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BJP TN Leader Ashvathaman Exposes VCK Leader Vanni Arasu’s Criminal Record

By
The Commune
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BJP TN Leader Ashvathaman's Wife Files Complaint With NCW Against VCK Leader Vanni Arasu For Personal Attacks

In a heated exchange, Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary Ashvathaman has responded strongly to personal attacks from VCK State Deputy General Secretary Vanni Arasu. In retaliation, Ashvathaman highlighted serious allegations against Arasu, including his involvement in a murder case, forgery, and attempted murder, by releasing a list of relevant crime facts.

In retaliation, Ashvathaman highlighted serious allegations against Arasu, including his involvement in a murder case, forgery, and attempted murder, by sharing details of court cases on his official X account on 22 October 2024. He stated, “VCK Vanni Arasu(@VanniKural) is a convicted murderer, who also got life imprisonment for murder. Two cases of attempted murder, one case of passport fraud, a total of five cases! Didn’t @thirumaofficial say there should be at least five heinous crime cases against cheetahs?! Vanniarasu is the true cadres who follows that!”

He furnished additional details of conviction and pending cases below:

Case Where Vanni Arasu Has Been Convicted

Serial Case No. 155/1998, heard by the Principal Sessions Court in Sriviliputhur, the applicable IPC sections were 148 and 302. The punishment imposed was life imprisonment, and the conviction date was 14 July 1999. An appeal was filed, with the details being Criminal Appeal (MD) No. 679/1999, dated 10 January 2008.

Cases Pending

  1. Serial FIR No. 1, registered as 1459/2008 at K.10, Koyambedu PS, Chennai, corresponds to Case No. sc 159/2019 VII, which was heard by the Additional Sessions Judge in Chennai. The applicable IPC sections for this case are 147, 148, 351, and sections r/w 3(1) of 324, 307 TNPPDL. Charges were framed on 25 March 2019, and no appeal has been filed.
  2. Serial FIR No. 2, registered as 1460/2008 at K.10, Koyambedu PS, Chennai, corresponds to Case No. sc 158/2019 VII, also heard by the Additional Sessions Judge in Chennai. The applicable IPC sections for this case are 147, 148, 149, 341, 324, 353, 332, 307, 506(ii), along with Section 120(b) of the Passport Act, r/w, 10(A) iv of the Unlawful Activities (Preventive) Act 1967. Charges were framed on 25 March 2019, and no appeal has been filed.
  3. Serial FIR No. 4, registered as 4/2007 at Chennai City Q Br, C.I.D Police, corresponds to Case No. cc 396/2012 23, heard by the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Saidapet. The applicable IPC sections for this case are 143, 188, 448, and sections r/w 3 of TNPPDL, 341, 147, 436 Act. Charges were framed on 10 August 2016, and no appeal has been filed.
  4. Serial FIR No. 4, registered as 1128/2017 at Beerkan Karanai, Police Station Thomas Mount Chennai, corresponds to Case No. PRC 23/2018, heard by the J.M Court in Thambar. No charges were framed, and no appeal has been filed.

The dispute began when Vanni Arasu suggested that his party chief, Thirumavalavan, should be considered for the Chief Minister position. In response, Union Minister L. Murugan criticized Thirumavalavan, claiming he had no right to discuss social justice due to his previous legal actions against reservation benefits. Ashvathaman defended Murugan, questioning Thirumavalavan’s qualifications, which led to Arasu resorting to personal attacks.

In this regard, Durga Ashvathaman, the wife of Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary A Ashvathaman, filed a complaint to the National Commission for Women, expressed her distress over the personal attacks, emphasizing the impact on her family’s reputation and calling for action against VCK’s Deputy General Secretary Vanni Arasu for spreading defamatory statements. She noted the challenges faced by her husband due to his political involvement and criticized VCK for resorting to personal attacks rather than engaging in ideological debates.

In her letter to the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, Durga Ashvathaman requested action against Vanni Arasu, the State Deputy General Secretary of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Party (VCK), citing offenses such as personal attacks and the spreading of derogatory statements that undermine women’s dignity.

She stated, “l am a teacher. My husband Shri. A. Ashvathaman is an Advocate practising at Madras High Court and the State Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Tamil Nadu. He has many political enemies because of his active participation in politics. But no one makes a personal attack on him. There is a party in Tamil Nadu called the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) means Freedom Cheetahs Party. As the name of the party itself has a wild animal’s name, their activities are also like that. Since that party does not have an individual ideology, it resorts to ‘individual personal attacks’ on others.”

