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VCK Stages Protest In Nagercoil Demanding Release Of Pastor Varghese Arrested Under POCSO For Minor’s Sexual Abuse

The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) staged a demonstration in Nagercoil on [date], demanding the immediate release of a 55-year-old Pentecostal pastor arrested last week under the POCSO Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy during a Vacation Bible School (VBS) program in Kanyakumari district.

The protestors, led by VCK district functionaries, gathered outside the Nagercoil Collectorate, claiming the arrest of Pastor Varghese was “politically motivated” and an “attack on religious freedom.”

This comes after the Thuckalay Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act based on a complaint by the minor’s family, who alleged their son was abused during a church-run VBS program. The victim reportedly returned home traumatized, with visible injuries, and revealed the assault after days of distress.

Pastor’s Troubled History

Investigations reveal this is not the first accusation against Varghese. In 2008, a married woman had accused him of sexual exploitation under the guise of “spiritual counseling,” but no FIR was filed. Sources claim the matter was suppressed due to political influence during the DMK regime under M. Karunanidhi.

Police sources also indicate that Varghese’s phone contains disturbing images and videos of multiple alleged victims, including minors and women, yet no further cases have been registered.

The VCK’s protest has sparked controversy, with critics questioning why a party that champions Dalit and minority rights is rallying behind an accused child predator. Social activists allege a broader pattern of impunity for church-linked figures in Tamil Nadu, where such cases are often buried due to political and institutional protection.

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Sri Lankan Tamil Orator Ilangai Jeyaraj Indirectly Slams Vairamuthu Who Derogated Lord Rama At An Event Meant To Commemorate Kamba Ramayanam

ilangai jeyaraj vairamuthu lord rama

A few days ago, sexual harassment accused Vairamuthu was awarded the Kavi Chakravarthy Kamban Award by DMK MP Jagathrakshakan’s Azhwar Research Centre. Among the dignitaries present on the stage were spiritual speaker Ilangai Jeyaraj.

Ilangai Jeyaraj also referred to by the name Kambaviridhi for his scholarship in Tamil literature and scriptures, mentioned at another event that he was pained to hear the derogatory remarks made about Lord Rama at the preceeding event.

Ilangai Jeyaraj said, “I keep asking myself one question. When we organise a function, gather an audience, and have a speaker address us, is it all only for the purpose of belittling a great character? I do not understand. If a great poet like Kamban has elevated a certain character, and we, using our so-called intelligence and interpretations, try to bring that character down, is that our real objective? If that is the case, then what is the need to even hold such an event? On the very first day of the event, there was one poet I really admire, Vairamuthu. There is no doubt at all that he is a great poet. That day, he spoke very appreciatively about me. But when he spoke about the “Vali Vadham” episode (killing of Vali), he said something that pierced my heart. He said, in the case of Vali Vadham, he wanted to protect Rama from being accused, so he argued that Rama was not guilty because Rama did not have “freedom of intellect” (decision-making independence). In other words, it means that by portraying Rama as a person of unsound mind, we can save him from this moral wrongdoing. For this, he referred to the word “thegaththan thegaththanan” in the text, searched in the dictionary, and concluded that it meant “one of lesser intellect” or “without freedom of thought.” When I heard that, I felt a pain in my heart. We must uplift those who are low, not bring down those who are already great. That is very important. Literature itself is born for that purpose. I could very well stage a scene saying “Rama, are you too a criminal?” and walk away after branding him as guilty. But I ask, would Kamban, who begins his very work calling him “Kaasil Kottrathu Raman Kathaiyaro” (the story of victorious Rama in Kasi), start a poem like that only to accuse Rama later? If Kamban says Rama is guiltless at the start, yet later there seems to be fault, then there must be some deeper meaning. If we fail to think about that, we lose the qualification to truly read an epic. So, whenever we come across any scene where blame is ascribed to Rama, we must approach it with the thought, “There is no justification for him to commit wrong.” That is how I always look at it. When I teach my students Thirukkural, I tell them: “You are all intelligent, and sometimes you may cleverly find a mistake in Parimelazhagar’s commentary.” But I also tell them, “Do not do that casually. It’s not wrong to spot an error, but you must first be certain that it is impossible for Parimelazhagar to have erred. If he has never made mistakes before or after, why would he make one here? If something appears wrong, search for the hidden correctness within.”
That is very important. That is the right way to study. It takes no great intelligence to insult and dismiss a character in an epic. But if a character seems to be lowered in stature, the real intelligence lies in elevating them again. That is what true interpretation is for.”

