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Radical Islamist And Alleged ‘Fact-Checker’ Mohammed Zubair Hurls Casteist Slur At His Critics

By
The Commune
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Faced with proofs that indicated that a founding editor of Alt News Science, Dr Sumaiya Shaikh, received foreign funding, radical Islamist and alleged fact-checker Mohammed Zubair of Islamo-Leftist propaganda outlet Alt News, hurled casteist abuses at his critics.

Replying to a handle that shared tax filing screenshots of the foundation that gave grants to Shaikh, Zubair wrote, “Abey Saste Desi Bhand, thoda aur research karle. They were contributor not Alt News employees.” meaning “Hey, cheap local Bhand, do some more research. They were contributors, not Alt News employees”

Now, Bhand refers to a community that is known also as “Bahand” and actually refers to a traditional folk entertainment community. In this context, Zubair has used the word Bhand as a slur and it is against the Scheduled Caste group of street performers, who are officially listed as SCs in Rajasthan.

Most often in “common” parlance, phrases like “bandh hokar naachna” are casually used to describe dancing while drunk. But it is in reality a slur.

The word “Bhand” has multiple meanings in South Asia, referring to traditional folk entertainers, particularly a community of hereditary performers like singers, dancers, and jesters, or an individual who is a jester or buffoon. The term also exists as a community name for various endogamous groups across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, though many have left their traditional occupations due to social marginalization and a decline in folk arts. As an occupational, lower-caste group, the decline of traditional folk arts has pushed many Bhands to other trades or into poverty, with some becoming rickshaw pullers or beggars.

And this warrants an SC/ST Atrocity case on Zubair for using such slurs.

The same Zubair did not find it wrong to use a casteist slur on a netizen. Here is a look at a few of his casteist posts.

He even called BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla by his caste name.

He deleted an old inflammatory post which resurfaced earlier in June 2025 and gained traction on X. In response to the controversy, he claimed it was being misinterpreted and deleted it. The tweet in question, originally posted in May 2018, featured a cartoon showing BJP leader Amit Shah portrayed as Chanakya, with his traditional Brahmin shikha (choti) being cut by a hand labeled ‘DKS’ holding scissors. Many online perceived the image as derogatory towards the Brahmin community. The post reignited criticism of Zubair, who has frequently targeted what he sees as communal sensitivities in Hindu beliefs while often downplaying similar concerns related to Islamic figures like Prophet Muhammad or historical figures such as Aurangzeb.

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Radical Leftist Propaganda Outlet Alt News Accused Of FCRA Violations, Zubair Labels Editor Sumaiya Shaikh A ‘Contributor’ After ₹50 Lakh Foreign Grant Gets Exposed

By
The Commune
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A series of serious allegations concerning foreign funding, editorial roles, and potential legal violations have emerged against alleged fact-checking website Alt News and individuals associated with it, centering on grants from a US-based foundation.

The controversy involves Mohammed Zubair, alleged fact-checker and co-founder of Alt News, who was reportedly sent to 14 days judicial custody by the Patiala House Court in New Delhi in July 2022 after his bail was rejected. Zubair faced (and continues to face) accusations of hurting religious sentiments, while the Delhi Police had also been investigating potential violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act – FCRA – regarding alleged receipt of funding from Pakistan, Syria, and other countries.

Cut to 2025, Zubair publicly challenged individuals to prove his involvement in foreign funding. In response, critics have presented evidence targeting two journalists linked to Alt News.

The Funding Allegations

Investigations reveal that Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh, a neuroscientist and author, and Sharfaroz Satani, from Boston, received a grant totaling ₹50 Lakh from the Thakur Family Foundations Inc, a USA-based organization. The foundation’s stated mission is working in public health and civil liberties.

The Thakur Family Foundation Inc. is a United States 501(c)(3) organization founded by Dinesh Thakur and is based in St. Petersburg, Florida. According to its profile on leftist institution Ashoka University, the Foundation “invests in capacity building for an empowered society through participative, socially-just governance.”

A look at the tax filings over the past few years indicate the grants received by Dr Sumaiya Shaikh and Sharfaroz Satani.

Image Source: Propublica
Image Source: Propublica

When netizens indicated this, Zubair claimed that the grant recipients were merely “contributors” and not Alt News employees, but evidence from 2019 shows Dr. Shaikh repeatedly identifying herself as the “editor of a fact-checking science portal.” Furthermore, screenshots from the Alt News website itself list her as an editor, specifically the “founding editor for Alt News Science” from 2017 to 2021.

Zubair has subsequently made conflicting statements, asserting that Dr. Shaikh is not an Indian citizen, was a contributor to Alt News rather than an employee, and that the grant from the Thakur Foundation was for her personal research, not for writing for Alt News.

Well, it is unclear how a founding editor became a “contributor” all of a sudden. A look at the Alt News profile of Sumaiya Shaikh shows us that she stopped “contributing” in 2021.

Another Alt News ‘Contributor’ Gets Foreign Funds To Write Articles

Another Alt News ‘contributor’ Sharfaroz Satani, reportedly received USD 5,907 (approximately ₹4.43 lakh) between 2020 and 2021 from the Thakur Family Foundation. When combined with the grant to Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh, the total amount comes to around ₹50 lakh. Since Alt News does not possess an FCRA licence, it is not permitted to accept foreign contributions directly — yet the funds appear to have reached the platform indirectly through its employees.

In essence, the Pravda Foundation (under which Alt News functions) — despite not having an FCRA licence — seems unaware that its so-called “contributors” were penning pieces for Alt News while being bankrolled by a foreign NGO.

The Grant’s Purpose And Propaganda

Documentation from the Thakur Family Foundation’s website explicitly states the purpose of the award: “WE MADE AN AWARD TO NEUROSCIENTIST AND AUTHOR, DR. SUMAIYA SHAIKH, TO SUPPORT HER FACT-CHECKING CLAIMS RELATED TO EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE.”

