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“Will Not Cowed Down By Threats”:TN BJP Prez Annamalai Responds To Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Legal Notice

By
The Commune
-

Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai, in a statement through his counsel, said the legal notice by the DMK over the ‘DMK Files’ episode was an attempt to suppress his voice and refused to apologize for stating the facts.

Annamalai, in response to a legal notice issued by DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin over DMK Files, said he would not be cowed down by DMK’s threats and denied having committed any offence.

On 14 April 2023, Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai revealed the details of ₹1.34 lakh crores in property amassed by the DMK leaders. As part of the first list, Annamalai released the property details of first 12 DMK leaders. In response, the ruling DMK’s Udhayanidhi Stalin issued a legal notice and demanded an apology, damages to the tune of ₹50 crores.

Annamalai, replying to this notice through his counsel RC Paul Kanagaraj, said that it was an attempt to suppress his voice.

The statement reads that, the notice was an attempt to somehow prevent the people from knowing the truth. He also denied that Udhayanidhi Stalin is working for the welfare of the constituency. He stated that only enjoying power inherited from his family connection with no merit involved.

While refferring to DMK files, Annamalai in his rejoinder said that it was part of his ongoing bonafide effort in larger public interest to create awareness about the various misdeeds of DMK party and sensitize the people of Tamil Nadu to the issue of corruption.

He has also reffered that Red Giant Movies production house is purely based on Udhayanidhi’s family connection and abuse of political power.

Annamalai also stated that he would do nothing to invade the privacy of innocent children of Udhayanidhi Stalin. The names of Udhayanidhi’s children were mentioned as part of family tree only because he had disclosed assests belonging to his children in his election affidavit.

He also justifies his stand on Noble steels issue and said that he has relevant materials to show the connection between them and noble companies.

He pointed out the recently released controversial audio alleged to be that of PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan.

“The Finance Minister, Thiru. PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan has been recently recorded to have said in a conversation with the journalist that ‘both Udhay [Udhayanidhi Stalin, minister and son of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam head and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin] and Sabreesan (V.Sabareesan, the CM’s son-in-law] have realised, they have made more money than their grandfather in a year. They have made Rs. 30,000 crores in a year and they do not know How to handle it.’ This clearly shows that there is complete truth in the statements made by him on the DMK party and the family that runs it”, stated Annamalai’s response.

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VCK Vikraman Accused Of Sexual Harassment Again, Woman Lawyer Complains To VCK Chief Thiruma

By
The Commune
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A woman lawyer named Kiruba Munusamy has accused VCK co-spokesperson and Bigg Boss fame Vikraman of cheating her on the pretext of falling in love with her and extorting money from her. She has also written a letter to VCK leader Thirumavalavan, accusing Vikraman of sexual harassment.

Vikraman, who was a journalist and later jumped into politics, is the current co-spokesperson of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. He also participated in the Bigg Boss show last season and won the second place.

Kiruba Munusamy, is a Supreme Court advocate, has written a letter to VCK chief Thirumavalavan, saying “As a Supreme Court lawyer, I have been doing my ph.D. in law in London since 2020 through the National Overseas Scholarship, Ministry of Social Justice, Government of India. It is well known to many, including you, that I continue to work in the courts and public domain against caste oppression. Vikraman, a spokesperson of your party, had been friendly with me through political programmes and said he had fallen in love with me after I moved to London. I agreed because he seemed to have a good motive on progressive politics as well. During this three-year period of this relationship, he has called me a prostitute several times with other obscene words. He has alleged that being a Dalit is the only reason why I am getting political mileage.”

Kiruba also said that Vikraman made her spend money by making her feel like they were in a husband-wife relationship. “When I asked about why he spent ₹80,000/- on his credit card he degraded me by saying, ‘You yourself are freeloading by cheating the government and getting a scholarship by providing a fake caste certificate.’ He also allaged that I will use Dalit men in VCK to rape his sister and mother.”, Kiruba wrote in her letter.

Kiruba also stated that when she mentioned about his caste privileges of being born in the Chettiar caste and his casteist attacks on her, he allegedly taunted her back saying that she was using her Dalit card thereby insulting her life experience as a Dalit woman.

“He has slandered not only about me but also about Dalit key members of his party.”, she said.

