Facebook Instagram X Youtube
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Facebook Instagram X Youtube
Home Blog Page 1114

DMK’s ‘Hindi Imposition’ Drama Gone Wrong? Netizens Dig Out Old Hindi Tweets Of One DMK Supporter Sharmila, She Claims She Is Not The Lady In Question, “Fact-Checker” YouTurn Comes To Buttress

By
The Commune
-

A Tamil Nadu woman, Sharmilaa Rajasekar, allegedly faced linguistic discrimination at Dabolim Airport, Goa, when CISF personnel insisted she learn Hindi during security check-in. Despite expressing her unfamiliarity with Hindi, she was told it is the national language and was asked to “Google” it. Sharmilaa, an engineer, claimed she stood her ground, clarifying that Hindi is the official, not national, language. The incident allegedly occurred while travelling with her three-year-old daughter.

Following this, as reported by DT Next, Sharmilaa filed an oral complaint and later sent an email complaint to the airport grievance officer, emphasizing the need for cultural sensitivity training. The airport officials reportedly forwarded the complaint to the CISF team for an explanation. Sharmilaa expressed her intent to file a complaint with the CISF headquarters, emphasizing the importance of institutions sensitizing personnel to India’s cultural and language diversity.

The DMK and its propaganda media outlets like Sun News began harping on to this issue.

Editor-in-Chief of Sun News Mu. Gunasekaran, wrote on his social media “At Goa airport, CISF cops ask TN woman to learn Hindi Before boarding the flight, the passenger knocked on the doors of the CISF supervisor and registered an oral complaint.”

Mu. Gunasekaran is a Dravidian propagandist under the garb of journalist who allegedly “resigned” from News 18 Tamil Nadu after the expose by political commentator Maridhas.

Netizens later shared information and past posts made by one Sharmila Rajasekhar on social media platform X where she has shared posts in Hindi. Here are a few screenshots and links to Sharmila’s YouTube channel. Netizens claimed it was the same woman pointing at the similarity in the voices too.

https://twitter.com/Bagavathprathee/status/1735360073562493219

https://twitter.com/ItsyourMB/status/1735314662248657053

However, the handle @sharmisharmiji which everyone thought to be that of the “aggrieved” woman claimed that it was not her that everyone was making out to be.

That said, it has been noticed that the said post written in Hindi has been deleted.

To add to this, alleged “fact-checker” YouTurn also jumped into the fray claiming that the woman in question is not the one pointed out by people on social media.

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

How DMK IT Wing Used A Flawed Interval To Show That 2023 Chennai Rains Were Higher Than 2015

By
Ashok Kumar
-

Chennai city that has recently faced devastating floods, is now attempting to return to normalcy. The aftermath of the disastrous floods has left the northern areas of Chennai severely damaged, prompting criticism of the DMK government’s handling of the situation. Despite the visible challenges, the DMK government and its IT wing have sought to project an image of normalcy, downplaying the extent of the damage.

In an effort to deflect criticism, the DMK government and its IT wing have drawn comparisons between the recent floods and the floods in 2015, attempting to showcase their performance as superior to the previous ADMK government. Alleged fact-checker Iyan Karthikeyan, relying on data provided by TNM, a DMK mouthpiece, attempted to prove that the rainfall in 2023 exceeded that of 2015.

In the nearly 20-minute video, YouTurn claims it was only news channels like NewsJ that were spreading “fake news” that 2015 saw more rain than 2023. In the article by The News Minute, they quoted weather bloggers Chennai Rains’ Srikanth insisting on examining a 48-hour timeframe in the context of the 2023 floods. This distinction he said arises because the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) records rainfall data from 8.30 am to 8.30 am the following day. In the recent floods, the peak rainfall occurred between 8.30 pm on December 3 and 8.30 pm on 4 December 2023.

The DMK IT wing, in connivance with YouTurn, has not only defended the government’s narrative but also targeted journalists reporting on the ground. Journalists such as Red Pix Felix, who contradicted the official stance by stating that 2015 witnessed more rainfall than 2023, became the subject of scrutiny and accusations of spreading fake news.

