Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 468

“Keep In Mind We Are The Ruling Class (Aanda Parambarai)”, Says DMK Minister P Moorthy

By
The Commune
-
Keep In Mind We Are The Ruling Class (Aanda Parambarai), Says DMK Minister P Moorthy

In a public speech rife with casteism, DMK Minister for Commercial Taxes, Registration, and Stamp Act, P Moorthy, referred to his community as the “ruling class” (aanda parambarai), and alleged that historical sacrifices by this specific caste during British colonial rule were deliberately erased from history.

During his address at Thamukkam Maidan in Madurai District, Minister Moorthy emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by communities during India’s struggle for freedom. “We must recognize that our history holds accounts of immense sacrifices,” he stated.

“I am saying we must keep in mind that we are the ruling class (aanda parambarai). History has been hidden – you have read about it. While the deaths of a few today may gain significant attention, history reveals that thousands laid down their lives for freedom. You must show it to the country too. Today there is a history – be it Alagar Koil or Thirumogoor koil, when the British invaded us and looted us, this community sacrificed 5000 of their own. This history has been hidden.” The minister cited instances of collective sacrifice, claiming that one community lost 5,000 members during the British invasion, and 16 individuals were shot dead near Usilampatti.

He lamented that such stories of heroism remain largely unknown due to a lack of educational advancement in the past. “Even though we excelled in agriculture and industry, our history was hidden. Thankfully, this is changing now,” he remarked, adding that he appreciated the community’s progress in securing government employment.

The speech drew criticism for its focus on caste, with detractors arguing that it could perpetuate divisions. Opponents accused the minister of framing historical narratives through a narrow lens rather than emphasizing unity and collective contributions.

Political commentators and opposition leaders have called for the minister to clarify his remarks, asserting that speeches by public representatives should promote inclusivity and national cohesion.

(With inputs from Nakkheeran)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

PMK Women’s Wing Leads ‘Am I Next?’ Protest In Chennai Over Anna University Sexual Assault Case

By
The Commune
-
PMK Women's Wing Leads 'Am I Next?' Protest In Chennai Over Anna University Sexual Assault Case

Political and public outrage reached a boiling point in Tamil Nadu as the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and All Indian Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) ramp up protests over the sexual assault of a student at Anna University. Leading the charge for the PMK women’s wing, Soumya Anbumani staged a fiery protest in Chennai with the slogan “Am I Next?”, demanding immediate justice for the survivor and systemic reforms to protect students in Anna University and other campuses.

BJP state president K Annamalai took a dramatic approach by lashing himself with a whip in Coimbatore as part of his protest against the incident, vowing to remove the DMK government from power. The AIADMK joined the movement, with its IT Wing holding protests across the state, spotlighting government negligence with the slogan “Who is that, sir?”

PMK Protest

In response to the Anna University incident, the PMK has mounted a campaign under the slogan “Am I Next?”. Posters bearing this question were plastered across Chennai ahead of the protest at Valluvar Kottam. Soumya Anbumani, addressing the gathering, called for stringent action against the accused and a thorough investigation into the case, including the alleged involvement of others.

“The safety of our students should be non-negotiable,” she said. “This is not just about one incident but a larger failure to ensure a secure environment for our youth.”

The protest, however, faced resistance from authorities, as the Chennai police denied permission for the gathering, citing security concerns. Despite this, a significant number of protesters assembled, prompting heavy police deployment at the venue to maintain order.

Protest By BJP

Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai lashed himself six times with a whip on 27 December 2024 outside his residence in Coimbatore as part of a personal protest against the sexual assault of an Anna University student.

Annamalai had announced the previous day that he would whip himself as a symbolic protest against the incident. He also vowed not to wear slippers until the DMK government is removed from power in Tamil Nadu.

The BJP leader said he would pray at all six temples of Lord Muruga, the revered war deity in southern India. The former IPS officer has been leading the Tamil Nadu BJP aggressively and has been vocal in his criticism of the ruling DMK government.

