In a recent report by Sun News, the outlet claimed that the price of goats has surged in the Tiruppuvanam Livestock Market ahead of Maha Shivaratri, a significant Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the report, a 10-kg kid (baby goat) is now selling for ₹13,000, while a 20-kg kid is priced at ₹23,000, a sharp increase from the previous rate of ₹7,000. However, this report has been met with widespread criticism for its blatant misinformation and lack of understanding of Hindu traditions.
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival observed with fasting, night-long vigils, and prayers to Lord Shiva. It is a day of spiritual significance, marked by fasting, let alone consuming non-vegetarian food and other indulgences.
Contrary to Sun News’ claims, goats have no religious or cultural association with Maha Shivaratri. The festival emphasizes devotion making the report’s attempt to link goat prices to Shivaratri not only misleading but also factually incorrect.
Ramzan And Goat Consumption: A Valid Connection
In stark contrast, it is noteworthy that the Islamic festival of Ramzan is just around the corner, beginning on the last day of February this year. Given that Ramzan delicacies such as Haleem and other stews are predominantly prepared during the festival, goats play an integral role in these culinary traditions. It would have been more logical and accurate for the report to highlight this connection, rather than fabricating an unlikely link between goat prices and Maha Shivaratri. However, Sun News seemed to purposefully bring in an unlikely connection between a Hindu festival and goat prices! During festivals like Ramzan goat/sheep sales traditionally increase. This is a valid observation, as the consumption of goat and sheep meat is common during Ramzan. The report’s lack of understanding of this connection highlights its selective and biased approach to reporting.
The report appears to be an attempt to create unnecessary controversy or sensationalize unconnected things just for controversy while purposefully ignoring the actual cultural and religious contexts of the festival.
The Sun News report is a glaring example of how Dravidianist media outlets continue to mislead the public by wantonly ignoring facts and cultural sensitivities. While the rise in goat prices ahead of Ramadan is a legitimate economic trend, the attempt to falsely connect it to Maha Shivaratri is both inaccurate and disrespectful to Hindus.
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A 35-year-old English teacher, S. Prabhu, employed temporarily at a government high school in Vaniyambadi, has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting six students. The arrest followed a complaint filed by J. Kamal, the District Child Protection Officer of Tirupattur.
The incident came to light when a group of students contacted the child helpline (1098), reporting inappropriate behavior by Prabhu. A team from the child protection office conducted an inquiry on 24 February 2025, questioning the affected students, school staff, and teachers.
The investigation revealed that Prabhu, originally from Uthangarai in Krishnagiri, had been teaching at the school for about a year. The students accused him of making inappropriate physical contact with them and singing lewd songs during a computer science test on 21 February 2025.
The students later submitted written complaints, and based on the District Child Protection Officer’s report, the All Women Police Station in Vaniyambadi filed a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act. Prabhu was arrested, and the police are now expanding the probe to determine if other students were also victimized.
Suki Sivam, a self-styled Tamil orator, writer, and self-proclaimed scholar known for subtly intertwining Dravidianist ideology into his spiritual talks, has once again peddled lies furthering the Dravidian propaganda of the Aryan Invasion Theory. At an event that took place a few days ago, Suki Sivam “pointed out” the differences between Aryans and Tamilians based on the manner in which both parties say farewell to the dead.
Speaking at the event where he praised Tamil Nadu CM Stalin as an “effective” leader, he also propagated lies about the Aryan Invasion Theory and indirectly stated Brahmins were the Aryans and it could be proved by the way they cremated the dead.
He said, “I am not praising our CM as a person. The events that are happening around us – the CM has the responsibility to protect the identity, race, honour of the Tamil people. It is our duty that we strengthen him. That is why I am praising him today.”
Referencing a previous speaker he said, “Manivannan very beautifully spoke about it. If you are a history student, you can Google “India from 900 or Indian from 1500”. You can take a look at the various kingdoms and their regimes. No king ruled the whole of India at one point in time. Everyone would stop above Andhra, they could never come down south, andeven if they did, the maximum they could conquer was Andhra. Just check Babar, Akbar, andAurangzeb’s regime and every single time you will see the south was never conquered. If you wonder why, it is because it is a fact that it is impossible to enslave the people of this region. Our people will even go hungry but will not be emotionless. If they do not serve Annadanam in temples, they will throw it in the face. They are such short-tempered people. That is their natural tendency.
Adding further, he made a comment that borderline stokes separatism saying “Some people do not realize this and are playing with fire, it is not a good thing. We think it is the best thing to live in India. We are okay tobe part of the structure that is India. That is because of the generosity of Tamilians. This must be understood by the people who need to.”
