Isha’s Cauvery Calling movement planted 1.5 lakh timber trees on farmlands across Tamil Nadu today on the Memorial Day of Nammalvar Ayya. The timber trees were planted on 416 acres of farmland in 70 places across 36 districts. Cauvery Calling is a campaign to support farmers to plant 242 crore trees and revitalize the Cauvery river.
Having dedicated his entire life to restoring traditional farming methods in Tamil Nadu and protecting soil fertility, Nammalvar Ayya closely worked with Isha’s environmental projects. Throughout his life, he continuously highlighted the necessity of trees and native cattle breeds in maintaining soil fertility.
Remembering his contribution, Sadhguru once stated, “A simple man of profound wisdom who inspired farmers to nurture the land with traditional natural farming practices. Revered as a travelling saint & a non-didactic storyteller. Remembered in gratitude for his early involvement with Isha Agro Movement.”
Isha’s Cauvery Calling movement has been working steadfastly to take forward Nammalvar’s vision of natural farming and planting trees in the farmlands. They have been providing farmers with the necessary timber sapling at a low cost of Rs 3. per sapling, growing them in the 40 Isha Nurseries across Tamil Nadu.
Practicing Agroforestry, besides improving farmer earnings, also results in increased rain, improves soil fertility, and benefits ecology. Planting trees, especially in the catchment area of the river basin, helps increase the river’s water-holding capacity and rejuvenates the river. Accordingly, Cauvery Calling aims to plant 242 crore trees in 12 years, and four crore trees have been already planted in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in the last two years. The movement aims to plant one crore of trees in Tamil Nadu, out of which 76 lakh trees have been already planted.
Cauvery Calling has been conducting various training sessions and conferences to raise awareness among farmers about agroforestry. Farmers can participate in these workshops and benefit from these practices. To get saplings at a very low price and to get guidance regarding what sort of trees can be planted according to the soil type one can call the Cauvery Calling helpline at 80009 80009.
(This is an official press release from Isha Foundation. The Commune was not involved in creating this content.)
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On Thursday (29 December 2022), as the Tamil Nadu government school secondary-grade (SG) teachers’ hunger strike entered its third day, school education secretary Kakarla Usha met with the teachers who refused to end the protest and remained steadfast in their demand for a salary hike.
Thousands of teachers are protesting on the DPI campus, demanding equal pay for equal work. Their union claimed that over 20,000 SG teachers hired after June 2009 were paid ₹3,170 less than those hired before May 31, 2009. The pay gap widened even more after the implementation of the seventh pay commission.
On December 27, around 3,500 Secondary Grade Teachers (SGTs) began an indefinite hunger strike outside the Directorate of School Education, urging Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to keep his election promise of equal pay for equal work.
The statement from J Robert, general secretary of the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association (SSTA) read,” It is 20 months since the DMK came to power and despite our efforts, our one demand has not been fulfilled. Therefore, we are once again holding a rigorous indefinite hunger strike.”
In 2018, the SSTA went on indefinite strike in a similar manner, and the then-opposition leader and the current chief minister MK Stalin supported their protest. Stalin then demanded that the then-ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) resolve the issue immediately.
According to the SSTA press release,”The Supreme Court has ruled in several cases that people in the same position and doing the same job should be paid equally for equal work. However, neither the previous AIADMK government nor the current DMK government followed this.”
The press release further stated,” SGTs were affected when the seventh pay commission was implemented. Those appointed after May 31, 2009, are paid ₹3,170 lesser than those appointed on or prior to the mentioned date. However, there is no difference in their educational qualifications and work requirements.”
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“Forgetfulness of your real nature is the true death; Remembrance of it is rebirth”- Ramana Maharishi.
Ramana Maharishi(1879-1950) was regarded as Dakshinamurthy, as an avatar of Skanda, a divine form of Shiva by some of his devotees. He has been described as “The whitest spot in a white space”, “The greatest sage of 20th century”.
These descriptions are about a small boy named Venkataraman who was shattered at the age of 16 when he was overcame by the fear of death. His fear brought on his remembrance of his true nature. This led to abandonment of worldly desires and a pilgrimage to the holy mountain of Arunachala. His first words there were ‘I’ve come to thee at thy behest. Thy will be done’ . He lived there for 17 years before coming to Virupaksha. His devotees started growing up.
Among them was the Kavyakantha Sri Ganapathi Sastri, who proclaimed Ramana as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharishi. Frank Humphreys was the first westerner to meet Maharishi and write about him in an international magazine.
Bhagawan was the most liberal of gurus. At no time did he consider the need to frame rules and regulations to control the lives of his disciples; nor did he believe in a common, enforced discipline, for he himself had attend the highest without them. He left his disciples completely free to mould their lives as best as they could. This physical freedom helped a lot to tide over the first few difficult months of a disciple’s new existence.
Bhagwan was the personal incarnation of what westerners considered as a guru. A humble, kind and just man; with no possessions but a loin cloth, metal water jug & a walking stick, throughout his ascetic life. During special occasions, people lovingly presented him with new towels and loin clothes & he obliged by changing 4 times a day. He even remarked with a smile, “Because I didn’t want anything, see how much I am getting; Even a washerman will not have such a huge collection”. That humble he was.
He spoke and wrote about fundamental things like the meaning of the self and how we relate to the world. On the link between perception and reality he said, “If the mind, which is the cause of sll knowledge & all action subsides,the perception of the world will cease. The perception of the rope, which is the substratum will not occur unless the perception of the snake, which has been superimposed on it changes. Similarly the perception of one’s real nature the substratum which will not be obtained unless the perception of the world which is the super imposition ceases”.
He was diagnosed with cancer on 1948. He constantly reminded the devotees that if they had listened to his teachings, there was no need for grieving; that nothing is lost by death except for the body, one was not born & hence cannot die. When begged to stay alive and not to leave this realm, he would reply “where could I go? I am here.”