 

There are also links to the specific articles produced under this grant on Alt News website. These articles, which were published on platforms associated with the individuals, are alleged ‘fact-checking’ pieces that apparently debunked various claims related to COVID-19. The articles include:

Debunking claims that Vitamin C and lemon-infused hot water can protect against coronavirus or cancer.

Addressing exaggerated effects of the “Janta curfew” as a 14-hour period to kill the coronavirus on surfaces.

Countering claims of genetic superiority of Indians in dealing with COVID-19.

Investigating the scientific basis of Patanjali’s Coronil as a cure for COVID-19.

Scrutinizing home remedies promoted by an Ayurvedic practitioner and the AYUSH ministry’s promotion of “immunity boosters” like Arsenicum Album 30 and Ayush Kwath.

These articles extensively embedded links and referenced content from the Alt News website. Dr. Shaikh was also the founder of the Alt News Science website, further intertwining her work with the Alt News brand. Despite her claimed role as an editor and her use of a company email address, Zubair has maintained she was only a ‘contributor’.

It is noteworthy that Thakur Foundation is alleged to be a pharma lobbyist and all the articles written by Shaikh counter the natural medicine systems that provided medicines such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy during COVID-19 period.

Legal And Regulatory Questions

The situation raises significant legal and ethical questions. Questions are being raised whether Alt News is a news aggregator or a news publisher, and if foreign entities are legally permitted to control or influence the editorial policies of a news publishing platform in India.

The scale of the funding has also drawn attention. With a grant of ₹50 Lakh for a body of work that critics claim resulted in approximately 10 articles, it translates to an unprecedented ₹5 Lakh per article. Many on social media have questioned how many journalists or commentators, receive such high remuneration, suggesting possible FCRA violations and a conflict of interest.

These allegations compound the existing legal challenges for Alt News. It was previously reported that Zubair attempted to destroy his phone at the time of his arrest, adding another layer of scrutiny to the organization’s operations

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The Deification Of A Missionary, James Kimpton, In Rural Tamil Nadu

By
The Commune
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The Deification Of A Missionary, James Kimpton, In Rural Tamil Nadu

In the villages of G. Kallupatti and Genguvarpatti near Vathalagundu, a curious annual spectacle unfolds every October. Thousands gather to honor a British missionary, Brother James Kimpton with processions, floral tributes, and annadhanams. The late missionary, fondly called “Thatha” (grandfather), is now celebrated like a local deity, his image paraded in chariots through temple-lined streets.

But behind the façade of reverence lies a troubling story of cultural subversion and the long shadow of missionary influence in rural Tamil Nadu.

A Missionary’s Second Home in Tamil Nadu

Born in Wales in 1925, Kimpton joined the Catholic De La Salle Brothers, a missionary order blending education with evangelization. After being expelled from Sri Lanka in 1964 due to that country’s decision to curb foreign religious interference, he found fertile ground in Tamil Nadu. In 1974, he founded Reaching The Unreached (RTU) in G. Kallupatti, a charitable society that quickly expanded into a sprawling welfare empire across Theni and Dindigul districts.

RTU’s projects included orphanages, schools, women’s self-help groups, HIV support programs, and housing schemes, all funded by Western religious and secular organizations. While the visible outcome appeared philanthropic, the institutional control and ideological structure remained firmly under the Catholic order’s grip.

Charity as a Tool of Religious Influence

Kimpton’s public persona was that of a saintly foreigner devoted to the poor, but his alleged model of “service without conversion” followed a well-known postcolonial missionary formula using welfare as a moral gateway rather than a pulpit. The constant presence of Christian symbols, the use of Western names like “Boys’ Town,” and the subtle introduction of biblical moral narratives in daily life quietly normalized Christian authority among Hindu villagers.

This approach did not need overt conversion drives. Instead, it replaced traditional community structures with missionary-administered ones, orphanages instead of gurukulams, foreign-funded schools instead of local schools, imported models of charity instead of dharmic seva. Over time, it fostered a deep dependence on foreign-controlled institutions, ensuring that gratitude and faith flowed upward toward the Church.

Dependency and Displacement of Local Dharma Institutions

The massive scale of RTU’s activities effectively displaced native systems of social support. Rather than empowering local self-governance or temple-based welfare traditions, the organization centralized authority in missionary hands. Even after Kimpton’s death in 2017, the institution remained within Catholic administration under the Capuchin Friars, a clear signal that the project was never meant to become community-owned.

The dependence created through these welfare structures has had enduring consequences. Generations of rural families have come to equate education, healthcare, and charity with Christian institutions, slowly eroding the role of local mutts, temples, and dharma sabhas in social life.

The Deification of a Missionary

Perhaps the most revealing symptom of this long-term influence is the near-deification of Kimpton himself. Villagers now perform rituals for him with molapari, processions, and offerings, practices traditionally reserved for local deities. This phenomenon, while framed as affection, reflects a deeper cultural confusion: the absorption of a foreign missionary into Hindu ritual frameworks, turning spiritual reverence into cultural submission.

Such syncretic devotion blurs the lines between respect and religious influence. It demonstrates how sustained missionary presence, cloaked in welfare, can reshape local belief systems until even villagers begin to sanctify their colonizer.

A Continuing Pattern in Rural Tamil Nadu

Kimpton’s legacy is not isolated. It represents a broader pattern of how Christian missions operate in India’s interior: building goodwill through service, embedding foreign values under the language of “compassion,” and gradually replacing traditional Hindu frameworks of social responsibility.

The result is a slow but steady erosion of indigenous cultural confidence. While Tamil Nadu’s temples and mutts once sustained entire villages through annadhanam and vidya daanam, today the same functions are often outsourced to missionary NGOs with international funding and long-term ideological goals.

A Lesson in Cultural Vigilance

Brother James Kimpton’s story is often presented as one of selfless service, but viewed through the lens of Dharma, it also serves as a cautionary tale. It shows how foreign religious networks can embed themselves deep within rural India, transforming the very meaning of service, charity, and worship.

