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BSP Asks Congress To Sack TNCC Pres Selvaperunthagai Alleging Involvement In TN BSP Leader Armstrong’s Murder

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The Commune
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BSP Asks Congress To Sack TNCC Pres Selvaperunthagai Alleging Involvement In TN BSP Leader Armstrong's Murder

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, urging the dismissal of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai, accusing him of involvement in the murder of former BSP state chief K Armstrong. The letter, penned by BSP Tamil Nadu state general secretary K Jeyshankar, alleges that Selvaperunthagai orchestrated the assassination with the help of rowdy Nagendran, who has been arrested in connection with the crime.

K Armstrong, aged 52, was brutally hacked to death outside his residence in Perambur by unknown assailants, with CCTV footage revealing four individuals disguised as food delivery agents. Over 16 individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder, including Ashwathaman, a former Congress member, and his father Nagendran, a life convict. Jeyshankar claims that Selvaperunthagai was closely associated with Nagendran and was key in planning the attack.

Jeyshankar further alleges that Selvaperunthagai has a history of criminal involvement, pointing to his suspected role in several other murders, including those of Auditor Pandian, Albert, and PPG Shankar. According to the BSP, Ashwathaman, appointed by Selvaperunthagai in the Indian National Congress (INC) youth wing, worked closely with his father and Selvaperunthagai to conduct criminal activities and share ransom money.

The BSP criticized the ruling DMK government, which is part of the INDIA bloc, for failing to arrest Selvaperunthagai, suggesting that his political position as TNCC president has shielded him from investigation. “Why has Selvaperunthagai not been arrested despite his involvement in Armstrong’s murder?” the BSP questioned, referencing growing public demand on social media for action against him.

The party has called on Rahul Gandhi to sack Selvaperunthagai over Armstrong murder case, arguing that his removal would help preserve the Congress party’s reputation in Tamil Nadu. In addition, BSP leaders, along with Armstrong’s widow, plan to meet with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to discuss the case and push for justice.

Jeyshankar’s accusations have intensified the political pressure on Selvaperunthagai, with demands for him to be questioned in the ongoing murder investigation.

(With inputs from DTNext)

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“100 Cr People Would’ve Got Laddus, Did You Enjoy The Beef?”: Anti-BJP And Pro-Congress Dravidianist Activist Piyush Manush Mocks Hindus On Tirupati Prasadam Issue

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The Commune
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"100 Cr People Would've Got Laddus, Did You Enjoy The Beef?": Anti-BJP And Pro-Congress Dravidianist Activist Piyush Manush Mocks Hindus On Tirupati Prasadam Issue

Amidst the ongoing controversy over the use of substandard ingredients like beef tallow and lard in Tirupati laddu, a Dravidianist activist named Piyush Manush used the news to mock Hindus further with his provocative comments. In a recent video, Manush mocked Hindus for consuming laddu containing beef tallow, adding fuel to the already tense situation.

Beef Tallow in Tirupati Laddus

On 18 September 2024, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu accused the former YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government of using substandard ingredients, including animal fat, in the famous Tirupati laddu. However, YSRCP denied these allegations.

A laboratory report revealed that beef tallow, fish oil, and palm oil were used to prepare laddus, which were distributed as prasad at the renowned Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. The report’s findings indicate that the ghee used to prepare the iconic Tirupati laddu prasadam during the YSRCP regime contained traces of animal fat, including beef tallow and fish oil, leading to widespread outrage and claims of disrespect toward religious sentiments.

 

The revelation of the presence of beef tallow, fish oil, and pig tissue has caused great shock among Hindus, for whom the deity Tirupati Balaji and the prasadam are considered favourites. However, with the news break, Dravidianists made merry and started mocking Hindus over the presence of beef tallow in the prasad.

Piyush Manush Video

The most vitriolic mocking was done by a Dravidianist activist who calls himself an environmentalist – a selective one at that, Piyush Manush.

He shared a video on his X handle. In the video, he says, “Did you get a good laddoo? Just a few days back, we got cream bun a few days ago. We got a good bun. All these days you kept looking at others’ plates if they were consuming beef, you even checked their refrigerators, and you even kill. At least 100 crore people would have visited Tirupati. They would have got laddoos. What happened? Did you enjoy the beef? Did you like it? You are done. At least now do not look at another person’s plate. Go do your work. Perumal himself gave a good laddoo to you.”

