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Texas Governor Greg Abbott Designates CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood As Terrorist And Criminal Organizations

By
The Commune
-
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Designates CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood As Terrorist And Criminal Organizations

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, formally designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations, a move that immediately drew strong pushback from Muslim civil rights groups and raised questions about enforcement authority.

Under the declaration, the two groups are prohibited from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas, and state agencies have been instructed to apply “increased enforcement” measures against them. The governor described the action as a response to what he called threats to public safety and national security.

“The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world’,” Abbott said in the proclamation letter. He accused the Muslim Brotherhood of supporting terrorism globally and alleged that CAIR has worked to “subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment.”

The Muslim Brotherhood is an international Islamist movement that has advocated for Sharia-based governance in Muslim-majority countries. U.S. intelligence assessments over the years have found no evidence of an organized Brotherhood presence inside the United States, though the group has remained the subject of political controversy.

Abbott Cites Claims Linking CAIR to Hamas

In the declaration, Abbott referred to longstanding allegations that CAIR was founded as a “front group” for Hamas, along with claims that the organization had “employed, affiliated with, and supported individuals promoting terrorism-related activities.”

CAIR, founded in 1994, maintains that its mission is to defend civil rights and combat anti-Muslim discrimination. The organization has consistently denied any connection to Hamas.

Responding to Abbott’s announcement, CAIR dismissed the proclamation as politically motivated.

“Although we are flattered by Greg Abbott’s obsession with our civil rights organization, his publicity stunt masquerading as a proclamation has no basis in fact or law,” a CAIR spokesperson said, adding that the governor was promoting “debunked conspiracy theories and made-up quotes.”

CAIR also said it was prepared to file a legal challenge. “We have successfully sued Greg Abbott three different times for shredding the First Amendment for the benefit of the Israeli government, and we are ready to do so again if he attempts to turn this publicity stunt into actual policy.”

Questions Over Legal Authority

Designating a foreign terrorist organization is a power held exclusively by the U.S. Secretary of State, raising questions about how Abbott’s proclamation could be implemented. The governor did not specify how Texas would enforce the designations or what penalties might apply.

The announcement comes months after U.S. Senator Ted Cruz introduced the “Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025,” the latest in a series of attempts since 2015 to formally label the organization as a terrorist group at the federal level.

Context of Rising Tensions in Texas

CAIR-Texas chapters have been actively involved in reporting suspected anti-Muslim hate incidents in recent months. The group recently urged investigations into the alleged assault of Muslim teenagers and an incident at the University of Houston in which a man reportedly shouted anti-Muslim slogans and burned a Quran.

“Mr. Abbott is defaming us and other American Muslims because we are effective advocates for justice here and abroad,” CAIR-Texas said, adding that it would continue advocating on issues of civil rights, free speech, and religious freedom.

EPIC City Dispute and Religious Discrimination Claims

Abbott’s declaration also referenced House Bill 4211, passed earlier this year to restrict certain property developments by religious organizations. During its signing, the governor specifically mentioned “EPIC City” (now renamed The Meadow), a 402-acre residential and institutional project planned by the East Plano Islamic Center.

The governor has accused the developers of attempting to impose Sharia law through the project. He has also initiated four state investigations, alleging discrimination against non-Muslims, potential financial harm to investors, violations of consumer protection laws, and illegal funeral services.

Federal authorities previously opened a criminal investigation into the project over alleged religious discrimination but closed the case in June. The Texas Workforce Commission also dismissed all fair housing allegations in September.

Multiple religious groups including CAIR-DFW have criticized the investigations as politically motivated and an abuse of power.

EPIC later filed a lawsuit of its own after the Texas Funeral Service Commission ordered the mosque to stop performing burial rites, arguing the directive violated religious freedom.

(Source: KERA News)

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Kerala BJP Hands Over New Home To Family Of Slain RSS Worker Baiju After Alleged Denial Of PMAY Support By Communist Govt

By
The Commune
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Kerala BJP Hands Over New Home To Family Of Slain RSS Worker Baiju After Alleged Denial Of PMAY Support By Communist Govt

In Thrissur, BJP leaders have handed over a newly constructed house to the family of RSS karyakarta Baiju, who was killed as a result of radical Islamic violence.