It is noteworthy that journalists like Dhanya Rajendran, Ahmed Shabir, Avudaiyappan, and Devendran Palanisamy, who are known for peddling propaganda favourable to the DMK, reported on the flood situation without directly criticizing the government. However, the DMK IT wing seemingly could not tolerate any dissent, leading to attacks against their own Dravidianist journalists.

In an attempt to settle the debate, the regional meteorological center of Tamil Nadu IMD released cumulative rain data for Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam, comparing the rainfall between October 1 and December 10 of 2015 and 2023. The data clearly indicates that 2015 experienced higher rainfall, contradicting the claims made by the DMK IT wing and YouTurn.

In an attempt to substantiate their claim that the rainfall in 2023 surpassed that of 2015, the DMK IT wing selected two arbitrary intervals, showcasing a significantly higher single-day rainfall in 2023 compared to 2015. However, the DMK IT wing, seemingly underestimating the intelligence of those not aligned with the DMK, committed a glaring and significant error when choosing intervals for the comparison between the rainfall in 2015 and 2023.

What the DMK showed:

To conduct a fair comparison between the rainfall in 2015 and 2023, it is imperative to use equal intervals. However, in an effort to portray that the rainfall in 2023 was higher, the DMK IT wing opted for a longer interval for 2023 and a shorter interval for 2015 rainfall. During the period of the AIADMK regime, the DMK IT wing chose the interval from December 1st to December 3rd, reporting around 300mm of rain during that time. Conversely, to depict higher rainfall during the DMK regime, they extended the interval from December 1st to December 6th, citing a rainfall of 450mm during the same period. A proper comparison between the rainfall in 2015 and 2023 should involve equal intervals.

In their attempt to assert that the rainfall in 2023 was significantly greater, the DMK IT wing, seemingly considering themselves the sole intelligent entities on the planet, made a misguided effort to deceive the public. This misleading information propagated by the DMK IT wing warrants scrutiny

Here is the correct comparison.

Ashok Kumar is a PhD scholar at India premier scientific research institute.

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

DMK Govt’s Plan For ‘Vallalar International Research Centre’ In Vadalur Slammed By ADMK Chief EPS

By
The Commune
-

In a move that has sparked opposition from locals, the DMK government is facing criticism for its proposal to acquire approximately 70 acres of land in Vadalur plains to construct the ‘Vallalar International Research Centre.’ The region, known for drawing lakhs of devotees globally, has raised concerns among the people who argue that building the center in this revered space would significantly impact those attending Jyoti Darshan.

The controversy unfolded as residents expressed their objections to the government’s decision, asserting that while they don’t oppose the construction of the research center itself, its location in Vadalur plains would disrupt the spiritual practices, including monthly puja and the special Thaipusam worship. The area, encompassing 100 acres, was generously donated by locals to Vallalar for the specific purpose of facilitating the gathering of devotees for spiritual events like Thaipusam.

Vallalar, renowned for propagating the spiritual doctrine of reconciliation and pure righteousness, acquired the vast land not merely for personal gain but with the noble intention of providing a space where devotees could convene without hindrance to witness the divine Arudperum Jyoti (sacred light) during Thaipusam.

Locals state that on the eve of Thaipusam, nearly 15 lakh devotees start converging on the Vadalur plains for Jyoti worship, and the subsequent days witness significant gatherings for spiritual events.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary and Leader of Opposition, Tamil Nadu Assembly, Edappadi Palanisami released a press note stating the significance of the saint Vallalaar and his relevance in the Tamil society and condemning the actions of the DMK government. 

The news of the DMK government’s plan to establish the ‘Vallalar International Research Centre’ has triggered concerns about the potential disruption of sacred rituals and worship practices. Villagers, who remain eager to uphold the sanctity of the area, are urging the government to reconsider the choice of location and, if needed, allocate an alternative space for the research center. The sentiments of both the land donors and the multitude of devotees who frequent the area during festivals are at the heart of this unfolding dispute.

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

Cisco Case: Sundar Iyer Who Was Wrongly Accused Of Caste Discrimination Reveals What Happened

By
The Commune
-

In 2020, the “Cisco case” made headlines for quite some time alleging caste discrimination in the company. It dragged the names of the so-called “upper caste” Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella who were sued over discrimination for not selecting a Dalit John Doe for a job opening at Cisco. 

