The Pope has granted approval for the resignation of a Polish bishop, whose diocese has been marred by allegations of a scandal involving a male prostitute at a priest’s residence. The bishop chose to step down following a lengthy investigation into the incident, which is just one among many controversies.
According to The New York Times, the Bishop of Sosnowiec, Grzegorz Kaszak served in southwestern Poland and made the decision to step down after one of his priests came under criminal investigation for organizing a gay orgy party at his apartment in Dabrowa Gornicza involving a male prostitute. Reportedly one of the participants of experienced a drug overdose related to erectile dysfunction pills. The diocese identified the priest responsible for arranging the event in his church apartment as Father Tomasz Z.
As reported by Reuters, when one of the attendees at the party called for an ambulance, paramedics were initially denied access. They were only able to provide assistance to the affected individual after the police were summoned.
“I perceive this as an obvious attack on the church, including the clergy and the faithful, in order to humiliate its position, tasks, and mission,” the priest was quoted in a statement he emailed to the Gazeta Wyborcza daily.
The Vatican accepted Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak’s resignation without specifying the reasons behind his decision.
Following the incident, Bishop Kaszak asked the faithful to pray for the priests involved and for those who had been adversely affected by their actions, even if they had done nothing wrong, as reported by Gazeta Wyborcza Daily and other media outlets.
Tomasz Z was eventually removed from his position, as stated by the state-run news agency PAP. The diocese explained that his behavior had caused significant scandal among the faithful and had provoked public outrage, according to PAP’s report.
In a statement posted on the diocesan website, Bishop Kaszak expressed gratitude to the faithful for their support of the church and promised to keep them in his prayers, saying, “I will always remember you in my prayers.“
This is not the only time the Polish Catholic Church finds itself mired in sex scandals. In 2010, the acting rector of the Sosnowiec seminary reportedly engaged in a physical altercation at a gay club. Surprisingly, he continued in his role for more than a year, even after the incident received public attention through Polish media. It wasn’t until the Holy See stepped in that the seminary was ultimately dissolved, as reported by the PAP news agency.
According to the reports, published in the New York Times, the Catholic Church of Poland has been accused of covering up crimes of sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy.
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On 26 October 2023, the Court of First Instance in Qatar issued a death penalty to eight highly decorated former Indian Navy officers who were detained by the Qatari intelligence service in Doha last year on espionage charges. In response to this verdict, India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed profound shock. The ministry further stated its commitment to providing ongoing consular and legal support to secure the release of these eight former Indian Navy officers.
The statement by MEA read, “We are deeply shocked by the verdict of death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgement. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options. We attach high importance to this case, and have been following it closely. We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities. Due to the confidential nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture,”.
It’s important to highlight that since the detention of the eight former Indian Navy officers in August of the previous year, their requests for bail have been consistently denied, and Qatari authorities have repeatedly extended their incarceration. However, until April of this year, Qatari authorities had not specified the charges against them. Only recently did they confirm that these Indian Navy personnel, who were held in solitary confinement for extended periods, are facing allegations of spying for Israel regarding the country’s advanced submarines.
Among the incarcerated officers, Commander Purnendu Tiwari (Retd) holds the position of managing director in the company that received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2019. This accolade was presented by none other than the then-President, Ram Nath Kovind. The other detained individuals include Navtej Singh Gill, Birendra Kumar Verma, Sugunakar Pakala, Sanjeev Gupta, Amit Nagpal, Rajesh Gopakumar, and Saurav Vashisht.
The eight Indians were employed by the Qatari Emiri Navy through the Qatar firm Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, which provided training and technical support to them. These eight former Indian Navy officers were apprehended on 30 August 2022. The Qatari authorities accused them of espionage for Israel, particularly concerning Israel’s advanced submarines, which are manufactured in Italy and reputedly equipped with metamaterials that enhance their stealth capabilities, making them more difficult to detect.
Reports in April of this year raised concerns that these ex-Indian Navy officers might have been falsely implicated by Pakistani intelligence agencies. According to these reports, Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, may have persuaded Qatari authorities of potential Indian involvement, citing the case of former Indian Navy commander Kulbhushan Yadav, who was abducted from Iran and detained in Pakistan on suspicion of espionage.
