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Did You Know? Tamil Nadu Ranks Lowest In RTI Responsiveness, Uttar Pradesh Performs Better

By
The Commune
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Tamil Nadu has been ranked the worst-performing state in terms of RTI responsiveness, with only 14% of the requested information being furnished. This figure is significantly lower than the national average of 57%. Surprisingly, Uttar Pradesh, a state often criticized by DMK and its leaders for its lack of law and order and transparency, performed better than Tamil Nadu, with an RTI responsiveness rate of 82%.

The report, released by Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability in government, assessed the performance of 29 information commissions across India. The evaluation was based on four key parameters: timely disposal of cases, percentage of cases disposed of in favor of applicants, percentage of cases disposed of without any hearing, and percentage of cases where compensation was awarded to the applicants.

The State Information Commission of Tamil Nadu only managed to furnish 14% of the information sought during the 2021-22 period, highlighting its poor performance. The SNS report also revealed that the DMK government failed to provide information on appeals and complaints registered and disposed of by the Information Commissions. The Information Commissioner justified this by claiming that the information could only be provided “after getting the approval of the state Legislative Assembly,” although no such provision exists in the RTI Act. Furthermore, the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission denied information regarding the backlog of appeals and complaints, as well as details of penalties imposed by the Information Commissioners.

According to the report, the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission was the worst-performing body as it denied most of the requested information, including data on the number of appeals and complaints addressed by the Information Commission, penalty details, and compensation awarded. The commission stated that such information could only be provided “after getting the approval of the State Legislative Assembly,” despite the absence of such provisions in the RTI Act.

In addition, the report highlighted the poor gender parity within the composition of the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission, with 83% of its members being men. This gender disparity raises concerns about diversity and representation within the commission.

There could be several reasons behind Tamil Nadu’s dismal performance in terms of RTI responsiveness. One possible factor is the lack of seriousness on the part of the state government in implementing the RTI Act. Another factor could be the inadequate training provided to public information officers (PIOs) in handling RTI requests effectively.

The low level of RTI responsiveness in Tamil Nadu is a significant problem as it hampers citizens’ right to access information about the government and its activities. It also makes it challenging for citizens to hold the government accountable for its actions, undermining transparency and democratic principles.

The SNS report suggests that the Tamil Nadu government has been reluctant to fully implement the RTI Act, with slow appointments of PIOs and a lack of comprehensive training programs. Additionally, there have been reports of the government’s hostility towards RTI activists, further hindering the process of seeking transparency and accountability.

RTI activist organizations like Arappor Iyakkam are demanding that the DMK government takes immediate steps to improve RTI responsiveness in Tamil Nadu. This may include appointing more PIOs, providing enhanced training for PIOs, and creating a supportive environment for RTI activists.

It is worth noting that political commentator Savukku Shankar has accused the government of deliberately keeping the post of Chief of Information Commission vacant to accommodate a soon-to-be retiring IAS officer Irananbu. Such delays in appointments hinder transparency and raise concerns about governance.

The poor performance of Tamil Nadu in terms of RTI responsiveness serves as a wake-up call for the DMK government. Urgent measures need to be taken to improve transparency and accountability.

Notably, despite being labeled as a ‘Jungle Raj’ by DMK leaders and pro-Dravidian news outlets, the state of Uttar Pradesh has outperformed the Tamil Nadu government. The RTI responsiveness of the UP government stands at 82%, significantly higher than the disappointing rate of the Tamil Nadu government.

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“Stalin’s Wish Came True”: Annamalai Shares Old Video Of Stalin Slamming Senthil Balaji For Corruption Amid ED Raids

By
The Commune
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches on 13 June 2023 at 20 locations connected to Tamil Nadu Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise Minister V. Senthil Balaji, including his official residence on Greenways Road in Chennai and his office at the State Secretariat. These searches are part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case registered against the minister, allegedly for his involvement in a job recruitment scam during his tenure as the transport minister in the erstwhile Jayalalithaa government between 2011 and 2015.

The raids are being conducted at various locations in Chennai, Erode, Karur, and Coimbatore. In addition to Senthil Balaji’s official residence, ED officials are also conducting searches at his brother Ashok Kumar’s residence in Chennai, which is located near the minister’s residence, as well as his ancestral house in Rameswarampatti, Karur.

It is worth noting that the ED had previously sent summons to Senthil Balaji and his brother, but these were quashed by the Madras High Court in September 2022. However, on May 16, 2023, a Supreme Court bench comprising justices V. Ramasubramanian and Krishna Murari allowed appeals against the Madras High Court order. The Supreme Court directed the ED to continue its investigation into the charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The apex court also granted the state police a two-month period to complete their investigation and submit the final report. Earlier, the Crime Branch had registered three First Information Reports (FIRs) and three chargesheets related to the job recruitment scam, out of which one FIR was compromised. These cases were registered during the previous Edappadi K. Palaniswami government.

Upon the ED’s arrival at Senthil Balaji’s residence, the minister, who was out for his morning walk, informed the media that he would fully cooperate with the investigation. He stated, “I was on a morning walk with friends. As soon as I was notified about the searches, I immediately took a taxi and rushed to my house. I do not know what the ED is actually looking for in my house. But I will cooperate with the investigation. Be it ED or the Income Tax, I will fully cooperate with them,” Balaji told presspersons.

