In a concerning incident that highlights the deteriorating state of law and order in Tamil Nadu, a DMK functionary in Pudukkottai allegedly threatened and attempted to assault police officers who were conducting a raid on an illegal bar involved in the sale of liquor without proper permission.
Residents of Vanakkankaadu village in the Pudukkottai district had reported the unauthorized sale of alcohol at a bar operating near the Tasmac store. However, the Vadakaadu police failed to take any action despite the complaints. As a result, residents approached the Alangudi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Deepak Rajini, who promptly formed a special team to address the issue.
The special team, consisting of two police officers, conducted a raid on the illegal bar and apprehended a person named Parimalam, who was involved in the illegal sale of liquor. The officers intended to take him to the police station on a two-wheeler.
However, the situation took an ugly turn when a DMK functionary named Mathiyazhagan, allegedly connected to the illegal bar, attempted to forcibly free Parimalam from police custody. He hurled obscene words at the officers and even tried to physically assault them using his slippers. Mathiyazhagan boasted about his links with a DMK minister and demanded the release of the accused individual.
In a surprising turn of events, one of the police officers captured the incident on video. Realizing that his actions were being recorded, Mathiyazhagan abruptly changed his behavior and started attacking the arrested individual, Parimalam, in an attempt to portray himself as a law-abiding citizen in front of the camera.
The video capturing the altercation has now gone viral on social media, raising concerns about the brazen behavior of political functionaries and the deteriorating law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. Despite the police managing to arrest Parimalam, the criminal involved in the illegal liquor trade, no action has been taken against Mathiyazhagan for obstructing a government officer from performing his duty.
This incident brings into question the efficacy of the law enforcement system under Chief Minister MK Stalin’s administration and raises concerns about the safety and security of both the public and law enforcement officials.
The Keezh Tirupati Varadaraja Perumal temple located in Tirunelveli is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It was constructed by Pandya King Veerapandian during the 12th century AD. The temple derives its name from the surrounding area’s abundant red soil, leading to its original designation as Sengani. In Tamil, “Sen” signifies red and “Kani” signifies land. Over time, the name evolved to Sangani.
This temple, however, has remained closed for a month due to the absence of a temple priest, leaving devotees feeling disheartened.
Tirunelveli is a hotbed of conversion in TN. The frauds in HR&CE department that illegally controls our temples have kept this keezhl Tirupati Temple in Tirunelveli locked for more than 32 days without even opening for a single Pooja. Even after repeated requests from devotees,… pic.twitter.com/hWIQxnTj39
— BHAGWAN PARASHURAMA'S ARMY (@KshatriyaHero) June 6, 2023
According to historical accounts, Saint Brighu established the deity in this particular spot. An extraordinary event unfolded during the 14th century – the king of Tirunelveli, seeking divine blessings, visited the temple but found the priest indisposed due to illness. The deity assumed the guise of the priest and conducted the pooja, thereby rescuing the priest from potential punishment by the king. As a result, the deity earned the epithet of ‘Vaazha Veikum Perumal,’ which translates to ‘the one who saves.’
In the past, the temple had fallen into disrepair, but thanks to the dedicated efforts of devotees, it was renovated and reestablished a few years ago. The government included this centuries-old temple in its “Oru Kaala pooja scheme”. The “Oru Kala Pooja Scheme” was implemented with the purpose of guaranteeing the daily performance of at least one pooja in temples that lack sufficient funds.
Unfortunately, the priest who had been serving at the temple passed away a year and a half ago. Subsequently, two priests were appointed with a salary of ₹1000, but they were unable to continue their duties as the electricity bill for the temple exceeded ₹2000.
Despite dedicating themselves to serving the deities in temples that are under government control, the priests struggle to make ends meet with meagre wages that are insufficient to provide three proper meals a day. These government workers receive an unfairly low monthly sum of around ₹1000, which falls significantly short of what is required for a decent standard of living, especially given today’s economic conditions.
