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The Cosmic Significance Of Vaikunta Ekadasi

By
Jayasree Saranathan
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The day of Vaikuntha Ekadasi that opens the door to Vaikuntha is an important day in all the Vishnu temples of South India. Lord Vishnu mounted on his Garuda vehicle leaves the temple through Vaikuntha Dvara (the Gate to Vaikuntha) or ‘Paramapada Vaasal’ (the Gate to Paramapada) well before sunrise followed by his devotees. This is the only day this special Gate is opened in any Vishnu temple with the concept that Vishnu is taking along with him his devotees to Vaikuntha. This day falls on Shukla Ekadasi in the month of Margashira.

This also happens to be the day Krishna rendered Gitopadesa to Arjuna. The intriguing fact is that this concurrence with the date of Vaikuntha Ekadasi is lost in the memory of our people for very long. Many think that Margashira Shukla Ekadasi identified as the day Krishna preached Bhagavad Gita occurred in the lunar month of Margashira. As a result the Gita Jayanti is being celebrated in the solar month of Kartika before the occurrence of Full Moon in Kartika star. Flawed understanding of the time computation has led to this mistake.

The Cosmic Significance

Vaikunta ekadasi is the day of cosmic significance – that of the earth coming in line with the galactic centre, Sagittarius (Dhanur Rasi) and the cosmic centre. In other words, on this day, the earth will be at the outer most point from the centre of our galaxy and the nearest point to the outer space from where we, the entire systen of ours evolved and is moving outward.

Looking at the past records, this day marks turbulance, eruptions and tsunamis. This day marks the birth of the previous manvanthra, the chakshus manvanthra. This manvanthra is marked with the very important of Lord’s flight on His vahana to save the Gajendran, or rather to destroy his enemy! This day thus marks the Lord’s flight travel on Gruda vahana with all his divya aayudhas. When He does not come to destroy someone, He destroys something on the surface of this earth.

Four-Fold Calculation Of Time

Time is calculated on the basis of four factors simultaneously. The location of the sun, the moon, the star transited by the moon and all these three occurring at or after sunrise in a day determine the time running on that day. A reference such as Margashira Shukla Ekadasi means the sun is in Margashira or Sagittarius with the moon in the 11th tithi of the waxing phase at that time. The star of the day could vary in different years, and therefore it is omitted in this particular reference, but these three (solar month, lunar paksha and tithi) pertaining to solar and lunar movement are always noted as a marker to denote a specific day.

The sun being the cause of time, it cannot be left out in any reference to time. As such Margashira Shukla Ekadasi as the day of Gitopadesa can be observed only when the sun is in Margashira and not in Kartika (Scorpio). This combination further denotes that the lunar month is Pushya. This leads to the revelation that the Mahabharata war had taken place in lunar Pushya month.

The month-wise analysis of the Mahabharata events done by me based on the internal evidences shows the date of Gitopadesa with the sun still confined within the sign of Margashira. (The ayanamsa is not exact but close to it by a degree or two further inside Sagittarius.)

Krishna’s advice to Arjuna being two-fold, one, showing the way to Moksha (liberation) and the other, projecting Himself as the protector of the good and the annihilator of the evil, these two are remembered on the day of Margashira Shukla Ekadasi as Mokshada Ekadasi or Vaikuntha Ekadasi by the followers of Vishnu.

Mahabharata has never been treated as a historical document, but as Veda accessible to all and understandable by everyone. The core teaching lies in Bhagavad Gita. More than the Mahabharata connection, the importance of the teaching of Krishna to attain Vaikuntha has taken precedence and a mock rehearsal is enacted on the same day in the solar month of Margashira. In the absence of knowledge of even the existence of the observance on this day in other parts of India, it is no wonder Gita Jayanti has lost touch with the time when it ought to be observed.

The second feature is the ingeniously designed idea of Garuda Seva – of Vishnu flying in his Garuda Vahana on this day. Krishna had given the word to protect the Dharmic people from the adharmic ones. Whenever He comes out mounted on Garuda, it means He is out to destroy the Evil. This “ugra roopam” of the Lord with ‘panchayudhas’ – the five weapons is in tune with his promise of protecting the righteous from the evil that Krishna had given on Margashira Shukla Ekadasi.

The two core concepts of Gitopadesa enshrined in the observance of Vaikuntha Ekadasi can have no other rationale than remembering the day Krishna gave Gitopadesa to mankind through Arjuna.

