The Tamil Nadu police have booked 12 individuals, including a DMK councillor, for allegedly barging into a house and assaulting a youth in Tiruvarur district.
The victim, Kishore (20), a resident of Srinivasapuram, reported that his sister Mahalakshmi had recently purchased and begun renovating an old house in the locality. While painting work was underway, DMK councillor Purushothaman (45) and his associates put up large banners in front of the house to announce a local temple consecration ceremony.
When Kishore objected to the placement of the banners, an altercation broke out. On 23 August 2025, Purushothaman and over a dozen men allegedly stormed into the house, assaulted Kishore, and caused property damage estimated at ₹35,000.
Following Kishore’s complaint, Tiruvarur police registered a case against the councillor and his associates. Purushothaman, however, also lodged a counter-complaint. As a result, police filed cases against both groups, naming more than 75 people in total from either side.
Reacting sharply to the Tiruvarur incident, former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai lashed out at the ruling DMK through a post on his official X handle. He wrote, “Goondagiri of DMK in full public display. DMK Tiruvarur ward councillor Purushothaman and his gang attacked a person for objecting to the placement of a banner in front of his residence. From Ministers to Councillors, goondaism is DMK’s political culture. Your party that thrives on thuggery and violence cannot hide behind staged apologies, Thiru @mkstalin.”
Goondagiri of DMK in full public display. DMK Tiruvarur ward councillor Purushothaman and his gang attacked a person for objecting to the placement of a banner in front of his residence.
From Ministers to Councillors, goondaism is DMK’s political culture. Your party that… pic.twitter.com/AbE4r8LC4v
Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthiran has come down strongly against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s decision to invite DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin as the Chief Guest for the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. Nagenthiran asserted that this move is nothing more than a political spectacle, designed to mislead Hindu voters ahead of the elections, while conveniently ignoring the DMK’s long and undeniable history of anti-Hindu rhetoric.
He stressed that if MK Stalin genuinely wishes to participate in such a sacred Hindu gathering, the very first step should be a public apology from his party leadership for years of “vulgar and disgraceful statements” against Hinduism. He specifically demanded apologies from:
Udhayanidhi Stalin for his disgraceful remarks on Sanatana Dharma.
T.R. Baalu for boasting about demolishing ancient temples.
Nagenthiran, in his social media post, wrote, “I have learnt that the Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala, Thiru @pinarayivijayan avl, has invited Honourable Tamil Nadu CM Thiru @mkstalin avl to be the Chief Guest at the Global Ayyappa Sangamam on September 20 in Pamba. With just 8 months left for the state elections in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, it is hardly surprising that two of the most anti-Hindu governments – the DMK and CPI(M) – are now attempting a spectacle to mislead Hindu voters. Ironically, Thiru MK Stalin’s own son, Thiru @Udhaystalin, only recently vowed to destroy Sanatan Dharma. The DMK has a long record of Hindu hatred, repeated through the years in vulgar and disgraceful statements. For the convenience of Kerala CM Thiru Pinarayi Vijayan, I have attached a video with Malayalam subtitles, compiling these shameless remarks by DMK leaders. It would be best if he acted according to his conscience after watching it. And Thiru @mkstalin avargale – if you truly intend to participate in this sacred event, your first step is clear: make your @arivalayam leaders apologise to Hindus
@Udhaystalin for his disgraceful remarks on Sanatana Dharma
@dmk_raja for abusing Hindus
@KPonmudiMLA for insulting Saivam and Vaishnavam
TR Baalu for boasting about demolishing centuries-old temples.
This is not even accounting for the filth spewed for decades by your ideological parent Dravida Kazhagam and your alliance partners against Hindus, Hinduism, and Hindu Gods.“
To drive home his point, he shared a compilation video with Malayalam subtitles highlighting the hate-filled speeches of DMK leaders and their ideological allies:
A. Raja, Nilgiris MP & Deputy General Secretary of DMK said, “As long as Hinduism is here, as long as there is even a half-foot idol in India, communism will not come here. If you are a true Tamil, leave the Hindu religion immediately. Leave the Hindu religion immediately.”
T.R. Baalu, DMK MP & Treasurer says, “I have demolished 100-year-old temples. This same T.R. Balu. Saraswati temple, Lakshmi temple, what’s the other temple? Saraswati, Lakshmi, another deity? Parvati temple. I am the one who demolished all three of these temples.”