Speaking on Hinduism, he said, “Many people do not know about the history of Hinduism. They think it is the mode of worship that is depicted on the outside. This stage has the past and the present HR&CE ministers. But I have always been a part of the HR&CE department. Here’s what I am coming at. We must study history closely. A group comes from outside. They settle on the other side of River Sindhu (Indus). On this side of the Sindhu, several types of people exist – they follow different modes of worship, rituals, etc. They are very happy and prosperous. The ones who have come from outside are sitting on the banks of the river and watching these people and addressed these people as “Sindhus”. The outsiders were the ones who used the word Sindhus. Later they entered our place. We are very gullible people, we welcomed them. Let me give you an example. Tamilians have the ritual of burying the dead in graves. But the outsiders cremated their dead. Do you know why? It is because Tamilians owned the land, and they could bury. The ones who did not own land cremated the dead. How can a nomad own land? So, if someone died, they would cremate and leave the ashes by the riverbanks. The habit of leaving the remains by the riverbanks is now considered pure. You people did not own any land, so you cremated somewhere and left the remains there and moved on. We owned fields and we buried our dead in the fields. How can someone who does not own land bury in our land? They have hidden this historical truth, and the outsiders are trying to compromise because the actual residents are fighting among themselves. He grabbed a little bit of everything from everyone and our people were unaware and naive. They adopted the religion, andrituals from this land and gave it their name.”
Here’s why Suki Sivam is wrong. There is historical proof from Sangam era texts that prove that the early people of this land carried out burials as well as cremations. More importantly, people in Tamizhagam during the Sangam era itself carried out cremations. Here are some references.
The Purananooru, one of the most celebrated classical Tamil poetic works in Sangam literature, contains references to cremation. One verse in this context says “பெருங் காட்டுப் பண்ணிய கருங் கோட்டு ஈமம்…. நள் இரும் பொய்கையும் தீயும் ஓரற்றே”
This verse talks about Sati performed by the Pandya queen Perumkoppendu and she says that her husband’s funeral pyre is equivalent to a cold pond.
A poem called “Smoke-filled ground” in Purananooru talks about the cremation ground rather than the king himself.
Another epic Manimekalai from the Sangam period also describes the fate of those burned in fire. A verse in the epic says, “சுடுவோர் இடுவோர் தொடுகுழிப் படுப்போர் தாழ்வயி னடைப்போர் தாழியிற் கவிப்போர்”. This verse speaks about various ways of the last rites and cities cremation as well.
இன்றைய தத்துப்பித்து உளறல்
தமிழர்கள் (திராவிடர்கள்னு யாரும் இல்லை) இறந்தவர்களை எரியூட்டினார்கள்
Archaeological evidence from ancient South Indian sites suggests that burial was a common practice, as burial urns from BCE-era settlements have been discovered in significant numbers. However, this does not necessarily mean that cremation was absent, as cremated remains do not leave lasting evidence unless stored, which was not a norm in most cultures that practiced cremation. The absence of written records from that era further complicates our understanding of pre-Vedic funerary practices. Sangam literature, which dates from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE, mentions cremation, but by this time, Vedic, Jain, and Buddhist influences had already reached South India.
However, the burial sites found in earlier settlements suggest a culture that predates these influences, leaving open the possibility that cremation may have coexisted. Beyond South India, the Indus Valley Civilization provides strong evidence of cremation, making it likely that the practice was present in the region. Rigveda Mandala 10, Hymns 18.11-13, describe placing the deceased in the earth with prayers for protection. However, later hymns in the same Mandala, such as RV 10.15.14 and RV 10.16.1, reference cremation, suggesting that the practice became more common over time. This shift may have been influenced by interactions with the Indus Valley Civilization, which already cremated its dead. Therefore, both burial and cremation existed in this region, with cremation gaining prominence later.
Given that the Aryan Invasion Theory has been debunked by the Rakhigarhi findings, speaking about outsiders, Aryans, Brahmins etc does not make any sense in today’s context.
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A woman from Madurai has lodged a police complaint alleging persistent attempts to forcibly convert her and her husband to Christianity, leading her husband to contemplate suicide.
Kamala (36), a resident of Viratipattu Banner Colony, and her husband Ayyappa run a stationery shop in Kochadai. The couple, who were married according to Hindu rituals, have reportedly been facing pressure to convert since 2018.