What Sexual Harassment Accused Vairamuthu Said

Speaking at the Chennai Kamban Kazhagam event during the organisation’s 51st year celebrations, Vairamuthu explained the Tamil poet Kamban’s Kambaramayanam, saying Kamban “saved Rama” by portraying him as having lost mental clarity after being separated from Sita. This, he claimed, was akin to the IPC’s provision that a person of unsound mind cannot be held criminally liable. He says, “The crime committed by a person who has lost his mind is not a crime. The Indian Penal Code Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code says that a person who has lost his mind due to a mental disorder cannot be held guilty of an act committed by him. The message of Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code is that whether Kamban knows this or not, he does not know the law. He knows society, he knows psychology. With this forgiveness, a criminal named Rama is also freed. He forgives Rama and makes Rama a human being. Rama becomes a human being at that place, while Kamban becomes a god. The character is a human being; the creator is God. This is the difference between a character and a poet.”

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How Congress-Supporting Dravidianist Journo Arvind Gunasekar Twisted ECI’s Statement To Push Rahul Gandhi’s Narrative

arvind gunasekar congress

The ongoing pattern of overt support for the Congress by the left-leaning media ecosystem continues, with so called ‘neural’ journalists like Arvind Gunasekar once again distorting facts to suit their narrative.

On 10 August 2025, Gunasekar via his official X account stated, “ECI tells SC that they cannot provide the names of 65 lakh people who have been excluded from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar, nor “the reasons for non-inclusion of anyone in the draft electoral rolls for any reasons”. After refusing to share digital, machine readable format of the voter list, now ECI refuses to share the list of excluded names too.”

He carefully framed this as a continuation of the Election Commission’s (ECI) supposed reluctance to ensure transparency linking it to the earlier decision not to provide machine-readable voter lists. However, this portrayal is a textbook case of selective quoting and intentional omission of context.

What the ECI Actually Told the Supreme Court

The real facts paint a very different picture. In its official statement submitted to the Supreme Court regarding the Summary Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, the ECI clearly stated that booth-level draft electoral rolls were already shared with all political parties and a list of individuals whose enumeration forms were not received was also provided at the booth level to political parties. Further it stated any individual excluded from the draft rolls can submit Form 6 with a declaration to be included during the claims and objections period (1 August to 1 September 2025).

Crucially, the ECI explained that existing electoral laws unchanged since before 2014 do not require the Commission to publish or maintain a separate list of excluded voters or to specify reasons for exclusion. The framework assumes that names not appearing in the draft rolls are due to common causes such as death, change of residence, or failure to submit an enumeration form. The corrective process is explicitly built into the system via Form 6 and Annexure-D.

The ECI’s position is fully aligned with the legal structure and operational guidelines “Neither the law nor guidelines provide for the creation or publication of any such separate list of excluded individuals or the reasons for their non-inclusion.”

Moreover, the Commission emphasized that no preliminary inquiry is made before listing names in the draft rolls. Every enumeration form received is included without reservation. Therefore, it’s procedurally unnecessary and legally unsupported to publish exclusion reasons or names. Anyone missing from the draft roll can file a claim, which itself implies that the individual is not deceased, relocated, or untraceable.

Furthermore, it is the responsibility of both political parties and ordinary citizens to actively monitor the voter roll preparation process and raise any concerns or discrepancies before the final list is published. However, instead of fulfilling this duty, the Congress chose to shift blame onto the Election Commission, demanding that it maintain data it is neither legally obligated nor required to preserve.

Despite all this, Gunasekar chose to highlight only the narrow portion of the ECI’s submission that suited his narrative, ignoring the broader context that explained why names were not listed and what remedy was available.

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“Can Activists Bring Back Rabies Victims?”, Asks Supreme Court, Orders Removal Of All Stray Dogs In Delhi-NCR

supreme court stray dogs rabies new delhi ncr

In a sweeping directive aimed at curbing the rising menace of stray dog attacks, the Supreme Court today ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be shifted away from residential localities to dedicated shelters. The top court warned that any organisation obstructing the exercise would face the “strictest action.”

The bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan issued the order while hearing a matter prompted by a news report on the increasing number of rabies-related deaths following stray dog attacks. “We are not doing this for us, it is for the public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earliest,” Justice Pardiwala said.