On 14 April 1950 Bhagwan who spread peace and bliss through his life thanked his attendant Sivananda Swami who was pressing is legs. He said ‘Santhosham’ which was his parting word.The attendant ,tears streaming down his cheeks understood. That evening the light from the candle which was was seen by all present slowly reached the peak of Arunachala.
Your duty is to be, and not to be this or that. I am that I am sum up the whole truth; The method is summarised in be still – Ramana Maharishi.
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Tamil film director Prabhu Solomon got into a controversy over the end credits of his upcoming film Sembi, which mentions Jesus Christ as the only god who spreads love.
Sembi is an upcoming Indian movie directed by Prabhu Solomon starring Ashwin Kumar, Kovai Sarala, and Thambi Ramaiah. The feature film is produced by R Ravindran and Ajmal Khan with the music composed by Nivas K Prasanna.
The preview screening of the film Sembi, which will be released tomorrow, was held today (29 December 2022) in Chennai for the press. The preview show was attended by a large section of reporters and journalists from television channels to print media.
Following the screening, the entire cast and crew of the film attended a press conference, during which a group of reporters argued with the director, Prabu Solomon, who allegedly stated at the end of the movie in the credits sections that Jesus is the only god who spreads love.
The reporter questioned director Prabhu Solomon, “Are you attempting to spread Christianity with your film? The film is watched by people of all religions. But you mentioned that only Jesus spreads love.”
Prabhu Solomon, who was surprised to hear this from a Tamil journalist, stated, “I didn’t mean to imply that Jesus is the only god who spreads love. I am a Christian from birth and I am used to the preachings of Christianity,” for which the reporters asked,” That is your personal and why are you imposing your religion on us. No director imposes his or her faith on us. Even the Bhagavad Gita says to spread love, but how can you say that only Christ does?”
Dr. Prabhu Solomon responded, “Christianity is not a religion, and Jesus Christ did not come to this world to spread religion. Our only intention is to spread love. I will not say anything if anyone uses Bhagavat Gita lines in their film.”
The stumbling director, who was unable to answer the reporters’ questions, said, “I apologize to everyone who was offended. I accept that all other religions spread love.”
However, according to his old videos, it does not appear that the line “Only Jesus spreads love” was not unintended, as he has previously stated during Christian congregations that Jesus is the only god who spreads love.
Prabhu Solomon said during a Christian congregation organized by Poorana Suvesha Christian Sabha, “I will not be afraid if someone tells me that Jesus is not a god. Because I know Jesus is the only god.”
Prabhu Solomon even took a jibe at other religions when he said, “Only those who are afraid (confident) of their religion will have this problem. That is why they claim that people are converting to Christianity. Fine, that is their problem.”
Prabhu Solomon openly stated his intention to spread Christianity through his films saying, “Whether it’s my film Maina or Kumki or Kayal, which I’m doing now, I will make a film only when I get a screenplay suitable for Jesus Christ given by him.”
He went on to say that he never includes any sexual content, double-meaning dialogue, or scenes that make people frown in his films and that he only made movies for families to watch with their children.
However, it should be noted that director Prabhu Solomon’s early films are known for their adult-themed songs and scenes, particularly the film Laadam, in which the actress Charmi Kaur was depicted in a sexual manner in the songs “Atlantic Oceankku” and “Siru Thoduthalilae.”
In the movie Myna, the hero Vidharth, who was an adult, had a liplock scene with the school-going actress Amala Paul. This begs the obvious question of whether director Prabhu Solomon will be watching these scenes with his children.
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On 28 December 2022, controversial ‘actor’ Siddharth claimed in a now-deleted Instagram story that he and his parents were ‘harassed’ with security officials speaking in Hindi despite repeated requests to talk in English.
In his story, Siddharth said “Harassed for 20 mins @ empty Madurai airpot by CRPF. They made my senior parents remove coins from their bags! And repeatedly talked to us in Hindi after being told to speak English. Rude AF 🙁 When we protested they said in India this is how it is. Jobless people showing off power”.
This attention-grabbing story went viral with the media picking it up. Communist Party of India (Marxist) Lok Sabha MP took cognizance of the story and apparently asked Airport Authority of India (AAI), Madurai officials to look into the matter.
However, a report quoting a senior official of Madurai airport notes that the official on duty was a Tamil woman.
“Siddharth arrived at Madurai Airport with his family to go to Chennai. At 4:15 PM he reached the CISF security force’s checkpoint. Siddharth was asked to remove his mask and show his ID card. This is standard security practice. The belongings of Siddharth and his family were searched. A woman CISF personnel hailing from Tamil Nadu was on duty when Siddharth’s checking happened. She belongs to Thanjavur district and the woman personnel spoke only in Tamil. She didn’t speak Hindi.”, the airport official was quoted saying.
The clarification by the senior officer also noted that it was Siddharth who was angered by the searches. Later, a Telugu speaking officer came to the spot came there to ease the tension.
The senior officer stated that Siddharth angrily left for the boarding area along with his family after 10 minutes.
“None of the CISF personnel spoke in Hindi and behaved harshly towards Siddharth. Siddharth’s allegations are false. The footage from his arrival at the airport to his departure has been recorded on the CCTV camera.”, the officer was quoted saying.
In light of this clarification, ‘actor’ Siddharth has put out a lengthy Instagram post in which he goes on to narrate about the alleged ‘harassment’.
In the post, Siddharth laments about the CISF personnels placing his headphones in the tray. He also expressed concerns about his mother being asked to take out the coins from her purse and keep it aside in the tray.
It is to be noted that it is customary and mandatory for passengers to take out any electronic devices and metal objects and keep them separately in a tray for security check. In many airports, passengers are also required to remove shoes and belts.
Siddharth details about the altercation he had with the officials and goes on to level allegations against the officials. After 20 minutes of Siddharth apparently asked to speak to their senior member in the team. He claimed that whe the senior officer approached him, the latter allegedly told him “I’m your fan. Please go ahead.”