Iyer, originally from India and studying in the US, was sued by the Cisco Research Development Foundation (CRD) in June 2020, along with his colleague Ramana Kompella. CRD accused them of discriminating against John Doe, a Dalit, and denying him a leadership role in Iyer’s startup based on his caste. Iyer contested these allegations, asserting that he had hired John Doe and offered top positions to other Dalits.

The CRD’s claims attracted media attention, accompanied by articles from caste activists that harmed their reputations. Iyer and Kompella faced activist propaganda and harassment, including attacks on their last names. Iyer found it ironic that CRD assigned him a Hindu Brahmin caste solely based on his last name, with Equality Labs, CRD’s partner, making controversial comparisons.

CRD faced criticism for profiling and accusing Hindu Americans of crimes against Dalits without evidence, which the judge dismissed. In January 2023, Iyer and others filed a motion to sanction CRD prosecutors for pursuing a baseless case. Although CRD dropped the case against Iyer and Ramana, they continued to sue Cisco. A white paper in April 2023 accused CRD of corrupt behavior, and in July 2023, California for Justice accused CRD of targeting Indian Americans, calling for Governor Newsom’s intervention.

In April 2023, in a significant development, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) voluntarily dismissed its case against Cisco Systems engineers Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella, who were accused of caste discrimination earlier this year. The dismissal followed nearly three years of investigations and public scrutiny that adversely affected the engineers’ reputations. The DFEH’s claims, which included allegations of discrimination against Dalit employees, were based on shaky legal and factual grounds. The agency faced criticism for its media publicity blitz and for making false claims about Hinduism and people of Indian origin. The Hindu American Foundation filed civil rights claims against the DFEH. The case’s dismissal raises questions about the agency’s handling of the matter and its impact on the accused engineers.

Speaking on the That’s So Hindu podcast, Sundar Iyer recounted what exactly happened.

In the 1-minute clipping shared by the Hindu American Foundation where Iyer details the reasons why the case was never justified in the first place, he said, “They said he didn’t get the Head of Engineering position. We pointed out that John Doe never applied for the position. This is a position that was open for several months. Everybody was welcome to apply, but he didn’t. If you read the Cisco court documents, Cisco tells you that he didn’t even show interest in wanting that position. Just two things off the bat, if you will, we also pointed out to the CRD that the position that John Doe claimed discrimination for because he is a Dalit was actually given to a senior colleague of mine who was also Dalit, who self-identified as Dalit. This senior Dalit colleague of mine, a brilliant guy, I’ve known him for 25 years, co-founded companies with him, a prolific, hardworking, and just extremely knowledgeable and experienced person. Why did I give him that position?”

It is noteworthy that the notorious Equality Labs led by Thenmozhi Soundarajan, a second-generation immigrant in the US, is a “human rights organization”, funded by George Soros, played a crucial role in the landmark case where California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Cisco for alleged caste discrimination against a Dalit Indian-American employee. 

Thenmozhi’s talk on caste bias was also cancelled by Google in 2022 to avoid division and discord in the community, as stated by Google’s spokesperson, Shannon Newberry, “Caste discrimination has no place in our workplace. We also have a very clear, publicly shared policy against retaliation and discrimination in our workplace. We also made the decision to not move forward with the proposed talk which — rather than bringing our community together and raising awareness — was creating division and rancor,”. Notably, Thenmozhi’s Equality Labs also pushed for the SB403 law to be pushed in the US. 

While leftist portals like The News Minute and their ilk published article after article on the Cisco case, there is not one mention of the case once it was dismissed. Their agenda of doing a hitjob and slandering the “upper caste Brahmin” Iyer guilty was done and dusted and hence it seems they did not feel it was important to report the news in the same length when the same man was exonerated of his charges.

Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

TN BJP Head Annamalai Slams TN CM Stalin Over Statue Proposal At Salem Modern Theatres Premises

By
The Commune
-

Following the issue surrounding Modern Theatres Salem bursting out in social media, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K Annamalai, hit out at Chief Minister MK Stalin for vying for land that does not belong to him by trying to erect his father’s statue.