“In the last three years, he has made me feel guilty and made me feel that it is wrong to talk about caste oppression or my self-respect as an individual. Because of his psychological oppression, he kept me thinking of committing suicide. I have been severely affected by this and have been forced to seek treatment from a mental health professional.”, Kiruba further alleged in her letter.

“I request you to take party-wise disciplinary action against Vikraman, who cheated me by claiming to be in love with me, made casteist remarks, extorted more than ₹12 lakh so far, mentally abused me and incited me to commit suicide” she said in her letter to Thirumavalavan

She also said ”I have proof of all my claims. I cannot imagine the plight of more ordinary women if Vikraman, who is in a key position in the VCK, had so boldly subjected me, a Supreme Court lawyer, a globally recognised caste-legal expert, an activist against caste oppression, and a Dalit woman with so many political connections to such atrocities.”

“So, I have decided to file a police complaint against him. For the public eye, he behaves like a progressive and a politically honest person. If we don’t take party-wise action against Vikraman for personally committing such indecent acts, it will put a question mark on the very basic ideology of the party which stands for the protection of Dalits,” she said in the letter.

This is not the first instance Vikraman has been accused of sexual harassment.

Earlier, he was accused of sexual harassing a man under the pretext of conducting an audition.

Ironically, Vikraman had recently jumped in to protest against the alleged sexual harassment at Kalakshetra. The News Minute had even written a piece extolling him as a progressive politician who had ‘elevated the intellectual standards of Bigg Boss’ by championing anti-casteism and feminism.

Kiruba Munusamy had earlier made sexual harassment allegations against self-styled alleged ‘environmental activist’ Piyush Manush. Apparently, Piyush Manush had sought sexual favours from Kiruba during her internship with him.

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DMK Office-Bearer Threatens Ration Shop Worker In Dindigul For Free Supplies

By
The Commune
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A video of a DMK official threatening an illegally demanding ration shop items from a ration shop worker has gone viral on social media.

Menaka (32) works as a ration shop salesperson in Vedasandur SAP Nagar, Dindigul District. Ameer Basha, a DMK office-bearer, arrived at the shop with several ration cards and demanded ration goods for all of them. Menaka, who was shocked, refused to deliver goods for all of the cards and stated that she could only give for his card. Ameer Basha became enraged and confronted Maneka.

DMK Ameer Basha said, “We used to take ration items like sugar and kerosene in large quantities during Karunanidhi’s regime. This person is aware of it. We now have the rule of Chinna Thalaivar (MK Stalin), but Karunanidhi is Periya Thalaivar (Big leader) for us. We used to take ration items in bulk from this ration shop during Karunanidhi’s regime, using the same DMK’s city secretary Anwar. I, too, took ration items in bulk to my home.”

He further said, “You are now denying me two packets. What the *** were you plucking being a salesman? In another ration shop, they treat me with dignity and ask me to take as much as I want. But, aside from this shop, I didn’t ask for items from any other ration shop. Do you know that the DMK office bearer owns (unofficially) four ration shops in their area? On top of that, I am the presidium chairman of DMK, which is a very important posting. I’ll show you what I’m capable of. I can transfer another person to your posting.”

This video of the DMK office-bearer has now gone viral on social media.

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TN BJP Delegation To Meet Governor RN Ravi Seeking Independent Forensic Audit Of TN Fin Min PTR’s Voice

By
The Commune
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Today, a delegation of BJP Tamil Nadu leaders will meet with Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi to request an independent forensic audit of the State Finance Minister’s leaked audio tape.

An audio clip alleged to be that of Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan has surfaced on social media in which he accuses members of MK Stalin’s family of making more money in one year than they’ve made during their life time.

“Both Udhay and Sabari have realised, they have made more money in one year than they [unclear] entire lives and now it’s getting to be a problem, how to handle it, how to not get caught, how to get payments here.. [unclear] Its all being made gradually? 10 to 20 crores.. assuming we will say 5000 crores.. [unclear]. How can you [unclear] 5000 crores without paying any [unclear]”, the audio clip supposedly of PTR says.

After four days of silence, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan has responded to the audio clip controversy that shocked the ruling DMK due to its scandalous content. PTR described his alleged audio clip as “Malicious”, “Fabricated”, and “Deepfake”.

