The MK-Stalin DMK government has appointed J. Sangumani, as the new Director of Medical Education & Research (DME), nearly two weeks after the position became vacant.
In an order dated 14 November 2023 issued by the Health and Family Welfare department, Dr. J. Sangumni, Dean of Government Virudhunagar Medical College, was regularly promoted and officially appointed as the DME.
The former DME, R. Shanthimalar, retired on October 31.
Dr. Sangumani. J, Dean, Government Virudhunagar Medical College, Virudhunagar is promoted & appointed as Director of Medical Education & Research (DME) for the year 2023-2024 vice Dr. Shanthimalar. R, retired.#TamilNadu#Medical#Health#DMEpic.twitter.com/vuGioViRZr
In a separate order, the department revealed that the former DME had submitted the names of five eligible candidates for consideration: R. Balajinathan, dean of Government Thanjavur Medical College; H. Muthukrishnan, dean of Government Ariyalur Medical College; R. Murugesan, dean of Government Tiruppur Medical College; J. Sangumani, dean of Government Virudhunagar Medical College; and R. Suganthy Rajakumari, dean of Government Dindigul Medical College.
The government chose Dr. Sangumani based on “merit and ability”.
However, a DME Panel shortlisted earlier that was circulated on social media marked Sangumani as “Not Eligible” as he had violated government tender norms in the purchase of an equipment.
According to the circular, Sangumani had purchased the equipment fully automated analyser at twice the cost (₹73.37 lakh) against the Tamil Nadu Medical Service Corporation (TNMSC) rate of ₹36.5 lakh causing a loss of ₹36.87 lakh to the state exchequer.
The Kanda Sashti festival at Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple commenced with traditional fervour on 13 November 2023. Devotees have been thronging the second Arupadai Veedu (the 2nd of the 6 holy abodes of Lord Murugan) to participate in the festival.
The reports claimed that the Abhishekam Darshan fee, which stood at ₹500 per person (on normal days) and ₹2000 per person (on auspicious days), has seen a steep rise to ₹3000. Similarly, the Vishwarupa Darshan fee, typically at ₹100, has been elevated to ₹2000, and the Quick Darshan fee surged from ₹100 to ₹1000, noted media reports.
However, a report by The Hindu quoted a Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department officials saying that a government order (GO) was passed in 2017 for upward revision of ticket rates.
The Joint Commissioner of the Lord Subramaniya Swami Temple in Tiruchendur, Karthik, claimed that in 2017, the government issued an order to raise ticket rates during the ‘kanda sashsti’ celebrations. He added that the practice of selling a special darshan ticket for ₹100 along with a ₹1,000 ticket has been in place since 2017. He further said that “certain elements”, with the intention of harming the image of the HR&CE Department, are making baseless allegations, wrongly asserting that the ticket rates were increased only recently. He emphasized that the increased ticket rate has been in effect since 2017.
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Music composer AR Rahman is once again in the news – no, he is not making headlines for another mismanaged and nightmarish concert; this time, he is facing severe backlash for his rendition of a popular patriotic song by legendary Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam in the Bollywood film ‘Pippa.’
The controversy centres around Rahman’s “distortion” of the rhythm and tunes in his version of ‘Karar oi louho kopat’ (Iron bars of a jail). The song was featured in the war movie ‘Pippa,’ based on real-life events during the 1971 India-Pakistan War that led to the birth of Bangladesh.
Titled ‘Pippa,’ the film pays tribute to the amphibious war tank PT-76, also known as “Pippa,” which smoothly floats on water like an empty ghee tin. The narrative unfolds a wartime saga, highlighting patriotism and the coming-of-age journey of Captain Balram Mehta, portrayed by Ishaan, of the 45 Cavalry Tank Squadron. The storyline showcases the valour and courage of Balram Mehta and the Indian Armed Forces during a war for the liberation of another country.
The original song rendition goes like this:
and the distorted version like this:
The comments on both the videos give an idea of the level of distortion done by AR Rahman.
Family members of Kazi Nazrul Islam, often referred to as the ‘rebel poet,’ expressed outrage over the perceived distortion of the song’s original essence. Kazi Anirban, the poet’s grandson, stated that while his mother had granted consent for the song’s use in the film, she did not approve of any alterations to its tunes and rhythm.