Taking to social media platform X, Annamalai shared a press release condemning this action.

He wrote, “Salem Modern Theatre is a famous film production company in Tamil Nadu. Late former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu Amarar MGR, Karunanidhi, Mrs. Janaki Ammal, Ms. Jayalalithaa, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Amarar N.T. Rama Rao and poet Kannadasan, among others, became famous thanks to this company. The company has produced more than a hundred films in seven languages ​​including Tamil and Sinhala. Amarar DR Sundaram Mudaliar, the founder of Modern Theatres, was one of the pioneers of the film industry. He brought many innovations in films such as the first dual role in Tamil cinema, the first talking film in Malayalam, the first colour films in Tamil and Malayalam, and the first English film shot in Tamil Nadu. He was fondly called “Boss” by all the abovementioned Tamil Nadu leaders.”

The BJP leader further added “A memorial arch has been erected on Salem Yercaud Road in memory of this legendary Modern Theatres company. Last February, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin stood in front of this memorial arch and took a photo, which was discussed on social media sites. But no one expected that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin would want to erect a statue of his father at the place where the memorial arch of the company that has created so many famous personalities is located.”

He also pointed out at the alleged interference of the Salem District Collector in his statement. Annamalai said “Saying that the Chief Minister wants to erect a statue of late DMK leader Karunanidhi at the place owned by Modern Theater Company, Salem District Collector has been insisting on giving the place where the memorial arch is located, but since his family did not accept it, the memorial arch belongs to the highway. It seems that the Tamil Nadu government is trying to invade. Furthermore, on another patta land owned by the said family, the construction work being carried out by the said family was also stopped, without any prior notice or permission. It seems that more than 50 policemen have encroached and demolished the structures.”

Annamalai further lambasted the DMK president saying “How is it justified to want DMK leader Karunanidhi’s statue to be placed in all the places where he worked? It is doubtful whether Karunanidhi himself would accept the installation of his statue at the premises created by the immortal T R Sundaram Mudaliar, who founded the culturally important Modern Theatre Company and provided a monthly salary to the late DMK leader Karunanidhi. If he wants, Chief Minister Stalin can erect his father’s statue in Arivalayam or at the thousands of educational institutes and campuses run by members of the DMK. Who’s going to question that?”

“Should Chief Minister Stalin erect his father’s statue by encroaching on a family property? Is this an attempt to establish that Karunanidhi was the founder of the Modern Theatre Company, tomorrow? Land grabbing may be DMK’s legacy. But the Chief Minister must realise that it is no longer valid. He seems to focus on this rather than looking to fix the rising crime rate all over Tamil Nadu, the breakdown of law and order, the calamities due to lack of proper development, the election promises, and the welfare of the people.” Annamalai said coming down heavy on CM Stalin.

Adding further, he said “The DMK government has been in power for almost three years only to attempt to distort the conventional history by renaming. Unable to control ministerial corruption or family interference, Stalin has been a total failure in administration. First focus on governance, they can think about keeping names later. If Chief Minister Stalin really wanted to pay respect to his father, it would be better if he erected the statue of the founder of Salem Modern Theaters, Amarar DR Sundaram, where the memorial arch is located, who gave livelihood to his family. It is good for the Chief Minister to realize that if he erects a statue for his father on land belonging to others, it would not be respectable for his father or the statue itself. It would be wrong to expect the public to be patient with the mistakes of their rulers all the time.”

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

“How Is Planning To Kill Specific Religious (Hindu) Leaders A Terrorist Act?”: Madras HC Gives Bail To UAPA Accused Asif Mustahin Who Allegedly Wanted To Join ISIS

By
The Commune
-

On December 13th, the Madras High Court, while granting bail to Asif Mustahin, held that the targeted killing of Hindu leaders, despite being part of a conspiracy, does not qualify as an act of terrorism under section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Justices S S Sundar and Sunder Mohan of a division bench stated, “The evidence reveals that the plot was to target specific religious leaders, but the authorities have not clarified how this would qualify as a terrorist act, as outlined in section 15 of the UAPA.”