ED officials, accompanied by representatives from the Indian Bank, conducted a search of Senthil Balaji’s chamber in the State Secretariat, which lasted over three hours. Reliable sources within the ED have revealed that evidence linking Balaji to the job scam and money laundering has been discovered.

Last month, Income Tax officials conducted a nine-day search operation at the residences and premises of Senthil Balaji’s brother Ashok and his relatives. These searches were carried out at 40 locations associated with Balaji and his associates at that time.

Pointing out the old video of CM MK Stalin where he listed out the corruption charges of then ADMK minister Senthil Balaji while speaking in Karur district and, the TNBJP Chief Annamalai tweeted, “Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr. MK Stalin‘s long wish came true today. I urge the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to immediately remove Mr. Senthil Balaji who has been accused of corruption!”

MK Stalin in the run up to the 2016 Assembly elections had made a blistering attack on Senthil Balaji who was then a Minister in the AIADMK.

“Senthil Balaji and his brother have the entire Karur district under their control in terms of looting, doing corruption, getting bribes. People living in Karur district are well aware of this. Kidnapping, land grabbing cases are in court. They had brought a ticket vending machine for state transport buses. I was the one to talk about the corruption in that deal with proof in the Assembly. There has been no rejoinder to that. Not just that, an engineering student named Gokul was kidnapped, given death threats, his properties seized. His family went to the court and the case is pending and today there is no clue about where Gokul is.”. Stalin had said.

It is notable that in the month of May, the Income Tax department carried out extensive raids at the homes of individuals associated with Senthil Balaji, including certain contractors. Prior to the search operation, Income Tax officials faced physical assault and were manhandled, resulting in the arrest of multiple individuals who were closely linked to Balaji’s brother, Ashok.

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Calling Out ‘TNMurasoli’: The Double Standards Of Dhanya Rajendran

By
Hydra
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Self-styled ‘journalists’ at The News Minute, a rabid leftist and Dravidian Stockist portal, often project themselves as champions of democracy, free speech, justice and what not. However, their bravado and ‘truth to power’ attitude is aimed at one party and one section of the people. There are numerous instances of selective outrage of this leftist Dravidian Stockist portal but this one specifically needs to be called out because it is from the portal’s Editor-in-Chief herself.

In April 2023, the central government granted the Press Information Bureau (PIB) enhanced authority to fact-check and request the removal of any information deemed “fake, false, or misleading” about the Central government from social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google.

Dhanya Rajendran of The News Minute however found this problematic. In her monologue on her news portal’s YouTube channel “No Filter With Dhanya Rajendran,” she said “The Indian government has a problem with any journalist or media organisation that reports critically on the government. After many covert and overt attempts to muzzle the media, the government is ready with its latest attempt.”

This certainly isn’t the case as there has never been a government at the Centre which continues to be criticized day in and day out by heavily biased media outlets both within and outside the country, including The News Minute. Dhanya Rajendran’s blanket statement makes it appear as if Communist dictators have taken over the country.

Dhanya in the video vehemently criticised the central government’s attempts to control news content and labelled the draft amendments to digital media ethics rules as “clearly unconstitutional.” She raised doubts about the government’s ability to distinguish between misinformation and disinformation.

She laments that giving these powers to PIB is a clear attempt by the government to decide about news content and that this was just a way to censor Indian media. She then also goes on to accuse the PIB to be the PR wing of the government and that instead of doing PR, she wondered if the PIB would now decide what news is acceptable or not. 

Ofcourse, the PIB or the Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) of a state is meant to do PR for the government. It’s in the name itself – Public Relations (PR) and that’s their only mandate. Does Dhanya expect the state’s own propaganda arm to be critical of it? Where is the logic in accusing PIB of doing “PR” for the government? How come nobody else has called out this ridiculous assertion by Dhanya Rajendran?

Be that as it may. Now let us move on to something that happened in Tamil Nadu in March 2022. While Dhanya portrays herself as a crusader for media freedom, her selective outrage and double standards become evident when we examine her silence on similar issues concerning the local DMK government in Tamil Nadu.

In the state budget presented by the then Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, he announced that the state government had decided to form a special Social Media Monitoring Centre under the police department and that the Social Media Monitoring Centre was set up to ‘battle fake news and misinformation on social media platforms’. 

According to reports, a whopping 203 officials and police personnel have been deputed for the task of “monitoring fake news on social media intending to create tension, riots, online frauds, drug smuggling, etc”.

Back in March 2022, The Commune had expressed concerns about this stating that the DMK government with the state police machinery under its control might use it to muzzle dissenting voices which is what seems to be happening.

In April 2022, the Twitter handle @ITWReports handle surfaced and it identified itself as an ID to report abusive content against individuals, organisations, and Tamil Nadu Government (read it as DMK leaders, DMK, and the DMK government) that will work to clamp down on fake news and other malicious content on social media.

Instance of ITW Reports functioning like Hitler’s private militia has been detailed in this report.

Our readers, we ask of you, by the looks of it, isn’t this a more dangerous and a direct attack on freedom of speech and expression? But guess what? Neither Dhanya Rajendran nor her organization have even uttered a word about the blatant abuse of power by the DMK with the police being used as mercenaries to hunt down on critics.   