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Nothing Wrong In Holding Palestinian Flag: Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan

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The Commune
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Karnataka Minister for Housing, Wakf and Minority Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan on Thursday said that after the Union government supported the Palestinians, there is nothing wrong in holding the Palestinian flag in the state.

“The Union government has expressed its support for Palestine so there is nothing wrong in holding and moving around with the Palestinian flag. They had held the Palestinian flags only because of the support of the Union government to the Palestinian cause,” the Minister told the media persons in Kalaburagi city. “If the Union government had not made an announcement in this regard, they would not have done this. If slogans are raised in support of other nations, it is wrong. Those who indulge in such acts are anti-nationals. They should be hanged. However, holding and waving Palestinian flags is not wrong,” Minister Zameer maintained.

He added that the BJP sought votes after making Hindus and Muslims fight. “Congress is not like them, we seek votes based on the work we have done,” the minister said. Commenting on the violence during the Ganesh Visarjan procession in Nagamangala town, Minister Zameer charged that the BJP is igniting fire over the development. “Action has to be taken in these matters no matter who is indulged in these acts. Politicians should not take part in inciting people. They should not consider caste and religion and treat everyone equally,” the minister said.

Reacting to State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra’s statement that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would resign, the minister said that even if hundreds of Vijayendras come and thousands of Kumaraswamys come nothing is going to happen. “Siddaramaiah is a tiger, no one can cause any harm to him,” the minister claimed. Karnataka Police have booked FIRs and detained youths in connection with the waving of Palestinian flags and putting up ‘free Palestine’ posters. Former Home Minister and senior BJP leader Araga Jnanendra had urged the Congress government to hand over the case of installing of free Palestine flex near a dargah in Shivamogga district to the National Investigation Agency.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had stated on Wednesday that the accused arrested in connection with hoisting Palestinian flags and putting up pro-Palestine posters are claiming that the Union government has expressed support for Palestine, and they did nothing wrong by expressing their support to Palestinians. “All those involved in recent incidents where Palestinian flags were hoisted were arrested. Although they have argued that since the Union government has expressed support for Palestine, they did nothing wrong, we have still arrested them,” the state Home Minister said.

He added that the investigation is ongoing to determine who incited them and urged them to hoist the flags. “The individuals involved are aged between 17 and 21 years,” Home Minister Parameshwara said. –IANS

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Skill University Will Be A Role Model For Country, Says Telangana CM

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The Commune
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Skill University Will Be A Role Model For Country, Says Telangana CM

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy asserts that the newly established Telangana Young India Skill University will be a role model for the country. On Thursday, CM Reddy appealed to industrialists and blue-chip companies to join as partners to impart skills and help the youth get jobs.

The Chief Minister met with the Telangana Young India Skill University Board headed by noted industrialist Anand Mahindra and representatives of industries from various sectors. Revanth Reddy entrusted the University Board with the responsibility of promoting Skill University as the best institution in the country. The Chief Minister said the government has already allotted 150 acres of land and earmarked Rs 100 crore for the university. He appealed to industrialists to partner and create a Corpus Fund to run the institution. He also urged the industrialists to come forward and construct buildings on the university campus. The buildings will be named after companies and donors who contributed to their construction. He exuded confidence that the university would get its brand image in the country under the leadership of Anand Mahindra, who has already made his mark in the field of skill development.

Revanth Reddy told the meeting that the government would now focus on establishing the Young India Sports University, which is coming up on 200 acres. The sports university will train enthusiastic athletes to win gold medals for the country in the 2028 Olympics. The Chief Minister also urged industrialists to take part in the development of the sports university.

Stating that there is no shortage of funds, the Chief Minister said the government was ready to spend Rs 1,000 crore, out of Rs 3 lakh crore in the state annual budget, to promote sports. Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, Industry and IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu, University Board Chairman Anand Mahindra, Co-Chairman Srini Raju, Board Members P. Devaiah, Suchitra Ella, Satish Reddy, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Special Chief Secretary to Government Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary to CM Seshadri, CM’s Special Secretary Ajith Reddy and other senior officers participated in this meeting. Board members Manish Sabharwal, Sanjeev Bikchandani, MM Murugappan, Dr. KP Krishnan participated in the meeting through video conference.