As a result of such low salaries, many temples in remote areas are managed by a single individual, the priest, who not only performs the rituals but also takes care of the temple’s maintenance. It is evident that the current payment system fails to acknowledge the immense effort and manpower required to uphold the temple’s upkeep.
During his “Free TN Temples” campaign, Sadhguru expressed his concern regarding the inadequate wages received by temple priests. He tweeted as below:
Temple Priests are paid such lowly salary, they are compelled to augment their income through other sources. Penury is not a qualification for Piety. This mindset needs to go. –Sg #FreeTNTemples@CMOTamilNadu@mkstalin@rajinikanth
Coming back to the Varadaraja Perumal temple, it has been closed for the past months and no rituals have been performed for the deity, much to the despair of devotees. People from other towns who visited the temple returned disappointed without being able to have darshan of the deity.
Expressing their concerns, devotees emphasized that despite overcoming numerous challenges to renovate and reestablish the temple, it is now closed without a priest. They emphasized the importance of daily pooja and maintenance of the temple. They called on the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (TNHRCE) officials to engage in discussions with the temple authorities and take appropriate action to address the situation.
In 2020, the HR&CE department has reported to the Madras High Court that among the 44,121 temples under its jurisdiction in the State, over 37,000 temples lack sufficient revenue to employ more than one individual. These individuals often serve as both priests and caretakers. Additionally, it was revealed that 11,999 temples face financial constraints that prevent them from covering the expenses of conducting even a single puja on a daily basis. This numbers must have been increased drastically and now the Varadaraja Perumal Temple from Tirunelveli too joins the list.
According to the statistics provided by the Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, the district-wise income from temples for the year 2020-2021 was documented. The data indicates that the government earned a substantial income from the temples in Tirunelveli, reaching up to ₹1201 lakhs. This includes the income generated by the Varadaraja Perumal Temple located in Tirunelveli, which is now closed with no rituals.
At such a time, we are reminded of what Tamil poet Bharathiyar said a long time ago, “If ghosts rule, the shastras will eat on corpses.”
The temples are currently under government control and managed by individuals who lack emotional attachment to the temple. Consequently, the upkeep of the temples suffers as they are not maintained properly. It is important to understand that a temple is not merely a business entity but the heart and soul of a community. Effective management requires immense dedication and devotion to ensure its proper functioning.
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Vijayawada: Yet again, in the never-ending game of political speculation, it’s a case of an old story bubbling with hitherto unconfirmed alliance-related gossip ahead of A.P’s elections in the first half of next year. Amit Shah’s recent meeting with N Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party has sparked speculation about a potential political alliance. This echoes the 2014 election scenario when the TDP and BJP formed a pre-poll alliance in Andhra Pradesh. If the rumours turn out to be true, would the alliance be a pre-poll or a post-poll one with guaranteed “external” support of all bills in parliament? What would the negotiations and conditions between the two parties look like? Who would stand to gain more – the regional party or the BJP?
In the curious case of Andhra Pradesh, the BJP is in a highly enviable yet challenging position of confirming alliances with A.P-based regional parties. The two major players (the currently ruling YSRCP and the previous victor TDP) as well as the
up-and-coming Jana Sena Party (JSP) are all wooing the BJP for support and partnership. It’s an advantage for the BJP yet a case of being saddled with too much choice, which can be confusing at times!
The leaders of all three parties – YS Jagan Reddy of the YSRCP, N Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP, and Tollywood star Pawan Kalyan of the JSP, are in touch with the BJP’s top brass. The BJP on its part appears to be carefully monitoring current political, economic, and social indicators in A.P periodically to assist it in selecting a 2024 election partner – will the numbers & data indicative of a certain trend, be the decisive factor in the selection of an electoral alliance OR in the absence of any definitive/conclusive data, will it come down to the personal charisma, diplomacy, negotiation skills, and personal rapport of the three A.P leaders with the decision-makers of the BJP?
