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Hundreds of ORS packets found abandoned on the street in Sivagangai

By
The Commune
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Hundreds of packets of ORS powder were found lying abandoned on the roadside near Sivagangai on Tuesday. ORS or the Oral Rehydration Solutions powder is given to people suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration. In particular, the Department of Health has advised that ORS powder solution be mandatory for children under the age of 5 who suffer from diarrhoea.

For this, ORS powder packets are provided by the Health Ministry at Anganwadi Centers. Like glucose, it rehydrates and prevents diarrhoea. Also, ORS packets are provided free of cost at government hospitals and primary health centres.

In light of this, hundreds of ORS powder packets were found lying on the roadside near the forest settlement next to Sivagangai. This shows that the Health Ministry officials are wasting ORS packets without providing them to the patients properly.

The Health Ministry should investigate this issue and take action regarding the abandonment of ORS packets on the roadside. With the onset of summer, many people become dehydrated. This has led to a demand for ORS packets to be provided to visitors to hospitals and primary health centres without wastage.

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1 ton of illegal gutka found hidden away at a house in Pudukottai

By
The Commune
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The local police from Pudukottai confiscated a tonne of Gutka items that had been illegally stored at a house in Pudukkottai last night. The crime prevention intelligence police received a tip-off that Gutka items including Gutka and Pan Masala, which were banned by the Tamil Nadu government, were stored at Abdul Salam’s house near the Thakshina Murthy Market in Pudukkottai.

Based on this, a search of Abdul Salam’s house last night revealed that he had illegally stockpiled 20 tonnes of Gutka items, which were banned by the Tamil Nadu government, in his house.

Following this, the police confiscated them and handed them over to the Pudukottai city police station. However, Abdul Salam, who knew the information, disappeared. The police are looking for him, and have filed an FIR in his name.

It is to be noted that only a month ago, the Grand Bazaar police in Puducherry seized gutka worth ₹10 lakh at a bookstall. Following a similar tipoff, the police had raided the bookstall and found the stolen goods. Upon interrogation, the owner confessed to the crime and also said that he had hidden some more goods at a godown nearby.

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The Rajas of Kodaikanal, an age old tradition

By
The Commune
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There are many small hamlets like Melmalai, Keezhmalai, etc., scattered in and around the Kodaikanal up to the Palani hills. The main village of these hamlets is Thaandikudi. In every village of this region, there are many with the title ‘Raja‘ who are given the first honours during temple festivals, kumbabishegams, and other ceremonies that happens in the village because of which the they forego they undertake a life of piety.

Anointing a Raja

The Raja is selected on the basis of succession. Mangalagandhi, who was elected 50 years ago in Thandikudi village, died recently and hence arose the need to appoint a new Raja. There is a plantation called Jallikkottai near the Kariyamal temple at the Thandikudi village post. The deceased Raja‘s partners (referred to as Appichis) were stationed under a banana leaf pandal in one corner. The temple priest chose the Raja after praying to the Goddess at the temple. The priest under trance identified the next Raja by putting a garland made of leaves on a person.

The anointed person was then taken to the house of Theradiyar (family priest) though a path covered in saree. His feet were then washed with cow’s milk and was then taken inside by a woman. As per the Agama traditions, he was made to sit on a black cloth and given fruits and milk. It was only then the body of the deceased Mangalagandhi was buried.

The austere life of a Raja

Since the Raja receives the first honours in all the ceremonies of the village, he has to live a life of austerity. He should not wear slippers or even hold an umbrella when it rains. He should not eat when a person in the village dies until the deceased is buried. Even if his family member dies, he should isolate himself and not participate in the ceremonies. He has to fast before for every temple ceremony.

In the village the Raja is given an esteemed position. He is accompanied by a village manager and a minister to advise him. They play an important role in matters of village welfare. No matter the age one is initiated into as Raja, he takes charge until he dies.

It is astonishing that the practice that this age old practice continues even today. The village elders regard this age old custom as knowledge handed over to them by their ancestors and consider it to be a spiritual model of rural development.