The Indian embassy has been actively involved since the officers’ detention by Qatari authorities, arranging regular family visits and providing consular and legal support to the Navy personnel. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has expressed its commitment to assist these individuals.
This verdict has come amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict as Qatar is home to top Hamas leadership who live in opulence.
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Dr. Guru Prakash Paswan the National Spokesperson of the Bhartia Janata Party (BJP) who is also an Assistant Professor (Law), at Patna University, has called out the on the liberal privilege extended by the News Channel India Today during a debate.
Paswan who is one of the young emerging Dalit leaders within the BJP expressed his disappointment with the treatment meted out to him by one of its senior anchors, Preeti Choudhary on 25 October 2023. During the debate, the BJP spokesperson was not given enough time to put forth his views during a one on one debate on the topic of caste census.
Taking to X, (Fromally Twitter), Paswan said, “For the first time in years of my debates I am expressing my strong views regarding a debate for the @IndiaToday conducted by Ms. Preeti Choudhary today. The congress spokesperson was visibly given more time in the one on one debate. I have never and will never interfere when the other person is speaking as this is not the part of our Sanskaar. So the liberal privilege,”.
For the first time in years of my debates I am expressing my strong views regarding a debate for the @IndiaToday conducted by Ms. Preeti Choudhary today.
The congress spokesperson was visibly given more time in the one on one debate. I have never and will never interfere when…
He further added that “It is completely appropriate for Rahul Gandhi ji to ask about the castes of the media persons in the press conference but the virtue signalling by the anchor when I brought the question of congress feudalism is disturbing at so many levels. This is precisely the problem with the elites and their institutions. They will ask ‘can the subaltern speak’ but will not allow the subaltern to speak.”
It is a known fact that when the liberals lose an argument, some of the anchors in India Today and in other news channels would simply cut off the opposition. While Paswan is known for his civility and not interrupting when others speak, he was constantly interrupted and not given enough time to speak by Preeti Choudhary.
Pawan had said that “once the YouTube link is out – I request you to see the combined time allotted to spokesperson from the JD(U) and the Congress with respect to the BJP. No matter what happens, no force in this world can stop the subaltern to speak now. Jai Bhim Jai Bharat.”
Agenda driven Institutions operating on the basis of exclusive access is not a new thing.
देश का विमर्श कुछ लोग और कुछ परिवार ही तय करेंगे।
They will not allow the subaltern to speak because they think they can speak on behalf of everyone.
On 25 October 2023, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the official residence of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Sardar Patel Road in Chennai.
The individual behind this act of terror has been identified as ‘Karukka’ Vinod. Reports reveal that Vinod has a history of criminal activities and violence. To execute his plan, Vinod siphoned gasoline from motorcycles parked at the Saidapet Court premises. He later transferred this stolen fuel into two containers and ignited them. At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, he attempted to throw these incendiary devices near the main entrance of Raj Bhavan, which is frequently used by Governor RN Ravi.
This is not the first time that such harm has befallen Governor RN Ravi – a straightforward person who often speaks his mind and touches the raw nerve of the DMK and Dravidianists. And when he does, the DMK through its henchmen (both online and offline) abuse and resort to instigating violence.
Here is a list of instances where the Governor was abused, disrespected and threatened with violence by members of the ruling DMK.
“We’ll Send A Terrorist To Shoot And Kill You”: DMK Stage Speaker Sivaji Krishnamurthy
In January 2023, DMK member Krishnamoorthy known for his crass speeches abused Governor Ravi and threatened to unleash terrorists to shoot and kill him. All this because the Governor did not read out the speech that he was given which led to the DMK insulting him by expunging his speech while he was on the floor of the assembly.
He said, “CM is asking us not to scold the Governor. Had he read the speech properly, I would have placed flowers on his feet and thanked him with folded hands. But don’t I have the right to slap him with a slipper if he denies saying Ambedkar’s name? If you deny saying his name, you go to Kashmir. We’ll send a terrorist to shoot and kill you.”