For a civilization that once viewed seva as sacred duty rooted in Dharma, the veneration of a missionary as a village god is not a mark of harmony, it is a warning of how cultural memory can be reshaped through dependence. As Tamil Nadu continues to navigate questions of faith, identity, and influence, the cult of “Thatha” Kimpton stands as a reminder that every act of foreign charity in a vulnerable land carry more than food and medicine, it carries a message, and a mission.

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Puthiya Thalaimurai Reportedly Taken Off Arasu Cable, Not A Whisper In Its Social Media Handle Unlike During ADMK Period; Tamil Janam Still Denied Access

By
The Commune
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Tamil Nadu’s leading news channel Puthiya Thalaimurai was allegedly taken off air by the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited (TACTV) on Saturday, October 4, 2025, leading to strong reactions from journalists and viewers. The move, reportedly made without prior notice, has revived debates over political control of state-run media distribution and freedom of expression.

According to sources, Puthiya Thalaimurai was removed from the TACTV network, which carries over 150 channels to subscribers across Tamil Nadu. The reason for the removal has not been officially disclosed. Following discussions between the channel’s management and TACTV officials, the channel was reportedly restored in some districts, though it remains unavailable in others.

The Chennai Press Club issued a statement condemning the development, saying that suspending or blocking a news channel’s telecast without prior notice amounted to suppression of press freedom. The organisation urged TACTV to restore the channel immediately, noting that such actions undermine the principles of free and fair journalism.

TACTV officials, including chairman Brajendra Navnit, were unavailable for comment.

This is not the first time Puthiya Thalaimurai has faced such a disruption. In 2017, the channel was temporarily removed from the Arasu Cable network after airing a survey related to the RK Nagar by-election, which was reportedly viewed as unfavourable to politician V.K. Sasikala.

The latest incident has also drawn attention from within Tamil media circles. Commentators have pointed out that when Puthiya Thalaimurai was taken off air during the previous AIADMK government, the channel had publicly raised the issue through its own broadcasts and social media handles. However, this time, despite reports of its removal circulating widely, the channel itself has not made any official statement or post about the issue on its platforms.

Observers note that the incident has also reignited debate over the government’s management of Arasu Cable, which was originally launched to ensure equal access and prevent private monopolies in cable television distribution. Critics allege that the selective inclusion or exclusion of channels based on political convenience contradicts the very principles of equality and justice that the government claims to uphold.

Meanwhile, Tamil Janam TV, another Tamil news channel, has alleged that it has been consistently denied inclusion on Arasu Cable for the past two years despite being available on major private platforms such as Tata Sky, Airtel, Jio, TCCL, and GTPL. Tamil Janam’s editor Anand T. Prasad said the government’s refusal to carry their channel raises questions about political bias and lack of transparency.

புதிய தலைமுறைக்கு வந்தால் ரத்தம்!?

Media analysts have pointed out that Arasu Cable was originally launched to ensure equal access and to prevent monopolies by private operators. However, the selective inclusion and exclusion of news channels based on political considerations has raised serious questions about transparency and accountability in the government’s media policy.

(With inputs from The New Indian Express)

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Dravidian Model Chennai: T.Nagar’s ₹165-Crore Steel Flyover Fails To Ease Traffic Congestion, Residents Call It A Cosmetic Fix

By
The Commune
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T.Nagar’s ₹165-Crore Steel Flyover Fails To Ease Traffic Congestion, Residents Call It A Cosmetic Fix

The newly inaugurated ₹164.9 crore steel flyover connecting South Usman Road with CIT Nagar has failed to deliver the relief from traffic congestion that it was expected to bring. The 1.2-kilometre-long structure, which was opened by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin last week, links with the existing 800-metre North Usman Road flyover, forming a two-kilometre elevated stretch through one of Chennai’s busiest commercial zones.

In the days following its inauguration, commuters travelling from CIT Nagar to North Usman Road reported that while the drive over the new flyover took only a few minutes, they were still forced to wait at the four-way Vivek’s Junction immediately after the flyover’s exit. Traffic police currently regulate movement manually, as there is no revised signal plan to manage the increased volume of vehicles being channelled directly from Anna Salai.

Before the flyover was constructed, vehicles from Anna Salai entered T.Nagar through Venkatnarayana Road, passing via the Link Road and South West Boag Road before reaching Panagal Park, resulting in slower movement through congested internal stretches. The new structure now brings a higher volume of vehicles directly to the junction in a shorter time, where they merge with traffic arriving from Venkatnarayana Road, Thyagaraya Road, and the Duraiswamy subway.

Traffic department officials stated that signal timers would be realigned once the new traffic density was assessed. They attributed the current congestion partly to the seasonal rush during the festive period and said that the situation was expected to persist until Diwali. Officials also indicated that discussions were ongoing with the Metropolitan Transport Corporation to consider bus route diversions from Valluvar Kottam.

Residents and commuters said the persistent congestion reflected deeper structural problems in T.Nagar rather than a lack of infrastructure. They pointed to encroachments, roadside parking, and poor enforcement as the main causes of traffic chaos. Several residents said that even with a longer flyover, bottlenecks would continue unless illegal parking and encroachments outside major business establishments were removed. They alleged that parking violations outside textile and jewellery stores were often ignored due to lax policing and corruption.

Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran stated that the immediate focus was on reducing signal timings at Vivek’s Junction to allow faster vehicle movement. He said the Corporation’s long-term plan was to construct an additional 800-metre stretch connecting the North Usman Road flyover with the Mahalingapuram flyover, creating a continuous elevated corridor that would bypass the problematic junction. According to him, this extension would serve as a permanent solution, though the project could not be undertaken in the current financial year due to funding constraints.