It is a very well-known fact that the DMK government in Tamil Nadu has been taking extreme action on comments critical of their government made on social media platforms ever since they came to power. Here are a few instances when this has happened:

  • In July 2021, a case was filed against the AIADMK party’s TV channel, News J, and several members of its IT wing, pertaining to certain posts they had published in the past.
  • On 9 December 2021, YouTuber Maridhas was taken into custody following a controversial tweet concerning the demise of Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat. The arrest came after a complaint was filed by a DMK functionary, who expressed concern over Maridhas’ tweet drawing a comparison between Tamil Nadu and Kashmir.
  • In November 2021, Kishore K Swamy, another political commentator known for his criticism of the DMK, was incarcerated for 6 months after slapping the Goondas Act on him.
  • BJP IT wing office-bearer Saravana Kumar from Dindigul was arrested for criticising the DMK government and later released following a protest by BJP cadres in front of the police station. 
  • Kalyana Raman, a BJP functionary, was apprehended on charges of making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Stalin and his deceased father Karunanidhi.
  • In April 2023, Vice President of Tamil Nadu BJP’s Industrial Cell, Selva Kumar was arrested for allegedly making remarks against MK Stalin & DMK Minister Senthil Balaji. 
  • BJP supporter and political analyst Krishna Kumar Murugan was arrested in connection with posters mocking Stalin.
  • More recently, a netizen was arrested on 6 June 2023 for sharing an old news and misattributing DMK to an illegal liquor-producing gang in Tiruppur in connection with the recent hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu. 

And in news just coming in, a BJP worker from Kanchipuram, Selvam, has been arrested for tweeting that money in temple hundi belongs to the temple priests while sharing an unrelated video of Bangaladeshi Muslims counting money collections.

In none of the above-mentioned cases did Dhanya Rajendran or her news portal cry foul or accuse the DMK government of suppressing freedom of expression or being unconstitutional in its behaviour? 

Does Dhanya Rajendran not see this as an attack on freedom of expression? Is this kind of monitoring common in a democracy? Is this how fake news is tackled? Why did Dhanya Rajendran not voice out her views on her No Filter series against the DMK government for arresting dissenting voices in Tamil Nadu? Does she and her news portal have a tacit understanding with the DMK?

As a journalist, it is essential to maintain impartiality and hold all governments accountable, regardless of their political affiliations. Dhanya’s failure to criticize the DMK government’s monitoring of social media and the arrests of individuals for expressing dissenting views raises questions about her credibility and the objectivity of her reporting. While she readily goes guns blazing against the central government’s peddling unfounded allegations and fearmongering about potential threats to media freedom, she conveniently turns a blind eye to the fascist actions of the DMK government. Her silence and selective outrage only goes on to prove that The News Minute is nothing but an unofficial mouthpiece of the DMK.

Media freedom is a fundamental pillar of democracy, and it should be protected and defended in all circumstances. However, when journalists exhibit bias and apply different standards based on their political preferences, it undermines the very principles they claim to uphold. It is crucial for journalists like Dhanya Rajendran to maintain consistency in their stance on media freedom and not allow personal or political biases to cloud their judgement. Or better declare your political preferences openly (like we do) instead of hiding under the garb of ‘independent media’ to shove down their opinions down the throats of gullible people.

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The World’s Four Most Powerful Armies In 2023; Indian Army Is The Fourth Power Of The World’s Army!

By
The Commune
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Image Courtesy: Economic Times

In this article, the four top armies of the world in terms of military power and equipment are described. Almost without a doubt, no country in the world does not have an army. A significant part of the world’s budget is spent on the armies of those countries because of the fear of security tensions. And more importantly, a large part of the financial circulation in today’s world is used to increase the military power of countries. One of the crucial things you should know about war is that many discoveries and inventions in the world have been made through wars. From the invention of gunpowder to telecommunications and many medicines that were first discovered and produced in war because war is basically an “Economic Activity.”

Although, since long ago, most wars have been fought to strengthen the economic power of the countries. Even Nader Shah’s military expedition and campaign to Indian soil took place to finance Iran’s budget in that period, as well as the presence and military expedition of the U.S.A. in Iraq and Afghanistan in the contemporary era. In addition to establishing and strengthening the U.S. military position in the Middle East, most of its costs were also obtained from the resources of countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore, in this article, the four most powerful armies in the world in 2023 can be recalled.

1- The U.S. Army- First World Rank

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

The United States Army is the largest military force in the world. The U.S. military has the highest budget in the world, with a military budget of $762 billion. The U.S. Armed Forces have six divisions, the Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Ground Force, Space Force, Air Force, and Navy. The U.S. military was formed 247 years ago with the start of the American War of Independence from Britain in 1775. The President of the United States of America is the commander-in-chief and determines the military policies of the country’s Army. However, at the same time, the Minister of Defense, selected from among the government delegation members, is in charge of the Ministry of Defense.

The U.S. Army has participated in wars such as World War II, Vietnam War, Korean War, Iraq, and Afghanistan War, which means that almost the biggest battles in the world have either occurred or continued with the presence of this country. Of course, America was not present in the war at the beginning of the Second World War, but the incident of Pearl Harbor caused this country to enter the war and be on the Allied front alongside England and France.

One: The total number of personnel is 1,8320,00

Two: The active forces are 1,3900,00

Three: The total number of planes is 13,300

Four: The total number of fighters is 1914

Five: The total number of tanks is 5,500

Six: The total number of armored vehicles is 303,553

Seven: The total marine assets are 484

Eight: The number of submarines is 68

Nine: The number of aircraft carriers is 11

Ten: The military budget is 762 billion dollars.

