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“Temples Will Not Be Disturbed”: CMRL & TN Govt Assure Madras HC, Metro Route Re-Aligned At Virugambakkam

By
The Commune
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On 4 January 2023, the Tamil Nadu Government and the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) assured the Madras High Court that the historic Kaliamman Temple and Sundara Varadaraja Perumal temple structures in Virugambakkam, Chennai will not be affected in the course of construction of the metro.

Earlier on 19 December 2022, the Chennai Corporation issued a demolition notice for the Sri Kaliamman Temple in Virugambakkam. The Assistant Executive Engineer of the Greater Chennai Corporation had written to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chennai, seeking protection for the removal of encroachments. This notice came despite assurances to the court that monuments and temple structure would not be used for the metro rail project.

The Madras High Court had previously issued an order on November 5, 2020, while hearing a batch of petitions against the encroachment of temple land, stating that the temple land should not be used for other purposes. The court observed that temples in Tamil Nadu are not only a source of identification of the ancient culture but also a testimony to the pride and knowledge of talent in the fields of arts, science, and sculpture. The Madras High Court also rebuked the HR&CE Department, which is the custodian of temple properties, for failing to protect the temple’s interests.

As the demolition notice came to light, Aalayam Kaapom, an outfit of temple activists and other Hindu outfits like Hindu Munnani protested against the demolition of the temple structure. Temple activists alleged that the GCC, which attempted to take over the temple for Metro work, found a way to demolish the temple by labeling it as an encroachment. The issue was reported by The Commune on 21 December 2022.

With the opposition to demolition gaining momentum, the CMRL has reportedly realigned the metro rail route in Virugambakkam so as to not disturb the temple structures.

Temple activist Gouthaman welcomed the move saying that this positive development came as a result of 3 Public Interest Litigations filed at the court. He added that all temples located on government poromboke land (waste lands) stands at the risk of annhilation if the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department do not take any measures.

History Of The Dispute

Arulmigu Sri Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple said to be at least 800 years old temple is located in the Virugambakkam suburb of Chennai. The Sunguvar Brahmin community had donated lands in the region for the maintenance of the temple.

As per 1910 records, these lands were shown being under the Taluk Board which over a period of time were encroached on by land sharks. The temple pond however existed which was also gobbled up by encroachments. The erstwhile temple pond is now a garbage dump.

A Muslim party had tried to grab a portion of this land belonging to the temple to build a mosque. The local mosque committee, which planned to build a mosque registered three acres of the illegally occupied land in its name with the help of government officials.

After a long drawn court struggle, the Chennai collector rejected Muslim party’s claims and restored the lands to the Taluk Board. Since these lands are in the name of the Taluk Board, efforts are underway to reclaim the land and the temple pond in the temple’s name.

Adjacent to the Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple is a small Kaliamman temple which also has a pond that currently has been encroached and efforts to reclaim this pond are also under way.

Controversy erupted, when the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) attempted to take over the temple and its pond for Metro work in December 2020. According to reports, the Metro work was originally planned on private lands near the temple, but the GCC changed its mind and decided to lay metro lanes through the temple.

In June 2022, the Madras High Court dismissed a writ petition filed against the takeover of the lands of Sri Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple and Thirukkachi Nambigal Temple in Poonnamalle, Chennai.

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“Dalit Christian” Woman Writer Threatened By DMK MLA Who Had Allegedly Forced Corporation Worker To Clean Sewer

By
The Commune
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Shalin Maria Lawrence, who identifies herself as a ‘Dalit Christian writer’ and an ‘anti-caste activist’ has been threatened by RK Nagar DMK MLA J.J. Ebenezer for a social media post against him in which she alleged that he forced a corporation worker to clean the sewer.

Earlier, the incident involving a man digging a drain with his bare hands in front of a DMK MLA had sparked widespread outrage. The public complained at the time that water could not flow through the aqueduct in a nearby street and that the sewer was blocked.

DMK MLA Ebenezer, who immediately went to the location, was enraged to see it lying like a drain. Following that, he chastised the corporation officials who had accompanied him, and they summoned a corporation employee to clean the drain. Without any safety equipment, the employee threw the waste out with his elbow-sized hand inside.

As the video has gone viral on social media, questions and criticisms have been raised about how the MLA allowed the municipal employee to dig the drain with his bare hands and without any safety equipment.

This was shared by Shalin Maria Lawrence as well who said “This is a crime under Prevention of manual scavenging act and SC/ST POA. Does this government have a conscious?!”

BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai too called for taking action against the MLA under the Prevention of Atrocities Act.

