The Saidapet Court has issued an arrest warrant for journalist Nakkheeran Gopal in connection with the Nithyananda-Ranjitha scandal video case, where he is accused of attempting to extort money from those involved.
The CBCID police have filed a chargesheet against eight individuals, including Nakkheeran Gopal, for allegedly extorting crores of rupees in relation to the scandal. This case, which was being heard in the Saidapet 11th Criminal Judicial Magistrate Court, has now led to the court issuing the arrest warrant for Gopal, who had failed to appear in court.
The controversy dates back to 2012, when a scandalous video involving Nithyananda and actress Ranjitha stirred up public attention. Prior to the video’s release, Nakkheeran Gopal and several individuals connected to the Nithyananda Ashram allegedly threatened Nithyananda for money. These discussions reportedly took place at a hotel in Thyagaraya Nagar, Chennai, which later escalated into a scuffle, leading to injuries and a complaint filed at the Soundarapandian Nagar (Pandy Bazaar) police station.
The case was subsequently transferred to the CBCID, which conducted further investigations. Based on their findings, the CBCID filed a chargesheet, accusing the eight individuals, including Nakkheeran Gopal, of blackmailing Nithyananda and others involved for large sums of money in exchange for withholding the scandalous video. With the court now issuing an arrest warrant, the case continues to unfold.
Amid the rising influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, 94 per cent of desk workers in Indians feel the urgency to master the advanced technology, according to a report on Tuesday.
Slack’s new Workforce Index showed that AI adoption is on the rise in India with 61 per cent of Indian desk workers using AI in their jobs and 80 per cent excited about the prospect of AI replacing some tasks.
India’s progress in AI adoption underscores the growing prioritisation of AI among its executives and reflects a heightened sense of urgency among business leaders to unlock its transformative potential.
The report, based on a survey of 1,029 desk workers in India, showed that although 94 per cent workers are keen to skill up on AI, 40 per cent have spent less than five hours total learning how to use the technology.
About 30 per cent of global workers said they’ve had no AI training at all, including no self-directed learning or experimentation. “India’s workforce is leading the way in AI adoption, with 61 per cent of desk workers already integrating AI into their roles. This enthusiasm highlights the transformative potential of AI and its alignment with leadership priorities for innovation and upskilling,” said Rahul Sharma, Vice President – Sales, Salesforce India.
“However, to fully harness AI’s benefits, there remains uncertainty that agents can address. By introducing AI agents with clearly defined roles and guidelines, businesses can reduce worker anxiety and foster seamless integration into daily tasks,” Sharma said.
While Indian workers are leading the way on AI adoption globally, the research points to some uncertainty and discomfort around AI usage. About 21 per cent of Indian workers report feeling uncomfortable admitting AI use to their managers for fear they might be seen as incompetent, lazy, or cheating. To realise the benefits of AI, employers need to encourage employees to use the technology and equip them with the training and guidance needed to work successfully in this new era, the report suggested.
–IANS
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The Supreme Court has upheld the Madras High Court’s directive for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, rejecting the Tamil Nadu government’s appeal against the order. The tragedy claimed the lives of 67 people in Kallakurichi district after they consumed illicit liquor laced with methanol, raising serious concerns about the enforcement of anti-spurious liquor laws in the state.
A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Pardiwala and Mahadevan dismissed the appeal, stating that the CBI is the appropriate agency to handle the investigation due to its inter-state implications, involving Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and other regions. The court emphasized that there is no obstacle to the continuation of the CBI’s investigation, reinforcing the Madras High Court’s decision.
The Tamil Nadu government argued that its police had made significant progress in the case, with 24 arrests, the methanol source traced, and key witnesses examined. It also highlighted the appointment of aone-man commission led by Justice (Retd.) B. Gokuldas and the transfer of the case to the CB-CID, which was awaiting toxicology reports before filing a charge sheet.
Despite these arguments, the Supreme Court affirmed the need for an impartial and comprehensive investigation by the CBI, citing public dissatisfaction with past inquiries into similar hooch tragedies. Petitioners from AIADMK, PMK, and BJP had argued that systemic failures and recurring incidents necessitated a central probe to ensure accountability and justice.
The CBI will now take over the investigation from the state police, who have been instructed to transfer all relevant case files and provide full cooperation.
The year 2024 has been historic for the Indian stock market as companies have raised a record capital of over ₹3 lakh crore so far this year through Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Qualified Institutional Placements (QIPs), and Rights Issues, breaking the previous record of raising capital – ₹1.88 lakh crore in 2021.
According to reports, 90 companies have raised or announced fundraising of ₹1.62 lakh crore so far this year, which is 2.2 times more than last year’s ₹49,436 crore.
The amount raised through new issues in 2024 is around ₹70,000 crore, compared to ₹43,300 crore in 2021. So far in 2024, 88 companies have raised ₹1.3 lakh crore through QIPs.
Earlier, 25 companies raised the highest amount ₹80,816 crore, through QIPs in 2020. So far, 20 companies have raised about ₹18,000 crore through rights issues.
Last year, this figure was ₹7,266 crore and in 2022 it was ₹3,884 crore. This figure is also expected to increase in the last two weeks of 2024, as this week, IPOs of companies like DAM Capital Advisors, Ventive Hospitality, Carraro India, Senores Pharmaceuticals, Transrail Lighting, Concord Enviro Systems, Sanathan Textiles, and Mamta Machinery are open.
Experts say that the reason for the large amount of funds raised by the companies is the high economic growth rate, due to which companies are making more capital expenditures for expansion. It also shows the increasing confidence of the investors in the equity market.
The growth rate of the Indian economy was 8.2 per cent in the financial year (FY) 2023-24. According to the Reserve Bank of India, the growth rate is estimated to be 6.6 per cent in the current financial year (FY 2024-25).
–IANS
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Villagers in Kallakurichi have seized a tractor that was allegedly used to steal old iron rods and wooden items from the Thirunavalur temple. What shocked the villagers even more was that the tractor, which was reportedly transporting the temple’s property, had been hired by officials from the HR&CE department to sell the items as scrap.
This disturbing incident occurred at the Thirunavalur Sri Bhaktajaneswarar Temple, which had recently held its Kumbabhishekam on 21 November near Ulundurpet in Kallakurichi district. During renovations at the temple, iron and wooden items were stored in a room. However, on the morning of 16 December 2024, HR&CE department officials allegedly loaded these items onto a tractor in the early morning. They took them to an old scrap iron shop near Pu Mambakkam in the Ulundurpettai area.