2- The Russian Army- Second World Rank

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

The Russian Army, known as the Russian Armed Forces, is the second most powerful Army in the world. But this country ranks first in the world regarding the number of weapons and modern military equipment. Vladimir Putin, the current president of Russia, is in charge of the Supreme Forces. The Russian Army is divided into four categories: ground forces, naval forces, reserve forces, and aerospace forces. The Russian Army was formed in 1992 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The Russian Army has at least two million reserve military personnel. With about one million active military personnel, it ranks fifth in the world regarding the number of people. The Russian Armed Forces have two independent arms, the Strategic Missile Forces and the Airborne Forces. The Russian Army has 83 billion dollars in the military budget. Regarding discipline and military training, the Russian Army is still influenced by the Red Army of the Soviet Communist era.

One: The total military personnel is 1,330,900

Two: The total active forces are 830,900 

Three: The total number of planes is 4182

Four: The total number of fighters is 773

Five: The total number of tanks is 12,566

Six: The total number of armored vehicles is 151,642

Seven: The total marine assets are 598

Eight: The number of submarines is 70

Nine: The number of aircraft carriers is 1

Ten: The military budget is 83 billion dollars.

3- The Chinese Army- Third World Rank

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army is the third most powerful Army in the world. The Chinese Army was formed in 1927 with the Nanjing Uprising as the Red Army of Chinese Workers and Peasants. The People’s Liberation Army is the same as the National Army of China, which is controlled by the armed forces of the country, the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese National Army consists of five major divisions: The Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Missile Force, and Strategic Support Forces. Most military units nationwide operate in one of these five sectors, depending on their location. With a budget of 230 billion dollars, China’s national Army has second place in defense spending worldwide. With 2 million active personnel, it is known as the world’s largest Army in terms of military strength.

One: The total military personnel is 3,135000

Two: The total active forces are 2,000,000

Three: The total number of aircraft is 3284

Four: The total number of fighters is 1199

Five: The total number of tanks is 4950

Six: The total number of armored vehicles is 174,300

Seven: The total marine assets are 730

Eight: The number of submarines is 78

Nine: The number of aircraft carriers is 2

Ten: The military budget is 230 billion dollars.

  Indian Army/Getty/Images

4- The Indian Army – Fourth World Rank

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

India has been declared the fourth-strongest Army in the world. India has been declared the fourth-strongest Army in the world. India is the largest Army in terms of military strength, with 1.5 million active personnel. And with a budget of 55 billion dollars, it is the third largest power in the world in terms of defense expenditure. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army forces. So, the Indian Army consists of four main divisions: The Ground Force, Navy Force, Air Force, and Helicopter Fleet. The Global Firepower ranking report is available at this link: https://is.gd/dcagK3

Will the Indian Army Be Able to Fight in Geopolitical Conflicts?

What should be addressed at the end of this article is that India faces two significant threats: Pakistan and China. Many experts and military analysts believe that the current capability of the Indian Army is very high to defeat Islamabad in a non-nuclear war. However, the evidence and analytical statistics in the paper also show that New Delhi will defeat Islamabad. But against a strong opponent called China, the Indians and their defensive and offensive system will inevitably have big problems. It still depends on how India will update its defensive and offensive system against the opponent called China, and this possibility is possible.

With the start of a war against a superpower called China, the Indian Army will quickly need spare parts and support from the manufacturing countries for its vast and diverse fleet. Now, imagine if all the countries exporting weapons to India will have the same opinion about the possible geopolitical and economic wars. Will a country like Russia or European countries with extensive economic relations with China help India easily? The next issue is the many problems and costs that maintenance and training of the military forces will have in support of a conflict. Those interested in military industries and sciences know that there are entirely different ideas in many schools of weapons design and manufacturing in the East and West of the world. Putting together all these military software and hardware, preparing the crew to use and service it, and finally, networking and getting results from these army systems. Nevertheless, this issue is challenging, time-consuming, and expensive at the same time.

One: The total military personnel is 5,132000

Two: The total active forces are 1,450000

Three: The total number of planes is 2210

Four: The total number of fighters is 577

Five: The total number of tanks is 4614

Six: The total number of armored vehicles is 100,882

Seven: The total marine assets are 292 

Eight: The number of submarines is 18

Nine: The number of aircraft carriers is 2

Ten: The military budget is 55 billion dollars.

 

This article was written by Asadullah Jafari “Pezhman” – a Translator, Columnist, and former member of the Afghan National Army. He often writes and translates on Afghanistan and the Middle East issues.

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Jack Dorsey’s Dubious Track-Record On Democracy Comes Under Scanner As He Spreads Misinformation About Indian Govt

By
Hridya
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In an interview to American podcast channel Breaking Points, former CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, accused the Indian government of pressurizing them claiming they received numerous appeals urging them to block accounts that covered the farmers’ protest and those critical of the government.

He also alleged that the government raided homes of Twitter employees and was also threatened with a shut down in the country if they didn’t follow suit.

“India is a country that had many request of us around the farmers protest, around particular journalists that were critical of the government, and it manifested in ways such as ‘we will shut Twitter down in India,’ which is a very large market for us; ‘we will raid the homes of your employees,’ which they did; ‘we will shut down your offices, if you don’t follow suit,’ and this is India, a democratic country.”, Dorsey said.