Once completed, the proposed corridor from CIT Nagar to Mahalingapuram would become Chennai’s longest flyover, spanning four kilometres. The project, originally conceived in 2008, had seen only partial implementation at that time, with two separate flyovers built at Mahalingapuram and Usman Road.

For now, however, the ₹165-crore addition has done little to ease congestion in T.Nagar. Traffic continues to crawl through the same intersections, and the new flyover has merely shifted bottlenecks to adjacent roads, leaving residents questioning the effectiveness of yet another high-cost urban project.

(With inputs from Times of India)

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Mohammed Shahid Khan Shares With His Coreligionists Video Of College Girls Celebrating Navratri, Saying “All Hindu Girls Should Be Raped”; Media Sanitises Culprit And Gaslights

By
The Commune
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A chilling case has emerged from Viva College in Virar, near Mumbai — one that should have sparked national outrage. Instead, much of India’s mainstream media has chosen to downplay, deflect, or distort the gravity of what really happened.

Mohammed Shahid Khan, a first-year student at the college, and several of his associates were reportedly caught sharing videos of Hindu girls dancing during Navratri celebrations in a private chat group. The videos were accompanied by obscene and hate-filled messages calling for the girls to be “targeted, raped, and assaulted,” and referring to them as “prostitutes.” One of the messages used the term “musalled” — a slang expression referring to trapping non-Muslim girls through deceit or coercion.

As per the First Information Report (FIR), New Viva College has been organising Garba celebrations for over twenty years, attracting not only students but also alumni and local residents. This year’s festivities took place between September 22 and 26. During one of these events, a student allegedly filmed girls participating in the dandiya and uploaded the clips on Discord, where another individual later added obscene remarks.

The issue came to light on September 26, when someone informed the college management during the evening event that a student had shared the videos online. Upon investigation, the administration traced the uploads to a mobile phone and WhatsApp number belonging to one of the students. They also found that a separate account, operated under another student’s name, had been used to post indecent comments on the videos.

The college authorities promptly filed a complaint with the Virar Police, leading to an FIR against the accused. The report noted that the students’ actions had “hurt the sentiments of society and caused distress to the girls concerned.” Police officials said an inquiry is ongoing to identify all those involved and to determine how widely the videos were circulated.

This is not just a case of “vulgar videos.” It is a hate crime soaked in religious bigotry, directed explicitly at Hindu women. Yet, the national media seems unable — or unwilling — to state the facts as they are.

Hindustan Times chose to title its report, “Dandiya event in Virar college takes controversial turn” — a bland, misleading framing that makes it sound like a minor disagreement at a festival.

Worse, the report went on to suggest that the communal angle was introduced not by the offenders, but by a BJP leader who “gave the incident a communal tone.”

News18 ran with “Navaratri celebrations at Maharashtra college marred by vulgar videos of girls dancing, probe on.” Once again, the focus was on the videos being “vulgar” — not on the fact that they were shared with violent threats against Hindu women.

Both reports erase the most important truth: this was not some moral-policing incident or mere college mischief. It was an organised attempt to demean and target Hindu women on religious grounds — a pattern that India’s “secular” media ecosystem refuses to acknowledge whenever the perpetrators don’t fit their preferred narrative.

If the roles were reversed, the same outlets would have declared it a national crisis, with primetime panels on rising communal hatred. But when Hindu girls are dehumanised and threatened, the headlines turn euphemistic, and the perpetrators are hidden behind vague terms like “students” or “youths.”

This selective blindness is not journalism — it’s narrative management. And it has dangerous consequences. When hate crimes are reported as “controversies,” when ideological filters decide whose suffering matters, the public loses trust, and justice gets buried under spin.

DMK’s Courtroom Drama, Mockery Of Natural Justice: How Vijay And His Party TVK Were Wronged Without A Fair Hearing And The Larger Conspiracy Against DMK’s Political Enemies

By
Vallavaraayan
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justice senthilkumar dmk vijay

In a stunning display of judicial overreach and political manipulation, the recent proceedings in the Madras High Court surrounding the Karur stampede tragedy have raised troubling questions about fairness, impartiality, and the misuse of institutions for political vendetta. What unfolded on October 3, 2025 was not just a courtroom hearing—it was a meticulously staged political drama scripted to vilify Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and its leader, Vijay, without even giving them a chance to be heard.

TVK Silenced Before It Could Speak

Shockingly, TVK was not even made a party to the case. The petition—filed by one PH Dinesh from Villivakkam—was heard without including the very party being accused.

No representative from TVK was present, no notice was issued, and no opportunity for defense was granted. Yet, Justice N. Senthilkumar went on to make scathing personal remarks about Vijay’s leadership and mental state—comments that have no place in judicial proceedings. How can a judge, who is expected to uphold neutrality, comment on the “mental state” or “leadership quality” of an individual who isn’t even before the court to defend himself?

A Judicial Free Pass For DMK Propaganda

Within hours of the oral observations, DMK’s media ecosystem sprang into action. Television debates, social media influencers, and Dravidianist propaganda outlets ran coordinated stories amplifying the judge’s remarks—clearly designed to tarnish TVK’s image in the public eye. It appeared less like a coincidence and more like a choreographed operation where the judiciary’s words became political weapons.

The Curious Case

Even more curious is the timing. The Madurai Bench of the High Court was already hearing the anticipatory bail pleas of TVK leaders Nirmal Kumar and Bussy Anand regarding the same Karur incident. So, how did another PIL suddenly make its way to the Madras High Court within days? Enter the DMK—experts in backdoor politics, adept at manipulating institutions to target opponents while maintaining a façade of legality.

The PIL was filed on September 30, and mysteriously, it was listed within just days—a level of judicial efficiency rarely seen for ordinary citizens. Unsurprisingly, the only advocates present were those representing the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government. Why was Vijay not made a respondent, when the entire proceeding revolved around his event and party?

Justice Or Bias?