The items were being loaded onto the tractor for the second time, which raised suspicions. Upon learning of this, Kallakurichi residents gathered around noon, seized the tractor, and questioned where the items were being taken. What the HR&CE officials revealed was a shock to the villagers. The officers stated that they had decided to sell the materials as scrap to fund the salaries of executive officers at another temple. When the villagers demanded to know whose orders they were following, the officers blamed higher officials but failed to provide any concrete answers.
Explaining the issue, one villager remarked, “The recent events at the Sri Bhaktajaneswarar Shiva Temple in Thirunavalur union, Kallakurichi district, an example how poorly the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments is operating in Tamil Nadu. Only recently the Kumbabhishekam ceremony completed and after the Kumbabhishekam, they took all the old items such as iron and wooden items from the temple, loaded them onto a tractor, and transported them to an iron (scrap) shop in Ulundurpet. After unloading about 20 tons, they came back again to take more items from the temple. When the villagers confronted them, they asked where the temple property was being taken. The officer responded that the items were being taken to a shop in Ulundurpet. When asked why, she claimed the Executive Officer (EO) ordered it. When the EO was questioned, she evaded and said the Joint Commissioner (JC) had ordered. The villagers then contacted the HR&CE Joint Commissioner via conference call, and he denied the claim, saying, ‘It’s not like that… I will speak in person.’ When asked why the items were taken, the EO woman said they were unloading everything there. The villagers then asked, ‘Why are you unloading them now? Where did you take them?’ She replied that the materials were needed to pay the salaries of workers at the Parikkal temple.”
ஆலய பொருளை, ஆட்டைய போட்ட அறநிலையத்துறை அதிகாரி..!!
A complaint has been filed with the Thirunavalur police against the Executive Officer of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, his assistant Lokesh, and the tractor owner, Ayyappan, for allegedly taking the temple’s old iron and wooden items. The police are currently investigating the matter.
Kerala is in the news, this time for dumping medical waste in Tamil Nadu villages. Large volumes of biomedical, food, and plastic waste from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) and Credence Private Hospital have been dumped across multiple villages in Kodaganallur and Palavoor in Tamil Nadu. The waste includes hazardous materials like used syringes, PPE kits, and medical records containing sensitive personal information, raising serious health and environmental concerns.
Major healthcare data breach: Sensitive personal and treatment information of cancer patients admitted to Kerala government-run Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cancer Centre was leaked. Hundreds of cancer patients' records, including their names, addresses, signatures, diseases, diet… https://t.co/themozeA21pic.twitter.com/BEa5hYBruC
The dumping, which has been ongoing for months, usually occurs at night, making it difficult to identify the perpetrators. Suspected trucks, allegedly carrying loads for a nearby paper mill, are thought to be involved.
Despite repeated complaints from landowners, authorities have failed to take action, leaving the issue unresolved.
Once again, a huge volume of Kerala’s biomedical, food, and plastic waste, mainly from Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cancer Centre and Credence Private Hospital, has been dumped in water body and patta lands in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli villages. A land supervisor said his… pic.twitter.com/NsINZyBUhD
Sensitive medical records, including patient details and treatment plans, were found among the waste, pointing to improper disposal practices and potential data breaches. The dumping has also contaminated local water sources, affecting livestock and causing health problems for residents.
The matter has been brought to the attention of the Suthamalli police and Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister’s Special Cell, but no case has been filed yet. CCTV cameras at strategic locations could potentially identify the trucks involved, but no action has been taken. The District Collector has instructed local officials and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to investigate and take legal action, with an FIR expected soon. Residents and activists are calling for the waste to be returned to Kerala and for stronger measures to prevent further illegal waste transportation.
But this is not the first time Kerala has dumped its waste in Tamil Nadu. While recent media reports have highlighted this issue, several incidents have gone unreported, further raising concerns over illegal waste disposal across the state borders. These recurrent incidents not only jeopardize the environment but also strain local governance and law enforcement systems.
Meat Waste Dumping
One such incident occurred in 2022, when meat waste from a slaughterhouse in Kerala was found discarded in an open area in Thanakkarkulam panchayat, located in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district. The truck, which was transporting over 100 jute bags of waste, was fined Rs 10,000 by local authorities after residents raised alarm about the foul smell emanating from the truck. The truck driver claimed that the owner of a slaughterhouse near Ernakulam had paid him Rs 40,000 to dump the waste in Tamil Nadu, with an additional Rs 20,000 paid for bribing officials at checkposts. Despite the severity of the situation, no arrests were made, and the authorities only imposed a fine without pursuing further legal action.
This is not the first time Kerala has dumped its waste in Tamil Nadu. @xpresstn and other media outlets reported some such incidents, but 100s went unreported. Some past incidents: Meat waste from a Kerala slaughterhouse was discarded in open place in Thanakkarkulam panchayat of… https://t.co/themozeA21pic.twitter.com/wSJUJhGfZ4
This incident followed a similar one in which a truck was intercepted by municipal officials in Kuzhithurai, Kanniyakumari district. However, the authorities failed to send the truck back to Kerala, allowing it to continue its journey to Tirunelveli. Once there, the waste was unloaded at the site, and the police refrained from registering a case, claiming that the issue should have been handled by the Kanniyakumari police.
In another instance from 2018, a truck carrying meat waste was caught dumping it illegally along the Karnataka border. Local residents near Baleguli in Irde village alerted authorities when they noticed the truck, and it was subsequently stopped. This prompted protests from locals who warned the drivers not to repeat the illegal dumping. Despite several complaints from locals, no action had been taken by the relevant authorities until the incident was exposed by the public.
This persistent issue has not been limited to just one or two cases. Activists have raised alarms about the regular illegal disposal of various types of waste, including bio-medical, plastic, and electronic waste, into water bodies along the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. In 2015, local residents in Kanyakumari district held a protest demanding immediate action from the district administration, as waste from slaughterhouses and meat shops in Kerala was being dumped in nearby water bodies, posing a significant public health risk.
In 2023, unidentified individuals dumped nearly 10 tonnes of plastic, medical, and domestic waste from Kerala near Nanguneri town panchayat in Tamil Nadu on 7 October 2023 night. The waste, including plastic goods, medicines, and household items, was found in several locations, blocking roads and farmland. Villagers had to burn some of it to clear the road. Authorities suspected the waste originated from Thiruvananthapuram, as identified in medical bills and household articles. Police launched an investigation, analyzing CCTV footage to trace the culprits. A case regarding Kerala’s waste dumping is also pending in the Madras High Court.
On 12 October 2023, Nanguneri police in Tirunelveli registered a case against two individuals for transporting various types of waste from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The truck was seized. On the night of 11 October 2023, a truck transporting poultry waste from Kerala was fined Rs 25,000 by the town panchayat in Kulasekaram, Kanniyakumari district.