The Chief Minister noted that degrees are insufficient for youth to get jobs. On the other hand, the industries face a shortage of skilled manpower. Skill University is aimed at bridging this gap. State IT and Industries Minister Sridhar Babu said the state government is working hard to promote Hyderabad as a world-class investment destination. As part of this, the government decided to set up a new Future City and envisaged plans to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) city.

University Board Chairman Anand Mahindra praised CM Revanth Reddy for the idea of Skill University to produce skilled youth from Telangana for the world. Stating that the Chief Minister is a highly competent leader and his vision is commendable, Anand Mahindra said this was why he accepted the responsibility of University Board Chairman at his request. “The governments used to give top priority to subsidies, but CM Revanth Reddy showed vision by giving importance to skill development for jobs,” he said.

The University Board decided Skill University will start teaching the courses this year. The courses will begin next month after Dasara. The classes will be temporarily started in the Engineering Staff College of India. The courses in healthcare, commerce, and logistics will be launched first. Apollo, AIG, Lenskart, Flipkart, Amazon, All Cargo, Pro Connect, and O9 Solutions companies have come forward to offer courses. The university will train 2,000 youth in the first year.

–IANS

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If Implemented With Right Intent, ‘One Nation, One Election’ Will Be Beneficial: Prashant Kishor

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The Commune
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If Implemented With Right Intent, ‘One Nation, One Election’ Will Be Beneficial: Prashant Kishor

Prashant Kishor, chief of Jan Suraaj Abhiyan, on Thursday said that if implemented with the right intent, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ can be beneficial for the country. “If implemented with the right intent, this idea would be highly beneficial for the nation,” said Prashant Kishor.

Kishor highlighted that the proposal’s success will depend heavily on the purpose and intention behind its implementation. “I welcomed the idea if it is pursued to benefit the nation, but also cautioned against its misuse. If this law targets or harms specific groups, it could have negative consequences. The honesty and integrity of the government’s approach will determine its success,” Kishor said.

Drawing on his extensive experience in electoral politics, Kishor highlighted that around one-fourth of the country’s population votes every year due to frequent elections across various states and levels of government. This continuous election cycle, he explained, often prevents those in power from focusing fully on governance, as they are always in election mode. By consolidating elections to occur once or twice in a term, Kishor believes that not only would the government have more time to focus on governance, but also time and resources – both for the government and the public – would be saved.

“The ‘One Nation One Election’ concept adds to the broader conversation on electoral reforms, where the aim is to streamline elections across the country for greater efficiency and governance stability,” Kishor said. “The electoral process that has been in place for the last 50 years cannot be changed overnight. The government should allow 4-5 years to implement such a significant change gradually,” he said.

–IANS

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Karnataka Police Suspends Deputy Superintendent In Ganesh Visarjan Violence Case

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The Commune
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Karnataka Police Suspends Deputy Superintendent In Ganesh Visarjan Violence Case

Karnataka Police on Thursday suspended the Deputy Superintendent (Dy SP) of Nagamangala, Sumeeth A.R., for negligence and dereliction of duty in connection with the rioting and violence during the Ganesh Visarjan procession in Nagamangala town of Mandya district.

The order was issued by Mandya SP Mallikarjun Baladandi and in his place the police department has deputed G.R. Shivamurthy presently working as Dy SP in Mandya CEN police station. The department had shunted out Nagamangala Town police station inspector Ashok Kumar in connection with the incident. On Thursday evening, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy visited Bidarakoppalu in Nagamangala town and comforted the parents who were worried about their children in the aftermath of the Ganesh idol dispute, reassuring them.

He stated that “Peace has been restored in the riot-affected Nagamangala town. Therefore, no arrests should be made,” Kumaraswamy stated. Kumaraswamy also spoke with IGP M.B. Boralingaiah, saying: “The earlier environment in the town has returned, and peace is being established. Arresting anyone in such a situation might reignite unrest. Hence, it is advised to act cautiously and not arrest anyone.”

Additionally, efforts are being made to release the innocent individuals who were jailed without committing any crime, he reassured people. He also emphasised the importance of peace, stating that division benefits no one. He mentioned how he had noticed the women of this village crying in front of the jail in media reports, and this is why he returned to the village.

The Union Minister also provided financial assistance to more than 17 villagers. Commenting on the FIR filed against opposition leader R. Ashoka and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, Kumaraswamy said, “If you look at the FIR, it becomes clear that the intelligence department has failed. They claim the posts were made to incite riots, but reading the FIR just makes you laugh. “If the Home Minister had been more cautious, this wouldn’t have happened. The peace of the people is more important than politics. The police should not arrest innocent people or harass those who have fled. No one should politically exploit this incident. I am not here to seek sympathy,” he said.

