The unapologetic Dravidian camp continues to push narratives aimed at fueling resentment against the central government by repeatedly invoking Tamil identity and sentiments. This pattern began with accusations that the Centre was sidelining Tamil heritage, notably through a peer-reviewed article in a newspaper alleging that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) failed to properly recognize the Keeladi excavations — a claim that has since been discredited.
Now, their latest line of attack suggests that Sanskrit is receiving disproportionate funding compared to South Indian languages under the Ministry of Education. However, this claim omits key context: the funds in question are allocated to key 18 Central Universities including Central Sanskrit Universities (CSUs), established under the Central Sanskrit Universities Act, 2020, with campuses in New Delhi and Tirupati. Meanwhile, the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) in Mysuru continues its mandate to support and promote all Indian languages — including the four classical South Indian languages: Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia.
A recent report has stirred controversy by revealing that the central government allocated ₹2,532.59 crore for the promotion of Sanskrit between 2014-15 and 2024-25 — a figure approximately 17 times higher than the combined expenditure of ₹147.56 crore for the other five classical languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia. This information, sourced through a Right to Information (RTI) request and public records by Hindustan Times, was amplified by pro-DMK journalists such as Arvind Gunasekar, adding further fuel to the debate.
However, critics argue that this disparity needs to be seen in context. The central government runs three Sanskrit universities that were originally established in Congress era. Among the crucial three operating budgets for these institutions now range between ₹150 to ₹200 crore annually, accounting for nearly ₹1,500 crore over the past decade. Of the ₹2,345 crore reportedly spent on Sanskrit, this comprises the overwhelming majority.
In contrast, universities promoting regional languages are typically established and funded by the respective state governments, as Sanskrit is not the primary language in any of the states except Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The central government does provide limited financial assistance to such institutions, including support for specialized centers like the Central Institute of Classical Tamil.
Importantly, the trend of funding Sanskrit heavily is not new. During the Congress UPA administration (2004–2014), six Sanskrit universities were established in various states — including Assam and Andhra Pradesh, both governed by the Congress at the time. These institutions are state-run but affiliated with the University Grants Commission (UGC).
There is no substantial evidence to suggest a shift in funding policy under the current administration that disadvantages other classical languages. In fact, examining past budget allocations under the UPA dispels claims of bias. For example, in 2009–10, Sanskrit received ₹120.58 crore, while Tamil was allotted ₹9.75 crore and other classical languages received just ₹1.34 crore. In 2010–11, allocations stood at ₹119.15 crore for Sanskrit, ₹11.21 crore for Tamil, and ₹1.3 crore for the others. Similarly, in 2011–12, Sanskrit was granted ₹134.58 crore, Tamil ₹9.36 crore, and others ₹2.02 crore.
What’s more, during that very period, the DMK — which now vocally criticizes these funding patterns had six of its members serving as Union Cabinet ministers, yet raised no significant objections to the allocation disparities at the time.
In many years, Tamil alone received more funding than Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu combined — a fact supported by data. Unless the government chooses to either shut down the three central Sanskrit universities or begins establishing and funding similar institutions for other classical languages, funding disparities will naturally remain. Curiously, there was little public outrage over this imbalance during the UPA era, particularly between 2004 and 2011 — a period when these policies were already in place.
Contrary to the claims made by the Dravidianist ecosystem—particularly the DMK—there is currently only one university in Tamil Nadu dedicated solely to the study of classical Tamil: Tamil University in Thanjavur. This public state university, focused on advanced research in the Tamil language, was established in 1981 not by the DMK, but by former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran during an AIADMK-led government.
Additionally, the Central Government has taken steps to promote Tamil through the establishment of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), which operates under the Ministry of Education. The CICT, originally announced in 2006, is tasked with the development and promotion of classical Tamil at the national level.
Central Govt.runs 3 Sanskrit Universities all started in the 60's and 70's . The budget for running these 3 Universities has increased to ₹150-200 crore for all 3 together per annum and this alone is almost ₹1500 crore over 10 years. Of the ₹2345 crore spent on Sanskrit over… https://t.co/zG3Y7Umr9kpic.twitter.com/pF5NLPBKTi
Yet, despite these institutions already in place, Dravidian parties continue to demand more central funding—without taking concrete steps to establish new universities or programs that would make Tamil a viable academic and economic option for students, educators, and researchers. Rather than building meaningful infrastructure, the issue is often reduced to political rhetoric, framed in opposition to the Centre’s support for Hindi and Sanskrit.
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In a significant order touching upon religious and cultural sensitivities, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ruled that Thiruparankundram Hill shall not be referred to as either ‘Sikkandar Malai’ or ‘Samanar Kundru’, affirming that the hill must be referred to exclusively as “Thiruparankundram Hill.”
The verdict came as part of a batch of writ petitions involving disputes over religious rights, cultural identity, and animal sacrifice practices on the hill, which is home to both the historic Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple and the Sikkandar Badhusha Dargah.
Delivering her order, Justice S. Srimathy stated unequivocally in paragraph 43 of the judgment: “The Thirupanrankundram Hill shall be continued to call as Tirupanrankundram Hill alone. The Thirupanrankundram Hill shall not be called either as Sikkandar Malai or as Samanar Kundru.”
The court further emphasized the protection and preservation of the site, banning quarrying on the hill and imposing restrictions on any construction or renovation. “Any quarrying of the Tirupanrankundram Hill is hereby prohibited. For any construction or renovation work of Dargah, the Managing Trustee shall approach the Archaeological Department…”
In a split verdict on the issue of animal sacrifice at the Dargah, Justice J. Nisha Banu observed that such practices were traditional and not legally prohibited, noting that the Tamil Nadu Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950 was repealed in 2004.
However, Justice Srimathy dissented, calling the announcement of animal sacrifice through pamphlets “mischievous and malicious” and held that the dargah must approach a civil court to establish whether such practices were prevalent before the 1920 civil court decree.
In light of this judicial divergence, the matter has now been referred to the Chief Justice for appropriate further orders.
The verdict also includes directions on amenities and site management. Notably, the court ruled that road, water, and toilet facilities on the hill would not be granted in order to prevent ecological damage. The court also ordered a comprehensive survey by the Archaeological Department to demarcate protected monuments, the temple, and the dargah.
In a fiery and ideologically charged speech delivered on 24 June 2025, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol. Thirumavalavan launched a scathing attack on the recently held Murugan Devotees Conference, branding it a political ploy by the BJP and its allies to manipulate Tamil religious identity for Hindutva gains. Speaking at an event to honour ‘secular leaders and intellectuals’, Thirumavalavan warned of a growing attempt to ‘communalize Tamil Nadu’s public life’.
He began by describing why his party ideology and why Ambedkar’s dream were still a dream in our country and then he started attacking the Sangh parivar, the conference and all things Hinduism.
He proudly stated that the meeting held in Trichy earlier this month “pierced the belly of the Sanatana forces.” It is noteworthy that the meeting was to “uproot Sanatana Dharma”.
After praising the “blue organisations”, he continued praising how the VCK started working towards bringing Periyarism, Marxism, Communism with Ambedkarism – that their one goal is to uproot Aryanism.
He claimed that the number of seats contested in elections is something that VCK is not concerned about, but the party is working towards realising Ambedkar’s dream.