The announcement was made by BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who shared details of the initiative on his social media handles.

According to Chandrasekhar, Baiju’s family had repeatedly requested assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to build a new home, but their applications were allegedly denied for years by the CPI(M)-controlled Pavaratty panchayat in Thrissur. He alleged that this reflected a deliberate neglect of the family and an effort to block central welfare schemes.

Chandrasekhar said the BJP subsequently intervened and constructed a house for the family. He stated that the party would “stand with every karyakarta and their families” and extend support to Malayalees facing hardship.

BJP leaders formally handed over the house keys to Baiju’s family during a small ceremony.

RSS karyakarta Baiju was a victim of radical Islamic violence, and his family was left helpless and victims of @pinarayivijayan’s deliberate targeted negligence.

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Delhi Blast Was Just The Beginning: NIA Reveals Terrorists’ Plans For Hamas-Inspired Drone Assault

By
The Commune
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Delhi Blast Was Just The Beginning: NIA Reveals Terrorists' Plans For Hamas-Inspired Drone Assault

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday revealed that the terror module responsible for the deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort had been preparing for a much larger series of attacks, including Hamas-style drone strikes and rocket-based explosions. The agency also arrested another Kashmiri resident allegedly linked to the conspiracy.

The blast on November 10 in the old quarters of Delhi has so far claimed at least 15 lives.

NIA: Module Was Building Rockets, Weaponised Drones

According to the NIA, the Jaish-linked module was in the process of manufacturing small rockets intended for serial blasts across multiple locations. The group allegedly drew inspiration from Hamas’s October 2023 assault on Israel, in which drones and aerial weapons were used for large-scale disruption.

Investigators said the Delhi module planned to deploy similar tactics, modifying drones to carry cameras, batteries, and small but high-impact explosives capable of causing mass casualties in crowded areas.

The weaponised drones were to be flown over densely populated zones to trigger blasts remotely, the NIA said. Such tactics have been widely used by Hamas and armed militias in conflict zones like Syria.

Second Arrest From Kashmir: Wani Provided Technical Support

The NIA confirmed the arrest of Jasir Bilal Wani, also known as Danish, from Kashmir. He is the second person taken into custody after suicide bomber Umar Nabi, who drove the explosive-laden vehicle that detonated near the Red Fort.

Wani allegedly provided technical assistance to the terror module, including modifying drones for attack missions and experimenting with rocket-making.

“NIA’s investigation has revealed that Wani had provided technical support for carrying out terror attacks by modifying drones and attempting to make rockets ahead of the deadly car bomb blast,” the agency said in a statement.

The NIA also stated that Nabi had instructed Wani to prepare for a fidayeen (suicide) attack, and that the two had first met at a mosque in Kashmir, where Nabi allegedly radicalised him.

Plot Foiled After Module Busted

Investigators said the planned drone attacks were thwarted after the module was exposed and its key operatives arrested. The agency believes the cells were working toward launching a multi-stage attack designed to create widespread panic and destruction similar to high-profile attacks carried out by global terror organisations.

The probe continues, with the NIA tracking additional leads related to drone procurement, digital radicalisation, and cross-border handlers.

(Source: Firstpost)

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Cong MP Karti Chidambaram Says TVK Chief Vijay Spoke To Rahul Gandhi; Jothimani Says “Not An Alliance Signal”

By
The Commune
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Cong MP Karti Chidambaram Says TVK Chief Vijay Spoke To Rahul Gandhi; Jothimani Says “Not An Alliance Signal”

A fresh political debate has erupted in Tamil Nadu after conflicting statements from senior Congress leaders regarding actor-politician Vijay’s recent interaction with the party high command.

According to a Thanthi TV report, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram confirmed that TVK president Vijay recently spoke to Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, adding fuel to growing speculation about political realignments ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Karti also claimed that Vijay’s engagement with the Congress dates back more than a decade. As per the report, Karti reportedly said that some years ago, Vijay wanted to become the president of the Congress youth wing suggesting that the actor’s political ambitions were long-standing.