Citing two alleged ‘technical analysis’ of the clip, PTR said that the audio clip was not authentic. However, BJP President K. Annamalai said that only “DMK IT Wing dimwits” would believe whatever has been said by the DMK Minister.

In light of this, a delegation of BJP Tamil Nadu leaders is scheduled to meet with Governor RN Ravi today (April 23rd) to request an independent forensic audit of the alleged audio clip of Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiyagarajan.

In a press release, Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai said, “Today, a delegation of leaders from BJP Tamil Nadu will be meeting the Honourable Governor of Tamil Nadu, Thiru RN Ravi avl seeking an independent forensic audit on the audio file of Tamil Nadu State Finance Minister Thiru PTR Palanivel Thiyagarajan exposing the ill-gotten money amounting to 30,000 Crore through corrupt means by DMK leader & Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru MK Stalin’s son Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin & Son-in-law Thiru Sabareesan.”

According to the press release, “Since the State Finance Minister Thiru PTR Palanivel Thiyagarajan is resting on an argument that this audio is fabricated, we challenge him to produce an audio clip with similar content but instead in my voice. We shall submit both audio samples to a Court monitored investigation and let the investigating agency ascertain the genuine nature of both audio clips. I will submit my voice samples, and we expect the State Finance Minister will also do the same. So, the State Finance Minister should understand that this is too big a case to be brushed under the carpet with weak statements posted as defences.”

Annamalai went on to say that he humbly requests that the State Finance Minister not underestimate the intelligence of the Tamil Nadu people, and that not everyone will believe the fairy tales that he and his partymen float.

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PTR Calls Alleged Audio Clip Of His As “Malicious”, “Fabricated”, “Deepfake”, Only DMK Dimwits Will Believe Annamalai Says

By
The Commune
-

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan has responded to the audio clip controversy which had stunned the ruling DMK because of the scandalous content.

An audio clip alleged to be that of DMK Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan had surfaced on social media on 19 April 2023 in which he is believed to have accused members of MK Stalin’s family of making more money in one year than they’ve made during their life time.

“Both Udhay and Sabari have realised, they have made more money in one year than they [unclear] entire lives and now it’s getting to be a problem, how to handle it, how to not get caught, how to get payments here.. [unclear] Its all being made gradually? 10 to 20 crores.. assuming we will say 5000/30000 crores.. [unclear]. How can you [unclear] 5000/30000 crores without paying any [unclear]”, the audio clip supposedly of PTR says. (Some say the amount mentioned in the audio is 5000 crores while others note it is 30000).

The audio clip had surfaced amidst Tamil Nadu BJP K. Annamalai accusing DMK leaders of gaining disproportionate assets over the years.

Responding to the controversy, Palanivel Thiagarajan as usual started the statement about his credentials and how he has graduated from heading his party’s IT wing since its inception to being a first-time Minister.

“My portfolios in the state cabinet do not allow me the luxury, energy or bandwidth to continuously engage with social media and to post rebuttals to the outrageous mudslinging that occurs there”, he starts the statement with these lines.

Contrary to his statements, PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan is known for being very active on social media and often indulges in personal attacks on public personalities or sometimes even common netizens who question him.

He further states that at the time of the audio clip release he was presenting the Demand for Grants for four departments in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

He said that being a strong proponent of free speech, he never filed any police complaint or defamation suits for personal attacks on him.

However, he acknowledges in the next line that he had filed a police complaint once as a deterrent as an Opposition MLA when someone had made comments about his ancestors.

“Several allegations have been made against me on social media in these last two years. From relatively minor accusations like being high-handed, to being obstructionist, to being incompetent to do my job, to very serious charges like being corrupt indirectly through others, and finally to being personally corrupt (e.g. collecting 1% fee for every file I sign). As consistency is the hallmark of good character, I have never reacted to any of these accusations.”, he said.

He alleged that there is conspiracy to drive a wedge between him and the DMK’s first family.

“Now having failed at painting me as a villain in the public sphere, there seems to be a change of strategy: to paint me as a lone crusader, a reluctant whistle-blower, a pseudo-martyr. I want to reiterate here that whatever I am, and whatever I have done in public life is because of my leader DMK President and Honourable Chief Minister MK Stalin and no malicious attempts to divide us will ever succeed.”, he said.