“The way the song has been dished out with the change in rhythm and tunes is shocking,” said Anirban, emphasising that Rahman did not understand the lyrics or the historical background of the song.
“The song was rendered with a background of fighting the British. It inspired freedom fighters. I don’t know why Rahman sir did this, it’s injustice. I appeal that this song is dropped. He (Rahman) didn’t understand either the lyrics or the background of the song,” he added.
Anindita Kazi, Nazrul’s granddaughter, demanded the immediate removal of the altered version from the film and the public domain. Nazrul’s granddaughter Anindita Kazi in a voice message from the US said, “As members of his family and lovers of his creations, we cannot accept this distortion. We want it to be immediately omitted from the film and removed from the public domain,” as quoted by PTI.
Popular Bengali singer Haimanti Shukla expressed her deep outrage, “I wonder how a composer like AR Rahman could make this happen… No such tinkering with songs of Kazi Nazrul Islam can be allowed. It is shameful for the Bengali singers who were part of the rendition. I am deeply outraged,” she questioned.
Rahman’s Silence & Netizen Response
While Rahman has yet to comment on the matter, the controversy has gained momentum on social media, with netizens expressing disappointment over what they perceive as a lack of research before altering the song.
Bengalis worldwide have vehemently criticised Rahman for his alterations and distortion of the song, labeling it as distasteful, sacrilegious, akin to slaughter, blasphemous, and horrible, and expressed various other forms of criticism. Here are a few such posts.
God of modern Indian music to many, A.R. Rahman, has successfully ruined Nazrul's Karar Oi Louho Kopat. Not only does his pathetic new composition fail to justify meaning and mood of song, but it also sounds very bad & unsynchronized. We will understand the impact of original!🤮 https://t.co/JtWJbIzFw4pic.twitter.com/dMVvVhKnTj
My mother loved Kazi Nazrul Islam’s poetry, songs. The word Hindol appears in Kazi Nazrul Islam’s work. I heard A. R. Rahman’s version of Karar Oi Louho Kopat and it’s really a sad version. He has not been able to do justice to the poetry at all. His version should be withdrawn.
What A.R.Rahman has done with Kazi Nazrul Islam's revolutionary compositon 'Karar oi louho kopat' is nothing less than sacrilege. He should outright apologize for killng the basic essence of this legendary song which has inspired millions of Bengalis since decades.
As Gen Secy of @BanglaPokkho, National org of Bengalis in India, I condemn distasteful distortion of Kazi Nazrul Islam's "Karar oi louho kopat", song that inspired millions of Bengali freedom fighters. @arrahman did a hit job against Bengali in the service of Hindi paymasters.
A. R. Rahman’s Gen. Dyer like slaughter of the iconic patriotic song “Karar oi louho kopat” originally composed by Kaji Nazrul Islam depicting the martyrs’ ultimate sacrifice for the freedom struggle of India received 48.2k dislike from netizens. #ShameOnARRahmanpic.twitter.com/usOPE6ephs
AR Rahman has destroyed Nazrul’s Karar Oi Louho Kopat. One of the best protest songs has been turned into a bullshit. It’s outrageous, it’s blasphemous.
1/2 What Rahman did with “Karar oi louho kopat” is absolutely horrible but if you are slamming him then it would be better if you first take on the “who she must not be named” for singing Rabindra Sangeet & other songs discordantly, tonelessly & out of tune in public events.
First AR Rahman distorted our own Vande Mataram, it has however gained acceptance because we live in a secular and tolerant country. It is surely very brave of Rahman to experiment with the patriotic songs of another country.
Well many will gonna abuse but never put A R saab over Ilaiyaraaja Ji. And now with this distorted version of ‘Karar Oi Louho Kopat’ (after Vandemataram) am having ‘respect’ issues. Personal opinion and free speech. #justsaying#Opinion
Critic of Remix Culture Turns to Remixing – The Irony That Is AR Rahman
Having previously criticized the remix culture, Rahman now faces criticism from Bengalis for his own “remix.” In an interview with India Today, when questioned about the remix culture, he said, “The more I see, the more it is distorted. The intention of the composer gets distorted. People say, ‘I am reimagining.’ Who are you to re-imagine? I am also very careful of taking someone else’s work. You have to be respectful and I think it is a grey area, we need to sort it out.”