–IANS

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West Can’t Confine India Into A Single Narrative, Says UK-Based Sanskrit Scholar Hegarty

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The Commune
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West Can’t Confine India Into A Single Narrative, Says UK-Based Sanskrit Scholar Hegarty

Professor James Hegarty, an academic in Sanskrit and Indian Religions, who currently heads the School of History, Archaeology, and Religion at Cardiff University said that the West cannot confine India into a single narrative.

Prof. Hegarty shared his journey with IANS and spoke on Indian religious studies, his academic interests, and how engaging with Sanskrit and Hinduism shaped his career and perspective on life.

When asked about the characters that intrigued him the most, Prof. Hegarty spoke with admiration about Krishna: “The description of Krishna as both man and god is fascinating. He is a layered character, and the stories about him in the Mahabharata are compelling. I started studying Sanskrit for academic purposes, but over the years it also influenced me personally.” His growing connection to Indian spirituality deepened during a recent visit to a BAPS Swaminarayan temple. “I was so much at peace there. I look at Sanskrit and Hinduism differently today than when I first started.”

Prof. Hegarty studied M.A. in Religions and Theology at the University of Manchester. He later obtained his PhD in Sanskrit Literature, with his graduate studies supported by the British Academy and the Arts and Humanities Research Council. One of the figures that particularly captivated him was Gandhari, whom he described as a symbol of sacrifice and moral strength. “Gandhari is a pivotal character in the Mahabharata. She voluntarily blindfolded herself in solidarity with her blind husband, Dhritarashtra, and despite her immense personal losses, she remained morally upright. Her clarity and adherence to dharma in the face of tragedy make her such a complex and revered figure.”

On Western biases toward India, Professor Hegarty said, “The West often views India primarily as a spiritual nation, which is true to an extent, but India is far more complex than that. We cannot confine the country to a single category or perspective.” Reflecting on the formative influences in his life, Prof. Hegarty said: “I had very liberal grandparents who encouraged me to engage with global arts and literature and to reach beyond European material, which made all the difference. I watched Peter Brook’s Mahabharata and then the one on Doordarshan with subtitles when I was only 14. I would read political comic books criticising the West, and I was deeply interested in exploring non-Western cultures.”

Even as a teenager, Prof. Hegarty was drawn to Indian literature and its philosophical nuances, contrasting with the predominantly Western narratives he encountered in his education. “I also went to a very Christian school. At that point, I remember thinking I was saving the world by leaving behind the grand stories of the West – stories that started with Greece and ended with England with not much in between! This early exposure to Indian mythology and religion sparked a lifelong academic interest, particularly in the stories of the Mahabharata,” he said.

Delving deeper into his academic interests, Prof. Hegarty shared: “I am fascinated by the history of religions in South Asia. I have written about the Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, and Christian traditions in the region. In particular, I am interested in how South Asians use religious texts, especially religious stories, to negotiate their understanding of themselves and the world around them. This includes what we ordinarily associate with religion – ideas of god or gods or the nature of the good life – and other forms of knowledge, such as how the past is understood or how political life is conceptualised.”

Prof. Hegarty’s journey into the depths of the Mahabharata started during his second year of university when he studied the text with Professor Jacqueline Suthren Hirst. “I remember reading the Draupadi disrobing sequence and discussing the stories within stories. We also explored how these narratives were represented across various media – books, television, etc. My parents, who have a global perspective and have always questioned the status quo, found it fascinating. It was a multidimensional exploration of storytelling, and that’s when my professor convinced me there was no point in reading the Mahabharata in English. That’s how I was led to read it in Sanskrit.”

In addition to his teaching and research, Prof. Hegarty is the author of several notable works, including Religion, Narrative and Public Imagination in South Asia (Routledge, 2012), and co-editor of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Hindu Literature. He has published extensively on Sanskrit, Pali, and vernacular sources, covering many South Asian religious traditions, from Hinduism and Buddhism to Jainism and Sikhism. His research also touches on the history of Christianity in early South Asia and 19th-century missionary history.