Annamalai condemned the police for leaking the FIR related to the sexual assault case, which resulted in the identification of the 19-year-old victim, an engineering student at Anna University. He accused the authorities of intentionally leaking the details and failing to ensure the safety and anonymity of the survivor.

The BJP president further alleged that the accused, Gnanashekaran, was not included in the police’s rowdy list despite being involved in several criminal cases already. He claimed that this omission was due to Gnanashekaran’s close ties with DMK leaders and provided evidence of the accused’s affiliation with the ruling party.

Protest By ADMK

The AIADMK IT Wing members staged a protest at the Express Avenue Mall in Royapettah, Chennai, holding banners with the slogan “Who is that sir?” to draw attention to the recent sexual assault of a student on the Anna University campus and to criticize the Tamil Nadu government’s handling of the case. Posters with the slogan “Who is that sir?” have been plastered across several cities, including Chennai, Karur, Thanjavur, and Tirunelveli. The posters also feature hashtags like #SaveOurDaughters.

During the protest at Express Avenue Mall, AIADMK IT Wing members addressed the public, including women shoppers, to highlight their concerns about the incident and alleged lapses by the government. Videos of the demonstration are circulating widely on social media, drawing mixed reactions from the public.

Protest By TVK

Women cadre from the actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam were arrested for distributing pamphlets containing a handwritten letter by Vijay condemning the assault case at the entrance of VR Mall in Chennai. They aimed to raise awareness about the sexual assault incident on the Anna University campus. Similarly, members of the women’s wing of the Karur District of TVK were questioned and arrested after presenting the letter in front of the Karur Government Arts College gate. The police raised concerns about the unauthorized distribution of the letter, causing a stir in the area.

Background

On 23 December 2024, a woman, who was in a two-year relationship with a fellow student, was attacked while spending time with her boyfriend at a secluded spot on campus.

Two unknown individuals approached the couple, assaulted the boyfriend, and sexually assaulted the woman. The assailants forced her to strip, filmed her without consent, threatened her, and fled the scene. The traumatized victim later reported the incident to the Kotturpuram police.

In connection with the case, police have arrested 37-year-old Gnanasekaran, a roadside biryani vendor from Kotturpuram with multiple pending cases against him. The police have filed charges under Section 64 of the BNSS and are actively investigating the matter.

The victim also lodged a complaint with the university’s POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) committee. Meanwhile, the Chennai police, in collaboration with the university, are working to enhance campus security.

However, it came to light that the accused Gnanasekaran is a repeat offender and a DMK functionary. Pictures circulating on social media show him alongside several prominent DMK leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Minister Ma. Subramanian.

FIR Reveals Shocking Details

The shocking details came to light after the All Women Police Station (AWPS) in Raja Annamalai Puram filed the FIR, which reveals a sequence of terrifying events that unfolded on 23 December 2024, within the Anna University campus.

The FIR states that Gnanasekaran filmed the survivor and her boyfriend on the campus before taking things to a terrifying level. He allegedly threatened to leak the footage to the university dean and the couple’s parents unless the student complied with his demands.

He then forcibly took the survivor to a secluded area behind the Highway Lab Building and the Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) department building, where he presented her with three horrifying options: one, to be expelled from the university by the dean based on the footage he threatened to release; two, to “spend time” with him; and three, to “spend time” with another man who had reportedly called the accused before the assault.

The Assault

According to the FIR, after making these threats, Gnanasekaran sexually assaulted the survivor between 7:45 PM and 8:20 PM on 23 December 2024. He also took a picture of her college ID card and extracted her father’s contact information from her phone before fleeing the scene. The survivor, in her written complaint, described how Gnanasekaran had received a phone call from an unknown person, during which he mentioned threatening the girl and leaving her.