In another interview with The Quint, when asked about his reaction to remixes/covers of his own songs that he might come across on Instagram, he says, “For instance one of my songs, Ishwar Allah is one of my favourite songs and Javed Akhtar Saab wrote it. They took that song and they really killed it. I didn’t do anything about it because I was like what’s going on, but they just really killed it because whatever is added to that may be beautiful, but not with this. I know because it’s – it’s memories, it’s respect. It’s something which happened at that time. It’s destiny. You can’t change that and I hate to use the word bastardised it,”
Apology From Makers; Apology Rejected By Kazi Family
Ronnie Screwvala, through RSVP Movies, and Siddharth Roy Kapur, via Roy Kapur Films, produced the film, while Raja Krishna Menon directed it. In light of the controversy, a statement of apology was issued. They posted on the official handle of the production company and the statement said, “In light of the current discourse surrounding the song ‘Karar Oi Louho Kopat’ the producers, director, and music composer of the film Pippa wish to clarify that our rendition of the song is a sincere artistic interpretation, embarked upon only after securing the necessary adaptation rights from the estate of the Late Mr. Kazi Nazrul Islam.”
Nazrul Islam’s family rejected the apology issued by the filmmakers. As per a Times of India report, the grandson and granddaughter of Kazi Nazrul have refused to accept the apology. Anirban, Nazrul’s grandson, stated, “An apology post on X is not enough for such disrespect. The least they can do is remove the song from the film, along with my mother’s and my name from the credit,” as cited by TOI. Anindita, Nazrul’s granddaughter, echoed this sentiment, saying, “I am not accepting the apology,” as reported by the daily.
Silence in Dravidian Media Amidst Rahman Controversy
Surprisingly, the controversy surrounding AR Rahman’s rendition has not received significant attention in Dravidian media in Tamil Nadu. Instead, the focus remains on other topics such as Deepavali celebrations, smog levels, air quality index (AQI), and police actions against individuals defying orders on cracker bursting during the festival. It is argued that the disproportionate focus on these issues by Dravidian media raises questions about their priorities and the need for balanced coverage of significant cultural and artistic controversies. The lack of substantial coverage of AR Rahman’s controversial rendition in the Dravidian media of Tamil Nadu has raised eyebrows about media priorities in the region.
On 14 November 2023, addressing an election rally in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to Rahul Gandhi as ‘Lord of Fools,’ criticizing him for spreading misinformation about mobile phones in India.
PM Modi highlighted Gandhi’s claim that only ‘made in China’ phones are available in India, calling him out for his lack of awareness. Without explicitly naming Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi also mocked his mysterious foreign trips, questioning the effectiveness of the spectacles he wears.
“Yesterday, a ‘big expert’ of the Congress was saying that in India, everybody over here has only Made-in-China mobile phones. One ‘big expert’ was saying that all of you have only Made-in-China mobile phones. Oh lord of fools! In which world do these people live in?“, PM Modi slammed Rahul Gandhi without naming him.
PM Modi further added “Congress leaders have developed a mental illness of undermining the achievements of the country. I don’t know what foreign spectacles they wear, which makes them unable to see the development in the country. What is the truth? Today India is the second largest manufacturer of mobile phones in the world.”
The Prime Minister emphasized the significant progress in mobile phone manufacturing in India, stating that the country is now the second-largest producer globally. He noted that during Congress’s tenure, mobiles worth less than ₹20,000 crore were manufactured annually, compared to today’s production of mobile phones worth ₹3.5 lakh crore. India also exports mobile phones worth approximately ₹1 lakh crore.
“When Congress was at the Centre, every year in India, mobiles worth less than ₹ 20,000 crore were manufactured. Today in India, mobile phones worth ₹3.5 lakh crore are made in India. India exports mobile phones worth approximately ₹1 lakh crore to other countries.“, PM Modi said.
PM Modi stressed the importance of ‘Make in India,’ stating that those who remember it only during elections do not understand the value of Swadeshi (locally manufactured goods). He highlighted the ‘vocal for local’ movement, revealing that during Diwali, people purchased India-made products worth ₹4.4 lakh crores.
Under the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative, mobile phone shipments in India have seen a 23% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). According to Counterpoint, India is now the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer globally, with over 98% of shipments being ‘made in India’ in 2022.
Alphabet Inc announced plans to manufacture Pixel smartphones in India, starting with Pixel 8, expected to roll out in markets from 2024. Additionally, Tata Electronics Private Limited, a Tata group company, will soon begin manufacturing iPhones in India for both domestic and global markets, as announced by Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar in October.