Vaikuntha Ekadasi observance must put at rest any doubts on the solar month of Gitopadesa.

This article was originally published in the author’s blog and has been republished here with permission.

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DMK Councillor’s Husband Arrested For Extorting Money From Street Vendors

By
The Commune
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The Washermenpet police arrested the husband of a DMK councillor on charges of criminal intimidation and demanding money from street vendors.

Jagatheesan is the husband of Niranjana, the 51st DMK ward councillor of Chennai. DMK Councillor’s husband Jagadeesan has been extorting money from the street vendors of MC road in Chennai on a regular basis. The street vendors refused to pay the DMK councillor’s husband as he demanded more and more money. Jagadeesan, enraged by their response, attempted to evict them with the help of corporation officials.

Objecting to the blatant misuse of power by the DMK councillor’s husband, the street vendors besieged the corporation officials and staged a road roko.

They later filed a complaint with the old Washermanpet police, who investigated and arrested the DMK councillor’s husband Jagadeesan. He was lodged in jail after producing before the court.

According to one of the street vendors, “He kept on asking for’maamul’. We are ladies. How can we give him money?. we are daily workers. We will protest in front of the MLA office if we do not get justice in the issue.”

They also urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to take action against his party’s cadres who commit atrocities on the streets while claiming to be from the ruling government.

It should be noted that DMK councillor Niranjana’s husband is a serial offender who was previously arrested on charges of intimidating police officers on duty in the Washermenpet station limits. On April 20, 2022, the police charged Jegadeesan and five others with unlawful assembly, uttering obscene words, criminal force to prevent a public servant from performing his duties, and criminal intimidation.

(With inputs from NewsJ)

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Will KCR Meet The Same Fate Of CBN?

By
Shivani
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2023, the year of Telangana state elections is here and it has started with a spate of arrests in the run up to the state elections scheduled to be held before the end of this year. The 2023 Telangana legislative assembly election is scheduled to be held in or before December 2023 to elect all 119 members of the state’s Legislative Assembly.

Telangana Congress leaders were placed under house arrest by the police in Hyderabad on Monday, in anticipation of their planned protests over the problems faced by the village panchayat presidents (sarpanches) in the state. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A. Revanth Reddy, vice-president Mallu Ravi and other leaders were placed under house arrest. Police personnel were deployed outside the residence of Revanth Reddy in Jubilee Hills to prevent him from leaving for Hyderabad’s Indira Park, to lead a “peaceful” dharna. The state police department had earlier denied permission for the same.

A “sarpanch” is the head of the “panchayat” at the village level and together with other elected panchayat members, constitute gram panchayats and zilla panchayats. The sarpanch is the focal point of contact between government officers and the village community and retains power for five years.

In Telangana, sarpanches, who have mostly supported the ruling BRS (TRS earlier) party thus far, have been expressing concern over not receiving government funds for about a year. Many of them have come forward to submit their resignations, over their helplessness in discharging their duties at the village panchayat level, on account of a shortage of allocated funds.

The Congress party has said that it had been protesting to highlight the problems of 12,750 panchayats in Telangana. The state Congress leaders allege that the state government run by the BRS party, is misusing funds meant for panchayats, denying them their due share, thus affecting the development of villages who have up to this point, supported the BRS. State Congress president, Revanth Reddy had encouraged sarpanches across the state to assemble at the Congress-led dharna site to express their disappointment with the BRS government and its callous attitude in disbursement of funds rightfully meant for villages.

This round of house arrests of the state Congress party’s leaders, comes just two weeks after the previous December 14, 2022 house arrests, when Congress party leaders including party president, Revanth Reddy were placed under house arrest, when he called for a protest outside the Hyderabad City Commissioner’s office, over the arrest of five party workers from the office of the Congress party’s chief electoral strategist, Sunil Kanugolu, for allegedly posting derogatory comments on Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao.

In battleground Telangana, 2023 is a tough year for the incumbent Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS) party, led by K.Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). The BRS party formerly known as Telangana Rashtra Samiti party (TRS) has won two consecutive terms since the new state’s elections were held in 2014 and 2018. In the upcoming 2023 elections, the BRS party is under immense pressure to fight growing anti-incumbency after almost ten years in power as well as a strong opposition presence in the state, including the BJP which has seen significant growth in the state, a recently resurgent TDP party led by Chandrababu Naidu, a stubborn Congress party still in the fray inspite of infighting and other setbacks and the newly launched YSRTP party, led by Sharmila, sister of the current Andhra Pradesh chief minister and leader of the YSRCP party, YS Jagan Reddy.