The court made it clear that it would hear arguments only from the Centre, shutting out petitions from dog lovers or other groups. “Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to shelters. For the time being, forget the rules,” the judge told amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwala.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that a site in Delhi had been identified for relocating stray dogs, but the plan was stalled after animal rights activists obtained a stay order. Reacting sharply, the bench remarked, “All these animal activists, will they be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies? We need to make streets absolutely free of stray dogs.”

The court also rejected proposals for adoption of strays, citing concerns that dogs could be released back on the streets. “No one will be allowed to adopt a stray dog,” the bench clarified.

Civic authorities in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram have been directed to immediately construct shelters equipped with professionals to handle dogs, conduct sterilisation, and provide immunisation. The shelters must be escape-proof, with CCTV surveillance, and no dog once removed should be released.

The court instructed authorities to start a helpline for reporting dog bites and to round up all stray dogs, sterilised or unsterilise, from all neighbourhoods, prioritising vulnerable areas. “However, what is important, and without which the entire exercise would go futile, not a single stray dog should be released and if we know that this has happened, we will take stern action,” the bench warned.

The order also highlighted a shortage of rabies vaccines, directing the Delhi government to publicise details on vaccine availability, stock levels, and the number of patients treated monthly.

According to Municipal Corporation of Delhi data, 49 rabies cases and 35,198 animal bite incidents were recorded in the capital between January and June this year. Rabies, which is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, kills around 60,000 people globally each year – India accounts for 36% of these deaths, according to the WHO.

Solicitor General Mehta summed up the court’s stance: “We cannot sacrifice our children just because of a few dog lovers.”

(With inputs from NDTV)

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Kerala Woman Ends Life After Her Boyfriend Ramees And His Family Allegedly Forced Her To Convert To Islam

kerala islamic conversion

The family of 23-year-old Sona Eldos, a resident of Kothamangalam in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, has accused her boyfriend Ramees and his family of harassment and pressuring her to convert to Islam for marriage. Sona died by suicide on Saturday, 9 August 2025, and her family alleges that sustained mental torture and religious pressure led to her death.

According to the family, Sona, a Christian, had been in a relationship with Ramees, a native of Paravoor, since their college days. They claim Ramees’s family insisted that she leave the church and convert to Islam as a precondition for marriage. While Sona had reportedly agreed at one stage, her relatives allege that harassment and cruelty continued.

Sona’s brother, Basil Eldos, told local media that after their father’s death 40 days ago, the family had planned to wait a year before the wedding. However, he alleged that Ramees took Sona to his house, where she was confined to a room and beaten in the presence of family members and friends.

On the day of the incident, the family claims Sona was again told to change her religion and proceed with a registered marriage. When she refused, Ramees allegedly told her she was “better off dead.” The family says Sona left behind a suicide note stating she was being forced to convert and detailing instances of alleged abuse, including being locked in Ramees’s house.

Police said the note, reportedly sent to Ramees’s mother, contained serious accusations against him. Initially, a case of unnatural death was registered, but following the family’s complaint, charges of abetment to suicide and causing bodily harm were added.

Ramees, who works as a temporary employee at Nedumbassery Airport, is currently in police custody and being questioned. Officials said further action, including possible arrest, will follow based on the investigation.

Sona’s family has called for a thorough probe, alleging that her death was the result of sustained mental and physical abuse linked to religious conversion pressure.

(With inputs from Janmabhumi)

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Infrastructure Spending Stalls: Tamil Nadu’s Capex Falls To ₹4,155 Cr In Q1

tamil nadu dmk capex infrastructure spending

Tamil Nadu recorded an 18% decline in capital expenditure (capex) in the first quarter of the 2025-26 financial year, according to provisional data from the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG).

Capex, which funds the creation of fixed assets such as roads, bridges, irrigation structures, schools, hospitals, and investments in public sector undertakings, fell to ₹4,155.74 crore in April–June 2025 from ₹5,041.90 crore in the same period last year.

A report by ICICI Bank Global Markets noted that Andhra Pradesh registered the highest capex growth in Q1 FY26 at 267%, followed by Haryana (103%) and Gujarat (65%). Uttar Pradesh saw a 42% increase, while Karnataka recorded a 16% rise. Maharashtra and West Bengal posted a 28% drop each, and Telangana’s capex declined by 22%.

Overall, states’ capex grew 28% year-on-year in the quarter, following a 22% decline in the same period of FY25, the report said.

In contrast to the fall in capital spending, Tamil Nadu’s own tax revenue rose 14.5% to ₹43,070.45 crore in Q1 FY26, up from ₹37,605.43 crore a year earlier.