Siddharth later told that he didn’t want his kindness to which the officer had allegedly replied “Bro. It happens. Leave it. Sorry.”.
Siddharth apparently told him sternly in English “it’s not ok. I got an apology just because youre an admirer. What about common people who experience this kind of bullying? Learn to respect your elders.”
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The Tamil Nadu government issued an order to include sugarcane in the Pongal gift package after opposition from farmers and political parties such as the BJP and AIADMK, in what appears to be yet another U-turn by the ruling DMK government led by MK Stalin.
Previously, the Tamil Nadu government issued an order to provide ₹1000 in cash, rice, and sugar to all ration card holders for the Thai Pongal festival in 2023.
Sugarcane farmers, who had grown sugarcane expecting procurement by the Tamil Nadu government, were disappointed by the DMK government’s announcement, which left sugarcane out of the Pongal gifts announced. Farmers have previously stated that they have grown sugarcane for the Pongal festival and that if the DMK government does not procure it, they will suffer a significant loss. They also threatened to protest if the DMK government’s decision was not reversed.
The BJP’s Annamalai and AIADMK opposition leader Edappadi Palaniswami issued statements in support of farmers and announced a protest date. In light of this, the Tamil Nadu government issued an order to include sugarcane along with the Pongal gift package.
Here are some of the other U-Turns made by the Stalin government.
Annur Industrial Estate Project U-Turn
The DMK government has proposed to set up an industrial estate at Annur village in the Coimbatore district. The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) is set to acquire 3,832 acres of agricultural land in and around the site for this purpose. However, a circular regarding this announcement was issued to the Coimbatore District Collector by TIDCO without any discussion with the main stakeholders – the farmers.
Following a protest by Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai and farmers in Annur during the first week of December, the DMK government under Stalin capitulated to pressure and withdrew the plan to acquire land from the farmers.
DMK said that only land owned by private companies will be used to establish the industrial park. Lands belonging to farmers will not be taken for any reason, the government clarified.
Deepavali Sweet U-Turn
During the 2021 Deepavali festival, it was reported that the state transport department had amended the tender rules for the supply of 100-tonne sweets for its workers to favor a single company with close ties to the DMK Transport Minister’s son. On 18 October 2021, a local daily reported that the Minister’s son had taken a 30% commission from the company while arranging for the tender to be awarded to the said company.
Many companies were interested in bidding for the tender to get the order and even met Minister Rajakannappan. But, Rajakannappan’s son Dileep had apparently influenced the transport department officials to tweak the tender. Instead of giving orders to Aavin, the state-owned milk cooperative, for the supply of ghee sweets, the Minister’s son ensured that a private company won the bid at ₹600 per kg. In order to ensure that the tender went to said company, the terms, and conditions of the bid were allegedly tweaked saying only those companies with ₹100 crore turnover per year can participate in the bid.
This sparked outrage, with many accusing the DMK of engaging in corruption just six months after assuming power. Later, BJP Tamil Nadu President Annamalai announced a protest against the DMK government for killing the state-owned Aavin and awarding the Deepavali tender to a private company. The DMK government, as expected, withdrew the tender awarded to the private company and awarded it to the government-owned Aavin company.
Pattina Pravesam U-Turn
On 4 May 2022, the DMK government banned the centuries-old practice of “Pattina Pravesam,” a ritual of carrying the mutt head of Dharmapuram Adheenam in a palanquin, following a petition by “Periyar”ist outfits. DTamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai came to the forefront and stated that the practice existed before the birth of the DMK ideology and demanded that the ban be lifted. He went on to say that he would personally carry the pontiff in the palanquin despite the ban. A rattled DMK, relented and lifted the ban. Annamalai kept his word and carried the pontiff in the palanquin.
Tiruvarur Street Naming After Karunanidhi U-Turn
On 12 May 2022, thousands of people led by Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai protested at the DMK fortress and temple town of Thiruvarur against the renaming of ‘Rath or Car Street’ after former CM Karunanidhi. It is worth noting that the former CM is from Thiruvarur and was elected as an MLA twice from that constituency. Stalin’s government had no choice but to abandon its plan seeing the vociferous opposition.
Chennai-Salem 8 Lane U-Turn
On 1 September 2022, the DMK government reversed its position on the Chennai-Salem Expressway project, which they had vehemently opposed while in opposition. After assuming power, they stated that they are not opposed to the project itself, but rather to how it is being implemented.
“The then opposition leader MK Stalin urged the AIADMK government to settle the issues of farmers before proceeding with the project. Now, the DMK government has sent ministers and MLAs to discuss the matter and settle the dispute. DMK was well aware of the need for the project,” DMK Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports EV Velu said.
Ambur Biryani Festival U-Turn
The Tirupattur district administration announced in May that a Biriyani festival would be held in Kannigapuram, a town known for its ‘seeraga samba rice’ biryani. The administration invited participants to set up mutton and chicken biryani stalls in the hopes of obtaining the geographical identification (GI) tag for Ambur biryani. The collector, however, denied permission for the beef stall. Even so, parties such as VCK and NTK demanded a beef stall, which Hindu Munnani and other outfits opposed. The DMK government, sensing the brewing tension, canceled the festival, citing a rain forecast.
Closing Biryani Shops During Vinayagar Chathurthi Procession U-Turn
An order issued by Sivakanchi police to maintain law and order in the area during Vinayagar Chathurthi was turned into a controversy by Periyarist groups and the VCK. The order was later revoked by the DMK government. In September 2022, The Sivakanchi police had requested Biriyani and meat shops in the Chengalnirodai and Sankaramadam areas where the Vinayagar Chathurthi procession was scheduled to pass. Following opposition from the Periyarists and the VCK party, the DMK government reversed its decision to close the meat shops.