In response to these allegations, Union Minister of State for Electronics & Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar refuted them saying the team under Dorsey was repeatedly violating Indian laws and that they were in non-compliance from 2020 to 2022 and it was only in June 2022 that they finally complied (after Elon Musk took over).

One of the key incidents that drew attention to Twitter’s behaviour occurred during the protests in January 2021. The platform was filled with misinformation, including reports of genocide that were later proven to be false. The Indian government took action to remove such misinformation from Twitter, as it had the potential to exacerbate the situation based on fabricated news.

Did Jack’s Twitter Comply Better Or Did Musk Do?

Under Jack Dorsey’s leadership, Twitter’s compliance rate for information requests by Indian authorities stood at a mere 5.6%, while in the United States, the rate was 69%. Similarly, for legal demands, Twitter’s compliance rate in India was only 19.5%. This discrepancy in compliance rates has raised concerns about Twitter’s willingness to cooperate with Indian authorities.

During this period, there were allegations that Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s Legal, Policy, and Trust & Safety Lead, and Jack Dorsey engaged in arm-twisting tactics and retaliatory actions. These actions allegedly involved manipulating the timeline of right-leaning accounts, as evidenced by leaked documents known as the Twitter Files. The leaked information suggested a deliberate effort to target and suppress the voices of right-wing users.

We are sure our readers remember this image of Jack Dorsey holding a poster saying “Smash Brahminical Patriarchy” in a picture with Vijaya Gadde and Barkha Dutt during his India visit in 2018 when he met with participated in a closed-door meeting with a group of women journalists, activists, and writers. This sparked a backlash and accusations of promoting casteist sentiments.

The poster was criticized for its generalization of the term “Brahminical” and its perceived attack on an entire community. Many individuals, particularly from the Brahmin community, condemned the use of the phrase and demanded an apology from Dorsey and Twitter.
Twitter responded by stating that the poster was a gift from a Dalit activist and that Dorsey was unaware of its contents when he held it.

Partisan Behaviour

It was also seen that under Jack Dorsey’s leadership, Twitter exhibited partisan behaviour and struggled to remove misinformation from its platform in India, despite taking action in similar circumstances within the United States. This inconsistency raised concerns about the platform’s arbitrary and discriminatory conduct, as well as its misuse of power to “deamplify” and deplatform certain individuals, potentially violating Articles 14 and 19 of the Indian Constitution.

The social media platform has been criticised in India and across the world for its alleged biases, partisan behavior, and controversial practices. Accusations of left-leaning bias, appointing critics of the Indian government in key positions, and interfering in elections have drawn attention from political actors.

Twitter’s Alleged Biases And Appointments

Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, has acknowledged the platform’s left-leaning bias. Critics argue that this bias was evident in the appointment of Raheel Khursheed as Head of News, Politics, and Government, and Mahima Kaul as Head of Public Policy, for Twitter India.

Both individuals were known for their visceral hate for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allegedly operated Twitter by suspending right-leaning accounts and allowing hate speech from left-leaning users.

Mahima Kaul in fact used uncouth and obscene words unbefitting of her position.

Interference In Elections And Content Moderation

Accusations against Dorsey and Twitter extend beyond biases and appointments. There are allegations that Twitter under Jack Dorsey interfered in both the US elections by suppressing news unfavorable to Joe Biden while permitting similar news against Donald Trump.

 

Critics argue that Twitter leveraged the COVID-19 pandemic to generate revenue by allowing misleading or false information related to the virus to circulate on its platform, despite claims of prioritising accuracy.

The controversies surrounding Twitter sparked debates about freedom of expression and the responsibilities of tech companies in ensuring impartiality and fairness. The allegations against Twitter’s fact-checking process and biased content moderation have raised questions about the platform’s role in shaping public discourse and its impact on political narratives.

Twitter under Jack Dorsey had  silenced, shadow-banned and de-platformed several accounts in India that did not subscribe to its “left-leaning bias” while giving a free run to those who peddled propaganda against India and the ruling Modi government.

Not just in India, Twitter under Jack Dorsey even faced flak for arbitrary censorship.

The platform censored COVID-19 vaccine information from Harvard and Stanford educated doctors as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, Donald Trump, the President of the United States himself was de-platformed by Twitter. 

So, it is an open secret that Jack Dorsey made Twitter not as a common digital public good but as a platform to peddle his political ideology by interfering in elections.

Allowing Child Pornography To Be Freely Available On Twitter

Elon Musk took action to address the issue of child pornography on Twitter, which was reportedly neglected by Yoel Roth, who had been responsible for it. Musk criticized Twitter for its failure to combat child exploitation and stated that he prioritized this matter as soon as Ella Irwin, the current head of Trust & Safety, raised concerns about the lack of resources dedicated to child safety. Musk’s efforts have garnered appreciation from victims of sexual abuse for his proactive approach to tackling the issue of child pornography on the platform.

A lawsuit alleges that Twitter declined to remove extensively shared images and videos of a teenage trafficking victim, citing “a lack of violation of the company’s policies as per their investigation.” This is despite the nature of the content and the fact that it was extensively shared.

In addition, it is noteworthy that Twitter not only de-platformed numerous Indian pro-Modi, pro-Hindu accounts but also suspended the account of former US President Donald Trump.