“Oruthan”: MK Stalin
CM Stalin himself spoke about the Governor in “singular” and in a derogatory fashion. MK Stalin while speaking at the launch of DMK Youth Wing App and Dravida Model training camp 2.0 at the Anna Arivalayam in Chennai in January 2023. In his speech, he referred to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi indirectly, amid huge applause from the DMK crowd, that there is a person (‘oruthan’ – singular and without respect in Tamil) lamenting here that we should not use the word Tamil Nadu. Stalin’s comment came in the context of the Governor advocating on using the term Tamizhagam instead of Tamil Nadu.
TN MK Stalin addresses TN Governor indirectly in singular, in a derogatory manner.
“You’ll Be Beaten With Slippers”: Udhayanidhi Stalin
In August 2023, addressing a group of students who had successfully cleared the NEET exam and their parents, the Governor, having previously returned The Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Act, 2021 to the Assembly, only to have it sent back to him, expressed that the NEET examination was not going away.
“I will be the last person to grant approval. Never, under any circumstances. I am not willing for my children to feel intellectually inadequate. I want our youth to compete and excel. They have demonstrated this.”, Governor Ravi had said.
Following this, the student and medical wing of the DMK had organized an alleged “state-wide” “hunger strike” against NEET. Speaking at the protest meeting in Chennai, Udhayanidhi Stalin went on to attack the Tamil Nadu Governor saying “You are just a postman. Whatever we say, our Chief Minister says, your job is only to send it to the Union Government. You’re a post man. If we give you respect, you seem to be going on and on!
He further said “His name is not RN Ravi but RSS Ravi.”
Udhayanidhi Stalin also made seemingly instigative remarks saying “Did you come by standing in elections and winning votes? You resign from your Governor post. You decide a constituency in Tamil Nadu. Not me, not senior important leaders of our party, we will field a last standing cadre of DMK. You meet the people. You go tell your principles to the people. They will beat you with slippers.”
.@rajbhavan_tn Sir what action was taken regarding this? When hatred is being fed constantly with false propaganda no doubt even a drunk mentally deranged person will get into violent activities… pic.twitter.com/Tm9qR5J1Z5
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) October 26, 2023
“We Can Take The Dead Body”: DMK Minister TRB Rajaa
A dispute between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor RN Ravi, representing the ruling DMK, took center stage in the assembly when the Governor omitted portions of the government’s traditional address. The disagreement stemmed from the government’s praise of its efforts to maintain law and order, which the Governor questioned given recent events, including an incident involving DMK cadres and a female police officer in Virugambakkam. The Governor also sought to alter a sentence commending the government’s role in bringing back 232 Tamil Nadu fishermen from Sri Lanka. He requested that the mention of the State and Union governments’ efforts be included in the sentence. Despite the Governor’s prior communication about these changes, there was no response from the state government. DMK allies and opposition members surrounded the Governor, preventing him from delivering his speech, chanting “Get out Ravi! This is Tamil Nadu.”
Following this, the DMK IT Wing headed by DMK Minister TRB Rajaa started trending the hashtag #GetOutRavi with many members of the DMK spewing abuses and slandering the Governor.
TRB Rajaa himself had said “Come-on boys, if we press a little more, we can touch 111K and can take the body” insinuating Governor RN Ravi to be the dead body to be taken for funeral.
“Rummy Ravi”: DMK IT Wing
For not approving the Rummy bill, the DMK members nicknamed him ‘Rummy’ Ravi and put vile social media posts about him.
Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi’s convoy faced an attack by individuals associated with various political groups while en route to Mayiladuthirai in April 2022. The attackers, affiliated with parties like DMK, DVK, VCK, CPI, CPM, MMK, SDPI, and movements such as Thamizhar Thanurimai Iyakkam, hurled objects and waved black flags near Mannampanthal.
“Ng*tha”: Sivaji Krishnamoorthy Returns
Serial abuser Sivaji Krishnamoorthy abused Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi once again for taking back the order to dismiss Liquor Minister Senthil Balaji. Krishnamoorthy berated the Governor’s decision to rescind the order dismissing Liquor Minister Senthil Balaji. He criticised Ravi’s response to a DMK petition requesting the reallocation of Senthil Balaji’s portfolios. Krishnamoorthy highlighted the Governor’s perceived flip-flop, stating, “You said it was wrong, you said you won’t accept. If you were born to your mother, you should have been strong about your stand, ng*tha, you changed it.”