Vikatan FIR U-Turn
DMK and its leaders, who projected themselves as the torchbearers of the freedom of speech while they were in the opposition, filed a flawed FIR against Vikatan group, Youtuber Maridhas, and political commentator Savukku Shankar for speaking against the real estate company G-Square, a company allegedly having close ties with the DMK. According to the FIR, anyone associated with the Vikatan group is an accused in the case. The FIR was withdrawn by the DMK government following a protest by a section of journalists.
Old-Age Home U-Turn
In the last year and a half, the DMK government has made numerous U-turns. They announced a plan to use temple funds to open an old age home. However, after opposition from the BJP and other groups, the DMK informed the Madras High Court, which was hearing the case, that they had put a halt on plans to use temple funds for old-age homes.
Given these numerous U-Turns in just over a year and a half, it would be befitting to call this government as “U-Turn Model” instead of “Dravida Model”.
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Gali Janardhana Reddy, infamous for the massive mining scam in Karnataka’s Bellari district on the Andhra-Karnataka border, floats his own party, just in time for Karnataka’s state elections scheduled to be held in less than six months.
Gali Janardhan Reddy’s new party, Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPP) claiming to stand for the state’s development, plans to go it alone in the upcoming 2023 Karnataka state elections. Reddy is not allowed to contest from Ballari per instructions from the Court, based on the cases registered against him by the CBI.
However, he plans to contest from the Gangavathi assembly constituency in Koppal district. At the announcement of his new party a few days ago, Reddy stated that the party’s logo and the flag which are yet to be revealed, would be shared in the next 2 weeks.
Reddy with an unsavory track record of being the culprit of one of India’s biggest mining scams, announced that he was against “divisive politics in the name of religion and caste” and stated that he would like to emulate the philosophy of the revered Kannada poet-philosopher-saint, Basavanna (a 12th century social reformer) who preached social and gender equality and a resurgence in the Shaivite bhakti tradition. He is considered to be the patron guru of the Lingayat/Veerashaiva community, estimated to be around 16% of Karnataka’s population.
A Brief Account Of The Man And His Mining Scam
The story of the Bellary scam is incomplete without the story of the Bellari Reddy brothers. Born to a police constable, the three brothers – Gali Janardhana Reddy, Gali Somashekhara Reddy, and Gali Karunakara Reddy, hail from a middle class background. Their first stint with business started with a small chit fund business named Ennoble India Pvt. Ltd., in 1989. They operated in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. It wound up in 1998 followed by cases of fraud and cheating, equivalent to ₹200 crore ($332,280). Soon, they sensed an opportunity in iron ore mining and the rest is history. They ventured into iron ore mining, at the peak of its demand with a mere investment of ₹50 lakh ($83,070) and grew to be the mining magnates of Bellary.
A remote district of Karnataka, Bellary became a famous hub for iron ore extraction during the Beijing Olympics in 2005-06. Mining activities in Bellary were carried out by the state government. However, the rising demand gave private players a chance to be a part of the mining industry. The huge demand for iron led to excessive mining- Bellari once green and fertile, turned into a barren land, devoid of agriculture and with shrinking ecosystems.
The top private players of mining in Bellary were the Reddy brothers, who ensured their monopoly in the sector by excercising their influence with the state government and threatening or eliminating any social or business opposition to their large scale illegal activities. They misused their powers to an extent where they were able get away with erasing government installed signs of the Karnataka – Andhra Pradesh border.
At the time of Janardhan Reddy’s arrest by the CBI in 2011, the Supreme Court had appointed the CEC to look into the illegal mining scandal at Bellary after a record number of complaints from civilians, environmental groups, community leaders and political parties. The CEC report revealed that Janardhana Reddy and his brother Karunakara Reddy, had been mining in areas demarcated as forest areas since 2004 and that they had extracted an exorbitant, unsustainable, environmentally damaging amount of minerals than they were permitted to. A study by the Supreme Court revealed that close to 8.9 sq km of forest cover has been depleted in Bellary between 2000 and 2011 on account of the excessive mining. The Reddy brothers also had the audacity to remove government installed state-boundary demarcation signs such as pillars.
G Janardhana Reddy had been arrested for flouting mining laws through his Andhra Pradesh-based corporation, Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC). The Supreme Court also instructed the investigating agencies to look for irregularities in the Reddy’s Karnataka-based mining corporation, Associated Mining Company (AMC). The court suspected illegal mining in this company as well, because the company had drawn 1 million tons of iron ore from just 10 hectares of the leased area for mining.
In an already sensational scandal of an enormous size for blatant economic, financial, environmental and human resources related crimes, several other complaints were filed against the infamous Bellari Reddy brothers, besides the principal case of illegal mining. The Reddy brothers had invested ₹2,000 crore (US $3.32 billion) in an integrated steel plant, Brahmani Steels, for which the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,YS Rajasekhara Reddy of the Congress party, had sanctioned a large amount of government land. YSR Reddy had also sanctioned ₹3,115.64 acres of land to the Reddy brothers, to set up an airport just 50 km away from an already existing airport! The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pointed out several irregularities in the sanctioning of the land, besides the fact that it was illegal for private players to set up an airport without prior permission from the Central Government. YSR’s death weakened ‘Reddy links’, although YS Jagan mohan Reddy, YSR Reddy’s son and current A.P chief minister, was later caught by the CBI, with huge amounts of money transferred to him by the Reddy brothers based on their partnership. Current news is indicative of a relationship between Janardhan Reddy and Jagan Reddy that has stayed strong through the years of CBI inquiries and arrests for both of them. Both are currently out on bail.
Will Reddy Be Able To Mine Votes?
The BJP state unit is assessing a possibility of the impact of Reddy’s new party with regards to its own vote share in Bellari and Koppal districts, despite the fact that Janardhan Reddy’s brothers have thus far chosen to remain with the BJP.