–IANS

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Won’t Let Pak Run Its Agenda In J&K: PM Modi Thunders At Katra Rally

By
The Commune
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Elect BJP Govt To Protect 'Roti, Beti, Maati': PM Modi Urges People Of Jharkhand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday sent a strong message to neighbouring Pakistan amid its attempts to “hobnob with like-minded” parties in Jammu and Kashmir and said that no power in the world could bring back Article 370. “I am saying loud and clear that we will not allow Pakistan to run its agenda in Jammu and Kashmir,” thundered PM Modi while addressing his second poll rally in Jammu’s Katra.

PM Modi also launched a blistering attack on the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance in the Union Territory and slammed it for sharing a “common agenda” with the Pakistani establishment. Taking note of Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement on Article 370, PM Modi said that the neighbouring country’s admiration of the Congress-NC manifesto “exposes their unholy alliance”.

He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would never allow such a thing to happen. “Pakistani Defence Minister said that the agenda of the Congress-NC alliance on Article 370 and 35A is the same as that of Pakistan. Congress and NC stand exposed today with the Pakistani minister openly expressing support for their poll promises on Article 370. This means that the NC-Congress alliance wants to impose Pakistan’s agenda in Kashmir,” PM Modi told the gathering in Katra.

“The BJP will never allow their agenda to succeed,” he said. PM Modi accused the Congress and NC of “working against India’s interests”, despite knowing that Pakistani infiltrators inflicted deep wounds on residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Pakistan’s wicked and nefarious plots killed our brothers and sisters but they want to align with them. For decades, they have been doing the same thing that their Pakistani bosses wanted them to do,” he said. He also said that for the BJP, the nation is first and foremost and will always go the whole hog in defending the country’s frontiers and punishing its enemies.

Earlier in the day, Home Minister Amit Shah also came down heavily on the NC-Congress alliance over its demand for the restoration of Article 370, thereby giving a handle to Pakistani elements to ‘influence’ the poll process.

“Pakistan minister’s statement again clarifies that Congress and Pakistan have the same intentions and agenda. For the last few years, Rahul Gandhi has been standing with every anti-India force, hurting the sentiments of the countrymen,” he said.

“Modi will not allow Pakistan’s agenda to come to reality. They want Article 370 restored and I tell them that no power on earth can get Article 370 back. For the BJP, nothing is dearer than the country,” the Prime Minister said.

He said this election will decide the future of Jammu and Kashmir. “This election will help take the BJP concept of ‘Naya Kashmir’ to new heights. NC, Congress and PDP have injured the sentiments of this region for many years. It is now for you to see that the political sun of these parties sets forever. BJP has removed years-old discrimination against you,” PM Modi said while speaking at the Katra rally.

“They have in the past accused the Dogra heritage. In the name of selling love, Congress sells hatred. They said the Dogra Maharajas were corrupt. They can’t see anything beyond the vote bank. They increased the chasm between Jammu and the Valley. The BJP declared Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday as a holiday to honour his memory. You suffered discrimination at the hands of the NC-Congress governments. Today, your Chenab Railway Bridge is much higher than the Eiffel Tower of Paris. Today, pictures of this bridge are circulated worldwide,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi further said the Katra region symbolises “our faith and tradition because this is the abode of Mata Vaishno Devi”.

“We need a government that will foster this faith and tradition. The Congress cannot protect this faith. The Congress scion said abroad recently that the gods and goddesses of Hindu religion do not represent real God. Congress says ‘Devtas’ are not gods. In our country, our gods and goddesses are worshipped. Isn’t this an insult to our gods and goddesses?” PM Modi wondered.

He said the Congress is doing everything under a well-thought-out plan. “This is a Naxalite (Maoist) ideology brought from foreign countries. Naxalite thinking has overtaken the thought process of the Congress party.”

The Prime Minister said: “When I came here as a BJP worker, my friends here, some of whom I see at this gathering today, would give me ‘Kradi’ (Milk Bread), which was very famous. The BJP government got the ‘Kradi’ of Udhampur GI tag. We got  GI tag for Basohli Pashmina also. We want all-round progress in this region. From here, our Para athlete, Rakesh and our shooter, Sheetal, got us Bronze at the Olympics. And this happened due to the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi.”

PM Modi also spoke on the government’s focus on improving the railway infrastructure. “When we started semi high-speed Vande Bharat train services, one train chugged from Delhi to Katra town. Katra and Reasi railway stations were in shambles, we built new ones. No government in the past had the guts to build dams on rivers, and they would allow the untapped water to go to Pakistan. We built the Shahpur Kandi dam that has benefitted thousands of farmers whose lands had remained parched.”