“Came From Bihar”: EV Velu
In June 2023, DMK State Highways Minister AV Velu while addressing a meeting made fun of Governor Ravi for being from Bihar as he praised the “Dravidian Model”, “Tamil Nadu is one of the fastest-growing states in India. No one from here goes to Bihar in search of work. On the contrary, many people from Bihar come here for work. Governor (RN Ravi) has also come here from Bihar.”
Dravidian Model Of Maintaining Law & Order
Day in and day out, Governor RN Ravi faces a volley of abuses from DMK members and Dravidian Stockists. The Tamil Nadu police which is busy going after people who criticize the DMK on social media based on complaints by ruling party functionaries has failed to take register a case based on the complaint of Governor’s office. The Raj Bhavan’s communique accused the Tamil Nadu police of killing a fair investigation before it even began.
This makes one wonder whether the Tamil Nadu police has become a mercenary force of the DMK, that is hell bent on hunting down critics, sometimes going as far as Delhi and Gujarat to arrest people who had criticized the DMK or its members.
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In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through the state, a DMK member, Kamaraj, was brutally hacked to death near Thiruvottiyur in Chennai. The incident has not only left the community in shock but also raised serious concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in Tamil Nadu.
Kamaraj hailed from Wimco Nagar near Tiruvottiyur in North Chennai, was not just a DMK member but also a government contractor. His father is also a member of the party.
The incident unfolded on the morning of 26 October 2023 when unknown assailants rang the doorbell of Kamaraj’s residence. When Kamaraj answered the door, he was confronted by a gang of six individuals. What followed was a gruesome attack where Kamaraj, trying to escape, was relentlessly pursued and slashed with sickles, and ultimately hacked to death. Neighbours and bystanders came out of their homes and seeing the unfolding of events, rushed to his aid and transported him to a nearby private hospital.
Despite being admitted to the intensive care unit, Kamaraj’s life could not be saved, and he succumbed to his injuries. The police have launched an investigation into this horrific incident, which has left the local community in a state of shock and disbelief. Kamaraj’s body has been sent to the government hospital for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.
Big city such things happen inspite of the constant and effective watch of the police department, but such random incidents can not mean that the L&O situation of the city is bad. TN is one of the safest place in the world. 👍🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/Asq67aIfGr
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) October 26, 2023
The Ennore police are taking a comprehensive approach to their investigation, examining every lead that may shed light on the perpetrators of this heinous act. Given Kamaraj’s involvement as a government contractor, One India Tamil reports that investigators are also looking into whether the assailants harboured any animosity or grudges against him. To aid their efforts, the police are reviewing CCTV footage in the surrounding area to piece together the events leading up to the attack.
This incident, which comes on the heels of a petrol bomb attack on the Governor’s residence, underscores growing concerns about the state of law and order in Tamil Nadu. Such law and order-related incidents are not an isolated occurrence in Tamil Nadu, as the state has witnessed a disturbing trend of several deaths and violent incidents over the past few years. The need to address these security challenges and restore the peace and safety of Tamil Nadu has become a matter of utmost urgency.
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Kerala Police apprehended activists affiliated with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) who had assaulted RSS workers returning home after the Vijayadashami procession in Karunagapalli, Kollam. The individuals detained have a history of criminal activities, reports The Hindu Post.
The Karunagapally police arrested three individuals in connection with the incident: Naufal (26) from Karunagapally Thazhava, Yasim (24) from Kulasekharapuram Siya Mansil, and Ajmal (23) from Thazhava. These individuals had assaulted Akshay Kumar, Madhun Lal, and Kiran from Punnamkulam, who were RSS workers returning home after the RSS procession. Akshay Kumar suffered significant injuries, including a broken arm, and was admitted to Karunagappally Taluk Hospital. Both Akshay and other witnesses provided statements to the police.
The SDPI activists were identified based on witness accounts and circumstantial evidence. After the police arrested the members of the Islamist group, it emerged that Naufal and Ajmal who had been accused in several criminal cases had evaded capture by fleeing to Goa and Karnataka. This time, the police took precautionary measures at various railway stations and bus terminals to prevent the accused from escaping to other states. Despite the accused turning off their cell phones, the Karunagappally police successfully located their hiding place and apprehended them, detaining the SDPI members in Kayamkulam, 15 km north of Karunagapally.