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A controversy has emerged surrounding the treatment of a 4-year-old boy, Jayapandiyan, who suffered burn injuries due to a firecracker explosion at Sivaganga.
At 8 in the morning of 13 November 2023, a 4-year-old boy Jayapandiyan, who suffered burn injuries owing to a fire cracker explosion was brought to the Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital. His parents who had brought him to be treated at the hospital allege that he was not given the proper treatment and was treated by security guards. This video was shared by the parents and spread over WhatsApp which became viral.
சிவகங்கை அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் வெடி விபத்தால் காயம்பட்ட சிறுவனுக்கு மருத்துவர்கள் இல்லாததால் அரசு மருத்துவமனை காவலாளிகள் சிகிச்சையளித்துள்ளார்.
திருநெல்வேலியில் கடந்த நான்கு நாட்களாக குடிக்க அருகதையற்ற , சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் குடிநீர் விநியோகிக்கப்படுவதால் மக்கள் மருத்துவமனையை… pic.twitter.com/Cmhwh4BV0d
— Raj Satyen – SayYesToWomenSafety&AIADMK (@satyenaiadmk) November 14, 2023
Sivaganga Medical College Hospital Dean, Sathyabama investigated the matter with the doctor who was on duty, Inba Sekaran, and two of his students. Upon investigating the CCTV footage, it was allegedly found that two doctors were the ones who gave him treatment and not security guards as claimed by the parents, the dean stated. According to the dean, attempts to remove the child’s shirt were met with resistance from both the child and the parents, leading to the involvement of assistants for the procedure. Dean Sathyabama issued a stern warning against the dissemination of false information, asserting that strict action would be taken against those who spread baseless accusations against the medical staff.
Meanwhile, in Tirunelveli, a separate crisis is unfolding as residents have been grappling with poor water quality for the past four days. The water contamination issue has led to a surge in hospital admissions, with masses seeking medical attention due to the unfit and unhygienic water supply.
A photo shared by a reporter associated with The New Indian Express highlighted the gravity of the situation, depicting cloudy water even after boiling and filtering.
கடந்த நான்கு தினங்களாக குடிநீர் மிகவும் மோசமான தரத்தில் வருகிறது. மருத்துவமனைகளில் பொதுமக்களின் கூட்டம். குடிநீரை கொதிக்க வைத்து தெளிவு படுத்திய பிறகுள்ள படம்தான் இது. @TirunelveliCorp – Mohamed Ayyub, #Tirunelveli corporation, Pettai pic.twitter.com/dT4lMVAelY
It appears that the Tirunelveli Corporation has not taken any action to address the ongoing water quality crisis, despite increasing concerns and hospitalizations. This situation raises questions about the municipal response to public health issues in the region, leaving residents to grapple with the consequences of inadequate water supply management, as the situation has not been resolved decisively.
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In the Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital in Chennai, the canteen was shut down after a video surfaced, capturing a rat brazenly feasting on food stored for public consumption.
The problem surfaced when a relative of a patient visited the hospital canteen and observed a rat moving among the food items stored in a glass container.
He bore witness to a rat scurrying through bajji and vada in a glass storage box. Upon confronting the staff about the alarming situation, they were met with a dismissive response. As soon as one of the persons started taking video, the manager of the canteen started to play safe by shooing away the rat with a stick and later clearing away the rat-infested food.
Taking cognizance of the severity of the issue, Chennai’s designated food safety officer, Dr P Sateesh Kumar, conducted an inspection of the canteen following complaints about a rat infestation. Dr Kumar revealed, “We found rats in snacks prepared two days ago. The manager will be asked to pay a fine of ₹5,000 for not maintaining hygiene. We have issued him a show-cause notice. The canteen will be allowed to reopen only after we ensure it is clean and safe.”
The incident raises questions about the overall hygiene and cleanliness standards within the hospital’s food facilities.
In response to the incident, the India Today reported that Dr. P Balaji, the hospital dean, took action to close the canteen.
Notably, the staff had been granted leave due to the Deepavali festival, resulting in the canteen being inactive for the past two days with no food items sold to the public.
The dean of the medical college claimed that all stored food has been completely removed and discarded, ensuring it was not made available to the public. The canteen will remain closed until a thorough cleaning is carried out, he said.