Union Minister and BJP senior leader, Pralhad Joshi remarked that no regional party had yet been successful on its own, in the state of Karnataka. Regional parties in the state have had to hitherto rely on political partnerships and coalition politics – a good example being that of the Janata Dal Secular party (JDS). The state’s current Congress president, DK Shivakumar was quick to congratulate Janardhana Reddy. Janata Dal Secular (JDS) leader, HD Kumaraswamy said that the former minister’s move was an anticipated one.
The 2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be held in Karnataka before May 2023 to elect all 224 members of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Galli Janardhana Reddy of the infamous Karnataka mining scam, fishes for a new avenue to siphon illegally amassed wealth- floats new political party. Reddy was previously a member of the state’s BJP unit and the Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure Development in the BJP-led Karnataka government from 2008 to 2011. He is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for illegal extraction of iron ore on the Andhra-Karnataka border and several money laundering schemes utilizing huge amounts of black money, amassed through the illegal sale of the country’s natural resources.
Among the most prominent of the money laundering charges being investigated by the CBI, was his “quid pro quo” type of arrangement with the then united Andhra Pradesh’s CM, YS Rajasekhara Reddy of the Congress party. The CBI probed Janardhan’s political and financial links with A.P’s Congress party members, specifically YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the father of the current A.P Chief Minister, YS Jagan Reddy, leader of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). Janardhan Reddy is said to have “invested” in shell companies registered in Jagan Mohan Reddy’s name. Incidentally, Andhra CM Jagan Reddy is also under CBI Investigation for money laundering! Jagan Reddy is a CM currently on bail from a large number of cases for criminal conspiracy and money laundering. In a strange case of cross border political and financial opportunism, Janardhana Reddy had aligned himself to the Congress in Andhra Pradesh and the BJP in Karnataka! The BJP later distanced itself from the tainted member who is still under the CBI scanner for illegal mining and money laundering. From the looks of it, Janardhana Reddy continues to have a friend in the current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, YS Jagan Reddy of the YSR Congress party (YSRCP), a party that Jagan Reddy floated in 2011 as a result of disagreements with the A.P unit of the Congress party, after his father’s untimely death in 2009.
Galli Janardhana Reddy is of Telugu origin, as is the case with significant numbers of Telugu-origin people in several border districts of Karnataka, sharing a border with the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. G Janardhan Reddy’s brothers, G Karunakara Reddy and G Somashekar Reddy are currently BJP MLAs from the Harapanahalli and Bellary Assembly constituencies, respectively.
In light of Janardhan Reddy’s recently announced political plans for Karnataka, it is note worthy that in July of this year, Galli Janardhana Reddy had asked for permission to restart mining on the Andhra side of the border. The current YS Jagan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh had announced that it had no objections to the resumption of mining in Andhra.
In March 2010, the Supreme Court had directed a halt to all mining activity in Andhra’s Anantapur district until the mining leases were demarcated on the ground after its Central Empowered Committee (CEC) reported rampant encroachment and recommended that companies guilty of mining outside lease areas be allowed to resume mining and made to pay exemplary penalty.
The apparent shift in Andhra Pradesh state’s stand under the leadership of one of Janardhan Reddy’s “business associates”, has raised eyebrows and riled a number of officials who had painstakingly investigated the various angles of a massive case and helped turn the tide against the Reddy brothers during 2009-2010.
With regards to the question of his electoral impact, only time will tell if Janardhan Reddy’s new vehicle will be able to mine votes.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday (28 December 2022) arrested two more persons involved in the Coimbatore Blast taking the number of arrested persons to 11.
The arrested terror suspects have been identified as Sheikh Hidayathullah and Sanofar Ali. Investigations have revealed that in Februrary 2022, the accused had met near Asanoor and Kadambur region located deep inside the Sathyamangalam forests where they entered into a criminal conspiracy and hatched a terror plot.
The meetings were led Umar Farook who was arrested earlier. Along with Mohammed Azharudin, Sheikh Hidayatullah and Sanofar Ali, Jamesha Mubeen who was killed in the blast had also participated in these meetings where they planned to conduct terror attacks.
BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai called out the laxity in the DMK Government’s approach to the case which had been trivializing the incident as a ‘gas cylinder blast’.
He pointed out that the NIA has categorically stated it to be a ISIS-linked suicide bombing incident.
While the @arivalayam govt continues to maintain the Coimbatore blast as a cylinder blast incident, the NIA has yet again categorically stated that it was an ISIS-linked Suicide bombing incident and has taken 2 terrorists in connection to this into custody today. (1/2)
An LPG cylinder burst inside a Maruti 800 car in Coimbatore at around 4.30 am on Sunday (23 October 2022), causing the vehicle to explode. The explosion was initially believed to be an accident but a thorough investigation into the incident, revealed that the cylinder explosion was a terrorist attack committed by Islamic terrorists during the Diwali festival.
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The Radha Ranga Rayal Association (RRR) organised a “Kapu Nadu” meeting in in Vishakapatnam on Monday (26 December 2022) to mark the 34th death anniversary of Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga, a prominent “Kapu” community leader in the 1980s.
The last “Kapu Nadu” meeting of significance and strength was organised in 1988 by Mohana Ranga, to whose memory the Dec 26th meeting was dedicated, shortly before he was murdered by his political rivals in Vijayawada.
The meeting’s stated mission was to bring together the various regional sub-sects within the larger Kapu caste in the two Telugu states for the purpose of political unity.
Who Are The Kapus?
Kapu refers to a social grouping of agriculturists found primarily in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Kapus are primarily an agrarian community, forming a heterogeneous peasant caste with several sub-sects based on regional distinctions.