Kanimozhi, DMK MP & Deputy General Secretary: “There is a undiyal (collection box) here against the deity. Isn’t there? Yes. Why is a guard standing there with a stun gun?” — mocking the ability of Hindu gods to protect offerings.
Another clip features a news report showing DMK chief and current Chief Minister MK Stalin at a temple entrance while canvassing for votes. When Kumkum was applied to his forehead, he hastily wiped it off on the spot, triggering a brief commotion among those present.
MK Stalin, current CM says, “Let’s uproot Sanatana Dharma.”
M. Karunanidhi, late CM says, “There is no historical evidence that a person named Rama existed, that he studied engineering, or that he built a bridge.”
MK Stalin, again, on rituals, “A priest will recite some mantras. But if you think about their inner meaning, those mantras will be in such a disgusting manner.”
Udhayanidhi Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister, “We should not oppose mosquitoes, dengue fever, malaria, and corona. We should eradicate them. That’s what Sanatana (Dharma) is like.”
Durai Murugan, DMK Minister: “What is the proof that Rama was born? Where was he born?”
Thol. Thirumavalavan, VCK Chief: “If it’s built like a dome, it’s a mosque. If it’s built tall, it’s a church. If there are a lot of disgusting idols, it’s a temple.”
A. Raja, again: “As long as you are a Hindu, you are a Shudra. As long as you are a Shudra, you are the son of a prostitute. How many of you want to be the son of a prostitute?”
A DMK canvasser for Dayanidhi Maran: “Their Puranas say that Rama’s sandals ruled the country for 14 years. The beating of a slipper dipped in cow dung should fall on them every day.”
K. Veeramani, Dravidar Kazhagam President, “The Mahabharata is a book of complete debauchery. That’s all. A story that was born in debauchery, grew up in debauchery, and ended in debauchery.” In another instance he says, “Ram is a drunkard and Sita is a prostitute.”
Ponmudi, former DMK Minister, ridiculing Shaivite and Vaishnavite traditions saying, “A man goes to a prostitute’s house. When he goes there, the woman asks, ‘Are you a Shaivite or a Vaishnavite?’ He doesn’t understand anything. She says, ‘No, if you’re a Shaiva, you lie down. If you’re a Vaishnava, you stand up.’ Standing up is five, lying down is ten.”.
I have learnt that the Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala, Thiru @pinarayivijayan avl, has invited Honourable Tamil Nadu CM Thiru @mkstalin avl to be the Chief Guest at the Global Ayyappa Sangamam on September 20 in Pamba.
It has been reported that MK Stalin has withdrawn from attending the event due to “prior personal commitments” and has nominated DMK Ministers PK Sekarbabu and Palanivel Thiagarajan to attend.
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In the race for who breaks the news first, several end up posting fake news without basic verification. But in what was seen as a calculated attempt at defaming a Hindu religious institution, The News Minute played a major role in amplifying the fake claims. Its sister organisation Newslaundry also did the same – while they simply reposted TNM’s videos, there was one video (which seems to be deleted now) sometime when the Parliament was in session (as mentioned in the video) defaming the temple and the Dharmadhikari. The now-debunked Dharmasthala “mass burial” saga stands as a stark lesson in journalistic malpractice. But will they learn?
Coming back to the article, Newslaundry’s Manisha Pande, in what seems to be a now-deleted video, became a prime example of how activism can be disguised as reporting, meticulously constructing a narrative to implicate the Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala, Veerendra Heggade, based on nothing but a fabricated story.
Pande’s report, framed as an issue that “hasn’t got the attention it deserves,” did not seek to investigate the claim but to legitimize it through emotional manipulation and selective omission of facts. Her approach followed a well-worn leftist playbook: amplify the allegation, ignore countervailing evidence, and frame any attempt at legal defense as the action of a powerful, guilty party silencing the truth.
Pande’s segment was all about persuasive storytelling, not objective journalism. She begins by lending credibility to the “chilling report” from publications like Deccan Herald and The Hindu.
She then meticulously details the masked man’s “gory claim,” sharing TNM’s video which repeats every horrific detail – bodies with acid attack marks, girls in school uniforms, signs of sexual assault, and death threats. This served to horrify and provoke outrage, making the audience emotionally invested in the allegation itself rather than its validity.