However, Thinakaran Rajamani of The New Indian Express noted that a few months ago the hospital dean of Theni Government Medical College was suspended for allegedly collecting bribe from a hospital canteen owner. This has raised concerns about the condition of canteens in other government hospitals.
Few months ago, Theni government medical college hospital dean was suspended for allegedly collecting bribe from a canteen owner. Now rat is seen eating snacks of a canteen in Chennai Stanley government medical college hospital. Are the officials inspecting the canteens inside… pic.twitter.com/EEdcZKNuay
The much-anticipated Kanda Shashti festival at Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple commenced with traditional fervour on 13 November 2023, marked by the auspicious Yagasala Puja. However, the joy of devotees took a shocking turn as they were confronted with a substantial increase in darshan fees on this special occasion.
The festival, which began at 7 a.m. with Yagasala Puja, witnessed Swami Jayantinatha leading the Valli Deivanai Abhishekamakaranam Deeparathan at 9 a.m. The main event, Surasamharam, is scheduled to unfold on the beach on the evening of 18 November 2023.
Devotees, who had eagerly gathered since 12 November 2023 evening, were disheartened to discover the escalated darshan fees. The Abhishekam Darshan fee, which stood at ₹500 per person (on normal days) and ₹2000 per person (on auspicious days), has seen a steep rise to ₹3000. Similarly, the Vishwarupa Darshan fee, typically at ₹100, has been elevated to ₹2000, and the Quick Darshan fee surged from ₹100 to ₹1000.
The sudden fee hikes left devotees dumbfounded, especially considering that the special darshan fee had already been increased in 2022. The temple, which opened at 1 a.m. for special pujas, attracted lakhs of devotees from various districts, eager to partake in the Shashti festival celebrations.
A report by The Hindu quoted a HR&CE official saying that the fare increase was done back in 2017 and that “certain elements” are spreading baseless allegations.
Temporary sheds have been erected at 21 locations within the temple premises to accommodate devotees observing fasts during the festival. To ensure security, 2500 police personnel and home guards have been deployed.
The administration is making preparations for the upcoming events, including the grand Surasamharam on 18 November 2023 and the wedding ceremony on 19 November 2023. Despite the festive spirit, the unexpected spike in darshan fees has cast a shadow over the celebrations, leaving devotees dismayed.
The Kanda Shashti festival, celebrated annually with great pomp at the Tiruchendur temple, draws lakhs of devotees from different towns who come to seek the darshan of Lord Murugan. The temple authorities have not provided any prior notification regarding the fee increases, further intensifying the stupefaction and disappointment among the devotees. It is noteworthy that the said temple falls under the purview of the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. Earlier in August 2022, the DMK government and its HR&CE department found itself mired in contoversy when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabarisan Vedamurthy conducted a special yagam/yagna (sacrificial fire ritual) at the Thiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple. He had performed the (Kshatru Samhara Yagam), a vedic ritual performed to ‘destroy and finish-off enemies’. It is usually done by powerful businessmen and politicians for want of more wealth and power and ward of evil forces. It was called out by many as blatant abuse of power as a barricade was erected at the premises of the temple causing inconvenience to devotees who were unable to go to the Valli cave.
The HR&CE department recently has been receiving flak for their overarching use of power especially in the recent Tiruvannamalai shopping complex construction.
On the morning of Deebavali, Thanthi TV shared a video link on their X handle titled, “Is Deebavali A Tamil Festival?“.
The 2-minute video talks about how the festival is celebrated across the country. The reporter says, “Let us see the differences between North India and South India in the celebration of Deebavali. Deebavali means the festival of lights, arranging lights in an array. Deebavali, which originated in North India, later spread to many South Indian states. There is no mention of Deebavali in Sangam-era literature. Deebavali, which is celebrated for five days in North India, is celebrated only for a day in Tamil Nadu. Deebavali in North India is associated with Ramayana. Rama, who killed Ravana and rescued Sita, returned to Ayodhya with Lakshmana, Sita, and Hanuman after 14 years of exile – this day is celebrated as Deebavali in North India. Ramayana mentions that many types of lamps were lit in all the houses to celebrate the return of Rama to Ayodhya.” The video goes on to describe how the festival is celebrated across the country.