Citing two alleged ‘technical analysis’ of the clip, he said that the audio clip was not authentic. He also said that the with the ability to create fabricated and/or machine-generated clips using advanced technology he wouldn’t be surprised to see more such audio or video with even more malicious content.

He said that this will be the only and final statement on this issue.

Reacting to PTR’s statement, BJP President K. Annamalai said that only “DMK IT Wing dimwits” would believe whatever has been said by the DMK Minister.

“State FM Thiru @ptrmadurai read through the half-baked defences in social media made by DMK IT Wing for two days, prepared it as a statement & has put it out.”, Annamalai said.

He also said that PTR is relying on ‘audio analysis’ done by DMK IT wing ‘dimwits’.

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Conflict Of Interest? Udhayanidhi Wears Jersey Promoting Liquor Brand SNJ 10000 Which Had Donated ₹6 Cr To DMK

By
The Commune
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On Saturday (21st April), Udhayanidhi Stalin caught wearing a CSK jersey with the logo of SNJ 1000, a liquor manufacturing company, which had donated to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 2021 (according to Myneta website), demonstrating a clear conflict of interest as Udhayanidhi is now a DMK Minister.

When most of the opposition parties in the state, including the DMK’s alliance partners, were opposing the recently introduced legislation to amend the law to increase working hours from 8 to 12 hours, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin along with his family and his ministerial colleagues were watching the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) versus Sun Risers Hyderabad (SRH) match at Chepauk Stadium.

MK Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin was seen wearing a jersey with the logo of SNJ 10000, a liquor manufacturing company that manufactures Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).

It should also be noted that SNJ, according to Myneta.info, had donated ₹6 crores to DMK through SBI electoral bonds in the name of SNJ Sugars and Products Limited in the financial year 2020-21.

This is said to be a clear case of conflict of interest, as DMK Minister Udhyanithi Stalin was seen promoting a liquor company that donated to the DMK two years ago.

Questions have arisen whether it is legally or morally right to promote a liquor company while serving as Tamil Nadu’s Sports Minister.

About SNJ Distilleries

SNJ Distilleries is part of SNJ Group which has businesses primarily in real estate, entertainment, hospitality and distilleries. S. N. Jayamurugan, is the Chairman and Managing Director, SNJ Group and is said to have become big through lottery.

However, he is also the producer of two flop films – Uliyin Osai and Penn Singam – which was written by DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi.

It is said that his fortunes went up after 2008, the year when these movies were released.

In 2008 SNJ Distilleries launched its operations and got a licence to manufacture Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). A 2010 Times of India report notes that SNJ Distilleries was among the 5 firms that were given license by the Karunanidhi government to set up breweries.

According to a report, SNJ accounts for over 25% of the liquor sold through TASMAC outlets.

In 2010, a report in The Times of India said that SNJ Distillers was among the five firms that were allowed to set up breweries in Tamil Nadu by the then DMK government headed by late Karunanidhi to meet “growing demand”.

The Income-Tax department raided the SNJ Group in August 2019 for evading tax. During the raid, the I-T Department found that Jayamurugan had registered 912 shell companies that were ‘operating’ from a single building. Overseas transactions worth crores of rupees were also revealed.

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“Will Not Apologize”: TN BJP Annamalai Responds To DMK’s Legal Notice, Justifies His Stand On DMK Files

By
The Commune
-

Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai, in a statement through his counsel, said the legal notice by the DMK over the ‘DMK Files’ episode was an attempt to suppress his voice and refused to apologize for stating the facts.

Annamalai, in response to a legal notice issued by DMK organising Secretary RS Bharathi over DMK Files, said he would not apologise and denied having committed any offence.

On 14 April 2023, Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai revealed the details of ₹1.34 lakh crores in property amassed by the DMK leaders. As part of the first list, Annamalai released the property details of first 12 DMK leaders. In response, the ruling DMK issued a legal notice and demanded an apology, damages to the tune of ₹500 crores.

Annamalai, replying to this notice through his counsel RC Paul Kanagaraj, said that it was an attempt to suppress his voice.

The statement reads that, the notice was an attempt to somehow prevent the people from knowing the truth. He also denied that MK Stalin or DMK party is working for oppressed classes. He stated that the governance under DMK rule has attained highest levels of corruption.

While refferring to DMK files, Annamalai in his rejoinder said that it was part of his ongoing bonafide effort in larger public interest to create awareness about the various misdeeds of DMK party and sensitize the people of Tamil Nadu to the issue of corruption.

