In a recent session of the new Parliament, DMK MP S. Senthilkumar from Dharmapuri stirred up controversy with his disparaging comments about the northern states of India, referring to them as ‘Gaumutra’ states. The derogatory remarks have ignited a political firestorm, drawing sharp reactions from various quarters.
During his speech, Senthilkumar asserted, “People of this country should think that the power of this BJP is only winning elections and mainly in the heartland states of Hindi or what we generally call as the Gaumutra states. You cannot come to South India. You see all the results of what happens in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra, and Telangana.”
#WATCH | Winter Session of Parliament | DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar S says "…The people of this country should think that the power of this BJP is only winning elections mainly in the heartland states of Hindi, what we generally call the 'Gaumutra' states…" pic.twitter.com/i37gx9aXyI
The comments, seen as divisive and inflammatory, have prompted questions about the appropriateness of such language in the parliamentary forum. When reporters sought a response from MDMK chief MP Vaiko, his agreement with Senthilkumar’s remarks added fuel to the controversy.
“I agree with him,” affirmed MP Vaiko when pressed about his stance on the comments. When asked specifically whether he endorsed the derogatory nature of Senthilkumar’s remarks, Vaiko reiterated, “Yes, yes, he is correct.”
#WATCH | On 'Gaumutra' remark by DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar S, MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) MP Vaiko says "I agree with his statement, he is correct" pic.twitter.com/N4xGx9L5md
Notably, the Dharmapuri MP later retracted his statements after the backlash and apologised. In what seemed like a half-hearted apology, he said, “The statement made by me yesterday inadvertently, if it had hurt the sentiments of the members and sections of the people, I would like to withdraw it. I request the words to be expunged. I regret it.”
Despite a day after the Michaung cyclone crossed Chennai to make a landfall on the Andhra coasts, several parts of Chennai continue to reel under severe crisis with inundated homes and streets, no electricity, and shortage of essential food items like milk.
Localities like Velachery, Tambaram, Mudichur, Pallikaranai, Mylapore, Anna Nagar, have been on the brink with little or no help from authorities.
A majority of the people noted that none of the helplines given by Chennai Corporation was working.
Left to fend for themselves with no signs of relief, people took to the streets to protest against the DMK government.
In Mylapore, resident took to the streets and protested as they complained of power supply not being restored and stagnant waters not being removed despite desperate cries for help.
மயிலாப்பூரில் சாலை மறியல். சில இடங்களில் தண்ணீர் அகற்றப்படவில்லை. சில இடங்களில் தண்ணீர் இல்லாவிட்டாலும் மரம் அகற்றப்படவில்லை, மின்சாரம் தரவில்லை என புகார். #Mylapore#ChennaiRainspic.twitter.com/PPODYwBdYN
— RCD Kamal Govindraj- SayYesToWomenSafety&AIADMK (@NameisKamal) December 6, 2023
Residents gheraoed in the Chetpet flyover condemning the DMK government and the Corporation for not taking any action to drain the stagnant rain water.
Essential items like milk supply too has taken a hit. Many shops and parlours had no choice but to turn away customers due to unavailability of state-owned Aavin milk. A visual from Sowcarpet area in Chennai shows people scrambling to get Aavin milk packets from a truck.
And this is what the Congress MLA elected from Velachery had to say.
“This is the maximum we can do. If the sea doesn’t take the water, what can we do?…such things are common during natural disasters,” says a gentleman who is the MLA of Velachery.
If you can’t get off the ivory tower, please don’t open your mouth and belittle people’s sufferings https://t.co/n7BNGSF24t
— Sivapriyan E.T.B | சிவப்பிரியன் ஏ.தி.ப (@sivaetb) December 6, 2023
Even posh areas of Chennai like Poes Garden remain deluged.
— Indhavaainko (இந்தாவாய்ங்கோ) 👊 (@indhavaainko) December 6, 2023
Anna Nagar which is a planned locality in the Chennai city, too saw stagnant waters with residents complaining about the DMK government’s apathy questioning where the ₹4000 crore money went if the city’s condition has only worsened from 2015.
— Gowri Sankar D – Say Yes to Women Safety&AIADMK (@GowriSankarD_) December 6, 2023
In many areas across Chennai, internet connections were down adding to the misery as people were unable to communicate for relief or send SOS. The mounting anger among Chennai’s residents spilled over to social media as mobile internet connectivity got restored.
