Facebook Instagram X Youtube
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Facebook Instagram X Youtube
Home Blog Page 1095

DMK Functionary Defaces G.D. Naidu Street Sign, BJP Condemns

By
The Commune
-

DMK functionary Raghunandan/Raghunath has allegedly attempted to obscure the legacy of the renowned scientist G.D. Naidu, a key figure from Coimbatore’s industrial revolution. The act involved the defacement of the signboard bearing the name “G.D. Naidu Street,” raising questions about the motivations behind such an action.

Raghunandan hails from Race Course area of ​​Coimbatore. A DMK figure, he is also said to be producing a few films under the name ‘Race Course’ Raghunath. A street in the 66th ward under the central zone of the Coimbatore Corporation has been named after G.D. Naidu. Raghunandan blackened the street sign board that was put up by the Corporation alleging that it has a caste name and is against the principle of social justice.

The incident has been condemned by the BJP as an insult to the famed scientist and inventor from the Coimbatore region.

Former Coimbatore BJP President Balaji Uttama Ramasamy said, “As a way of slandering the talented Coimbatore-based scientist GD Naidu, one of the scientific giants of Tamil Nadu, DMK functionary Raghunandan has tarnished the nameboard of GD Naidu erected in his memory on behalf of the government. The road named after him has been painted with black ink. This action is strongly condemned. What is the situation of the people because of this DMK government if this is the situation for the scientist who made Coimbatore proud? “We strongly condemn him and he should be arrested immediately,” he said.

The Vice President of Tamil Nadu BJP Industrial cell Selva Kumar has taken to Twitter to condemn the alleged attempt by the DMK to suppress the fame of G.D. Naidu. The party strongly denounced the act of blackening the signboard and demands that the MSME Tooling Centre, a project of the Central Government set to be built in Coimbatore at a cost of ₹200 crore, be named after the scientific genius, G.D. Naidu. This incident has sparked a political outcry, raising concerns about the preservation of historical and scientific legacies in the face of potential partisan motivations.

Explaining this, Racecourse Raghunath said, “There is an ordinance that there should be no streets with caste names. The old name of that street was GT. Only now is the word Naidu was added. I deleted that word just so that there should be equality everywhere. I saw the comments of the BJP. That is their opinion. I have not done anything wrong, I have done this in accordance with justice,” he said.

Gopalaswamy Doraiswamy Naidu, better known as G.D. Naidu, was born in 1893 in Coimbatore, India, and is celebrated as the ‘Edison of India’ for his groundbreaking contributions to mechanics, electrical engineering, and agriculture.

Naidu’s foray into entrepreneurship began with the establishment of his transportation business. Armed with extensive knowledge and acute observation skills, he could identify mechanical issues in his buses merely by the sound of the running engine. What started with a single bus in 1921 quickly expanded into the United Motor Services (UMS), boasting a fleet of 280 buses. In 1937, Naidu achieved the historic feat of manufacturing India’s first electric motor, showcasing his bold approach to experimentation and unconventional problem-solving.

One notable example of Naidu’s inventive spirit was the creation of the electric razor, Rasant. While abroad, he modified a play car’s motor, inserting a blade through trial and error to invent the electric razor. His list of inventions included a distance adjuster for film cameras, a tamper-proof vote recording machine, and a fruit juice extractor, among others. In 1941, at a time when radios were a luxury priced at Rs 175, Naidu declared his ability to produce five-valve radio sets in India for just Rs 70. In 1952, his company introduced a two-seater petrol engine car priced at a mere Rs 2,000, although production ceased due to government indifference and refusal to grant necessary licenses.

Beyond his entrepreneurial and inventive achievements, G.D. Naidu played a crucial role in establishing India’s first polytechnic college, the Arthur Hope Polytechnic, and the Arthur Hope College of Engineering. Although the government later assumed control, the institution now stands as the Government College of Technology (GCT). G.D. Naidu passed away in 1974, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and educational contributions.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

Netizens Express Concern Over Stalin’s Trembling Hands, Sun News Shares Edited Clip After Unedited Video Goes Viral

By
The Commune
-

A video of DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has gone viral in which his right hand can be seen shaking wildly, akin to someone suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

On 13 January 2024, Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the annual Tamil cultural festival, “Chennai Sangamam – Namma Ooru Thiruvizha” at Theevu Thidal (Island Grounds) in Chennai. 

 

He commenced the 2024 edition by playing the muzhavu murasu (ceremonial drum) in the presence of Member of Parliament and DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments  (HR&CE) Minister PK Sekar Babu, and Tamil Development, Information, and Publicity Minister MP Swaminathan.

Scheduled to run from 13 to 17 January 2024, the four-day event will take place at 18 locations across the city, showcasing various dance forms from Tamil Nadu during the Pongal festival.

Initiated by Kanimozhi in 2007 to promote Tamil art forms, the ongoing Chennai Sangamam festival will feature a diverse range of performances by artists from Tamil Nadu and other states. The program includes Rouf from Kashmir, Lai Haraoba Manipur, Sambalpuri from Odisha, Bhangra from Punjab, Nayandi Melam, Karakaattam, Kavadiaattam, Silambattam, Villisai, and Bharatanatyam, as per the information provided by the Greater Chennai Corporation. In addition to Chennai, the festival will also be conducted in Kancheepuram, Vellore, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tirunelveli.

Over the past week, rumors have been circulating in Tamil Nadu regarding Chief Minister Stalin’s poor health. However, both his son Udhayanidhi Stalin and Stalin himself later refuted these claims.

 

During the Tamil diaspora day speech he joyfully asked “Is everybody good? Are you all happy?” 