With the incident gaining traction, the DMK MLA resorted to threatening the ‘Dalit Christian’ woman writer.

Following the threat, ‘activist’ Shalin who often criticizes the BJP as a fascist party, wrote in anguish that she will not criticize DMK state government henceforth.

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Annamalai Takes Dravidian Stockist Media To The Cleaners, Exposes Puthiya Thalaimurai Journo’s Bias

By
The Commune
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Afraid of exposing the ruling DMK’s corruption, Puthiya Thalaimurai reporter, who dared Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai to provide evidence of DMK’s corruption, fled Annamalai’s press conference when presented with the evidence. The reporter made an excuse, saying that he would only publish the evidence if the state president of the BJP came to the Puthiya Thalaimurai office.

Annamalai, the Tamil Nadu BJP president, met with the press today in Kamalalayam, T Nagar, Chennai. He discussed a wide range of issues, including the BGR energy issue, the Rafale watch, DMK functionaries molesting a female police officer, suspicion in DMK ex-MP Mastan’s death, a DMK MLA forcing a corporation laborer to clean drainage with bare hands, and others. Certain DMK supporters disguised as journalists began interfering with Annamalai as he launched his attack on the ruling DMK government.

Murugesan, a reporter for Puthiya Thalaimurai, questioned Annamalai “You are condemning the Mastan (DMK ex-MP) murder but prefer to remain silent about the murder that happened in the Isha Foundation,” for which Annamalai responded,” It was the police who said Mastan might have been murdered. I’m just quoting the police. But did the police report the death near the Isha Foundation as a murder? How are you saying that as a murder? ”

Knowing he had been caught red-handed because of Annamalai’s logical question, the reporter lied, saying, “I did not use the term murder.”

Annamalai questioned, “Why did you refer to it as murder? Do you know anything about the case? Did you witness the murder? So, why did you use the word murder?”

Annamalai’s question stumped the journalist, who lied again, saying, “I quoted politicians saying that it was a murder in Isha Foundation.”

The journalist was stumped by Annamalai’s question and lied again saying,” I quoted politicians saying that it was a murder in Isha Foundation.” Annamalai questioned the reporter’s dishonesty once more, saying, “You did not mention politicians calling it a murder while shooting your question. You claimed that the death near Isha was the result of the murder. As a journalist, you referred to it as murder. So, do you have any ties to the murderers? Do I have to answer if you call it murder?”

Annamalai also claimed that journalists working for media outlets funded by the Tamil Nadu government’s Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) are engaging in propaganda journalism with an agenda and acting as the DMK government’s mouthpiece.

Puthiyathalaimurai journalist who was irritated by Annamalai’s exposure said,” How can you blame us? Do you have any evidence to back up your claim? Have you ever provided evidence for your claim?”

Annamalai replied,”DIPR documents are available in the public. It is your responsibility to study it. Do I have to get it for you? Do some work for the money they’re paying you. I am prepared to provide you with all documents related to the DMK government’s BGR Energy corruption. Do you have the courage to publish it for half an hour in Puthiya Thalaimurai? You are an agenda-driven journalist. I am not scared of you.”

Annamalai said,” After the press meet, I will give you the evidence of BGR Energy’s corruption of the DMK government. you should publish it in Puthiyathalaimurai.”

After the press conference, TN BJP President Annamalai met with Puthiya Thalaimurai reporter and gave him the evidence in his cabin, as promised. He also stated that TN BJP state vice president Naryanan Tirupathi will visit the Puthiya Thalaimurai office to discuss the issue. Though the reporter initially agreed, he later stated that he would only publish it in Puthiyathalaimurai if Annamalai came to the Puthiya Thalaimurai office.

Later, in a video posted on his official Twitter account, Annamalai stated, “Today was another debate between agenda-driven journalists and the TN BJP. Tamil Nadu’s curse is that political parties run news channels, newspapers, and YouTube channels with an agenda. These people are sending journalists to a press conference with an agenda. Specifically, DMK-supporting news outlets are more in Tamil Nadu now.”

He also stated that the DMK government controls the news media through advertisements distributed by DIPR and that he is willing to send TN BJP state vice president Narayanan Tirupathi to discuss all aspects of the BGR scam documents he holds.

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Appu & Pappu: Ek Duuje Ke Liye

By
Shivani
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Quite literally, both the men this article focuses on, are losers in the most recent elections they ran for. Figurately, both men are losers beyond that as well.

They are losers and traitors because they deceive their motherland by constantly potraying a negative image of their culture and people to foreign governments, the foreign press and even their country’s enemies. They are losers and self centered because they always, without an exception and regardless of the nation’s circumstances (even during times of terrorist attacks) put their self interests ahead of the national interest.