The most glaring failure of Pande’s reporting was her portrayal of the judicial response. She framed the ex-parte injunction secured by Harshendra Kumar Heggade purely as “censorship” by a “powerful political figure” to silence the truth.
She deliberately omitted the fundamental legal principle behind such injunctions: the protection of reputation from unproven and potentially defamatory allegations. The court’s action was a standard legal remedy available to any individual or institution facing what appears to be a baseless, public, and damaging smear campaign. By not explaining this context, Pande painted a picture of a guilty man using his influence to hide his crimes, effectively pre-judging the case and poisoning the well for her audience.
Just watch how Manisha Pandey of NewsLaundry spreads innuendos and insinuations against Dharmasthala Administration Head Veerendra Hegde for pursuing a legal injunction to remove all content about a case THAT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION!
A responsible journalist would have asked critical questions that Pande conspicuously avoided. Pande, like all other leftist publications, accepted his story at face value without any independent verification of his identity, employment history, or the sudden awakening of his conscience.
The media outlet’s role shifted from verifying facts to acting as a megaphone for an allegation, demanding that the accused prove a negative.
As we now know, these questions would have revealed the truth far sooner. The entire narrative collapsed under the slightest scrutiny:
The SIT found no evidence in the locations identified.
The skull presented as evidence was found to be decades old and belonging to a male.
The “masked man,” identified as Chinnayya, confessed to being trained by a gang in Chennai to spread the lie.
Key “witnesses” like Sujatha Bhat (the alleged mother of one victim) publicly admitted on camera that their entire story was fabricated.
Manisha Pande’s report for Newslaundry was not an isolated error but a calculated piece of narrative-building. It amplifies a lie with sensationalist detail, frame the legal self-defense of the accused as an admission of guilt, and then quietly disappear or memory-hole the content when the fabrication is exposed, offering no apology or correction.
The target was not just Veerendra Heggade but the very institution he represents. The objective was to “sow a seed of doubt in the minds of the public,” to question the credibility of a revered Hindu temple, and to portray it as a suspicious institution rather than a center of faith and social service.
If the video has indeed been deleted, the deletion from YouTube is a silent admission of its falsehood. However, the damage inflicted by this propaganda on the reputation of a sacred institution and a respected individual is a testament to the perils of activist journalism, where the agenda to “question” Hindu institutions outweighs the duty to report the truth.
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Sameer MD is a Kannada YouTuber from Bengaluru, now known for his investigative content that tackles sensitive social and criminal issues. He operates the channel “Dhootha” (meaning “messenger” in Kannada) and lives in Bengaluru and also maintains a residence in Bellary.
His channel was launched in August 2024. Till date, he has posted 20 videos.
The YouTuber’s claim to fame is the 39-minute video on a 2012 alleged rape and murder of a 17-year-old second PU student, Soujanya, who was studying at the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College.
The Soujanya case itself had a complex history. Soujanya, a 17-year-old Pre-University student, went missing on 9 October 2012 while returning from college. Her body was found the following day, showing evidence of assault. Initially investigated by local police and later the CID, the case saw multiple suspects before the CBI took over in 2013. After years of investigation, Santhosh Rao, the prime suspect, was acquitted by the CBI special court in June 2023 due to insufficient evidence. The High Court rejected pleas for reinvestigation in 2024. Soujanya’s father, Chandappa Gowda, passed away in January 2024 without seeing justice for his daughter.
Soujanya Murder Case Video
Sometime in February end 2025, Sameer MD, through his YouTube channel Dhootha, posted a video titled “Dharmasthala Soujanya Case” which gained over 18 million views. The video revisited “decades of crimes” in Dharmasthala, focusing on the 2012 rape and murder of Soujanya, the wrongful conviction of Santhosh Rao, and alleged influence in investigations.
On 5 March 2025, Cowl Bazaar police filed an FIR against the video, citing that it hurt religious sentiments. Advocate A. Velan, representing Sameer, argued the FIR was misuse of law and violated free expression.