“Existing India Should Be Destroyed”
He claimed that secularism is getting sharpened and that is “thanks to the BJP”.
He further said, “We do not criticize, oppose, or hate the BJP on the basis of just being a political party and wanting to defeat them in the elections. The ideology that they promote and prioritize is the most important. Why did Ambedkar create this Constitution? Why did he state that we are going to build a new India? Why did he want to destroy the existing India? That is the question. A nation called India has already been formed here. It has been created by the white man. Even though it is scattered among various religions, a unity called India has already existed here and continues to exist. But that India should not continue, it must be destroyed. It should be destroyed. A new India should be built. It should be an India without caste discrimination. It should be an India without gender discrimination. Discrimination between men and women. The existing India is a discriminatory India. The India desired by revolutionary leader Ambedkar is one of equality. Why does India have discrimination? It exists because the caste social system persists. The ideology that men are superior and women are inferior is entrenched here. Therefore, if we want to build a new India where this discrimination is dissolved, the government established here should be a secular government. This is the problem here.”
Attacking BJP, RSS
Thirumavalavan reserved his harshest criticism for the BJP and RSS, framing them as enemies of Tamil identity and secularism. He said, “The Sangh Parivar’s ultimate goal is not to drive out Muslims or Christians. They know that Muslims and Christians are the original inhabitants of this land. None of them came from Arabia or Europe. They are not a group that occupied this land. They are the sons of this land. The original inhabitants have converted to Islam and are Christians. They (Sangh) know that but only if they sow hatred against them and unite the majority Hindus and retain power, can they overthrow the Constitution. They can destroy the dream of the revolutionary leader Ambedkar. This is the purpose of the Sangh Parivar. Don’t think that they are trying to grab the post of Chief Minister of TN, or that the post of Prime Minister is their ultimate goal and final destination. They want to continue in that position, to retain power, to have a government of their choice in all the states, and the reason for this is that the Constitution, formulated by the revolutionary Ambedkar, is creating a new India.”
He claimed, “One thing that cannot be destroyed by such nuclear weapons is the caste social structure in India. It cannot be destroyed by any weapons. Because it has an ideological form.”
State Religion Cannot Be Hinduism
On the topic of religion-based countries, he said, “They ask very simply, all countries have a religion, a state religion, why should it not be in India? The state religion is Buddhism for Sri Lanka, Islam for Pakistan, Christianity for America, Buddhism is the state religion in all South Asian countries, Christianity is the state religion in all European countries, Islam is the state religion in all Arab countries. Why should India not have a state religion? Good question. Logically, it is correct. This is correct on the basis of logic, but which religion can be made the state religion of India? Which religion is followed by the majority of the people here? Isn’t it a religion full of discrimination? It is the religion followed by the majority of the people here. That is what is said. At one time, this was not a form of Hinduism.”
Then he claimed that Lord Muruga had his own religion. He said, “Murugan himself had his own religion. The Lord Murugan we worship is called Kaumaram in the Sanskrit, and Kumaram in Tamil. There was a religion called Kumaram. That is the six religions – Shanmatham. Saivism, Vaishnava, Kanapathiyam, worshiping Ganapati, that religion is called Ghanapathiyam, Kaumaram, worshiping Murugan, Sauram, worshiping the Sun, Shaptham, worshiping Shakti. These are all the names of religions. In the northern language, these six religions are called Hinduism by combining them in Sanskrit. These are all separate religions. Saivism is another religion. Vaishnavism is another religion.”
Then he brought in Adi Shankara, he said, “Many people tried to bring all the religions together for many years, including Adi Shankara. Then there was no Hindu religion. The religion of the Brahmins at that time was the Vedic religion. Theirs was not Hindu. The Shaivism religion was not Hindu. The Vaishnavism religion was also not Hindu. No, all this happened after the arrival of the white man, in the early 1800s, in the 19th century, and now we have the 21st century. The change that occurred 200 years ago is that a religion called Hinduism never emerged. It is impossible to say who created this. The founder of Islam was the Prophet Muhammad. The founder of Christianity was Jesus. The founder of Buddhism was Gautama Buddha. The founder of Samanam (Jainism) was Mahavira. No one knows who created Hinduism. It is impossible to say who created [Hinduism]… There is no evidence for it.“
He continued, “If we say why this has not been declared as the state religion, then this religion is fundamentally a religion with discrimination. No religion in the world accepts superiority or inferiority based on birth. All religions have only brotherhood as their basic principle. The soul, this life-breathing principle, is fraternity.No matter which religion you choose, there is brotherhood in it. Let us be brothers and sisters. Let us cultivate love. That is what Buddhism says. In Buddhism, there is no God, no worship, no rituals, no traditions. It is the only religion that talks about individual morality and social morality. At that time, the followers of the Vedic religion spread it as an atheistic religion. That is why they destroyed Buddhism by calling it an atheistic religion. “
Hinduism Does Not Talk Of Brotherhood/Fraternity
Continuing his venomous speech, he said, “Buddhism talks about brotherhood. Islam talks about brotherhood. Jainism talks about brotherhood. Christianity talks about brotherhood. Does Hinduism talk about brotherhood? I could not enter the sanctum sanctorum. Those who are angry at me for rubbing off the vibhuti, are you ready to take me inside? Can you hold a protest to take me into the garba griha of the temple?”
He further said, “He is not able to accept me as his brother. He is trying to defeat you and me in hypocritical politics by saying that you are a devotee of Lord Muruga. Since there is no brotherhood in Hinduism, the Constituent Assembly debated extensively and took the position that this religion should not be officially declared as the state religion through the Constitution. Because if it is the state religion, the Constitution will approve this discrimination. The Constitution itself will recognize discrimination.”
Lord Murugan Lived Like Us
Moving on to the topic of Lord Murugan, he said, “You are calling me a Muruga devotee. Are there only Muruga devotees in Tamil Nadu? There are more Ayyappa devotees than that. If we have to talk about the story of Murugan, we will have to talk for hours. Our land is Tamil land with five types of land. In it, Murugan is the leader of Kurinji soil. Murugan is the leader of Kurinji millet. He was born like us, lived like us, led our people, is what our literature says. Tamil literature says that. Sangam literature says that. He is not a character that can be found in Puranas. We have literatures that mention that Murugan was born, grew up, lived, and ruled the people. They have made him Subramaniam. Comrades, you should know one truth no Brahmin would name his child Murugan. Are the RSS workers, these Murugan devotees ready to answer this comment? Bring any person and ask him if he is by caste Brahmin but his name is Murugan – is that possible? Maybe if he says that, he will call it Skandan. It is Kandan in Tamil and Skandan in Sanskrit; in North India this idea has gone there. What is his name there? Subramanian Su-Brahminian. The SUbramanian that they claim to be theirs does not fit in our story. That Subramanian is not the leader of Kurinji millet. Our Murugan is the leader of Kurinji Millet. That is there in our Sangam literature. There is only Arupadaiveedu (6 holy abodes) of Murugan in TN alone, which other state do you have it? That’s why I raised a question that some people couldn’t tolerate. If Murugan is a Tamil god, his father Shiva can also be a Tamil god. If Murugan is a Tamil god, then Shiva is Tamil man and Parvathi is a Tamil woman. If both of them are in Kailash, then Kailash is the land of Tamils. Then the whole of India is the land of Tamils. If Lord Shiva lives in Kailash, then Kailash also belongs to Tamils. From Kailash to Kanyakumari, Lord Shiva is a proof that Tamils lived. According to that story, Shiva was a Tamil and Parvati was a Tamil woman. So, Ganapati can also be a Tamil. Why doesn’t anyone call Ganesha a Tamil god? If he hears all this logically, he gets angry. Why are we the only ones being humiliated? These stories don’t exist in other religions. If there were such mythological stories in other religions, Tell me, let’s talk.”