The current “external” support on all its bills, schemes, and proposals that the BJP enjoys from A.P’s ruling YSRCP party has worked well for it, based on a quid pro quo arrangement and certain favours exchanged between the two parties. However, the YSRCP’s political baggage and its leader YS Jagan Reddy’s personal legal issues may become problematic in the near future, weighing the BJP down rather than furthering its presently meagre prospects in A.P.
The YSRCP’s disproportionate emphasis on minority and lower caste communities, coupled with allegations of corruption and hooliganism, has led to a financially unsustainable welfare approach. As a result, the state has faced bankruptcy and dwindling support from various segments, including the middle class and government employees facing delayed salaries. The party’s populist policies have also alienated private businesses, industrial, and educational investments in the state, causing a further decline in the state’s revenue and loss of employment opportunities for the state’s residents. To add to the woes of Jagan Reddy and his YSRCP party, key leaders of the party are also embroiled in the Delhi Liquorgate scandal.
Additionally, Jagan Reddy’s personal problems with the law cannot be ignored or wished away – he is still being pursued by the ED and the CBI for as many as 31 registered cases for which he was previously lodged in jail for more than a year. The cases range from massive financial embezzlement to those with criminal charges including a particularly sensitive one involving the brutal gangster-style murder of his paternal uncle. The YSRCP’s loss of support among sections of society and the state’s unenviable financial and employment statistics are not satisfactory social, financial, and economic indicators for next year’s elections.
On the other hand, the two principal opposition parties, the TDP and the JSP appear to be staunchly united in their goal of defeating the YSRCP at any cost. The JSP’s leader, Pawan Kalyan is a popular Telugu actor with a wide fan base, and the TDP supremo, Chandrababu Naidu is a seasoned politician and an experienced business-savvy leader known in both Telugu states for his administrative skills, his futuristic visionary thinking and his balanced development/growth-oriented goals, focusing on balancing modern technology with traditional economic occupations. The BJP is spoilt for choice. Will it lean towards the YSRCP or the TDP-JSP combine for its future in A.P?
For the people of Andhra, the nail-biting suspense of an old, rather dramatic, ongoing story becomes a daily-news item, with no confirmation in sight, at least till the end of this year. A.P.’s upcoming elections are scheduled for the first half of 2024 and the BJP with all the bargaining chips in its hands, may decide to keep all three parties guessing till just a few months before the announced election date. After all, what’s the rush when everybody wants an alliance with you and the ball’s in your court?
The BJP’s political status in the neighbouring Telugu state of Telangana could not be more different! While it enjoys more popularity in Telangana than it does among the masses of A.P, it is yet to firmly establish itself in the state and currently does not have officially declared electoral partnerships for this year’s state elections, to assist it in its prospects against the still popular and formidable Bharat Rashtra Samithi party (BRS) led by the populist leader, K Chandrasekhar Rao, and his family. Telangana’s state elections are scheduled to be held before the end of this year.
An informal alliance or tacit understanding with Naidu’s TDP party in both the Telugu states may help the BJP with the already established TDP cadre’s utilisation for crucial campaign work such as voter statistics and grass-roots outreach programs. Notably, A.P’s YSRCP party does not have a presence in Telangana while the much older TDP party does have a base in the state and in the past had enjoyed wide support among the people of Telangana, before its bifurcation from the larger, united state of Andhra Pradesh.
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A few days ago at the inaugural event of the India Today South Conclave 2023, Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, resorted to reading out pre-prepared answers from a set of papers during an interview.
During the interview, the India Today interviewer posed a series of questions regarding Kerala’s infrastructure sector, attracting mega investments and businesses to the state, promoting the service sector, improving employment opportunities, and the possibility of preventing a brain drain by providing suitable jobs for the state’s residents.
Hilarious Interview of Kerala CM at the India Today Conclave
Here's a funny interview clip of the Kerala CM at the India Today Conclave.