Allegations have surfaced suggesting that the decision to remove Trump from the platform was influenced by internal pressure from “activist employees.” This raises concerns about the potential impact of employee activism on Twitter’s content moderation policies.

It is ironic and oxymoronic that he is talking about ‘freedom of expression’ and democracy today.

Jack Dorsey’s latest comments come against the backdrop of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the US where once again he has been peddling the “Indian democracy under threat” rhetoric.

This has led many in India wonder whether Jack Dorsey is once again trying to meddle in Indian elections albeit behind a veil?

(Hridya is a freelance writer and columnist.)

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Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam Terrorists Sentenced To 7 Years Jail For Hurling Petrol Bombs At BJP Office In CBE

By
The Commune
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Image courtesy: DT Next

Three members of the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) have been sentenced to seven years of imprisonment by the Special Court for the trial of Bomb Blast Cases in Coimbatore. The individuals, identified as P. Balan alias Gopal, M. Jeevanantham alias Jeeva, and B. Gowtham, were convicted by Sessions Judge S. Sashirekha. They were found guilty of hurling Molotov cocktails (petrol bombs) at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Coimbatore on 7 March 2018. The attack was allegedly motivated by comments made by BJP leader H. Raja on Facebook, targeting alleged “social reformer” E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’). Jeevanantham held a prominent position as the TPDK’s urban district organizing secretary.

Investigations revealed that the trio threw the homemade explosive at the BJP office, which is a two-storey building located on VKK Menon Road near Gandhipuram, around 3:20 AM on 7 March 2018. One of the Molotov cocktails exploded on the sunshade of the ground floor, while the second one hit the name board of a nearby travel agency, falling on the road and causing an explosion. The BJP office operated on the first floor. To carry out the attack, the three individuals had rented a two-wheeler from a mechanic. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of ₹1,000 on each of the convicted individuals.

It is also suspected that the TPDK is connected to the SDPI in some way.

TPDK is a splinter outfit of Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam which itself had split from the Dravida Kazhagam headed by K. Veeramani. All the three are rabid anti-Hindu and anti-India outfits. Their leaders often share stage with DMK and are part of the extended Dravidian ecosystem.

TDPK is headed by BG Anur Jegatheesan and Kovai Ramakrittinan is its General Secretary.

Kovai Ramakrishnan is known for his vitriolic and genocidal speeches against Hindus particularly Brahmins. It is noteworthy to mention that this rabid hate mongering bigot was platformed by The Caravan, a leftist magazine with links to the Congress party.

 

(With inputs from The Hindu)

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Annamalai Stirs Hornet’s Nest With Corruption Remarks About Jaya, AIADMK And AMMK Condemns

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The Commune
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BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai has stirred a political controversy with his indirect jibe at late AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa. This has led to further straining of relationship between the BJP and AIADMK with the question of alliance hanging by a single thread.

In an interview to Times of India, Annamalai had conveyed that he and his party would question any government that swindled public money. Though Annamalai did not take any names, the comment that hasn’t gone well with AIADMK as well as TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK is the line where he mentioned about former Chief Ministers getting convicted by a court of law, an indirect reference to Jayalalithaa.

“Many administrations in Tamil Nadu were corrupt, and former Chief Ministers have been convicted in courts of law. That is why Tamil Nadu has become one of the most corrupt states. I would say it holds the number one position in terms of corruption,” replied Annamalai when asked for his agreement on whether the period between 1991-96, when Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK was in power, was one of the worst periods in terms of corruption.

With this comment, Annamalai has stirred a hornet’s nest antagonizing both the AIADMK as well as TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK which is considered as a potential ally for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

AIADMK leader D. Jayakumar said “Instead of criticising the DMK… passing comments against an alliance partner is not acceptable. We strongly condemn his statement. AIADMK workers wish to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi get elected again (in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls). But Annamalai’s action just implies that he does not want the AIADMK and the BJP alliance to continue and Modi to become the prime minister again.”

Jayakumar stated that if elections were to be held today, the AIADMK-led alliance could win around 30 Lok Sabha seats, and they have a chance to secure all 40 seats, including Puducherry, with six to eight months left before the polls.

He called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J.P. Nadda to reign in Annamalai, warning that the party will decide on the alliance if no action is taken.

TTV Dhinakaran too condemned Annamalai for his indirect reference to Jayalalithaa saying that Annamalai is an inexperienced leader who is ignorant of the political history of Tamil Nadu. He pointed out that late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani forged an alliance with Jayalalithaa for the 1998 Lok Sabha elections. He said that at a public meeting held in Marina Beach, Vajpayee hailed Jayalalithaa. It is another matter that Jayalalithaa brought down the Vajpayee government by 1 vote in just 13 months.

TTV Dhinakaran also mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi too shared a cordial relationship with her. “It is condemnable that Annamalai is talking without any political nuance.”, Dhinakaran said in his statement.

He also questioned about the action taken by Central Government agencies against AIADMK leaders accused of corruption during the Edappadi K Palaniswami regime.

“Annamalai who has been releasing asset list of DMK leaders and their families for the past two years, can he mention what steps he has taken through the Central Government to take action against them? Just raiding them cannot be a solution. Annamalai who talks about elimination corruption should think about taking proper steps as well. Annamalai who has no maturity and talks as he wish should introspect whether he is fit to to be the State President of a national party.”, Dhinakaran said.