A writers’ convention scheduled for 9 March 2025 at the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) in Bengaluru was cancelled after the organisers received legal notices. The event was planned to demand justice for Sowjanya, a teenager raped and murdered in 2012, and to protest an FIR against YouTuber Sameer MD for his video on the case. The KSP withdrew permission, stating it only hosts literary events, not controversial or sub-judice matters.
Several YouTubers also tried to push the same lies he was pushing which framed the Dharmadhikari family, but all the videos had to be removed from YouTube.
Sameer didn’t stop there. He continued to peddle more lies through his AI-generated videos to keep targeting the Jain family. His modus operandi is to use AI to create visuals and present details that far exceeded the official complaints and court records.
Dharmasthala Mass Burial Video
This video was published in July 2025. It is a 23-minute video titled “Who Are Serial K!llrs of Dharmasthala?”, which gathered over 7.8 million views as of today. Following this AI-generated video which also had provocative content, FIR was registered under Sections 192 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 240 (false information), and 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief). The Police alleged the video contained AI-generated content with fabricated details beyond the official complaint, revealing protected witness identities. Sameer faced legal notices demanding his appearance before Belthangady police in connection with the video.
This video centers on the allegations made by the masked man who alleges he was forced to secretly bury – Sameer went on to state that “over 1,000 bodies were buried on the orders of his supervisors”, with the complicity of local police paid off by the temple’s management. The video claims most victims were women and underage girls who were raped and murdered, their bodies found in temple lodges.
Screenshot from Sameer’s videoScreenshot from Sameer’s video
A specific, graphic allegation is made regarding the disposal of the body of Soujanya, a previous rape and murder case victim, and the mysterious death of a key witness, Ravi Poojari.
Screenshot from Sameer’s video
He claimed these burials were done with police connivance.
Screenshot from Sameer’s video
The video is presented not as an allegation but as established fact, using highly emotional and provocative language (e.g., “Shiva Tandava,” “final war”). It directly accuses the temple head, Veerendra Heggade, and his family of being behind a vast criminal conspiracy of murder and cover-up.
Sameer narrates the entire “story” as if he had seen it happen in front of his eyes. Too many unverified claims, too many lies, and a cinematic and concocted story – this is basically what the video is all about. The language is deliberately inflammatory, designed to provoke outrage. He also calls for street protests saying, “You have to come to the streets and protest against this injustice. Everyone should raise their voice and if any scoundrel comes in between and tries to create Hindu-Muslim divide, beat that son of b**** with slippers.”
Ananya Bhat Video
When the Ananya Bhat story surfaced, he came up with an AI-generated video where he recounted the alleged disappearance case, presenting it as another tragic incident linked to Dharmasthala, similar to the Soujanya case. He stated that Ananya, a first-year MBBS student at Manipal Medical College, had visited the Dharmasthala temple with her hostel friends. He claimed that her friends had asked her to wait at the temple while they returned to their hostel to collect clothes, but upon their return, she had vanished without a trace. Sameer stated that the friends immediately informed Ananya’s mother, Sujatha, a single woman working in Kolkata, who then rushed to Dharmasthala. He alleged that despite Sujatha’s efforts, she found no clues about her daughter’s disappearance. When she tried to file a missing complaint at the local police station, he asserted that the police dismissed her concerns and sent her away. He further made the grave accusation that when Sujatha approached a female temple official for help, the official instead had her brutally beaten and locked in a godown, leaving her in a coma for three months. Upon awakening, Sameer claimed, Sujatha lost all hope of ever finding justice for her daughter.
However, these claims have been entirely discredited when Sujatha Bhat herself confessed that she had never had a daughter named Ananya, exposing the narrative as a complete fabrication.
Anticipatory Bail And Arrest Notices (August 2025)
On 20 August 2025, police attempted to arrest Sameer at his Bengaluru residence, but he was missing. He obtained anticipatory bail from a Mangaluru court on 21 August 2025 and was directed to cooperate with the SIT investigation. He appeared before Belthangady police on 24 August 2025 with a legal team, complying with instructions to refrain from making inflammatory statements. But the look on his face seems like he was on a picnic.
Scoundrel MD Sameer must be arrested for his role in amplifying fake propaganda against Dharmasthala 😠
Just see his body language, so cocky and undeterred despite his fakery being busted to smithereens 😠😠pic.twitter.com/CyuhL8ieGO
Earlier, Sameer faced a ₹10 crore defamation suit filed by Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala representatives, alleging deliberate targeting over the unsolved 2008 college student murder case.
