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Passport Impounded, Job Lost, Jailed: How A BJP Cadre Was Hounded By TN Police For Inadvertently Sharing A “Fake News Card”

By
The Commune
-

An MBA gold medalist with a successful career in the corporate sector for 22 years, Muthu Karuppasamy (name changed for privacy reasons) was living his life in peace shuttling between Madurai and Dubai. The man had earlier worked abroad for more than 10 years primarily in West Asian countries – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. In 2022, Muthu got a big offer from a well known super market chain in Dubai.

But life came crashing down for Muthu on the dreadful day of 17 July 2023. What did he do? Well, he shared a post on social media without realizing that it was a fake news card. 

The politically vocal citizen that he is, Muthu has been active on Twitter (now X) since 2019 and had enrolled himself in the BJP the same year. He has also been a Swayamsevak (volunteer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) since 2004.

He used to express his views in Tamil against the DMK and Dravidian ideology through his earlier handle – Its_Muthu_Rss.

However, on 7 April 2023, Muthu through his handle had shared a news card believing it to be the original news card of a Tamil mainstream media outlet, which claimed that certain political leaders received funds from Sterlite Copper.

Little did he know that it would come back to haunt him.

Fake “News Cards” resembling that of original ones published by various news outlets had found its way to WhatsApp and other social media on the Sterlite protest issue which are still available on the internet.

https://twitter.com/kichaa83/status/999846003057422336

Although these fake “News Cards” were busted to be false in 2018, the same images made their way into WhatsApp and Muthu unwittingly shared it to his Twitter handle in April 2023. 

This was flagged by the alleged fact checker YouTurn and marked as fake. 

DMK IT Wing is also said to have noticed this and this resulted in Muthu becoming another victim of DMK’s harassment of its critics. He was arrested on dubious criminal charges, and subsequently had his passport illegally impounded.

Unwarranted Arrest

On 17 July 2023, when Muthu landed at the Madurai Airport, his life took a nightmarish turn when he was apprehended by the Thoothukudi Cyber Crime Police. A ‘Lookout Notice’ had been issued against him, which facilitated his arrest at the airport. Police officials had earlier turned up at his house in Madurai on 9 April 2023 to arrest but they couldn’t as he was in Dubai.

According to Muthu, he was cordoned off by an immigration officer who took him to a room for enquiry. Muthu alleges that the immigration officer at the Madurai Airport behaved rudely and treated him like a ‘terrorist’. He was apparently told to remove his shirt and was verbally abused as “naaye” meaning “dog” in Tamil.

Muthu was kept waiting at the airport from 11 AM (the time he landed) till 4 PM. He was then arrested and taken to Thoothukudi by a special unit of the Thoothukudi Cyber Crime Police.

The arrest was purportedly based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered on 8 April 2023, which cited a tweet from Muthu as the reason for his detention.

They seized his belongings which included ₹18,000 in cash he had kept separately in a cover, another ₹7,000 in cash in his purse, dirhams, gold that he had bought for his wife in Dubai, etc. Muthu alleges that the police officials took his money to eat during a stopover en route Thoothukudi.

Upon reaching Thoothukudi around 7:30 PM, he was straight away taken to Thoothukudi Cyber Crime Cell where he was interrogated for around 4 hours. The enquiry apparently went on till 11:30 PM with one official after another interrogating him.

According to Muthu, Inspector Sivasankaran allegedly asked him “Are you from RSS terrorist group?” and further sought details of his friends, colleagues, how many people work with him etc.

Thereafter, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Unnikrishnan asked him to accept to his crime which Muthu refused. He stated that he had shared the news card believing it to be true and had deleted it as soon as he came to know that it was a fake news card. However, his explanation fell on deaf ears.

It was only at around 10:30 PM that Muthu’s wife was informed of his arrest who then spoke to a lawyer for his legal aid.

At 11:30 PM , he was then taken to the Thoothukudi Government Hospital for a medical check-up following which he was taken to the Tirunelveli Government Hospital for doing corona testing at 1:30 AM (18 July 2023) after which he was presented before the magistrate. He pleaded before magistrate saying that he is ready to furnish any amount as bail as he had come to meet his family after a gap of 1 year and will abide by whatever conditions imposed on him. However, the magistrate gave remand in the wee hours following which he was lodged at the Perurani District Jail at 3:30 AM.

At the jail, he had to hand over his passport to SI Sudhakaran. Muthu spent around 8 days in jail where he was lodged in a common room which had hardened criminals who included those booked under Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Goondas Act, etc. There was only 1 bathroom for over 40 prisoners which was unclean with unbearable stench emanating. Muthu had to eat sub-standard food from the plates used by other other prisoners. The gates were opened at around 6 AM every day and tea would be served. After bathing in the 4 bathrooms outside the cell, breakfast would be served before 8 AM. Everyday it was the same lunch comprising of a watery Sambar, rice and buttermilk. Dinner would be served at 5 30 PM and the gates would be locked only to be opened next morning.