He denied that there is nothing offending in the interview as the statements were made for public good and he is fully entitled to publicize the same adding that the statements are not false.

The response also states that he has provided the details of assets owned by the DMK party after making thorough enquiries and will be able to defend the veracity of the same before any authority.

The response further stated that if his statements were not true the DMK should publicly come out clean with a full a list of properties owned by the party and its leaders, their valuation of these properties, etc.

“The fact DMK has failed to do so shows that they have much to hide.”, it said.

Annamalai has also denied the allegation that there was a quid pro quo in the award of tender to the French company ALSTOM in phase 1 of CMRL and clarified it.

He also pointed out Udhayanidhi Stalin’s connection with Noble companies and the recently released controversial audio alleged to be that of PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan.

“The Finance Minister, Thiru. PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan has been recently recorded to have said in a conversation with the journalist that ‘both Udhay [Udhayanidhi Stalin, minister and son of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam head and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin] and Sabreesan (V.Sabareesan, the CM’s son-in-law] have realised, they have made more money than their grandfather in a year. They have made Rs. 30,000 crores in a year and they do not know How to handle it.’ This clearly shows that there is complete truth in the statements made by him on the DMK party and the family that runs it”, stated  Annamalai’s response.

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DMK U-Turn: Stalin Govt Amends Labour Law To Include Sections That He Opposed As Opposition Leader

By
The Commune
-

The DMK government, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, has made yet another U-turn by implementing a 12-hour work shift by amending the factories act, which he opposed while in opposition.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly today passed the Factories (Amendment) Act 2023, which provides flexible working hours for employees in factories throughout the state, despite protests and claims by several parties that the Act would increase mandatory working hours from 8 hours to 12 hours.

Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu, on the other hand, assured that the total working hours in a week would remain unchanged for workers, who would now be able to work four days a week and take three days off. “This would greatly benefit female workers,” he said.

The clarification by the Ministers on the amendments to the TN Factories Act, 2023, comes after protests and a walkout from the Assembly by the Left parties, the Congress, and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) when the bill was taken up for discussion on the final day of the Assembly session today.

As the ruling DMK enjoyed a majority in the Tamil Nadu assembly, the bill was passed by voice vote. The government was backed by allies such as the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).

Labour Welfare Minister CV Ganesan said, “”Representations were received from many industries and industry associations by the State government to bring out working hour reforms by making statutory provision for flexible working hours, citing the number of benefits it could bring for workers, especially women employees, industry and the economy as a whole.”

The minister said, “This is not an anti-worker act. It will be treated as a special case to firms, and the government will only implement it after careful consideration.”

However, while in opposition in 2020, MK Stalin opposed the BJP-led state governments’ amendment of labour laws to increase work hours from 8 to 12 hours. In 2020, the BJP-ruled states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh decided to stay some of the provisions of the labour laws for three years while also announcing a series of changes to boost investments harmed by COVID-19. Gujarat joined the league after relaxing some labour laws and increasing working hours from 8 to 12 hours.

Opposing changes to labour laws by BJP governments in 2020, MK Stalin said, “The Prime Minister should issue a special advisory to all state governments, at least in his capacity as Chairperson of National Disaster Management Authority, that factories must abide by all labour laws and that no state government should disregard any of them.”

He described the amendments as “anti-worker and anti-people autocratic measures,” claiming that they extended the 8-hour workday to 12 hours and denied workers’ rights and protection.

“From the beginning, the BJP government has refused to acknowledge that workers are the backbone of the economy. They are now siding with the employers in order to exploit the workers’ hard work,” Stalin said. “Dispensing with the labour laws only reveals the dangerous ulterior motive of the BJP governments,” Stalin added.

However, in a complete 180-degree turn, the DMK government led by MK Stalin has passed labour law amendments that they opposed while in opposition.

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The Politics Behind KCR’s Ambedkar Statue

By
Shivani
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Last week on April 14, Ambedkar Jayanthi (birth anniversary of Dr. B R Ambedkar), the Telangana Chief Minister unveiled a 125 foot statue of Ambedkar, on the banks of Hyderabad city’s famed Hussain Sagar lake.