1. Nanguneri police in Tirunelveli registered a case against two persons for transporting different waste from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. Truck was seized. 2. A truck which transported poultry waste from Kerala was fined Rs 25,000 by town panchayat in Kulasekaram of… pic.twitter.com/Ky8Eo3Qs9o
Over the years, Kerala has faced increasing scrutiny for dumping biomedical, electronic, and other types of waste in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts. This illegal practice, often conducted in the dead of night, has been reported multiple times, with various waste types, including used syringes, surgical waste, plastic goods, and electronic appliances, found discarded in public spaces, farmland, and water bodies in Tamil Nadu.
In recent incidents, around 10 tonnes of waste from Kerala, including plastic and medical waste, were dumped near Nanguneri town in Tirunelveli. This included materials from hospitals, such as expired drugs and used syringes, which were found in lorries from Kerala. Villagers had to burn part of the waste to clear roads, while authorities removed the rest using earthmovers. Investigations into these incidents revealed that the waste was transported through the Kanniyakumari district, with police and local authorities passing the blame between each other. Despite fines imposed on transporters, no concrete action has been taken against those burning the waste or the individuals involved in the illegal dumping.
A similar case occurred in Naranapuram village in Tenkasi, where biomedical and electronic waste from Kerala was dumped for the second time in two weeks. This time, authorities were slow to respond, and locals had to intervene. The waste included used televisions, home appliances, and poultry waste. The Tenkasi police, despite raising the issue with their counterparts in Kanniyakumari, have yet to take substantial action to prevent such incidents.
Authorities have imposed fines on some violators in the past, such as in 2018 when 29 trucks carrying medical and biomedical waste from Kerala were caught at Puliyarai check-post, but waste disposal practices continue unchecked. Local activists and villagers are demanding stronger enforcement of waste management laws and more accountability from authorities on both sides of the border.
Electronic Waste Dumping
In 2023, in Tenkasi district, residents of Karumbanur, Kalathimadam, and Anaiyappapuram were seen to face serious health issues due to the illegal burning of electronic waste (e-waste) from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The e-waste, which includes motherboards, used cellphones, batteries, wires, capacitors, and vehicle parts, was being burned to extract valuable metals like copper. This process, occurring mainly at Karumbanur, caused breathing difficulties and sleepless nights for local residents, especially affecting children and the elderly.
Despite multiple complaints to local authorities, including the police and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), no concrete action was taken. The police, citing a lack of proper complaints with technical details, did not take any measures against the perpetrators. On a recent inspection following a complaint from a local farmer, the police found the burning of e-waste but were unable to apprehend the culprits.
Burning Kerala & TN e-waste like wire, batteries& home appliances in open is another biggest threat to Tenkasi. Residents of Karumbanur, Kalathimadam& Anaiyappapuram r most affected facing health issues. Need intervention of @CMOTamilnadu@CMOKerala@CollrTenkasi@tnpoliceofflpic.twitter.com/4q4pNl7bGn
Electronic wastes mainly from Kerala were burnt in the wee hours on Sunday in the same place (Karumbanur, Tenkasi DT). Motherboards of various devices, used cellphones, batteries, wires, capacitors, serial bulbs, vehicle and biomedical (pharmacy) wastes were seen among other… pic.twitter.com/x8xUh9ON3H
In May 2023, a truck carrying electronic and plastic waste from Kerala was discovered near Kalathimadam village on Alangulam-Ambasamudram Road. The driver claimed to have transported the waste from Kerala to Alangulam via the Kanniyakumari district check post without proper documentation.
This truck with Kerala's electronic & plastic waste was found near Kalathimadam village in Alangulam- Ambasamudram Road. Driver said he brought waste from Kerala to Alangulam via Kanniyakumari district check post without documents @kumari_police@TenkasiPolicepic.twitter.com/4TZvpt4AWV
Tenkasi Police (Alangulam) took prompt action the following day, with support from the health department. They discovered that the truck also contained medical waste. The truck was seized, and two individuals were arrested.
This truck with Kerala's electronic & plastic waste was found near Kalathimadam village in Alangulam- Ambasamudram Road. Driver said he brought waste from Kerala to Alangulam via Kanniyakumari district check post without documents @kumari_police@TenkasiPolicepic.twitter.com/4TZvpt4AWV
In August 2023, Alangulam police registered a case against four individuals and arrested two for transporting medical, plastic, and bakery waste, including hospital beds, from Kerala and burning it near Sivalarkulam village. The suspects, identified as Karthik Murugan, Ganesan, Senthil Murugan, and Rajalingam, were charged under various sections of the IPC and the Epidemic Diseases Act. Health inspector A Rajanainar, upon receiving a tip-off, investigated the site and found a truck loaded with medical waste, bakery items, and plastic. The suspects threatened the inspectors, but they were apprehended with the help of the public. The truck, linked to APV Traders in Kottayam, Kerala, was seized. In a related incident, Alangulam police previously arrested a truck driver from Thiruvananthapuram for transporting medical and electronic waste from Kerala to Tamil Nadu and arrested a local resident for attempting to dump the waste.
Alangulam police registered a case against four persons & arrested one for burning Kerala's medical, plastic, bakery wastes & hospital beds near Alangulam, under Sec 294(b), 353, 506 (2), 269, 270 of IPC & 3 of Epidemic Diseases Act. One truck was seized. The waste transporter is… pic.twitter.com/ZZVcx0BoER
In November 2023, a petition was filed after a truck carrying medical waste was released by a lower court, affecting the investigation. The High Court canceled the lower court’s order, supporting the government’s stance. Tamil Nadu informed that legal advice was sought to take action against those involved under the Gangster Detention Act. The court acknowledged the government’s efforts and suggested a legal amendment to tackle medical waste dumping more effectively.
In December 2023, Puliyarai police in Tenkasi district intercepted a vehicle transporting meat waste from Kerala to Tamil Nadu at a check post and promptly sent it back.
Puliyarai police in Tenkasi district stopped a vehicle, which transported meat waste from Kerala to Tamil Nadu, at check post and sent it back pic.twitter.com/hasWIPiUnn
If you thought, it was only Tamil Nadu that was bearing the brunt of Kerala’s illegal dumping, there’s news. Around 2018, Kerala started illegally dumping medical and other wastes in border towns of Karnataka too. Here are a few recorded instances of illegal dumping by Kerala.