The hashtag #WhatNonsense_Is_This_DMK is trending on social media with netizens lashing out at the DMK government.
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Image Source: Screengrabs of videos from Behindwoods & News Tamil 24x7
An incident in Velachery has left the people of Chennai shocked in the aftermath of the flooding due to Cyclone Michaung.
According to a Behindwoods Air report dated November 2023, at 7 AM in Velachery, construction activity was underway near the petrol pump station. Tragically, a building collapse occurred on Five Furlong Road, trapping some construction workers under debris within a container they used as living quarters. As per the Times of India, three other workers were successfully rescued by traffic police, employing ropes to pull them to safety. The cause of the collapse remains undetermined, and authorities stated that the workers had just arrived for their daily construction project when the incident transpired.
Behindwoods spoke to relatives of the victims trapped inside the debris. A lady whose nephew was caught inside said, “They had warned of the heavy rain, but they should have allowed the boys to stop work and come out. They called the boys who went home and asked them to come to work. I am heartbroken, they were just at home and they went to work. How unjust can this get? They have been lying in this water for the past 2 days. They rescued those tunnel workers in Uttarakhand, why can’t these people bring something to rescue them? My nephew operates the JCB, he is the main engineer. He got married just 6 months ago. Is there no other way to take them out? The rains have stopped, it is 2 days now. There were people I think, I don’t know how many are trapped inside. How unfair this is, sir! They cannot save our people? Tamil Nadu government cannot?”
Turning to the camera, the lady said, “Chief Minister sir, Stalin ayya, this incident has happened in our state. You have been quiet for the past 2 days, will people be quiet like this anywhere? The whole world felt happy that those 41 people were rescued from the Uttarakhand tunnel. I also prayed for their safe rescue. This is happening in our own state of Tamil Nadu, our own kids are trapped inside, why are you looking at this patiently? Does your conscience accept this? We are suffering, we are unable to bear the sorrow. We have been crying for the past 2 days, and all the families that are affected by this are crying. You need to do something to resolve this. But this is not right, waiting for 2 days to rescue them. You don’t seem to care for us. How is this fair?”
When asked if any minister came to see them, she said EV Velu had come and spoken to her. She said he promised to remove them from the debris and that the rescue team would be there in 10 minutes.
Another male relative said, “They haven’t even been able to give the correct number of people stuck inside. Yesterday they said 1 person was inside. When this madam arrived, they said 2 people were inside. My brother-in-law is caught inside, I know he is there. Will they keep increasing the number based on the number of people here? My brother-in-law got married only 9 months back, he lives close by in Velachery. All were young people. It is now more than hours. They said they will do something when the rain stops. The Mayor came yesterday and I asked her when they will begin the rescue work. She said we have pumps, and once the rain stops, we will start work she said. The rain stopped at 2 yesterday, I was here only, they did not start any work. Ministers came, the Health minister, then someone else came, Mayor Priya came, they all came, did the photoshoot perfectly and left. We are all very upset, my wife and sister had to be admitted to the hospital, and they were so disheartened and mournful. They should have done something, we don’t even know if we will get the dead body of our relatives. They don’t seem keen to do anything now. At night, they will chase away the crowd and even if 15 people are dead inside, they would cover it up and say 1 or 2 died and getting ready for that.”
Another parent of one of those trapped said, “My son is trapped inside. From yesterday till this minute, no one has done anything. All they say is they are on the way. What are they even doing?”
When the reporter said that there may be 10 people inside and if there were relatives of other people trapped, he was told that some of them were north Indians and they were not sure if they had family there. Just because people whose family members hadn’t returned home came to the accident spot to claim the dead body, they were able to judge the number of victims.
An onlooker described the building and said that its basement was being constructed. He added, “Even if you check news from 3 years ago, you will know this place is known for water stagnation every time it rains. It was wrong of the management to call them for work that day. People will come to work because they are worried about pay cuts if they do not turn up for work even for a day. The company could have given the day off since the weather conditions were such. Now who is responsible for the loss of lives?”
A family member said, “We do not know who the manager is, we don’t even know the company name. The police are not telling us even that.”
Heartwrenching scenes of the grieving wives and family members being pushed away by the police:
Many on social media have questioned the stoic silence of the Dravidianist media over the incident.