Interviewer: Now we know why you are considered one of the most progressive CMs in India. (I literally burst out laughing at this point,… pic.twitter.com/ZrSBCV3UuE
— Anand #IndianfromSouth (@Bharatiyan108) June 7, 2023
Rather than providing spontaneous responses, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan began shuffling through a stack of papers in his possession as the questions were being asked. Once the interviewer concluded, he proceeded to read from one of the papers, stating, “We have the coast on one side and hills on the other. In between, there is plenty of wetland and forest land as well. With 44 rivers, only about 35% of the overall area of Kerala is available for people’s use.”
Continuing with the scripted answers, Pinarayi Vijayan mentioned the “Year of the Enterprises” scheme, emphasizing its significance and its impact on the industrial and employment sectors. He highlighted Kerala’s strides in various fields such as IT, BT, electronics, tourism, and healthcare, stating that these efforts are aimed at transforming Kerala into a knowledge economy and an innovative society.
The highlight of this session was the Chief Minister’s reliance on prepared notes to address questions on crucial matters related to Kerala’s development. Some observers argue that it raises doubts about Pinarayi Vijayan’s ability to lead effectively, especially considering his extensive experience and his current position as Chief Minister for a second consecutive term. There arises a question of whether his reliance on notes reflects a lack of in-depth knowledge or a failure to grasp the complexities of the issues at hand.
While speakers may resort to teleprompters or notes on occasion, the sight of a leader relying heavily on readymade notes to respond to interview questions surely raises doubts about his knowledge of his own state and his leadership capabilities.
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In a move reminiscent of its alliance partner in Tamil Nadu, the DMK, the Karnataka Congress has backtracked on its promise to provide Rs 2000 to all woman heads of families under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. The party now states that the scheme will only be applicable to eligible beneficiaries.
This tactic mirrors the deceiving approach employed by the DMK, which initially declared it would provide 1000 rupees to all women in households but later restricted the scope to a lesser number of beneficiaries after assuming power.
The Karnataka cabinet recently decided to implement the ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme, which aims to provide financial assistance to women in the state. However, the Women and Child Development Ministry has issued detailed guidelines, including specific conditions to qualify for the scheme, raising concerns among the public.
According to the guidelines released by the department, the scheme will not be applicable to women who pay Income Tax or file Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns. The Congress had initially promised to provide Rs 2,000 per month to every woman heading a family in Karnataka.
The cabinet’s decision to implement the scheme from August 15 was met with anticipation, but the subsequent eligibility criteria have caused disappointment and confusion among potential beneficiaries.
Eligibility requirements include holding a Below Poverty Line (BPL) or Antyodaya card issued by the Food and Civil Supplies Department. Additionally, the beneficiary must be clearly identified as the woman head (Yejamani) of the family on the aforementioned cards. In cases where multiple women reside in a household, only one will be eligible to receive the scheme’s benefits.
On the other hand, certain groups are excluded from eligibility. Women who pay Income Tax or file GST returns, as well as women whose husbands pay Income Tax or file GST returns, will not qualify for the scheme. Furthermore, women whose names are not listed as the heads of the family on their BPL, APL, or Antyodaya cards will also be ineligible.
The recent developments have ignited a debate over the Congress party’s commitment to fulfilling its promises and its stance on providing financial assistance to women in need.
Tejasvi Surya, the Member of Parliament for BJP Bengaluru South, strongly criticized the announcement made by the Congress government regarding the restrictions placed on beneficiaries of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. In his scathing remarks, he stated, “Once again, the Congress has let down the people of Karnataka. Despite their initial promise to provide Rs 2,000 per month to the woman head of every family, the Sri Siddaramaiah Government has now revealed an extensive list of conditions. Shockingly, these conditions exclude government and private employees, entrepreneurs, and individuals who file income tax returns or receive GST refunds. This means that a significant number of women in the state, who were eagerly awaiting the monthly assistance of Rs 2,000, have been deliberately left out of the scheme.”