According to Kamala’s complaint filed with the S.S. Colony police, her father-in-law, Nagalingam, has been pressuring them to convert to Christianity, allegedly with the support of others. She specifically named Kingston Paul, who runs a church in Nataraj Nagar, Madurai, as one of the individuals involved in the conversion attempts.
“The pressure intensified over time, and we had no choice but to endure it,” Kamala stated in her complaint as reported in Dinamalar.
She further alleged that in August last year, Pastor Sundaramoorthy, along with his wife, and two other individuals from DPM, visited their home with Nagalingam. The group reportedly forced them to participate in Christian prayers and warned them of dire consequences if they refused, causing severe mental distress.
Kamala recounted a recent incident on 20 February 2025, when her father-in-law and Kingston Paul conducted a Christian prayer service outside their shop. Shortly afterward, she discovered a suicide note written by her husband, in which he named several individuals who had allegedly been harassing them for conversion.
In her complaint, Kamala has urged authorities to take legal action against those responsible. The police have registered the complaint and initiated an investigation into the matter.
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Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has slapped the Kerala Congress for spreading false information about her. The party had posted on its official social media account, alleging that she had her ₹18 crore loan written off by the now-defunct New India Cooperative Bank. The post, which was accompanied by a news article, also accused Zinta of compromising her social media accounts in return for financial benefits.
Zinta swiftly responded with a firm denial on X, labeling the claims as “fake news.” She stated, “No, I operate my social media accounts my self and shame on you for promoting FAKE NEWS ! No one wrote off anything or any loan for me. I’m shocked that a political party or their representative is promoting fake news & indulging in vile gossip & click baits using my name & images. For the record a loan was taken and FULLY PAID BACK – over 10 years ago. Hope this clarifies and helps so there are no misunderstandings in the future.”
No I operate my social media accounts my self and shame on you for promoting FAKE NEWS ! No one wrote off anything or any loan for me. I’m shocked that a political party or their representative is promoting fake news & indulging in vile gossip & click baits using my name &… https://t.co/cdnEvqnkYx
The controversy began when the Kerala unit of the Indian National Congress (INC) shared a screenshot of a news article titled “18 Crore Loan to Preity Zinta and Others Written Off by New India Cooperative Bank.” The report mentioned loans given to various individuals, including Zinta. However, the actress has firmly denied the claim, stating that her loan was paid off in full years ago. The bank, which collapsed last week, has left depositors struggling to recover their savings.
The Kerala Congress, through its official X account, accused Zinta, saying, “She handed over her social media accounts to the BJP and had 18 crore written off, and now the bank has collapsed, leaving depositors on the streets trying to get their money.”
She gave her social media accounts to BJP and got 18 Cr written off and the bank collapsed last week.
Congress appears to have been offended by a recent social media post from actress Preity Zinta, in which she boldly addressed the bias prevalent on social media. Zinta’s post criticized how people are labeled negatively based on their views, stating that if someone expresses pride in being a Hindu or Indian, they are often branded as an “Andh Bhakt.” In response, Congress retaliated by referencing some conspiracy theories from certain journals.
Zinta’s post read, “What’s happening to people on social media? Everyone has become so cynical. If one talks about their first chat with an AI Bot then people presume it’s a paid promotion, if you appreciate ur PM then you are a bhakt & god forbid, if you are a proud Hindu or Indian 🇮🇳then ur an Andh Bhakt ! Let’s keep it real folks & take people for who they are & not who we think they should be ! Maybe we all need to take a chill pill and just be happy to communicate with each other. Now don’t ask me why I married Gene ? I married him cuz I love him 💕kyuki sarhad par ek aisa shaks hai, jo mere liye aapni jaan de sakta hai🤩❤️samjhe 😂 If you know you know …. Ting !”
What’s happening to people on social media? Everyone has become so cynical. If one talks about their first chat with an AI Bot then people presume it’s a paid promotion, if you appreciate ur PM then you are a bhakt & god forbid, if you are a proud Hindu or Indian 🇮🇳then ur an…
India’s Science Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh, has assured that there are “no signs of any disease outbreak” at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, despite millions of devotees taking a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the lost Saraswati river. Dr. Singh attributed the successful management of public health to advancements in nuclear technology.
Over 500 million people have participated in the ritual, which exceeds the combined populations of the USA and Russia. Dr. Singh, who also serves as the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, noted, “More than 50 crore devotees have visited, yet there has been no sign of hygiene issues or epidemic threats.” He visited the Sangam on Monday and referred to the feat as a “Herculean task.”