He went on to claim that ‘they’ were stealing their identities and history, gave them new identities, gave new explanations, only to divide and destroy the Tamils.
Speaking to the plastic chair incident, he said, “I may suddenly say that I don’t want to go the electoral path, I may say that one day. These people are weighing us like an average. They think I am doing it for money or plastic chair, that is all their intelligence. If I am sitting on the floor, on a plastic chair, or on a sofa, it is not a big deal to someone who thinks that everything is the same. If I am sitting on a sofa, it is normal. If I am sitting on a big stool, it is nothing.”
Connecting EV Ramasamy Naicker & Ambedkar
Continuing his speech, he said, “They are trying to put a wedge in the Constitution itself. They will celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti. They will erect a statue of Ambedkar, touch his feet and worship him, but they are trying to destroy the constitution that was framed by him and making it watered down. To understand this, you need Ambedkar’s glasses, you need Periyar’s glasses. Periyar himself criticized Ambedkar himself at one point. There is a report that when Ambedkar died, Periyar reportedly said that Ambedkar should also be worshipped in the same way as Buddha, Jesus, Allah, etc. Periyar had such respect for Ambedkar that he put him in that row. That Periyar had to say that we will burn the Constitution written by Ambedkar. He organized that protest. Why did he organize it? It was not because he had any hatred for Ambedkar. The two men were so different, but they were close friends. If he came to Tamil Nadu, Ambedkar would definitely meet Periyar.”
Then he explained why EVR wanted to burn the Constitution. Thirumavalavan claimed, “What Periyar said is that the Constitution gives freedom to all religions and gives them the right to spread their views and beliefs. By giving that freedom, Hinduism also gets that right. Therefore, the Constitution itself gives them space to spread superstitions again and again. So Periyar raised a war cry against it and for that, he waged a struggle that destroyed that part of the Constitution. Ambedkar burned Manusmriti. The alternative to Manusmriti is the Constitution of India. The Manusmriti that was there then is what created the India of today, the discriminatory India we are seeing today which is made by Manusmriti. The India we are in was created by Manusmriti and to destroy it the revolutionary leader Ambedkar created the Constitution.”
Again, attacking Hinduism he said, “They claimed Muslims and Christians are deceiving the poor and simple Dalit people and converting them. How can someone be deceived and converted? Those who could not bear these atrocities converted themselves. All the Muslims in India may have been descendants of ancestors who suffered such atrocities at one time. On the basis of caste, everyone is a Dravidian, in their eyes, everyone is a Shudra, so they had atrocities. Caste atrocities are not only against SC, ST. The caste system is against every caste. Caste eradication is not a demand for SC, ST people. It is the demand of everyone who wants brotherhood, it is the demand of everyone who values democracy, it is the demand of everyone who wants equality.”
How Can One Talk Of Tamil Nationalism Without Periyar?
In what seemed like an attack on NTK chief Seeman, Thirumavalavan said, “Are any of the Tamil nationalists here talking about caste eradication? The bigger absurdity is that they are talking of Tamil nationalism by standing against Periyar. How can you be a force in support of Tamil nationalism when you cannot even identify who the real enemy of Tamil nationalism is? Those who speak Tamil nationalism are talking about fake Tamil nationalism. In reality, if there is something that is against the Tamil nationalism, it can only be Indian nationalism. How can Telugu be against Tamil nationalism? How can Kannada be against Tamil nationalism? Each should build their own nationalism. Each nationalism should unite and build a united front. They are creating Indian nationalism by flowing, which is the Hindu nationalism presented by the BJP today. There is religious nationalism. Without talking about all that, without opposing all that, without making fun of all that, without saying that they are the reason for all this, without talking about the big businessmen like Adani Ambani who are behind them, and if they say that they are going to oppose Periyar, then you should understand whose people they are.”
Attacking ADMK
He accused the ADMK of betraying Tamil politics by aligning with the BJP. He said, “ADMK is just thinking of political gain and today they are joining the Bharatiya Janata Party and justifying it and talking. If they were loyal to MGR and Jayalalithaa as they are, they would never have joined BJP. I have respect for Edappadi Palaniswami. You are making a huge historical mistake.You are converting all the ADMK cadre who have grown up learning social justice politics into people for the BJP. You are converting them into volunteers who can serve the Sangh Parivar.”
Not Murugan Devotees, They Are Modi Devotees
Attacking the Murugan Devotees Conference, he said, “Those who did not fight for basic issues are now holding Muruga devotees conferences without any devotee asking. They are not really Muruga devotees. Modi devotees. It is a conference of Modi devotees; it is not a conference of Muruga devotees. If it was a Muruga devotees conference, we should have gone too. We are all Muruga devotees. We do not think of him as God, but as our ancestors. Tamil Sangam literature tells us that he is also one of the ancestors.”
He further attacked the ADMK saying, “Don’t the ADMK leaders know what conspiracy they are hatching? How have you become so diluted that you can attend RSS programs? How can you watch videos of people insulting Anna while he is sitting in a Muruga devotees conference? Where will this end? You are talking like this because we are in the DMK group. You are not saying that. We are talking about this because we believe that ADMK is also a Dravidian movement. We are talking about this because we believe that the leaders and workers of the ADMK are from Periyar’s path, otherwise we are not going to talk about it, there is no need to talk about it.”
Attacking the BJP, he said, “Does the BJP have a history of fighting for land records? How many devotees of Muruga do not have land records? There are millions of people who do not have land records. In any country in the world, there is no one who is a landowner except India. In any country in the world except India, the children of the soil do not have land records. There are people lying in a house and a hut. What kind of struggles have you led for those people? Those who fought for land rights, the VCK, have demanded that land be given to all those who do not have land. We have been protesting and presenting five demands. A person who has never been to the field is sitting in a corner and writing on Facebook. He does not know what field experience is. He knows only if he has traveled a kilometer. He does not know how much struggle it is to travel from point to point in this caste-based social structure. Only those of us who are standing in the field know how big a battle it is to hoist a flag.”
Praises Jayalalithaa
Attacking the present leaders of the ADMK and praising its former leader, he said, “It takes a lot of courage to say that you are going to be partners with a specific person/party. Can anyone say that today? We are not worried about the losses we are facing in the political arena, about the electoral losses, about the temporary losses, how parties like ADMK are amused by the criticism of leaders like Periyar who have shaped this land ideologically and the talk of politics against them, even today, with a sense of camaraderie. I believe ADMK is still a Dravidian movement, so I am presenting this as a camaraderie movement. Jayalalithaa was born in the Brahmin community. She did not do it just as an election campaign. She said it sincerely that she has been deceived by the BJP and will never have any relationship with Modi again. Shouldn’t they fulfill the promise she made? MGR warned the RSS. MGR was not born in any caste belonging to Tamil soil. MGR was one who does not come under any list in this caste where one can say they are OBC or MBC or Scheduled Caste. But he had a special interest in this land, a special interest in these people, and he believed in the social justice politics that Periyar spoke about. He legalized the writing reform brought by Periyar.”