“Vanniarasu, who is the Deputy General Secretary of VCK, is deliberately spreading baseless and false allegations against me and my family. He says I have filed a Dowry Harassment Complaint against my husband and he says many other unprintable slanders. He continues to spread these disgusting false slanders on television and social media. He also posts our wedding photos on social media and posts defamatory comments on them. It is causing me great grief. These people, who do not dare to oppose my husband ideologically, are doing the dirty and despicable job of spreading slander about the family and the women in the house. My husband and I got married in 2014. We have two children. For the couples getting married in our circle, the elders would show me and my husband as an example and wish them to live like us. But, The above-mentioned person is spreading slander against us for his cheap political gains.” She added.

“My husband is doing many good things for people. He has done various public works like the Cuddalore Pondicherry Railway track, Ulundurpet Railway Stoppage, he fought and got justice for the worker who was killed in Cuddalore Cashew Mill by DMK’s Ex-MP TRV Ramesh, So he continues to work despite various threats. He filed a complaint against VCK’s leader Thirumavalavan in the Manu Smriti issue and an FIR has been filed based on his complaint. Last month in Bhuvanagiri, near Chidambaram, an innocent family who had come from Karaikal for the treatment of their daughter’s stroke, was victimized by VCK’s goondas. My husband continued to raise his voice for them and he made Tamilnadu police to file an FIR against VCK goondas. The family came to meet my husband and thanked him. Now, unable to tolerate this matter, the above-mentioned Vanniarasu has again started spreading his slanders (https://x.com/Vannikural/status/1848401051449495958). | came to know that there are many cases against the above-mentioned person including murder attempt murder passport forgery. So, the above-mentioned person Vanniarasu is a habitual offender,” she added.

“If such despicable acts are allowed, it will become their routine to try to stop the people in public life, by those cheap tricks like ‘focusing on the women of their family and spreading slander’. Therefore, | request you to take appropriate action against that person, Vanniarasu, for spreading unnecessary and false derogatory defamations against me and my family,” she finally said.

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Funeral Prayer For Hamas Terrorist Yahya Sinwar Held In Kerala

By
The Commune
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A “Mayyath Niskaram” (funeral prayer) for Yahya Sinwar, the slain leader of Hamas, was organized in Kerala

A “Mayyath Niskaram” (funeral prayer) for Yahya Sinwar, the slain leader of Hamas, was organized in Kerala, raising eyebrows and igniting discussions about the complex socio-political landscape of the region. Sinwar was killed four days ago by Israeli forces, following his role as the architect behind the October 7th attack that claimed the lives of 1,200 innocent civilians in Israel. The gruesome nature of the attack, which involved horrific violence and has left a lasting impact on global consciousness, had many hoping for the end of Sinwar’s influence.

The organization of a funeral prayer for a terrorist has shocked many, particularly as no such prayers seem to have been held even in Islamic nations, underscoring a unique divergence in perspectives within the Indian state. Kerala, often touted as a beacon of literacy, education, and secularism, has once again found itself at the centre of a contentious debate on faith and political allegiance.

The prayer was organized by the Student’s Islamic Organization (SIO), a youth wing of Jamat-e-Islami, a group known for its Islamic activism. Photos of the event were widely circulated on social media, featuring Samad Kunnakav, assistant secretary of Jamat-e-Islami Kerala, leading the prayer. The gathering not only serves as a remembrance of Sinwar but also raises questions about the ideological affiliations and sentiments that exist within certain segments of Kerala’s population.

The SIO’s Facebook page for Ernakulam publicized the event, depicting Sinwar as a “valiant warrior” and showcasing images of the gathering, which drew participation from local youths and students. This incident is particularly alarming given Kochi’s history of similar rituals, including a funeral prayer for Ajmal Kasab, one of the perpetrators of the November 26, 2008, Mumbai attacks, and for Afsal Guru, a convict in the Parliament attack.

The Mayyath Niskaram for Sinwar has prompted widespread criticism, with many users expressing fears that Kerala is becoming a breeding ground for terrorism. Sinwar’s previous statements about expanding Hamas influence into Bharat have only intensified these sentiments, revealing a troubling animosity among some towards the nation.