The BRS party’s victory in the last two state elections as well as its national ambitions, have resulted in a confidence (some say, arrogance), that have alienated it from all other parties and previous allies.

The TRS/BRS party was founded on 27 April 2001 by Chandrasekhar Rao with a single-point agenda of creating a separate Telangana state with Hyderabad as its capital. It has been instrumental in carrying forth a sustained agitation for the granting of statehood for Telangana. Chandrasekhar Rao was a long-time member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and remains a fan of the TDP’s founder and famous Telugu actor, N.Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) after whom he named his own son, the current Telangana Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Industries & Commerce, and Information Technology, K.Taraka Rama Rao.

Chandrasekar Rao (KCR) and his BRS party have had a colorful history of alliances. He and his party have been politically associated with the Congress, the TDP and the BJP.

Telangana state was carved out of the erstwhile larger state of united Andhra Pradesh in 2014, under the aegis of the then Congress party-led UPA 2 government at the centre, which agreed to Chandrasekar Rao and his TRS/BRS party’s long standing demand of a separate state for the Telugu speaking region of Telangana, distinct from the Telugu speaking region of Andhra Pradesh, claiming perceived/ alleged discrimination, negligence and differences in history and culture.

The BRS party won both the first and second elections of the new Telagana state in April-May 2014 and December 2018, respectively. The 2018 election saw the coming together of once arch enemies, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) which formed an opportunistic alliance for the first time. This unlikely, ideologically mismatched alliance, lost the elections to the BRS party. The TDP’s alliance with arch enemies, the Congress and the CPI, also had ramifications in the neighboring Telugu state of Andhra Pradesh, where Naidu’s ruling TDP party was in a shaky alliance with the BJP from 2014-2019. The TDP without an alliance with the BJP, fared poorly in the subsequent 2019 A.P state elections and lost to Jagan Reddy’s YSRCP party.

Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP is now hoping to revive its alliance with the BJP in both the Telugu states- Telangana goes to polls in Dec 2023 or slightly earlier and Andhra Pradesh is scheduled for June 2024 or earlier.

Chandrababu who held a sway over his state tried to position himself against PM Modi in 2019. Today, he is desperately crying and trying to find his feet on the ground.

In the first Telangana state elections of April-May 2014, the then TRS party (currently BRS party) contested state elections on its own without an alliance with the Congress-led UPA or the BJP-led NDA. It won a decisive madate from the people of the new state and emerged victorious in 63 of the 119 Assembly seats. KCR was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of Telangana.

KCR awaits the same fate of Chandrababu Naidu in the coming years if he goes overboard with his unabashed anti-Modism.

Probably, that is why he is toning it down saying ‘Modi is his best friend’.

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‘SMART’ Program For Ayurveda Professionals To Boost R&D In Ayurveda In The Country

By
The Commune
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Indian Ayurvedic dietary supplement called Chyawanprash / chyavanaprasha is a cooked mixture of sugar, honey, ghee, Indian Gooseberry (amla), jam, sesame oil, berries, herbs and various spices

The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India for regulating medical education and conducting scientific research respectively, have launched ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) program aimed to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.

The program was launched today by Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairman, NCISM and Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS in the presence of Prof. B. S. Prasad, President of Board of Ayurveda, NCISM and other senior officials.

Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairman, NCISM, lauded the initiative and said, “I am confident that this program has the potential to transform clinical research in Ayurveda. It was observed that the research potential of the large community of Ayurveda teachers remains under utilised mostly. Therefore, the ‘SMART’ program will have a deep long term rejuvenating impact on research in the field of Ayurveda and it will be a great service to the nation, I congratulate CCRAS for this initiative and ensure all support on behalf of NCISM.”

While highlighting key points of ‘SMART’, Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS said, “The proposed initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas including Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)”.

He also added, “The eligible Ayurveda academic institutions may apply by 10 January, 2023. All details regarding contact information, eligibility criteria and application process has been shared to all recognized academic institutions and hospitals through NCISM”.