'மூணு நாளா எங்க பையன் அங்க கிடக்குறான்!'- வேளச்சேரியில் மழையால் ஏற்பட்ட திடீர் 50 அடி பள்ளத்தில் சிக்கியிருக்கும் தொழிலாளர்களை மூன்று நாட்கள் ஆகியும் மீட்காததால் அரசை எதிர்த்து பெற்றோர் மற்றும் உறவினர்கள் போராட்டம்!#Velachery | #ChennaiFloods | #TNGovtpic.twitter.com/JYEqCDXY4j
Can anyone clarify about this tragic incident at Velachery? Why hasn't the media reported on this? I saw a media report on this yesterday around noon but after that very little.
Growing dissatisfaction with the leadership of MK Stalin and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government is becoming more apparent; this was starkly visible, especially after the failure of the government to handle the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung.
As water engulfed every part of the capital city Chennai and its suburbs, citizens are expressing frustration over the inadequate availability of resources and assistance during this crisis.
In one such instance, a group of people was seen stopping the vehicle that Stalin was travelling in overseeing the flood-affected areas. They asked him, “We have heard about something called vidiyal, but we are not even able to set foot inside our own homes. Is this what you said was vidiyal?”
சபாஷ்…!!!👌👍😆
ஸ்டாலினை நடுத்தெருவில் நிறுத்தி, கேள்வி கேட்ட இளைஞர்கள்…!!!
இதுதான் நீங்கள் சொன்ன விடியலா என்று ஸ்டாலினிடமே நேரடியாக கேள்வி கேட்ட இளைஞர்கள்…!!!
In other parts of the city such as Kilpauk, families of police officials have been suffering from the floods. Here an aggrieved family member says, “We do not have power for over a day. We also do not have access to drinking water or food. There is no solution to this problem. There is no one to take care of the police department. All top officials live here but the water is still stagnant here. Who will take care of the families of the police? We want a permanent solution to this problem. We are not asking for food at this point. We want a solution to this. Chennai Corporation needs to do something about this. I do not know if the TN govt has the ability to sort out this issue at this instant. If they can do it, we will feel safe and happily serve the people too.”
AC-ல இருந்து DC- வரைக்கும் இங்க இருக்கோம்.. எங்க குடும்பம் நல்லா இருந்தா தான பொதுப்பணி செய்ய நாங்க நிம்மதியா போவோம்.. சாப்பாட்டுக்கே கஷ்டமா இருக்கு.. எங்க பிரச்சனையை தீர்க்க யாருமே வரல.. காவலர் குடியிருப்பை சூழ்ந்த மழை நீர் – மனக்குமுறலை கொட்டிய காவலர் #Chennai#Kilpauk#Flood… pic.twitter.com/IF1w5pl3BY
In Thiruvotriyur, people were seen moving out of their homes saying their homes were inundated. They said, “We tried calling the numbers listed but the lines were not going through or no one responded to our calls.” They also alleged that the authorities opened the sluice gates of the dam at night and that was the reason for the flooding since earlier in the day, as the rains poured, it was getting drained out naturally.
Another lady said, “The flood is not due to the rains, it was because of the opening of the sluice gates. There is water up to the hip in our homes. Everything is far away from our home, even a shop to buy bread.”
Another lady complained that the cupboards, fridge, cots/beds were all damaged at her home. Snakes had entered homes. Another family alleged that the water level increased on the morning of 5 December 2023.
A video of a lady teacher manhandled by the officials in Velachery also made the rounds on social media platform X where the teacher is seen literally crying her grievances out. The authorities had been trying to prevent her from meeting ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin, KN Nehru, and Ma Subramaniam as they had come to oversee the relief efforts in the area.
மிக்ஜாம் புயலால் பெரும் வெள்ளத்தால் பாதித்த வேளச்சேரியில், மீட்புப்பணி நடைபெறாததால், அமைச்சர்கள் சுப்பிரமணி, நேரு மற்றும் உதயநிதி அவர்களை கடுமையாக சாடிய ஆசிரியை #DMKFailsTNpic.twitter.com/NDCAM8i4Jq
Here is another video of an aggrieved citizen of Velachery says, “No one came to oversee our place. What step has the government taken even after the IMD warned of the cyclone? They should have taken steps to avoid this, right? Why did they not do it? We are leaving our homes. They said they have built storm water drains, where are they? From that 4000 crores, if they had at least spent 1 crore, the water would have drained properly. Water is logged everywhere! There is no outlet for the water to go. We didn’t get any food, we are leaving. No boat came to rescue us nor did any bus come. It never even stopped here. We are walking all the way. Where can we go? Snakes, lizards and rats are entering our house. This government is the worst, this regime is the worst ever! We never expected this.”