Yahya Sinwar was killed in Gaza last week, with Israeli forces releasing images of his body, notably depicting him attempting to throw an object at a drone during the incident. The exact location of the SIO’s Mayyath Niskaram remains unclear, but a poster indicated that a Shahadath March and condolence prayer were organized at Heera Complex in Aluva, near Kochi. Notably, a senior officer from the Kerala Police’s Special Branch stated that he was unaware of the event.

This incident follows a recent protest in Kochi against Sinwar’s killing, with authorities now investigating the demonstration and identifying participants through photographs. There is a rising concern that Kerala has become a safe haven for Islamic terrorists, a trend largely attributed to the region’s vote bank politics. Both the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) are seen as competing to appease extremist factions, often sidelining nationalist issues.

In October 2023, in Malappuram former Hamas chief Khaled Mashal addressed attendees via live video. The event was conducted by Solidarity Youth Movement (Kerala Youth Wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind) who invited Khaled Mashal, a founding member of Hamas, to speak at the rally where anti-Hindu slogans were raised. During a roughly seven-minute video address, Mashal urged attendees to provide unconditional support to Hamas and reportedly made anti-Hindu remarks. Visuals from the rally showed banners with slogans such as “Uproot Bulldozer Hindutva & Apartheid Zionism.” Following his speech, the audience responded with applause and chants calling for the uprooting of “Zionism” through intifada.

Such events reveal a disturbing trend: the alarming support for terrorist organizations like Hamas eclipses the urgent need for peace and coexistence, raising serious concerns about the future of communal harmony in the region.

Additionally, we must recollect the unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly in March 2006 calling for the release of Abdul Nasar Madani, linked to the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blasts. Both fronts have united in their opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Farm Laws, suggesting a contradictory approach towards nationalistic sentiments.

The decision to honor a terrorist like Sinwar in Kerala reflects a stark reality: for some in Kerala, the commitment to faith and the ambition to propagate Islamic principles appear to overshadow the universally recognized tenets of humanity and peace.

Kerala has seen a disturbing trend in recent years as we know a notable number of its Muslim youth have joined IS and other terrorist organizations. Such affiliations point to the extent of radicalization within the Muslim community. In the wake of this event, many are left questioning how such displays of support for terrorists like Sinwar will impact communal relations in Kerala and what this signifies for the broader discourse on terrorism and violence in contemporary society.

The willingness to celebrate a terrorist underscores a deeper affinity for extremism that cannot be ignored, necessitating a critical examination of the ideologies that are taking root in a region once celebrated for its secular values.

(With inputs from Organiser)

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Samsung India Challenges Trade Union’s Use Of Company Name In Madras HC, Reports ₹100 Million Loss Due To Strike

By
The Commune
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Samsung India Challenges Trade Union's Use Of Company Name In Madras HC, Reports ₹100 Million Loss Due To Strike

Samsung India Electronics Private Ltd. (SIEPL) reported a $100 million loss following a 38-day strike by a section of its workers at the Sriperumbudur factory, demanding the registration of their trade union, Samsung India Thozhilalar Sangam, affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). The strike, which recently ended, has drawn attention to the ongoing legal battle over the use of the company’s name by the newly formed union.

On 22 October 2024, the case was brought before Justice R.N. Manjula of the Madras High Court, as the trade union’s general secretary, P. Ellan, had filed a writ petition seeking registration. The crux of the legal dispute revolves around the use of the word “Samsung” in the trade union’s name, which the company opposes.

Representing SIEPL, senior counsel G. Rajagopalan argued that allowing the union to use the name “Samsung” would harm the company’s reputation. “We are an international company. We don’t want any political interference in the running of our factory in Sriperumbudur,” he emphasized, referring to the trade union’s affiliation with CITU, which is connected to the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Mr Rajagopalan further contended that including the word “Samsung” could mislead the public and was unnecessary for the union’s identity. He also highlighted the recent strike’s financial impact on the company and asked for time to submit a detailed counter affidavit by 11 November 2024 explaining why the union should be prohibited from using the company’s name.

On the other hand, advocate N.G.R. Prasad, representing the trade union, maintained that this was not a trademark issue, as the union was not competing with Samsung in business. He cited the Trade Unions Act of 1926, which does not explicitly forbid using a company’s name in a union’s title. Prasad also pointed out that trade unions affiliated with Samsung’s operations in South Korea have used the company’s name without objections.

Prasad further argued that the case was only between the union and the Registrar of Trade Unions and that SIEPL should not be a party to the proceedings. He urged the court to direct the Registrar to register the union if it fulfilled all legal requirements. However, Rajagopalan insisted that SIEPL had a direct interest in the matter and should be allowed to file a detailed counter-affidavit explaining the company’s stance.