He is accused alongside activists Mahesh Shetty Thimarody and Girish Mattannavar in a separate case concerning the assault on three YouTubers and a cameraman at Ujire on 6 August 2025.
Sameer Must Be Treated As Co-Conspirator
Sameer’s videos present imaginary stories with a little bit of truth as if the entire details he talks about are facts – without providing a single piece of corroborating evidence. There are no dates, no official police records referenced, no medical reports about the alleged coma, and no independent verification of any events described.
The language he uses in his videos are deliberately designed to bypass critical thinking and provoke a raw emotional response. Phrases like “you will really cry,” and the repeated focus on a mother’s suffering are used as a substitute for factual storytelling.
He has always been seen to shift the burden of proof and would cite other YouTubers as his sources. He would avoid the responsibility of providing evidence by redirecting the audience to another YouTube video. This creates an echo chamber of unverified claims rather than establishing a foundation of truth.
Now that the entire saga has crumbled like potato chips, will Sameer atleast apologise?
Sameer’s videos are a prime example of how misinformation was weaponized in the broader campaign against Dharmasthala and how he played a central role in tarnishing the sanctity of the institution.
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On 25 August 2025, the Supreme Court halted the trial against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad in connection with a Facebook post he had written on Operation Sindoor.
A Bench led by Justices Surya Kant and Joymala Bagchi directed that no charges be framed against Mahmudabad and that the trial court should not take cognisance of the chargesheet already filed. The order stated, “No charges shall be framed in pursuance of the chargesheet filed with relation to FIR No. 147… No cognisance shall be taken of the chargesheet filed in FIR No. 147.”
The decision followed submissions from Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who informed the court that two separate FIRs had been registered against Mahmudabad. He explained, “While a closure report was filed in one matter, a chargesheet was filed in the other because the offences were considered to be made out.”
Representing Mahmudabad, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal criticised the proceedings, describing them as harassment. He argued that respondents are simply persecuting people in this country, while stressing that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted earlier was expected to place its findings before the Court.
Mahmudabad had approached the apex court seeking to quash the two FIRs filed over his Facebook posts relating to Operation Sindoor, India’s military action against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack of 22 April. In his post, he had condemned Pakistan-backed terrorism and war in general, while adding that the recognition given to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who fronted India’s press briefing on the operation, should translate into ground-level change. He further commented that right-wing groups in India ought to raise their voices against incidents of mob lynching.
Two complaints were filed against him for these remarks. The first FIR, lodged by Yogesh Jatheri, invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 196 (promoting hatred), 197 (acts prejudicial to national integration), 152 (threatening sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India), and 299 (culpable homicide). The second FIR was based on a complaint from Haryana Women’s Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia, which alleged offences under Sections 353 (public mischief), 79 (insult to modesty), and 152 of the BNS.
Following these cases, Mahmudabad was arrested by the Haryana Police and placed in judicial custody. When the matter first reached the Supreme Court on 19 May, the Bench refused to quash the FIRs but granted Mahmudabad interim bail. At that stage, the Court also replaced the Haryana Police with a Special Investigation Team to carry forward the inquiry.
The judges had noted at the time that some of Mahmudabad’s language in the posts could bear “dual meanings,” but later criticised the SIT for trying to expand its probe beyond the two FIRs. In the July hearing, the Court reprimanded the SIT, instructing it to restrict its investigation strictly to the two posts under question.
The Court also made it clear that Mahmudabad should not be summoned again since he had already cooperated with investigators and handed over relevant electronic devices. The SIT was directed to conclude its inquiry within four weeks, focusing solely on the two social media posts. Importantly, the Bench clarified that Mahmudabad remained free to publish articles or express views on social media except on issues that are currently sub judice before the Court.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday addressed the inaugural edition of Ran Samwad, the Indian Armed Forces’ first-ever Tri-Service seminar held at the Army War College in Mhow.
The seminar, themed “Impact of Technology on Warfare”, brought together military practitioners, academics, think tanks, and industry experts to discuss the future of warfighting and national security preparedness. Speaking on the occasion, General Chauhan highlighted the growing importance of indigenously developed technological systems to meet emerging strategic challenges.