The police investigation revealed that Gnanasekaran is no stranger to criminal activity, with seven other pending cases against him, including charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for lurking house trespass and theft. He has now been charged under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections for rape and sexual harassment.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

TTD Member And BJP Leader Alleges Scam Worth Several Crore Rupees With Lost & Found Items At Tirumala Temple

By
The Commune
-
TTD Member And BJP Leader Alleges Scam Worth Several Crore Rupees With Lost & Found Items At Tirumala Temple

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) member and BJP leader G Bhanuprakash Reddy has raised serious allegations about widespread scams at the ‘Lost and Found Goods’ section, which is overseen by the Command Control Unit of the TTD.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, he stated, “It is common for devotees visiting Tirupati to misplace or lose their belongings unknowingly. Such items are typically stored at the lost items counter managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Vigilance and Security Department. If unclaimed after a certain period, these items are added to the Tirumala hundial account, with their details recorded in the register.”

However, a study conducted by the Vigilance and Security Department in 2023 revealed significant discrepancies between the recorded details in the register and the actual items deposited. The missing items are valued at crores of rupees. Bhanuprakash accused certain officials in the Vigilance Department of misappropriating small items lost by pilgrims at Tirumala, such as cash, jewellery, and electronic gadgets. According to Bhanu Prakash Reddy, many individuals, including Security Unit Officer Sivashankar, were implicated in this scam.

“When I confronted a senior official about this scam, he claimed that an investigation had already been conducted during the previous regime and dismissed the need for further inquiry. However, the latest security report from the Tirupati Devasthanam strongly recommends a fresh investigation into the matter,” he added.

He referred to this incident as a continuation of the Parakamani scam and called for a detailed investigation into the matter, which he claimed occurred under the YSRCP government in 2023.

He further criticized the absence of a proper system for recording ‘lost and found’ items in the past and questioned why no disciplinary or legal action was taken against Siva Shankar. Instead, he claimed the inspector was sent back to his parent department. “When the TTD files complaints against petty thieves or ticket scalpers, how could they allow an inspector implicated in such a scam to walk free?” he asked.

Notably, Sivashankar, who is implicated in this scam, was also accused in the high-profile Parakamani theft case at Tirupati Devasthanams last year, raising further questions about systemic lapses and accountability within the institution.

Dubbed ‘Parakamani-2,’ the new case mirrors the earlier Parakamani scam, in which a clerk, C.V. Ravi Kumar, was caught stealing foreign currency during the Srivari Hundi counting process. Bhanuprakash noted that video evidence of the Parakamani scam had mysteriously gone missing, suggesting the involvement of Siva Shankar in erasing the footage. He alleged that Siva Shankar was allowed a ‘safe exit’ under the guise of repatriation and demanded a comprehensive investigation to uncover the truth. Bhanuprakash presented the findings of the internal inquiry conducted by the TTD Vigilance Department to support his claims.

Bhanu Prakash Reddy had claimed that during the previous YSRCP administration, a man named Ravi Kumar was caught stealing at the Parakamani in Tirumala. He alleged that, despite being apprehended by vigilance officials, Ravi Kumar was protected by certain police officers and board members. Bhanu Prakash also alleged that over ₹100 crore were misappropriated and questioned how an employee of clerical rank could accumulate such massive wealth. He further claimed that some individuals conspired to take a share of the stolen assets and promised to disclose their identities soon.

He also criticized a police officer for allegedly pressuring the TTD to settle the matter during the investigation. Bhanu Prakash accused the previous YSRCP leadership of negligence, misusing officials for personal benefit, and exploiting temple properties. He vowed to expose all those involved in the misappropriation of temple assets.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

Thanthi TV’s Disgraceful Poll: Sexualizing “Sisters” While Ignoring Chennai’s Real Tragedy

By
The Commune
-
Girl In Anna University Sexually Assaulted By DMK Man, Dravidianist Media Thanthi TV Asks Which Trending Akka Has Your Pakka Support?