SIEPL’s Objections And Political Affiliation Concerns

During the hearing, Justice Manjula asked whether the company’s opposition was solely based on the union’s political affiliation. Mr. Rajagopalan responded that while the political association with CITU was a factor, the main issue was the use of the company’s name. He reiterated that SIEPL did not want its brand associated with the union, regardless of its political ties.

The counsel emphasized that while the union had the right to be registered, it did not have the right to use the name “Samsung” in its title. He also referred to the strike, which he claimed had caused significant financial harm to the company. Despite the workers returning to their jobs, the senior counsel stressed the need for careful handling of the case due to the sensitivity of the matter.

After hearing both sides, Justice Manjula allowed SIEPL to be added as a party to the case and granted the company time until 11 November 2024 to file its counter affidavit. The Registrar of Trade Unions, represented by Special Government Pleader A. Selvendran, also requested additional time to review the registration application, citing SIEPL’s objections.

The court will continue to review the petition and the arguments presented by both parties before making a final decision on whether the trade union can be officially registered with the name “Samsung India Thozhilalar Sangam.”

Background

The strike, which lasted for over a month, was driven by workers demanding the registration of their trade union, which they believe is essential for their rights and representation within the company. The union’s affiliation with CITU adds a political dimension to the dispute, raising concerns from SIEPL about potential interference in its operations.

The case has garnered attention, highlighting the intersection of workers’ rights, corporate branding, and political affiliations in India’s industrial sector. As both sides await further developments, the outcome could set an important precedent for trade union activities involving multinational corporations in the country.

(With inputs from The Hindu)

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Terror Acts In Kashmir Diminish Hopes Of Any Normalcy In India-Pakistan Relations: Former Envoy Bisaria

By
The Commune
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Terror Acts In Kashmir Diminish Hopes Of Any Normalcy In India-Pakistan Relations: Former Envoy Bisaria

India’s former High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria believes that continuing terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-backed terror outfits will keep on pushing back any hopes of normalcy in India-Pakistan relations.

Seven unarmed, innocent civilians were gunned down by terrorists in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, with the Pakistan-based terror outfit ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF) claiming responsibility for the terror attack. The attack came only a few days after External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) during which he had also exchanged customary greetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. “That has been the story of India-Pakistan relations. It’s very cyclical. Each time there’s a forward movement, there’s an accident or an act of terrorism. Terrorism is the dealbreaker in this relationship,” Bisaria told IANS on the sidelines of the NDTV World Summit in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The former envoy reckoned that there was “some positivity” attached to EAM’s visit to Pakistan, even though no formal bilateral discussions were held during EAM Jaishankar’s 24-hour stay in Islamabad, last week. “India was sending a strong signal that we want to stabilise the relationship. There were no formal bilateral conversations, but at least there was nothing that was very negative that happened. The hope was that there would be some forward positive movement, but the acts of terrorism that we continue to see in Srinagar always pose a significant threat to this relationship,” he stated. The seasoned diplomat agreed that Pakistan is going through a huge crisis, particularly facing a huge security challenge on its Western border. “It is also facing a huge economic challenge. It’s gone into its 24th IMF programme and the long term economic issues have not been settled. It’s also going through a political churn because the civil-military relationship is also not very good. Imran Khan, the former prime minister, continues to be in jail. So, Pakistan itself is in a fairly unstable phase at this point of time,” Bisaria told IANS in an interview.

Having taken over as India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan in 2017, Bisaria was asked by Islamabad to leave the country in August 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370. He had then served as High Commissioners of India to Canada from March 2020 to June 2022. Ambassador Sanjay Kumar Verma, who took over from Bisaria, was on October 14 withdrawn by New Delhi, along with “other targeted diplomats and officials”, from Canada following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s continued “hostility” towards India. For Bisaria, the massive deterioration in India-Canada ties comes as a “surprise”. “The Canada relationship, and the turn it took, comes as a surprise.

This is an irony because it’s actually a very strong relationship between India and a Western power, both democracies. The geopolitical interests are aligned because Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy considers India a critical partner. So I think this is a story of a mishandled and mismanaged security problem that could have been handled much better,” he stated.

The former Ambassador opined that the entire issue should have been handled at the security, and not political level. “When it is handled at the political level, then the decibels become higher and these extreme steps like expelling diplomats have been taken. I hope that better sense prevails and this relationship also stabilises a bit,” he mentioned.