Karti’s remarks were interpreted as an indication of possible outreach between the Congress and TVK.

Jothimani Counters: “Meeting Not New… But Not a Basis for Alliance”

Hours later, Congress MP Jothimani issued a contrasting statement, downplaying the political significance of Vijay’s interactions with senior Congress leaders.

She said Vijay was “not new” to the party and had even met Rahul Gandhi in 2010 to explore joining the Congress, though it did not materialise.

However, she cautioned against drawing political conclusions from recent meetings. According to her, conversations during personal or tragic moments such as the Karur stampede incident where leaders met Vijay “cannot be taken as the foundation for an election alliance.”

Jothimani stressed that the Congress remains firmly aligned with the DMK. She reiterated that the alliance is strong and longstanding, adding that social media speculation should not be mistaken for political signalling.

She said there was still considerable time for the 2026 election and that party decisions are “not made on the basis of online chatter.”

Alliance Signalling or Noise?

The contradictory remarks – Karti confirming the meeting and past interest, and Jothimani dismissing political implications come at a time when the Congress in Tamil Nadu is believed to be eyeing Vijay’s influence in Kerala and Puducherry.

In recent weeks, several state-level Congress leaders have reportedly urged the party high command to deepen engagement with TVK.

The DMK, meanwhile, has taken note of these developments. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s recent remark about the Congress’s “hand leaving” appeared to hint at unease within the alliance.

(Source: India Today)

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Kerala: Was Kannur BLO Driven To Suicide By CPI(M) Threats? Congress Says Yes

By
The Commune
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Kerala: Was Kannur BLO Driven To Suicide By CPI(M) Threats? Congress Says Yes

The death of 41-year-old booth-level officer (BLO) Aneesh George in Kannur’s Ettukudukka has triggered widespread protests across Kerala, with government employees’ unions and political parties alleging extreme pressure linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Aneesh, who worked as a school attendant and BLO for Booth No. 18 in the Payyannur constituency, was found hanging at his home on November 16.

Family and Neighbours Cite Severe Work Stress

Residents said that Aneesh appeared distressed due to the workload. Neighbour Shyju V K said Aneesh had taken his family to church in the morning and returned home before taking the extreme step, and that although he had struggled to identify a few houses during his BLO work, he managed with help from others. Family members said he left behind his wife and two children.

A case of unnatural death under BNSS 194 was registered at Peringome Police Station. His brother-in-law Saiju said Aneesh had not been getting enough time to eat or sleep properly and had been under significant strain to complete SIR-related tasks. He also alleged that senior officers had frequently contacted Aneesh for updates, adding that Aneesh’s father had even advised him not to worry about losing his job due to the workload. His body was handed over to the family after post-mortem.

Collector Says No Evidence of Work-Related Pressure

Kannur District Collector Arun K Vijayan, IAS, said that a preliminary inquiry had shown no indication that Aneesh was under work pressure. He stated that Aneesh had been performing well as a BLO and had completed over 77% of the first phase of the SIR exercise. The Collector added that the Chief Electoral Officer had sought a detailed report and that a consolidated version would be sent after combining inputs from the Electoral Registration Officer and the police.

The CEO’s office also said there was no established link between the suicide and SIR duties, noting that all necessary support had been provided.

Statewide Boycott by BLOs; Protests at Collectorates

The incident prompted BLOs across the state to boycott SIR duties on Monday. Government employees’ unions, including the Action Council of State Government Employees and Teachers and the Joint Committee of Teacher Service Organisations, held protests at district collectorates demanding that excessive pressure be stopped and that the SIR schedule be reconsidered.

The Kerala NGO Association also staged statewide protests calling for the suspension of SIR activities to prevent further tragedies.

Despite the boycott call, many BLOs reportedly continued their duties due to the pending workload ahead of the December 4 deadline set by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Congress Alleges CPI(M) Pressure on BLO

The Congress claimed that Aneesh had also faced political intimidation from CPI(M) workers in his area. Kannur DCC member Rajith Narath said the CPI(M) local leadership had reportedly objected to a Congress booth-level agent accompanying Aneesh during house visits for enumeration. He alleged that the intention was to retain invalid names, including those of deceased voters, those who had shifted residences, and duplicate entries on the electoral rolls.