The agenda appears to be transparent: an attempt to depict Diwali solely as a North Indian festival, distancing it from the cultural heritage of South India especially the Tamil region. The assertion that “Diwali is not referenced in Sangam Literature” is conveniently inserted, dismissing the rich tapestry of references in Sangam Literature, which includes narratives from Ram to Krishna to Shiva’s Tripurantakaya story and references to the Vedas. It raises the question of selective scrutiny, as other festivals like Pongal also lack direct mentions in Sangam Literature. Does this omission diminish their status as Tamil festivals? Would Thanthi TV be kind enough to research the instances of mention of Ramzan in Puranaanoru and Christmas in Kurunthogai, asks a netizen. Would they be inclined to delve into the historical evolution of these festivals in the Tamil-speaking region, providing a comprehensive understanding of how and why they are celebrated in the local culture?
Agenda is clear: Portray Diwali as a North Indian festival, outside to South Indian "D" culture.
A line saying "Diwali is not referenced in Sangam Literature" is conveniently slid in.
While the caption and the thumbnail of each news item sound controversial, the content is absolutely damp squib. Here are some other examples of Thanthi TV’s social media sensationalizing of trivial issues.
Aggrandizing Style Reporting By Thanthi TV
In this post on AQI post-Deebavali cracker bursting, the caption terrifies the reader. It says, “Crackers – Increased air pollution in Chennai, Air pollution in various places in Tamil Nadu due to crackers burst on Diwali. Air quality index is above 170 in most parts of Chennai”
பட்டாசு – சென்னையில் அதிகரித்த காற்று மாசு
தீபாவளிக்கு வெடிக்கப்பட்ட பட்டாசுகள் எதிரொலியாக தமிழகத்தில் பல்வேறு இடங்களில் காற்று மாசு
One would wonder if such a level of reporting was done during New Year firecrackers bursting or during Christmas.
“Scientific Cleaning” By Corporation
The day after Deebavali is bound to be a messy one since loads of crackers were burst the previous day. The caption for this report reads, “Fireworks waste piled up in Chennai – Corporation takes science into its hands”
Now one wonders what scientific method was employed by the sanitary workers. Drum roll – none! Well, the reporter updates the news desk only about the number of workers involved, the amount of garbage piled up, and details about the previous year in Chennai. Again sensationalizing a non-existent news.
However, in this report, a few extra details about the number of vehicles deployed to clear garbage are mentioned. The only extra point on “science” is that they are segregating the waste separately. Science wins!
பட்டாசு கழிவுகளை அகற்றும் பணியில் தூய்மை பணியாளர்கள்
The caption for this post reads, “Timely action on Diwali – case after case #diwali2023” to indicate that cases were filed against Hindus celebrating the festival by bursting crackers “outside” of the prescribed hours. Thanthi TV fails yet again to prove that it is an unbiased news agency when it comes to reporting about the state government’s overreaching use of powers.
In this report on the “sudden/immediate (adhiradi) action taken by the police, the reporter mentions the “Special Force” that has been constituted for monitoring the city if they defy Supreme Court rules. The caption reads, “People burst crackers in violation of the rules. Immediate action taken by the police..!”
As usual, the caption just sensationalizes a trivial news update.
They failed to report how the police harassed Chennai residents while monitoring whether citizens followed Supreme Court rules. Instead, they are all praise for the police department.
As per a latest report, over 2000 cases have been filed across Tamil Nadu for bursting crackers outside of the stipulated time, for bursting high decibel crackers and unauthorized selling.
Thanthi TV cannot hide its concern for the environment which seems to appear only during Deebavali. Here’s another sensational news caption. “Chennai has turned into a smog… an important alert has been released”, it said.
One wonders what alert that would be – on 10 November 2023, AQI was 83, on 11 November 2023, it was 115, and owing to the bursting of crackers it went up to about 170. While we wait for the alert and watch the entire video, there’s none!
#BREAKING || புகை மூட்டமாக மாறிய சென்னை… வெளியான முக்கிய அலெர்ட்
Once again while reporting on police action on Hindus bursting crackers defying SC order, the caption for this news report reads, “Searched and Hunted by the Police – The “Noise” That Entangled The Perpetrators Who Were Showing Off”
In this report, while indirectly praising the police, Thanthi TV tries to belittle the Hindus who defied the time limit ban. The report talks about the number of cases filed by the police based on the time limit defiance, selling crackers, and high-decibel crackers. Once again the caption and the report have nothing in common.