While Chennai was grappling with the horror of a young woman’s sexual assault at Anna University—an atrocity perpetrated by a DMK cadre—Thanthi TV, a prominent Dravidianist media outlet, stooped to unimaginable depths with a tasteless social media poll. On 25 December 2024, the channel posted a poll asking followers to vote for their favorite “trending sister,” listing options such as “Tailor Akka,” “Devotional Akka,” “Gym Akka,” and “Yoga Akka.”

This disgraceful poll, blatantly sexualizing the word “Akka” (sister), mirrors the objectification seen in the Hindi-speaking regions with terms like “Bhabhi.” The exploitation of a familial term to trivialize and fetishize women for engagement metrics has drawn widespread condemnation.

As if the poll itself wasn’t appalling enough, Thanthi TV doubled down on this indecency by publishing its results on 31 December 2024. The post proudly declared, “Number one among the trending sisters this year… (Based on a survey conducted on Thanthi TV’s social media pages. Total voters who participated – 1,83,378).”

At a time when Tamil Nadu was mourning the violation of a young woman, Thanthi TV chose to indulge in this grotesque mockery. The poll not only trivialized women but also highlighted the alarming normalization of misogyny in mainstream media.

The sexualization of YouTube content creators, casually attaching “Akka” to their names, is a deplorable trend typically seen on low-tier social media platforms. For a mainstream news channel like Thanthi TV to adopt and amplify such vulgarity is an indictment of their journalistic standards—or lack thereof.

The timing of this poll, in the shadow of the Anna University sexual assault, points to a disturbing insensitivity to the pervasive issue of violence against women. Rather than using their platform to foster awareness or hold perpetrators accountable, Thanthi TV prioritized cheap engagement over integrity.

This episode reveals the depths to which sections of Tamil Nadu’s mainstream media have fallen, sacrificing decency for clicks and likes. Thanthi TV’s actions are a stark reminder of the urgent need for media accountability and a collective stand against the normalization of misogyny in public discourse.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

DMK To Rope In Showtime Consultancy Run By Robbin Sharrma For 2026 Elections?

By
The Commune
-

The DMK, which adheres to the ideologies of EV Ramasamy Naicker, (also referred as Periyar by his followers) and whose cadres have consistently criticized and disparaged Indians from the northern part of the country whenever possible, has now allegedly signed an MoU with ‘Showtime Consultancy,’ a political strategy firm run by Robbin Sharrma. Interestingly, the DMK had previously relied on Prashant Kishor Pandey, another north Indian Brahmin, to secure their earlier election victory in 2021 elections.

This move by the DMK comes as the party prepares for the highly competitive 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. The DMK’s in-house political consultancy firm Populous Empowerment Network (PEN) which is connected to MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan has reportedly signed an agreement with Robin Sharma’s Showtime Consultancy, a election strategy firm, to formulate strategies aimed at retaining power. This follows their earlier success in the 2021 assembly elections, where they collaborated with Prashant Kishor’s iPAC to secure victory.

Robin Sharma’s firm has an impressive track record, having worked with Chandrababu Naidu’s party in Andhra Pradesh and the Eknath Shinde faction in Maharashtra, helping them design effective election strategies. The DMK’s decision to partner with Showtime Consultancy reflects its efforts to strengthen its campaign amidst growing public dissatisfaction and emerging political challenges in Tamil Nadu.

Recent developments in the state have posed setbacks for the DMK government, and rising political contenders like Annamalai from the BJP, new entrant like actor Vijay and NTK chief Seeman have been gaining popularity, especially among the youth. In this context, the DMK’s collaboration with Showtime Consultancy is seen as a strategic move to counter these challenges and boost its chances of success in 2026.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that iPAC, which worked with the DMK in 2021, is now expected to collaborate with the AIADMK. This shift has led the DMK to seek a new partner. Showtime Consultancy’s previous successes, including their work with the National People’s Party in Meghalaya and Chandrababu Naidu’s party in Andhra Pradesh, make them a valuable ally for the DMK’s electoral ambitions.