He opened up speaking regarding the controversy of his health “Yesterday a newspaper reported that I’m not well and brisk.. By reading that I felt laughing! What do I lack? Tamil Nadu and Tamil people are happy! What do I need other than that?” 

He also expressed his happiness in serving the people, stating “I came across a video yesterday where a sister from Chennai was expressing her gratitude. She received ₹1000 from Kalaingar Mahalir Urimai Thogai, a Pongal gift of ₹1000, rice, sugar, and sugarcane, and received a relief fund of ₹6000. In one month CM provided ₹8000 to me, I need not rely on anyone else she said. Seeing joy in her face is my energy tonic!! My thought revolves only around my people not about me. In all situations I’m with the people. I am working beyond my capabilities.. I’ll avoid such news and work tirelessly”

 

However, during the inaugural festival of Chennai Tamil Sangam, after he played the muzhavu (drums), his hands were seen trembling intensely.

This video released by DMK family-owned Sun News was however deleted later. An edited clip removing the portion in question was shared by Sun News again.

 

A few netizens suggested that he should be granted a break accompanied by appropriate healthcare.

Some pointed out that the tremors could be indicative of Parkinson’s disease, but it remains uncertain whether CM is afflicted by this debilitating condition.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with aging, characterized by the gradual deterioration of certain brain regions. Its most recognizable symptoms include reduced mobility, tremors, difficulties in balancing the body, and more. While the exact cause of most cases remains unclear, some instances have a genetic component. Although the condition cannot be cured, numerous treatment possibilities are available.

Some speculated that the decision to appoint Udhayanidhi Stalin as Deputy Chief Minister might be attributed to this factor.

 

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

Jagan Reddy’s 2024 Prospects Plunge Amidst Scandal and Political Turmoil in Andhra Pradesh

By
Shivani
-

We reap what we sow. This certainly seems to be true in the case of current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy, a first-time Chief Minister of the state, whose entry into the political lime light in 2019, was already mired in controversy – a controversy hinged on his criminal past and his time in a central jail based on over thirty CBI-investigated acts involving illegal financial and criminal acts.

Reddy’s YRSCP party’s term from 2019-2024 is likely to go down in Andhra’s history as a period of massive fraud, corruption and extortion, well above what citizens experience in other Indian states. Jagan Reddy stands exposed for hundreds of cases involving brazen infringement of rights, misuse of the police force, disrespect of the High Court and judicial process, establishment of a parallel mafia/goonda-state and the massive looting of state income and resources, to an extent rarely seen in other states.

The YSRCP’S decline puts the BJP in a fix, as it is now compelled to re-think its partnership options in Andhra Pradesh for the upcoming 2024 national and state elections. Word in the vernacular press and in political circles is that, it is in negotiations with Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP (Telugu Desam Party), which almost all surveys point to, as the party with the highest prospects in the 2024 elections. The BJP already has an informal understanding with Pawan Kalyan’s JSP (Jana Sena Party) but the JSP or the BJP know that the chances of winning on their own, are low.

The BJP’s recent appointment of D Purandeswari (July 2023) as President of the state’s BJP unit, is an indication of the party’s understanding of caste equations, probable electoral outcomes and key partnerships in Andhra Pradesh. Purandeswari is a member of the well known TDP political family with roots in the financially lucrative Telugu film industry. She is the daughter of the respected, late Telugu film star and TDP party founder, Mr. N.T Rama Rao and the sister-in-law of veteran politician and TDP leader, N Chandrababu Naidu.

Jagan’s unflattering 2024 predicament can be linked to a host of reasons, grouped together under five principal categories:

1) Gross Mismanagement Of The State On All Fronts

Poor financial state of affairs brought down to a level where even salaries and contractual obligations not fulfilled on time. The plight of the state-run corporations and institutions across all sectors including transportation and education, have begun to worry the common people. Citizens comment on the future of the state and provision of essential services for health, water, power and education for themselves and their children.

2) The TDP Factor

The more experienced TDP party and its leaders were able to point out to, not just the inexperience of Jagan Reddy and his advisors in the administration of a state but also their high levels of corruption and their general lack of interest in the development of the state. Almost all Opposition leaders were able to discuss information on the current government’s poor administration, governance and a lack of development-based planning across all sectors. They were able to present to the people, ample evidence along with statistics, of the gross mismanagement of the state’s resources, finances and administrative services.

Not to be taking any chances, the TDP has hired the election-analyst, Prashant Kishore, ironically the very man who asissted Jagan’s YSRCP party in the previous 2019 elections.

One of Reddy’s recent political actions proved to be his undoing. Jagan’s dramatic midnight arrest of senior TDP leader, Chandrababu Naidu (Sept. 2023) utilizing undue force and without sufficient evidence of the alleged wrongdoing, unleashed public anger on top of the frustration they were already experiencing. His character, immaturity and a long record of vengeance-seeking behaviour, turned the public against him and his ministers. The common man appears to be in support of the more mature, experienced, balanced leadership of TDP’s leaders.

3) Trust Deficit

The non-payment or partial payment of financial asisstance on promised state as well as central schemes, has caused a trust deficit in Jagan Reddy’s leadership and his YSRCP party. Along with an increase in the common man’s problems and the rising dissatisfaction of Jagan’s administration over the last two years, people have begun to question his morals and values. The ordinary citizen’s experience of common government’s processes and subsidized schemes, at all levels and in all departments, including electricity, agriculture, water, tax, education, transportation Etc has been a poor one, exposing high levels of corruption at every level.