These remarks were made in connection with the bail plea filed by Asif Mustahin, who was arrested on July 26, 2022, under the UAPA by the National Investigation Agency on charges of purported involvement in criminal activities.

The accused had submitted bail requests that were turned down by the trial court, high court, and Supreme Court, resulting in his detention for the past 17 months.

According to the prosecution, the accused expressed a wish to join IS and established links with the second accused, linked to the global terrorist organization. Furthermore, it was alleged that the pair conspired to assassinate Hindu religious leaders affiliated with the BJP and RSS.

However, the High Court in its recent order emphasized that the evidence did not establish a clear connection to terrorist activities as defined by the UAPA, stating that an act must specifically intend to threaten India’s unity, integrity, security, economic security, sovereignty, or create terror among the people.

“To bring an act under section 15 of the UAPA, the act must be done with an intent to threaten or likely to threaten the unity, integrity, security, economic security or sovereignty of India, or with an intent to strike terror or likely to strike terror in the people or any section of the people in India or any foreign country.“, the court added.

The bench disagreed with the prosecution’s claim that the accused sought to join IS, highlighting the absence of evidence supporting such allegations, and provided conditional bail to Asif, directing him to reside in Erode and attend the trial court daily until further notice.

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

Did Dravidian Ideologue EVR Really Say What Was Quoted By DMK MP Abdulla In Rajya Sabha?

By
The Commune
-

On the day the Supreme Court of India upheld the abrogation of Article 370, DMK MP MM Abdulla stirred controversy in the Rajya Sabha by quoting Dravidianist anti-Hindu demagogue EV Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers), advocating for Kashmir’s “right to self-determination” on racial grounds.

The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, lambasted the DMK MP for his remarks and expunged them. 

The DMK MP’s remarks had triggered national outrage with its I.N.D.I. Ally Congress once again distancing itself in soup.

How MK Stalin And His Son Udhayanidhi Reacted

However, DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin along with his Minister son Udhayanidhi Stalin rallied behind Pudukottai DMK MP MM Abdulla. 

CM Stalin objected to expunging Periyar’s quote, stating that they were “strangling” freedom of expression in Parliament. 

“When DMK MP Abdulla was speaking, he quoted Periyar which was opposed by the BJP. Periyar’s name too has been expunged. Freedom of speech and expression has been strangled in the Parliament itself! It is shame that Periyar’s name has been removed from the Parliament where once former PM VP Singh mentioned that Periyar was reason for Mandal Commission. Let us use Father Periyar’s name, which remains in people’s minds and threatens the communalists even today, anywhere – always – in any context! Everyone use it!“, MK Stalin wrote in his social media.

His son Udhayanidhi Stalin said “Quoting the opinion of the rational Pagalavan Father Periyar, the Rajya Sabha member of DMK Abdulla spoke in the Parliament which has jittered the fascists. Father Periyar’s name and quote from Abdullah’s speech have been removed from the parliamentary notes. We strongly condemn this. Father Periyar’s name can only be removed from their memory, and his name can never be removed from the memory of the people. Let us soon put an end to these fascist atrocities against parliamentary democracy and freedom of expression.”

What EVR Actually Said On Kashmir

But did EVR say those words? Was that his stand on Kashmir? Upon digging deeper, it has been brought to light that the words quoted by Abdulla were never uttered by EVR himself. A BBC Tamil article dated 2019 states that EVR did not explicitly comment on Kashmir. Instead, the ‘Viduthalai’ published from the Dravidian stable, in an editorial dated 12 October 1951, addresses Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s resignation over the Hindu Constitution Bill while making passing reference on Kashmir.

Ambedkar’s reasons for resignation included dissatisfaction with Nehru government’s policies – the abandonment of the Hindu Code Bill, concerns about the Kashmir issue, and obstacles in India’s foreign policy.

While Viduthalai accepted the first two reasons, it rejected Ambedkar’s views on Kashmir and India’s foreign policy. The editorial emphasised leaving the decision on Kashmir to the people of Kashmir, advocating the withdrawal of both India and Pakistan from the region.