Netizens found the contradiction highly amusing and took to social media to troll the DMK, mocking its decision to change policies for the sake of winning. They ridiculed the party for its apparent inconsistency and used the platform to lampoon the move.

Subscribe to our Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram channels and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

Family And Diplomats Race Against Time To Save Nimisha Priya From Yemen Death Row

By
The Commune
-
Family And Diplomats Race Against Time To Save Nimisha Priya From Yemen Death Row

Even as hectic diplomatic efforts are continuing to save Nimisha Priya, who is in jail in Yemen and sentenced to death, her husband was hoping for relief and for his wife to return home.

Tomy Thomas and their daughter expect that they will be able to prevail upon the family of Talal Abdo Mahdi to resolve the case by paying the blood money.

“Numerous people are working to resolve this issue, and we all are hoping that we will be able to connect with the family of Mahdi, who has to pardon Nimisha. Our daughter at times connects with her mother, but she is missing a mother’s attention and love,” said Thomas, who returned home years ago from Yemen and was planning to go back when the case surfaced.

The urgency of the situation escalated after Yemen’s President Rashad al-Alimi approved Nimisha Priya’s death sentence earlier this month. Reports suggest the execution could occur within a month, leaving her family and supporters scrambling for a resolution.

Nimisha Priya, originally from Kollengode in Kerala’s Palakkad district, moved to Yemen in 2008 to support her daily wage-earning parents. After working in various hospitals, she opened her clinic.

However, in 2017, a dispute with her Yemeni business partner, Mahdi, reportedly took a tragic turn. Family accounts claim Nimisha injected Mahdi with sedatives to retrieve her confiscated passport. Unfortunately, an overdose led to his death.

Nimisha was arrested while attempting to leave the country and was convicted of murder in 2018. In 2020, a trial court in Sanaa sentenced her to death.

Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council upheld the verdict in November 2023, but it left open the possibility of avoiding execution through the payment of blood money.

The case has drawn widespread attention and raised concerns over the fate of Indian nationals abroad as the family and supporters continue their efforts to save Nimisha Priya from the death penalty.

The mother of Nimisha Priya, Prema Kumari, 57, has been tirelessly campaigning to secure a waiver of the death penalty. Earlier this year, she travelled to Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, to negotiate the payment of ‘diya (blood money)’ to the victim’s family.

The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, a group of NRI social workers based in Yemen, has supported her efforts. Prema Kumari, appearing on Yemen’s Malayalam television, tearfully urged urgent intervention.

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The Hype Surrounding ‘The Satanic Verses’ Will Lead To ‘Skyrocketing Sales’ In India

By
The Commune
-
'Why Was This Book Banned?' Buyers React As 'The Satanic Verses' Makes A Comeback In India

Soon after the ban on Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’ was lifted after 36 years, the mercurial excitement of readers drove them to bookstores in select cities to fetch a physical copy of the controversial novel.

While the famous Bahrisons Booksellers is one of the few outlets selling Rushdie’s fourth novel in Delhi, apart from a few others in certain cities like Pune, select e-commerce platforms to offer purchase of this book.

BooksWagon.com was prompt to procure copies and put the book out for sale. Its founder Shubham Jain imported copies of this book from the UK and US, and to his pleasant surprise, there was “a positive response for the book”. But the process of procuring the copies did not go without a few hiccups. Importing ‘The Satanic Verses’ was quite a task.

“We had to go through customs clearance; in addition, we had to explain the need to import copies of the book,” said Jain.

Shortly after the ban was lifted, the demand for the book surged in India due to its availability now. Many literary enthusiasts, academics and readers curious about the book and its controversies are looking forward to owning a copy.

“There is a lot of hubbub and hype surrounding this book in India which will lead to skyrocketing sales, and then a stable number of people would be interested in buying the book which includes the loyal audience of the author and literary enthusiasts,” Jain told IANS.