Another day, another betrayal to people of Karnataka by Congress.
After promising Rs 2,000 per month to the woman head of every family, Sri @Siddaramaiah Govt has released its long list of conditions – leaving out Govt & Private Employees, entrepreneurs & those filing I-T… pic.twitter.com/yMskv2d19W
In a recent development, the film “Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam,” directed by M. Muthaiah, has sparked controversy due to a dialogue change that took place after the movie’s trailer was released. The film, an Indian Tamil-language action drama, stars Arya, Siddhi Idnani, Prabhu, Madhusudhan Rao, Aadukalam Naren, Bhagyaraj, and Singampuli. The film was released on June 2nd to mixed reviews.
Muthaiah, a director from the Thevar community and known for glorifying it in his movies, included a dialogue in the trailer of “Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam” that stated, “Both Allah and Ayyanar (a Hindu god) are the same.” However, upon the film’s release in theaters, the dialogue was modified to “Both worshippers of Allah and Ayyanar are the same.”
This alteration has ignited speculation that Muthaiah may have faced criticism and threats from Islamic organizations who disagreed with equating Allah and Ayyanar.
In Islam, “La ilaha illallah” is an Arabic phrase that translates to “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah” in English. It is known as the Shahada, which is the Islamic declaration of faith and one of the fundamental pillars of Islam. By reciting the Shahada with sincerity and belief, a person professes their acceptance of Allah as the one and only God and the finality of Prophet Muhammad as His messenger. This declaration is considered the foundation of Islamic belief and is recited by Muslims worldwide as an affirmation of their faith in Allah’s oneness and sovereignty.
Given this context, the director’s decision to modify the dialogue suggests a possible attempt to appease the Muslim community who do not consider Ayyanar to be equal to Allah.
This controversy has sparked a reaction among netizens, with many expressing their opinions on social media. Some argue that Muthaiah should focus on promoting tolerance among followers of Islam rather than lecturing Hindus. Others expressed their frustrations saying that in India, Christians follow Christianity, Muslims follow Islam, but Hindus must be secular.
It is worth mentioning that Muthaiah has previously faced criticism for his portrayal of caste in his films. Puthiya Tamizhagam Dr. Krishnasamy has condemned the director for perpetuating caste stereotypes and promoting enmity between castes. Moreover, Muthaiah has been accused of stereotyping Dalit youths as individuals who try to attract upper-caste girls by flaunting expensive clothing, bikes, and other material possessions.
An interesting fact to consider is that actor Arya, who was born with the name Jamshad Cethirakath and follows the Muslim faith, goes by the name Arya specifically for his work in movies. Likewise, his wife Sayessha also belongs to the Muslim community.
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At a recent gathering of Tamil Nadu state and private university vice-chancellors, Governor Ravi emphasized the need for attracting investments and revamping the education system. The conference, focused on translating higher education textbooks into Tamil, took place at Raj Bhavan, Nilgiris.
Governor Ravi inaugurated the conference on 5 June 2023, highlighting the rapid advancements in technology, particularly since the Second World War. With the increased demand for computer education and the influx of multinational companies into India, the governor stressed the importance of adapting education to align with emerging AI technologies.
Governor Ravi raised concerns about the current job market, where Diploma/ITI polytechnic students often earn higher salaries than engineering graduates. The telling lack of employability among the educated youth was something Governor Ravi pointed out. He also mentioned that to address this issue, translating existing technical educational material from English to Tamil/mother tongue is a step towards aiding students and also aligns with the education systems of countries like China and Japan, which prioritize education in their respective languages.