One might get agitated after reading such a headline, right? Well, this was the caption for this news report. “The state of Chennai turned upside down in a single day… – Eagle view footage #Chennai”
The report talks about the AQI levels from the morning of 13 November 2023. The reporter attributes the smog to the cracker bursting from Saturday 11 November 2023. The reporter went on a hyperbole to claim that pedestrians had to walk carefully owing to the smog. Visibility was poor but this type of reporting is taking it to a very high level of exaggeration. And there was no eagle view footage if you were looking for it, just a reporter mentioning a few things.
This report talks about alcohol lovers who lined up in front of TASMAC outlets on Deebavali day. While they demonised the smog due to crackers, they seemed to be happy to report the extra sales for TASMAC. The caption read, “Liquor aficionados ready,
“Sir, when will you open the shop?”
Liquor lovers are interested in Diwali…”
This caption makes one think liquor is actually a good thing during Deebavali.
Showing Their Love For Non-Veg Food On Hindu Festival Days
Deebavali is a time when people indulge in food a lot. Sweets, savouries, and a good meal. On Deebavali eve, vegetarians cook ‘Vengaaya Sambaar’ (Onion Sambar) and potato onion roast while non-vegetarians cook meat (chicken or mutton curry). However, the following day if it is a full moon day, Tamil Hindus do not eat meat and consume satvik food. Most often, Deebavali falls on Amavasya day (no moon day) and satvik food is consumed as it is a day to pay respects to ancestors. However, Dravidianists love to complain about this as Brahminical imposition and rebel to set up a new normal. Toeing this line is Thanthi TV which seems to have entirely morphed into a Dravidianist mouthpiece.
In this report, the caption reads, “Non-Veg fanatics standing in queues at meat shops..! Is hot hot idli and mutton curry ready?”
Eating non-veg on Deebavali is done only when the Amavasya falls on the day following Deebavali. Hindus in Tamil Nadu religiously avoid meat consumption during the month of Purattasi or Mahalaya Paksha when the ancestors are venerated. However, Dravidianists who do not like to follow any culture or tradition pertaining to Hinduism want to change all that and thus the narrative for it is set this way.
Well, in this news report, the reporter talks about how the smog level is lower when compared to last year. But the caption paints a different picture. It says, “Chennai surrounded by smog – Information Shared By Pollution Control Board”. In fact, the reporter mentions that the AQI levels are 40% lower than last year. However, the channel has to make this an issue and that’s how they do it.
In this post, they mention that owing to bursting crackers until dawn, the pollution levels shot up. However, as mentioned above, the pollution levels are far less when compared to last year. Chennai being a coastal city need not fear that the smog stays. When a breeze sets in, the smog will clear automatically, and being a rainy season, this is a matter of little concern that even a child would rubbish such a news report. But but Thanthi TV has to exaggerate it.
#BREAKING || சென்னையில் விடிய விடிய வாணவேடிக்கை – பட்டாசு வெடித்ததன் காரணமாக காற்றின் தரம் மேலும் மோசம் அடைந்து தரக்குறியீடு 200-ஐ கடந்தது
நேற்று மாலை 4 மணி நிலவரப்படி காற்றின் தரக் குறியீடு 170-க்கு மேல் பதிவான நிலையில், தற்போது 200-ஐ கடந்தது
Keep The People In Fear – Thanthi TV’s Formula For The Season
In this post put out by Thanthi TV’s X handle it reads, “When Diwali night dawned, Chennai got a shock… From children to adults, there was danger”. One might think what kind of danger befell children and adults, well, nothing. The air quality was bad, that’s all. However, Thanthi TV does not worry about the side effects of the drink fest on Deebavali.
It becomes a matter of curiosity why Thanthi TV is resorting to such yellow journalism tricks to attract views and engagement on its social media channels. Is the channel lacking on these fronts that it has to resort to such lame tricks to get trolled and abused by irate social media users?
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The Greater Chennai Police reported a total of 581 cases in a press release dated 13 November 2023, with the majority (554) related to the “violation” of Supreme Court-mandated time restrictions on bursting firecrackers during Diwali. The Supreme Court had stipulated a 2-hour window for fireworks, allowing them only from 6 AM to 7 AM and 7 PM to 8 PM.