According to him, the area had a history of blocking non-CPI(M) booth agents during elections, and he cited concerns that votes were often cast in the names of those who were dead or no longer residing in the area. He also said that although the SIR process would help remove such names, CPI(M) workers were reluctant because it would reduce their vote base.

He added that Aneesh had filed a complaint with the District Collector days before his death but that no action had been taken.

Leaked Phone Call Fuels Controversy

A recorded phone conversation, released by the Kannur District Congress Committee, purportedly between Aneesh and a Congress booth agent Vysakh, indicated that Aneesh had told him he was under pressure not to allow the Congress agent to accompany him.

Kannur District Congress Committee president Martin George alleged that threats from CPI(M) workers had contributed to Aneesh’s suicide and that workload alone could not explain the incident. He claimed the conversation supported these allegations.

According to him, CPI(M) booth-level agent Rafeek had threatened Aneesh, and instead of allowing the officially designated BLA to accompany the BLO, a former CPI(M) branch secretary and other party workers had been accompanying him during the SIR enumeration. Martin George said the CPI(M) was attempting to retain bogus voters in the Alappadamba panchayat and that identifying such entries through the revised electoral roll could have placed Aneesh in a difficult position.

As reported in Mathrubhumi English, in the audio clip, Aneesh was heard telling Vysakh not to accompany him from the next day, reportedly saying that some individuals were strongly opposing it and intended to block his presence. When Vysakh asked who was creating the obstruction, Aneesh replied that he would explain it in person. Vysakh was heard advising him to report the matter to senior officials, arguing that he was accompanying the BLO as per Election Commission guidelines. Aneesh responded that Vysakh could file a complaint stating that he was not being allowed to join the enumeration and that the situation was difficult because the area was dominated by certain groups.

Congress leaders argued that the call reflected the political pressure Aneesh had been facing.

CPI(M) Kannur district secretary KK Ragesh dismissed these allegations, saying the incident was being misinterpreted for political gain.

Opposition Demands Accountability

Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan said initial information suggested that CPI(M) interference should be investigated and alleged that both the CPI(M) and BJP were attempting to manipulate the electoral roll. He urged the state government and the ECI to ensure the safety of BLOs and stated that the short deadline placed excessive burden on officers, most of whom were women.

KPCC president Sunny Joseph said a phone call indicated that CPI(M) workers had allegedly threatened Aneesh with a false complaint. He argued that such political pressure, combined with work strain, pushed Aneesh to suicide. Joseph also criticised the ECI for implementing SIR after local body election announcements and said the Congress would approach the Supreme Court against the process.

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Two Kerala Schools Bar Students Wearing Sabarimala Vratham Attire; Parents, Hindu Groups Protest

By
The Commune
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Two Kerala Schools Bar Students Wearing Sabarimala Vratham Attire; Parents, Hindu Groups Protest

Two separate incidents in Kerala have triggered controversy and protests after students observing the Sabarimala vratham were reportedly denied entry to classrooms for wearing black clothes, a traditional practice during the 41-day austerity period.

Guruvayoor School Bars Class 3 Student; Child Absent for 11 Days

About a week ago, on 12 November 2025, a dispute emerged at Sree Gokulam Public School in Guruvayoor, Thrissur, where a Class 3 student was reportedly barred earlier this month for wearing black as part of the vratham, as reported in India Today. The school reiterated that only the official uniform is allowed on campus.

Speaking to reporters, school principal Latha Manjo said that the school follows a strict uniform policy and that every student admitted is required to adhere to it. She said the management is obligated to take action if the policy is violated.

According to the parents, the boy has been observing the vratham since 1 November 2025 and has not attended school for 11 days following the incident. The school said the uniform policy is clarified during admissions.

Hindu Aikyavedi Holds Protest Outside School

Members of the Hindu Aikyavedi held a Namajapa Prathishedham (prayer protest) outside Sree Gokulam Public School on 11 November 2025, accusing the institution of showing insensitivity toward Hindu religious practices.