4) Law & Order, Judicial Processes

Reddy’s gross misuse of both IAS and IPS officers and all levels of staff, of the departments managed by them, has led to a sense of distrust of the Law and Order services in the state. People feel insecure about their safety with several instances of action not taken on criminal elements, leading to an increase in goondaism and lawlessness in the state. An open disregard for the police and almost all High Court judgements by the chief minister and his ministers, sets a dangerous precedent for the future of the state, which people are uncomfortable with. Jagan Reddy’s disrespect for almost all judicial verdicts of the A.P High court and his complete disregard for established law and order processes, has made people uneasy about the YSRCP party’s leaders and cadre, setting a bad example for the youth of the state.

5) Entry Of His Sister

Presently, Y S Jagan’ Reddy’s sister Y S Sharmila’s relatively new Telangana-based YSRTP party (established July 2021, dissolved/merged into Congress in Jan 2024) has the status of a small, insignificant one, merged with the Telangana unit of the Congress party. Her rumored entry in to the A.P political arena via the Congress party, as a rival to her brother’s Andhra based party, may not have a significant impact in terms of voter volume for the Congress party. But it is likely to attract a section of Jagan Reddy’s party cadre and core vote base of certain SC communities (scheduled caste) as well as converted Christians from both SC and BC communities. Y S Sharmila’s entry into A.P politics via the Congress party will split Jagan’s vote base further, at a time when his approval rating is already low and his party’s chance of coming back to power, appears slim, per the data of the latest pre-election opinion polls in A.P.

Additional Setbacks For Jagan And The YSRCP

The Andhra Pradesh State Legislative elections are scheduled to be held sometime in March or April 2024 (barely two months away) to elect representatives to all 175 seats of the Assembly,

1) The ECI (Election Commission Of India)’s recent visit to Andhra Pradesh

This has reiterated their acknowledgement of several reported cases of voter-fraud and other types of pre-poll tampering by the YSRCP party. Several cases along with evidence have been filed by citizen’s groups as well as political parties, in the A.P High Court and the Supreme Court. The ECI held discussions with all stake holders of the election process. High level meetings were conducted where it was made clear that elections would be strictly monitored and any evidence of deviation from the rules, would not be tolerated. Senior adminstrative officers of the IAS and IPS services, were asked to respect the election process and refrain from succumbing to political pressure. The ECI reportedly reminded senior officers to strictly follow the election code of conduct and ensure a fair election process in the state. The vernacular press and local media are abuzz with the news of the ECI’s top-tier meetings with the high ranking officials, asking them to do their constitutional duty during the election period, failing which, their jobs would be at risk.

Additionally, the ECI firmly rejected Jagan Reddy’s proposal of allowing his party-selected “volunteers” to help conduct and monitor the elections, instead of the educated and trained teachers, that all state governments generally employ for the crucial election process, across the country. This openly outright and emphatic rejection of the YSRCP’s politically motivated proposal, appears to be an indication of the Central Government, the Supreme Court and the ECI’s awareness of the ground reality in Andhra, their public acknowledgement of the deep-rooted corruption in the state and their collective will in taking steps to right the wrongs.

2) Major Rebellion And In-fighting In YSRCP

Thus far, more than 30 current MLAs have reportedly refused to contest or assist the party in the upcoming 2024 elections. The rebellion is now out in the open, with YSRCP leaders talking to the local media about the problems plaguing the party. Many popular leaders have chosen to either resign or resist a party directive for reassignment to a different constituency. Some leaders have openly spoken about the enormous amounts of money Jagan and his close associates have made, while other leaders were being asked to cough up unreasonable sums of money to contest elections, even when the party is flush with ill- begotten funds.

Jagan Reddy’s unsavoury actions seem to have caught up with his political prospects for 2024. Almost all surveys since September 2023 are indicative of his criminal past and present, negatively impacting his nascent political outfit, the YSRCP party’s 2024 state electoral prospects.

Shivani is a freelance writer based out of Vijayawada.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

PM Modi’s ‘Vocal For Local’ Gets A Boost With The Launch Of Mahabharat Circuit Tour

By
The Commune
-

The Northern Region Office of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, orchestrated a Conference focusing on the Mahabharat Circuit, followed by a Familiarization Trip to Kurukshetra, Jyotisar, and Thanesar on 10th January 2024. The event drew a diverse assembly of participants from across the country, including Tour Operators, travel media representatives, opinion leaders, influencers, and officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Haryana Tourism Department, and local administration.

The primary objective was to raise awareness about the tourism potential and religious significance of the region. Discussions during the conference encompassed various aspects such as infrastructure, accommodation, tourist facilities, visitor influx, Travel and Tourism Sustainability, Responsible Tourism, community involvement, and the training of service providers for the region’s promotion and marketing.

Taking place on January 9, 2024, the Conference aimed to explore, promote, and spotlight Kurukshetra and Mahabharat-related sites as preferred tourist destinations for both domestic and international visitors. Manisha Saxena, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism GOI, addressed the delegates virtually, emphasizing that Mahabharat is not just an epic but a way of life. She highlighted the significant developments in infrastructure and facilities in collaboration with Haryana Tourism, including the establishment of a Light & Sound Show and a museum at Jyotisar.

Delegates from private tourism operators and ISKCON spoke at the event, underscoring the importance and potential of Kurukshetra.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

The circuit tours are part of the Swadesh Darshan scheme launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014-15. Under the original Swadesh Darshan scheme, 15 theme-based circuits were launched. A Tourist Circuit is characterized as a path connecting a minimum of three prominent tourist destinations, in different towns, villages, or cities, without being separated by considerable distances. These circuits must feature clearly defined entry and exit points to encourage visitors to explore the majority of the identified places within the circuit.