He said that in the evenings, a pen-drive loaded with the latest movies would be played after 7 PM. But Muthu spent his time doing yoga, meditation, chanting devotional hymns, and walking around the cell.

He walked out of the jail on 25 July 2023 on a conditional bail. During this entire episode, Muthu claims that he managed to fight the legal battle through his own sources and did not rely on the BJP or the RSS.

Conditional Bail 

Muthu’s ordeal continued as he had to go from Madurai to Thoothukudi everyday to appear and sign at the police station. Meanwhile, the police allegedly sent all the details of his case to his employer and that led to his termination from the job. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Muthu had secured in 2022 was gone.

After 15 days of signing as per the bail order, he moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court for relaxation of his bail conditions. His conditions were relaxed and he got all his belongings (dirhams, bags, gold, purse, passport, etc) except for his mobile phone. Muthu alleges that the ₹18,000 cash which was seized from him was not returned.

Notably, despite over 70 days have elapsed since the FIR was filed, the Cyber Crime Police have not yet filed a charge sheet against him. He insists that the FIR was politically motivated, orchestrated by the DMK IT Wing, and suggests that his fundamental rights have been blatantly suppressed by curtailing his movement. Muthu is out on bail now and is trying to get his case quashed. But all is not over yet.

As fate would have it, Muthu’s passport is up for renewal and he has not been able to get it renewed because of this case.

Ongoing Passport Predicament

Muthu’s plight extends beyond the arrest over a frivolous case, as his right to travel abroad is now in jeopardy. Despite his passport being technically valid, the regional passport officer in Madurai has impounded it per the instructions of the Thoothukudi Cyber Crime Police. This action is alleged to be in direct violation of the Passport Law of 1967. 

https://twitter.com/Namo3Namo/status/1712960163442008313

Despite his earnest efforts to renew his passport, even under the Tatkal scheme, he has been met with insurmountable obstacles. Passport officials have refused to renew it due to the ongoing case. He alleges that the Police officials were willing to revoke look out notice against him despite him getting arrested and released. Speaking to The Commune narrating his harrowing experience, he says his only request and hope is that his passport is renewed and he can travel and hopefully go back to his job in Dubai. 

In a desperate plea to the Ministry of External Affairs, he has appealed for help in getting his passport renewed.

Muthu’s case is not an isolated one.

DMK Using TN Police To Crackdown On Critics

Muthu’s inadvertent sharing of a fake “news card” resulted in him getting jailed, his job in Dubai getting terminated and his passport impounded. This episode paints a grim picture of the consequences of expressing views against the DMK or its allies in Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu Police under the current dispensation has faced criticism for arresting and harassing people who post against the ruling DMK or its allies.

Very recently, the Tamil Nadu Police went all the way to Noida-based media house looking for renowned journalist Abhijit Majumder who had written a column against Udhayanidhi Stalin’s “eradicate Sanatana Dharma” remarks. The police had turned up at his place without issuing any summons.

Here are some other recent instances where the Tamil Nadu police have been actively pursuing individuals critical of the ruling DMK:

  • The Commune and its directors faced legal action for reporting on the confrontation between Podu Deekshitars of the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and HR&CE officials.
  • Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary SG Suryah was taken into custody under non-bailable sections for his comments regarding Madurai CPI-M MP Su Venkatesan concerning a sanitation worker’s tragic death during drain cleaning in Pennadam town, Cuddalore district.
  • An AIADMK IT wing member was apprehended under non-bailable sections for sharing a video meme that humorously referenced MK Stalin’s video statement on Senthilbalaji’s arrest. The meme did not contain derogatory content.
  • Saravanaprasad Balasubramanian, a pro-BJP Twitter user was arrested for sharing an old article and allegedly misattributing DMK to an illegal liquor-producing gang in Tiruppur, following the recent hooch tragedy in Marakkanam.
  • Vice President of Tamil Nadu BJP’s Industrial Cell, Selva Kumar, was arrested for criticizing DMK Minister Senthilbalaji.
  • The admin of Voice of Savukku Shankar X handle was arrested for a video meme targeting CM MK Stalin and DMK Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan regarding the “eligible household” clause in the monthly assistance scheme for women.
  • The DMK government traveled to Gujarat to arrest BJP cadre John Ravi, who had made satirical social media posts about CM MK Stalin and his late father, Karunanidhi.
  • A member of TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK was arrested for posting a meme mocking the Tamil Nadu sports ministry led by Udhayanidhi Stalin.
  • Political commentator Kishore K Swamy was detained for posts critical of MK Stalin related to monsoon preparations. Previously, he had been subjected to the Goondas Act for criticizing DMK leaders Karunandhi, Stalin, and Annadurai.
  • DMK critic YouTuber-turned-BJP cadre Karthik Gopinath was arrested for raising funds for temples in Siruvachur, Perambalur district, which had been vandalized by miscreants.
  • BJP supporter and political analyst Krishna Kumar Murugan was arrested in connection with alleged ‘defamatory’ posters caricaturing MK Stalin.
  • YouTuber Maridhas was taken into custody for a video discussing Tablighi Jamaat and a tweet related to the late Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat.
  • Naam Tamilar functionary Ganesh Kumar alias Nila Kannan was apprehended for posting an image of the late DMK leader Karunanidhi being served food by three different women.
  • Critic of the DMK, Badri Seshadri, was arrested for his comments in an interview on a YouTube channel regarding the Manipur issue, during which he made remarks about the Chief Justice of India.