In 2018, five individuals, including three from Kerala, were arrested for illegally dumping meat waste in Vittal, Karnataka. They reportedly charged slaughterhouses in Kerala todispose of waste in Karnataka, bypassing Kerala’s strict regulations and fines. The public caught the violators red-handed with a truckload of waste, prompting police action. A goods tempo and a car used for transport were seized. The accused face charges under IPC Sections 269, 270, 277, and 278 for endangering public health and the environment. Sources indicated that lorry owners were paid up to ₹400 per sack, with medium lorries transporting 200-300 sacks per trip.
In 2020, two individuals were arrestedfor attempting to dump 15 sacks of plastic waste in Kodagu’s reserve forest area. Past reports indicated medical waste was dumped in Kodagu forests by vehicles from Kerala.
Six trucks carrying biomedical and plastic waste were intercepted at the Bandipur Moolehole checkpost. The waste included toxic materials and animal carcasses.
Nanjangud police caught two individuals from Malappuram dumping biomedical waste on the outskirts of the town. Vacant lands in Nanjangud’s industrial area were used as dumping sites by trucks from Kerala.
On 30 January 2023, two individuals were arrestedfor attempting to dump 15 sacks of plastic waste in a reserve forest near the Makutta checkpost on the Kerala-Karnataka border. The waste, transported in a truck from Kerala, was intercepted by alert forest rangers. The driver and cleaner, both natives of Andhra Pradesh, were booked under the Wildlife Protection Act and remanded to judicial custody.
Over the years, trucks from Kerala have been illegally transporting and dumping solid waste, including biomedical, animal, and plastic waste, in Karnataka, causing environmental and health concerns. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) raised the issue with its Kerala counterpart, but violations persist. Notable incidents include the seizure of six trucks near the Mulehole check post in Gundlupet, Chamarajanagar, based on a tip-off, leading to FIRs against seven individuals.
Activists and officials warn that unchecked waste dumping threatens wildlife in Bandipur-Nagarahole and BRT tiger reserves and pollutes border areas. Despite earlier efforts to alert local authorities and forest directors, the trucks continued to cross from Kerala’s Wayanad region without proper checks.
In May 2024, CCTV cameras installed by Manjanady gram panchayat captured a Kerala-registered car (KL 14 AB 3823) dumping garbage on vacant land near Batyadka, Karnataka, on the day of installation. The area, located near the Kerala-Karnataka border, has raised suspicions that the waste is transported from Kerala. Local residents had previously complained about foul smells from garbage dumped near their homes, prompting the installation of cameras. The footage shows the offenders stopping their cars, dumping the waste, and speeding off. In response, the Panchayat Development Officer filed a complaint with Konaje police to address the illegal dumping and its environmental impact.
Kerala’s biomedical waste management crisis has reached a critical point of irresponsibility. With just one operational biomedical waste treatment plant in Palakkad and chronic delays in establishing another in Brahmapuram, the state has repeatedly demonstrated a callous disregard for proper waste management. These are not mere administrative challenges, but deliberate negligence that comes at a devastating cost to neighboring Tamil Nadu’s environment and public health.
Bureaucratic inefficiencies or infrastructural limitations cannot excuse the recurring pattern of illegal waste dumping. Each truckload of medical waste, each discarded syringe, and each contaminated water source represents a direct assault on the ecological and health safety of border communities. Will Kerala continue to hide behind bureaucratic ineptitude while systematically exporting its waste management failures to neighbouring states?
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Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman, who had previously clashed with actor-turned-politician Vijay over comments made during Vijay’s debut speech for his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), where Vijay seemingly merged Dravidianism with Tamil nationalism—a point Seeman disagreed with—has now fully aligned himself with the DMK and its Dravidian ideology over the fabricated reports of music maestro Ilaiyaraaja not allowed inside the garba gruha of the Srivilliputtur Andal temple.
Despite Ilaiyaraja clarifying that he was neither disrespected nor obstructed from entering the temple, Seeman took a Dravidianist approach, turning the issue into a public debate.
Ön 17 December 2024, NTK chief Seeman via his X official account stated, “The Srivilliputtur Jeeyar, who insulted the Lord of Music, Andal’s son, Mr. Ilaiyaraja, should publicly apologize! It is strongly condemned that Mr. Ilaiyaraja, who went to worship at the Andal temple in Srivilliputtur, was expelled from the hall in front of the sanctum and insulted. The act of the Srivilliputtur Jeeyar disrespecting Mr. Ilaiyaraja, who went to honor our Tamil community ancestor, the Andal Perumati, is a heinous act that humiliates the self-respect of the entire Tamil people.”
“Ethnic Tamils will never accept or allow this. No one has the right to stop the worship of Ilaiyaraja, the son of Andal, who is revered by Tamils for his unparalleled music. Andal, believed to have lived in the seventh century, is an ancestor of the Tamils. The Thiruppa she sang and the Nachiyar Thirumozhi are in Tamil. No one has the right to prevent Tamils from reciting in Tamil at his place of worship or from worshipping as Tamils,” he added, instigating anger and drawing others into the row.
“Just as former President Ram Nath Kovind was not allowed near the sanctum sanctorum of the Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha, the fact that the great musician Mr. Ilaiyaraja was not allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Srivilliputtur Temple is an unacceptable and cruel tradition. Apart from the connection between Mr. Ilaiyaraja and the great Tamil king Konerimai Kondan Kulasekara Pandiyan, who built the Andal temple, what is the connection between the Jeeyars who claim that Mr. Ilaiyaraja should not enter the sanctum sanctorum and the Andal temple? Even in this century of scientific development, the doctrine of Varna, which promotes discrimination based on birth, is a vile ideology that goes against humanity. The ancestors of the Tamil people have fought against this on this land. Our ancestors, Vallalar, Vaikunthar, and Sivavakkiyar, who led religious revolutions, opposed Varna and advocated for equality along with spirituality. Such injustices occurring in such a land are a great shame for the entire community,” he further asserted.
“Under the rule of the DMK, which claims to promote equality, social justice, and equal rights, inequality and ongoing atrocities are taking place in the temples controlled by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. It is shameful that Chief Minister Stalin, who boasts about Periyar leading the Temple entry protest in Vaikom a hundred years ago, cannot even enter the hall near the sanctum sanctorum of Mr. Ilaiyaraja during his own rule. The DMK, which shamelessly supported the Srivilliputtur Jeeyar, who committed atrocities against Mr. Vairamuthu for writing an article about Andal, whose side will it take today? Will it stand with Mr. Ilaiyaraja? Or will it stand with the Srivilliputtur Jeeyar?” he added, taking a jibe at the DMK.