They are classified as a Forward Caste in Andhra Pradesh, where they are the dominant community in the districts of East Godavari and West Godavari. They are distinct from three other Kapu communities that were present in the state prior to its bifurcation with the creation of Telangana in 2014. The Munnuru Kapu are found primarily in Telangana, the Turpu Kapu in the areas of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam, and the Balija in Rayalaseema. The first two (Munnuru Kapu of A.P,Telangana and the Turpu Kapu of northern coastal areas of A.P) these are classified as Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The Kapus of the coastal districts are distinct from the Munnur Kapus of Telangana. While the former are fairly prosperous, the political emergence of the latter, who are part of the OBC category, is a recent phenomenon.
Kapus In The Reservation Scheme Of Things
The official government classifications rarely distinguished between the Kapu sub-castes. All Kapus were classified as forming a backward caste in 1915 by the British government of the Madras Presidency, which remained in force even after the formation of Andhra Pradesh until 1956. In that year, the government of Andhra Pradesh removed Kapus from the list of backward castes. Even though various governments have since made efforts to include them again, the efforts have not been successful. In 1968, the Anantha Raman Commission set up by the Andhra Pradesh government recognised Munnuru Kapus and Turpu Kapus as Backward Classes, but not the Kapus as a whole. The Mandal Commission set up by the Government of India in the 1980s recommended that Kapus be included among the Other Backward Classes (OBC). But the state governments were entrusted with finalising the list of castes for the OBC category. The state commission headed by N. K. Muralidhar Rao did not recommend any change to the status of the other Kapu castes.
In early 2016, the Kapus of the residual Andhra Pradesh state launched an agitation demanding the OBC status, leading to violent protests.
At thd end of his first term as Chief Minister of the bifurcated Andhra Pradesh, TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu had approved of a 5% reservation for Andhra’s Kapu community within the permissible 10% EWS quota for the economically weaker sections. The YSRCP party currently in power is yet to implement this reservation and now comes under more pressure to include a quota for the Kapus under the Supreme Court sanctioned EWS quota for economically backward classes.
The Politics Around Kapus
Aside from addressing the issue of political unity before the next Telangana state elections (latter half of 2023) and Andhra state elections (first half of 2024), the community’s leaders reminded political parties of their long standing demand for reservations within the existing quotas for the backward classes or the implementation of an existing proposition of a 5% reservation for the Kapus, within the EWS (economically weaker sections) quota.
Official data suggests that the Kapus comprise about 21% of the State’s population. Their actual numbers are claimed to be around 27%. Many in political circles agree to a figure of 25% across all the sub-sects of the Kapu community – a significant electoral number that political parties cannot afford to ignore.
Almost all political parties in both Telugu states rely in part, on the support of the Kapu sub-sects. Earlier attempts to consolidate the community had failed to bring about a consolidation of the Kapu vote for political purposes. All political parties have hitherto managed to either woo them into their fold and ranks or were able to successfully split the large Kapu vote bank on various grounds (regional affiliations, cultural or religious divisions etc).
In early December, the newly founded association ‘Radha Ranga Rayal’ had announced a “Kapu Nadu” meeting in Visakhapatnam on December 26, 2022. Kapu community leaders from all political parties in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had been invited.
The 26th December Kapu Nadu event is politically significant as it was organized by TDP MLA and a prominent Kapu leader, Ganta Srinivasa Rao. The former Minister was quick to add, “As of now, there is no political agenda in holding the Kapu Nadu in Visakhapatnam”. This statement comes amid rumors that the leader may be re-considering his political options ahead of the next state elections.
Popular actor-turned politician K. Chiranjeevi, a Kapu leader, tried the politically unite the community in 2009 with the launch of his Praja Rajyam Party (PRP). His party secured only 18 seats and to the disappointment of many in the community, the actor chose to merge his party with the then Congress party of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
In 2014, Chiranjeevi’s younger brother and Tollywood actor, Pawan Kalyan launched the Jana Sena Party (JSP) in the aftermath of the bifurcation of the larger Telugu state into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. His party contested in the 2019 elections but did not do well electorally. While Chiranjeevi does not currently appear to harbour political ambitions, Pawan Kalyan continues to hold rallies in the residual Andhra Pradesh state and appear to be in favourable terms with both the principal opposition parties in Andhra – TDP and the BJP.
After the meeting, Gade Balaji, the RRR organization’s president and one of the organizers of the Dec 26 ‘Kapu Nadu’ meeting, expressed disappointment that many Kapu leaders from other political parties had played it safe and not attended the meeting which was “of, by and for” the community. In the same breath, he praised the JSP party leader, Pawan Kalyan for encouraging them and supporting their goal of uniting the community.
At the meeting, former TDP minister and Kapu leader, Mudragada Padmanabham urged Chief Minister YS Jagan Reddy to implement a BC reservation to the Kapu community in the State. In an open letter to the Chief Minister on Monday, Mudragada stated that he had written the letter, on the basis of the verdict given by the Supreme Court for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservations as well as the current Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Pratima Bhoumik’s statement in Parliament recently that the State governments are free to implement the EWS reservation as per the Constitution 103 and 105 Amendment Acts.
“I appeal to you to focus on providing a BC reservation to the Kapus. I am not asking for a share in the quota of others, I ask only that you provide space for us in what remains… ” the veteran leader stated emotionally.
The Kapu Question
Should a socially powerful but economically weak group get reservations?
The Kapus claim they are deprived and backward, but those opposing the Kapu community’s demands say they are not socially deprived and have never experienced caste discrimination, although many of them in current times, may be economically weak. The recent positive verdict of the Supreme Court with regards to reservations for the economically weaker sections of society (EWS), may just be the weapon that the Kapus needed.
The Supreme Court had made it clear that there should not be any caste-based reservations in the EWS category. Back in 2019 towards the end of the TDP’s first term in government, CM Chandrababu Naidu had agreed to a 5% reservation to the Kapus out of the EWC quota of 10%. When the YSRCP government came to power in 2019, the proposed reservation failed to be implemented due to legal objections based on caste and BC category status.