These are just a few of many arrests made in the recent past. The delay in the judicial process compounds the ordeal, as legal proceedings have yet to provide full respite in many of the above cases.

Muthu’s case is an alarming illustration of the challenges individuals may encounter when expressing their opinions against the DMK on digital platforms.

The Commune tried to reach out to the Thoothukudi police officials for comments but couldn’t get in touch.  

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“Was Silent When Hindus Suffered, Muslims Won’t Vote For ADMK Even If You Cry For Years”: Hindu Munnani Condemns EPS For Muslim Appeasement

By
The Commune
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Edappadi Palaniswami, the General Secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (AIADMK), has initiated a sequence of calculated moves that seem to mirror the stance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) while seeking backing from minority groups in Tamil Nadu.

On 14 October 2023, EPS had urged the DMK-led state government to ensure prayer facilities for Muslim prisoners at Vellore jail. In a statement, EPS expressed his condemnation, stating, “It is unacceptable to deprive Muslim prisoners of their right to practice their religious duties.”

In response to Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s abrupt expression of concern for the Muslim community, Hindu Munnani has raised doubts about his stance. They stated, “AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami consistently expresses support for individuals associated with Muslim extremist activities. It remains unclear whether his sudden concern is motivated by the upcoming parliamentary elections.”

The Hindu Munnani also quoted EPS’s statement that the DMK is obstructing Muslim prisoners’ right to worship by not allowing them to offer namaz in Vellore jail, urging for immediate permission for them to do so.

The Hindu Munnani further emphasized, “Under the DMK’s governance, Hindu temples faced a continuous series of demolitions. Instances of Christian conversions escalated in Chennimalai. There were also cases where the police assaulted women participating in Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.”

They questioned the discrepancy in Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s response, asking, “Why does Palaniswami raise his voice only when there’s an issue affecting the Muslim community, ignoring the problems faced by Hindus?”

Furthermore, the Hindu Munnani asserted, “Muslims won’t vote for you regardless of your efforts to advocate for the release of individuals involved in bomb blasts and to ensure their right to worship in jail. Therefore, it’s unwise to alienate the larger Hindu community in pursuit of minority votes. Your hypocrisy is evident. Edappadi Palaniswami ji would be better off abstaining from engaging in unethical political tactics.”

AIADMK On The Path Of Muslim Appeasement

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), after its exit from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has come under scrutiny for its perceived efforts to court minority voters. This shift is believed to be a response to the party’s claim of losing minority support during its alliance with the BJP.

AIADMK raised a calling attention motion over the issue of releasing Muslim prisoners including those who have been convicted for the 1998 Coimbatore Bomb Blasts. The motion called for releasing over 36 Muslim prisoners including the 16 convicts sentenced to life in the 1998 Coimbatore Blasts case on humanitarian grounds considering their long sentences served, old age and health.

The AIADMK General Secretary informed his Muslim supporters in Salem several days ago that the party had severed ties with the BJP in accordance with their wishes. He said, “I would like to point out that ADMK has acted just as you wished. Similarly, you have to ensure that our candidates win the elections.”

Now a member of the AIADMK, CTR Nirmal Kumar who was once with the BJP shared a picture on his X handle with the hashtag – An ADMK for everyone and the image had EPS wearing the skullcap characteristic of Muslims with the words “The Saviour” in the background written in Arabic style font.

https://twitter.com/CTR_Nirmalkumar/status/1711640679003361775

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“Urine Poured On Son, Wife Kicked, House Stoned”: Shocking Allegations Of Yet Another Attack On Scheduled Caste Family In Tamil Nadu

By
The Commune
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Feature Image Credits: Shalin Maria Lawrence Twitter

A family belonging to the Scheduled Caste residing in the Vidathilampatti hills within the Manapparai municipality has reportedly been facing threats from a dominant Urali Gounder family.

Ilango (42) and Rasathi E (29) relocated to Vidathilampatti with their six-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter a year back, being one of the two Scheduled Caste families in the area. Vadivel (45) and his family who live nearby have been accused of persistent and deliberate harassment.

Ilango’s family claimed that one of Vadivel’s eight dogs recently chased their son, causing him to fall and sustain injuries while attempting to escape. Furthermore, they alleged that Vadivel’s wife, Alagumani, directed caste-based slurs at Rasathi during a disagreement. On a separate occasion, the family contended that Vadivel’s 12-year-old son poured urine from a bottle onto their son.

According to Rasathi, on 4 October 2023 , while she was gathering firewood for cooking, Alagumani assaulted her with a water pipe and kicked her in the stomach. “I was pursued all the way to the bus stop and assaulted there. I was hospitalized at the Manapparai GH and discharged on 8 October 2023,” she added.