Conference To Divide People
Attacking the conference, he said, “Why did they hold this conference today? What demands did the Muruga devotees make? They are dividing people in the name of religion. They are trying to create social division here in the name of Hindus and non-Hindus. At one time, there was the idea of national division, but today social divisionism is happening here. Social divisionism is happening. The politics that can do this is the politics of the Sangh Parivar. This is Hindutva. Talking about Lord Shiva or talking about Mahavishnu is not Hindutva. That is Hinduism. Hinduism is completely different from Hindutva. Hindutva is the agenda of the Sangh Parivar. Hinduism is the faith of the people. It is a faith, a philosophy. Hindutva is the action plan of the Sangh Parivar. One of them is to overthrow the Constitution. To declare a state religion. To change the name of India or Bharat and declare it as Hindustan or Hindu Rashtra. What will happen if all this happens? India will go back to what it was. India will go the way it was 2000 years ago. Since there is a need to prevent that, we are telling the Sangh Parivar to be careful. That is why we are joining hands with the left-wing forces who have that opinion.” He further said, “If caste eradication is what we have to fight against, we should fight against the fascism of the Sangh Parivar.
Stop Freebies, Stop Alcohol Sale
Concluding his speech, he said, “When can you call a government become a good government – when it provides education free of cost. A government that provides medicine free of cost can be a people’s government. Both of these are very, very important. Stop all freebies. Close liquor shops. Control the drug trade. Can you do all this yourself? If you come to power, give it to me and I will show you. Like others, I am not asking to consider me also a “rowdy”. The revolutionary Ambedkar had that idea. It was because of that idea that he could write such a constitution.”
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In yet another “win” for the Dravidian Model government, a video has surfaced online showing an employee at a government-run TASMAC liquor outlet in Thiruvennainallur, Villupuram district, allegedly charging ₹10 more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for a bottle of alcohol. The clip has quickly gained traction on social media.
Residents have long reported that this particular TASMAC shop, located in the Thiruvennainallur town panchayat area, consistently adds extra charges of ₹10 for a quarter bottle and ₹15 for a beer bottle beyond the listed price.
In the viral video, a customer questions the staff after being asked to pay ₹240 for a quarter bottle that is priced at ₹230. In response, the employee dismissively claims there’s nothing anyone can do about it, sparking public outrage.
Such overpricing appears to have become a routine issue in several government-run TASMAC shops. Despite mounting video evidence and frequent complaints, authorities including DMK ministers responsible for the Prohibition and Excise Department often deny the allegations.
This persists even though the judiciary has issued clear directives on the matter. In a 2020 ruling, the court mandated that TASMAC must sell liquor strictly at MRP. It imposed a fine of ₹1,000 for every rupee charged above MRP, capped at ₹9,000 plus GST. Furthermore, if overcharging exceeds ₹30, both the involved employee and the shop supervisor must be suspended immediately.
Despite these strict rules and penalties, the illegal practice of overcharging continues unabated, raising concerns over enforcement and accountability in state-run liquor sales.
In April 2025, a viral video of a foreign tourist being overcharged at a Chennai TASMAC outlet reignited scrutiny over pricing irregularities under the supervision of Tamil Nadu’s Prohibition and Excise Minister Senthil Balaji. The tourist was charged ₹180 for a beer with an MRP of ₹140, with staff casually admitting to inflated pricing, citing the presence of an attached bar.
This incident echoes long-standing complaints about overcharging and lack of price transparency at TASMAC outlets, often operating without displayed rate cards or functioning billing systems. The controversy follows ongoing ED investigations into a ₹1,000 crore TASMAC scam and a critical CAG report highlighting issues such as non-functional PoS machines, irregular tenders, and unpaid excise duties. Despite mounting evidence, overcharging remains widespread, suggesting systemic corruption and administrative negligence.
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In a stunning political upset, self-described socialist Zohran Mamdani has won the Democratic primary for New York City’s mayoral race, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo and capturing the support of the party’s progressive wing.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assembly member, built his campaign around tackling the city’s rising cost of living. His platform included ambitious proposals such as free public buses, universal childcare, expanded affordable housing, and an increase in the minimum wage. He pledged to fund these policies through new taxes on the wealthy.
If elected in November, Mamdani would become the first Muslim and first Indian mayor in New York City’s history.
The primary result deals a significant blow to Andrew Cuomo, who was attempting a political comeback following his resignation amid a sexual harassment scandal. Once considered the frontrunner due to his executive experience and name recognition, Cuomo ultimately conceded defeat late Tuesday night. “We are going to take a look and make some tough decisions. Tonight is his night,” he said.
🚨BREAKING🚨
Andrew Cuomo has conceded to Zohran Mamdani.
“Tonight was not our night. It was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night.”
Mamdani’s campaign drew endorsements from prominent progressive leaders, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders. His use of slickly produced social media videos helped boost his visibility and mobilize younger voters around his message of economic justice.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about Mamdani’s lack of executive experience, arguing that the city needs a steady hand to address ongoing challenges. During the campaign, Cuomo frequently accused Mamdani of being unqualified for the role.
The race also took a dramatic turn with current mayor Eric Adams announcing his decision to run as an independent following his indictment on federal corruption charges.
Voter turnout remained strong despite sweltering heat across the city, with temperatures soaring above 37 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) on 24 June 2025 (Tuesday).
Why Zohran Mamdani Is A Danger To NYC?
Mamdani’s campaign is officially backed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an organization with a long history of supporting terrorism.
CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial, the largest terrorism financing case in U.S. history, which exposed a vast network funding Hamas. The CAIR was designated a terrorist organization by the UAE in 2014 for its extremist ties. CAIR was founded by Hamas operatives, including Omar Ahmad, who declared: “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant.”
CAIR’s endorsement is a stamp of approval from an Islamist network that seeks to impose Sharia law in America.
It is noteworthy that in 2023 when Hamas carried out the deadly strikes against innocent civilians of Israel on 7 October, he justified the attack.
Refusal to Condemn “Globalize the Intifada” – A Call for Jewish Genocide
Mamdani has repeatedly refused to denounce the phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” a rallying cry for global jihad against Jews. When pressed, he compared it to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, a grotesque inversion of Holocaust history. He said, “I think what’s difficult also is that the very word has been used by the Holocaust Museum when translating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising into Arabic, because it’s a word that means struggle,” and added, “And as a Muslim man who grew up post-9/11, I’m all too familiar in the way in which Arabic words can be twisted, can be distorted, can be used to justify any kind of meaning.”
Mamdani, on The Bulwark podcast, says ‘Globalize the Intifada’ chant signifies, to him, a call for Palestinian human rights.
Adds: “The word has been used by the Holocaust Museum when translating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising into Arabic — because it’s a word that means struggle.” pic.twitter.com/k2yeiSJpMy
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum condemned him, stating: “Exploiting the Museum to sanitize ‘Globalize the Intifada’ is outrageous… Jews have been attacked and murdered under its banner.” The phrase is directly linked to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, responsible for suicide bombings and massacres.