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Dravidian Model Of Beating The Same Batter: Stalin Rakes Up Hindi Imposition Again, Gets Fact-Checked By New India Assurance Co

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The Commune
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has once again stirred controversy by alleging that the New India Assurance Company, a central government institution, is imposing Hindi within its organization. However, it is important to note that promoting Hindi and English, the official languages mandated by the Official Language Act of 1963, is a regular practice in all central government institutions, even during the Congress-DMK regime at the Center.

A circular issued by the New India Assurance Company stated that guidelines were issued to ensure the implementation of the “Official Language” in all offices, in accordance with the annual program issued by the Department of Official Language, Government of India. The circular clearly indicated that it is the Official Language Act of 1963 that mandates the promotion of both English and Hindi as the official languages of the union.

Despite the circular emphasizing the promotion of both languages, the DMK and its allies projected it as an imposition of only Hindi. In multiple instances within the circular, it was clearly stated to promote both the official language and regional languages in specific areas. For instance, point 17 underscored the importance of bilingual email signatures for all employees, while point 25 mandated that advertisements, tender notices, and press releases published in newspapers should be in Hindi, English, and the regional language.

MK Stalin, in a tweet, criticized the circular and accused the central government of giving undue advantage to Hindi over other Indian languages. He demanded the withdrawal of the circular and an apology from the Chairperson of the New India Assurance Company.

In a lengthy tweet, Mr Stalin said, “While each and every citizen of India is contributing to its development, the Union Government and its institutions continue to give an undue and unfair advantage to Hindi, over other Indian languages in every possible way. The latest in this list is the unjust circular issued by @NewIndAssurance. It must be withdrawn with immediate effect and its Chairperson Neerja Kapur needs to apologize for the disrespect shown towards non-Hindi speakers of India and non-Hindi speaking employees of @NewIndAssurance.”

Stalin added, “Tamil Nadu and DMK will do everything under our power to #StopHindiImposition, as we have always strived in our history. We will remove the undeserving special status that Hindi enjoys everywhere in the Union Government, like Railways, Postal Department, Banking, and Parliament that affects us and our people on a day-to-day basis. We pay our taxes, contribute to progress, and believe in our rich heritage and this nation’s diversity. Our languages deserve to be treated equally. We will resist any attempt to replace Tamil with Hindi in our land.”

In response to MK Stalin’s allegations, the New India Assurance Company clarified that they respect all regional languages and specifically mentioned in their circular that advertisements, tenders, and press releases should be published in newspapers in English, Hindi, and regional languages, similar to other public sector organizations in India.

It is worth noting that the DMK has a history of using anti-Hindi sentiments as a political tool, particularly when facing challenges in state politics. Critics argue that such allegations are often raised to divert attention from other pressing issues or controversies involving the party and its leaders.

In recent weeks, several incidents, including income tax raids on the houses of Minister V Senthil Balaji’s relatives and the raid on the alleged Binami company of MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan, have put the DMK on the defensive. Some believe that the party’s focus on the Hindi imposition issue is an attempt to shift public attention away from these issues and regain political leverage.

Notably, the propagation of Hindi imposition by New India Assurance Company is initiated by Su Venkatesan MP, who has a history of spreading misinformation by misinterpreting the central government circular, falsely claiming that the central government is imposing Hindi on the Tamil community.

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“A Foreign Name Attached To You, Should Be The Last Person To Talk About Tamil”: Annamalai Slams Stalin

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The Commune
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In a stinging rebuttal to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai came down heavy on the DMK’s dynastic politics and also the injustice meted out to Tamil and Tamil people.

His comments came after CM Stalin responded to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s blistering attack on the DMK during the latter’s trip to Chennai.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah while speaking at a public meeting near Vellore, Tamil Nadu had criticized the Congress and DMK for their involvement in dynasty politics and alleged corruption.

He called for a change in leadership, highlighting the achievements of the Modi government and emphasizing the need for a local leader in Tamil Nadu. Shah also addressed the DMK’s failure to establish AIIMS Madurai despite their previous tenure at the Centre.

“Congress and DMK are 2G, 3G, 4G parties. I am not talking about the 2G (spectrum allocation scam). 2G means two generations, 3G means three generations and 4G means four generations,” he said.

“The Maran family (of the DMK) is doing corruption for two generations. The Karunanidhi family is doing corruption for three generations. The Gandhi family is 4G. Rahul Gandhi is fourth generation and for four generations they are enjoying power,” Amit Shah said attacking the two parties.

He said the time has come to “throw out 2G, 3G, 4G and give the power in Tamil Nadu to a son of the soil.”. Amit Shah also said that the DMK had prevented two Tamilians when they had a chance to become the PM adding that in future, a Prime Minister for the country should come from Tamil Nadu.

Taking a swipe at Stalin’s comments regarding AIIMS Madurai, Amit Shah pointed out that despite the DMK being in power at the Centre for 18 years, they had not taken steps to establish the premier medical facility in Tamil Nadu. He contrasted this with the central government’s efforts in the state.

MK Stalin in response to this speech of Amit Shah said that the Union Home Minister did not answer any of his questions. He also took a jibe at Amit Shah’s comments about a Tamilian becoming Prime Minister in future saying “I don’t know if Amit Shah is angry with Modi. If there is a chance for a Tamilian to become the Prime Minister, Union Minister of State L. Murugan and Governor Tamilisai will get that chance.”