Prof. B. S. Prasad, President of Board of Ayurveda, NCISM, mentioned, “The large network of Ayurveda colleges and hospitals across the country is an asset for the country in terms of its healthcare needs. This network has not only been offering healthcare services in hardest times, but it also has contributed significantly in terms of healthcare research in the country. The ‘SMART’ program will certainly motivate teachers for taking up projects in designated areas of healthcare research and create a large database.”

(Published from PIB)

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DMK Functionaries Molest Female Police Officer In Meeting Attended By DMK MP Kanimozhi, Cadres And Leaders Come In Support Of Accused

By
The Commune
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On Sunday, a commotion erupted during a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam meeting in Chennai attended by DMK MP Kanimozhi, Tamilachi Thangapandian MP, and Virugambakkam MLA Prabhakar Raja after police attempted to detain two DMK functionaries for allegedly molesting a female police constable. While the accused were being detained by police, party cadres surrounded them and prevented them from arresting them, with MLA Prabhakar Raja speaking in support of the accused.

On Sunday, the DMK held a meeting near the Dasarathapuram bus stand in Chennai’s Saligramam neighborhood. MP Kanimozhi, Tamilzhachi Thangapandian, and MLA Prabhakar Raja also attended the event and distributed welfare materials to the general public.

When the event neared its end, two members of the Youth wing of DMK of the 129th ward acted inappropriately toward the lady police on duty. The police officer was seen crying after two miscreants, Praveen and Egambaram allegedly misbehaved with her. When the cops arrested both of them, the party members present at the public meeting got into a heated argument with them.

After MLA Prabhakara Raja, who was on stage, said, ‘don’t aggravate the situation,’ the police warned both of them and released them. While Kanimozhi was speaking about women’s rights, the DMK member’s inappropriate behavior with a female police officer at a meeting she attended shocked many.

Sources also say that the accused were let go scot-free upon the intervention of Virugambakkam DMK MLA Prabakara Raja, without registration of FIR.

Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai slammed the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for standing by and not taking action against the accused DMK youth wing functionaries who molested a female police officer.

(With inputs from NewsJ)

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Hypocrisy, Thy Name Is Thirumavalavan: VCK Head Takes 180° U-Turn, Supports ONGC And Oil Extractions

By
The Commune
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Thirumavalavan, the chief of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, has made a spectacular U-turn on his opposition to ONGC and oil extraction by ONGC, saying that people should be made aware of the good work done by ONGC.

In a meeting organized by the workers union of ONGC in Chennai, VCK Lok Sabha MP Thirumavalavan said,” The members of our union have explained to me using audiovisuals about how the ONGC company works, what difficulties they face, and what their future holds. ONGC is a public sector unit owned by the Union Government. Our comrades on stage are employees and officers of ONGC who work for the people and the government. Their role is to act as a link between the government, which makes policy, and the people.”

He further said,” In this situation, there is presently criticism about the functioning of the ONGC’s activities, particularly on the environmental front. The criticism is not just for ONGC but also for the Kudamkulam plant that generates electricity. People protested against the Sterlite administration, which had been operating for decades, and many people lost their lives in the ensuing firing. Similarly, people are protesting against the extension of the Neyveli lignite plant.”

He added,”People protested and opposed the Chennai to Salem eight-way lane project as they feared that thousands of acres of tress will be cut down, which will adversely affect the environment. Similarly, those affected by the announcement of an airport in Parandur are opposing and protesting the government’s decision. And the list goes on.”

Thiruma said,” It is because of technology and social media that people have this awareness that was lacking 50 years ago. People are creating their own news rather than relying on traditional media. However, social media is used both for spreading correct information and also sometimes for misinformation. It is in this situation that ONGC is also facing a similar problem.”

He went on,”Several workers and officials explained to me how the ONGC works. It is their responsibility to do so. They should, however, explain not only to me but also to the general public. For our survival, we require oil, petroleum, sand, electricity, coal, and other mineral resources extracted from the earth. Large energy production is needed to meet our demands. As a result, the government generates electricity from a variety of sources, including hydroelectricity, thermal power plants, wind turbines, and even nuclear power plants. However, several environmentalists oppose these energy productions, claiming that air, water, and soil are becoming polluted, and water levels in the north and south poles are rising, among other things.”

He added,” Throughout the world, there is opposition to energy extraction, whether it is thermal extraction of power or atomic extraction of power. It is not a problem between the people who live near these projects and companies; rather, it is a problem between modern technology and the human race. The problem is caused by population growth and the demands of that population, which are causing these issues.”