It is noteworthy that Mamdani cheered the 2015-2016 “Stabbing Intifada” as a “Third Intifada”. He clearly knows what it means. The Stabbing Intifada, also known as the “Knife Intifada”, refers to a wave of individual stabbing, shooting, and car-ramming attacks carried out by Palestinian assailants against Israeli civilians and security forces, beginning in late 2015 and peaking during 2015–2016. These attacks were concentrated in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and other Israeli cities.
Many attackers were motivated by religious fervor, nationalist anger, or a desire for martyrdom. The attacks were often sudden, unplanned, and carried out with knives or vehicles, making them extremely difficult for Israeli authorities to predict or prevent.
Dozens of Israelis were killed and hundreds wounded in these attacks. In response, Israeli security forces implemented stricter measures, including increased checkpoints and demolitions of attackers’ family homes. Many of the Palestinian assailants were killed during or shortly after their attacks.
Here’s Zohran cheering on the 2015-2016 “Stabbing Intifada” as a “Third Intifada.”
Mamdani’s defense of this genocidal slogan reveals his true allegiance: not to New Yorkers, but to the global jihadist movement.
Pledged to Arrest Israeli PM Netanyahu – An Act of War
In a shocking declaration, Mamdani vowed that, if elected mayor, he would order the NYPD to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited New York. He cited a politicized ICC warrant, despite the U.S. and Israel not being ICC members. This is not a legal stance; it is a declaration of war against America’s closest ally. His comparison of Netanyahu to Vladimir Putin was not just inflammatory, it was a deliberate blood libel against Jews. This is not a legal stance but a declaration of war against America’s closest ally – in fact, America is supporting Israel in the ongoing war against Iran.
He even spread a widely debunked conspiracy theory against the Jews.
🚨 Here’s a clip of Zohran Mamdani spreading the debunked antisemitic conspiracy theory referred to as the “Deadly Exchange” program, which has been repeated by Linda Sarsour and JVP.
He also spread an anti-semitic lie that Jews were controlling the country.
LOOK what NY State Assembly Member @ZohranKMamdani left out of his speech when he posted it on his Instagram feed! “We are here today because [AIPAC is] subverting American democracy!” A blatant antisemitic lie that a Jewish lobby group is controlling the US. pic.twitter.com/mV6d9EO6hY
Islamist Infiltration: Mamdani’s Agenda To Islamize NYC
Let us take a look at how Mamdani seemingly plans to islamize New York City once he becomes Mayor.
Mandating Halal Food in Public Schools – Imposing Sharia Law
One of Mamdani’s key legislative pushes is forcing all NYC public schools to serve halal food. He framed it as “inclusion,” but this is a Trojan Horse for Islamization. Halal certification is controlled by groups with ties to extremist funding networks. It sets a precedent for religious imposition on taxpayer-funded institutions, while Christian and Jewish dietary laws are ignored.
WARNING NYC 🚨 Zohran Mamdani Isn’t Running a Campaign — He’s Leading an Islamic Political Insurgency
What we’re witnessing in New York isn’t a mayoral race. It’s civilizational jihad, and Zohran Mamdani is its smiling face.
This is creeping Sharia – a hallmark of Islamist political strategy.
Muslim Democratic Club of New York – A Political Jihad Network
Mamdani is a board member of the Muslim Democratic Club of New York (MDCNY), a group tied to Linda Sarsour and other radical Islamists. MDCNY seeks to consolidate Muslim voting blocs to push far-left, anti-Israel policies. It operates under the guise of “civil rights” while advancing Islamic supremacy.
This is political jihad using democracy to dismantle democracy.
Anti-Hindu Bigotry – Importing Sectarian Hate
Mamdani has a long history of anti-Hindu rhetoric. In 2020, Mamdani led an aggressive protest in Times Square against the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. According to videos circulated at the time, slurs like “Hindus are bastards” were shouted during the protest, statements Mamdani has neither disavowed nor clarified. That protest was backed by Khalistani separatists, raising additional concerns about the ideological company Mamdani keeps.
NYC Candidate for Mayor Zohran Mamdani led a mob of protestors in Times Square calling Hindus as bastards and heaping abuses upon Lord Rama, who is worshipped by Hindus
He called the Ram Temple reconstruction in India a “fascist atrocity” and framed Hindu nationalism as a global threat, while ignoring Islamic extremism. He allegedly declared, “As an Indian Muslim whose family is witnessing the rising tide of fascism in India, I won’t be silent.”
His hatred for PM Modi knows no bounds. In a video of a discussion/debate that went viral earlier in June 2025, Mamdani repeatedly likened Modi to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, going so far as to call him a “war criminal” during a recent public forum. He cited the 2002 Gujarat riots as justification, failing to mention that India’s Supreme Court had cleared Modi of any involvement after extensive investigations. In the video, he responds to the question “Modi is holding a rally in Madison Square Garden. He wants to hold a joint press conference with you afterwards reaffirming the strong bond between India and New York. Do you agree to the event?” with this response – “No, and I just want to say something here which is that. My father, his family comes from Gujarat in India and his family is Muslim, I am Muslim and Narendra Modi helped to orchestrate what was a mass slaughter of Muslims in Gujarat to the extent that we don’t even believe there are Gujarati Muslims anymore, and when I tell someone that I am, it’s a shock to them that that is even the case. And this is someone who we should view in the same manner that we do Benjamin Netanyahu; this is a war criminal.”
What???? There are no Gujarati Muslims left anymore? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha . This kid is going to lose for sure. But such illiteracy? Where was he educated? Can he read high school level books? pic.twitter.com/jeoo82psJH
— Sunanda Vashisht (@sunandavashisht) June 3, 2025
Mamdani often conflates Hindus with India’s ruling BJP, turning political dissent into religious animosity. When fellow politicians like Jennifer Rajkumar and Kevin Thomas refused to denounce Modi during his 2023 New York visit, Mamdani labeled them as complicit, again stoking intra-community rifts.
His hatred for Hindus mirrors his hatred for Jews, both are enemies in the Islamist worldview.
Mamdani’s Socialist Terror Network
If you thought he was just involved in anti-Hindu/Jew activities and furthering his Islamist point of view, think again. Let’s take a look at how he is embroiled with the marxists/socialists.
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) – A Marxist Terror Front
Mamdani is a key figure in the DSA, which has abolitionist agendas (defund police, open borders); ties to Antifa and far-left militants, and has pushed BDS as part of its anti-capitalist, anti-Western crusade.
His allies include Julia Salazar (BDS activist), Jabari Brisport (self-declared Marxist), and Rashida Tlaib (Hamas sympathizer).
Open Borders Advocacy – Dismantling U.S. Sovereignty
Mamdani has screamed at ICE officials, calling for abolishing immigration enforcement. His policies would flood NYC with illegal migrants, overwhelming social services. This aligns with the far-left “No Borders” movement, which seeks to erase nation-states.
Foreign Terror Links: Mamdani’s Global Jihad Network
New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani appeared on a Pakistani news channel allegedly known for its links to ISI-backed narratives and militant outfits like Tehrik-i-Taliban, actively campaigning for votes and showcasing his progressive credentials. Speaking in a mix of English and Urdu, Mamdani repeatedly emphasized his identity as a Muslim, a socialist, and an immigrant, framing his candidacy as a fight against systemic injustice, unaffordability, and Islamophobia in New York City. He made sweeping accusations against his rival Andrew Cuomo and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Gujarat and policies on Indian Muslims, aligning himself with anti-Modi and pro-Palestinian positions. Mamdani also defended his controversial usage of the term “genocide” for the Israel-Gaza conflict, insisting that many Jewish New Yorkers support his stance. Notably, his appearance on a channel with a documented history of radical affiliations raises serious questions about his political judgment and the messaging he is willing to platform to court South Asian voters, especially in a global city like New York, where national security sensitivities and diaspora politics are deeply intertwined.