“Not 4000 Crores, if they had spent 1 crore from that 4000 Crore, things would’ve been better” – A resident of Velachery
A recently published book titled “Pranab, My Father: A Daughter Remembers” by Sharmishta Mukherjee, daughter of former president Pranab Mukherjee, reveals how the late Congress leader and former Indian President strongly denounced Rahul Gandhi’s behaviour and how the Gandhi family wreaked havoc on the Congress party. It meticulously unveils significant events during the UPA years, relying on Mukherjee’s habit of maintaining detailed diaries since the early 1960s.
The book gives an insider account of Pranab Mukherjee’s critical perspective on Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, as revealed through Mukherjee’s personal diary entries.
Here’s an excerpt from the book which apparently Pranab Mukherjee wrote just a month before his death on .
By making Congress a preserved playground for Gandhi-Nehru family, Congress lost its democratic character which impacted the polity of the country. After independence, if 5 family members of the same family controlled the Congress presidency for 37 years, it speaks of the worst form of hegemony. The family today is no longer providing vitality to the organisation but eating away its strength. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul since 2004 have lost base acquired even partially by Soniaji in 2001-2003. They are just interested in somehow forming a government at the Centre under Congress with other regional parties.
Mukherjee expresses particular criticism of Rahul, citing instances of political immaturity and lack of commitment. Notably, Mukherjee disapproves of Rahul’s public dismissal of a Cabinet decision in 2013, viewing it as a detrimental move for the Congress. Sharmishta recounts her father’s strong reaction to this incident, highlighting his concern about the impact on the Prime Minister, the government, and the party’s image.
Here’s the excerpt from the book as published in Firstpost:
Rahul Gandhi gate-crashed a press conference by Ajay Maken and described the decision of Cabinet as “nonsense”. This is totally uncalled for. He has all the arrogance of his Gandhi–Nehru lineage without their political acumen.
Sharmishta notes that it was her who first broke the news to her father. She says in the book that it was after a long time in her life that she saw her father’s face turn red in anger. Pranab Mukherjee reportedly told his daughter:
Who does he [Rahul] think he is? He is not a member of the Cabinet. Who is he to publicly trash a Cabinet decision? The Prime Minister is abroad. Does he even realize the implication of his actions and the effect it will have on the Prime Minister and the government? What right does he have to humiliate the PM like this? The party’s vice-president had shown such disdain for his own government publicly. Why should people vote for you again?
Engaged in the operations of the Delhi Congress unit herself, Sharmishta remembers informing Mukherjee about Rahul’s earnest efforts within the party to prevent the promulgation of the ordinance, although his attempts went unheard. Upon sharing this with her father, Mukherjee made a pointed comment, suggesting that despite his extensive political experience and influential role in the party, if Rahul couldn’t convince his colleagues without relying on dramatic actions, perhaps politics was not his true calling.
Sharmishta also noted that the Gandhi family namely – Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi – never trusted anyone except each other, as per the assessment of her father Pranab Mukherjee.
While the book is not entirely critical of Rahul, acknowledging his courtesy and curiosity, Mukherjee points out his political immaturity. The book also sheds light on Mukherjee’s interactions with Rahul, where he advised him to gain firsthand governance experience by joining the Cabinet, a suggestion that Rahul did not act upon.
On 25 March 2013, Pranab Mukherjee had noted:
He [Rahul] has interest in a diverse range of subjects but moves very quickly from one subject to another. I don’t know how much he listened and absorbed.
The book also includes instances of disagreement within the Congress, such as Sonia Gandhi’s objection to placing Savarkar’s portrait in the Central Hall, a decision Mukherjee defended in his diary, emphasizing Savarkar’s patriotism despite differences in later views. He had apparently told Sonia Gandhi that writing mercy petitions to the British does not reduce his sacrifice and patriotism.
Pranab Mukherjee reportedly wrote in his diary:
I told her firmly that I agreed in the meeting [of the Parliamentary Committee] to the proposal as I consider him a patriot, whatever be his views in the later years. People have become so small. How can one forget the sufferings Savarkar brothers had to undergo in cellular jail?