The state’s revenue expenditure, which covers salaries, pensions, maintenance, interest payments, subsidies, and welfare grants, stood at ₹79,054.68 crore in April–June 2025, compared with ₹83,636.73 crore in the same period last year.

(With inputs from The Hindu)

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Hindu Munnani Stages Protest In Madurai Demanding Arrest Of Dravidianist Lawyer Vanchinathan

hindu munnani vanchinathan

The Hindu Munnani organized a large-scale protest in Madurai’s Thiruparankundram area calling for the arrest of Vanchinathan, the Dravidinist lawyer who has been in the news making casteist allegations against Justice GR Swaminathan. Vanchinathan is known for his communist leanings and support for Dravidian ideologies.

The demonstrators accused him, along with the fringe group Madurai Madha Nallinakka Makkal Kootamaipu, of consistently spreading anti-Hindu narratives, insulting Hindu beliefs, and spreading misinformation about the Hindu Munnani in connection with recent local incidents such as Thiruparankundram claimed by Muslim fundamentalist.

A significant crowd gathered for the protest, expressing strong condemnation of the alleged defamatory activities. However, police intervened and detained several participants involved in the demonstration.

This protest appears to be a counter-response to an earlier rally organized by Madurai Madha Nallinakka Makkal Kootamaipu, which took place near the Puthur bus stand. That group had demanded legal action against individuals accused of inciting violence during a Hindu Munnani event in Madurai and had also called for the charges against lawyer Vanchinathan to be dropped.

During that protest, tensions escalated when a few individuals on motorbikes reportedly shouted slogans against the group and fled. Members of the alliance later confronted the police, expressing concerns about their safety and demanding greater protection.

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Kanyakumari Pastor Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen At Bible School, Arrested Under POCSO; Second Abuse Case Since 2008, No Police Action Yet

kanyakumari pastor abuse teen church

A shocking allegation has emerged from Kanyakumari district involving the reported sexual abuse of a 17-year-old boy during a Vacation Bible School (VBS) run by a Pentecostal Church. The case leads one to question the alleged political protection for certain religious groups and long-standing systemic inaction by authorities in Tamil Nadu under the DMK government.

What Happened?

According to the account, the minor attended a VBS program where he was allegedly sexually harassed overnight by a 55-year-old religious preacher named Varghese, after asking him alone to stay back while telling the others to leave. The boy reportedly returned home visibly distressed, with facial swelling and an inability to speak. For days, he avoided eating and suffered emotional trauma before revealing the incident to his parents.

The parents, initially hopeful for justice, allegedly faced resistance from local church officials and were discouraged from approaching the police. Two months later, failing to obtain any internal resolution, they sought police assistance.

He was arrested about a week ago under POCSO Act after the Thuckalay Police registered a case under the Act.

Repeat Offender

Disturbingly, this isn’t the first accusation against Varghese. Records indicate a similar complaint was filed against him in 2008 by a married woman who alleged sexual exploitation under the guise of “spiritual counselling.” However, no FIR was registered at the time, with sources claiming the matter was “settled” quietly due to political pressure.

That earlier complaint allegedly, was never formally registered as an FIR due to political influence during the then DMK government under M. Karunanidhi, a time when significant foreign funding was said to be flowing into church infrastructure in the state.

It is alleged that Varghese’s phone contains images and videos of several minors and women allegedly abused by him, yet no action has been taken against him.

Church-DMK Govt Nexus?

It is alleged that there seems to be a “pattern of impunity” for certain church-affiliated individuals in Tamil Nadu, with serious accusations that complaints involving Christian religious preachers often fail to result in FIRs, allegedly due to political and police pressure over the years; that the DMK government is “overly influenced” by church networks that are said to deliver consolidated votes during elections, and that Christian institutions exercise strong social control including through burial rights over their members, using them as leverage to suppress dissent.

It is alleged that the incident was “not an isolated assault” but part of a decades-long lack of accountability for crimes involving certain religious leaders. Contrast this instance with any incident allegedly involving Hindus. Critics argue that one can observe swift action when accusations involve Hindu preachers. It is alleged that for over 40 years, such offences have rarely led to prosecution and that victims often remain silent for fear of social consequences.

Is there a possible link between the continued political influence of church leadership in Tamil Nadu to their ability to direct block votes? Has this resulted in preferential treatment for Christian religious institutions in matters of policing and governance? Critics argue that the state government ought to take burial grounds used by churches under state control, arguing that this would remove a key source of coercive authority from religious institutions.