With the provisions of the amended Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs), it will now be possible for the current YSRCP government to implement the 5% quota in the EWS category, as proposed by the previous TDP regime.
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In a shocking turn of events in the suicide of a 30-year-old Coimbatore man, alarming phone recordings were recently released, in which he cites several political figures and social organization leaders as the reason for his death because they had an affair with his wife. The phone recordings made before his death revealed the true and disgusting real faces of some of Dravidian Stockists who masquerade as ‘rationalists’ an ‘women rights champions’.
The Issue
Rathinaseelan alias Siva, a resident of Thennampalayam near Sulur in the Coimbatore district, committed suicide on 21 September 2022. Initially, police reported it as a suicide due to a family quarrel.
The case took an unexpected turn after Siva’s audio and video recordings made before his death came to light. Siva’s parents filed a complaint with the Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police, backed by video and audio evidence, alleging that his son’s wife, Viji Palanichamy, was responsible for his son’s suicide. Police began an investigation into the case after receiving the complaint, which revealed shocking details.
According to the complaint filed by Siva’s parents, Vijay Palanichamy, who was already married, married their son again without divorcing her first husband and mentally tormented him to the point of suicide. They also told that their son has mentioned the names of Viji Palanichamy, her family and her friends are the reason for his suicide. Siva’s parents have handed over 43 audios in this regard to Coimbatore District Police Department.
According to Siva’s mother her son and Viji met on Instagram as they shared a common interest in poetry. She later came to stayed at Siva’s house, claiming that she had no one to care for her after having surgery. They got married as both fell in love with each other.
Siva’s mother in an interview to Junior Vikatan had said that two women of college-going age had come to their house when Viji was there. While Viji introduced those girls as her sister’s daughters, it was later found that the two of them were Viji’s own daughters, Siva’s mother reveals.
It should be noted that Viji Palanichamy, a writer and executive producer for a private television channel, married Siva despite being eight years elder to him. Siva discovered her illegal affair after accidentally using her phone. She continued her illegal affairs with political figures even after her marriage in order to live a lavish lifestyle.
“She has been constantly asking for money and torturing my son since they married. My son committed suicide as a result of her torment.”, Siva’s mother was quoted saying in a report.
She further said, “We received these audios only a few days after my son died. We didn’t know what to do, so we filed a complaint with the police department through film lyricist poet Thamarai. We need justice for our son’s death.”
In one of the leaked audios, Siva stated that his wife Viji Palanichamy had an affair with a relative of AIADMK MLA SP Velumani, despite saying that the said person is like a brother to her. He also stated that Viji Palanichamy had an affair with Devendra Bhoobathy, a Group-I cadre officer, who assisted her in publishing her books.
He also claimed that Viji was having an affair with political figures such as Suba Veerapandian, general secretary of Dravidar Iyakka Tamilar Peravai, Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) leader Kolathur Mani, Tamil Desiya Viduthalai Iyakkam general secretary Thiyagu, and Vetriselvan of VCK.
Siva stated that he was committing suicide because Viji Palanichamy continued her affair after the marriage despite his repeated warnings to end it.
Apparently, Siva meticulously documented every detail of his relationship with Viji, from the beginning to the end, including her infidelity and other sexual relationships. There are photographs and videos are also included which has now been submitted as evidence with the complaint to the Coimbatore Police. The family is awaiting the start of an investigation by the police.
Who Is Viji Palanichamy?
Viji Palanichamy who identifies herself as a ‘writer’ Vijis Palanichamy is a name familiar among literary circles of the Dravidian Stockists. She writes screenplays for Tamil television serials and has written for some of the famous one like Star Vijay’s Pandian Stores. According to information revealed by Tamil lyricist Thamarai, Vijis Palanichamy is currently working with Colours TV.
From her Facebook profile, it become amply clear that she is the typical Dravidian Stockist and an ardent supporter of the DMK.
Viji Palanichamy has close ties with Dravidian Stockist political leaders like Suba Veerapandian, Kolathur Mani, VCK’s Thol. Thirumavalavan, etc.
Thamizhachi Author who is also known as France Thamizhachi has brought to light the close links shared by Viji Palanichamy with some of the prominent Dravidian Stockist political leaders.
According to France Thamizhachi, when Viji Palanichami had eloped with lyricist Thamarai’s husband ‘Comrade’ Thiyagu, they were brought to MDMK leader Vaiko’s home for talks where Kolathur Mani ruled that Thiyagu should stay with Thamarai and Viji under the ‘protection’ of Kolathur Mani. Viji was housed in Kolathur Mani’s DVK office in Mylapore, Chennai.
In the above picture, Viji Palanichamy can be seen with Kolathur Mani. After her association with Kolathur Mani, Viji’s political contacts widened with Thirumavalavan, Suba Veerapandian, etc.
She has been spotted with VCK’s Thol. Thirumavalavan multiple times.
Vijis Palanichamy with VCK head Thirumavalavan
Thirumavalavan had even come to attend her birthday function once.
Viji has also been spotted with lyricist Vairamuthu who has been accused of sexual harassment by singer Chinmayi.
Viji also has pictures of her with Tamil film director Pa. Ranjith, Senthilvel of Tamil Kelvi YouTube channel and such Dravidian Stockists.
Her social media profile gives hint at the political clout that Viji Palanichamy has.
Thamarai, Viji And Thiyagu
Lyricist Thamarai, who has been posting information about this incident on her Facebook page from time to time, has stated that it is a case of Viji Palanichamy doing a “drama/fake marriage” with Coimbatore Siva and inciting him to commit suicide.
Thamarai is of the opinion that Viji Palanichamy should be punished for committing massive trust fraud, extorting money, threatening the young man with political connections, and forcing him to commit suicide.
Thamarai has been vocal about the matter because the accused, Viji Palanichamy, had an affair with her ex-husband Thiyagu (Tamil Desiya Viduthalai Iyakkam general secretary).