Ilango filed a complaint with the Manapparai police, but apparently no First Information Report (FIR) was registered. Subsequently, the family met with SP Varun Kumar on  11 October 2023, urging for appropriate action to be taken.

Later that same day, while they were indoors, their house was attacked with stones. The family promptly notified the police, who arrived at the scene, took photographs, but the family claimed that no formal case was registered. Following this unsettling incident, out of fear for their safety, the family relocated to a relative’s residence 15 km away. “An official from Manapparai station called us, suggesting we settle the matter with Vadivel’s family,” Ilango stated. Vadivel reportedly refuted the accusations.

However, Tamilselvi, a neighbor, acknowledged that stones were indeed thrown at their residence but asserted uncertainty regarding the culprits. Ranjith Kumar, the Village Administrative Officer for Sevalur panchayat, mentioned that he had not received any such complaint from either party and pledged to investigate.

When questioned about why an FIR was not lodged in this case, Manapparai inspector JK Gopi was quoted saying in The New Indian Express, “We filed a CSR (Community Service Register) and are currently investigating, but we haven’t been able to substantiate the allegations.”

P Muruganantham, an advocate from the People’s Rights Protection Centre, highlighted, “According to Section 4 of the Prevention of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act, the police should have promptly filed an FIR. The Act clearly states that failing to do so is an offense on par for the involved police.” Trichy SP Varun Kumar assured TNIE that he would investigate the matter.

‘Christian Dalit’ activist Shalin Maria Lawrence brought attention to this incident through her X post, stating, “This is the state of Dalit women and children in the state while Ms. Kanimozhi Karunaanidhi is successfully conducting the women’s rights conference today . A woman for them does not include the Dalit women. That’s the sad reality.”

It’s noteworthy to highlight that earlier this year, Shalin Maria Lawrence, faced threats from RK Nagar DMK MLA J.J. Ebenezer. These threats were a response to a social media post by Shalin Maria Lawrence in which she accused the MLA of compelling a corporation worker to clean a sewer.

Recently in September 2023, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi delved into the issue of caste-based social discrimination that still persists in various parts of the state during a speech. The Governor highlighted various distressing incidents, including members of Scheduled castes being barred from entering temples, contamination of water tanks with human excreta, and discrimination faced by minority community children in schools. He stressed that these harmful practices could only be eliminated through social reform rather than exploiting them for political gains.

(With inputs from The New Indian Express)

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DMK Min Udhayanidhi Stalin Bats For Pak Cricketer Rizwan As Crowd Chants “Jai Sri Ram”, Rizwan Earlier Did Namaz In The Middle Of The Pak Vs Ned Game

By
The Commune
-

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is also the Minister of Sports and Youth Development in his father’s cabinet has come out in support of Pakistani cricketer Muhammad Rizwan who had performed namaz in the middle of the stadium during the game, following which the crowd chanted Jai Sri Ram after India’s victory.

On Saturday (15 October 2023), during the India-Pakistan World Cup match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, spectators enthusiastically cheered “Jai Shri Ram” as Pakistan’s wicket-keeper-batsman, Muhammad Rizwan, made his way back to the pavilion after getting out at 49 runs.

In light of this, DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin came in support of the Pakistani cricketer saying that the treatment meted out to Pakistan players at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was unacceptable.

“Sports should be a unifying force between countries, fostering true brotherhood. Using it as a tool to spread hatred is condemnable. #IndiaVsPakistan“, he said. 

On the 10th of October, Pakistan secured a victory against Sri Lanka in the ongoing 2023 World Cup. Following his remarkable century in that match, Muhammad Rizwan dedicated the win to the people of Gaza, expressing his gratitude towards the Indian spectators and the hospitality and support he received in Hyderabad. However, his involvement of political matters in the context of the game drew significant criticism, as it appeared to breach the ICC’s code of conduct, which strictly prohibits cricketers from making political and religious statements.

https://twitter.com/iMRizwanPak/status/1711992170394300793

Muhammad Rizwan, much like several of his fellow countrymen, has a reputation for intertwining politics, religion, and sports. He gained attention when he openly offered Namaz on the cricket field during the break in the match against the Netherlands, with his teammates waiting for drinks. This action was met with disapproval, particularly given the context of it happening in front of Indian spectators.

“Will Anbumani Ramadoss Settle Paddy Lease Due For Temple Lands?”, Hindu Munnani Questions PMK Leader’s Call To Waive Off Temple Land Paddy Lease

By
The Commune
-

The Hindu Munnani in Tamil Nadu has challened PMK leader Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss over his stance to waive off lease payment of farm land owners doing cultivation on temple land.

Temples across Tamil Nadu possesses extensive farmlands which the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department manages. Over generations, individuals from local communities have leased and cultivated these lands. As a tradition, a portion of the harvested paddy is provided as lease for these cultivated lands, a long-standing practice.