They are losers and cowardly because they dishonor and downplay the courage and sacrifice of the nation’s armed forces. They are losers and hypocritical because they apply different standards to people and events based on personal preferences. They are losers because they have unfailingly and consistently played the minority appeasement card at the expense of the Hindus on whose backs, their families and themselves have made their substantial fortunes. They are losers because they lack the decency to unconditionally support the country in times of foreign intrusion and agression.

They are losers and delusional because they are sulking, un-sportive, failed politicians refusing to accept the reality of their poor performance and the people’s rejection of their ideology. They are both losers with a common electoral-loss – both of these arrogant, priviledged, casanovas whp lost to two women of their arch enemy and nemesis, the BJP. Kamal Haasan lost to BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan in Coimbatore South Assembly Constituency and Rahul Gandhi lost to BJP’s Smriti Irani in Amethi Lok Sabha Constituency.

This loser duo met with each other at Rahul’s Delhi home. On December 24 last year, Kamal Haasan had made a big show of joining Rahul’s politically motivated ‘Bharat Jodo yatra’ in Delhi, instead of joining the same in his home state of Tamil Nadu. Afterall, joining a political walkathon in a different state preferably in the capital of the nation, is bound to bring him more publicity since he doesn’t get enough political mileage even when he tries making a loud political noise about a perceived, supposed “imposition” of Hindi in Tamil Nadu.

Losers coming together over a well anticipated, clichéd anti-BJP rant and exaggerated claims of “democracy is in danger”, “loss of freedom” and “rising hatred” is not surprising at all.

Irony just died a thousand deaths when Kamal talks about current dispensation resembling a monarchy to the Congress’ monarch himself.

The purpose of publicity is served better in the national capital and of course, not to be forgotten is the political opportunism in the form of fishing for alliances for the next elections. The 68 year old actor-turned-part time politician, Kamal Haasan hopes to recover from the miserable performance of his party in both the 2019 national elections and the 2021 state elections.

The following was predictably and supposedly discussed by the new brothers-in-arms (they are the nation’s experts on such matters!): “dangers” to the Constitution, criticism of everything BJP and Modi, border security and Chinese aggression, comparing India with Ukraine, importance of Gandhian politics as an alternative to “religious” politics, the future of the Kaadi industry, inclusive (read minority appeasement) growth, the economy, youth welfare, language imposition and others. Kamal listened to Rahul’s “genius” discovery of supposed links between Chinese agression and India’s economy even though the world’s experts on economic growth have consistently stated that the Indian economy was doing quite well inspite of a global recession.

Critics pointed out Rahul’s lack of knowledge on national security and factual information regarding border-security and commented on his “concern” for the Kaadi industry, which according to the latest statistics has had a remarkable revival and is doing well, thanks to PM Modi’s push.

Later, the two losers complimented each other’s dashing looks and “other” artistic talents, which are certainly crucial to matters of national security and economic planning?

While speaking during the Yatra walkathon in Delhi on December 24, Kamal had stated “many people ask me why I’m here. I’m here as an Indian. My father was a Congressman. I had various ideologies and started my own political party but when it comes to the country, all political party lines have to blur. I blurred that line and came here.”

In Kamal’s case, it’s clear which way the wind is blowing for him and his struggling party – an aged citizen, an actor in his twilight years trying to revive his fortunes, a man given opportunities and fame by the majority Hindu community yet always indulging in minority appeasement, an arrogant, self-righteous man desperate for a political alliance for his completely unsuccessful party.

The people have sensed their deviousness, their hypocrisy and their ungratefulness. The people will keep them voted out and keep voting them out no matter how much they try.

It is expected that Kamal’s MNM may strike an alliance with Rahul Gandhi’s Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. And the alliance is in fact a match made in heaven. Both were sent running helter-skelter by the same woman. Both lost their political ground to two bold BJP women. Both think of themselves as highly intellectual when they aren’t. Both are non-serious politicians who go away on vacations often. MNM and Congress – Ek Duuje Ke Liye.

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DMK Fin Min PTR Picks Fight With ‘Neutral’ Sumanth For Questioning Rising State Debt

By
The Commune
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The Hindu on 2 January 2023 reported that the Government of Tamil Nadu is set to borrow ₹51,000 crore in the last quarter of the 2022-23 fiscal year. This amount is 45.7% higher than the amount borrowed in Q4 of last fiscal year.

According to the report, the state is planning to raise the amount by auctioning off bonds called State Development Loans.