The Prime Minister said that after Article 370 abrogation, terrorism and violence came down. “Jammu and Kashmir is moving on the path to progress. With your support, we will eliminate terrorism. BJP will bring out a white paper on who suffered due to terrorism,” PM Modi assured.

The Prime Minister further said that giving statehood is not a mere electoral slogan for the BJP since the government has stated on the floor of the Parliament that statehood would be restored to J&K. He also said that he knows about the demands of the Baridar Samaj.

“We started a scholarship for students of Baridar Samaj up to 12th class. We have spent Re 3.50 crore for marriages of daughters of this Samaj.” PM Modi concluded his speech by urging the voters to give a massive mandate to the BJP to form a strong government in Jammu and Kashmir.

–IANS

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EPS Promises Door-to-Door Vegetable Garden Scheme If AIADMK Returns To Power

By
The Commune
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EPS Promises Door-to-Door Vegetable Garden Scheme If AIADMK Returns To Power

If AIADMK returns to power, a comprehensive door-to-door vegetable garden scheme will be launched, stated Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), AIADMK general secretary and current leader of the opposition, during the inaugural function of the Spectra Auditorium at MIT College of Agriculture and Technology in Musiri, Trichy district.

During the inauguration of the new building on 19 September 2024, Edappadi K. Palaniswami highlighted that his plans for a forward-looking initiative like the vegetable garden scheme were hindered by the change in government, which could have significantly reduced expenses for the average citizen. He urged agricultural students to recognize the importance of irrigation projects for enhancing agriculture in Tamil Nadu. Noting that cows in the U.S. produce 60 to 70 litres of milk daily, he announced the establishment of a livestock park and research farm in Thalaivasal, Salem district, at the cost of ₹1,000 crores on 1,000 acres to boost milk production in the state.

However, Palaniswami criticized the DMK government for not opening the cattle farm in the past two years. He pointed out that during the AIADMK’s tenure, farmers enjoyed 24-hour uninterrupted three-phase electricity, unlike the current situation under the DMK, where power cuts are frequent, causing significant hardship for farmers.

The AIADMK general secretary also reminded the audience that his party government had waived farm loans twice, which total to ₹1,200 crores. He expressed concern about the rise of drug issues in the state, urging college students to stay vigilant and focus on their education, as they are the future leaders of the country. Palaniswami emphasized that hard work and a commitment to education are crucial for success and encouraged students to prioritize their studies over alternative paths.

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Tamil Nadu: One Killed, One Injured In Firework Factory Explosion

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The Commune
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Tamil Nadu: One Killed, One Injured In Firework Factory Explosion

An autorickshaw driver from Sevalpatti was killed on the spot, and another worker from Sivakasi was critically injured after a fire broke out at the Sri Lakshmi fireworks factory unit at Sevalpatti in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

The deceased has been identified as G. Govindaraj (29), and the injured worker as P. Gurumurthy (19). The police said that Govindaraj was unloading materials from his vehicle at the unit when an explosion in the chemical filling room brought down the firework factory shed. He was trapped under the debris and was killed on the spot. Fire and rescue personnel rushed to the site to put out the flames and pulled out the body of the deceased. Gurumoorthi, who was working inside the room, suffered 100 per cent burns and was rushed to the hospital.

The workers of the firework unit told the Fire and Rescue officials that they had suspected that another worker was missing from the accident site. Immediately, the fire and rescue personnel used an earthmover to search under the debris to ensure no one was trapped inside. The Vembakottai police have registered a case and are investigating.

The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization licenses the firework factory unit. Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu is the biggest producer of fireworks in the country, while Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district is the hub of the fireworks industry of Tamil Nadu. Dindigul and other adjoining districts of the state also have a few fireworks factories.

Tamil Nadu fireworks industry has a turnover of Rs 6,000 crore annually and employs around 1lakh people directly and indirectly. According to the industry association, over one thousand units are engaged in fireworks production in and around Sivakasi. However, in recent years, the fireworks industry in Sivakasi has become dispersed, with smaller units (both legal and illegal) coming up all over Tamil Nadu. High-profit margins in the fireworks industry induce smaller players, and workers engaged in Sivakasi firework plants to start their own plants across Tamil Nadu.

–IANS

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