In the recent statement PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss expressed, “The HR&CE Department is engaged in the process of expropriating farmers who are cultivating farmlands owned by Tamil Nadu temples on the grounds that they have not paid the paddy lease for several years. Depriving farmers of their livelihood without understanding their circumstances and helping them is reprehensible.”

Anbumani Ramadoss said that except for a few years in the last few decades, agriculture has not recovered due to severe drought and excessive rainfall. He said that in the next few years, the rice crops were affected by natural disasters, causing huge losses to the farmers because of which the cultivators could not supply the leased paddy to the temples.

“There is nothing wrong with the farmers. Paddy could not be supplied due to losses due to natural disasters. Since it is natural that the farmers cannot provide lease during periods of poor yield, it would be natural justice for the temple administrations to voluntarily waive the provision of lease paddy during natural calamities.“, he said.

He further added “Farmers affected by natural calamities and unable to pay lease paddy have been insisting for years for waiver of lease paddy arrears citing their inability. However, the HR&CE department and the temple administrations, which did not accept the request, are trying to recover the agriculture lands from the farmers who have left the leased paddy and put them up for public auction. This is not fair in any way.”

With a focus on the wellbeing and livelihoods of temple land tenant farmers, Anbumani Ramadoss emphasized in a statement that the Tamil Nadu Government should intervene to resolve cases concerning unpaid lease paddy and consider waiving the accrued lease paddy dues. He urged action to avert a significant crisis for the temple land tenant farmers.

“Two-thirds of the land under paddy cultivation in the Cauvery irrigated districts, i.e. more than 8 lakh acres, is temple land. If all these are taken away from the farmers, not only will the livelihood of lakhs of families be affected, but the paddy cultivation in the Cauvery irrigated districts will also suffer unimaginably. Considering that, this action should be abandoned.”, Anbumani Ramadoss said urging the DMK government to waive off paddy lease. 

In response to this the Hindu Munnani has asked if Anbumani Ramadoss would compensate for the loss incurred by temples if lease paddy conditions are waived off from farmers.

 

Hindu Munnani State Secretary Sanil Kumar counters Anbumani Ramadoss’ remarks in his recent statement. Kumar criticized, “The government has failed to take adequate measures to collect the outstanding lease payments, amounting to crores of rupees, owed to temples in Tamil Nadu. Numerous temples suffer from a lack of funds, resulting in the inability to conduct essential rituals. Anbumani Ramadoss, advocating for the waiver of temple farmland leases. If you genuinely care for the farmers, are you willing to cover the unpaid lease dues?”

(With inputs from Daily Thanthi)

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“No Cauvery Water For Tamil Nadu Farmers, Feast For Sonia Gandhi”: Netizens Trend #GoBackSonia Criticizing DMK’s Double Standards

By
The Commune
-

Congress party’s de-facto chief Sonia Gandhi, is making a visit to Chennai after a gap of five years. The Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, along with the party’s General Secretary and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, landed in Chennai to participate in the DMK “Women’s Rights Conference”. Upon arrival at the airport, they were greeted by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, along with DMK MPs Kanimozhi and TR Balu.

Thoothukudi MP and DMK’s women’s wing secretary Kanimozhi has organized grand feast for Sonia Gandhi, at the ITC Chola Star Hotel in Chennai today.

The current Congress-led government in Karnataka, has refused to release Tamil Nadu’s fair share of water as they claim that there is low level of water in catchment areas due to deficient rainfall.

While the MK Stalin-led DMK government passed a resolution in Tamil Nadu Assembly on 9 October 2023, urging the Central Government to direct the Karnataka government to release water in accordance with the orders of the Cauvery Water Management Authority, it has failed to reach out, exert pressure and convince the Karnataka Congress government to release enough water to atleast save the kuruvai crops.

Farmers in Tamil Nadu have been protesting against the government’s inaction and failure to secure Cauvery water. A few days ago, a group of farmers in Tiruchirappalli protested by holding dead rats in their mouths against the Karnataka Congress government for releasing Cauvery water.

The Commune had earlier written about how the DMK and Congress have played politics over Cauvery for years without arriving at a feasible solution.

Very recently, a video went viral on social media in which a DMK executive discusses how they’ve to pretend to oppose Congress over the Cauvery issue in order to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu.

This action of inviting Sonia Gandhi and her daughter to speak at a DMK conference and ironically arranging an elaborate feast for them while the crops of farmers in Tamil Nadu has decayed without water has invited criticism on the DMK.

The feast for Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi includes: Kuzhi Paniyaram, Vazhaipoo vada, Kalan Thokku, Paccha Kai Kurma, Idiyappam, Podi Rice, Red Rice, Murungakkai Sambar, Thakkali Rasam, Appalam, Pusnikai More Kozhambu, Cauliflower Melagu Peratal, Beans Paruppu Usli, Urulai Roast, Kai Brinji, Thayir Sadham / Sorghum Yoghurt, Sundakkai Vatha Kozhambu.

The non-vegetarian items include: Mamsam Kola Urundai, Vanjaram Meen Varuval, Yera Thokku, Kozhi Kurma, Ambur Mutton Biryani.