Political commentator know for his ‘neutrality’ pointed out that Tamil Nadu government’s total borrowings in FY 2022-23 is expected to be ₹1 lakh crore and added that it is ₹13000 crore higher than the ₹87000 crore borrowed in the previous fiscal year. He said that the state goverment debt may cross ₹6.5 lakh crore.

“I remember media doing debates on how previous Govt was pushing the State into debt, how on each Tamil Nadu family there was a debt of 2.63 lakh. Now all have gone into deep coma. When State Govt debt was around ₹5 lakh crore,State was accused of borrowing irresponsibly. Now when debt is over ₹6 lakh crore State Govt is managing economy well? Propagandists?”, Sumanth Raman said in his tweet.

Reacting to this, Finance Minister of the DMK government PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, resorted to throwing barbs at Sumanth Raman calling him an ‘epitome of minuscule knowledge’.

Sumanth Raman reacted sharply asking the DMK Minister to furnish details of the state government debt.

Instead of coming back at him with the facts, the DMK Minister once again went about calling Sumanth Raman names.

This is not the first time that Palanivel Thiagarajan has picked fight with Sumanth Raman.

A few months before the 2021 Assembly Elections, Palanivel Thiagarajan attacked Sumath C Raman on Twitter by calling him a ‘pseudo-intellectual who is given space that far exceeds any vestige of competence’. This tweet was later deleted.

Irked by this, Sumanth C Raman dissed the DMK leader with a stinging rebuttal stating that generations of wealth, dynastic wealth and foreign education did not give him the grace of public discourse.

In another incident, he called Sumanth Raman a ‘kiruku paya’  (foolish guy in Tamil) during an interview.

Not just Sumanth Raman, Palanivel Thiagarajan has resorted to abusing anyone who disagrees with him.

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6 Reasons Why Narendra Modi Should Consider Contesting From Ramanathapuram

By
Nanmozhian
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Speculations galore that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might stand in Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. An article in Sunday Guardian mooted this idea and social media is abuzz with this idea ever since then.

The writer of this piece had in the past mooted the idea of PM Modi standing in a seat from Tamil Nadu and even suggested the constituency of Madurai, the Eternal City and the seat of Tamil Sangams and where Lord Shiva played his divine Tiruvilaiyadal multiple times.

Amidst this backdrop, Narendra Modi contesting from Ramanathapuram in 2024 could be hitting many mangoes with a single stone, a multi-utility move which can serve a variety of purposes. Let us look at the purposes one by one below.

1. Fostering North-South Unity

Narendra Modi is a sitting member from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat. Varanasi is one of the holiest cities for Hindus. A Hindu life is incomplete without a pilgrimage to Varanasi and any pilgrimage to Varanasi is incomplete without a visit to Rameshwaram and performing the rites for our ancestors. This Kashi-Rameshwaram bond is one of those invisible bonds or threads across Hindus in India binding them together despite all regional and linguistic differences. A bond which fosters Unity in Diversity for Indians. Modi standing in Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha seat in 2024 alongside Varanasi will foster this unity further and put an end to secessionist forces who whip up passions furthering North-South divide. If he contests from Ramnad, it will further fortify the goodwill created by the recent Kashi Tamil Sangamam and help create a Sangaman of North and South minds.

2. Perception Change

Detractors of Modi in Tamil Nadu portrayed Modi as the villain of Tamils post the death of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa in 2016 and managed to create a maya that Modi is anti-Tamil, anti-South and held him responsible for all the ills plaguing the state of Tamil Nadu. This anti-Modi feeling was prevalent in 2019 and his detractors primarily anti-national forces portrayed him as someone who ran away breaking the compound wall of IIT-M. This wave soon fizzled out and his words in a public meeting in Madurai “Narendra and Devendra” stroked the right chord with the masses in 2021 and enabled NDA win 19 out of 60 Assembly seats in Pandya Nadu region (the region surrounding Madurai) of the state where Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha seat is located. 

Modi contesting from Ramnad in 2024 will convey to his detractors that he is taking their challenge head on and this move of his will generate a pro-Modi wave in Tamil Nadu which can help NDA sweep in 2024. Modi has a golden chance to convert a state which was anti-Modi in 2019 to a pro-Modi state in 2024. That would be the real pinnacle of his electoral successes.