He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address in which the PM mentioned the development of the Sudarshan Chakra, a futuristic defence shield likened to Israel’s Iron Dome.
“A second aspect for discussion in this seminar is the Sudarshan Chakra, India’s own Iron Dome or Golden Dome,” said the CDS. “The Prime Minister mentioned this on 15th August, stating that the Sudarshan Chakra will enhance India’s strategic defence and is expected to be rolled out by 2035. The aim is to develop a system to protect India’s strategic, civilian, and nationally important sites,” he added.
The system, he explained, will serve both as a shield and a sword, combining detection, acquisition, and neutralisation capabilities. “It will require the development of robust infrastructure and processes, using both soft and hard skills, including kinetic and directed energy weapons,” General Chauhan said. On the broader theme of the seminar, the CDS emphasised the need for a strategic shift in both military thought and practice.
“Serious research needs to be conducted on all dimensions of war, including leadership, motivation, technology, tactics, and strategy. This is crucial as India’s stature grows,” he said.
Calling for a forward-looking national approach, he stated, “As a Viksit Bharat, we need to be Sashakt, Surakshit, and Aatmanirbhar, advanced not only in technology but also in ideas and practice.” General Chauhan also underlined the importance of involving wider society in the discourse on national security.
“There is a need to increase awareness across all segments of society regarding doctrinal and conceptual aspects, the academic pursuit of how war is fought, and the practical aspects of war-fighting techniques and tactics,” he said.
Ran Samwad focused on two critical themes: Emerging Technologies and Impact on Future Warfare, and Reforms in Institutionalised Training to Catalyse Technological Enablement. The seminar aims to generate actionable outcomes toward building future-ready armed forces, aligned with India’s long-term national security vision.
-IANS
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M.H. Jawahirullah, MLA from Papanasam and leader of the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, has publicly called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to revoke the environmental clearance recently granted to ONGC for drilling hydrocarbon test wells in Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts.
In a strongly worded post on his official X account, Jawahirullah expressed his shock over the state government’s decision to approve hydrocarbon exploration activities that, he claims, contradict earlier promises made by the Chief Minister to protect the Cauvery delta.
He pointed out that an amendment made in 2020 allegedly influenced by Vedanta relaxed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) norms for hydrocarbon test wells. Under this amendment, such projects no longer require central government approval, detailed environmental studies, or public hearings. Citing this amendment, the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) granted ONGC clearance on 11 March 2025.
Jawahirullah also criticized the manner in which the approval was handled. Instead of uploading the clearance document to the Union government’s new PARIVESH portal, it was posted to the outdated environmentclearance.nic.in website, which he alleged was an attempt to keep the approval process under the radar and away from public scrutiny.
Recalling Stalin’s earlier declarations that hydrocarbon projects would not be allowed in Tamil Nadu and that the Cauvery basin would be safeguarded like “the pupil of an eye” Jawahirullah said this recent approval goes against those very assurances and has deeply disappointed farmers, environmentalists, and local residents alike.
He warned that the new hydrocarbon wells could cause irreversible damage to farmlands, groundwater resources, and coastal ecosystems. He further emphasized that these areas fall under the protections of the Cauvery Basin Protection Act, 2020, making such approvals not only ecologically harmful but also legally questionable.
Jawahirullah also mentioned the DMK government’s own expert committee, headed by Professor Sultan Ismail, which submitted a report in 2022 detailing the environmental and agricultural harm caused by hydrocarbon drilling. However, that report has yet to be made public. He demanded its immediate release and called for any policy decisions to be based on its findings.
This latest outburst by Stalin’s Islamist ally exposes the dangerous nexus between vote-bank politics and obstruction of national interest. At a time when India is striving to cut down its massive oil import bill and achieve greater energy security through domestic exploration, the DMK’s partners are openly campaigning against a project of strategic importance. What is framed as “environmental concern” is in reality a political weapon to stall development, appease pressure groups, and deny Tamil Nadu the economic benefits of responsible hydrocarbon exploration. By allowing such forces to dictate policy, Stalin risks not only undermining India’s energy independence but also cementing the image of the DMK as a party that bows to parochialism over national progress.
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In a country where the slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ echoes through political speeches and patriotic songs, a grim reality persists in the fields as farmers continue to take their own lives in staggering numbers.