Yup, that’s the New York mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, actively campaigning for votes on a Pakistani news channel known to be infiltrated by the ISI & militant outfits like Tehrik-i-Taliban. pic.twitter.com/GwNEkYa9Hf
Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, is a Syrian artist who glorifies Hamas in her work, a pro-Palestinian activist.
The couple’s ideological alignment is rooted in radical leftist politics, anti-Israel sentiment, and identity-based activism. She is part of his ideological machine, blending Islamic extremism with socialist revolution. Duwaji’s artwork reportedly supports the Palestinian cause, including Hamas-linked narratives, amplifying Mamdani’s political agenda. Their lavish Dubai wedding, despite Mamdani’s socialist platform, exposed his hypocrisy on “class struggle.”
Zohran, who constantly rails about how NYC is a city that only works for the rich, had his wedding in Dubai, one of the only ultra-luxury cities in the world that CURRENTLY has slaves.
— Jason Curtis Anderson 🇺🇸🎗️ (@JCAndersonNYC) May 12, 2025
A Clear And Present Danger To America
Zohran Mamdani is not a mayoral candidate; he is an Islamist terrorist operating within the Democratic Party. His campaign is a coordinated assault on U.S. sovereignty, Jewish safety, and Western values.
If elected, it only seems he would empower Hamas sympathizers in NYC government, normalize anti-Jewish and anti-Hindu hatred, institutionalize Sharia-compliant policies and turn NYC into a hub for anti-American radicalism.
In a shocking incident that has sent ripples across the state, a leader of the Hindu Munnani organization was brutally hacked to death by three unidentified individuals near his residence in Tiruppur during the early hours of Tuesday, 24 June 2025.
The victim, Balamurugan, aged 35, was the president of the Tiruppur North Lawyers’ Union affiliated with the Hindu Munnani. He also worked as an accountant in the same locality. He resided on Kamaraj Street in Kumaranandapuram, Tiruppur.
According to police sources, the attack took place around 4 am. A gang of three assailants reportedly ambushed Balamurugan near his house and launched a violent assault using sharp weapons including knives and sickles. He succumbed to multiple injuries on the spot.
Upon receiving the information, Tiruppur City Police arrived at the scene and began preliminary investigations. Authorities have begun reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas to identify the attackers.
In response to the gravity of the crime, three special investigation teams have been formed to track down the culprits. The motive behind the murder is yet to be established.
A disturbing video showing a police officer violently attacking a pregnant woman at a police station who came to file sexual harassment case has sparked widespread outrage.
The victim, Madhumitha, a resident of Kanakamma Chatram in Tiruvallur district, had approached the local police to lodge a complaint against Shivaji, a nearby bakery owner. Shivaji, despite being married, had reportedly obtained her phone number through a third party and began sending her obscene messages and pressuring her to meet him, amounting to persistent sexual harassment.
Five months into her pregnancy, Madhumitha, accompanied by another woman named Dhanam, Sevanthi, went to the Kanakamma Chatram police station to report the abuse. However, instead of receiving support, the women were allegedly met with hostility by a police officer named Raman, who is said to have sided with the accused.
Eyewitnesses and the viral video reveal that Officer Raman physically assaulted both women and acted in a degrading manner toward Madhumitha, including allegedly pulling at her clothing; an act perceived as an attempt to humiliate her. The two women were then reportedly forced out of the police station without their complaint being registered.
The incident has provoked condemnation from across the political and social spectrum, with many calling for immediate disciplinary action against both the officer involved and the accused harasser, Shivaji. The case has once again raised serious concerns about the treatment of women, especially vulnerable women, within police systems meant to protect them
Speaking to the media, the victim’s family said, “My aunt’s daughter who is five months pregnant came home. She was pushed aside assaulted, hit in the stomach and on the head. When my sister went to inquire about it, my sister was also beaten. When we went to the police station to file a complaint, they had taken money from Sivaji. Three people were sitting there, we don’t know their names, but we know Sivaji well. When we went there, they verbally abused us terribly, assaulted us, pushed us out, and he used very inappropriate language and touched us inappropriately. That police officer, Raman, touched us in inappropriate places. Action needs to be taken against him. The Chief Minister should take appropriate action and punish him.”
Following the incident, Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran strongly criticized the actions of the police officer and called on the Chief Minister to step in and ensure justice is served. In a post on social media platform X, he stated, “Avideohassurfaced,causinggreatshock,showingapoliceofficerbrutallyattackingthreewomen,includingafive-monthpregnantwoman,whowenttotheKanakammachathirampolicestationinTiruvallurdistricttofileacomplaintaboutsexualharassment. From where did the police officer get the audacity to accept bribes from the accused and mercilessly assault the victims? Has humanity eroded so much in the police that they would stoop to attacking a poor pregnant woman? Ifthepolice,whoaresupposedtoprotectvictimsfromcriminals,aretheonesattackingthevictims, I don’t understand wheretoseekjusticeintheDravidianmodelofgovernance. I strongly urge the Honorable Chief Minister, Mr.@mkstalin, to immediately intervene in this incident that questions the dignity of the police force, conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate action against the police officer who in a display of arrogance and power acted as a source of anarchy by attacking three women.”
திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டம், கனகம்மாசத்திரம் காவல்நிலையத்தில் பாலியல் தொல்லை குறித்து புகார் அளிக்கச் சென்ற 5 மாதக் கர்ப்பிணி உட்பட மூன்று பெண்களை காவலர் கொடூரமாக தாக்கியதாக வெளிவந்துள்ள காணொளி மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது.
Years after the closure of copper plants in Tamil Nadu—which shifted India from a net exporter to a reliant importer of copper—a new development signals a turnaround. This week, a copper smelting facility owned by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani began processing ore, amid rising global demand and a critical shortage of supply.
Located in Gujarat, the Kutch Copper plant has an annual capacity of 500,000 tons and is part of Adani’s broader strategy to reduce India’s dependence on copper imports. Although the facility was initially set to launch in 2024, delays—caused by a global shortfall in copper concentrates—pushed back operations.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the plant has begun receiving and processing raw material, though reaching full operational capacity could take up to 18 months—significantly longer than the usual 2–3 month ramp-up timeline. Full-scale production will require around 1.6 million tons of copper concentrate annually.
Industry research firm CRU Group estimates that the global shortfall between copper ore supply and smelter demand will hit 1.2 million tons in 2025—the largest gap recorded in over a decade.
An Adani Enterprises spokesperson confirmed that Kutch Copper has entered operational mode and is currently focused on scaling up to full capacity as swiftly as possible.
Smelters around the world are grappling with the challenge of securing copper concentrate, as increased competition from new facilities has drastically reduced processing margins.
The squeeze is partly due to integrated copper plants that have come online at mining sites in Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, diverting concentrate supplies from independent smelters.
