Thai Poosam is a very important festival for Hindus, especially for the people of Tamil Nadu. It marks the occasion of Lord Muruga destroying evil in the form of the asura Soorapadman. Grand festivities take place all over the state, and even neighbouring states. Temples also have festive celebrations for the respective deities in the temple.

This year however, all festivities have been curbed because temples have been closed for Thai Poosam. The DMK government, that has been imposing lockdown restrictions from the 6th January, to curb the spread of the third wave, imposed closure of temples even on Pongal and Thai Poosam days. Hindus consider it extremely important to go to the temple for worship on these days. But, because of the restrictions, they have been deprived of this practice.

While the government may explain that it is important to close temples and other places of worship to avoid crowding, it is to be noted that Churches were kept open for Christmas and English New Year. It is also to be noted that the first case of the Omicron variant was found in Tamil Nadu on 15th December itself. So these places of worship could have been closed for Christmas and New Year itself, helping in avoiding the third wave altogether. However, not only Churches but all places of worship were over crowded on these days. In fact, the government also went against the Agama rules of temples and kept them open past midnight on New Year’s day. This also attracted a lot of crowd.

It is also noteworthy mention that government liquor outlets TASMAC which sees huge crowd daily has been kept open except on Sundays (due to full lockdown).

Critics of the DMK point out that the decision to keep temples closed for Hindu festivals, but keep other places of worship open for their respective festivals, exposes their hatred for anything Hindu.

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A video of controversial and hate-speech indulging Christian pastor Mohan C Lazarus is being shared across Twitter, where he asks Christians to flout COVID norms and visit the Church. In the video, the speaker asks, “How many of you went to the Church? Many are telling me that if we visit the Church we will catch the Corona Virus. We don’t catch the virus when we go shopping, or when we go for a feast. Will the virus attack us if we go to the Church alone?”

“Don’t let Corona stop you from going to the church, even if you get infected and die you will be going to heaven so go to the church”#Lazarus 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/4sYa84v45I

— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 (@HLKodo) January 15, 2022

He then moves onto urging people to come to the Church and says, “Don’t let Corona stop you from going to the church, even if you get infected and die you will be going to heaven so go to the church.” The ‘preacher’ does not stop here, but goes on to criticise world corporate companies and even the WHO, for asking people to take vaccines and booster doses. “Vaccines, booster doses and masks are all conspiracy of WHO and corporate companies, all this are done to intimidate and enslave you and keep you in fear its the work of Antichrist, proof for all this is in the Bible,” he says in the video.

“Vaccines, Booster doses and masks are all conspiracy of WHO and corporate companies, all this are done to intimidate and enslave you and keep you in fear its the work of Antichrist, proof for all this is in the Bible” #Lazarus the Unstoppable pic.twitter.com/3JygVlq1nQ

— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 (@HLKodo) January 16, 2022

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Police arrested 2 individuals for selling liquor bottles at a hotel that is built on Vriddhagiriswarar temple’s property. The hotel itself is built on the temple’s encroached land.

The SP and a team of Police officers had gone on rounds in Vriddhachalam, Cuddalore district on 16th January. They found that 2 individuals were selling Government TASMAC liquor in the hotel that was built on encroached Vriddhagiriswarar temple lands.

The Police then arrested the owner of the hotel Babu (40), and a worker Pandhalrajan (20), and detained them at the Vriddhachalam Police Station. The liquor bottles that they owned were then impounded and they were put in jail.

(With inputs from Kathir News)

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A recent video from the show Junior Super Stars (Season 4) has gone viral on social media. The show, which is aired on Zee Tamil, is one for young children to come and show case their talents, in a reality show format. Season 4 of this show has Actress Sneha, Bigg Boss fame Samyuktha and RJ Mirchi Senthil as the judges. Comedian Amudhavaanan and actress Kalyani are also part of the show as trainers, for helping and preparing the children for their respective performances.

The video that has gone viral, has two children, in King and Minister costumes. Typically acting out a scene where a King asks his Minister questions related to his governance, the two children speak about economy and politics. The children, who should not be more than 13 years of age, sarcastically take a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the BJP governance at the Centre. Here are some dialogues that the performance had:

King: The biggest setback for our country’s growth is this Black Money. I am going to announce that the old notes will no more be in use. Black Money will then be gone forever, right?

Minister: A similar incident happened in a country called ‘Sindia’. The ruler of that country also ‘idiotically’ did the same thing.

King: So, was Black Money destroyed once and for all?

Minister: Where? Black money is still in existence, because all he did was roam around in coloured Coats.

This conversation is just an example of a performance that lasts for more than 2 minutes. The children then go on to criticise the foreign visits of the Prime Minister and even a few economic decisions of the government. It is to be noted that the young child who plays the role of the Minister, should be less than 10 years old. However, he speaks most of the satirical and insulting statements against the PM.

The children surely cannot have such Political understanding and opinions of their own. It is in the hands of the trainers, i.e., Kalyani and Amudhavaanan, who have given them their script and have prepared them for their performance. All the judges and the two trainers are also seen enjoying and laughing at the performance.

Firstly, it is not appropriate to go for a sarcastic attack on the PM and the Central governance, on a regional reality TV show. Secondly, it is even more inappropriate for it to happen on a Children’s show, because it is also majorly watched by other children. It is also to be noted that this video is being shared on Twitter by opposition parties, that have varying ideologies. You can watch the full video here:

சிரித்து சிந்தித்து மகிழ.

Video Courtesy: Twitter ,@Jaslinraj @Samaniyantweet

pic.twitter.com/CsJJ36MM3O

— Dr.Senthilkumar.S (@DrSenthil_MDRD) January 15, 2022

Tamil Nadu BJP Chief Annamalai, has now tweeted about the issue too. In the tweet, the leader said, “Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, L Murugan had contacted me and asked me about the reality TV show in Tamil that telecast some scenes that were disrespectful to the Hon’ble PM of India. He has given an assurity to take action. My thanks to him!”

மாண்புமிகு மத்திய இணை அமைச்சர் திரு @Murugan_MoS அவர்கள் தொடர்பு கொண்டு தமிழகத்தில் ஒரு ரியாலிட்டி டிவி ஷோவில் பாரத பிரதமர் அவர்கள் மாண்பை குறைப்பது போல் சில காட்சிகளை வைத்திருப்பதைப் பற்றி கேட்டறிந்தார்

நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்று உறுதி அளித்திருக்கிறார்!அவருக்கு என் நன்றிகள்

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 16, 2022

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