A recent Right to Information (RTI) query filed by Pune-based businessman Praful Sarda has laid bare the scale of India’s agrarian distress, revealing that 2.58 lakh farmers died by suicide between 2004 and 2022. The data paints a stark contrast between two political regimes.
During the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule from 2004 to 2014, India recorded 1,70,505 farmer suicides. In comparison, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) period from 2015 to 2022 saw 88,117 such deaths—a reduction of nearly 50 per cent. While the decline is statistically significant, the numbers remain deeply troubling.
Maharashtra emerges as the epicentre of this crisis, accounting for 40,852 suicides during the UPA years and 31,492 under the NDA. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh follow closely, with tens of thousands of cases each.
“Notably, Bihar and West Bengal reported zero farmer suicides during the NDA period, a detail that raises questions about regional disparities in agricultural policy and reporting standards,” the activist told IANS. Sarda, who unearthed the figures through his RTI application, did not mince words.
“The death of 2.58 lakh farmers exposes the failure of our system,” he said. “Farmers are still troubled by debt, cost, market and weather. Governments kept changing, speeches kept changing, but the fate of farmers did not change.” The causes behind these suicides are tragically familiar: crushing debt, inadequate minimum support prices (MSP), erratic weather patterns, crop failures, and limited access to modern technology.
Despite a slew of central schemes—from PM-KISAN to crop insurance and soil health cards—many farmers remain outside the safety net. The benefits, Sarda argues, are reaching only a fraction of those in need. Experts warn that India may be inching towards an “agricultural emergency.”
The numbers suggest not just a policy failure, but a systemic breakdown in how the country supports its food producers. While the NDA government has succeeded in reducing the suicide rate, the persistence of the crisis in key states underscores the need for deeper reform.
The Maharashtra government must urgently shift its focus from populist schemes like Ladka Bhau and Ladki Bahini to initiatives that genuinely address the agrarian crisis—starting with a robust and targeted Kisan Bachao Yojna.
While the government, in response to my RTI query, listed several schemes such as short-term crop loans, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, the National Agriculture Market (NAM), and the distribution of neem-coated urea, the ground reality tells a different story.
These programmes, though well-intentioned on paper, have failed to reach the majority of farmers who continue to struggle with debt, crop losses, and market exploitation, the activist lamented. The disconnect between policy and implementation is stark. Farmers are not receiving the promised benefits, and the support mechanisms remain inaccessible to those who need them most. If the government truly wishes to uplift the backbone of rural Maharashtra, it must go beyond announcements and ensure that every scheme is farmer-centric, transparent, and effectively delivered.
More inclusive, responsive, and localised interventions are not just necessary—they are long overdue, activist Sarda opined. In the end, the RTI doesn’t just reveal statistics—it tells a story of lives lost, of promises unmet, and of a nation that must confront the uncomfortable truth behind its slogans. Until the farmer’s plight is addressed with urgency and empathy, the fields will continue to bear witness to a tragedy that no democracy can afford to ignore.
-IANS
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In a major fallout amid sexual harassment allegations made by girl students on social media, five teachers at a government school at Kinathukadavu in Tamil Nadu’s Pollachi were shifted to different schools on Monday.
The move comes after inquiry teams from the School Education Department and the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) intervened following public outrage. The controversy broke out after three girl students uploaded two videos on social media, accusing their botany and music teachers of misbehaving with them.
In the videos, the students — faces covered for anonymity — alleged that the music teacher touched them inappropriately during dance practice sessions, while the botany teacher engaged in unwelcome physical contact under the guise of patting them as encouragement.
The students further claimed that another teacher often came to class under the influence of alcohol. They said the videos were made public only after repeated complaints to school authorities went unaddressed. However, the school management maintained that they had not received any formal complaint of sexual harassment from the students.
The videos quickly gained traction online, sparking widespread condemnation and drawing the attention of the education department. Officials from the DCPU and School Education Department visited the school and launched an inquiry into the allegations. Subsequently, police registered cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against the two teachers accused of sexual harassment.
Officials confirmed that further investigation is underway to establish the veracity of the charges and collect evidence. Meanwhile, the education department transferred all five teachers named in the students’ allegations to different schools in Vettaikaranpudur, Thondamuthur, Pollachi, Othakalmandapam, and Kulathupalayam.