He stated, “We need modern technology and innovations to meet the demands of an expanding population. Oil and natural gas are essential for all of these. As a result, we can only extract where it is present to meet the power needs of the human population. But if we extract, there is opposition from environmentalists. However, this is a problem shared by all companies, not just ONGC. Therefore, it is the responsibility of those who understand technology to explain this problem to the public.”

He went on to say, “No one, including me, is aware that ONGC does not extract oil through hydraulic fracturing, which has a negative impact on the environment. There is a need to explain to the public that extracting oil several hundred meters below the water level will not harm the underground water. But in general, the idea that drinking water is polluted is what reaches the people. It is our responsibility to tell the people that water is not getting polluted. I am bound to say that Thirumavalavan will be a partner in that effort. ”

However, Thirumavalvan had opposed these developmental schemes in the past during the AIADMK regime. He has spoken out against all of the schemes that he supported in his speech today, including ONGC oil extraction, Sterlite copper production, the Koodankulam Atomic power plant, the Chennai-Salem eight-lane project, the Theni Neutrino plant, and others.

Instances When Thirumavalavan Opposed ONGC

Thirumavalavan had condemned the ONGC organization on June 17, 2021, saying it was shocking for him to see ONGC seeking environmental clearance for setting up exploratory wells in Ariyalur while Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin was writing a letter to PM Modi to stop the implementation of hydrocarbon projects in Tamil Nadu.

On May 13, 2019, Thirumavalavan condemned the central government for granting Vedanta a license to extract hydrocarbons in the sea and on land in the Villupuram and Puducherry areas. He urged both state and central governments to cancel the project immediately.

Thirumavalavan issued a statement on July 22, 2019, “VCK call on not only farmers but also the public from all walks of life to fight against the hydrocarbon project to protect our soil and people.”

On June 13, 2021, Thiruma said, “On behalf of VCK, we welcome and appreciate Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thalapathy MK Stalin’s letter to the Hon’ble Prime Minister stating that the hydrocarbon project should not be started in Tamil Nadu. Let us protect our soil, as well as agriculture and groundwater.”

VCK chief Thirumavalavan was arrested on March 29, 2018, along with 800 other people, including political party leaders, who attempted to blockade a crude oil well near Ammapet.

On July 3, 2017, VCK Party leader Thol. Thirumavalavan has insisted that the Tamil Nadu government should cancel the No-Objection-Certificate (NOC) certificate given to ONGC company for setting up oil wells in more than a hundred places in the delta districts.

Opposing ONGC’s hydrocarbon extraction in Tamil Nadu when the AIADMK was in power and now speaking in support of the very same has exposed Thirumavalavan’s hypocrisy.

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DMK: A ‘Christutva’ Party

By
S Kaushik
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Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son and DMK’s crown prince Udhayanidhi Stalin, spilled the beans that he and his wife are Christians while speaking at a Christmas celebration event in Chennai’s Harbour constituency.

Prior to his speech, the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister P. Sekarbabu shouted ‘Hallelujah, Hallelujah’ on top of his voice much to the jubilation of the Christian priests on the stage and audience.

This recent cringe fest that unfolded on stage is a manifestation of what the so-called ‘Dravidian Model’ is all about.

It is nothing surprising as the ‘Dravidian Movement’ itself traces its roots to British Christian evangelist Robert Caldwell, whose has a statue for himself in Chennai’s Marina Beach since 1968.

Robert Caldwell established and peddled the Dravidian race identity to detach native Hindus from their faith so that their souls can be harvested into Christianity.

His successor GU Pope went one step further in appropriating classical Tamil Hindu texts by secularizing them so that it can be conflated with Christianity.

The seeds sowed by the two Christian missionaries were watered by the British stooges of Justice Party that has now become a big tree under which the DMK seeks refuge. The DMK with its ‘Christutva’ model tends to this tree with its leaders frequently resorting to Christian appeasement – either by hurting Hindus or cajoling Christians.

Here are a few instances that show why DMK’s ‘Dravidian Model’ is nothing but ‘Christutva Model’ which has been acknowledged by some of the its leaders quite a few times.

Stalin Govt By Christians For Christians Said TN Speaker Appavu

DMK MLA and Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu had declared that the MK Stalin-led government in the state was formed by Christians and for Christians.