He is positive that ‘The Satanic Verses’ would get encouraging responses from academic and intellectual circles. Although the book might still face backlash due to the sensitive nature of its content, Jain feels that it could supersede its sales, or at least dampen it due to the Streisand effect – the attempts to censor it might increase its demand. “Ultimately, the sale will also depend on how the public and media react to it, and how booksellers and retailers promote the book which could make the sales rise, fall, or reach stable figures,” said Jain.

As ‘The Satanic Verses’ make a return to bookstores in India after more than three decades following a Delhi court order, Islamic clerics continue to insist on its ban. It is argued that the government should have engaged in a dialogue with the concerned groups before making the book available. ‘The Satanic Verses’ was banned in 1988 in India under Rajiv Gandhi’s regime.

The reason was that Muslim organisations deemed its content blasphemous. The ban had to be dropped after the Delhi High Court, in November, closed the proceedings challenging the government’s ban on the import and sale of this book. The reason for this was that the authorities failed to produce relevant notification. In the absence of pertinent documents, the court “presumed that it does not exist.”

Salman Rushdie is a celebrated Indian-born British and American novelist. His famous works include ‘Midnight’s Children’ (1981), ‘Shame’ (1983), ‘The Jaguar Smile’ (1987), ‘The Satanic Verses’ (1988), East, West (1994), ‘The Moor’s Last Sigh’ (1995), and ‘Fury’ (2001). Rushdie is the recipient of several awards including the Booker Prize (for Midnight’s Children). In 2022, Rushdie survived an assassination attempt after he was stabbed multiple times before a public lecture in New York.

He has been threatened with death since 1989, a year after ‘The Satanic Verses’ was published.

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

Ramanathapuram: Four Arrested For Assault And Sexual Harassment Of Woman

By
The Commune
-
Ramanathapuram: Four Arrested For Assault And Sexual Harassment Of Woman

A shocking incident similar to the recent Anna University campus sexual harassment case has occurred in Ramanathapuram district, sparking widespread concern about women’s safety in the state.

On 31 December 2024, police arrested four men for allegedly threatening and sexually assaulting a young woman near Ramanathapuram.

The attack took place when the young woman was traveling with a male friend of hers to the Puthanendal area. They were intercepted by four men, who assaulted both the woman and her male friend. The perpetrators also sexually harassed the woman during the incident.

Following the assault, the victim filed a complaint at the Ramanathapuram Town police station. The police have since arrested four suspects from Puthanendal —identified as Bhuvanesh kumar, Saran, Selva kumar, and Muneesh kannan—and an investigation is underway.

(With Inputs From Dinamani)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

Muslim Religious Leaders Slam Delhi AAP Govt Over Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana

By
The Commune
-
Muslim Religious Leaders Slam Delhi AAP Govt Over Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana

Undeterred by the storm over the Mahila Samman Yojana, AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced yet another financial assistance scheme called Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana, for temple and gurdwara priests who will get Rs 18,000 a month.

The political slugfest between the AAP, BJP and the Congress over this scheme is likely to continue before the Assembly polls scheduled to take place in Delhi in February this year. Slamming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government over launching the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana in the national capital just to influence the Hindu and Sikh votes towards it for electoral gains ahead of the Assembly polls in the national capital, the All India Imam Association Chairman Maulana Sajid Rashidi has said, “This is an election stunt. They (AAP) have done this for the elections. The question is, Delhi’s Muslim community was already aligned with him (Arvind Kejriwal), frustrated with Congress and having no other options, they gave their full support to Kejriwal and voted for him in large numbers… This is the reason that the AAP won twice in 2020 and 2015 Delhi Assembly polls.”

Rashidi further added: “Now for the upcoming Assembly polls it is projected that the Muslim community is likely to shift away from the AAP towards the Congress. Therefore, the AAP has announced the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana to influence the Hindu and Sikh vote bank in Delhi towards it. Earlier, the AAP had announced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana for the women in the city which was ultimately declared “non-existent” by Delhi’s Women and Child Development Department. The AAP had first announced to give a monthly assistance to women residing in the national capital of Rs 1,000 which was then increased to Rs 2,100. If the AAP government felt that this was the right step to take then they should have first passed this scheme in the Assembly and then officially made the announcement. He also said that if the AAP government was serious about the welfare of Pujaris and Granthis then they should have passed the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana in the Assembly first and allocated a budget for this scheme before making the official announcement.