This accomplishment is largely due to the use of innovative sewage treatment technologies developed by Indian institutions such as the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) in Mumbai and the Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam, both of which fall under the Department of Atomic Energy.
A unique sewage treatment system, the Hybrid Granular Sequencing Batch Reactors (hgSBR) technology, is being utilized at the Maha Kumbh. These plants treat contaminated water using microbes and are often called Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants. The technology, pioneered by Dr. Venkat Nancharaiah of DAE, has been implemented along the banks of the Ganga and can process up to 150,000 liters of sewage daily.
The system uses bio-beads, bacteria-laden granules, to effectively treat wastewater. This method is preferred over traditional activated sludge systems due to its superior settling, higher biomass retention, and efficient treatment properties. Additionally, the bio-beads approach reduces land use, infrastructure needs, and operational costs, offering up to 60% savings in land footprint and 30% in costs compared to conventional methods.
The new system also reduces the size of biological treatment tanks by 20% and addresses the gap between sewage generation and treatment capacity. This achievement is notable given the history of disease outbreaks at previous Kumbh Mela events due to poor sanitation practices, such as open defecation and polluted water.
To further ensure cleanliness, the Uttar Pradesh government has installed 1.5 lakh toilets at the mela site and is operating 11 permanent and three temporary sewage treatment plants to handle the large volume of waste. Clean drinking water is being supplied through over 200 automatic water dispensing machines to meet the needs of the pilgrims.
The Kerala High Court has ruled that for an offence to be considered penetrative sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, the entry of a penis into the vagina is not mandatory.
A judicial bench, comprising Justices PB Suresh Kumar and Jobin Sebastian, specified that penetration isn’t limited to complete vaginal entry. It also includes any minimal physical interaction with the victim’s external genitalia, including the labia majora or vulva.
“In other terms, the penetration of the male genital organ within the labia majora or vulva, regardless of whether semen is emitted or even if there is only an attempt to penetrate the victim’s private parts partially, completely, or slightly, constitutes penetrative sexual assault under the Pocso Act,” cited the court.
These observations were made during a case where an individual was convicted of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl.
The accused contested his conviction in the High Court, asserting that the victim’s testimony was unreliable and there was no definitive medical evidence of penetration. He referenced medical reports indicating that the victim’s hymen was intact and argued that the prosecution had not proven penetration. However, the High Court dismissed this argument, emphasizing that the lack of hymenal rupture does not invalidate the offence of rape or penetrative sexual assault.
The accused had repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted a minor girl, who was his neighbor, at his home in Kasargod. The incident came to light when the child reported genital pain to her mother, leading to a hospital examination and subsequent police involvement.
The trial court found the accused guilty, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of ₹25,000.
In an unconventional move by the Congress-led government in Karnataka, the State’s Assembly Speaker UT Khader announced plans to introduce recliners for lawmakers in a bid to improve post-lunch attendance in the state legislature. On 24 February 2025, Khader revealed that he intends to rent at least 15 recliners for the Vidhana Soudha, the state assembly, to give MLAs and MLCs the opportunity to take a “quick nap” during their lunch break, as many often leave after lunch and fail to return for the afternoon session, leading to low attendance.
Khader explained that the recliners would be placed in the assembly lobby to allow legislators a chance to rest before resuming legislative work. “This will help them feel refreshed and ready to participate in the proceedings for the rest of the day,” he was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
However, Khader clarified that the recliners would not be a permanent fixture. He expressed concerns about the wastefulness of purchasing them, as they would be removed once the assembly session concludes.
The Speaker also highlighted previous initiatives, such as providing free breakfast and lunch for legislators, which have helped improve attendance. “Previously, some legislators arrived late because of breakfast or took time to return after lunch. Now, there are no such delays,” Khader added.
In other news, the assembly secretariat is hosting a book event at Vidhana Soudha from 28 February to 3 March, featuring book releases and panel discussions.
The Karnataka Assembly’s Budget Session will commence on 3 March, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah set to present the state budget on 7 March.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) member and Villuppuram MP, Ravikumar, has sparked controversy within the DMK alliance in the state with a post regarding a draft resolution to be discussed at the upcoming CPI(M) National Conference. The 24th National Conference of the CPI(M) will take place in Madurai in a few months, and the draft resolutions, which include the statement “No political alliance with Congress,” have already been approved and will be debated at the Central Committee meeting in Kolkata.
This has caused a significant stir, as Congress is a major ally in the DMK-led state coalition, alongside the Communists. Additionally, the CPI(M) withdrawal of support for Congress could potentially impact the larger I.N.D.I.A. alliance at the central level. If the Communists decide to pull out of their support for Congress, it could affect the DMK’s alliance ahead of the 2026 state legislative assembly elections.