Appavu openly admitted that the DMK came to power because of the ‘fasting’ and support of Roman Catholic Christians and that Chief Minister MK Stalin acknowledges that the DMK government was installed with the help of Christians.

“I frequently tell this. This is ‘your’ government. A government that has been formed by ‘you’. A government that has been formed because of your ‘fasting’. A government that has been brought by your prayers and wishes to the Lord. This is a government for ‘you’.” the DMK MLA said while addressing a gathering of Catholic Christians on the occasion of St. Paul’s Seminary held in Trichy on June 29, 2022.

He further added that Christianity and Christian priests were the root causes for the formation of the DMK government which talks about ‘social justice’ and ‘Dravida Model’.

“I’ve already told this to the pastors many times. You don’t have to expect anyone. You can decide among yourselves and figure out the problems that you face and and bring it to the atttention of our Chief Minister. He won’t reject it all because he knows very well that this government was formed by you. So, this is ‘your’ government. He is ‘your’ Chief Minister. You can boldy place any request before him. Make the necessary arrangement for that without any delay. To support you, I am there, brother Inigo (another MLA who won on DMK ticket) is there, our wonderful brother Peter Alphonse (Congress leader and Chairman of State Minorities Commission), is there. We will stand by you, listen to your pleas, and take it to the attention of the Hon’ble Chief Minister for taking necessary action.”, Appavu told the Christian pastors and other Christians assembled.

He also said that Tamil Nadu wouldn’t have developed at all without Christians.

Again while speaking at the Tirunelveli Social Service Society, an outfit of the Catholic Diocese of Palyamkottai in November 2022, Appavu said that the evolution of schemes like ‘Pudhumai Penn’ (₹1000 stifend for girl students) originated from the Church which the DMK government is implementing. He also hailed Macaulay and the Christian missionaries.

When DMK Fin Min PTR Hailed Christian Missionaries

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan hailed Christian Missionaries as torchbearers of social justice who had contributed to the development of the region.

“Be it in India or Tamil Nadu or even Madurai, the contribution of American missionaries is not always talked about much. The link between Madurai and American missionaries goes back to 1881 or even beyond. They contributed to the overall development of the region by providing educational and medical facilities, though they were not the colonising power here,” Palanivel Thiagarajan was quoted saying in The Hindu.

Palanivel Thiagarajan also said that the work of American Christian missionaries across the world championed the cause of people’s welfare, be it the civil rights movement in the USA or the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu.

It is understandable for Appavu, who is believed to be a practicing Christian, to praise Christian missionaries. But the fact that Palanivel Thiagarajan himself, who comes across as a devout Hindu and often boasts of his family making donations to Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple and Sabarimala Temple, has no qualms in hailing Christian missionaries who often indulge in forceful religious conversion, clearly establishes that the DMK is a ‘Christutva’ party.

Appointing Crypto-Christians For Managing Hindu Temples

One R. Appu Raja, alleged to be a ‘crypto-Christian’, was to get married at the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple on November 7, 2022. The wedding invitation mentioned Appu Raja as working with the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.

From the posters stuck for the wedding, it came to light that Appu Raja, who was recruited by the DMK government last year to work in the HR&CE department, was the Deputy Organizer of the DMK Mylapore East student wing.

Thanks to the efforts of Hindu Munnani, the marriage that was to happen in violation of the temple agamas was thwarted and was later held at a private hall.

DMK Min I Periyasamy’s Daughter-In-Law Calls For Vatican Intervention

Mercy Senthil Kumar, the daughter-in-law of DMK minister I Periyasamy and wife of DMK MLA I.P. Senthil Kumar, had urged that a law be enacted requiring the Vatican approval to arrest Christian pastors and sisters around the world. She made this comment in light of Christian pastor Stan Swamy’s death, who had links with Maoists.

She went on to say that education and rationality only came to India following the arrival of Christian Fathers and Sisters, and that the majority of India’s educational institutions are in the hands of priests and sisters, who should teach politics and law.

Maoist Sympathizing Christian Priest Appointed To TNPSC

The MK Stalin-led DMK government appointed Fr. A. Raj Mariasusai, a Christian priest of the Salesian order and a known Maoist sympathizer.

