Gupta, a late communist leader who won the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 1992, as evidence of the party’s contributions.

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