In contrast, Theme-based Tourist Circuits revolve around specific themes, such as religion, culture, ethnicity, niche interests, and more. These themed circuits can be limited to a single state, or may extend to cover a regional circuit spanning multiple states or Union territories.

Swadesh Darshan 2.0 was launched in 2023, shifting the focus from circuit tours to resonate more with the PMs vision of ‘vocal for local’ to attract domestic tourists. More details on Swadesh Darshan 2.0 can be found here and here.

With inputs from PIB

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

“Crazy Man”: DMK Min PTR Loses His Cool, Bullies And Abuses ‘Karunanidhi’ Who Asked Why TN Govt Was Preventing Kids From Learning More Languages

By
The Commune
-

The “World Tamil Diaspora Day 2024” marked its successful third consecutive year with a two-day event at the Chennai Trade Centre Nandambakkam on January 11-12, 2024, focusing on the theme “Tamil Vellum” conducted by Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils.

Tamil diaspora from approximately 58 countries actively participated in the celebrations and the event was inaugurated by DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development and soon-to-be crowned Deputy Chief Minister.

The event witnessed the presence of various dignitaries, including ministers, representatives, industrialists, writers, poets and notable figures K Shanmugam, the Minister for Home Affairs and Law Singapore was the chief guest.

The main event of the festival was “Looking for roots”. According to a press release issued by the government, a program will be held where 57 overseas Tamil students from Australia, Canada, Fiji, Sri Lanka and other countries will share their experiences of cultural tourism under the project.

During the event, the Chief Minister MK Stalin also launched the ‘Enathu Gramam’ (My Village) scheme, encouraging the Tamil Diaspora to contribute to the development of their native villages through investments.

While the event commenced on a positive note, it was not without controversies. One notable instance was during the panel discussion titled “Olirum Edhir Kalamum Vaipugalum Savalgalum” (A bright future with opportunities and challenges), featuring Information Technology Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan. Controversy erupted when the panel extended the opportunity for the audience to pose questions. A significant moment of contention arose when a respected elderly individual inquired about the Tamil Nadu government’s language policy and compared the state’s education system with CBSE school system which follows a three language policy.

He started by saying “Bharathiar said bring wealth from everywhere, I’ve studied in Madurai university. From those days to now, Tamilians should go everywhere in the world. Then we should learn all languages… as you said… Instead of complaining ‘they’re imposing Hindi, they’re imposing Sanskrit’, like a carrot policy we should teach tamilians all languages. Like German, Japanese, in Japan the birth rate is dwindling, even Spanish. So, number of languages. You are finding fault with Centre. I agree with you. Why can’t you implement CBSE syllabus and ask our students to learn many many languages the entire hall will become people bigger than finance minister am I correct?”

This is how DMK Minister who was earlier the Finance Minister and was made the IT Minister after his scandalous audio leak controversy.

PTR said “I don’t understand, what is your question?” 

The old man replied “What prevents you from enticing our students to learn many other languages?” 

PTR asked “Who prevents right now?” 

The old man replied “Its our government”

PTR said “No no listen” 

The old man asserted strongly “I’m listening to you”

In a strong tone PTR said “No no no listen. CBSE syllabus is implemented by the Central Board. The government of Tamil Nadu irrespective of party in power has an educational system that implements its own board. There is no way in any country… What country do you live in wait wait … What country do you live in?”

The old man replied “I live in the world and I am a global citizen” 

When the atmosphere soured, the microphone was abruptly taken away from the individual who posed the question. The man raised his voice, asserting that this was undemocratic as he was not afforded the complete opportunity to express himself.

While expressing his distress “I’m a Dravidian, my name is also Karunanidhi.. what you are doing is undemocratic” he shouted.

PTR later goes on to get personal on the man saying “I’ll answer the question for him because he’s too ashamed to answer. He lives in Chicago. He lives in Chicago, in the state of Illinois, in the country of United States. In the state of Chicago, in the city of Chicago, the school education syllabus is set by the school board of the city of Chicago. Ask him why does he live in a place where the city sets the school board. Then he is coming and telling us we’ve to listen to CBSE education. Why do you live in a country where your city sets the school syllabus?”

Eventually, when the microphone was passed to the next person, PTR signaled that man as a lunatic with his fingers in head, implying he was behaving irrationally. After a while, PTR referred to him as a “crazy man”.

Finally he said “In the state of Tamilnadu anybody can learn any language they want. Nobody is telling anybody not to learn any language. I studied in Tamil Nadu board. I learnt French along with Tamil. My children are studying in Chennai and have learnt Spanish and French“.

“Unlike this crazy man here, nobody is stopping anyone from learning any language.“, DMK Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan said.

Netizens seized the opportunity to criticize PTR for his son and daughter being enrolled in an international syllabus, highlighting his apparent inability to handle criticism over the standards of Tamil Nadu education policy.

Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai lashed out at the arrogance exhibited by DMK Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan.

In an X post, Annamalai wrote “Instead of answering, he was bullied by the DMK Minister & was pushed out of the hall for exposing the flawed policies of the TN Government that have deprived children studying in govt schools of learning a third language.”

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

Dravidian Model Of Healthcare: Doctor At Govt Hospital In Ambur Behaves Rudely With Patient

By
The Commune
-

A recent viral incident has shaken the community, involving a conversation between a doctor and a Muslim patient at Ambur Government Hospital. The disrespectful behavior by the doctor and languid replies exhibited by the doctor and the prolonged waiting times at the government hospital, have sent shockwaves.