Protesters carried a banner that read: “Faith and education are rights of the students guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. What authority does Gokulam School have to deny that?”

BJP Pavaratty–Guruvayoor mandalam general secretary Ginish PG, who joined the protest, said schools in the region had previously allowed black attire during Mandala season. He added that a decade ago, the same school faced a similar issue which was resolved after intervention.

Ginish said discussions with the school management this time failed, and the parents have decided to transfer the child to another school. The organisation is also considering approaching the court.

Students in Thrissur Sent Out of Class for Wearing Black

On 18 November 2025, at the Alagappa Nagar Panchayat Government Higher Secondary School in Thrissur, two Plus Two science students were asked to leave the classroom after they attended school wearing black attire as part of their Sabarimala vratham, as reported in Kerala Kaumudi.

Teachers reportedly told the students they could only attend class in the prescribed uniform. The issue surfaced after the students informed their parents, prompting BJP, Congress, CPM workers and panchayat officials to reach the campus.

BJP members demanded an apology from the teachers involved. The situation was resolved after a discussion led by Puthukkad SHO Adam Khan, where school authorities agreed to allow students to wear black clothing during the vratham period.

Religious Practice and School Rules Clash

During the Sabarimala vratham, devotees traditionally wear black or dark blue as a marker of simplicity and detachment. The austerity period begins in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam and continues until the Mandala Pooja in December.

While schools insist on uniform enforcement, Hindu groups argue that temporary accommodations during the 41-day vratham are reasonable and have been previously practiced.

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India’s Most-Wanted Maoist Commander Hidma Neutralised 12 Days Before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Deadline

By
The Commune
-
India’s Most-Wanted Maoist Commander Hidma Neutralised 12 Days Before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Deadline

In a major breakthrough in India’s long fight against Left-wing extremism, security forces have killed top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma in the dense Pullagandi forests at the tri-junction of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. The 44-year-old Maoist, considered one of the most dangerous Maoist commanders, was neutralised just 12 days before a deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his elimination.

Home Minister’s Target Achieved Ahead of Time

According to sources present during high-level security review meetings, Shah had instructed anti-Naxal forces to eliminate Hidma before 30 November 2025. The Home Minister has also set a national deadline of 31 March 2026, for making India completely free of Maoist insurgency.

A senior official privy to the directive said: “The Union Home Minister told security agencies to eliminate Hidma before November 30. He was killed 12 days before this deadline.”

Officials added that, given the current pace of counter-insurgency operations, Left-wing extremism is likely to collapse even before the March 2026 target.

Who Was Madvi Hidma?

Born in Sukma in 1981, Hidma rose through Maoist ranks to become the commander of PLGA Battalion No. 1 and a member of the powerful Maoist Central Committee. He was the only tribal leader from Bastar to reach this top echelon.

Hidma’s name has been linked to more than 26 major Naxal attacks, making him one of the most feared insurgents in the country. He was widely described by security agencies as the “Osama of Maoist terror.”

A 29-Year Manhunt Ends

Hidma had evaded capture for nearly three decades, often disappearing into the forests moments before security forces closed in. The Bastar region, where he operated, has long been considered India’s most violent Maoist stronghold.

His death is being hailed by officials as a watershed moment.
Bastar IG Sundarraj P called it a “historic milestone in the fight against Left-wing extremism,” noting that the Maoist leadership is now reduced to a handful of senior figures.

Signals of Surrender That Never Materialised

Recent developments suggested Hidma was considering giving up arms. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma met his mother last week, urging him to surrender.

Telangana police claimed Hidma had sent “hints” of surrender. A Bastar-based journalist said Hidma contacted him to explore negotiation options. However, any such talks ended before they could begin.

A Shrinking Maoist Leadership

The year 2025 has seen record attrition at the top levels of the CPI (Maoist):

Killed:

  • Nambala Keshav Rao (General Secretary)
  • Thentu Laxmi
  • Kadari Satyanarayan Reddy
  • Katta Ramchandra Reddy
  • Chalapati

Surrendered:

  • Mallujola Venugopal Rao alias Sonu (Politburo)
  • Sujata
  • Chandranna
  • Rupesh

Those still active include Ganesh Uikey, Anal Da, Malla Raji Reddy (alias Sangram), and Ramder.