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Velachery is one of the worst affected localities following the Cyclone Michaung that showered massive rain in the city of Chennai from 3 December 2023 until the night of 4 December 2023.
Quite tragic scenes in Velachery , pallikaranai area. Many are stranded with water levels upto 15 ft in a few areas. We got a distress call from a family where an old and ailing woman needed emergency rescue, unfortunately she passed away by the time we reached her. pic.twitter.com/MqIZS8TYML
While the residents of the locality are grappling with the severe water inundation forcing them to be cut off from other parts of the city with no access to food and essential supplies, here is what the MLA of Velachery, Congress member Aasan Maulana had to say in an interview with Aadhan TV.
— Surjith Kumar – SayYEStoWomenSafety&AIADMK (@imSurjithKumar) December 5, 2023
When the interviewer asks him about the incident at Five Furlong Road which falls in the nearby constituency, he says, “When such heavy rains occur, these incidents will happen. All this is very ordinary when it comes to nature’s fury. We have to accept it as it is. When the height of the Velachery lake was increased, the excess water will naturally inundate the other areas. We have to accept it.”
The interviewer then asks him about the relief measures comparing 2015 and present day scenario and also asks if one can learn lessons from the present and take necessary action in the future to do better. The MLA replied, “No, no, we cannot do that. This is the maximum we can do. Water is flowing to the sea but if the sea doesn’t receive the water what can we do? This is the maximum we can do, nothing more than this.”
It is noteworthy that the videos and images of inundation that went viral on the internet were mainly from Velachery area. Here are some of those.
In the wake of Cyclone Michaung wreaking havoc on the coastal city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin asserted that the state’s stormwater drain projects played a pivotal role in averting a catastrophe akin to the devastating 2015 Chennai floods.
Following an on-ground assessment of the aftermath, Stalin, flanked by state ministers, addressed the media, comparing the recent deluge triggered by Michaung to the catastrophic events of eight years ago. “The rains during Cyclone Michaung exceeded those in 2015. However, unlike the man-made crisis in 2015 due to the release of water from Chembarambakkam Lake, the current situation is a natural flood. The damage is comparatively less than that of the previous floods,” Stalin remarked.
Speaking at a press conference, the Chief Minister attributed the lesser impact of the recent floods to the stormwater drain projects initiated by the DMK government. He emphasized that these projects played a crucial role in mitigating the potential severity of the situation, allowing Chennai to escape a more catastrophic fate.
AIADMK MP M Thambidurai took a swipe at the ruling government, accusing them of failing to implement adequate precautionary measures. “The people of Chennai are suffering. This shows the ineffectiveness of the current government and their failure to tackle the situation,” Thambidurai asserted.
In response to Stalin’s claims, netizens took to social media platforms, flooding the internet with tweets highlighting the severity of the current Chennai floods.
“This is Velachery area in Chennai. Still now water is not draining. What about that 4000-crore package oopies??” asked a netizen, pointing out the failure of DMK.
The netizen shared a video saying, “In Velachery, which was worst hit by floods due to Cyclone Michaung, the teacher lashed out at ministers Subramani, Nehru and Udhayanidhi for not carrying out rescue operations. “
மிக்ஜாம் புயலால் பெரும் வெள்ளத்தால் பாதித்த வேளச்சேரியில், மீட்புப்பணி நடைபெறாததால், அமைச்சர்கள் சுப்பிரமணி, நேரு மற்றும் உதயநிதி அவர்களை கடுமையாக சாடிய ஆசிரியை #DMKFailsTNpic.twitter.com/NDCAM8i4Jq
In Radhakrishnan Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, this was the situation.
Govt, where are you? I just went to Radhakrishnan nagar, Thiruvamiyur . Water from surrounding areas have been pumped into this area. There were dead animals floating around. pic.twitter.com/hy2C3eWYBQ
Several parts of Chennai and suburbs are still disconnected from the mainland because of the water logging. Many people in Thiruvottriyur were leaving their homes for safer spaces.
In a shocking incident during a visit by Tamil Nadu ministers Ma Subramanian, KN Nehru, and Udhayanidhi Stalin to flood-affected areas in Velachery in the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung, a female teacher was reportedly manhandled by authorities when she attempted to voice concerns about water stagnation and slow relief activities in the region.