However, a more significant factor is the rapid rise of standalone smelting operations that rely heavily on the open market for raw materials. This group includes Adani’s new Gujarat plant, along with large-scale Chinese facilities like the 500,000-ton-a-year smelter launched earlier this year by Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Co.
Why Tamil Nadu’s loss has become Gujarat’s gain
Once a major contributor to India’s copper production, Tamil Nadu witnessed a sharp industrial decline after the closure of the Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in 2018. Now, Gujarat is emerging as a major player in copper smelting, thanks to a new plant launched by the Adani Group—signaling a shift in India’s copper map.
Sterlite Shutdown in Tamil Nadu
Until 2018, India was a net exporter of refined copper, with Sterlite Copper (a unit of Vedanta Ltd) producing nearly 40% of the country’s copper output. The plant in Thoothukudi had a capacity of 400,000 tonnes per year and played a crucial role in meeting domestic and export demands.
However, large-scale protests—allegedly fueled by foreign-funded NGOs, activists, and media outlets—led to its closure. Groups like The Other Media (TOM), supported by overseas Christian organizations, were accused of manipulating public sentiment and social unrest. Prominent activists and media platforms also amplified the anti-Sterlite narrative, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs and a major economic blow to the region.
As copper production in India dropped, the country became increasingly reliant on copper imports, reversing its earlier status as an exporter. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed that the fall in copper exports was directly linked to the shutdown of the Sterlite facility.
While Tamil Nadu lost its industrial edge, Gujarat has capitalized on the opportunity. The Adani Group is currently building a $1.2 billion copper smelting complex at Mundra, under its subsidiary Kutch Copper Ltd.
The project is designed to:
Produce 500,000 tonnes per year in Phase I (operational by 2024).
Reach 1 million tonnes annually by 2029.
Recover valuable by-products like gold, silver, platinum, phosphoric acid, and sulphuric acid.
This project is part of a broader national strategy to reduce dependence on copper imports and align with India’s energy transition goals. Copper is critical in green technologies such as electric vehicles, solar energy, and battery storage systems.
With India’s per capita copper consumption at just 0.6 kg (far below the global average of 3.2 kg), the Adani facility is expected to meet rising domestic demand and position India competitively in the global market.
From Political Protests to Economic Shift
The contrast is striking. At the height of the Sterlite protests, some critics sarcastically remarked, “If the copper plant is so safe, set it up in Gujarat.” That suggestion has now become reality. Adani’s copper project is not just an industrial investment—it is a symbol of what Tamil Nadu lost due to politicized activism and what Gujarat has gained by welcoming industry and infrastructure.
The Sterlite episode also exposed what some analysts call the NGO-Activist-Media (NAM) ecosystem—a network accused of leveraging foreign funding and ideological positions to shape public opinion and influence state policy. The Indian government has since tightened controls over FCRA-registered NGOs and foreign funding to prevent similar disruptions.
A Missed Opportunity for Tamil Nadu
The closure of the Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi has had long-lasting socio-economic consequences for Tamil Nadu. Once a major contributor to India’s copper output, the plant’s shutdown in 2018 turned a prosperous region into one grappling with unemployment and economic hardship—while Gujarat moved in to fill the gap.
Mounting Protests from the Ground
Years after its closure, frustration continues to grow among residents of Thoothukudi and surrounding areas. On 16 June 2025, villagers from South Veerapandiapuram, Saminatham, and nearby communities gathered outside the Thoothukudi District Collector’s Office. Their demand was simple: reopen the Sterlite Copper plant and the associated thermal power station. Many of the protesters were former employees, who now struggle to survive as low-paid laborers. According to their statements, over 300 youth from these villages had worked at the plant, and the shutdown pushed them into economic instability.
Surprisingly, the call for reopening the facility has come not just from locals, but also from the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)—a key ally of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu. INTUC national secretary Kathirvelu openly questioned the inconsistency in allowing copper smelters to operate in other states while Sterlite remains shut. He pointed out that if pollution was the concern, it should be addressed with uniform regulations across India.
INTUC maintained that the economic cost of closure has been immense. Thousands of jobs were lost—not only within Sterlite itself but across hundreds of ancillary businesses that depended on the plant’s operations.
Wider Impact Across Industries
The plant’s closure didn’t just affect direct employees. On 6 January 2024, members of the Namakkal Lorry Owners’ and Trailer Owners’ Associations staged protests, claiming the shutdown paralyzed the logistics sector in the region. Over 6,500 trucks were impacted, and more than 600 vehicle owners had to seek alternative sources of income. Daily revenue losses were estimated at around ₹10 crore. Protesters proposed restarting the plant under strict environmental guidelines to balance development and sustainability.
In February 2025, the Thoothukudi Contractors’ Association joined the demand, highlighting job losses for 20,000 workers and severe financial strain on 400 SMEs, with income levels dropping by 40%. They have called for a Government Order to restart operations.
Community Voices
On 13 May, representatives from the Thoothukudi People Livelihood Protection Association met with MP Kanimozhi, urging her to support efforts to revive the copper plant. Their appeal noted that the facility had supported 20,000+ families across 50 villages for over two decades. Around 64 contractors had invested in trucks and machinery solely to serve Sterlite’s logistics operations. When the plant was shut, many were left facing crippling debts, having mortgaged personal property to finance their businesses.
Association president S. Thiyagarajan criticized the misleading narrative that labeled Thoothukudi as the “cancer capital” due to the plant’s presence. He pointed to multiple independent environmental assessments that found no such link, yet the perception persisted, fueling protests and ultimately the closure.
The plant’s shutdown, driven by both public outcry and political pressure, ultimately cost Tamil Nadu a vital industrial asset.
Tamil Nadu’s Setback, Gujarat’s Gain
While Tamil Nadu struggles with the fallout, Gujarat has stepped up. The Adani Group is developing a $1.2 billion copper manufacturing facility in Mundra, with plans to reach 1 million tonnes of annual capacity by 2029. With India aiming to double copper consumption by 2030, the plant will meet surging demand driven by electric vehicles and renewable energy.
What began as a regional protest has resulted in national industrial realignment. Tamil Nadu, once a cornerstone of India’s copper industry, has become a cautionary tale—while Gujarat is now poised to become a new hub for copper production. In hindsight, Sterlite’s closure reflects a missed opportunity shaped by activism, policy decisions, and political optics—leaving a legacy of economic loss and industrial migration.
BJP leader Amit Malviya has claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been going on secret foreign holidays, and as the Leader of Opposition (LoP), he needs to answer the people of the country. In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Malviya shared the information that Rahul Gandhi was on a secret foreign holiday last week and has again gone abroad.
“Rahul Gandhi was on a secret foreign holiday just last week. Now, he has flown abroad again — to yet another undisclosed location,” wrote Malviya. He also raised questions about these ‘secret visits’ and demanded that, as LoP, the Congress leader needs to answer them.
“Why these frequent disappearances? What is so compelling that keeps him away from the country so often? As the Leader of the Opposition, he owes the people of India answers,” Malviya further said in his post.
The Congress was quick to debunk the claims of the BJP leader and accused the PMO of playing tricks. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera posted on his X handle that Rahul Gandhi has gone to London to attend his niece’s graduation ceremony.
“The Prime Minister’s Office is playing its dirty tricks as usual. It knows nothing else apart from these dirty tricks. Mr Rahul Gandhi has gone to London to attend his niece’s graduation ceremony and will be back soon,” Khera wrote on X.