With leaders ageing, cadre strength dwindling, and movement restricted due to intense surveillance, officials believe Maoism may be approaching its “final death knell.”

A Turning Point in Counter-Insurgency?

Hidma’s killing, coming ahead of Shah’s deadline, is being viewed as one of the most significant counter-insurgency successes in recent years. Security officials say it could accelerate India’s march toward a “Maoist-mukt Bharat” well before 2026.

(Source: The Print)

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BJP Leader Ashvathaman Files Complaint Against Tenkasi DMK Functionary Who Called For PM Modi To “Be Finished Off”

By
The Commune
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BJP Leader Ashvathaman Files Complaint Against Tenkasi DMK Functionary Who Called For PM Modi To "Be Finished Off"

A political flashpoint has erupted in Tamil Nadu after BJP leader and State Secretary A Ashvathaman lodged a formal complaint with the Tamil Nadu Police against DMK Tenkasi District Secretary Jayabalan, accusing him of making anti-national and seditious remarks that allegedly amounted to a death threat against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ashvathaman said he was forced to send the complaint via email after the Tamil Nadu Police’s online grievance portal “became non-functional,” which he described as symbolic of the state government’s administrative failure.

Complaint Alleges Direct Death Threat

In his complaint addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, Ashvathaman stated that Jayabalan’s speech at a recent public meeting in Tenkasi district posed a serious threat to national security, public order, and democratic integrity.

According to the complaint, Jayabalan allegedly said: “Only if we finish off Modi, this nation will be good,” and “Until that decision is fulfilled, Tamil Nadu will not see good days.”

Calling the statement “dangerous, anti-national, and seditious,” Ashvathaman said such comments from a public office-bearer cannot be ignored. He described the speech as a criminal act that “threatens not only one individual but the nation’s law and order and the mindset of the public.”

“Ignoring Threats Sets a Dangerous Precedent”

In the detailed petition, Ashvathaman argued that failure to take action would embolden similar threats in the future: “Ignoring a criminal threat can have major consequences. When such people, especially public servants, engage in seditious activity or issue death threats, ignoring these threats serves as a bad example.”

He added that if government employees do not act on such threats, it “creates an unsafe environment for the public.”

Citing multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — including 152, 194, 197, 351(2), 352, 353, 356, and 223 — Ashvathaman urged the police to arrest Jayabalan and initiate criminal proceedings.

He wrote: “Making a death threat against the country’s Prime Minister is highly condemnable. When such threats are made by a public functionary, the consequences can be severe and long-lasting.”

The BJP leader emphasised that “immediate and strict action” was necessary to preserve social harmony and public safety.

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“Don’t Be Arrogant”: BJP Leader Tamilisai Soundararajan Hits Back After Dy CM Udhayanidhi Says Only “Wise” People Hold Knowledge Festivals

By
The Commune
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“Don’t Be Arrogant”: BJP Leader Tamilisai Hits Back After Dy CM Udhayanidhi Says Only “Wise” People Hold Knowledge Festivals

A political confrontation erupted in Tamil Nadu after Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments on a recently held “Knowledge Festival” drew a sharp rebuttal from BJP leader and former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. The exchange has quickly intensified into a public war of words, with both leaders accusing each other of arrogance and political insecurity.

What Udhayanidhi Said 

Speaking at an event, Udhayanidhi said, “A person with wisdom organizes a knowledge festival. During that knowledge festival, when we criticize them, they get angry, just like a thief fears the police… just hearing the word ‘knowledge’ shocks them.”

His comments were widely circulated on social media, drawing applause from DMK supporters but criticism from opponents.

Tamilisai Responds: “Don’t Be Arrogant”

Reacting to his statements, Tamilisai Soundararajan launched a direct attack on the Deputy Chief Minister’s political rise and credibility.