“If the DMK leader, who seeks redress by worshipping the feet of the jeeyars, does not feel any moral outrage against the disrespect meted out to Mr. Ilaiyaraja, is there any other disgrace like it? It is a great shame for the Tamil Nadu government’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to say that Mr. Ilaiyaraja was expelled from the Andal Temple according to tradition and custom. Who created such tradition and custom? What is the difference between the BJP saying it is an Agama rule and the DMK saying it is a tradition and custom? Agama rule, tradition, and custom are all a conspiracy to expel Tamils. The Andal Temple belongs to all Tamils, and those who are asking Mr. Ilaiyaraja to leave have nothing to do with the Andal Temple. The Lord himself would not want to prevent Mr. Ilaiyaraja, who lives as music, from entering the sanctum sanctorum,” he further said.
“Therefore, the entire Tamil people are of the opinion that Srivilliputtur Jeeyar, who made the great Tamil artistic icon and lord of music Mr. Ilaiyaraja, who won the love and respect of the Tamil people, leave the hall near the sanctum, should openly apologize. Therefore, Srivilliputtur Jeeyar and others who insulted Mr. Ilaiyaraja should express their regret.”
இசை இறைவன், ஆண்டாளின் மகன் ஐயா இளையராஜா அவர்களை அவமதித்த திருவில்லிபுத்தூர் ஜீயர் வெளிப்படையாக மன்னிப்புக் கோர வேண்டும்!
திருவில்லிபுத்தூர் ஆண்டாள் கோயிலுக்குள் வழிபாடு செய்ய சென்ற ஐயா இளையராஜா அவர்களைக் கருவறைக்கு முன்பிருந்த மண்டபத்திலிருந்து வெளியேற்றி அவமதித்திருப்பது கடும்… pic.twitter.com/CQvk3aZT2R
Contrary to NTK chief Seeman, who completely buttressed the DMK’s narrative and urged the Srivilliputtur Jeeyar to apologize, on 16 December itself, the renowned musician and Rajya Sabha member Ilaiyaraaja dismissed the allegations that he was removed from the Srivilliputhur Andal Temple. He called the claims false and a violation of his self-respect. His statement came in response to rumors that he had been removed from the temple’s Artha Mandapam.
Addressing the allegations over his recent temple visit, Ilaiyaraaja remarked, “Certain individuals are circulating false rumours about me. I do not compromise on self-respect at any time or place, and I never will. They have spread fabricated stories as though they occurred. Fans and the public should not believe these rumors.”
என்னை மையமாக வைத்து சிலர் பொய்யான வதந்திகளைப் பரப்பி வருகிறார்கள். நான் எந்த நேரத்திலும், எந்த இடத்திலும் என்னுடைய சுய மரியாதையை விட்டுக் கொடுப்பவன் அல்ல, விட்டுக்கொடுக்கவும் இல்லை. நடக்காத செய்தியை நடந்ததாகப் பரப்புகின்றார்கள். இந்த வதந்திகளை ரசிகர்களும், மக்களும் நம்ப வேண்டாம்.
Right from the beginning of the day, the Dravidian media and Dravidianists on social media were relentlessly amplifying news involving music Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, sparking widespread discussion. Critics alleged that this is a typical strategy employed by the DMK to deflect significant criticism to other important issues and hoodwink the public. It turned out that the rumours were fabricated and allegedly intended to divert public attention away from issues that reflect poorly on the ruling DMK’s administration.
Let’s examine how the Dravidianist media peddled lies in the name of reporting “news.”
Sun News
The worst propaganda was peddled by the ‘Sun News’, owned by the DMK first family, which took its storytelling to another level by shamelessly promoting a narrative to paint Hindus, especially Brahmins and the seers, in a negative light. This extreme step represented the height of propaganda, aligning with the Dravidian ideology to ridicule Hindu customs and paint caste discrimination. They repeatedly claimed that Ilaiyaraaja was asked to leave the temple garba gruha (sanctum sanctorum) when he hadn’t even entered it.
#BREAKING | ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர் ஆண்டாள் கோயில் அர்த்த மண்டபத்தில் இருந்து இசையமைப்பாளர் இளையராஜா வெளியேற்றப்பட்டாரா? நடந்தது என்ன?
Puthiya Thalaimurai also followed the lead of the “parent” Dravidianist media and claimed that Ilaiyaraja was “denied” entry into the garbagruha. Despite the video showing that the maestro had not even stepped in, they had already started building the narrative that when he “entered”, he was asked to leave!
இசைஞானி இளையராஜாவுக்கு ஆண்டாள் கோயில் கருவறையில் அனுமதி மறுக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.
ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர் ஆண்டாள் கோயில் கருவறைக்குள் இளையராஜா சென்றபோது, வரவேற்பில் விதிமீறல்கள் இருப்பதாக வெளியே செல்லும்படி கூறிய ஜீயர்கள், பக்தர்கள்; பின் கருவறையில் இருந்து வெளியே வந்து சாமி தரிசனம் செய்தார் இளையராஜா#Ilaiyaraja | #Srivilliputhur | #AndalTemplepic.twitter.com/hQyaRTnzQ4
News7 kept it very simple and straightforward and peddled the same anti-Hindu and anti-Brahmin propaganda that he was denied entry – it did not mention where exactly. So, if people who were not aware of the news could possibly assume that he was denied entry into the temple itself!
The harsh reality of the pressure, even on opposing ideological politicians, to join the Dravidianists’ relentless spread of falsehoods about Ilaiyaraaja’s visit to the Srivilliputhur Andal Temple highlights a deliberate attempt to distract from real issues and shift attention away from the shortcomings of the ruling DMK. This has become the unfortunate fate of Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. Since the issue, the Dravidianist media outlets like Sun News, Puthiya Thalaimurai, News 18 Tamil Nadu, and News7 have not only misrepresented the truth but have also furthered an agenda of division, painting Hindu customs and Brahmins in a negative light.
This manipulation is a glaring example of how the media can be weaponized to serve political interests rather than report truthfully. Ilaiyaraaja’s dignified response in defending his honour and self-respect is a sharp rebuttal to the baseless accusations spread by these outlets, exposing their intentions to mislead the public.
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The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has announced the cancellation of the Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) Grade-II exam, which was originally scheduled for 14 December 2024.
According to a statement from the In-charge Controller of Examination, John Lewis, the cancellation was due to technical issues at certain exam centers that prevented some candidates from completing the exam. A re-examination will now be held next year on 22 February 2025, using the OMR method. Admit cards for the re-exam will be available on the TNPSC website for candidates who were originally registered for the exam.
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) issued a notification on 13.09.2024 for direct appointments to the post of Assistant Public Prosecutor, Level-II, in the Criminal Prosecution Department. A computer-based examination for this selection was held on 14.12.2024 in the afternoon for 4,186 candidates across 15 district centers. However, due to technical issues at some exam centers, some candidates were unable to complete the examination. Following this, a request was received from the affected candidates for a re-examination.