K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), Telangana chief minister and leader of the Bharat Rasthra Samithi party (BRS), unveiled the Ambedkar statue on the banks of the capital city’s Hussein Sagar lake, which is home to the iconic statue of The Buddha envisioned and executed by the late Tollywood hero, former chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh and founder of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (popularly NTR) in the 1980s.

The statue commisioned by KCR, is touted to be the biggest Ambedkar statue to date. It stands next to the newly built State Secretariat (yet to be inaugurated), adjacent to the Telangana Martyrs memorial and opposite a statue of The Buddha, who Dr. Ambedkar was inspired by. It was designed by the renowned father-son sculptor duo, Ram Vanji Sutar and Anil Ram Sutar who are also the master minds behind Gujarat’s mammoth “Statue of Unity”, the statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel.

Comments from ordinary citizens, political analysts and opposition parties covered a wide range of emotions.

– For some, it was a copycat action of the CM, reminiscent of the Sardar Vallabhai Patel statue in Gujarat inaugurated in 2018.

– Some people found it amusing that the CM and his BRS party were following in the footsteps of the BJP party in Gujarat, the very party that is now the arch political rival of KCR’s party in Telangana.

– Remarks centered around statue-politics, calling it a political gimmick, paying mere lip-service to the vision of one of the chief architects of the Indian Constitution, Dr B R Ambedkar. Many wondered out aloud, if and when real change can be expected in Dalit societies versus a show of superficial concern by many political leaders, such as the commissioning of statues.

– Many were cynical about the timing of the state’s inauguration, considering Telangana’s state election is due by the end of this year.

– Some commented on the desperation of KCR and his BRS party at winning this year’s state elections after almost ten consecutive years in power, trying to fight a worrisome anti-incumbancy trend. The state’s BJP party is reputed to be the BRS’s main opposition and contender.

– The opposition noted the BRS party’s attempt to appeal to Telangana’s Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, which together make up around 25% of the state’s population, one of the highest SC-ST percentages among Indian states. The 2011 census figures indicated a 15.4 % of Scheduled Caste and a 9.5 % of Scheduled Tribes population in the state.

– Many noted the Chief Minister’s attempt to potray himself as more of a common man belonging to the peasant, working-class category versus his actual “dora” class (his ‘Velama’ upper caste) which is a land owning/ landlord caste in the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

While KCR’s statue politics was still being debated in the local media of the two Telugu states, the BRS party received some unpleasant news which may jeopardize its plans for participation in the neighboring Andhra Pradesh’s state elections next year.

The Election Commission (EC) announced its decision to withdraw “state party” recognition to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Andhra Pradesh state while it continues to have a state party recognition in Telangana state.The EC’s notification may be a disadvantage to the party which is hoping to contest next year’s Andhra state elections, on its poll symbol, an ‘Ambassador car’.

Senior BRS party leaders including Chief Minister KCR’s son, K T Rama Rao, a Telangana Minister holding multiple government portfolios, were quick to dismiss the EC’s move as a mere technicality, stating that the decision was made on the grounds that the BRS party (formally TRS party) had not contested in the last two state elections of Andhra state in 2014 and 2019, after Andhra Pradesh’s bifurcation into a residual Andhra state and a new Telangana state, back in 2014. BRS leaders sound confident of appealing to the EC and winning back an electoral status in the state of Andhra Pradesh, that would allow them to contest in next year’s A.P state elections.

The former Telangana Rashtra Samithi party (TRS) had applied for a change of electoral status from State /Regional party to a National party in October 2022. The most significant requirement (among other factors) for Indian political parties to be considered either National or Regional (state) party are:

– National party: A party that secures at least 6% of total votes in the Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four states and wins at least 2 seats.
– Regional/ State party: A party that secures at least 6% of total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a state and wins at least 4 seats.

While the former TRS party (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) re-branded itself as the BRS party (Bharath Rashtra Samithi), seeking and receiving a “national party” status from the EC late last year and announced its national ambitions, it remains to be seen if the party will be able to maintain its ‘national party’ status, based on electoral gains and wins in this year’s state elections and next year’s national elections.

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Kalakshetra Controversy: Leela Tells NCW She Can’t Appear As She Is In Aus And Has Travel Plans to Kochi & Delhi, Found Chilling In Mumbai

By
The Commune
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Leela Samson, the former director of Kalakshetra Foundation whose Facebook post was instrumental in starting the sexual harassment controversy surrounding the institution, has failed to appear before the National Commission for Women for enquiry.