She said, “This morning I saw Udhayanidhi’s interview. He was speaking on TV, saying only knowledgeable people organize knowledge festivals, that those who lack knowledge need not worry about it. So, is Udhayanidhi claiming to be wise? Did you become the Deputy Chief Minister because you are wise? You became Deputy Chief Minister by inheritance. Don’t be arrogant!”

She further said, “Mr. Udhayanidhi, don’t be arrogant. You organized the knowledge festival, gave it a big name, and now you’re speaking as if you alone are knowledgeable, and others are not. Don’t be arrogant. Just intellect alone doesn’t make you Deputy Chief Minister.”

Countering Udhayanidhi’s ‘Thief and Police’ Analogy

Udhayanidhi’s analogy, linking critics of the festival to thieves who fear the police, also came under attack.

She added, “He had said only thieves fear the police—fear comes to a thief when he sees the police. That’s why, when they see us, they’re afraid.”

Tamilisai shot back: “I’ll turn that statement back: Why are you afraid of the SIR (Special Investigation Report/list)? You are afraid because you’re involved in vote theft. That’s why you fear the SIR.”

She went further, alleging electoral malpractice: “How did you win before? You yourself admit that you won using fake voters.”

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Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas Proves What Tamil Nadu Could Achieve, If It Looked Beyond Dravidian Limits

By
Baskar
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Aravind Srinivas Proves What Tamil Nadu Could Achieve—If It Looked Beyond Dravidian Limits

Aravind Srinivas is the Co-founder, President and CEO of Perplexity, a $20B company  at the forefront of artificial intelligence. Founded in 2022 in San Francisco, Perplexity is recognized globally for products including:

  • Answer (Search) Engine
  • Perplexity Assistant
  • Comet AI Browser
  • Perplexity Pro (for deep research)
Perplexity’s Rise as a Top AI Startup
  • Global Rankings: Top 10 AI company, Top 7 in AI search market
  • Google Substitute: Competes as a next-gen search engine, delivering quick, clear, citation-based answers free of advertisements
  • Multi-Platform: Available via web, Android app, and browser extension
Recent Highlights

Aravind and Perplexity made headlines when his Company bid for Google Chrome while Google was facing antitrust scrutiny in US. He also debuted in the Hurun India rich list as India’s youngest billionaire.

Vision and Philosophy

Unlike some Dravidian Stock entrepreneurs who focus on entertainment and media, Aravind is committed to meaningful product creation:
He believes in products that democratize knowledge, promoting universal access to education and research.
Despises corporate hierarchy and avoids fostering addiction through his products.

  • Policy Engagement: Active presence in Delhi, engineering teams in Bangalore and Hyderabad
  • Startup Support: Planning the Perplexity Fund to back Indian ventures
  • Government Collaboration: Input to central/state policy, advocacy for sovereign AI investment and GPU clusters
  • Societal Impact: Discussed with PM Modi the importance of AI in local languages, cross-referencing ancient Indian knowledge, and focusing on curiosity-driven usage rather than making people lazy.

Journey to the Top

Personal Background

Born 1994, Chennai, to Lakshminarayanan (Accountant) and Jayanthi (Central Govt employee)

Schooling: DAV Gopalapuram and DAV Public School, Velachery

Early Achievements: National Mathematics Olympiad, KVPY scholar

“Every time we would go on a bus and pass by the IIT Madras campus, my mom would point to the campus and say, ‘This is where you’re going to study.’”

His father had instilled on him the culture of being scholarly with pursuits for educational excellence and research rather than just generating wealth

JEE/AIEEE Success: AIR 980 (JEE), fourth rank TN (AIEEE). Trained by Prof. KK Anand’s SMART academy between 2008-2011. His dedication and focus for IIT JEE was spotted in his school days with Aravind focusing on JEE preparation even during regular classes.

In the JEE results, he was ranked behind his classmate R Krishnan and his other buddy group. He couldn’t secure his preferred course of Computer Science and could only get Electrical Engineering in his B. Tech course at IIT Madras. He also fell marginally short of the required CGPA by 0.01 to switch his majors to Computer Science post the first semester.

This drove him to a phase of focused vengeance leading him to study Python, Machine learning on his own watching online videos of Andrew Ng’s Stanford lectures on machine learning. This was even as he was doing his EE course at IITM. As a result, he was the class topper at IITM in Machine learning in his 3rd year.