The situation had the potential to escalate into a significant law and order issue, prompting a cautious but swift police intervention. Investigators are also exploring the possibility of any underlying conspiracies related to the incident.
A team led by Karunagapally Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Pradeep Kumar, along with Police Inspector Biju V and Sub-Inspectors Shameer and Shajimon, was responsible for the arrests.
In a related incident earlier this month, crude bombs were thrown at the residence of an RSS worker in Thalassery, Kannur, causing damage to the property and a parked car. These incidents highlight the continued tensions between RSS and SDPI/PFI affiliates in the region.
It’s worth noting that the PFI was banned last year, and subsequent investigations have revealed the organization’s involvement in well-planned criminal activities. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), PFI activists received training in firearms in Karunagappally, Kollam district, Kerala. The NIA uncovered this crucial information during the interrogation of Abdul Sattar, the State General Secretary of the banned organization.
In late September 2022, Sattar was taken into custody at the Karunya Trust office in Karunagapally. He was the primary accused in an illegal hartal organized to protest the PFI ban, which led to acts of violence and arson. As a result, Sattar’s property, including a two-story house and 13 cents of land, was attached following a court order, due to the delayed recovery of damages caused by PFI terrorists.
SDPI serves as the political arm of the banned Islamist extremist group known as the Popular Front of India (PFI). SDPI has councilors in all southern states and is in alliances with the Congress and leftist groups and over the years it has used violence to make its point against it.
Already, the state law and order situation is being questioned by many people in Kerala as such attacks have increased on RSS and anyone who speaks against the government or SDPI.
In a major embarrassment for the DMK government and the Tamil Nadu police, the official press communique from Governor RN Ravi’s office alleged that the Tamil Nadu police failed to register a complaint from the Raj Bhavan and trivialized the attack as a mere vandalism.
The Raj Bhavan’s communique accused the Tamil Nadu police of killing a fair investigation before it even began.
The official handle of Raj Bhavan posted that, “Police did not register Raj Bhavan complaint on attack. Suo moto diluted the attack as act of simple vandalism and in hurry got arrested accused remanded to jail at midnight waking up the magisrate and prevented detailed interrogation which could expose those behind attack. Fair investigation is killed before it began.”
Earlier, the Raj Bhavan issued a press release in which it stated that in all the cases of abuse, attack and assault on the Governor, the police did not register FIR and instead trivialized the serious incidents to minor offences with no worthwhile follow-up.
On 25 October 2023, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the official residence of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Sardar Patel Road in Chennai.
The individual behind this act of terror has been identified as ‘Karukka’ Vinod. Reports reveal that Vinod has a history of criminal activities and violence. To execute his plan, Vinod siphoned gasoline from motorcycles parked at the Saidapet Court premises. He later transferred this stolen fuel into two containers and ignited them. At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, he attempted to throw these incendiary devices near the main entrance of Raj Bhavan, which is frequently used by Governor RN Ravi.
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Only a day ago, on 25 October 2023, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the official residence of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Sardar Patel Road in Chennai.
The individual behind this act of terror has been identified as ‘Karukka’ Vinod. Reports reveal that Vinod has a history of criminal activities and violence. To execute his plan, Vinod siphoned gasoline from motorcycles parked at the Saidapet Court premises. He later transferred this stolen fuel into two containers and ignited them. At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, he attempted to throw these incendiary devices near the main entrance of Raj Bhavan, which is frequently used by Governor RN Ravi.
In the press release put out by the official X handle of Raj Bhavan, they have mentioned that “After the first petrol bomb was hurled at the main entrance Gate-1 of Raj Bhavan, it burst with huge sound and burnt the entrance. The security personnel rushed to capture the miscreants. Even when the security personnel of Raj Bhavan attempted to subdue the attacker, another petrol bomb was hurled which resulted in severe damage to the main entrance to Raj Bhavan. Somehow, one of the assailants was overpowered by the security.”