The incident happened to a family from Sunnambu Kalai, Ambur, Tirupattur district. Sabeer Ahmed and his wife, Muharam, visited the hospital at 11 PM as the latter suffered from stomach pain. Unfortunately, no doctor was available at that time. Allegedly, the compounder administered an injection. Later, when one Dr. Karthikeyan arrived, the patient expressed ongoing discomfort and sought further assistance. In response, he advised them to seek treatment at a private hospital which is located 54 km away.

It is alleged that Karthikeyan asked the compounder to administer ‘any injection and send them away’.

Muharam’s family questioned the doctor “Stomach ache has not yet reduced why do you come this late?”

Karthikeyan replied “Injection has been administered do not create a problem here! If you want, go to Adukkam Parai hospital” 

The quarrel was recorded by Muharam on her mobile camera in which she can be heard saying “For vomit and diarrhea you are the only doctor who has asked us to go to Adukkam Parai and no one in the world has said like this… You are a doctor right? Should you not ask the patient what is happening with them for stomach ache?”

During the entire conversation, Karthikeyan was seen chewing gum in his mouth standing lethargically without any concern and disrespectfully questioning the woman “Unakku thana vayiru vali?” (Stomach ache is for you right?)

Here’s how the rest of the conversation unfolds:

Angered muharam replied “Do not speak unnaku enakku? (You, Me – in a disrespecting manner) shall I call you the same?” to Kathikeyan replied “Call me”

Muharam said “We are respecting your study so take that respect”

 Karthikeyan said “Injection has been administered for stomach ache”

 Sabeer replied “Still the pain persists”

 Karthikeyan angrily questioned “Will the pain reduce in 5 minutes? When was the injection administered?”

 Muharam replied “I came here one and a half hours ago were you doctors present at the premises? He assisted me (Compounder)” 

Karthikeyan in a threatening tone said “You should not create problem like this here”

Muharam said “He is asking me.. Is this a vegetable selling shop? And if the vegetables are not good in this shop buy them from the next shop. Is this the way a doctor speaks?”

 The next day when speaking to the reporters she said “I had a stomach ache yesterday I came to the hospital at 11 PM and at 11:05 PM I was administered an injection. After the injection my pain did not subside. Neither the doctor nor the sisters (nurses) administered the injection; only the compounder administered it! Only the compounder administered the injection. They instructed me to sit for 15 minutes but I waited for one and a half hours but no doctor came to see me. When the doctor arrived he inquired the compounder what injection he administered. Then why is a doctor here?” 

She further said “Chewing gum in his mouth he did not speak in the manner expected of a doctor.”

For stomach ache and diarrhea should we go to adukkam parai? For going to Adukkam Parai why is there a doctor here? He says, you should go to a private hospital and should not come here for treatment! For me to go to a private hospital why are they providing him a salary and appointing him here? He said, ‘You can bring whoever.. I’ll see whatever happens’. He was not speaking like a doctor and behaved like a rowdy. We have the video you can see he threatened us saying he would call the police. You should take strict action against him I came here so that the Tamil Nadu government will take action.”

Netizens mocked the doctor and expressed their distress over the situation in Tamil Nadu.

One person said that this was a negative consequences of caste-based reservation system in Tamil Nadu instead of merit-based system like other countries.

Some criticized the careless choice of doctors and called for stricter actions.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

“They Don’t Let Me Wear Slippers, Brits Give Me Boots & Respect Me”: Dravidianists Go Gaga Over Dhanush Glorifying Brits In Captain Miller, But He Fights The Brits After Seeing Atrocities Committed By Them

By
The Commune
-

Captain Miller, a film starring Dhanush in the lead role released in theatres on 12 January 2024. Set in the pre-independence era, the film is about a man who joins the British Army having experienced caste atrocities but later quits and fights the British Army to protect his people after witnessing the horrific atrocities committed by them.

The film has received good response from the audience with a few critics glorifying the movie. However, a clip has gone viral on social media in which Dhanush can be seen mouthing dialogues seemingly favourable to the British.

In the clip in question, Easa/Captain Miller (played by Dhanush) tells his brother Sengolan (played by Shiva Rajkumar)  “Are you fighting for freedom? Whose freedom? You’re going to save our nation from the British and hand it over to the kings who are ruling us? But they’re not letting the us inside the temples built by our fathers and grandfathers. You are fighting for them.”

Sengolan tells Dhanush “It’s not like before. Everything is changing. It will change here as well.”, a dialogue which seems to be hinting at the social reforms ushered in by thinkers and reformists.

Caveat: Reformers like Vivekananda, Arya Samaj, had ushered in a new era breaking the archaic caste rigidities in Hindu society. In Tamil Nadu, C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), the Congress Chief Minister of Madras Presidency issued the Temple Entry Authorization and Indemnity Act 1939, under which restrictions were removed on Dalits and Shanars entering Hindu temples. The same year, Madurai A. Vaidyanatha Iyer who was the President of the Tamil Nadu Harijan Seva Sangh and an Indian independence activist, and freedom-fighter spearheaded the temple entry movement in Madras Presidency in 1939 entering the Madurai Meenakshi Temple along with six of Dalit friends including Congress leader P. Kakkan, Muruganandam, Chinniah, Purnalingam and Muthu.

Dhanush then goes on to say “What has changed Sengannen? Tell me. Will they let us inside the sanctum-sanctorum? Tell me Sengannen. Will they let our people enter the sanctum-sanctorum? They treat us like shit. He’s telling me not to wear slippers. If I join the army, the Brits are giving boots to me. He is asking me to stand slouching before him. He’s making me sit as an equal and tells me to eat. He is trampling me. That guy (British) is giving me respect. That respect is my freedom.”