The judge’s remarks were more political than judicial. Questions such as “What kind of party is this?”, “The leader fled,” and “This shows the mental state of the leader” reflect not a search for truth, but an underlying prejudice. On what legal basis or metric does a judge assess a politician’s leadership quality or mental state?

The judge even referred to a “hit-and-run” case based on YouTube videos and accused the organisers of negligence—without TVK’s side being present to offer context. Ironically, the same video also shows Vijay cautioning bikers to be careful. But without representation, that crucial detail never made it into the record.

A Mockery Of Natural Justice

At the heart of this controversy lies a grave question: has the principle of natural justice been thrown out of the window? The two pillars of natural justice—the rule against bias and the right to be heard—exist to prevent precisely such miscarriages. No one should be a judge in their own cause, and no person should be condemned without an opportunity to present their case. Yet, in this instance, both these foundational principles were violated with impunity.

Had the judge even summoned TVK, condemned the incident, and sought an explanation the next day—it would have been a fair exercise. Instead, he delivered sweeping condemnations that have now become talking points for the DMK’s political propaganda machine.

The Larger Conspiracy: DMK’s Fascism Through Judicial Facade

The entire sequence of events bears the hallmark of an orchestrated DMK operation—using the judiciary’s shoulder to fire its political gun. A tragedy that demanded sober introspection and accountability has been converted into a political weapon to delegitimise Vijay’s nascent political movement. The DMK, afraid of TVK’s rapid rise and mass appeal, is now resorting to cowardly, anti-democratic tactics—targeting opponents through proxies in the courtroom rather than through public mandate.

This move is not just aimed at TVK; it strikes at all opposition parties. This order comes at a time when BJP Tamil Nadu President Nainar Nagenthiran is set to launch a state-wide tour to expose the DMK government’s failure. AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami has already been drawing massive crowd for his “Makkalai Kaapom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom” campaign.

The court has effectively ordered that no permission for the conduct of public meetings on State Highways or National Highways will be granted until a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding public gatherings is framed by the State Government and approved by the Court. So, until the DMK government submits an SOP and gets it approved from the court no party can organize rallies and public meetings which is a brazen attempt at trampling the democratic rights of opposition parties and stifling political dissent with judicial sanction.

A Word Of Advice For Vijay

Vijay, welcome to Politics 101. Do not be disheartened by orchestrated attacks, courtroom theatrics, or propaganda campaigns targeting you and TVK. Politics is a rough, dirty arena, and the challenges you face today will only intensify with time. If your goal is to truly challenge and eventually eradicate the DMK, you must be strategic: join hands with like-minded political actors, build alliances, and surround yourself with advisers who are impartial, wise, and committed to your cause—not clouded by prejudice or personal bias against a party or its leader. Only with preparation, patience, and a clear political vision can TVK navigate these storms and emerge stronger.

Vallavaraayan is a political writer. 

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Dravidian Model: Hygiene Worker Dies Of Cleaning Sewer In CM Stalin’s Kolathur Constituency, Tamil Nadu Tops In Manual Scavenging Deaths

By
The Commune
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On October 4, 2025, a sanitation worker in Kolathur, Chennai, lost his life after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a sewer, and two others were hospitalized.

According to a Times of India report, The deceased was identified as K. Kuppan (37), assisted by T. Sankar (40) and supervisor S. Hariharan (28). The trio entered the drain at Thirupathi Nagar, First Main Road, Third Cross Street around 2:30 p.m., and Kuppan collapsed on inhaling poisonous gas. Sankar and Hariharan attempted a rescue but also lost consciousness. They were rushed to Periyar Nagar Hospital; Kuppan was declared dead there, and his body later transferred to Stanley Hospital for postmortem.

BJP spokesperson ANS Prasad criticized the DMK government over its unfulfilled election promise to eradicate manual scavenging via modern technology, demanding disclosure of sanitation worker fatalities over the past five years.

Meanwhile, the Metrowater Managing Director stated that such sewer work is supposed to be conducted under its supervision, and insisted that Kuppan had entered the drain without authorization.

Just weeks earlier, on September 22, 2025, two contract workers — Prabhu (32) and A. Ravi (38) — died of suspected asphyxiation in Trichy while cleaning an underground drainage (UGD) chamber. Prabhu collapsed first, and Ravi lost consciousness while attempting to rescue him. The workers were engaged under the Phase II UGD project, linking households to a 37 MLD sewage treatment plant. Local authorities suspect the release of toxic gases when rainwater mixed with stagnant sewage after a “dummy block” was removed. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under negligence charges.

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The Myth of Christian Equality: A Look At The Deep-Seated Caste Discrimination In Church

By
The Commune
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While Christianity is often portrayed as a faith grounded in equality and compassion, divisions run deep within it — across the world, sects such as Catholic, Protestant, and Pentecostal often draw sharp lines and discriminate against one another. In India, this hierarchy takes an even more troubling form: caste-based discrimination.

Despite the perception created that Christianity is an egalitarian faith, the instances of caste-based discrimination indicates otherwise. In this report, we detail 21 incidents from 2008 to 2025 that highlights systemic and persistent caste-based discrimination against Dalit Christians in India. These cases, spanning Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and beyond, reveal practices of segregation, exclusion, and violence that mirror the very societal hierarchies many converts sought to escape.

The report gains timely significance against recent remarks by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who asserted that lack of equality within Hinduism drives conversions. However, these incidents starkly illustrate that conversion does not automatically grant liberation from caste prejudice. From judicial interventions to protests and institutional admissions, the struggle for dignity within the church continues, challenging the narrative of religious inclusivity.

#1 Supreme Court Takes Up Parish Discrimination (2025)

The Supreme Court of India agreed to hear a landmark petition concerning caste discrimination within a Catholic parish in Kottapalayam, Tamil Nadu. Filed by Dalit Christians from the Trichy district, the petition accused St. Mary Magdalene Parish of excluding Dalits from annual celebrations and enforcing segregated burial practices. Unlike other congregants, Dalit Catholics were denied the right to hold funeral masses or prayers inside the church. A bench led by Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra issued notices to the Tamil Nadu government and church authorities, demanding responses by April 15.