On 11 November 2023, media outlets highlighted the establishment of a “special force” within the Greater Chennai Police to enforce the timing restrictions. This force, present in 102 police stations across Chennai, comprises 2 constables led by sub-inspectors. The focus of this special force was on apprehending individuals violating both the specified time frames and those using firecrackers exceeding 125 decibels.
The police engaged in “intensive surveillance” from 11 November 2023 to 13 November 2023, resulting in 554 cases related to bursting firecrackers beyond the designated hours. Additionally, 8 cases were registered for running firecracker shops in violation of Tamil Nadu Government rules, and 19 cases were booked for bursting firecrackers with excessive noise. In total, 581 cases were documented by the Greater Chennai Police during this period.
Harassment Of People Celebrating Deebavali
On the one side, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was seen asking a crowd, “Tomorrow is Deepavali, will you burst crackers, say loudly?” and on the other, a citizen of Tamil Nadu is heckled by the police for bursting firecrackers outside the stipulated time limits.
Taking to social media platform X, a gentleman named Narayanan shared a video of the police harassing people in Chennai. Here we can see them say, “We have informed you of the rules and regulations, it is our duty,” The Hindus who were heckled by the police are seen saying, “You can do whatever you want, we will burst crackers only when we can, we cannot follow your time limits to celebrate our festival. We also have our rules and regulations with regard to the festival we follow.”
This is also one way of eradicating sanathana dharma in Tamilnadu by this atheist Dravidian fools, time is watching, karma will dictate lesson soon https://t.co/01MqwhE4ih
Looks like Constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights are being curtailed and constrained selectively. Is there an appropriate law enactment to substantiate warrant action against violations? @rajbhavan_tnhttps://t.co/9UW9Y8xOLi
Over the weekend, Chennai witnessed an unprecedented surge in firecracker-bursting activity, particularly on the day of Deebavali. Despite the prescribed time limits on cracker bursting, the people in the city celebrated their festival with enthusiasm, undeterred by the limitations imposed.
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Ahead of the Deebavali festival, companies nationwide give their employees sweets and festive crackers. However, the DMK government of Tamil Nadu has unveiled an unconventional Deebavali gift for its “kudimagans” (citizens) – new types of beer.
Towards the fag end of October 2023, media reports noted that TASMAC has decided to introduce premium beer brands namely – Bira, Godfather, Geist, Thunderbolt.
A few days back, ahead of Deebavali, the brand “Thunderbolt Strong” was introduced across TASMAC outlets at a price of ₹160. More varieties of new beer bottles are slated to be introduced by December 2023.
Hitherto, TASMAC only sold beers produced from those breweries located inside Tamil Nadu. However, it will now buy beer (including beer bottles, pints and cans) from other states and sell it here.
So far, TASMAC had sold beers produced by Accord Distilleries (owned by DMK MP Jagathrakshakan), United Breweries, SNJ Distilleries (S. N. Jayamurugan, is the Chairman and Managing Director who was the producer films penned by DMK patriarch Karunanidhi) and Kals Distelleries.
Madhya Pradesh-based SOM group has established a distillery near Gummidipoondi and will be producing new beer varieties Hunter, Woodpecker and Powercool.
TASMAC is also in the process of introducing “fresh beer” with less alcoholic content.
The move to roll out new varieties of beer has invited criticism as the Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin who did not extend Deebavali wishes owing to his “rationalism” principle, is running a government that leverages Hindu festivals to bolster the revenue of the state-run TASMAC.
Coimbatore South MLA, Vanathi Srinivasan, took to Twitter to express her disapproval of the Tamil Nadu government’s unusual Diwali gift of two new types of beer. In a series of tweets, Vanathi Srinivasan questioned the timing and intent behind this unexpected offering.
“Diwali is a festival of tradition, culture, and joy. Surprising to see the government’s decision to introduce new beer varieties during this auspicious time. Is this the right way to celebrate our festivals?” she tweeted.
Vanathi Srinivasan further raised concerns about the potential implications of this move, particularly in light of rumors about additional beer varieties slated for release in December. “Are we witnessing a subtle shift towards prohibition, or is this merely a revenue-boosting tactic? The people of Tamil Nadu deserve clarity on the government’s long-term plans,” she added.
The Coimbatore South MLA also criticized the absence of Diwali wishes from the Chief of the ruling DMK party, emphasizing the need for inclusive celebrations.
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