The Governor spoke about the National Education Policy 2020 which has given more emphasis than the previous policy to strengthen the curriculum aided by ancient Indian wisdom, heritage, and culture. He said it is a visionary document for comprehensive and multi-dimensional education and preparation of the youth for the future. He also mentioned that the NEP 2020 has given more importance to digital and online education. Encouraging a research environment to increase employability to bridge the gap between skills rather than knowledge alone is vital, the Governor said. The Governor also mentioned that India is home to the top three startups in the world, India is the most digitized country in the world and he believes that India is the future destination for this transformation for countries to relocate their manufacturing. However, he cautioned that foreign investments cannot be attracted merely by requesting or meeting with business people.
“In our state we have to create more and more environment to attract more and more of them. Investors will not come just because we ask them or we go and have talk. They are hard bargainer. In our country there are many states which are doing it. Haryana is having FDI equivalent to our state. We have to create the ecosystem for Global Giants for which essential element is to create competent, appropriately
skilled human resources only then we will avail ourselves of the advantage of this opportunity.” Governor Ravi said.
However, this speech made by the Governor has been misconstrued as always by the local media, political commentators, and members of the DMK party and government saying that the Governor is accusing the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister of going on foreign trips just for leisure.
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thennarasu accused the governor of indirectly criticizing Chief Minister MK Stalin’s recent foreign visit by referring to Governor Ravi’s statement.
வெளிநாடு சென்று முதலீட்டை ஈர்க்கும் செயல்பாட்டை பிரதமர் நரேந்திர மோடி குஜராத் முதலமைச்சராக இருந்த போது மேற்கொண்டுள்ளார். ஆளுநர் ஆர்.என். ரவியின் கருத்து பாஜகவையும், பிஜேபியையும் பார்த்து கேட்பதாக உள்ளது.
“It is not acceptable for the Governor to talk about the Chief Minister’s foreign trip. Our demand is that the governor should not do politics. DMK will not hesitate to fight against the Governor if necessary,” Thangam Thennarasu stated.
He also went on to say, “Prime Minister Modi also travels abroad often, does the Governor criticise any of that? When PM Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he travelled to several countries seeking investments,”.
Along with him, DMK IT Wing secretary, TRB Rajaa went on to write a long-winding post on Twitter without a basic understanding of what the Governor spoke at the event in the first place.
The Hon'ble Governor needs to rethink his observations about Tamil Nadu's thriving business climate !
While we are open to receive views, thoughts and advices we only wish he wasn’t offering this stale advice to the state of Tamil Nadu, which has the largest number of factories… https://t.co/2GfdHKL5v3
Following suit, we also spotted self-proclaimed “neutral” political commentator, Sumanth Raman also made the following Twitter post without understanding the context of Governor Ravi’s speech and it seemed as if he was following the narrative set by the DMK members.
Governor commenting derisively on a CM's foreign visit is just not done. This Govt will do well to ignore the man but they keep playing blow hot-blow cold with him.
The DMK government in Tamil Nadu has found itself amidst a heated controversy as authorities initiated the demolition of sugarcane crops ready for harvest near Cuddalore for the construction of a state highway.
This action has drawn backlash from local farmers who argue that the compensation offered for their land acquisition is unjustly low. The case is currently pending in court, yet authorities, accompanied by police, conducted the demolition without any prior notice, leaving farmers shocked and outraged.
A video capturing the sudden destruction of the crops by JCBs has gone viral. Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai expressed his astonishment at the developments, questioning the need for such immediate action when the Collector had already granted a two-month period to complete the necessary procedures for land acquisition.
கடலூர் மாவட்டம் பண்ருட்டி அருகே, கடலூர் மடப்பட்டு இடையிலான மாநில நெடுஞ்சாலை அமைக்க நடைபெறும் நிலம் கையகப்படுத்தும் பணியை எதிர்த்து, நிலத்திற்கு குறைந்த மதிப்பில் விலை நிர்ணயம் செய்ததாகக் கூறி, அந்தப் பகுதியில் உள்ள விவசாயிகள் உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்கு தொடர்ந்திருப்பதாகத்… pic.twitter.com/9fYzE5sc0m
Annamalai also criticized the government’s lack of empathy for farmers, emphasizing that a government that prioritizes building roads on agricultural lands fails to understand the grievances of those who depend on farming for their livelihoods.