#2 Alleged Church Exclusion In Kottapalayam (2023)

Dalit Christians in Kottapalayam village, part of the Kumbakonam Catholic diocese, reported blatant caste discrimination in local church activities. They alleged that only members of influential, non-Dalit communities were permitted to become church members, thereby excluding Dalits from participation. Additionally, Dalits were barred from making financial contributions or subscriptions, effectively marginalizing them from the spiritual and administrative life of the parish. These accusations highlight how socioeconomic, and caste hierarchies permeate religious participation, denying Dalit Christians equal standing and voice within their faith community.

#3 Festival Ban In Trichy Church (2023)

In Ayyampatti, Trichy, Dalit Christians accused St. Mary Magdalene Church of prohibiting them from attending annual festivals and using the common community hall for weddings or family functions. The parish reportedly recognized only dominant-caste families as official members, institutionalizing their exclusion.

#4 Caste Bias At Loyola College (2022)

Lawrence D’Cruz, a former student and employee of Loyola College, Chennai, run by the Society of Jesus, alleged caste-based discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination. He claimed he was assigned menial tasks, subjected to abuse for his Dalit identity, and sexually harassed. His termination in April 2022 was viewed as retaliation. Other individuals also came forward with similar experiences, suggesting a pattern of discrimination against Dalit Christians within the institution.

#5 Protest Over Archbishop Appointment (2022)

The Dalit Christian Liberation Movement (DCLM) protested in Chennai against the appointment of a non-Dalit archbishop, Francis Kalist, in the Pondicherry-Cuddalore archdiocese. The demonstration highlighted broader discontent with the Catholic Church’s disregard for Dalit representation in leadership roles. DCLM leaders expressed frustration that the church continued to ignore the voices of Dalit Christians in Tamil Nadu, perpetuating upper-caste dominance in ecclesiastical hierarchies and denying Dalits a role in decision-making processes.

#6 Silenced Nuns Speak Out (2021)

Sister Robency Amal Helen, a member of the Idente Missionaries, publicly stated that Dalit nuns and former Dalit Christians face significant discrimination within the Catholic Church. Despite the church’s teachings on equality, she revealed that caste-based prejudice remains rampant, affecting the experiences and opportunities of Dalit individuals within religious orders.

#7 Appeal To Pope Francis (2021)

In June 2021, the National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC) wrote to Pope Francis and Vatican authorities highlighting the rampant practice of untouchability and caste discrimination in Catholic churches across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In its letter, the NCDC urged the Pope to intervene and issue a directive to end these practices. The council alleged that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), the Council of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), along with all 18 Bishops of the dioceses in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, were wilfully allowing both visible and invisible forms of caste discrimination to persist in the Church.

#8 Madras High Court Issues Notices Over Caste Bias in Tamil Nadu Churches (2021)

The Madras High Court issued notices to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), 18 bishops of Tamil Nadu, and ministries under the Central, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry governments over allegations of caste-based discrimination in Catholic churches. The action followed a writ petition by Gnanapragasam Mathew, convenor of the Tamil Nadu Dalit Christian Alliance, who detailed discriminatory practices across 151 villages. The petition alleged systematic exclusion and segregation of Dalit Catholics, prompting judicial scrutiny into entrenched inequalities within the Church.

#9 Dalit Catholics Protest Appointment Of Non-Dalit Bishop In Salem (2021)

In May 2021 Dalit Catholic groups in Tamil Nadu expressed strong discontent over the Vatican’s decision to appoint a non-Dalit bishop for the Salem diocese, which has a predominantly Dalit congregation. On May 31, 2021, Pope Francis named Father Arulselvam Rayappan, a seminary professor belonging to the Vanniyar caste, as the new bishop. Dalit leaders argued that the move ignored long-standing demands for Dalit representation in higher Church leadership and reinforced systemic caste discrimination.

#10 Dalit Christians Demand Dalit Archbishop In Pondicherry–Cuddalore (2021)

In February 2021, the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement (NCLM) rallied in Villupuram demanding the Catholic Church appoint a Dalit Archbishop for the Pondicherry–Cuddalore Archdiocese. Dr. Prof. Mary John, head of NCLM, warned that if the demand was ignored, Dalit Christians would resist the appointment of a non-Dalit bishop. He emphasized that the Church must act with sincerity in its leadership selections. Protesters highlighted decades of systematic discrimination against Dalit Christians in education, employment, entry into priesthood, and episcopal appointments, accusing the Church of treating Dalits as outcasts since the diocese’s inception.

#11 Dalit Christians Protest In Kumbakonam Demanding Dalit Bishop (2021)

In February 2021, Dalit Christians organized a protest march in Kumbakonam Diocese against caste-based discrimination within the Church. Organized by eight Dalit Christian groups, the march highlighted long-standing grievances over exclusion in Church affairs and leadership. Protesters submitted a memorandum to the bishop and diocesan officials, demanding the appointment of a Dalit bishop to ensure fair representation. They argued that despite forming a significant part of the Catholic population, Dalits continued to face systemic discrimination in the Church’s hierarchy, education, and opportunities.

#12 Dalit Christians Protest At Pondicherry-Cuddalore Archdiocese (2020)

In December 2020, the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement (DCLM) staged a protest in front of the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore at Puducherry. The demonstrators voiced strong opposition to the exclusion of Dalit Christians from Church leadership and management. They alleged systemic discrimination in the appointment of priests and demanded that Dalits be given equal representation in ecclesiastical affairs. Protesters argued that despite forming a large section of the Catholic population, Dalits continued to be marginalized.

#13 Honour Killing in Kerala (2018)

A Kerala court declared the murder of Dalit Christian Kevin Joseph an honour killing. Joseph was killed in 2018 for marrying an upper-caste Christian woman just 3 days after the wedding. Fourteen individuals, including the woman’s father and brother, were charged.