3. Dravidian Faultlines

Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha seat exposes the faultlines of Dravidian polity. The Lok Sabha seat is under developed when compared to a seat in Kongu region or Madras region. It is one of the poorest districts of Tamil Nadu long neglected by Dravidian polity. The Lok Sabha seat supplies hard working migrant labourers to Gulf and South East Asia. Ramnad is a barren and dry district which has not seen industrial development so far. The very fact that the district got its medical college only recently stands to the testimony of its backwardness. The voter’s turnout data of the seat itself will reveal the apathy of lack of development as many males who had gone out to eke out a living abroad working in harsh conditions not able to exercise their franchisee and hence the women voters will outnumber men big time in this seat. Modi will emerge as the beacon of hope for the voters of the constituency and he can expose the Dravidian faultlines of regional imbalance in development and write a new chapter in Tamil Nadu’s polity.

4. Unification Of NDA

Lok Sabha results of 2019 in Ramnad reveals all that is wrong with NDA in Tamil Nadu. IUML Candidate fielded by UPA won with 44% votes. The BJP candidate polled 32.2% and the candidate fielded by AMMK, a splinter group of AIADMK led by TTV Dinakaran, polled 13%. A united NDA would have won the seat easily in 2019 itself despite the anti-Modi wave in 2019. 

Modi by standing now can romp home easily securing more than 60% and he standing here could bring all the earring groups of AIADMK together thereby strengthening NDA big time. TTV Dinakaran has already said he is not averse to Modi and O Paneerselvam’s bonhomie with Modi is well known as well. Modi’s candidature will create a conducive atmosphere for warring faction of ADMK to unite as well as enhance BJP’s bargaining power in seat sharing as well. Modi’s candidature will reinvigorate NDA cadres bigtime and enable them a sweep in TN.

5. Modi And Tamil

Modi quotes Tamil Literature and great Tamil poets like Bharathiyar, Valluvar and Poongondran with ease wherever he goes. No other PM of India would have extensively quoted Tamil literature and poets as Modi had done in various prestigious global forums. Modi govt’s numerous initiatives like Mudra loans, crop insurance and free food grains under NFSA have benefitted Tamil Nadu big. And not to forget, the numerous national highway schemes and the introduction of new additional trains to Tamil Nadu like Chennai-Madurai Tejas Express, Chennai-Nagercoil Antyodaya Express, broad gauging of Madurai to Bodi line, restoration of Pamban Bridge have also benefitted the state especially the people of South Tamil Nadu. Statistics reveal the attacks on Indian fisherman by Sri Lankan Navy and the casualties associated with such attacks have come down dramatically since Modi took office. Ramnad has a large chunk of these fisher men folk. Modi standing in Ramnad will further make him closer and dearer to the hearts of Tamils. 

6. Electoral Challenge

At a time, when Modi’s opponent is looking for a safe seat i.e., a seat with a demography suited to him, Modi standing from a seat in Tamil Nadu where BJP is considered weak and lacking organisational strength will signal to his detractors that he is not new to electoral challenges and will not run away like his opponents in search of a safe seat. Modi standing in Varanasi in 2014 turned around the fortunes of BJP in Uttar Pradesh and the adjacent Bihar and helped them sweep both the states. Modi standing now in Ramnad can potentially prove to be a point of inflexion for BJP’s fortune in Tamil Nadu, breach the Dravidian citadel and provide the much-needed fillip to the young Annamalai, who is taking on the mighty ecosystem single handedly. 

Modi standing in Ramnad will not only help NDA win a majority of seats in Tamil Nadu but also help BJP catapult from sub 10% vote share in the state to 20% plus vote share and fill the vacuum left behind by the demise of Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa in the state.

Indira Gandhi backtracked from contesting in Tanjore Lok Sabha seat in late 70s. A move that could have helped Congress bounce back in the state but she left that golden opportunity go. Modi has a chance to rewrite the electoral history of the state now. He must contest in Ramnad.

A risk worth taking and a risk which must be taken!

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TN Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Skips Volleyball Player’s Funeral For New Year Celebrations?

By
The Commune
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The body of a 27-year-old Tiruvallur volleyball player who died in Nepal during a match on December 21 was returned to his hometown and buried. Several people attended his funeral, including a minister and MLAs.

However questions have been raised as the Minister in charge of Sports department was not present at the funeral.

Akash, a resident of Kaivandur village near Tiruvallur, was a national-level volleyball player. He was always interested in sports, and after studying engineering, he became a physical education teacher in Ambattur because of his passion for volleyball.

Akash traveled to Nepal to compete in a match at the Rangasala stadium in Pokhara, where he suddenly vomited blood and fainted while resting after the game. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

On hearing the news, over 50 people from Kaivandur village gathered in front of the Collectorate and demanded an investigation into Akash’s death.