Father Mariasusai has an extremely controversial past as he allegedly had a close relationship with recently deceased ‘Urban Naxal’ and fellow Christian priest Stanislaus Lourduswamy, aka Stan Swamy. The Retreat Don Bosco Yercaud, an organization which he is associated with, undertook a campaign and distributed ‘relief materials’ in honour of terror accused Stan Swamy who died recently.

When Alleged ‘Dalit’ Mayor Met Rabid Anti-Hindu Pastor

The DMK government in Tamil Nadu had reserved Mayor post of Chennai for a woman belonging to the Scheduled Caste. Accordingly, R Priya of the DMK was sworn in as the Mayor of Chennai.

However, Priya’s claims of being a Dalit is being disputed as she is alleged to be a Christian.

Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News) had published an article in which it has been stated that she is said to be a member of the Evangelical Church of India (ECI). The news outlet’s Twitter handle tweeted the article with the caption that Priya Rajan is a ‘Dalit Christian’.

Priya after taking over as Mayor met with Bishop Ezra Sargunam, a rabid Christian fundamentalist who shares close ties with the DMK and is known for his hate speech against Hindus.

DMK Govt Created By Christians Said Stalin

CM Stalin himself had said that his government was formed because of Christians while participating in the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Church of South India in September 2021.

“The government that is there in Tamil Nadu today is one that has been created by you. I won’t call it as my government. This is our government.”, CM Stalin said.

In his speech at the event, CM Stalin hailed the Church of South India saying that the Church was a boon to Tamil Nadu which played a big role in building educational institutions and hospitals.

He said that the Church today functions as a movement of ‘social work’ for the Tamil Nadu people.

DMK: A ‘Christutva’ Party

The DMK claims itself as a ‘secular’ party and accuses the BJP of doing ‘Hindutva’ politics. Many journalists and political observers also peddle this narrative. In reality, it is the DMK which is the real ‘communal’ party which has been fanning communalism through its ‘Christutva’ politics. It is this ‘Christutva’ politics that has made the DMK harvest Christian votes en masse.

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Use Aadhaar Confidently But Observe Same Usage Hygiene As Bank Acc

By
The Commune
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Use Aadhaar confidently as per your choice to avail benefits and services, but observe same level of usage hygiene like any other identity documents including Bank account, PAN or Passport, the UIDAI has said.

Aadhaar is residents’ digital ID, and it works as a single source of online and offline identity verification for residents across the country. Residents can use their Aadhaar number to verify and validate their identity credentials either electronically or through offline verification.

While sharing Aadhaar with any trusted entity, the same level of caution may be exercised which one does at the time of sharing Mobile number, Bank account number or any other identity document like Passport, Voter Id, PAN, Ration Card etc.

Wherever a resident does not wish to share his or her Aadhaar number, UIDAI provides facility for generating Virtual Identifier (VID). One can easily generate VID by visiting the official website or via myaadhaar portal, and use it for authentication in place of the Aadhaar number. This VID can be changed after the end of the calendar day.

UIDAI also provides the facility of Aadhaar locking as well as biometric locking. If a resident is not likely to use Aadhaar for a period of time, he or she may lock Aadhaar or biometrics for such a time period. The same can be unlocked conveniently and instantly, as and when required.

The UIDAI provides technologically advanced ecosystem to ensure safe, smooth and speedy authentication experience to the Aadhaar number holder. The various provisions of the Aadhaar Act and its Regulations mandate that the entities taking Aadhaar number from the residents use and store it in a secure and legally permissible manner.

Entities seeking Aadhaar are obligated to obtain consent which should specify the purpose for which it is being taken. UIDAI urges residents to please insist for it.

A resident can check Aadhaar authentication history for last six months on UIDAI website or m-Aadhaar app. Also, UIDAI intimates about every authentication over email. Therefore, linking email Id with Aadhaar will ensure that a resident gets intimation every time his or her Aadhaar number is authenticated.

Several services can be availed with OTP-based Aadhaar authentication, and keeping mobile number updated with Aadhaar is a beneficial move.

UIDAI also urges residents not to leave Aadhaar letter / PVC Card, or its copy thereof, unattended. Residents are advised not to share Aadhaar openly in public domain particularly on social media and other public platforms. Aadhaar holders should not disclose Aadhaar OTP to any unauthorized entity and refrain from sharing m-Aahaar PIN with anyone.