The ministers were on a visit to assess the aftermath of the recent floods, which had wreaked havoc in various parts of the state. However, the situation took a distressing turn when the teacher, seeking to bring attention to the water stagnation issues exacerbated by heavy rainfall, was stopped by officers in proximity to the ministers.
Undeterred, the teacher continued to voice her grievances and pose questions about the government’s response to the crisis. Shockingly, she was manhandled by the authorities right in front of Udhayanidhi Stalin, who appeared to be a passive bystander to the incident. It is to be noted that neither Minister Ma Subramanian nor Udhayanidhi Stalin intervened to prevent the mistreatment of the teacher.
A video capturing the distressing scene has circulated on social media, drawing widespread condemnation. In the video, the lady is seen to be narrating her harrowing experience. She says, “Look at the way they are pulling me. I am a school teacher and I am suffering here, and they are manhandling me! What nonsense is this. Is this the way you treat a teacher, he is pulling me. Is this the way you treat a lady? Pushing and pulling!”
Her family member then explained their problem of water logging and requested that water be pumped out of their area. The teacher also showed her mobile phone indicating the number of phone calls made and yet she received no response from the authorities. She also added that they had been suffering for the past 20 years and this year it was the worst of all. As she continued explaining her problem, minister KN Nehru started walking away saying, “We cannot speak with you for so long”.
In response to the incident, Tamil Nadu BJP’s Amar Prasad Reddy took to social media platform X, expressing his dismay at the ministers’ apparent indifference. He tweeted, “A woman is being manhandled right in front of you, and she’s complaining the same to you as well. Yet, you’re behaving like a spectator @Udhaystalin. She has her right to vent it on you and your team. Aren’t you the elected ones? This isn’t how you treat a lady.”
A woman is being manhandled right in front of you and she's complaining the same to you as well and yet, you're behaving like a spectator @Udhaystalin . She has her right to vent it on you and your team. Aren't you the elected ones? This isn't how you treat a lady. Especially the… pic.twitter.com/HU12QRYmxy
In the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung, the city of Chennai finds itself submerged in rainwater that has also led to a significant setback in the supply of Aavin milk, leaving many residents grappling with the consequences.
ஆவின் பால்/ தனியார் பால் கிடைக்குதா? இப்ப தான் கொட்டிவாக்கம் ஏரியால சுற்றி விட்டு வர்றேன் எங்கயும் இல்ல
காலைல மொத்தமாக வாங்கி ஸ்டாக் வச்சு இருக்கலாம். ஈவினிங் வந்துடும் மத்தவங்களுக்கு யூஸ் ஆகட்டும்னு ஒரு pack மட்டும் வாங்கிட்டு வந்தேன் 🚶
In various localities, residents have reported rainwater levels reaching waist height, creating treacherous conditions for commuters and residents alike. The heavy downpour has not spared the suburbs, with areas such as Medavakkam, Vengai Vasal, and Kamarajapuram experiencing severe inundation.
The revelation comes in the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung, which has already inundated Chennai with heavy rainfall, causing widespread flooding and disruptions to daily life. Ponnusamy’s tweet highlights the immediate impact on essential services, particularly the supply of milk, an integral part of the daily diet for many residents.
One of the most pressing issues arising from the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung is the disruption in the Aavin milk supply chain. The state-run dairy cooperative’s services have taken a severe hit, leaving residents, especially those with young children, in a lurch. Reports indicate that Aavin milk is conspicuously absent from store shelves in multiple suburbs, compounding the challenges faced by the public.
In contrast, private milk suppliers seem to have stepped into the breach, offering an alternative source of milk for Chennai residents. However, this has not alleviated the concerns of the public, who are lamenting the higher prices attached to private milk packets in the absence of Aavin’s affordable supply.
Amidst the chaos, the DMK IT wing has been disseminating misleading information regarding the status of milk supply. Some reports suggest that the political wing has been accused of spreading falsehoods, adding a layer of controversy to an already dire situation.
The Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers Welfare Association, Ponnusamy, has sounded the alarm over a critical shortage of Aavin milk in Chennai. In a tweet that sent shockwaves through social media, Ponnusamy revealed that an estimated 15 lakh litres of Aavin milk is currently unavailable in the city. Adding to the crisis, Ponnusamy stated that private milk supply has also come to a standstill, exacerbating the challenges faced by residents.