They also mentioned that “There have been incidents of public threats to the life of the Hon’ble Governor. However, unfortunately in all these cases of abuse, attack and assault on the Hon’ble Governor, the police did not register FIR faithfully and instead trivialised the serious incidents to minor offences with no worthwhile follow-up.”
While thankfully the Governor was not harmed in yesterday’s incident, the Tamil Nadu police and an alleged “fact-checker” seem to be justifying the attack on a Constitutional authority and trivializing it.
The Tamil Nadu police which comes under the purview of Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the bomb just fell on the road and not at the gates or inside the residence.
The Additional Commissioner of Police Prem Anand Sinha was quoted saying in a report that one can’t call it as “petrol bomb hurled at Governor’s residence” as it fell on the Sardar Patel Road in front of the barricades placed outside the Raj Bhavan. He also said that the perpetrator ‘Karukka’ Vinod was in an inebriated condition.
சாலையில்தான் குண்டு விழுந்தது; ஆளுநர் மாளிகையில் அல்ல! – சென்னை மாநகர கூடுதல் ஆணையர்! pic.twitter.com/NEXKUdP5tA
On the other hand, self-styled ‘fact-checker’ Iyan Karthikeyan who is known for peddling DMK’s propaganda seemingly justified the attack using Additional Commissioner Prem Anand Sinha’s statement saying that “no damage has been caused by the petrol bomb”.
After the ‘petrol bomb’ incident in front of the main gate of the Governor’s bungalow in Sardar Patel Road Guindy, Raj Bhavan had issued a statement claiming, ‘severe damage to main entrance’. But where is this severe damage? Look at the photos below. Addl. Commissioner Prem… pic.twitter.com/ovM8HY7xIH
Critics argue whether they would respond in the same manner if the said attack took place in Chittaranjan Salai, the street where DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s residence is located.
The fact that the attacker had a prior criminal record and had previously carried out a similar attack on Tamil Nadu BJP office has been downplayed by the self-styled ‘fact-checker’. In February 2022, ‘Karukka’ Vinod had thrown petrol bombs at the BJP Tamil Nadu headquarters situated in T. Nagar, Chennai. During this incident, Tamil mainstream media, citing police sources, had reported that Vinod carried out the act as a protest against the BJP’s stance on NEET.
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Tamil Nadu is probably the only state in the country that has opposed the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination, especially fuelled by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). They tried to politicise the issue further after the tragic suicide of a young student named Anita. The present Tamil Nadu government has made numerous efforts to cancel the NEET exam, with the recent passage of the NEET Exemption Bill in the state’s legislative assembly. However, the bill’s approval by the Governor remains pending.
Amid this ongoing “battle” against NEET, the DMK has initiated a signature drive called “NEET Vilakku Nam Ilakku – NEET Exemption Our Goal. The goal is to collect 50 lakh signatures from citizens, which will then be presented to the President through the Chief Minister.
In an event marking the launch of this campaign, former Union Minister and Central Chennai DMK MP, Dayanidhi Maran, shared his “personal struggle” about NEET. Maran expressed his deep concern about the NEET exam’s impact on students from the state curriculum and government schools. He recounted his own family’s commitment to the DMK, highlighting that they had all studied in the state curriculum, eschewing the CBSE system.
Maran said, “We will not study in CBSE school, that is how we feel. Why should we study Hindi? What are we going to achieve by learning Hindi? So we never studied Hindi. Later, a daughter was born to me. My wife asked me to enroll her in a CBSE school. I said no, we had a fight. The fight was whether to enroll her in CBSE school or a state board school. I was resolute in admitting her to a state board school. She said no, she needs to study medicine. I said, why are you worried, our Kalaignar has helped so many people get a medical seat; my father has helped so many get a medical seat. My uncle Stalin also has done that. Even when I was a minister, I helped many get a medical seat. Will I not get a seat for my own daughter? I was so determined. In 2017, my daughter finished her 12th. That’s when NEET was introduced. My daughter came to me and asked. Dad, you said that you would get me a medical seat, I studied in the state board because of you and got good marks. Now get me a medical seat. I stood teary-eyed. I stood there shocked at my inability. I can’t even buy a medical seat for my own daughter. Although she appeared for NEET, she failed to clear the exam. Because how can you crack CBSE style exam after studying state board?”