#14 Sivaganga Diocese Discrimination (2018)

In April 2018, the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) released a report titled “Dalit Christians Crucified” alleging widespread caste discrimination against Dalit Christians in the Sivaganga Diocese. The report detailed practices of untouchability, including separate churches, graveyards, and the denial of priestly appointments for Dalits. It further alleged that church-run schools, colleges, and hospitals hired staff only from the non-Dalit Christian community. TNUEF also reported that festivals were organized separately for Dalit and non-Dalit Christians.

#15 Church Admits Dalit Discrimination (2017)

Cardinal Oswald Gracias acknowledged that Dalit Christians face heightened discrimination due to their untouchable status. His remarks during the National Council of Dalit Christians’ meeting in Mumbai marked a significant admission by the church hierarchy.

#16 Historic Policy Document (2016)

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India released a policy document titled Policy for Dalit Empowerment in the Catholic Church in India, admitting that Dalit Christians faced untouchability and negligible leadership representation. It urged dioceses to submit plans to eliminate discrimination within a year. This was the first official acknowledgment of the issue by the church.

#17 Attack On Dalit Bishop (2016)

In April 2016, three Catholic priests were arrested in connection with the attack and kidnapping of Dalit Bishop Cuddapah Prasad Gallela. The incident occurred on 25 April 2016, when Bishop Gallela and his driver, Vijay Kumar, were blindfolded, beaten, and taken to an undisclosed location, where a ransom of £50,000 was demanded. The arrested priests belonged to the Reddy caste. The South India Dalit Catholic Association criticized the Catholic Church hierarchy in India for its silence and inaction following the assault, highlighting concerns over caste bias within church structures.

#18 Dalits Face Discrimination In Tamil Nadu Churches (2016)

In June 2016, a pilot report, Thadam Thedi, highlighted widespread discrimination against Dalit Christians in Catholic and Protestant churches in Tamil Nadu. Although Dalits account for 22,40,726 of the 39,64,360 Catholics, they are excluded from key positions in church administration. Of the 18 Archbishops in Tamil Nadu, only two are Dalits. G. Mathew, a committee member behind the report, revealed that Dalits often have separate cemeteries and funeral carts, are denied access to common church roads, and in some cases, their bodies are excluded from religious rituals, underscoring systemic caste-based discrimination.

#20 Dalit Christians Face Barriers In Eraiyur Church Festival (2016)

In May 2016, Dalit Christians at Our Lady of Rosary Church, Eraiyur, faced discrimination during the church festival car procession. The local Vanniyar Christian community refused to allow Dalits to enter the church via the main entrance and opposed the car procession passing through Dalit streets. Dalits had long fought for the procession route, which was mandated by a 2010 Madras High Court order. The court had directed the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to hold a peace meeting and issue orders ensuring that the festival car procession could traverse public roads, including Dalit areas, without obstruction.

#21 Deadly Caste Clash At Eraiyur Church (2008)

In March 2008, a violent clash erupted between Vanniyar Christian and Dalit Christian communities in Eraiyur village, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to three others. The unrest followed rising tensions as some Dalit Christians began an indefinite fast protesting discrimination within the parish by the dominant Vanniyar community. The confrontation highlighted deep-rooted caste divisions within the local Catholic Church, turning the village into a site of bloodshed. Authorities intervened to restore order, but the incident underscored the persistent struggle of Dalit Christians against systemic exclusion and caste-based marginalization.

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Rahul Gandhi Says India Should Not Lead The World, Only An Incompetent Defeatist Loser Unfit To Be A Leader Can Say So

By
The Commune
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rahul gandhi

Rahul Gandhi, the scion of a political dynasty that has long claimed to represent India’s future, has once again revealed the depth of his defeatist mindset on the world stage. Speaking at an event in Colombia, he declared:

“I don’t think India sees itself as taking leadership in the world. That’s not our model. We believe in having a partnership. Sorry. We’re not arrogant enough to believe that we should lead the world. India, I don’t think has an intention to one day lead the world.”

Stop for a moment and consider what he just said. The heir to one of India’s most storied political families, a man who dares to imagine himself as a future leader of this nation, openly admits that India cannot, will not, and should not aspire to lead. He suggests that we, as a nation, are meant to merely follow, to partner, to accept mediocrity as our lot in life. And this is supposed to inspire confidence?

A Man Who Cannot Dream For His Nation

Leadership begins with vision. True leaders dare to dream — not just for themselves, but for their people and their nation. They inspire, they challenge, they push boundaries. Rahul Gandhi does none of this. He cannot even envision India leading the world, and yet he wants to convince the country that he can lead it. What kind of cognitive dissonance is this? How can a man with such a narrow, defeatist worldview possibly guide a nation of 1.4 billion people, a country of immense potential and historical greatness?

Every word of that Colombia speech drips with insecurity, indecision, lack of audacity, and a lack of ambition. A man who cannot even speak of India as a leader dreams of leading a country. What kind of a leader is that? What kind of imagination, what kind of mindset, allows someone to publicly reject the very idea of ambition for the nation he claims to want to lead?

A Dynasty Of Small Thinking

But should we be surprised? Rahul Gandhi’s mindset is not an accident; it is a family tradition. His grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was an intellectual, but he often framed India’s global role in terms of dependency, non-alignment, and modest aspirations. Giving away UN Security Council seat, giving away Kashmir, giving away Ladakh. His father, Rajiv Gandhi, while energetic and reformist in domestic policies, never succeeded in instilling a sense of India as a global leader. And now Rahul carries forward this legacy — a legacy of timidity, mediocrity, and defeatism. The only person who had some sense of audacity was his grandmother Indira Gandhi, who made Richard Nixon sweat. But his mother being the Italy-born Sonia Gandhi, what can we expect of this half Indian?