In case of suspicion of any unauthorized use of Aadhaar or for any other Aadhaar related query, Aadhaar holders may contact UIDAI on toll-free helpline 1947 which is available 24×7 and/or email at help@uidai.gov.in

(Published from PIB)

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India Progresses Towards Universal Health Coverage, 1.5 Lakh Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres Operationalized

By
The Commune
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In a significant achievement demonstrating strengthening of the country’s health infrastructure, India has surpassed a notable landmark- 150,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) have been operationalised before 31st December. Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded the efforts of the nation in accomplishing this feat before the set deadline and commended that these centers will serve to provide citizens all across the nation to easily access and avail primary healthcare facilities.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya Union Health and Family Welfare Minister congratulated the nation on this achievement and expressed his joy stating that India had successfully achieved the goal it had set out to do. Translating Prime Minister Narendra Modi vision into reality, the collected and collaborative efforts of States / UTs and Central Government have catapulted India into a global model for assured comprehensive primary health care services.

Fulfilling the principles of “Antyodaya”- leaving no one behind, 150,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) are transforming the delivery of comprehensive primary health care services which are universally free and cater to all age groups from birth to death, through a continuum of care approach. Ensuring the reach of healthcare services to the innermost regions of the nation through various initiatives, AB-HWCs have surpassed 8.5 teleconsultations via e-Sanjeevni, where nearly 4 lakh teleconsultations take place on a daily basis.

More than 86.90 crore beneficiaries have been cumulatively screened for non-communicable diseases which include 29.95 Crore for Hypertension, 25.56 Crore for Diabetes, 17.44 Crore for Oral cancer, 8.27 Crore for Breast Cancer and 5.66 Crore for Cervical Cancer.

In light of expansion of AB-HWCs, the number of essential medicines has increased to 172 at Primary Health Centres – Health Wellness Centres (PHC-HWC) and 105 at Sub Health Centres – Health Wellness Centres (SHC-HWC) and essential diagnostics have also expanded to 63 at PHC-HWC and 14 at SHC-HWC. AB-HWCs also encompass wellness sessions on Yoga, Zumba, cyclathons, walkathons, and provide guidelines on diet, physical activity, positive parenting, tobacco, alcohol cessation among other aspects to imbibe a mindset for community well-being.

Till date, more than 1.60 crore wellness sessions have been conducted at these centres.

Additionally, AB-HWCs have also operationalized 2-3 centers in urban sphere under the umbrella of Urban Primary Health Centre-Health and Wellness Centre (UPHC-HWC), strengthening outpatient care, and covering a population of 15,000 to 20,000.

(Published from PIB)

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Ex Transport Staffs Protest Across State Urging Stalin To Fulfill His Election Promise

By
The Commune
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Hundreds of retired transport employees besieged the corporations’ head offices in Chennai, Villupuram, Madurai, and other parts of the state, demanding that the corporations pay them the revised dearness allowance (DA) and release their pending retirement benefits.

Protesters occupying MTC headquarters on Pallavan Salai claimed that the final settlement for those who retired in 2016 had not yet been paid in full. They also claimed that the DA for pensioners was not increased to the same level as that for retired central government employees.

Several stages of protests were held by transport department employees during the previous AIADMK regime, demanding that government transport workers be paid Dearness Allowance, which has been discontinued since 2016.

MK Stalin, the then-opposition leader of Tamil Nadu, promised the transport department employee that if they were elected to power, they would provide them the Dearness allowance that was stopped. However, even after many months of DMK rule, the demand has not been met. Protesting the DMK government’s inaction after being elected, retired State Transport Corporation employees besieged the State Transport Corporation zonal office and staged a road blockade.

In a similar protest in Trichy, the Collectorate Road was completely blocked. The police, who had received the information, rushed in and negotiated with the protestors, forcing them to abandon their protest. As a result, traffic in the district was disrupted for over an hour.

In Coimbatore, police arrested 875 retired government transport employees who were on strike, demanding payment of benefits on their retirement day. They besieged the Government Transport Head Office on Mettupalayam Road and staged a protest.

Protesters stated that demonstrations were held in 9 government transport zones across the state, condemning the Tamil Nadu government for failing to implement a High Court order directing to provide DA for 87 months and for appealing the High Court order against the transport workers.

(With inputs from Thanthi and Malaimurasu)

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The Commune is a news and views portal focusing on social and political issues of the southern part of India with a focus on Tamil Nadu.
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