In response to Stalin’s remarks on Amit Shah’s speech, Annamalai took MK Stalin head with no punches pulled .

“You are in this position because of the word ‘Dynasty’ and your surname ‘Karunanidhi’. Pls, don’t lecture us on democracy.”, Annamalai said unlike the DMK the BJP has a culture where even a booth president can one day become the Prime Minister of the country.

“In your DMK party, the basic criteria are that they have to be born in your Gopalapuram home, that’s why Hon HM mentioned your family as 3G (3 Generation Dynast) and your partner Congress as 4G (4 Generation Dynast).”, Annamalai said. 

Annamalai also pointed out the Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka that happened when Karunanidhi was Chief Minister and Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister of the country.

“Please don’t even talk about 2004-2014; your party was responsible for the killing of 1.5 Lakh Tamil brothers & sisters in Sri Lanka, ‘corruption to the core’ is a word that perfectly suits your party’s ministers who served in UPA 1 & 2.”, Annamalai said.

About DMK’s contribution to Tamil, Annamalai said “Your party had made sure Tamil language & culture never crossed the borders of TN & that we believe is the greatest disservice to the world’s oldest language, our Tamil.”

“Our PM Thiru Narendra Modi avl has taken it across the whole globe. Finally, our language is getting the attention & richness it truly deserves. If somebody can talk about ‘Tamil’, you should probably be the last person talking about it with a ‘foreign name’ attached to you!”, Annamalai said.

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“If India Breaks Up Linguistically, Brahmins Have No Place To Go”: VCK MP Thiruma’s Latest Tirade Against Brahmins, Abuses Vanniyars As Well

By
The Commune
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thirumavalavan antibrahmin rss hindutva hindurashtra sanatana dharma brahmin honour killing

Protesting the denial of entry to Dalits by Vanniyars at the Melpathi Draupathi Amman temple in Villupuram, VCK leader Thirumavalavan gave an hour-long speech at a meeting organized in Valluvar Kottam, Chennai. However, the VCK leader left no stone unturned and used the opportunity to spew venom on Brahmins.

The Sri Dharmaraja Draupadi Amman Temple in Melpathi village, Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district, has been sealed by the District administration after ongoing tensions between Vanniyars and Dalits regarding temple entry. Vanniyars protested against Dalit entry, claiming it violated temple customs.

According to a report in The Hindu, Vanniyars have said that the deity is their kuladeivam (clan deity) and so the HRCE department had no right over the temple.

The temple closure was ordered under Section 145(1) of the CrPC due to potential law and order issues. In April 2023, Vanniyars allegedly assaulted three Dalit youths attempting to enter the temple, triggering protests and road blockades. MP D. Ravikumar and district officials held discussions, but the situation remained unresolved. Despite initial reports of a resolution, tensions escalated, leading to the temple’s closure. Security personnel have been stationed to ensure law and order in the village.

While this is an issue between Vanniyars and Dalits, Thirumavalavan went on to denounce Brahmins. During his hour-long speech, Thirumavalavan expressed his apprehension regarding the “growing reverence” for Veer Savarkar, stating that portraying him as a great leader could be dangerous.

He further argued that what is being labelled as a Hindu Rashtra is essentially a Brahmin Rashtra, highlighting the alleged desire of Brahmins to create a nation exclusively for their community. He emphasized that India, with its diverse linguistic groups, already has separate regions like Tamil Nadu for Tamil speakers and Hindi-speaking regions for those who speak Hindi.

Thirumavalavan suggested that if the country were to be divided along linguistic lines, each native language group would have its own nation, ensuring the safety and representation of its people.

However, he claimed that Brahmins face a predicament in identifying their “own” country, as their spoken language, Sanskrit, does not have a corresponding land like Tamil Nadu or a Hindi-speaking region. He alleged that Brahmins aspire to claim the entire nation as their own, and the political strategy of Hindutva is being employed to fulfill their objectives.

The VCK leader also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had fallen into the trap of Hindutva and doing so merely for political gain. Thirumavalavan claimed that they have been ensnared in the illusion created by Hindutva, compromising their positions and authority in the process.

This is not the first time that Thirumavalavan has spoken against Brahmins; a few months ago, at a protest rally in Chennai, he threatened to chase Brahmins, BJP, and RSS out of Tamil Nadu.

Abusing Vanniyar Community

The Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi leader went on to abuse the Vanniyar community in the most derogatory way. He criticised the members of the Vanniyar community and demeaned them by saying the community members as fools, adding “your caste intelligence, nothing will enter your head. You don’t even understand the law”.

He goes on to speak in a derogatory manner further saying, “Now that the court has locked the temples, will you “shake” the lock that is hanging?”. He calls them “people of low intelligence (tharkuri) who are rooted in ignorance”. He also calls the Vanniyar community leaders “மோசடி பேர்வழிகள்”/”frauds who cheat their own community members”.

He points out their “untouchability” by saying you lick the pickle when drinking alcohol, the rice you eat is pounded by women of the Dalit community, so where did the untouchability go then? He accuses the Vanniyar community of practicing untouchability only in areas where Dalits ask for their rights.

It is interesting to note that the Draupathi Amman temple is the Kuladevatha of the Vanniyar community and has been exclusively worshipped by the community for generations. Why the sudden interest in praying at this temple, one wonders.

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