(With inputs from Dinamalar)

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15 year old girl sexually harassed by Christian pastor in Chennai

By
The Commune
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Church Father Henry and three others have been charged for sexually harassing the 15-year-old daughter of a popular playback singer from Hyderabad.

According to sources, the playback singer is working in a private channel in Chennai. Because of her work schedule, she had left her 15-year-old daughter at her sister’s house in Chinmaya Nagar, Chennai.

In this scenario, the girl was sexually harassed by a Church father named Henry, the singer’s sister-in-law, and two other relatives.

Upon coming to know about this incident from the girl, the singer approached all-women police station in Kilpauk Chennai and registered a complaint.

All four accused, including the pastor, were charged under the POCSO Act and arrested by the Kilpauk Police. The accused are being investigated.

(with inputs from puthiyathalaimurai)

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20 DMK cadres booked for assaulting police officer in Krishnagiri district

By
The Commune
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Police have registered a case against 20 DMK cadres and arrested one, for assaulting a Sub-Inspector of Police near Singarapet.

Sub Inspector Karthikeyan, Chief Constable Raja, PC Pushparaj, and Pachaiyappan arrived at the scene after receiving a complaint that some group of people were involved in a dispute in Kottukkaranpatti village in Uthangarai circle of Krishnagiri district.

The group had gathered near one Natarajan’s home. When police ordered them to disperse, a DMK functionary named Karpurasundara Pandian questioned whether section 144 was in force.

This triggered an argument between the police and the group headed by DMK functionary Karpurasundara Pandian.

Enraged, Karpurasundara Pandian, DMK deputy organizer of the party’s youth wing and union committee member Kumaresan, along with Karpurasundara Pandian’s nephew Mohan and some others attacked SI Karthikeyan. The SI sustained injuries in his cheek, ear, neck, and chest. The group snatched the cell phone from the police who tried to record the incident and chased the police away.

Upon coming to know of the incident, additional forces were sent to the scene. The group fled with the police’s cellphone upon seeing them. The injured SI was rushed to Uthangarai Government Hospital for treatment.

After receiving a complaint from the victim SI Karthikeyan, Inspector Ravichandran filed a case under five sections of IPC against 20 DMK members, including Karpurasundara Pandian, Mohan, and Kumaresan.

Meanwhile, the police arrested Karpurasundara Pandian in this case last evening.

(With inputs from Hindu Tamil)

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BJP leader Sunil Deodhar calls for removal of YSRCP candidate Gurumurthy saying he is not SC

By
The Commune
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The candidature of Dr. Gurumurthy, the YSRCP candidate for the prestigious Tirupati Lok Sabha by-election has come under scrutiny as it has emerged he has converted to Christianity thereby invalidating his nomination in the Scheduled Caste category.

Gurumurthy is trained in physiotherapy and is considered very close to Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. Many in Andra Pradesh politics consider getting the party ticket to contest from the prestigious Tirupati Lok Sabha is a huge promotion.  

In light of this, Sunil Deodhar, National Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Co-Incharge of Andhra Pradesh has said that Gurumurthy has converted to Christianity hence he cannot file nomination as a Scheduled Caste.

Deodhar in his tweet said, “According to Rev Abhilash, Pastor at Holy Prayer Church, Gudur, YCP’s Dr Gurumurthy sought blessings from Bishop Dr M J Pradeep before filing the nomination for #TirupatiByPoll. After my yest’s tweet pastor removed FB post. This confirms that Gurumurthy is a Christian & Fake SC.

Under paragraph three of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 restricts Christians of Scheduled Castes origin from availing the Scheduled Castes status.  

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Demonetized currency notes worth 4.8 crores seized from a NGO near Sivagangai

By
The Commune
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4.8 crores worth demonetized 1000 rupees currency notes were confiscated by the Police department near Kalaiyarkoil in Sivaganga District.

Varalakshmi, a Chengalpattu resident, has been named as the suspect.

Varalakshmi had taken the money to Arul Chinnappan of Valayampatti near Kalaiyarkoil who promised her to change it to new currency notes.

The police went to Valayampatti and seized the money based on the confidential information received by the Kalaiyarkoil Inspector.

Suresh Kumar and Varalakshmi reportedly run an NGO in Chengalpattu.