(With inputs from Maridhas)

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St Xavier’s College Cancels Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture After ABVP Protest

abvp protest st xavier's college mumbai stan swamy memorial lecture

St Xavier’s College in Mumbai cancelled its annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture on Saturday after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested against the event. The students’ organisation had objected to the lecture, alleging that it glorified Maoist Pastor Stan Swamy, who was an accused in the Elgar Parishad–Bhima Koregaon case.

The lecture, organised by the college’s Department of Inter-Religious Studies (DIRS), was scheduled to be delivered virtually by Fr. Prem Xalxo, associate lecturer at the Faculty of Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University. The planned topic was “Migration for Livelihood: Hope Amidst Miseries.”

Earlier in the week, the ABVP sent a letter to the college administration opposing the event and calling on the state government to take action. The organisation stated that Stan Swamy had been declared a main accused in the Elgar Parishad–Bhima Koregaon case and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist from Jharkhand, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency in October 2019 and remained in custody until his death in a Mumbai hospital in 2021.

College officials stated that the lecture series is usually held on 9 August 2025 to coincide with World Indigenous Day, with past lectures focusing on the history and development of indigenous communities. They said the topic for this year’s lecture was related to migration but acknowledged that the naming of the series after Stan Swamy had become the contentious point. They maintained that from the Jesuit perspective, Swamy was accused but had not been convicted of any crime at the time of his death, and that Indian law presumes innocence until proven guilty.

The college administration said the DIRS promotes a philosophy of “respecting the other” and expressed concern that controversies of this nature could negatively impact international higher education relations.

(With inputs from Indian Express)

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Did Rahul Gandhi Do ‘Vote Chori’ In Rae Bareli? Report Reveals

rahul gandhi rae bareli

Recently, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of inflating voter rolls with fictitious entries, citing irregularities like voters registered under “House Number 0.” He presented data from Mahadevapura in Bangalore Central, Karnataka, describing the situation as a major conspiracy to aid the ruling BJP.

However, an on-ground investigation has revealed that similar irregularities exist in Gandhi’s own constituency of Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. Voter records there also show numerous entries under “House Number 0,” with several addresses listing dozens of voters similar to the examples Gandhi cited as suspicious.

In Rae Bareli’s voter list, one entry shows 27 people registered at a single residence, while two other addresses list 18 voters each. These patterns mirror the alleged discrepancies Gandhi highlighted elsewhere as signs of electoral malpractice. Rae Bareli has long been associated with the Gandhi family, previously represented by Sonia Gandhi and now by Rahul Gandhi.

This revelation raises a critical question, if such patterns are used to suggest voter fraud in constituencies won by the BJP, do they indicate the same in Gandhi’s own seat?

Experts Offer Context

Election experts clarify that in rural regions, many homes lack official numbers, often leading to “House Number 0” entries in the rolls. Similarly, large numbers of voters at one address are not unusual in India due to joint family structures, rented accommodations, or shared housing, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas. The Election Commission routinely updates records to correct such issues.

Despite this, Rahul Gandhi has criticized the Election Commission’s Summary Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which is specifically designed to clean up these kinds of anomalies. Even after being asked, he has declined to file a formal complaint.

Allegations Reflect Back on Gandhi

During a press briefing, Gandhi claimed that 80 individuals were registered under one address in Mahadevapura, which he pointed to as evidence of electoral fraud. Yet, in Rae Bareli, similar groupings appear at one polling booth, 27 voters are listed under House No. 8, and at two other booths, 18 voters each are registered at House Nos. 80 and 4.

This presents a political irony Gandhi’s accusations are now being echoed in his own constituency. In India’s large and complex voter system, such cases are not unusual. The Election Commission continues efforts to verify and update electoral rolls as part of standard procedure.

In states like Bihar, the SIR initiative is part of this broader effort to maintain accuracy in the rolls. Yet, Gandhi has been a vocal critic of this process and has actively campaigned against it. He also declined to submit a written complaint when the Commission requested one.

Mahadevapura Claim Questioned

Further undermining Gandhi’s claims, the assertion that 80 “fake voters” were listed at a single Mahadevapura address has been challenged. The Booth Level Officer, Muniratna, explained that the property in question is a rental where occupants frequently change. Voter registrations are often based on temporary rental agreements, and some entries may remain even after tenants leave. The Election Commission has already marked many of these for removal.

What began as Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to expose alleged electoral fraud has turned into a case of unintended self-implication. The very patterns he labeled suspicious are present in his own constituency, suggesting that these issues may be more systemic than conspiratorial.

(With inputs from OpIndia)

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