In another incident, farmers have been staging a sit-in protest for over 150 days against the DMK government’s acquisition of agricultural land to set up SIPCOT industrial estate at Krishnagiri district.
In April 2022, then Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu announced in the Assembly that a new SIPCOT will be established in Krishnagiri on 3,000 acres at a cost of ₹1,800 crore.
This has been met with stern opposition from locals as several acres of fertile agricultural lands in Ayarnampalli and Udhanappalli villages of Soolagiri taluk in Krishnagiri be lost.
In March 2023, a ‘peace meeting’ aimed at resolving the conflict between farmers and the revenue administration ended in an impasse as the officials had made arrangements only to hear from a select few in a small hall.
Since the DMK government refused to yield to their demands, the farmers intensified the protests with hunger strikes till death.
One farmer named Annaiyyappa died as a result of the fast unto death.
This incident highlights an ironic aspect regarding the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), which has established 24 industrial parks in 16 districts across the state. Surprisingly, more than half of the vast 38,538-acre area allocated for these parks remains unoccupied to this day. In light of this fact, questions arise as to why the DMK government is pursuing the further acquisition of agricultural land when there are existing industrial land lying vacant.
தமிழ்நாடு முழுவதும் 16 மாவட்டங்களில், 24 தொழிற்பூங்காக்களை சிப்காட் அமைத்துள்ளது. மொத்த பரப்பளவான 38,538 ஏக்கரில் பாதிக்கும் மேலான இடங்கள் இன்றுவரை காலியாகவே உள்ளது.
இந்நிலையில் எதற்காக மேலும்மேலும் விவசாய நிலங்களை அபகறிக்க துடிக்கிறது சிப்காட் ?
Condemning the tragic death of the farmer, BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annammalai lashed out at the DMK government for its incompetence.
He said that the Industries Minister (Thennarasu then, TRB Rajaa now) should have personally met the farmers who have been struggling for 150 days and given fair solutions to their demands adding that the ‘incompetent’ DMK government is hiding behind officials and ignoring the struggling farmers.
கிருஷ்ணகிரி மாவட்டம் உத்தனப்பள்ளி உள்ளிட்ட ஊராட்சிகளில், சிப்காட் தொழிற்பேட்டை அமைக்க, தமிழக அரசு விளை நிலங்களைக் கையகப்படுத்துவதை எதிர்த்து, 150 நாள்களாக விவசாயிகள் காத்திருப்புப் போராட்டம் நடத்தி வருகிறார்கள்.
கடந்த 2022 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் மாதம், தமிழக தொழிற்துறை அமைச்சர்,…
Both of these incidents of the DMK government’s apathy towards farmers have virtually gone unreported. Despite the months long protest in Krishnagiri, the Dravidian Stockist media which had extensively covered the protest against farmer empowerment laws in Delhi have looked the other way. The mainstream media outlets have either downplayed the protest or have completely ignored it. Poovulagin Nanbargal NGO which was one of the frontal organizations in instigating protests against Chennai – Salem expressway is no where to be seen. Its head G. Soundararajan was appointed by the DMK government as a member of the Tamil Nadu Governing Council on Climate Change.
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In a recent political exchange, Communist MP John Brittas faced fierce criticism from Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai, over his alleged disdain for Hinduism.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave South, CPI-M Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala John Brittas insulted the historic Sengol and called Hindu sanyasis as “powerless clowns”.
“Sardar Patel.. he did away with all this Sengol, Simhasan (throne), crown, powerless clowns, powerless jyotishts (astrologers). All this have been brought back to Indian politics after 75 years. Is that what the country wants now? What do these Sanyasis have to do with the Parliament? Are they representatives of India? Have they ever voted in an election? What nonsense is happening in this country?” he had said.