His IIT professor B Ravindran was his guide and mentor teaching him Deep learning, Reinforcement learning even before it was the hot thing.

Campus Contributions

During his recent visit to IITM, he offered free access of Perplexity Pro to its faculty and students. This cutting-edge search engine is designed to provide a more robust and versatile search experience, empowering users to conduct more thorough investigations into topics.

Offered free access to Perplexity Pro for IITM faculty & students, driving research empowerment.

Academic and Professional Excellence

Research Papers: During his time at IIT Madras, Aravind published in top tier AI conferences like International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR), AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence, and NeurIPS. Aravind collaborated with his professors and had a total of 9 papers published.

Internship: Srinivas was rewarded for his efforts when he got an internship with Canadian computer scientist and Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio who recommended Srinivas for PhD in Computer Science and could get admissions from UC Berkeley. There he researched research spanning computer vision, reinforcement learning, transformers, and generative models.

PhD: At the University of California, Berkeley, Srinivas met research scientist John Schulman who was working with Open AI and who invented Chat GPT. He noticed his work and invited him to do an internship at Open AI where he worked on language and diffusion text models.

Industry internship: Srinivas worked with Deep Mind and Google, between 2019 and 2021, after the internship with Open AI before returning to Sam Altman’s company in 2021. His stints included OpenAI, DeepMind in London, and Google, where he contributed to models such as HaloNet, ResNet-RS, and OpenAI’s celebrated DALL·E 2.

Entrepreneurship: A year later, Srinivas decided to quit and became the co-founder CEO of Perplexity AI in August 2022. Srinivas co-founded Perplexity AI along with Denis Yarats and Andy Konwinski. The startup’s conversational search engine aims to offer fast, accurate, and trustworthy answers, positioning itself as an alternative to traditional search platform

Since 2023, Srinivas has also been active as an angel investor, backing AI ventures like ElevenLabs (text-to-speech) and Suno (text-to-music). His investments underline his broader bet on generative AI innovation.

Family: His parents are in Chennai while he stays in Bay Area with his wife.

Inspirations and Mentors

Aravind had been inspired by Sundar Pichai and though Perplexity is billed as Google Search’s key competitor, they share a good connect. He had infact changed his food habit to Lacto-ovo vegetarian after hearing Sundar’s diet in one of his videos and got permission for this change, from his mother as well.

His mentor includes Satya Nadella and calls him a phenomenal CEO and Coach. He calls Satya as a learning machine and keep speaking atleast once a month.

Views on Silicon Valley:

Aravind Srinivas views Silicon Valley as one of the few truly meritocratic places in the world, especially for outsiders. Despite challenges like immigration rules and H-1B visa fee hikes, Silicon Valley remains welcoming to those who think differently and execute relentlessly. He emphasized the critical importance of trusted mentors who can vouch for, invest in, and guide newcomers, even if they might compete with them later.

Views on India:

He wants Indian founders to create world class products rather than just managing existing firms. He works hard and has an intense work ethic. “Indians are not just meant for managing and climbing up the ladder to being CEOs… I want India to show the world that we can build companies.” Srinivas articulated pride in Indian-origin CEOs but also stressed the need to shift the mindset from managing other people’s companies to building the next Google or $1 trillion company founded by Indians, drawing parallel with the Indian cricketers who are now global icons

Tamil Nadu’s Tech Legacy

Aravind joins the ranks of Tamil Nadu-bred tech icons:

  • Sundar Pichai (Google)
  • Sridhar Vembu (Zoho)
  • N Chandrasekaran (now Chairman – Tata Group

All four of them share common culture and tradition steeped in scholarly professions and working to spread knowledge and uplifting people’s lives.

Their lineage reflects deep cultural influence of Tamil Brahmins in fostering education and enterprise, a legacy that continues to inspire new generations.

Irrespective of the controversial political ideologies in the State of Tamil Nadu, its people would continue to be inspired by these icons and focus on benefits of education and pursuit of excellence.

Baskar is a finance professional having keen interest in current affairs and Indian culture.

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