“The AAP did nothing about this scheme till now and now has announced that if it comes to power in Delhi again then it will implement this scheme. Even if AAP comes to power it has to first implement it which is uncertain. The meaning of this scheme is that till the state government has money it will give allowance to pujaris and granthis and this can stop anytime the government wants to stop it. The pujaris and granthis must understand that this scheme will not pay their salaries or dues every month and they will face the same situation as that of Imams who are yet to be paid by the Delhi government since the last few years.”

Asked about the AAP government’s Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana, Maulana Arshad Nadvi said, “We welcome the announcement made by Arvind Kejriwal yesterday. However, we do not agree with the 18,000 rupees figure because it does not cover the priests of temples, granthis of gurudwaras, or imams of mosques… This amount is quite meagre as compared to people employed in labour work who get paid salaries between Rs 18,000 to Rs 24,000 every month. Merely giving Rs 18,000 per month as promised by the AAP government is an insult to Imams, pujaris, granthis, priests, etc. For every kind of religious and auspicious occasion, people need pujaris, imams or granthis, etc to conduct religious rituals whether it is related to birth, death or a pious occasion. The Arvind Kejriwal government has announced this scheme which is a welcome step but it must not remain a promise on paper only. This scheme has only been announced now by the AAP government as it was first announced for Imams in mosques.”

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

TN Congress Demands Action Against Stand-Up Comic Barath Balaji For His Joke About Jawaharlal Nehru

By
The Commune
-
TN Congress Demands Action Against Stand-Up Comic Barath Balaji For His Joke About Jawaharlal Nehru

On 31 December 2024, K Selvaperunthagai, president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, called on Chief Minister MK Stalin to take action against stand-up comedian Barath Balaji for his controversial joke about former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Balaji’s video, in which he made the joke, went viral on social media.

In a statement, Selvaperunthagai expressed that the comment had deeply offended Congress members and leaders in Tamil Nadu.

“Balaji’s remarks about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, were highly derogatory and disrespectful. Such behavior cannot be tolerated,” he stated.

Selvaperunthagai reiterated through his official X account, “Under the guise of ‘stand-up comedy’ on social media, Bharat Balaji made highly insulting and derogatory remarks about Bharat Ratna Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. No one can be allowed to speak in such derogatory manner about Pandit Nehru, who was not only the Prime Minister for 17 years but also was called the architect of modern India, widely admired and praised by global leaders. On behalf of the Tamil Nadu Congress, I strongly condemn this.”

“I request the police to take immediate action to arrest Bharat Balaji, who spoke in a disrespectful manner about Pandit Nehru. I appeal the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, to intervene and take appropriate action, so that the police can act against this individual who made offensive comments about Pandit Nehru,” he added.

Selvaperunthagai emphasized that such harmful speech had caused great distress among Congress members in Tamil Nadu and had severely impacted their mental well-being. “The Cyber Crime Unit of the police must take responsibility to prevent such uncivilized remarks from spreading on social media,” he concluded.

Tiruvallur Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil, who often waxes eloquent on democracy and fascism couldn’t take dark humour of the standup comic saying that freedom of speech should not be an excuse to degrade one of India’s greatest leaders.

Balaji, for his part, later posted on his social media platform X that he had removed the video and issued an unconditional apology.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

1...467468469...1,712Page 468 of 1,712
TheCommune
The Commune is a news and views portal focusing on social and political issues of the southern part of India with a focus on Tamil Nadu.
Contact us: thecommune.news@gmail.com
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube

NATIONAL NEWS

© The Commune 2025. All Rights Reserved.