Image Source: BBC Tamil

In the said editorial, the text states, “Regarding the Kashmir issue, “Next, we cannot accept the idea that he will say about Kashmir. We should leave the matter of deciding about Kashmir to the people of Kashmir. India, which has entered Kashmir, should also leave. Pakistan should also leave. This is justice for the people of Kashmir.” 

Image Source: BBC Tamil

And guess what? The editorial was not written by EV Ramasamy Naicker but Kuthoosi Sa. Gurusamy, another Dravidian ideologue.

The BBC article states “This is the Dravidar Kazhagam’s official position on the Kashmir issue. But this editorial was not written by Periyar. The editorial was written by Kuthoosi Sa. Guruswamy – this is stated in the book ‘Periyar: August 15’ edited by S V Rajadurai.”

It is essential to note that this official position of the Dravidar Kazhagam on the Kashmir issue is derived from the editorial in Viduthalai and not likely from separate statements by Periyar. 

The BBC article also states that this is the only record available on Dravidar Kazhagam’s position on Kashmir and that no other comment made by EVR could be found.

Yuma Jaharo also known as ‘France Thamizhachi‘ or ‘Thamizhachi Author’, an avowed ‘Periyarist’ also took to social media to say that the Dravidian ideologue never said any such thing on Kashmir what the DMK is claiming.

Netizens Slam DMK For Concocting Facts

One person wrote “If in this digital age, they are able to peddle filtered lies, imagine what they would’ve done in the 1960s. The only capital that this thieving Dravidian group has is to peddle lies and mask it as truth.”

Another user Devi Uvacha wrote “What Abdulla said is wrong it seems! And for this, tThese UPs (Udanpirappu – DMK brethren in Tamil) are trying to buttress”

“It is this honesty that we expect from Periyarists and Dravidians. You don’t have to put a sticker on everything”, said another person who identifies himself as a ‘Tamilian stock’.

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

Salem Modern Theatres Family Facing Threats From DMK Govt Over Karunanidhi Statue Erection?

By
The Commune
-

In a region rich with cinematic history, Modern Theatres, established by T.R. Sundaram in 1935, stands as a significant landmark on the road from Salem to Yercaud. Recognised as South India’s first major cinema establishment, Modern Theatres Cinema Company boasts a legacy of over 150 films in languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and more. Notably, it holds the distinction of producing the first-ever colour film.

Modern Theatres played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of prominent figures such as former Chief Ministers Karunanidhi, MGR, and actor Shivaji Ganesan. The studio’s impact on Tamil cinema is undeniable, marking a turning point for these influential leaders.

Presently, the only remnant of Modern Theatres Studio is the memorial arch located at the foothills of Salem-Yercaud Hill. This arch has gained recent attention due to a proposal by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to install a statue of former Chief Minister Karunanidhi at this site.

Chief Minister Stalin’s “fond memories” of the location, shared on social media during his visit in February this year, prompted him to initiate discussions with Modern Theatres family who claim ownership of the land.

It is alleged that despite repeated calls from District Collector C. Karmegam and five rounds of discussions, the family has not announced a decision regarding the installation of Karunanidhi’s statue.

Adding complexity to the situation, the highway department claims ownership of the land on which Modern Theatres is situated, citing its location on the national highway. Recent developments include the installation of a notice board by highway officials and the demolition of constructions on a plot of land in the Korimedu area, where the Modern Theatres family.

Expressing their side of the story, the victim, Modern Theatres’ family asserts that they have yet to decide on the statue’s installation. They accuse District Collector Karmegam and government officials of engaging in “anarchic activities” without their consent. The family urges immediate intervention by the Chief Minister to safeguard their rights, emphasising ongoing consultations for the Karunanidhi statue.

Speaking to reporters, wife Vijay Varman (owner of Varma Constructions which claims ownership of the land) said “In February, our CM visited Salem. He took a selfie before the arch when he came for a government meeting. Next day, the Collectorate had called me and my husband. We went and they told that the incumbent CM Stalin had expressed to install the statue of his father and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister at the spot as that is where his cinema-cum-political career started. The Salem Collector kept following up with us after that meeting. We would’ve met him some 5 times. As preemptive move in case we didn’t give them the land for the statue, the Collector created an issue by demolishing constructions in the land owned by us in Korimedu without giving us any notice with around 70 police and government officials. Their plan is to acquire that land so that we hand over this Modern Theatres arch land.”