After reviewing the request, the Selection Board has agreed to it and decided to cancel the computer-based examination held on 14.12.2024 for the aforementioned post. A re-examination will be conducted on 22.02.2025 in OMR mode. Admit cards for the re-examination will be issued only to those candidates who were initially admitted to the examination. These will be made available on the Selection Board’s website at a later date.
This has caused significant distress among the aspirants, who had already been waiting for the exams and are now facing a further delay of another year, with the exam format reverting to the older method of marking answers on OMR sheets. Many candidates are questioning why the Selection Board is attempting to conduct online exams if it is not adequately equipped, leading to unnecessary delays and frustration for the aspirants.
This controversy is not new for the TNPSC, as the board has faced several allegations and criticisms in the past, both regarding the timely release of results and the smooth conduct of examinations.
For example, last year on 25 February 2023, there was commotion in several districts due to a delay in the conducting of Group II and Group II-A exam. The delay had occurred due to the incorrect distribution of question papers and answer sheets by the examiners. According to reports, after the examiners realized that the question paper and answer sheets were incorrectly distributed, the candidates were instructed to write the exam on an already written answer sheet, which was written by the person who received it during the previous incorrect distribution.
Furthermore, when the candidatess inquired about the incorrect register number on the OMR sheets, the invigilators misled them by claiming that those were dummy numbers.
TNPSC officials took back the question papers and answer sheets from the examinees and sent them out of the hall after realizing that the question papers and OMR sheets had been distributed incorrectly. Some of the examinees who had phones outside the exam hall used them to look up answers to questions they remembered from the incorrectly distributed paper.
After outrage from candidates hitting the headlines, TNPSC admitted to the confusion and said that it had instructed the respective districts to give the candidates extra time due to the delay in starting the exam. However, not all candidates in all centre’s were given the extra time, say many candidates.
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Islamist terrorist and founder of Al Ummah, SA Basha, a name synonymous with terrorism and fear in Tamil Nadu during the 1980s and 1990s, is finally dead. But for many like me, the scars he left behind remain vivid. Like many families in Tamil Nadu, my family too bears the brunt of his reign of terror. I write this not just to recount history but to pay tribute to every RSS and BJP karyakarta of those decades who, against insurmountable odds, stood firm for the cause of Hindutva.
A Personal Tragedy That Shaped My Resolve
My late grandfather, Thirukkovilur Sundaram, was a lean man weighing barely 50 kilograms, but his courage was immense. As Vice President of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, he stood tall against the tide of extremism. On June 11, 1983, after a public meeting in RS Puram, Coimbatore, his car was ambushed by Basha himself.
One by one, my grandfather and other BJP leaders, including Jana Krishnamurthy, TR Gopalan, and Narayan Rao, were pulled out and brutally attacked with machetes.
“Where’s Sundaram?”, Basha asked. He then pulled out my grandfather cut his body, hand, legs and thigh and ran away. He survived but spent six agonizing months in the hospital. He never fully recovered and lived with the aftermath of the attack until his passing in 2006.
The irony? Basha, who carried out this gruesome act in plain sight, was acquitted. He went on to orchestrate other heinous attacks, including the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blasts and would later enjoy a lavish life in prison, thanks to Dravidianist politicians.
But it wasn’t just my grandfather who was a victim of Basha’s terror.
The Reign Of Terror
Following the murderous attack on former BJP National President Jana Krishnamurthi and my grandfather, Syed Ahmad Basha tried to assassinate Ramagopalan at the Madurai Railway Station in 1987. He was attacked with a billhook that cut off a portion of his skull. He survived following a long intensive treatment and had stayed in coma for more than a month.
The severely injured portion of his head was covered with a plate attached to a mesh. This arrangement had been done on his head because that portion of the head was covered with bare skin. If one were to press hard with a finger, it would get punctured.
This was the price he had to pay for trying to stop the en masse conversion of Meenakshipuram villagers to Islam in 1981.
Since then, the saffron cap that he adorned became a symbol of valour, survival and sacrifice that Ramagopalan made in his life.
Here’s a timeline of the other Islamist attacks perpetrated by Basha and his blood baying terror group that gripped Tamil Nadu at that time.
1983: The Ambush at R.S. Puram
The attack on BJP leaders in Coimbatore marked the beginning of a dark chapter. Jana Krishnamurthy miraculously survived, but the scars—both physical and emotional—remained.
1993: Chennai RSS Office Bombing
On August 8, a bomb exploded at the RSS office in Chetpet, Chennai, killing 11 people. Basha and 15 others were arrested under TADA. The national media largely ignored this atrocity, and a few even rationalized it as a response to the Babri Masjid demolition. The 16 Al-Umma men who had been detained under TADA were released on bail in January 1997 when the DMK Government prosecutor did not oppose their bail.
1997: Prelude to Coimbatore Blasts
Clashes erupted in Coimbatore in November 1997 after Muslim fanatics killed a police constable. Despite intelligence warnings and evidence of Al-Ummah’s activities, the DMK government restrained the police from taking stringent action. Explosives were seized in various raids, but no decisive action was taken.
1998: The Coimbatore Blasts
This devastating series of 12 bomb attacks unfolded across 11 different locations within a 12-kilometer radius. Investigations revealed that these bombings were part of a larger conspiracy with the sinister aim of targeting L.K. Advani, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, during his election meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. on that ill-fated day. Fortunately, Advani’s flight was delayed, and he narrowly escaped the horrors of that day.
2003: Death Threat To PM Modi
SA Basha, openly threatened to kill the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi if he visited Coimbatore in July 2003. This threat was made by Basha and eight others while speaking to journalists in the Coimbatore court premises after their conviction and life imprisonment in a case related to the murder of a Hindu Munnani leader.
The Cries Of Coimbatore Blast Victims
The series of devastating blasts that shattered the tranquility of Coimbatore on that fateful day cast a long and dark shadow. This tragic event inflicted a profound trauma that the entire city has been grappling with ever since. It’s worth noting that these horrific blasts occurred during the tenure of the DMK government.
While the memories of the blasts may have faded in the minds of some politicians, the wounds are far from healed for the survivors and their families.
Rangaraj, a survivor of the 1998 Coimbatore blasts, continues to endure unrelenting pain from shrapnel lodged in his body, compounded by the financial strain of ongoing medical care. Caught in the devastating explosions, he sustained severe injuries, requiring six grueling surgeries over 25 years. Despite his suffering, he shields his family from his struggles, sparing them further anguish. Financial hardship prevents him from accessing essential scans and treatment, leaving him to battle constant discomfort. Reflecting on the tragedy, he recalls the eerie absence of locals in the Muslim-dominated area during the blasts, hinting they might have been forewarned.