When Sengolan questions why should we let people who came for business to rule, Dhanush goes on to say “Oh.. were we independent before the Brits came? They (kings) were ruling then, now they (Brits) are ruling now. We were slaves to them (kings) then, we’re slaves to the them (British) now. How does it matter for us?”

This clip has been shared by Dravidianist and DMK propaganda accounts exhilarating and hailing the dialogue saying that’s what EV Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers) said. They have interspersed the clip with speeches of DMK MP A. Raja justifying EVR’s British-apologist stance.

However, little do the Dravidianists realize that later in the film, Dhanush fights the very same British after he realizes that they’re the biggest threat to his community.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

A Continuing Story Of Custodial Deaths In Tamil Nadu

By
The Commune
-

Yet another incident of alleged custodial death has sent shockwaves through the state of Tamil Nadu. M. Balakrishnan, a 36-year-old resident of Srivaikuntam, Thoothukkudi, who was wanted in multiple criminal cases, travelled to Erode to meet friends on 26 December 2023. On 27 December 2023, while at a bar in Palayapalayam with five friends, a police team from Erode allegedly detained all six for questioning. Four were released the next day, but Balakrishnan and his friend Prakash were reportedly held in a private lodge and interrogated about an old case. There are also accusations that Balakrishnan faced physical assault during the questioning.

M. Mariyappan, Balakrishnan’s brother, registered a complaint stating that the police severely beat Balakrishnan, leading to his admission to a private hospital in Perundurai on 28 December 2023. He was later transferred to Perundurai Government Medical College Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on 2 January 2024.

The family contends that Balakrishnan’s death resulted from the police attack, and they demand accountability from the responsible officials. V. Maharajan, the lawyer representing Balakrishnan’s family, emphasised the injuries on his body and the inadequate responses from both the police and doctors. Consequently, on 5 January 2024, a case was filed at the Madras High Court. After hearing the petition, the court ordered an autopsy at Coimbatore Government Medical College Hospital on 8 January 2024, which was carried out on 9 January 2024. Maharajan expressed concern that evidence in the case had been tampered with and indicated plans to request the court to initiate a murder case.

A case has been registered under section 176 (1A) of CrPC at Chennimalai police station based on the family’s complaint. A post-mortem examination has been conducted, and an ongoing investigation aims to address the family’s allegations.

During the period 2021–22, the National Human Rights Commission of India documented 2152 deaths in judicial custody and 155 deaths in police custody until 28 February 2022 in India. 

As per the 2022 Crime in India report by the National Crime Records Bureau, only three deaths in police custody were reported and officially registered. Notably, no chargesheets were filed, nor were magistrate inquiries initiated for those not under remand. Two cases were reported and registered during remand, but again, no chargesheets were filed, and no magistrate inquiries were instigated. The cited reasons for these cases were attributed to deaths resulting from illness, hospital treatment, and journeys related to ongoing investigations.

However, replying to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha (LS1459), the Ministry of Home Affairs disclosed that the count of custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu rose from 63 in the from 2020-21 to 109 in 2021-22, representing a significant increase of 73%.

Here are some of the recent cases of death attributed to custodial death in Tamil Nadu:

Incident 1:

Rajasekar, a 33-year-old resident of Munthiri Thoppu in Tiruvallur district, was brought to the P6 Kodungaiyur police station on 11 June 2022 for an inquiry related to two burglary cases. He was pronounced dead at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital on 12 June 2022. The autopsy report revealed multiple external injuries, with two injuries occurring approximately 18-24 hours before his death.

Incident 2:

In Nagapattinam district, a 44-year-old man named Siva Subramanian, employed at a cycle repair shop, died in judicial custody. Siva and his brother Ganesh were detained after a brawl with Venkatesh, who owed Ganesh ₹95,000. According to the police, Siva suffered seizures while in jail and was taken to Nagapattinam Government Hospital, where he passed away on the evening of 13 June 2022. The police attributed his death to alcohol withdrawal symptoms, dismissing reports of custodial torture.

Incident 3:

On 18 April 2022, during a routine night check at Kellys in Chennai, police stopped two youths, Vignesh (25) and Suresh (28), in an auto. The duo, found in possession of ganja and liquor, engaged in a verbal duel with the police. Vignesh later developed health complications, vomited, and had seizures. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he was declared dead. Relatives reported seeing injuries on Vignesh’s body, leading to the suspension of a police sub-inspector, a constable, and a home guard personnel.

Incident 4:

In Tiruvannamalai, Thangamani was taken into police custody on 26 April 2022 for an inquiry into illegal liquor sales. Relatives alleged a false case, stating that the police demanded money for their release. The police claimed Thangamani had fits the next day, leading to his hospitalisation and subsequent death during treatment.

Incident 5:

In January 2022, a physically challenged man named Prabhakaran was locked up for allegedly stealing jewellery. Falling ill in jail, he was rushed to Namakkal Government Hospital and later to Salem Government Hospital, where he died on 11 January 2022. Prabhakaran’s relatives alleged police torture as the cause of death, resulting in the suspension of three police officers.

Incident 6:

In June 2021, Murugesan, a fruit stall owner, died after being beaten by police at the Pappanaickenpatti check post. A video circulated on social media showed Special Sub-Inspector Periyasamy thrashing Murugesan with a lathi until he became motionless. Murugesan had engaged in an argument with the police while being penalised for drunk driving. Periyasamy was arrested following a complaint.

Custodial death stands out as one of the gravest offences in a civilised society governed by the Rule of Law, where the state needs to take necessary steps to curb the issue.