Officials said the transfers were a preventive measure to ensure a safe environment for students and to facilitate a fair probe. The incident has sparked a debate on student safety and the accountability of school administrations.
Child rights activists have demanded strict enforcement of safety protocols in schools, while local residents and parents have urged authorities to set up grievance redressal mechanisms that allow students to report harassment without fear.
Authorities have assured that the inquiry will be carried out in a time-bound manner and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.
-IANS
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The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the chairmanship of retired apex court judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar to probe into alleged illegal wildlife transfers, the unlawful captivity of elephants and other allegations against the Vantara wildlife facility in Gujarat’s Jamnagar.
A Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale was dealing with two public interest litigations (PILs) that levelled wide-ranging accusations, not only against Vantara but also casting aspersions on statutory authorities and even courts. Ordinarily, such pleas “warrant dismissal in limine”, observed the Justice Mithal-led Bench.
However, noting allegations that statutory authorities and even courts were unwilling or incapable of discharging their mandate — particularly in the absence of verified facts — the apex court said it was appropriate “in the ends of justice to call for an independent factual appraisal which may establish the violation, as alleged, if any.”
Apart from retired Supreme Court judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar, the SIT comprises former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, and senior IRS officer Anish Gupta as members.
As per the top court’s order, the SIT has been tasked to examine issues including acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants; compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; International Convention on Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) obligations; standards of veterinary care and animal welfare; allegations of creating a vanity or private collection; misuse of water or carbon credits; and allegations of financial irregularities and money laundering.
The Justice Mithal-led Bench clarified that the exercise is “only to assist the Court as a fact-finding inquiry” and “shall not be construed to have cast any doubt on the functioning of any statutory authorities or the private respondent-Vantara.”
“This order neither expresses any opinion on the allegations made in the petitions nor this order be construed to have cast any doubt on the functioning of any of the statutory authorities or the private respondent Vantara,” it said.
Asking the SIT to submit its report by September 12, the Supreme Court said the two PILs will be listed on September 15 to consider the SIT findings. The PILs were filed just days after thousands of residents in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur staged protests against Vantara, an animal rescue and rehabilitation centre managed by Anant Ambani—son of industrialist Mukesh Ambani—and supported by Reliance Industries Limited and the Reliance Foundation.
The demonstrators called for the return of a 36-year-old elephant named Mahadevi, also known as Madhuri, to her original home in Nandani village in the Karvir region of Kolhapur district. In July, Madhuri was transferred to Vantara in compliance with a Supreme Court order.
The petitioner-in-person, advocate C.R. Jaya Sukin, urged the apex court to constitute a Supreme Court-monitored committee to investigate the alleged illegalities surrounding Vantara’s operations, ensure the return of all captive elephants to their rightful owners, rescue wild animals and birds, and declare the high-powered committee constituted by the Tripura High Court as unconstitutional.
The plea alleged that these elephants were moved to Vantara without legal clearance, in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and in contempt of previous Supreme Court orders. It said, “Central Zoo Authority confirmed Vantara do not have 38H clearance on 21.10.2022, all of the Elephants and Wildlife moved to Vantara, Jamnagar, Gujarat, is in contravention of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and Vantara being contempt of the apex court order.”
The plea further alleged that elephants were forcibly taken from temples and private owners by an NGO in collusion with state forest departments and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), under the pretext of preventing cruelty. Moreover, the PIL alleged that several endangered animals were “smuggled” into Vantara, not only from India but also internationally.
As per the petition, these transfers allegedly took place under the guise of rescue and rehabilitation but “may have been traded for commercial purposes rather than genuine conservation efforts”. It added that multiple channels fed animals into Vantara: private entities like the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in Tamil Nadu, the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots in Germany, and Mexico’s Fauna Zoo; state-owned zoos like Sakkarbaug Zoo and Assam State Zoo; and state forest departments dealing with human-animal conflicts.
In an official statement, Vantara had said the decision to relocate Madhuri was made under judicial authority, and its role was limited to providing care, veterinary support, and housing as an independent rescue and rehabilitation centre. “At no stage did Vantara initiate or recommend the relocation, nor was there any intent to interfere with religious practice or sentiment,” the statement added.
-IANS
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