With the help of the External Affairs Ministry and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Akash’s body was brought to India from Nepal and then taken to his hometown. Thousands of people, including several sportsmen, attended Akash’s funeral, which was also attended by Milk and Dairy Development Minister SM Nasar, Health Minister Ma Subramanian, Minister of Minorities Welfare Masthan, and many MLAs.

Several attendees at the funeral and on social media, however, questioned the absence of Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanithi, whose ministry was in charge of the incident.

Political commentator Savukku Shankar revealed in a tweet that Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanithi and his friends were on a New Year’s vacation to a hill station, instead of attending the funeral of volleyball player Akash. He also stated that, for privacy reasons, he could not reveal more information about who was present alongside clown prince Udhayanidhi for the new year trip to the hill station.

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The Anti-Hindu Abuses Of “Atheist” Bairi Naresh And The Filth He Represents

By
Shivani
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On Friday (30 December 2022), a long-time atheist and proclaimed “rationalist”, Bairi Naresh was booked by Telangana police, in a case of hurting Hindu sentiments, based on a widely circulated video recording of his December 16 speech, at an atheist association meeting.

In the video, Naresh is heard referring to Lord Ayyappa’s birth in a disrespectful, derogatory manner.

It is believed that Lord Ayyappa was born out of the union between Lord Shiva and the mythical Mohini, who is also regarded as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, Ayyappa is also called as ‘Hariharan Puthiran’ which means the son of both Hari or Vishnu and ‘Haran’ or Shiva.

Bairi Naresh ignores the deeper spiritual meaning behind the story – cosmic union, the negation of gender on higher planes of spiritual development, Lord Ayyappa’s courage, hard work, his principles, impeccable charater being proof of the human soul’s possible achievement of the divine etc.

He is heard making objectionable remarks on the strange birth of a god and obscene jokes of the union between a man and another man, in the guise of a woman. He cracks a crude joke and sings an “item” number from the Telugu movie, Pushpa.

Bairi Naresh is the current president of the Bharata Nasthika Sangham or the Atheist Society of India. Following the registration of a case against him on Friday, Bairi Naresh and a fellow member of the Atheist Society of India, Renjarla Rajesh, were arrested on Saturday (31 December 2022).

The latter, Rajesh’s videos have also been found to be provocative and abusive of Hindu beliefs. Ayyappa devotees, the state’s Hindu organizations and several individual launched a strong protest against Naresh’s remarks after his video went viral, providing the proof the police needed.

The police, who arrested Naresh from Kamalapuram Mandal in Warangal district, brought him to Vikarabad district where he was produced before the court and has been remanded in custody for 14 days.

Naresh alluded to the religious customs of the Ayyappa “deeksha” season, where devotees wear simple black clothing, live on very little and stay away from all material comforts and pleasures for a period of 41 days, in an attempt to focus on spiritual matters, remember the truth of the soul according to Hinduism and re-align the mind and body with the truth of the spirit.

In the video, Naresh is also heard lambasting Hindu parents for introducing and initiating their children into the Ayyappa custom. One wonders why the athiest-rationalist does not dare to talk about the numerous stories of love, lust, incest, betrayal, favoritism, murder and a vengeful God in both Islam and Christianity. Why does he choose not to discuss the Islamic 12 hour, month long fasting period leading up to the Eid festivities where animals are slaughtered enmasse or the fasting period of Lent that the Christians follow where meat is discouraged but fish can be consumed, among other strange instructions.

The abstinence and simple living of the Ayyappa devotees during the 41 day period, with the goal of spiritual seeking and realization, is similar to the intent and spirit of Islamic and Christian periods of recommended fasting, abstinence and simple living without material comforts. Why do Bairi Naresh and his friends not criticize the beliefs and traditions of Islam and Christianity with equal courage and vigour in a “secular” country where atleast in theory, all religions are considered equal? This is the question that every sane person and a true rationalist should ask.

Old videos of Bairi Naresh are back in circulation on social media networks. One of the older videos show Bairi Naresh loudly insulting Lord Ram, ancient Hindu texts and Brahmins in obscene language. Like his more recent video on Lord Ayyappa, the older video is a recording of his speech in Telugu at a meeting of his atheist organization. The language and tone are shockingly inappropriate for a public meeting and highly insulting to Hindu beliefs.

Naresh talks of ancient Hindu rites and customs mentioned in the puranas and vedas like “yagnas” where thousands of revered cows were sacrificed and even eaten by the ‘wily Brahmins’ themselves who later advised other Hindus not to eat cow meat.

He explicitly calls Brahmins, as the original bastards of society (“lanja kodukulu”, a derogatory word in Telugu referring to children born to prostitutes). As if this were not shocking enough, Bairi Naresh goes on to state that if a charater called “Rama” is real Lord Ram is also bastard per many sections of Indian society because he ate all types of meat including beef, married many women or had affairs and tortured Sita devi in plenty of ways!