She also blamed said that all this is being done at the behest of the Salem Collector and urged CM Stalin to intervene.

(With inputs from ETV Bharat and Sathiyam News)

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

DMDK’s Torch Handed Over To Premalatha, Vijayakanth To Continue As Founding President

By
The Commune
-

The Desiya Murpoku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) held its meeting of the general committee and executive committee at Thiruverkadu near Chennai on 14 December 2023.

The founder leader of the party Vijayakanth attended the meeting along with his wife Premalatha Vijayakanth.

Vijayakanth who has been off the political scene for a long time due to his health condition, was recently admitted to the hospital after his condition deteriorated.

The bulletin conveyed optimism about his complete recovery, mentioning the necessity for minimal pulmonary support. The expected duration of his hospitalization was estimated to be around 14 days. The news of his deteriorating health led to an outpour of well-wishes from across the spectrum on social media.

Against this backdrop, the party convened a meeting of the general committee and executive committee on 14 December 2023. When Vijayakanth entered the hall, cadres of the DMDK were seen overwhelmed with emotion and chanted slogans wishing for his long life.

A resolution was passed to make Premalatha the ‘Acting President’ of the party. Vijayakanth would continue as the founding president of the DMDK. As soon as the announcement was made, Premalatha fell on Vijayakanth’s feet and sought his blessings.

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

KSRTC Bus Driver Says Kerala Police Is Pressurizing Them To Ferry 150 Passengers Instead Of 65-70 In Nilakkal-Pamba Route Despite Plea

By
The Commune
-

Chaos at Sabarimala saw pilgrims stranded in long queues amid inadequate facilities and a shortage of buses over the past few days. Insufficient provisions of drinking water and food packets further exacerbated the situation. Numerous pilgrims opted to abandon their pilgrimage and visited the Valiya Koyikkal temple at Pandalam instead. 

This is what a KSRTC bus driver is seen speaking to the media, “KSRTC workers are not against you. In the Nilakkal-Pamba route, the condition of the drivers and conductors is pathetic. They are carrying 150 passengers instead of the regular number of 65-70 at a time pressured by the police. If something happens to the bus, the police and the KSRTC officers are not held accountable. The accountability falls on the driver and conductor carrying them. We are not able to do anything. It is 2 hours now since it has been blocked. You (police) are asking us to take people onto our bus to clear the crowd here. When we bring 100, if we are able to take 50, this crowd will clear. But the police here do not want to listen to a word of that. This is deliberately being done. They are doing this to dismantle the KSRTC organisation, following someone’s words. We are innocent. We are plying 180 buses to take these Ayyappas safely from and to Nilakkal-Pamba. But the buses coming from other depots are being blocked by the police – Erumeli, Rapally. Why are they doing this? Why are they robbing us? We have not received our salary even, we did not get last month’s salary yet. We are not given any special allowance if we come and work. Food is being given by the organisation. Our primary and main job is to transport the Ayyappas to their destination.”

Despite a significant increase in revenue for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) from the Sabarimala service as reported by HRKatha, employees are reportedly facing delays in receiving their salaries. In November, KSRTC generated ₹308 crore, including ₹6 crores from the Pampa service and ₹210 crore from ticket sales. However, the first part of salaries for its staff has not been distributed, as the organization requires ₹75.25 crore to meet employee payments. Ayyappa devotees traveling to Sabarimala are encountering challenges related to insufficient bus services from Nilakkal to Pampa, leading to overcrowding and discomfort, with individuals, especially the elderly and children, facing health risks. 

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

1...1,1131,1141,115...1,971Page 1,114 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

Foreign Funding, UAPA Narratives, Modi-Bashing: How Scroll Editor Supriya Sharma Pitched “Authoritarian India” At Oslo

Foreign Funding, UAPA Narratives, Modi-Bashing: How Scroll Editor Supriya Sharma Pitched...

The Commune - 0
Supriya Sharma, Executive Editor of the digital news platform Scroll, recently used the platform at the Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) in Norway to deliver...
© The Commune 2025. All Rights Reserved.