In a social media post on his official X account, VCK MP Ravikumar wrote, “No political alliance with Congress” Announcement in draft resolution to be passed at CPI(M) National Conference. The 24th National Conference of the CPI(M) will be held in Madurai in a few months. The draft resolutions to be passed in it have been approved and put up for discussion at the Central Committee meeting held in Kolkata. An assessment of the BJP, Congress and state parties has also been presented in it. The following is said about the Congress party (pages 52-53): Congress: The Congress was able to improve its strength in the Lok Sabha from 44 to 100, benefitting by having allies in the INDIA bloc. It has been able to gain Muslim minority support in a substantial manner all over the country. The Congress base has not expanded significantly. It has been defeated in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Haryana in the Assembly elections in. the North. In states like Punjab, Odisha and Assam, it has been considerably weakened. It is in the South that the Congress has made gains, with victories in the Karnataka and Telangana assembly polls and forming governments there. The Congress has not changed its economic policy direction. It talks against crony capitalism but adheres to the very same neo-liberal policies which spawn such cronies. While its national leadership is taking a more forthright position against the Hindutva agenda, there are still vacillations and a tendency to compromise when faced with the aggressive offensive of the BJP and its Hindutva allies. The Congress party represents the same class interests as the BJP. However, being the main secular opposition party, it has a role to play in the struggle against the BJP and in the broader unity to be forged of the secular forces. The attitude of the CPI(M) to the Congress is determined by this need for broader unity of the secular forces. However, the Party cannot have a political alliance with the Congress.”
“காங்கிரஸ் கட்சியுடன் அரசியல் கூட்டணி வைத்துக்கொள்ள முடியாது”
சிபிஐ எம் கட்சியின் தேசிய மாநாட்டில் நிறைவேற்றப்படவுள்ள வரைவுத் தீர்மானத்தில் அறிவிப்பு
சிபிஐ எம் கட்சியின் 24 ஆவது தேசிய மாநாடு இன்னும் சில மாதங்களில் மதுரையில் நடைபெறவுள்ளது. அதில் நிறைவேற்றுவதற்கான வரைவுத்… pic.twitter.com/6Gzv0Tj7Dh
Tamil superstar-turned-politician Vijay’s party, TVK, is set to celebrate its first anniversary at a private hotel in Mahabalipuram on Wednesday (February 25).
Jan Suraaj Party founder and political strategist Prashant Kishor will also participate in the event. TVK General Secretary N. Anand stated that the anniversary celebration will be led by party founder and president Vijay.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Anand said that TVK, founded on the principles of love, concern, and selfless service, has made significant progress over the past year.
Anand, a former MLA from Puducherry, credited the party’s growing popularity to the unwavering support of the people, who have placed their trust in TVK’s vision and ideology.
TVK sources indicate that several political leaders, including B. Kaliyammal, the former women’s wing leader of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), may join TVK in Vijay’s presence during the anniversary celebrations. Vijay officially launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on February 2, 2024, declaring his opposition to corruption and divisive politics.
While he chose to stay out of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he announced that TVK would contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. On August 22, 2024, Vijay unveiled the party’s flag and song at TVK’s headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai. The party held its inaugural conference on October 27, 2024, in Vikravandi, Villupuram district, which drew a massive crowd of around three lakh people.
Heavy traffic congestion was reported in Vikravandi and Mundiyampakkam, with vehicles being diverted on the Chennai-Tiruchi National Highway. During the conference, Vijay strongly criticised both the DMK and BJP, calling the BJP his ideological adversary and the DMK his political adversary.
He accused the DMK of being a family-centric party that exploits the “Dravidian” identity for personal gain while condemning the BJP for its divisive politics. Following Vijay’s statements, the DMK accused him of being the “C team” of the BJP. BJP Tamil Nadu spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad responded by advising Vijay to prioritise people’s welfare instead of engaging in political confrontations.
He also pointed out that Vijay had received support from multiple political factions, including the BJP, as he entered the political arena. Vijay’s political clout has been rising since his fan club, the All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (AITVMI), secured 115 out of the 169 seats it contested in the 2021 Tamil Nadu local body elections.
In contrast, Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) failed to win any seats. This success has bolstered Vijay’s position in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. He has also indicated that TVK would only align with parties that acknowledge his leadership. Political analysts view this as a clear sign that Vijay is aiming for the Chief Minister’s post in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly.
–IANS
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