As expected, this recently surfaced and widely circulated video is also causing angst among the Hindus, who are again questioning the unacceptable attitude of Indian atheists and rationalists where only Hinduism is picked on and insulted in a manner ghat woilc not be tolerated in other nations and among believers of other faiths.

The literal definition of “atheist” is “a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods.” Atheists do not believe in God or a higher power or in a spiritual force of any kind. Atheists in various countries go by alternative, interchangeable names such as rationalists. This is certain true in the case of Indian atheists, many of whom call themselves rationalists, who profess belief only in scientific reasoning, rationale and logical deductions.

If Indian atheists (or ‘rationalists’ as the case may be), do not identify with any God, why are they so bold and so quick to denigrate Hinduism in every way possible but lack the same motivation and courage to denounce aspects of Islamic and Christian beliefs of which there is plenty that go without scientific rationale and evidence? Why do they seem surprisingly hesitant to so much as merely speak of the main premise of Islam and Christianity, with a God that rewards and punishes men like little children and offers them a permanent home with all kinds of earthly material benefits or lack of such benefits in a scientifically unproven heaven hell respectively?

On the other hand, Indian atheists and “seculars” seem to be particularly eager to dismiss or belittle even the highest of philosophical thoughts pertaining to Hinduism such as Meditation or Yoga which have scientifically-proven health benefits for the human mind and body?

It thus becomes clear that these ‘atheists’ or ‘rationalists’ are none but covert agents of conversion with an anti-Hindu agenda. At the very least, by disproportionately cherry-picking on Hinduism, atheists are driving gullible, vulnerable Hindu Indians away from temples and into the waiting arms of proselytizing, missionary, fanatic Christians and Islamists whose conversion agenda, the atheists serve intentionally or unintentionally.

Either way, it is bad news for Hinduism and good news for missionary, evangelist religions like Islam and Christianity and in the end, does not serve the atheist, rationalist’s goal of converting a believer into a non-believer. Instead, Indian atheists are accused of converting Hindu believers into Christian or Muslim believers rather than scientic minded non-believers. Therein lies the problem, that Hindus discuss about and question. The Hindus have had enough of pseudo-atheism and pseudo-secularism. After decades and even centuries of sytemic discrimination and exploitation, the Hindus are finally examining and questioning all probable, ulterior motives of many Indian atheist organizations and their ‘secular’ counterparts.

On a parting note, let us be clear that this has nothing to do with caste! Ig has everyghinb to do intense hatred of one religion, that has been patient for too long. A few apologists and members of the atheist organization are trying to bring the caste factor into something that is clearly wrong and absolutely indecent and unacceptable in civil society. For the record, Naresh belongs to the ‘Padmashali’ community of weavers and Rajesh is a member of the scheduled caste ‘Mala’ community. This is an offence against Indian culture, Hinduism and all Hindus regardless of caste! This is an offense for which anybody regardless of caste, religion and background, would have been arrested.

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The Cosmic Significance Of Vaikunta Ekadasi

By
Jayasree Saranathan
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The day of Vaikuntha Ekadasi that opens the door to Vaikuntha is an important day in all the Vishnu temples of South India. Lord Vishnu mounted on his Garuda vehicle leaves the temple through Vaikuntha Dvara (the Gate to Vaikuntha) or ‘Paramapada Vaasal’ (the Gate to Paramapada) well before sunrise followed by his devotees. This is the only day this special Gate is opened in any Vishnu temple with the concept that Vishnu is taking along with him his devotees to Vaikuntha. This day falls on Shukla Ekadasi in the month of Margashira.

This also happens to be the day Krishna rendered Gitopadesa to Arjuna. The intriguing fact is that this concurrence with the date of Vaikuntha Ekadasi is lost in the memory of our people for very long. Many think that Margashira Shukla Ekadasi identified as the day Krishna preached Bhagavad Gita occurred in the lunar month of Margashira. As a result the Gita Jayanti is being celebrated in the solar month of Kartika before the occurrence of Full Moon in Kartika star. Flawed understanding of the time computation has led to this mistake.

The Cosmic Significance

Vaikunta ekadasi is the day of cosmic significance – that of the earth coming in line with the galactic centre, Sagittarius (Dhanur Rasi) and the cosmic centre. In other words, on this day, the earth will be at the outer most point from the centre of our galaxy and the nearest point to the outer space from where we, the entire systen of ours evolved and is moving outward.