In her now-deleted Facebook post, Leela had accused a teacher (who she did not name) of sexual harassment and even linked him with another girl student calling her his ‘mistress’.

She had also written in her Facebook “A public institution, a haven of the highest art and contemplation — now turning a blind eye to how young girls are treated. They are vulnerable. A male member of the staff is known to be threatening and molesting them, who are not yet adults.”.

In another Facebook post she accused the entire staff of knowing about the “malaise in Kalakshetra” but turning a blind eye.

“These teachers simply do not have a conscience. As long as what is happening is happening, to someone else’s daughter and not their own.”, she had written.

Leela Samson’s Facebook posts along with articles published by the likes of The News Minute had snowballed into a controversy with full fledged protests by students with the institution closing down temporarily.

The Kalakshetra Foundation’s board of directors had formed an independent inquiry committee to look into allegations of sexual harassment leveled against several teachers. In addition to suspending Padman pending the outcome of the investigation, the board had also terminated the services of three other teaching faculty members: Sanjith Lal, Sai Krishnan, and Sreenath. Haripadman is now in Puzhal jail with his bail application being rejected by the Saidapet court.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) which had taken cognizance of the case has so far found no evidence to support the allegations.

The NCW has been asking concerned persons to appear before them to take necessary action.

In light of this, the NCW had asked Leela Samson to present herself before the commission on 11 April 2023.

However, Leela Samson through her lawyer Vrinda Grover had e-mailed the commission on 7 April 2023 that she was in Australia and that she is due for travel to India.

“She will be in Kochi, and then arrive in New Delhi, where she will be in quarantine for one week as per Covid protocols since she is a senior citizen with heightened vulnerability to Covid.”, wrote Vrinda Grover representing Leela Samson adding that for the next two weeks or so, Leela would not be able to present herself physically before the commission.

Citing these circumstances, Leela Samson requested time to present herself before the commission on any date after 25 April 2023.

The NCW accepted to the postponement of hearing adding that the they will inform the next date shortly.

However, it is worth mentioning that Leela has been in India for a while now. Her claims of being in Australia at the time of sending the email is being disputed. There are no dates given in the email about when she will be coming to India.

Leela’s e-mail itself has left people baffled as she had mentioned that she will be coming to Kochi first and then to Delhi where she will be quarantined for a week. However, if she is coming into India through Kochi, she will have to quarantine herself in Kochi and not Delhi.

Even if one has to go by her claims, Leela Samson was not found quarantining in Delhi but was found loitering around in Mumbai.

Leela Samson was in Mumbai to participate in the cultural programmes at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. (NMACC)

On 19 April 2023, a picture of her posing with a group of dancers at the NMACC popped on social media.

 

On 20 April 2023, NMACC had shared a video on their social media in which Leela says “I’m so very happy that we’re performing here tonight…We had enjoyed both days. This is our second day.” indicating that she has been in Mumbai since 19 April 2023.

She was found loitering around with her dance company in the streets of Mumbai.

 

It is to be noted that, Leela Samson in her email to the NCW through her lawyer had made no mention of her travel plans to Mumbai.

A few sources inside Kalakshetra have questioned why she has not yet made herself available to the NCW despite being present in India, especially since she had levelled serious charges against Kalakshetra.

“Why has she not taken it seriously and attended the summon to explain whatever she knows”, an alumni of Kalakshetra questioned.

One of the girls whom she had named in her Facebook post says that her career and reputation has been destroyed, and is in near depression due to the false allegations against her, while Leela is going around with her performances.

About Leela Samson

Leela Samson was the director of Kalakshetra Foundation till April 2012. She was forced to resign after a former Kalakshetra teacher CS Thomas filed a writ petition against her in 2011 for holding on to the post, despite turning 60, the age limite for government personnel.

A CAG report from her tenure at Kalakshetra accused the organization of financial irregularities. Irregularities in appointment were reported by Principal Accountant-General (PAG), Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. According to the report, “16 appointments made during Leela Samson’s tenure were not as per the rules/norms prescribed for the same and hence irregular”.

In 2019, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a corruption case against Leela Samson and 3 other Kalakshetra officials for financial irregularities.

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