The dessert items include: Sakkarai Pongal, Tirunelveli Halwa, Jowar Pal Payasam with Saadha/Meetha Paan as a final touch.

 

Critics of the DMK especially BJP also took to recollecting the past misdeeds of the Congress and DMK when they were in power.

The BJP Mahila Morcha also hit out at the double standards of the DMK of holding a women’s rights conference while the DMK has a history of abusing and demeaning women.

The also pointed out the hypocrisy of MK Stalin hugging Perarivalan, a man convicted of killing Sonia Gandhi’s husband Rajiv Gandhi.

This ongoing scenario, with the key players being the DMK and Congress, has unfolded for decades. It encapsulates the prolonged Cauvery Water Dispute, showcasing the political maneuvers of the Congress and DMK without reaching a resolution.

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Historic Launch Of Hindu Buddhist Sikh Jain Caucus In The U.S. Parliament Marks A New Milestone For Indic Faiths

By
Shivani
-

About a fortnight ago in the U.S.A, a long awaited journey for Hindus and people of Indic faiths, culminated in the announcement of a significant, social and political milestone – the official declaration of the launch of a “Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain (HBSJ) Caucus” in the U.S Parliament.

In the U.S, a caucus is a type of a ‘special interests’ group that works to lobby for, legislate for and defend the interests of the group (ideological, industrial, business, religious Etc) for which it came into existence.

Earlier this year, U.S Congressman of Indian origin, Mr. Shri Thanedar, a Democratic party representative elected from Michigan state, announced plans to form a ‘Hindu Caucus’ in the U.S. Congress, that would bring like-minded lawmakers together for the benefit of American citizens of Hindu and Indic-faith backgrounds. One of the stated aims of the proposed caucus is to ensure that people of non-Abrahamic faiths are not discriminated against and that there is no hate or bigotry against this demographic group in the country.

Representative Thanedar’s declaration of plans for the creation of a Hindu caucus and his subsequent inauguration of such a group for all Indic faiths is a significant achievement for the immigrant Indian community, Hindus from all over the world and people of Indic, non-Abrahamic faiths like Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, indegenous spiritual traditions, that do not have the same religious beliefs of Christianity and Islam.

The HBSJ Caucus has been successfully created with bipartisan support from members of the U.S Parliament of both the Republican and Democratic parties. A united Hindu/ Indic voice, will finally be heard, loud and clear, amidst concerns of rising discrimination and acts of violence against the people of Indic faiths, their property and their business interests.

The caucus will also, hopefully, have a positive impact on the important but vulnerable and fluctuating U.S -India relationship, in a changing world order. Another crucial expected outcome of presenting a united Hindu front and being represented by a bi-partisan, politically approved Hindu Caucus, is to reign in lop-sided, biased and exaggerated reports of purported injustices on minorities in India, the ground reality of which, is often distorted by christian and muslim groups, motivated by vested interests and a religious-conversion agenda.

The USCIRF (US Commission for International Religious Freedom), supposedly an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government agency created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA),
often prepares and publishes annual reports on indices like “religious freedom” and “minority rights” in nations around the world. These reports are presented to both houses of the U.S Parliament (the House of Representatives and the Senate) for further discussions. For a long time now, Indians (Hindus in particular), have complained that the USCIRF and similar organizations, behave more like representatives of vested-interest groups from within and outside India, claiming a lack of religious freedom for Minorities.

An American legislator-led legitimate “caucus”, representing the interests and grievances of the Hindu and Indic faiths, can help with a fact-finding mission on the ground realities in India. This group can help with the presentation of unbiased, factual data while discouraging falsified or exaggerated religion-related information showing Indic religions in poor light, at the alleged behest of religiously and politically motivated groups, lobbying for sanctions against India.

For over five decades now, Indians in the U.S have stayed away from publicly or politically displaying, emphasizing or seeking attention for their Eastern faith, their culture and traditions – Hindus and other Indic, non-Abrahamic faiths did not come together to discuss the common problems faced by them and try forming a group that would defend their cause or address their grievances in a public, social or political forum. This is a far cry from religious groups like the Muslims in various non-muslim nations including the U.S, who band together fairly quickly – they are vocal, present themselves as a homogenous group with special needs and form political alliances to defend their interests while staying united as a single voting block. They attempt to assert their rights, seek better representation across various fields, market their religion and traditions and even defend the political or economic goals of their native, muslim lands.

In contrast, the Hindus made no such efforts, since the early days of sizeable immigration to the U.S from the 1960s onwards. Some reasons for this tendency are:

1) Hinduism and other Indic faiths do not naturally gravitate towards groupism, social or political activism as quickly as the Christians and Muslims tend to do.The very nature of their philosophical beliefs, their broad minded tolerance of all spiritual traditions, respect for all faiths and their acceptance of all religions as different paths to the same Divine entity… does not compel them to form a separate, visible, bold, united group to represent themselves as a unique or special group from the general population.