சென்னையில் சுமார் 15லட்சம் லிட்டர் ஆவின் பால் விநியோகம் மட்டுமின்றி தனியார் பால் விநியோகமும் முடங்கியிருக்கிறது. pic.twitter.com/DKDsKVqk6F
Journalist Lakshmi Subramanian questioned how other private brands were available for purchase in certain localities but there is a disruption of only the Aavin brand.
Milk supply is hugely affected in many areas in Chennai. This is the crowd at a Hatsun milk outlet at Mettupalayam near Saidapet. When Hatsun can supply milk why is the @AavinTN supply disrupted? There was no milk supply in most parts of Chennai today @Manothangarajpic.twitter.com/AqubKm73Se
Private player Hatsun is able to supply milk on their parlors but state run Aavin has multiple booths and none of them got even 1 packet in stock. vendors said that they didnt get any load for the last 2 days.
As of 6 December 2023, residents of Chennai had still not received Aavin milk packets for the third consecutive day nor is there proper availability at Aavin Junction outlets. In some areas, it was reported that the outlets were closed.
3வது நாள் வீட்டில் பால் வரவில்லை. நானும் எனது மனைவியும் டி.நகர் முழுவதும் தேடி அலைந்தோம். பால் வரவில்லை, கிடைக்கவில்லை என்பதுதான் உண்மை. இதுல அதிக விலைக்கு விற்க கூடாதாம்.
Aavin Milk is not available in Chennai. Ppl walking several kms to private milk outlets & standing in long queue for milk. My friend brought 1 litre thirumala milk for 80rs which is double the cost. Mr Stalin, you are the worst CM TN ever Seen #ChennaiFloods2023#chennaicyclone
Government claims all is well, Minister Mano Thangaraj claimed yday that Aavin milk is being supplied across Chennai without any issue, but most of the city people are queuing up for milk. Chennai still limping back to normalcy.
The DMK has once again put the I.N.D.I. Alliance in soup with Dharmapuri DMK MP’s latest remarks in Parliament calling the ‘Hindi heartland’ states as ‘Gaumutra‘ states.
The ‘Gaumutra’ (cow urine) jibe is frequently used by Islamists and anti-Hindu elements to derogate and slander Hindus who consider the cow sacred. It was also used by terrorists who inflicted the Pulwama attack on the armed forces.
In the Parliament speech, the DMK MP had said “People of this country should think that the power of this BJP is only winning elections and mainly in the heartland states of Hindi or what we generally call as the Gaumutra states. You cannot come to South India. You see all the results of what happens in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra, and Telangana.”
#WATCH | Winter Session of Parliament | DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar S says "…The people of this country should think that the power of this BJP is only winning elections mainly in the heartland states of Hindi, what we generally call the 'Gaumutra' states…" pic.twitter.com/i37gx9aXyI
This is not the first time that the DMK MP had made such derogatory remarks against north Indian/BJP-ruling states.
Just recently in May 2023, he had said the same thing about north Indians states cow urine states and added that people in those states where BJP rule do not have brains.
In February 2022, DMK MP Senthilkumar had taken jibes at north Indian states saying that if the Central Government wants to enforce the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, they should do it in ‘gaumutra’ states.
The DMK MP had said, “The goal of the government in the National Education Policy is to have a Gross Enrollment ratio (GER) of 50%. This has already been achieved by Tamil Nadu. Whereas, India’s national GER is around 24.6%. We are much ahead of the American GER. Why is it that the Central Government is seeing to thrust the National Education Policy upon us? We have set principles and we have set models, the Dravidian principle models, which are successful models. If they want to implement it to make India a developed state, let them implement Tamil Nadu’s model throughout the state. Instead, why is it being thrust upon us? We totally reject it. If they want, they can go implement them in Gaumutra states, which they are very keen upon.”
Looks like he seems to be thinking about this all the time. This is from Feb 2022 pic.twitter.com/ZKrowQYfHO
Ironically, it has come to light that the DMK MP has enrolled his son at a posh boarding school in Uttarakhand which in the DMK MP’s scheme of things is a “gaumutra” state as the BJP is in power.
Netizens called out the apparent hypocrisy of the DMK MP asking why he did not choose to enroll his son at a government/private school in Tamil Nadu where Dravidian Model is in all its glory.
They also noted how the DMK MP while peddling hate against north Indians as people of ‘gaumutra’ states has enroll his own children at a high-class school in Uttarakhand.
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