Questions about Rahul Gandhi’s frequent foreign travels have always been raised. Recently, when Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge went to the Air India plane crash site in Ahmedabad, Rahul Gandhi’s absence raised eyebrows. Gandhi, however, had posted on X expressing grief and calling it heartbreaking.
He had also called upon the Congress workers to do everything they could to help on the ground. He was later seen on the day when his mother, Sonia Gandhi, was discharged from the hospital in the national capital on June 19, where she had been admitted on June 15.
A photograph showed him holding gifts as it was his birthday with his mother and other hospital staff. Even as Malviya, the BJP’s In-charge of its National Information and Technology Dept, pointed out Rahul Gandhi’s intermittent absence and foreign jaunts, the latter has been active on his social media handles.
A History Of Unannounced Travels
Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trips have frequently been criticized for their lack of transparency, often coinciding with significant political or party events in India. Social media platforms, particularly X, are abuzz with questions about his latest Doha-Cairo trip, with users echoing sentiments like, “How are his foreign travels always clandestine and suspicious?”
Below is an updated compilation of notable instances of Gandhi’s unannounced or minimally disclosed foreign trips.
March 2025: Secret Private Trip to Vietnam during Budget session
Rahul Gandhi’s trip to Vietnam came amid 2025 Budget session. The details of this trip remains hidden from the public. Many speculate that Rahul Gandhi’s frequents Vietnam as there are many entities linked to notorious anarchist George Soros there.
December 2024: Another Private Trip to Vietnam when nation was mourning Manmohan Singh’s death
Gandhi embarked on a “private” trip to Vietnam, which was not publicly announced in advance. The Congress leader left for New Year’s celebrations when the “country was mourning Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s demise. The lack of details about his activities or return date drew criticism, especially given the Congress party’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its opposition stance ahead of the 2025 political calendar.
December 2023: Spotted on SpiceJet Flight to Dubai
Gandhi was reportedly seen boarding a SpiceJet flight to Dubai, with no prior announcement from the Congress party. The trip’s purpose remained undisclosed, prompting questions about its timing amid state election campaigns.
December 2022: Bharat Jodo Yatra Paused, Whereabouts Unknown
During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the march was halted for nine days in December 2022. Gandhi’s whereabouts during this period were not disclosed, leading to speculation about a possible foreign trip.
December 2021: Personal Trip to Italy via Doha, Qatar
Gandhi traveled to Italy via Doha on December 29, 2021, reportedly to visit family, skipping election rallies in Punjab ahead of the 2022 state elections. The Congress party confirmed the “personal” nature of the trip but provided no further details, drawing criticism for his absence during a critical campaign period.
December 2020: Personal Trip to Italy
Gandhi undertook a “personal trip” to Italy to visit his grandmother, skipping the Congress party’s Foundation Day celebrations. The unannounced departure was seen as a missed opportunity to rally party workers, prompting backlash from opponents.
October 2023: Mysterious Trip to Uzbekistan
Gandhi’s “mysterious trip” to Uzbekistan was highlighted by critics for its lack of transparency. Unverified reports suggested meetings with unspecified individuals, though no concrete evidence supported claims of controversial engagements.
2015–2018: Frequent Personal Trips
Gandhi’s travels during this period included Turkey (June 2016, for his birthday), Italy (2017, to visit his grandmother), and multiple trips to Europe and the US for personal and party-related engagements.
February–April 2015: South-East Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam)
Gandhi was absent from India for nearly 60 days, visiting Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam. He reportedly attended a meditation course in Myanmar, raising concerns about his prolonged absence during a politically active period.
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A video of Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, Co-General Coordinator of the Progressive International, has surfaced online sparking outrage across Indian and Israeli social media spaces. In the undated video, Gandikota-Nellutla, a Hyderabad-based policy advisor and left-wing commentator, makes controversial claims about right-wing Indians expressing a desire to fight for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and targeting Muslims.
In the video, she alleges, “Because of the merging of Zionist and Hindutva ideology, large numbers of right-wing young people in fact have been made to fall prey to a right-wing ideology where they are saying we’ll go fight for the IDF and queuing up outside the Israeli embassy in Delhi and saying we’ll kill Muslims. Because that’s really the ideology that the government has proposed and it also believes that it can get a ticket, in a way, that it can pay the price for the ticket into the exclusive club of the global north into this western civilization so to speak by killing some Muslims in its own backyard.”
She further claims that Israeli reactions to this online have been racist. She said, “But of course, the response from both actually everyday common Israelis has been brutal and racist where on social media as soon as they heard about this, they’ve gone we don’t actually want dirty Indians to be coming here tagging the IDF and saying don’t let them into our army, our army is pure noble pure blood”
Did you know that a large number of right-wing Indians have been queueing outside the Israeli Embassy in Delhi, trying to sign up for the IDF and saying we want to kill Muslims? pic.twitter.com/oKeDwVjokG
However, available evidence suggests that Gandikota-Nellutla’s statements may be an overgeneralization based on isolated incidents. In the aftermath of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, a small group of about 10 Indians gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi in a show of support for Israel. These individuals were wearing tilaks, with one man claimed he was a retired Subedar expressed interest in joining the Israeli military and stated his intent to “finish the Islamist jihadis.” Notably, no direct mention of Muslims as a group was made.
Online, a handful of posts by Indian netizens did express support for Israel, including mentions of wanting to join the IDF. However, such comments were found on fringe Facebook groups or X and do not represent mainstream political sentiment or institutional initiatives.
Gandikota-Nellutla’s remarks about racist Israeli responses appear to stem from a now-deleted post by an individual named Benjamin Rivlin, who reportedly made derogatory remarks against Indians and tagged the IDF, stating Indians should not be allowed into “our army.” Again, this comment appears to be a lone post, not reflective of official Israeli government or IDF positions.
Israeli Embassy spokesperson Guy Nir has refuted these claims. In a post quoting the said video, he wrote, “100% fake news. Honestly madam, where do you get your information from? Israelis love Indians.”
100% fake news. Honestly madam, where do you get your information from?
Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla has previously worked with Women Deliver in New York, the Economic Development Board of Andhra Pradesh, and as a strategy consultant in Hong Kong, is the niece of Maoist Varavara Rao who was arrested on charges of co-conspiring a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He’s also one of the prime accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.
She's the niece of this commie dog P Varavara Rao who was arrested on charges of being part of a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He's also one of the prime accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.
Varsha is an alumna of Princeton University, her academic focus included political economy and feminist theory. She currently co-leads the Soros-funded Progressive International and chairs The Hague Group.
Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla is Co-General Coordinator of Soros funded Progressive International. PI representatives met Congress's Sonia Gandhi on April 25. Varsha is a leftist policy advisor and lives in Hyderabad. The lie she is peddling was peddled by Palestinian Prof. of law,… https://t.co/YyhsFcgVgtpic.twitter.com/21636xpBBQ
— Stop Hindu Hate Advocacy Network (SHHAN) (@HinduHate) June 23, 2025
She was also part of a Progressive International delegation that met Sonia Gandhi in April 2025.
Critics argue that her statements conflate a few scattered events with broader national or ideological tendencies. Her lie linking Hindutva with Zionism and painting entire ideological groups as violent or Islamophobic has triggered pushback for its lack of nuance.
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