2) Their history, belief system, their spiritual masters along with the primary intent of their faith (Union with the Divine) did not and does not encourage, emphasize or insist on active political participation, like Islam or Christianity.

3) Generations of Hindus influenced by a utopian Gandhian Idealism of
un-limited tolerance for other religions without expectong the same from them as well a skewed Nehruvian policy on “secularism” that advised and even instructed the Hindus
(through school education or court-ordained legistation) to stay away from attachment to their philosophical beliefs and customs while simultaneously promoting a strong and distinct sense of religious identity among the minority religions of Christianity and Islam… Between the politics of the Congress party, the Communist parties of India and all self-proclaiming “secular” parties, several generations of Hindu Indians were alienated enough from the spiritual traditions of their ancestors, that they barely identified themselves as a proud, distinct, homogenous social group called Hindus. Hence, little social and political will, to form a Hindu grouping of any kind when they emigrated to foreign shores in search of educational and employment opportunities.

4) The Hindu or Buddhist governments of the immigrant community’s native nations, were not forthcoming in lending asisstance of any kind to their expat, diaspora populations, for the establishment of religious centres or the promotion of their culture, abroad.

5) The Indian immigrants to the U.S tend to be educated, hard working people striving for economic prosperity in a foreign nation. As is their natural, civilizational tendency, they are typically law-abiding citizens who contribute to the economic prosperity of the host nation, their adopted country…
without drawing any attention to themselves for any reason other than economic. They tend to assimilate into the local culture and contribute positively towards it rather than alienating themselves from the local population and refusing to assimilate. Unless necessary and for the right reasons, they do not immediately begin to group together to declare themselves a special group demanding special recognition or special privileges.

The Hindus and other Indic faiths in the U.S, have finally risen to the occasion, at this historic moment. The recent creation of the HBSJ Caucus denotes the following:
– this ethno-religious group’s significantly larger numbers now, across the length and breadth of the U.S.
– their improved participation and influence in America’s educational, economic/business and political spheres of life.
– their higher-than-average economic prosperity, their positive contributions to American innovation, R&D and the Technical sector.
– their recent recognition and public admission of several reported instances of discrimination, bullying and sometimes violence on members of this group and their business interests.
– a Hindu re-awakening on foreign soil along with the community’s acceptance that second and third generation Indian-Americans (children and grand children of Indian immigrants) need better awareness of their native identity, roots and spiritual traditions before they fall prey to the non-tolerant beliefs of the more aggressive and proselytizing religions.
– a renewed, refreshed sense of pride in themselves as Indians and Hindus/Buddhists/Sikhs/Jains/Tribal ; a resurgent pride in their way of life and beliefs, coinciding with a more confident India, proud of its unique heritage, asserting its rights and not afraid of wielding its economic and military clout on the world stage.

Wishing the newly inaugurated, better-late-than-never Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain (HBSJ) Caucus,
much success on the shores of the World’s most powerful nation. Let’s hope the Hindu, Indic Caucus in the U.S, eventually makes a difference in U.S domestic and International policies, besides addressing the issue of overt and subtle prejudice towards Eastern, non-Abrahamic spiritual traditions. The time is ripe. Cheers!

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“Wrong, Disgraceful”: White House Press Secretary Strongly Rebukes Democratic Reps Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, And AOC Over Israel-Palestine Comments

By
The Commune
-

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre didn’t hold back on Tuesday as she strongly criticized fellow Democratic party members in response to remarks made by certain progressive Democratic U.S. House members calling for an immediate cease-fire to halt the escalating violence, as reported by The Nation.

Jean-Pierre unequivocally stated, “We firmly disagree with their stance. We find it abhorrent and utterly disgraceful. Our condemnation is directed at the terrorists responsible for the brutal murders, rapes, and kidnappings of hundreds of Israelis. There is no room for ambiguity in this matter. There are no two sides to this issue. There is only one side.“

Although White House press secretary refrained from explicitly naming Democratic U.S. Representatives like Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Cori Bush of Missouri, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and several other House members, it was unmistakable who she was referring to.

The violence originated with a devastating attack by Hamas on Israeli communities last Saturday, followed by Israel’s intense bombardment of populated areas in Gaza. Tragically, this violence has resulted in over 2,200 casualties among both Israelis and Palestinians, and Jean-Pierre left no room for ambiguity in her response.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, known for her history of anti-Semitism, as well as Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush, have expressed their views. Omar stated, “Just as we honor the humanity of the hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians and 9 Americans who were killed this weekend, we must honor the humanity of the innocent Palestinian civilians who have been killed and whose lives are upended.” However, they have failed to explicitly condemn Hamas and its terror attacks against civilians.

One contributing factor is that both Omar and Tlaib represent constituencies with a significant Muslim population that, in some cases, appears to support violence against Jews.

Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has attributed the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict to Christian fundamentalism, in addition to Islamic and Jewish factors, and has linked it to recent U.S. actions in the region. She remarked, “It’s not just Islamic, it’s not just Jewish; it’s also Christians in the United States of America. Christian fundamentalism and nationalism, which has also exhibited strong anti-Semitic tendencies, has aligned itself with some of the most right-wing and authoritarian powers in the region.“

This perspective appears to be an attempt to deflect blame from Hamas, the Islamic terror group responsible for the attack on innocent civilians. Cortez also criticized former President Donald Trump for relocating the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move she described as controversial and linked to certain interpretations of biblical revelations, indirectly holding President Trump accountable for the terror attack.

It is a well-established fact that if the Arabs were to lay down their weapons, there could be peace. Conversely, if the Jews were to disarm, they would face extermination.

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DMK Member Sexually Harasses Widowed Mother Who Sought Help For Her Disabled Son; Sends Inappropriate Messages

By
The Commune
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A woman lodged a complaint at the Odanchathiram district police station concerning a member of the DMK party named Prabhu from Dindugal. In her complaint, she alleged that Prabhu had subjected her to sexual harassment and had sent her explicit audio and video materials.

Saroja, a resident of Kasturi Nagar in Odanchathiram, has been widowed for a decade. She has a son with a disability and a daughter in good health. Saroja is the primary provider for her family, working daily wage jobs. Recently, it has come to light that Saroja sought assistance from Prabhu, a member of the DMK who is from Gandhinagar, for her son with a disability. Unfortunately, Prabhu misused her contact information to harass her by sending unwanted messages.

Saroja explained, “I reached out to him because of his affiliation with DMK, but he abused my contact details by frequently calling me. Consequently, I blocked him. Nevertheless, he proceeded to send me indecent videos and audio messages. He also subjected me to torture through video calls, causing me to become depressed. As a result, I filed a complaint at the Odanchathiram police station and requested protection.”

She further said, “The DMK member, Prabhu, also threatened me, stating that he would use his influence to harm me if I didn’t comply with his inappropriate demands. He also threatened to kill my children“.

The misuse of authority by DMK member Prabhu when responding to the plea for help from a vulnerable woman has sparked apprehensions regarding the safety of women during the DMK’s governance.

It is notable that, a commotion erupted during a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam meeting in Chennai attended by DMK MP Kanimozhi, Tamilachi Thangapandian MP, and Virugambakkam MLA Prabhakar Raja after police attempted to detain two DMK functionaries for allegedly molesting a female police constable. 

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Massive Protest In Chennimalai Over Attempts To Rename Chennimalai As ‘Kalvari/Yesu Malai’ Sparks Outrage

By
The Commune
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A massive protest was held in Chennimalai on (13 October 2023) organized by Hindu Munnani and other Hindu orgainzations, after provocative speeches and attempts were made by Christian Missionaries calling for renaming of “Chennimalai” into “Yesu Malai” or “Kalvaari Malai”

The protest saw a huge turnout with thousands of Hindus participating, proudly waving saffron flags, creating the impression of a saffron wave.

The Reason For Protest

Chennimalai is situated between Erode and Coimbatore. It is known as Siragiri and Chenniyangiri in Devanagiri, and Chennimalai in Tamil, the hill lends its name to the city at its base. The hill is also referred to as Sigaragiri, Pushpagiri, and Siragiri. Notably, the revered hymn ‘Kanda Sashti Kavacham,’ praising Lord Murugan, was first staged by Sri Bala Devaraya Swamigal at this temple.

In Kathakodikkad, part of the Murungathovu Panchayat within the Chennimalai Union of Erode District, a Christian ‘jebakootam’ (prayer meeting) gathering took place at the residence of one John Peter on 17 September 2023.

During this prayer meeting, tensions flared as Hindu Munnani insisted that such ‘jebakootams’ cannot be held in residential areas without required official permission.

This dispute escalated into a heated altercation, with both sides involved in physical confrontations. Subsequently, the Chennimalai police initiated legal proceedings against Hindu Munnni, following a complaint from the Christian group. As a result of this incident, two members of the Hindu Munnani were arrested and detained.

Adding to the already volatile situation, Christian leaders announced during a demonstration in Chennimalai on the 26 September 2023 that they intended to transform the revered Chennimalai Murugan Temple hill into a Christian site named Kalvari Malai or Yesu Malai. This revelation left the Hindu community deeply perturbed.

The Hindu Munnani has accused the Christian Munnani, along with certain local Christian missionaries instigated by certain political parties, of publicly giving a controversial speech saying that the sacred Hindu worship site of Chennimalai will be renamed.

The Protest

On Friday (13 October 2023), a massive demonstration took place in front of the Chennimalai bus stand condemning the blatant attempts by Christian missionaries to rename Chennimalai into “Kalvari/Yesu Malai”. Many people from surrounding regions of Erode, Salem, Coimbatore and Namakkal thronged to Chennaimalai for the massive protest. The people called for strict action against the Christian missionaries for attempting to disturb the communal harmony of the place. The protest was led by Hindu Munnani State President Kadeswara Subramaniam with other leaders of Hindu Munnani participating. The ladies assembled sang devotional hymns in praise of Lord Murugan.

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