It is worth mentioning that Dayanidhi Maran’s daughter Divya Dayanidhi Maran and son Karan Dayanidhi Maran run a shoe business named K-KIX that sells customized and luxury sneakers and shoes.
He goes on to add, “I have personally experienced this, as a father. My sister Kanimozhi said, Brother, why are you suffering, there was an opportunity that if you write NEET this year (2017), you can study abroad. I filed a court case and got my daughter a seat to study medicine in Malaysia. I told her, I suffered for 5 years, this is how all these parents here would have suffered. I was able to afford it, but shouldn’t this situation change? They are not letting you study medicine.”
He then continues to complain and frighten the audience by saying, “Soon you will be parents and for everything, there will be an entrance exam. They are ensuring that we should not study.”
A girl gives a befitting reply saying, “No, NEET should not be removed. It is wrong. If someone is rich, they are able to pay and get a seat. What will poor people do? My sister also took the NEET exam and lost the chance by a few marks. They said she could be enrolled only in a private college. Only if NEET exams are there, can poor students get a medical seat.”
When the reporter asks her why only Tamil Nadu is opposing the exam, she replies smartly saying, “It is all because of money, they only want money. They will not return to power, that’s why they are trying to earn as much as they can now.”
In an attempt to deride the NEET exam, Dayanidhi Maran has unwittingly admitted that he and his family members (father, uncle, grand-uncle) have indulged in “helping” others get a medical seat. He has also acknowledged that the state board syllabus is worthless and does not add any value to someone who studies a limited set of portions. However, the with the upgradation of syllabus during the previous AIADMK regime bringing it on par with CBSE syllabus has made way for may students who have studied in government schools in the state realise their dream of a medical degree.
Several students from government schools, lower economic backgrounds, and oppressed communities have in fact cracked the NEET exam and secured medical seats over the years. Read more on this here and here.
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Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson TKS Elangovan has ridiculed the consecration ceremony of Ram Janmabhoomi Temple at Ayodhya saying that history (Babri Masjid) has been replaced with mythology (Ram Temple) and called Lord Ram as a myth.
In a video byte to ANI, the former Rajya Sabha MP and a senior leader of the DMK said “What can I say? They have demolished history and replaced it with mythology. Any country should be proud of its history, it should know the history. Ram’s birth is mythology, it is a story from Ramayana. It is literature. They want to replace history with mythology. That is what the BJP is trying to do. With these people in power, what can we expect?…He wants to make use of it as a political tool. He is not interested in Ram. BJP does not consider Ram as an important thing but their political gain becomes important so they are making use of Ram for their political gains.”
#WATCH | On the invitation to PM Modi for 'pran pratishtha' of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, DMK leader TKS Elangovan says, "What can I say? They have demolished history and replaced it with mythology. Any country should be proud of its history, it should know the history. Ram's birth… pic.twitter.com/drTikUrlHD
It is note worthy to mention that the DMK is part of the I.N.D.I Alliance comprising of the Congress, AAP, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress (TMC) among other parties.
“Entry Of Hinduism Spoilt This Land”: Elangovan Had Said Earlier
In September 2022, DMK MP A. Raja while addressing an event organized by Dravida Kazhagam, abused Hindus and the Hindu faith saying all Shudras are children of prostitutes and they will remain so until they remain in Hinduism.
Defending the foul-mouthed DMK MP A. Raja who is known for abusing Hinduism, TKS Elangovan said that the “entry of Hinduism” had spoilt Tamil Nadu.
“See the very purpose of the Dravidian Movement is to create parity among human beings. What is Hinduism? What does Hinduism say? It says Varna, it speaks of Manu Dharma. What we feel is.. our fight is against Manu Dharma. When a Hindu, another Hindu, my brother Hindu, could not walk into a street where upper class people live, is an insult. I am denied of my rights. Because I am treated a Shudra.”, Elangovan said.
Adding further, the DMK leader said “The meaning of the word Shudra, what he (A. Raja) said, I am not going to talk about it. But the practice of Manu Dharma was never in the south. The entry of the Sanskrit and Hinduism into this land has spoilt this land.”
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