But this is not the first time John Brittas has made such provocative statements. In 2019, he made headlines when he said “Christianity was in Kerala before Hindu Brahmins came. It’s indigenous to Kerala.”
In an interview to Kairali TV of which is the Managing Director, he said “Christianity indigenous to Kerala. I’ve studied about it a little. What we see today as Hinduism in Kerala, long before that Christianity came to Kerala. Christianity came to Kerala in 1st or 2nd century AD. Hindu Brahmins came much later in 7th or 8th century.”
Christian fundamentalists and evangelists often use this trope to claim religious superiority over Hindus and also delink Hinduism from the people living in this part of India.
A theory propagated by British missionaries suggest that St. Thomas visited Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the 1st century AD, and that Christianity thrived in the region before “Aryan invaders” (read Brahmins) usurped Hinduism and spread their faith. Today, the proponents of this theory primarily consist of Dravidianists and Marxists like Brittas.
Critics argue that such arguments only reinforce the belief that Communism in India is deeply rooted in Hindumisia. They maintain that it serves as a convenient mask for those with anti-Hindu sentiments to vent their prejudices, while claiming a secular and egalitarian stance.
In a recent development, the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Kerala finds itself embroiled in controversy as two of its affiliated members, Comrade Divya and Comrade Arsho, face serious allegations. These incidents also indicate how determined the party is when it comes to supporting its cadres at any cost, thereby raising concerns about fraud and the misuse of government influence.
SFI activist Comrade Divya has been implicated in the creation of forged documents. One such document claimed that she served as a temporary teacher at Maharaja’s College in Ernakulam from 2018 to 2021. However, investigations have revealed that the document contained a fabricated signature and seal of the college principal. These accusations bring into question the integrity of Comrade Divya and her alleged association with the Communist Party of India.
In the case of Comrade Arsho, a leader of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) in Kerala, he stands accused of passing a university examination without actually appearing for it. It is noteworthy that at the time of the examination, he was incarcerated for his involvement in an attempted murder case. The allegations against Comrade Arsho raise concerns about the ethical conduct of CPI-affiliated individuals in positions of influence.
These incidents highlight the growing discontent and skepticism regarding the CPI’s actions in Kerala. Critics argue that such cases reveal a willingness within the party to go to great lengths in supporting their members, even resorting to fraudulent practices. The misuse of government influence is a cause for alarm, as it undermines the principles of fairness and transparency that are essential for a healthy democracy. While these cases involving Comrade Divya and Comrade Arsho have gained attention, it is worth noting that they may only scratch the surface of a larger issue.
As this news about Comrade Divya came out, a case has been registered on a complaint filed by the college for submitting a fake experience certificate from Maharajah’s College for the post of guest lecturer at Attapadi College. Vidya’s fraud was caught when she was interviewed at Attappady Government College. Maharaja’s College Principal stated that the logo of the college, the seal of the Vice Principal, and the seal of the department mentioned in the certificate are all fake. The college does not have the practice of affixing a seal as in the submitted certificate, and no guest lecturer had been appointed for the Malayalam Department of Maharaja’s College in the last 10 years.
The accusations against Comrade Divya and Comrade Arsho demand a thorough investigation to ensure that justice is served and to maintain public trust in the political process. The Communist Party of India and its affiliated organizations must address these allegations promptly and take appropriate action to uphold the values of accountability and integrity.
This is not the first time such a controversy is unfolding. A few month back, a PhD thesis of Kerala Youth Commission Chairperson, Chintha Jerome of the CPM was plagiarised and contained factual errors. Read more here.
That said, as the controversy unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder that the actions of individuals within political parties have far-reaching consequences for society as a whole. It reinforces the need for transparent governance and a commitment to ethical conduct to preserve the foundations of a thriving democracy.
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