Like Rangaraj, there are many who continue to bear the brunt of that dreadful day.
One victim’s tragedy was especially heartbreaking. On that ill-fated day, he left home to distribute invitations for his daughter’s wedding, only to return with severe burn injuries. His aging mother and sister, who depended on him in many ways, were left devastated by the incident.
I remember one grieving father share his anguish with me questioning, “What is the purpose of the government if it cannot deliver justice? We’ve witnessed the suffering of the victims, but I’ve never seen such brutality in my life. We Hindus are the majority—have we ever committed such acts? And yet, no one cares for the victims; everyone just moves on, afraid that more violence could follow.”
The Role Of Dravidian Politics In Normalizing A Terrorist
The DMK assumed power in Tamil Nadu in May 1996. Soon after, incidents indicating the rise of Islamic militancy began to surface. In 1996, a prison warder, G. Bhoopalan, was killed in Coimbatore Central Prison by Muslim militants using a petrol bomb. This marked the beginning of a series of attacks linked to fundamentalist groups.
During the AIADMK regime in 1993, after the RSS office bombing in Chennai, which killed 14 people, Al-Umma faced a significant crackdown. However, under the DMK’s rule, this stance softened. In January 1997, 16 individuals associated with Al-Umma and detained under TADA for their involvement in the RSS office bombing were released on bail. The DMK government prosecutor did not oppose their release.
In March 1997, Tamil Nadu police commandos seized bomb-making materials, including gelatin sticks and detonators, from a house in Chennai. Two men linked to Al-Umma, one of whom was the brother of its leader SA Basha, were arrested. Despite such warnings, there was no substantial crackdown on Al-Umma.
A series of bomb blasts shook Tamil Nadu in late 1997. On December 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, explosions occurred on three express trains, killing nine people. These attacks were attributed to the Islamic Defence Force of Kerala. On January 10, 1998, a blast occurred under the Anna flyover in Chennai, claimed by the Islamic Defence Force. Despite these attacks, the DMK government refrained from banning Al-Umma or taking decisive action.
The situation worsened in November 1997, when communal clashes erupted in Coimbatore. On November 29, Al-Umma cadres stabbed a police constable, Selvaraj, to death in retaliation for the detention of an Al-Umma member earlier that day. Selvaraj’s murder incited further violence, resulting in the deaths of 18 Muslims. Police strikes followed, as officers accused the DMK government of obstructing their attempts to take action against Al-Umma. This marked a significant turning point, with the DMK’s inaction creating conditions for the eventual Coimbatore blasts.
The Coimbatore blasts exposed the DMK government’s failure to act despite intelligence warnings. A subsequent investigation revealed that Al-Umma had stockpiled explosives in Coimbatore, which could have been intercepted earlier. The Gokulakrishnan Commission, set up to investigate the blasts, criticized the police for their failure to search the Babulal Complex, where explosives were stored.
It was only after the blasts that the DMK government banned Al-Umma and arrested its leader, SA Basha, along with other members. However, this delayed action drew widespread criticism, including from pro-left publications like Frontline, which stated that the DMK had failed to distinguish between innocent Muslims and extremist leaders.
Despite the crackdown on Al-Umma post-blasts, the DMK’s association with extremist-linked groups persisted. Reports from 2006 highlighted how the DMK government provided special privileges to Abdul Nasser Mahdani, a key accused in the Coimbatore blasts, during his imprisonment. The government-funded Ayurvedic massages and sought to lift restrictions on his movement within the prison. The Indian Express, on 24 July 2006, reported in an article titled: “DMK turns the jail into a spa for Coimbatore terror accused.”
Additionally, in May 2006, the DMK dropped cases against 12 Muslim fundamentalists connected to Al-Umma and other militant organizations. This decision was widely criticized as appeasement aimed at securing electoral support from radical groups like the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TNMMK), an ally of both the DMK and Congress.
The DMK’s leniency towards groups like Al-Umma and TNMMK appears to have been driven by political considerations. In the 2004 Lok Sabha and 2006 Assembly elections, the DMK formed alliances with these groups to consolidate minority votes. Critics argued that this approach compromised national security and emboldened extremist organizations.
Publications like India Today and Outlook highlighted the DMK’s failure to act against militancy, citing electoral compulsions. Reports indicated that explosives recovered post-blasts amounted to nearly 1,000 kg, underscoring the scale of the threat ignored by the DMK government.
The Congress, too, played its part by forming alliances with groups linked to extremism, prioritizing political gains over national security.
While the DMK Government eventually banned Al-Umma and took action post-blasts, the Congress Party persisted in defending the terrorists and, remarkably, accused the RSS of orchestrating the blasts.
Congress President Sitaram Kesri shockingly accused the RSS. Despite legal action from the RSS, Kesri persisted in the allegation. Despite the perpetrators’ links to Al-Umma and TNMMK, the Congress formed alliances with TNMMK in 2004 and 2006, overlooking its role in the tragic incident. Subsequently, TNMMK established the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) in February 2009.
The Indian Express reported on 25 July 2006: “While the DMK government in Tamil Nadu is facilitating Ayurvedic massages for Abdul Nasser Mahdani, an accused in the 1998 Coimbatore blast, the Left and the Congress in Kerala have been figuratively prostrating at his feet.”
Subsequently, the DMK-Congress Government released Coimbatore blast convicts prematurely in 2009.
Even today, after numerous years, the Congress has not offered an apology for its unfounded and audacious accusation that the RSS was responsible for the 1998 Coimbatore blasts.
My blood boils today whenever Dravidian politicians demanded the release of Terrorist Baasha on humanitarian grounds who cut my grandpa into pieces.
In an attempt to woo minority voters in the Erode East by-election, DMK Minority Affairs Minister Gingee Masthan promises to take action to free the Coimbatore bomb blast convicts.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Vanni Arasu, who is a close confidante of the party’s head and MP Thol. Thirumavalavan, met SA Basha, the Al Ummah terrorist convicted for the 1999 Coimbatore Bomb Blast.
Prior to this, Jawahirullah, an MLA who heads another Muslim fundamentalist party Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) visited SA Basha.
On the other hand, DMK-affiliated Dravidianist media like Sun News have been humanizing terrorists ignoring the plight of the blast victim. They conducted an interview featuring three terrorists implicated in the 1998 Coimbatore blast case. In the interview, these terror perpetrators openly expressed admiration for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and the DMK government.
In the video, one Mohammed Ibrahim expresses happiness that he has come out of prison after 25 years of distress and will now be able to live with his family.