The landmark verdict of 18 December 1996, in DK Basu vs State of West Bengal, laid down 11 guidelines by the Supreme Court, addressing arresting procedures and compensation in case of the detainee’s death.

Incident 7:

In December 2022, Gokul Shree, a 17-year-old teen, was arrested on December 28 by the Railway Police in Tambaram on suspicion of stealing a battery from a railway station. He was sent to a children correctional facility because he was a minor. On December 31, he was rushed to Chengalpet Government Hospital with complaints of seizures, where he passed away within hours.

The preliminary autopsy report showed that the child was subjected to a physical attack, had severe contusions on his legs, and several external injuries on his body. The child was beaten severely before being killed, and the majority of his injuries were were ante-mortem. The parents, however, were not given access to the complete autopsy report.

On the basis of the post mortem report, six prison officials of the correctional facility were arrested. S Mohan, 30, superintendent of prisons, P Vidyasagar, 33, assistant superintendent of prisons, J H Raj, 29, barber at the juvenile home, prison wardens D Vijayakumar, 30, M Saranraj, and teacher R Chandrababu, 40, were arrested.

Incident 8:

In June 2023, the death of a 26-year-old Scheduled Caste (Pallar community) youth, Thangasamy, who was in the custody of the Puliyangudi police in Tenkasi district died. According to reports, Thangasamy was remanded in judicial custody, but he complained of uneasiness, prompting authorities to transfer him to Tirunelveli Medical College. However, his condition deteriorated, and he subsequently passed away.

According to Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) Section 176 (I) of the CrPC, in the event of a person’s death or disappearance in custody or if a woman is raped in custody, the Judicial Magistrate holds the authority to order an inquiry. Section 54 of the CrPC also empowers the Magistrate to appoint a medical petitioner to examine accused individuals under trial. The Indian Penal Code (IPC) in Sections 330 (a) and (b) allows for sentences of up to 7 years for policemen involved in cases of torture.

Incident 9:

A 58-year-old jeweller and former town secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), P Rajasekaran, allegedly died by suicide on Sunday night (June 25). The incident occurred just days after he was taken into police custody for interrogation. The news of his death had prompted widespread condemnation of the police, with allegations of custodial torture emerging.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

Aftab, Mohammed Attack Interfaith Couple, Allegedly Rape Woman; TNM Follows Pattern Of Whitewashing Perpetrators

By
The Commune
-

In a disturbing incident of moral policing, an interfaith couple faced a violent attack by a group of six men in a hotel room in Karnataka’s Haveri district. The assailants, a group of six Muslim men, forcibly entered the room where a Hindu man and a Muslim woman were staying, subjecting them to verbal abuse and physical assault, and recording the entire incident. The attack, which occurred on 7 January 2024, prompted widespread outrage after the video went viral on social media.

The footage captured the assailants knocking on the hotel room door, and assaulting and verbally abusing the couple upon entry. The woman, attempting to shield herself with a burqa, was slapped to the ground by one of the attackers. The attackers continued to verbally abuse the couple, dragging them out of the hotel room despite pleas for mercy.

Subsequent videos revealed the woman being forced outside by the attackers, who lifted her hijab and filmed her. Following the assault in the hotel, the attackers allegedly took the woman to another location, where she claimed to have been gang-raped by seven men. The woman reported being abandoned near a bus stop after the assault.

The couple filed a complaint at the Hanagal police station, leading to the arrest of three out of the six attackers identified as Aftab Maqbool Ahmed Chandankatti (24), Samaiullah Lalanavar (23), and Mohammed Isaaq Mandakki (23). Authorities are actively searching for the remaining accused.

In a recent development, a video surfaced where the woman, not initially mentioned in the complaint, asserted that she had been gang-raped during the abduction. She alleged that the assault took place in a jungle at three different locations and involved seven men. Haveri Superintendent of Police, Anshu Kumar, stated that the rape charge emerged later through media reports, and an investigation is ongoing.

Police confirmed that the accused, although not affiliated with any organization, had a previous record in a similar case. The 26-year-old Muslim woman and her Hindu partner were reportedly in a consensual relationship, and the assault occurred shortly after they checked into the hotel on 7 January 2024.

The accused men are facing charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including assault, criminal intimidation, intentional insult, rioting, unlawful assembly, house trespass, and causing hurt. 

How TNM Downplayed The Perpetrators Identity

True to their principles, The News Minute shielded the identity of the perpetrators. In their report on the above incident, the article was titled “Karnataka: Three men barge into Haveri hotel and assault interfaith couple, woman alleges rape”.

However, if the alleged perpetrators turn out to be Hindus or “upper caste” and if the victim happens to be a Dalit or Muslim, they never fail to specifically highlight it in their headlines. Here is one example – “Mob shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ thrashes Muslim man seen with Hindu girl in Mumbai”

Here are a few more instances where TNM has consistently depicted a particular community as victims, even when the actual victim was often someone else, frequently a Hindu.

Instance 1 – Shraddha Walkar Butchering Case 

2022 was rocked by the horrific butchering of Shraddha Walkar by her partner, Aftab Ameen Poonawalla. We all know what happened in that case. As the details unfolded, TNM, in its usual approach, refrained from disclosing the perpetrator’s name, seemingly to depersonalize the gruesome incident. Editor-in-Chief of the portal, Dhanya Rajendran, shared an Indian Express article titled “A toxic and abusive relationship that ended in death” on her Twitter handle and she wrote the following caption, “Shraddha continued their relationship as Aaftab emotionally blackmailed her and said he would die by suicide if she leaves him. The level of entitlement such men have”.