Looking at the past records, this day marks turbulance, eruptions and tsunamis. This day marks the birth of the previous manvanthra, the chakshus manvanthra. This manvanthra is marked with the very important of Lord’s flight on His vahana to save the Gajendran, or rather to destroy his enemy! This day thus marks the Lord’s flight travel on Gruda vahana with all his divya aayudhas. When He does not come to destroy someone, He destroys something on the surface of this earth.

Four-Fold Calculation Of Time

Time is calculated on the basis of four factors simultaneously. The location of the sun, the moon, the star transited by the moon and all these three occurring at or after sunrise in a day determine the time running on that day. A reference such as Margashira Shukla Ekadasi means the sun is in Margashira or Sagittarius with the moon in the 11th tithi of the waxing phase at that time. The star of the day could vary in different years, and therefore it is omitted in this particular reference, but these three (solar month, lunar paksha and tithi) pertaining to solar and lunar movement are always noted as a marker to denote a specific day.

The sun being the cause of time, it cannot be left out in any reference to time. As such Margashira Shukla Ekadasi as the day of Gitopadesa can be observed only when the sun is in Margashira and not in Kartika (Scorpio). This combination further denotes that the lunar month is Pushya. This leads to the revelation that the Mahabharata war had taken place in lunar Pushya month.

The month-wise analysis of the Mahabharata events done by me based on the internal evidences shows the date of Gitopadesa with the sun still confined within the sign of Margashira. (The ayanamsa is not exact but close to it by a degree or two further inside Sagittarius.)

Krishna’s advice to Arjuna being two-fold, one, showing the way to Moksha (liberation) and the other, projecting Himself as the protector of the good and the annihilator of the evil, these two are remembered on the day of Margashira Shukla Ekadasi as Mokshada Ekadasi or Vaikuntha Ekadasi by the followers of Vishnu.

Mahabharata has never been treated as a historical document, but as Veda accessible to all and understandable by everyone. The core teaching lies in Bhagavad Gita. More than the Mahabharata connection, the importance of the teaching of Krishna to attain Vaikuntha has taken precedence and a mock rehearsal is enacted on the same day in the solar month of Margashira. In the absence of knowledge of even the existence of the observance on this day in other parts of India, it is no wonder Gita Jayanti has lost touch with the time when it ought to be observed.

The second feature is the ingeniously designed idea of Garuda Seva – of Vishnu flying in his Garuda Vahana on this day. Krishna had given the word to protect the Dharmic people from the adharmic ones. Whenever He comes out mounted on Garuda, it means He is out to destroy the Evil. This “ugra roopam” of the Lord with ‘panchayudhas’ – the five weapons is in tune with his promise of protecting the righteous from the evil that Krishna had given on Margashira Shukla Ekadasi.

The two core concepts of Gitopadesa enshrined in the observance of Vaikuntha Ekadasi can have no other rationale than remembering the day Krishna gave Gitopadesa to mankind through Arjuna.

Vaikuntha Ekadasi observance must put at rest any doubts on the solar month of Gitopadesa.

This article was originally published in the author’s blog and has been republished here with permission.

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DMK Councillor’s Husband Arrested For Extorting Money From Street Vendors

By
The Commune
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The Washermenpet police arrested the husband of a DMK councillor on charges of criminal intimidation and demanding money from street vendors.

Jagatheesan is the husband of Niranjana, the 51st DMK ward councillor of Chennai. DMK Councillor’s husband Jagadeesan has been extorting money from the street vendors of MC road in Chennai on a regular basis. The street vendors refused to pay the DMK councillor’s husband as he demanded more and more money. Jagadeesan, enraged by their response, attempted to evict them with the help of corporation officials.

Objecting to the blatant misuse of power by the DMK councillor’s husband, the street vendors besieged the corporation officials and staged a road roko.

They later filed a complaint with the old Washermanpet police, who investigated and arrested the DMK councillor’s husband Jagadeesan. He was lodged in jail after producing before the court.

According to one of the street vendors, “He kept on asking for’maamul’. We are ladies. How can we give him money?. we are daily workers. We will protest in front of the MLA office if we do not get justice in the issue.”

They also urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to take action against his party’s cadres who commit atrocities on the streets while claiming to be from the ruling government.

It should be noted that DMK councillor Niranjana’s husband is a serial offender who was previously arrested on charges of intimidating police officers on duty in the Washermenpet station limits. On April 20, 2022, the police charged Jegadeesan and five others with unlawful assembly, uttering obscene words, criminal force to prevent a public servant from performing his duties, and criminal intimidation.

(With inputs from NewsJ)

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