Another terrorist Shahul Hameed said “After the DMK government came, our release was brought to the attention of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. He only took cognizance of our requests and helped in our release. He repeatedly assured to release us and was of support throughout. Only after the regime change and the DMK government came to power, we got hope of our release.”
In 2009, nine convicts were released, drawing criticism from various quarters, including Cho Ramasamy, who equated it to the government patronizing a terrorist organization. The Supreme Court rejected bail for the remaining 16 convicts in October 2023, deeming it a grave crime of high order. However, the DMK government, after receiving a report from the Justice Aadhinadhan Committee (more like an eyewash commission) in 2021 has been making efforts to release the prisoners.
Every BJP and Sangh karyakarta of the 1980s and 1990s in Tamil Nadu deserves our deepest respect. Their courage laid the foundation for the party’s growth in a state hostile to Hindutva ideals. My grandfather’s story is but one of many. Their sacrifices remind us why vote-bank politics must end for India to move forward.
Today, as the BJP gains ground in Tamil Nadu, let us not forget the blood and tears that paved the way. My pranaams to all those who stood up to terror and injustice, ensuring that the Hindutva flame continues to burn bright in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
Dr. SG Suryah is the State Secretary of BJP Tamil Nadu.
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Even as the dust is yet to settle on Trichy SP Varun Kumar’s remarks labeling Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) as a separatist party, NTK party chief Seeman has, in line with the officer’s comments, praised SA Basha, the mastermind behind the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts. Basha, who passed away on 16 December 2024, due to age-related health issues, was the founder of the extremist group Al-Umma and was responsible for orchestrating the blasts that killed 58 people and injured 231 others.
On 17 December 2024, NTK party chief Seeman took to his official X account to describe the leader of the extremist group Al-Ummah SA Basha, as a “father figure”, expressing deep hurt over the news. In a mere attempt in minority appeasement, stating, “The death of father Basha is a great tragedy! Has the DMK government thought that the death of Muslim prisoners is their freedom? @CMOTamilnadu @mkstalin. I was deeply shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the death of father, Basha, who had been imprisoned for more than a quarter of a century in prison. I express my condolences to the family, relatives, and Muslim relatives who are grieving the loss of father and share in his grief.”
“The powerless situation of not being able to rescue my father despite knowing that injustice was being done gives me great mental pain and guilt. The fact that father Basha, who was striving to obtain the great right of freedom, was completely separated from us and achieved freedom is a great tragedy that cannot be described in words. Being with him in Coimbatore jail and talking to him when he was released from prison are etched in my heart.”
“He who makes a promise and then looks for excuses not to fulfill it is a cruel person,” says the venerable great prophet, Mohammed. The DMK, which promised to release the Muslim prisoners, formed the Adinathan Committee upon coming to power and withdrew, considering its duty to be over, is a terrible act of deceit that deceived the Muslim relatives who had trusted it. While prisoners Abuthakeer and Abdul Hakeem died during the DMK regime without enjoying their freedom, it is a great tragedy that father Basha has also died now following them. It is a great tragedy that his longing and desire, which he wanted to be freed at least in his last days and live in peace with his family, went unfulfilled until the end.”
“Isn’t it treasonous that the DMK, which came to power by winning the votes of all Muslim people, is delaying their long-standing demand for the release of Muslim prisoners without making any progress, and is obstructing the efforts of the prisoners who want to be released by conducting legal battles in the Supreme Court? Has the DMK government decided to release Muslim prisoners only through death? How much longer will you, gentlemen, get away with citing the Governor as an excuse? Can you shirk your responsibility and duty and play cheap politics on the release of Muslim prisoners? Shame!”
“It is an unacceptable tyranny to play political games and seek political gain by flouting the promise made to release the Islamic prisoners. Let the death of father Basha be the last. No prisoner should ever die without being released. Let the Islamic prisoners who have spent their entire lives behind bars spend their remaining time with their families and relatives. Our final tribute to father basha will be continuing the work to ensure the speedy release of Islamic prisoners. My tearful salutation to father Basha!”
அப்பா பாட்சாவின் மரணம் கொடுந்துயரம்! இசுலாமிய சிறைவாசிகளின் மரணம்தான் அவர்களுக்கான விடுதலையென நினைத்துவிட்டதா திமுக அரசு?@CMOTamilnadu@mkstalin
கால் நூற்றாண்டுகளுக்கு மேலாகச் சிறைக்கொட்டடியில் வாடிய சிறைவாசி அப்பா பாட்சா அவர்களது மரணச்செய்தியறிந்து பெரும் அதிர்ச்சியும்,… pic.twitter.com/6pcJ12y4at
S.A. Basha, the mastermind behind the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts, who founded the extremist organization Al-Umma, was responsible for planning the devastating blasts that killed 58 people and injured 231 others.
The Coimbatore serial bomb blasts of 1998 (DMK was in power in then) were a grievous incident in which 58 people were killed and over 200 individuals sustained serious injuries. This devastating series of 12 bomb attacks unfolded across 11 different locations within a 12-kilometer radius. Many of the survivors continue to grapple with the long-lasting effects of the shrapnel and other injuries caused by the devastating explosions.
The chief orchestrator behind these tragic events was identified as S. A. Basha, the founder of Al Ummah, an Islamic fundamentalist group. Investigations revealed that these bombings were part of a larger conspiracy with the sinister aim of targeting L.K. Advani, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, during his election meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. on that ill-fated day. Fortunately, Advani’s flight was delayed, and he narrowly escaped the horrors of that day.
It is noteworthy to mention that one of the suspects, Mohammed Dhalka, who was detained in connection to the 2022 Coimbatore car blast terror incident is the nephew of SA Basha. Nawab Khan, Basha’s brother, was also sentenced to one-life term and 27 years of rigorous imprisonment in the 1998 bomb blast case.
The president of the banned fundamentalist outfit Al-Umma, SA Basha, openly threatened to kill the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi if he visited Coimbatore in July 2003. This threat was made by Basha and eight others while speaking to journalists in the Coimbatore court premises after their conviction and life imprisonment in a case related to the murder of a Hindu Munnani leader. It is noteworthy that Al-Umma and its leader were allowed to operate openly by the DMK Government until the Coimbatore blasts on 14 February 1998.
Magazines like Outlook and Frontline also acknowledged the role of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TNMMK) in these blasts. In March 1998, Frontline reported, “Within hours of the blasts, the Tamil Nadu Government banned Al-Umma and the Jihad Committee. Al-Umma founder-president S.A. Basha and 12 other members of the organization were arrested in Chennai; explosive materials and weapons were seized from his house in Triplicane, Chennai.”
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