PMK founder Ramadoss to start intellectual propaganda organization

By
The Commune
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Feature Image Credits: Scroll

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr. S. Ramadoss has said that his party would be starting an intellectual propaganda organization to counter the malicious propaganda against the Vanniyar community and his party that is being done by various media organizations and political parties.

In a statement, Dr. Ramadoss said that PMK and the Vanniyar community were being maligned in the Soganur double murder case that happened a few days ago, in which 2 Dalit youth were murdered. He said that nobody has an alternative opinion on punishing the culprits and said that it was unfortunate that it is being given a caste and political colour.

He added that the victims and the accused (belonging to the Vanniyar community) had been friends for a long time and that the crime happened as a result of a drunken brawl. The deceased and the accused did not belong to the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi or the PMK respectively, he said.

He also said it was vicious of those claiming to be ‘progressive’ forces to give a caste and political colour to seek political gain.

“Where did politics come from into this? Blaming a particular political leader is like blaming someone on the street.”, he said. 

He went on to say that the media, the DMK and its allies did not condemn several crimes committed by the VCK cadre or by the gangs that lure women romantically for gain.

He said the new organisation would counter malicious propaganda against the Vanniyars. “In order to protect the people of the Vanniyar community from the evil forces, to carry out intellectual campaigns, the intellectual propaganda organization is being launched”. Anyone aged between 22 to 30 including girls can join the organization, he said.

Earlier, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss had condemned the Soganur double murder through a video and accused VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan of politicizhe ing it.

“Chithirai Festival will be held despite ban”, says Hindu Munnani

By
The Commune
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Images of posters that reads ‘Chithirai festival will definitely happen this year’ by Hindu Munnani have been found pasted in many places across Madurai.

The district administration has banned conducting Chithirai festival including main events-Charriot ride and immersing Kallazhagar in Vaigai river, for the second year in a row.

Condemning this decision of District Administration and Tamil Nadu government, members of Hindu Munnani put up posters across Madurai. They also said they will conduct the festival this year defying all restrictions imposed.

Chithirai Festival is an annual celebration celebrated in the city of Madurai during the Tamil month of Chithirai. It lasts for one month of which the first 15 days mark the celebrations of the coronation of Goddess Meenakshi and the Marriage of Lord Sundareswara and Goddess Meenakshi, and the next 15 days mark the celebrations of the Journey of Lord Alagar from Kallazhagar temple in Alagar Koyil to Madurai.

China Development Bank to extend $500 million loan to Sri Lanka

By
The Commune
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China Development Bank

Sri Lanka on Monday inked an agreement with the Chinese state-run China Development Bank for a loan of $500 million to ensure fiscal stability in the country amidst the challenges posed by the global coronavirus pandemic.

This new deal comes less than a month after Sri Lanka signed a currency swap deal worth $1.5 billion with Beijing.

“China is a loyal friend, and reflecting the depth of our friendship, has been generously extending its helping hand to Sri Lanka when difficult challenges confronted us,” said a statement released by the Sri Lankan embassy in Beijing.

“This $500 million loan was a part of the $1 billion loan (signed before), out of which $500 million was released last year,” it said.

The loan will infuse much-needed foreign currency to the Lankan economy in order to face the COVID-19 challenges, the statement added.

Experts pointed out that the loan is being extended as Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange reserves dropped to $4.05 billion in March 2021, the lowest since a currency crisis in 2008/2009.

Last month, Sri Lanka signed a 10 billion yuan (about $1.5 billion) currency swap deal with China for a three year-period to be used to boost bilateral trade and direct investment between the two countries.

China views Sri Lanka as a key player in Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

China has provided billions of dollars in loans for key infrastructure projects in the country over the years. Critics say that Chinese-funded infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka are not financially viable and that Colombo will face difficulties in repaying the loans.

Massive debt incurred towards China to build the strategic Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka has been cited by experts as an example of the ”debt-trap diplomacy” being pursued by Beijing. After Sri Lanka defaulted the loan for the Hambantota Port, Colombo in 2017 was forced to lease out the port to a Chinese company on a 99-year lease.

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