Thamarai in her Facebook post said: “Nobody knows what Thiyagu and Viji did from 2011 to 2013. It is the responsibility of people like me who are directly affected to bring this to light! Some who see and read this may be warned not to fall prey to dangerous people wearing the ‘mask of innocence,’ such as Thiyagu and Vijayalakshmi (Viji). In the meantime, several influential people told me that I shouldn’t be writing this, I have to leave, and called what I do as ‘character assassination’. How can I character assassinate a characterless man?”
She further continued “They continue their shady business by giving Thiyagu the identity of a ‘revolutionary’, and Vijayalakshmi a ‘media personality’ with a ‘progressive’ stamp on both of them. They do this to collect money from others, and stupid Tamils continue to give money to these people believing in their ‘rationalist’ and ‘progressive’ claims.
“Young men and women have no idea who these people are and become entangled in the mess. Some people recover, while others suffer irreversible losses. The maximum loss is the life of the likes of Shiva! How can a simple family put up with this? This scam must be stopped. I’ll tell you what I know in bits and pieces. Before I go any further, I’d like to clarify a few points. The accusation that is being repeatedly made against me is that I am Thiyagu’s second wife, that I am not married, and that I have separated Thiyagu from his first wife. I am Thiyagu’s second wife, but not an improper wife. We are both legally married and legally registered. Before I met Thiyagu, Thiyagu and Latha were separated. I am the only legitimate wife of Thiyagu! (There is no pride in this, it is disgusting.)”, Thamarai wrote in her Facebook post.
According to Thamarai, Thiyagu eloped from home in 2012 due to his infatuation with Vijayalakshmi. The following year, he returned home. Even after returning home in 2012, the relationship between Thiyagu and Viji continued. Halfway through 2013, the relationship broke up.
“Vijayalakshmi arrived at my house with her sister Anita and claimed that Thiyagu was sexually harassing her, refused to release her, and agreed to escape from Thiyagu if I helped her!”, Thamarai wrote.
Thiyagu, according to Thamarai, staged a political fasting drama in 2013 to conceal his personal issues related to Viji Palanichamy. She also stated that Thiyagu eloped again in 2014, but with a different woman, without naming the woman.
Thamarai went on to say that she took to the streets in 2015 to protest Thiyagu’s serial abuses and to shatter his rationalist image, which he was hiding behind. I requested a private investigation as his affairs with other women were too obscene to discuss in public, Thamarai stated.
Lyricist Thamarai also said that there is a threat to her life from Thiyagu. She did, however, add that the evidence Thiyagu is afraid of is in safe hands and will be revealed when necessary.
https://t.co/Z3prCDMceI இந்த விஜி பழனிச்சாமி என்பவளோடுதான் தியாகு 2012 இல் வீட்டை விட்டு ஓடினார். 2022 இல் தான் சிக்குகிறாள் – ஓர் இளைஞனின் மரணத்தில் ! She is working in Colours TV. pic.twitter.com/1dMB3BDdej
In a lengthy Facebook post, Viji Palanichamy refuted the allegations of Thamarai saying that the latter is seeking to gain publicity through the issue. Viji claimed that Rathinaseelan was under heavy debt and living in a rented house when she married him. She said that Rathinaseelan did not share about his family and debt problems since she was a new member in the family.
“Many do not even know Rathinaseelan has a drinking habit. Within 10 days of marriage, Rathinaseelan hit me till I bled and tortured me which his parents and the house owner knows very well.”, she claimed in her Facebook post.
She further claimed that she did not proceed with filing a complaint with the police because of the pleas from Rathinaseelan’s mother.
“Even after the violent incident, I decided to let bygone be bygones and live with him. As Rathinaseelan’s activities were unacceptable to me, I deceide to move out four days after that fight.”, Viji claimed.
Is Viji Palanichamy Connected To The Lulu Group?
Earlier The Commune had reported on the massive sex racket named ‘Lulu Group’ aka ‘Women Stress Buster (WSB)’, a Facebook group that allegedly targets young married women to have illicit sexual relations with men.
According to Thamizhachi, this group has been openly endorsed by ‘Comrade’ Sundaravalli, the rabid Periyarist known for her abusive speeches, and ‘Periyar’ Saravanan, a member of Kolathur Mani’s Dravidian outfit Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam. Suba Veera Pandian too has been extending tacit support to this group.
France Thamizhachi had filed a complaint with the National Commission for Women about this group saying that many politicians who identify themselves as ‘Periyarists’ and ‘progressives’ prey on the women of WSB group by slowly developing relationships with these women.
The women also enter into sexual relations with other vulnerable men and later threaten and extort money from them by blackmailing.
France Thamizhachi in a tweet had said that Viji Palanichamy needs to be given police protection as many big politician names are involved in this scandal. Calling Suba Veerapandian a ‘criminal’, she alleged that he was the one who tampered with the evidence during the Lulu Group scandal and tried to shift the blame on her.
விஜி பழனிசாமிக்கு காவல்துறை பாதுகாப்பு தேவை. பல அரசியல்வாதிகள் இச்சர்ச்சையில் சிக்கி உள்ளதால் அவர் உயிருக்கு ஆபத்து உண்டு. சுபவீ @Suba_Vee க்ரிமினல் பொறுக்கி, 'லூலூ மாபியா கும்பல் சர்ச்சை'யில் சாட்சிகளை கலைத்து அடிதடி வேலை செய்து பழியை என் மீதும் சாரதா மீதும் திணித்த யோக்கியவான்.
She has questioned why the entire focus is being given on Viji Palanichamy when several top rung politicians are involved in the case.
Despite the issue making news, with some prominent Tamil mainstream media like Thanthi TV, News 18 Tamil Nadu, Junior Vikatan, Nakheeran, News Tamil 24×7, reporting about it, it hasn’t garnered much attention, probably because of the involvement of Dravidian Stockists closer to the ruling regime. suicide.
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