Rahul Gandhi’s entire political philosophy seems to be: “We are not meant to lead, we are meant to follow. We are not meant to assert, we are meant to partner. We are not meant to dream, we are meant to compromise.” This is not humility. This is weakness masquerading as modesty. It is a surrender of India’s potential before even stepping onto the global stage.

The Inability To Think Like A Leader

Let us dissect his words further: “We’re not arrogant enough to believe that we should lead the world.” Rahul Gandhi seems to equate ambition with arrogance. He believes that to aspire is somehow conceited. Is that what he teaches the nation? That dreaming is wrong, that leadership is arrogance? No great nation in history has risen by embracing such meekness. Leaders who fear ambition do not lead; they stumble, they falter, and they resign themselves to irrelevance.

And yet, Rahul Gandhi wants Indians to put their trust in him. He wants to convince the world that he is capable of leading this nation. How can a man who cannot even think beyond partnership and cautious cooperation imagine global leadership? How can a man who views ambition as arrogance understand the mindset required to make bold, transformative decisions?

And now we know why his party faces defeat after defeat in every election. It’s because it is run by a person with a defeatist mentality.

The Damage Of Defeatism

This is not just about words; this is about vision. Leaders shape nations with the ideas they espouse, with the confidence they project. Rahul Gandhi’s statement is not just personal—it is politically corrosive. By dismissing India’s potential for global leadership, he is killing aspirations. He is teaching Indians to shrink themselves, to aim lower, to accept mediocrity as a national trait.

Imagine a leader saying to India’s citizens: “You are not meant to lead. You are not meant to dream. You are only meant to cooperate.” That is not leadership. That is a mandate for weakness. That is a declaration that the nation’s ambitions should be curtailed. How can a man who openly articulates such a mindset even be considered fit to govern one of the world’s largest democracies?

Rahul Gandhi Vs. Real Leadership

Compare this with the vision of leaders who have transformed nations. From Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting India’s global presence, to Franklin D. Roosevelt taking decisive action in times of crisis, to Lee Kuan Yew turning Singapore from a small port into a global hub — leadership requires courage, conviction, and ambition. Rahul Gandhi exhibits none of these. His idea of leadership is political partnership and timid compliance, not bold decision-making or national vision.

He knows he cannot lead, and that is why it seeps into his speeches. This is a man who, despite his lineage, has never won an election convincingly, has never shown political acumen, and has never commanded respect even within his own party. Yet he dreams — absurdly — of leading India.

The Irony Of Partnership

Rahul Gandhi repeatedly emphasizes “partnership” in his speech. Partnership? With whom? With other nations, or with mediocrity itself? The man seems to believe that India’s role on the world stage is to hold hands and tag along, rather than assert, innovate, or influence. Is this the vision India’s youth are supposed to rally behind? Is this the guidance India’s 1.4 billion citizens are supposed to follow?

No nation that aspires to greatness ever rises through partnership alone. Partnerships are tools; leadership is the goal. Rahul Gandhi, in his Colombian escapade, has made it painfully clear that he does not understand the difference.

A Man Who Rejects Ambition

Rahul Gandhi is a walking, talking lesson in why leadership is earned, not inherited. His speeches reveal a man who cannot articulate ambition, who cannot inspire confidence, who cannot even imagine India’s rightful place in the world. He is a man whose family legacy of hesitation, caution, and mediocrity continues to define his political identity.

This is the man who wishes to lead India. This is the man who dares to claim he can take on the mantle of Prime Minister. And yet, when he opens his mouth, he effectively tells every Indian: “We are not meant to lead. Lower your expectations. Settle for mediocrity.”

India’s Global Leadership Under PM Modi

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a global powerhouse, making Rahul Gandhi’s defeatist worldview look utterly pathetic. Economically, India has risen to become the fourth-largest economy in the world, with a GDP of $4.19 trillion, driven by bold reforms, decisive policymaking, and visionary governance. Initiatives like Digital India and UPI have transformed the financial ecosystem, while Make in India and a thriving startup culture have positioned India as a hub of innovation, attracting investment and creating jobs. In defence, India has gone from passive participation to assertive global leadership, with exports skyrocketing from ₹600 crore in 2014 to over ₹24,000 crore in 2025 and ambitious targets for the future, alongside indigenous development of aircraft, missiles, and naval assets.

In space, science, and technology, India under PM Modi has boldly challenged global giants, achieving successful missions to Mars and the Moon and maintaining a robust satellite network for communication, navigation, and defence. Internationally, PM Modi has earned over 25 global awards, cementing India’s reputation as a nation that acts, leads, and inspires. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi dares to tell the world that India should not aspire to lead, framing ambition as arrogance and dreaming as a crime. His vision barely stretches beyond timid partnerships and political compromises, exposing him as a man utterly unfit to lead a nation that is confidently asserting itself on the global stage.

Rahul Gandhi: An Incompetent Loser With A Defeatist Mentality Unfit To Be Even Indian Citizen

Let there be no mistake: Rahul Gandhi is not fit to lead India. His worldview is defeatist. His mindset is small. His political career is a catalogue of failures, missteps, and embarrassments. He cannot inspire, he cannot dream, and he cannot envision a world where India is a global leader.

For a country with global ambitions, a population hungry for progress, and a youth eager to see India rise, Rahul Gandhi represents exactly what should be avoided: timidity, mediocrity, and a refusal to dream. His speeches are not just gaffes; they are a mirror of his unfitness.

India deserves leaders who aim high, who think big, who embrace ambition without fear. Rahul Gandhi offers none of these. He is not a leader; he is a cautionary tale. He is a man who knows he cannot lead and, tragically, wants everyone else to know it too.

If India were to put its faith in him, it would be placing its future in the hands of someone who believes mediocrity is a virtue, partnership is a goal, and leadership is arrogance. That is not leadership — that is surrender.

Vallavaraayan is a political writer. 

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