Instance 2 – Giving Communal Colour To Petty Fight

The News Minute reportedly fueled communal tensions by sensationalizing a minor altercation between college students in Dakshin Kannada. The article titled “Dakshina Kannada: Muslim man beaten up for speaking to Hindu woman classmate”  highlighted an alleged attack on Mohammed Saneef without mentioning stalking or harassment, framing it as a “love-related case.” The report indirectly associated the assailants with a Hindu rights organization, lacking direct evidence. 

Instance 3 – Justifying Crime Because Perpetrator Felt Disrespected

In March 2023, The News Minute portrayed a disturbing incident during Holi celebrations in Telangana with bias. Initially justifying Mohammad Shabbir’s act of setting Anjaiah on fire after a playful color smearing, TNM faced backlash on social media for seemingly blaming the Hindu victim. Following criticism, they modified the article without offering an apology.

The headline used by The News Minute (TNM) read: “Upset at being smeared with color, a man allegedly sets friend ablaze in Telangana.” In doing so, TNM appeared to defend the perpetrator right from the start, suggesting that the victim was at fault for smearing colour on Muhammed Shabbir during the Holi festival.

Instance 4 – Shifts Blame On Victim Again, Calls People “Hindu Mob”

In a May 2023 incident in Telangana, an altercation between a gas delivery agent, Lingam, and Imran Ahmed escalated after Imran’s family refused to return an empty cylinder. The situation turned violent, with Imran assaulting Lingam. Subsequent clashes involving Hindu groups were framed by media, including The News Minute, as a “Hindu mob” attacking Imran, downplaying Imran’s instigation.

Instance 5 – Udupi Video Scandal

The Udupi video recording horror where 3 female Muslim students video recorded their Hindu classmates in the washroom of the institution secretly. There are reports of this happening for over a year – read more here and here. The News Minute as mentioned above played the he said-she said card and reported the horrendous incident as a “prank” and whitewashed the whole issue to make the perpetrators look like victims especially because of last year’s Hijab controversy in the region. 

Instance 6 – Justifying Alleged Land Grab By Waqf Board

In September 2022, TNM published an article where it attempted to establish that the village of Thiruchendurai belonged to the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, rather than the rightful landowners. According to the report, the Waqf Board sent a letter to the Registration Department with documents claiming ownership of the entire village and requesting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for any land registration in the area.

As the news created controversy, the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board decided to “temporarily allow” property-related transactions in the Tiruchendurai village. The TNM article quoted the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board Chairman, Abdul Rahman, who asserted that their records show the Waqf Board owns 389.03 acres of land in Thiruchendurai.

TNM further corroborated the Waqf Board’s claims by stating, “TNM also verified the Gazette Notification number 570 to confirm that the land had been registered as Waqf property on June 27, 1956.”

Instance 7 – Denying The Existence Of Love Jihad 

At the time of the release of the film, The Kerala Story, TNM published articles attempting to counter the narrative, focusing on communal harmony stories but was accused of brushing aside the reality of “Love Jihad.” The article failed to engage in a meaningful discussion about the well-documented issue of using love for proselytizing by Jihadists. TNM’s response appeared to divert attention from Love Jihad, a serious concern in areas like Malappuram, known for historical events leading to demographic changes and reported instances of forced conversions.

You can read more on these whitewashing habits of The News Minute also referred to as The Naxal Minute or TN Murasoli here.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram Extends Tacit Support To Dravidianist Propaganda Film Annapoorani; Gets Schooled By Netizens

By
The Commune
-

The removal of the film Annapoorani from OTT platfrom Netflix triggered a meltdown of many notable personalities from the film industry and left-leaning politics. The most recent one to join the bandwagon is Sivagangai’s Congress MP, Karti Chidambaram. In a post on his X handle, Karti Chidambaram directed his sarcasm towards ‘To all those getting agitated by dietary choices’. The image shared points to multiple places in Valmiki Ramayana that Lord Rama was a meat lover. It also points to Ayodhya Kaandam 20, 26, 94 chapters, Sargam 52, Shloka 102, Sargam 96, Shloka 1, where references to Lord Rama eating meat are mentioned. Furthermore, verses from the Kamba Ramayanam were quoted in the image to show that fish and honey were served to Lord Rama as offerings.

Netizens were quick to point out to Karti Chidambaram that Lord Rama was a Kshatriya king and there was nothing wrong with him consuming meat or liquor.

 

Unfortunately, like other trolls on social media platform X, Karti Chidambaram also failed to see that the problem with ‘Annapoorani’ was not just one scene alone but the entire theme of the film.

The portrayal of an orthodox Tamil Brahmin girl as a meat eater, glorifying love jihad, a Hindu girl offering namaz before making biriyani, Hindu girl attending Ramzan iftar for her boyfriend are some problematic scenes in the film. However, those who support the film conveniently hide these and solely focus only on the Sri Ram meat-eating scene mentioned once in the film, thereby guilt-tripping Hindus.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

1...1,0941,0951,096...1,971Page 1,095 of 1,971
TheCommune
The Commune is a news and views portal focusing on social and political issues of the southern part of India with a focus on Tamil Nadu.
Contact us: thecommune.news@gmail.com
Facebook Instagram X Youtube

NATIONAL NEWS

Communist Org AISA President Neha Bora Labels Army’s Rank Structure “Segregation” While Ignoring Command Responsibilities: Here’s What She Won’t Tell You

Communist Org AISA President Neha Bora Labels Army’s Rank Structure “Segregation”...

The Commune - 0
Neha Bora, president of the communist organisation, All India Students’ Association (AISA), also the face of the Cockroach protests in Jantar Mantar - who...
© The Commune 2025. All Rights Reserved.