–IANS

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India Is Multiplying Renewable Energy Investment: Harjeet Singh

By
The Commune
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India Is Multiplying Renewable Energy Investment: Harjeet Singh

Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, acknowledged scaled-up investments in the renewable energy sector on Tuesday and said that they were contributing to the country’s efforts in combating climate change.

Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the NDTV World Summit, Singh emphasised on the important conversations held around climate change and the responsibilities of developed countries. “We had some really good conversations, particularly regarding the role of developed countries, which have not yet fulfilled their responsibilities in reducing emissions, moving away from fossil fuels, and providing financing to developing countries,” he said. Singh also shed light on India’s leadership role in addressing these issues. “We discussed India’s leadership in reducing emissions, expanding renewable energy, and simultaneously dealing with the impact of climate change,” he said.

He praised the summit as a valuable platform for discussing critical global issues and showcasing India’s efforts to collaborate with both developing and developed nations to tackle the ongoing crises. Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in addressing climate change, Singh said, “We heard from the Prime Minister about the positive steps we are taking to address global challenges, especially in regard to climate change. India has demonstrated leadership, whether in the growth of electric vehicles, the use of LEDs, or the increase in energy efficiency. We are significantly boosting our investments in renewable energy, which has greatly contributed to addressing climate change.”

However, Singh acknowledged the remaining challenges and called for more support from developed countries. “We would like to see more finance and technology coming in from developed countries to help us achieve the transition to renewable energy and away from fossil fuels more quickly. While there is much positivity, there are still local challenges, particularly in protecting our environment, and that is where we need to focus our efforts,” he added.

–IANS

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Accurate Land Records Backbone Of Socio-Economic Planning, Public Service Delivery: Minister Pemmasani

By
The Commune
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Accurate land records are more than administrative tools; they are the backbone of socio-economic planning, public service delivery, and conflict resolution.

Accurate land records are more than administrative tools; they are the backbone of socio-economic planning, public service delivery, and conflict resolution, Rural Development Minister Pemmasani said.

The Department of Land Resources has sanctioned a pilot programme to create land records in about 130 cities in all the states and UTs within one year. This will be followed by more phases to complete the exercise in about 4,900 urban local bodies within five years.

Minister of State for Rural Development, Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, said that as rural land records evolved, urban land management must also rise to meet the demand for rapid urbanisation, and land administration must keep pace to ensure equitable development.

Over the past decade, India has made significant strides with initiatives such as the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP).

“India has digitised records of rights (RoR) across over 6.25 lakh villages, launched the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN), also known as Bhu-Aadhaar, and created a seamless integration between revenue and registration systems,” the minister informed.

Addressing the two-day workshop on modern technologies in survey-resurvey for urban land records in the national capital, the minister emphasised that the country stands at a pivotal moment in urban governance where technology meets opportunity.

“More than tools like drones, aircraft-based survey and satellite imagery offer unparalleled precisions and provide ortho-rectified images (ORI) and geo-referenced maps that are accurate and true to the earth’s surface,” he told the gathering.

The minister informed that integrating these images into GIS platforms will turn data into actionable insights enabling urban planning, real estate development infrastructure management, and even disaster preparedness with unprecedented precisions.

–IANS

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Chandrababu Naidu Plans To Develop Andhra Pradesh As Global Hub Of Drone Technology

By
The Commune
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Chandrababu Naidu Plans To Develop Andhra Pradesh As Global Hub Of Drone Technology

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said that he plans to develop the state as a global hub of drone technology and extensively use drones in various sectors. He announced that the state government will unveil a drone policy and establish a dedicated drone manufacturing and testing park. He also announced the allocation of 300 acres of land at Orvakallu in Kurnool district for the development of a drone hub.

“Amaravati will become the drone capital of India, and Andhra Pradesh will lead the way in drone technology,” he declared. The initiative aims to boost drone manufacturing, innovation, and research in the state. Inaugurating two-day Amaravati Drone Summit 2024 here, he announced a plan to train 35,000 drone pilots in Andhra Pradesh, positioning the state as a human resource hub for drone technology. This, he explained, will create a skilled workforce capable of meeting the growing demand for drones in various industries. He also promised that within 15 days, the state government would unveil a comprehensive drone policy to establish a business-friendly environment for drone manufacturers and innovators.

Chandrababu Naidu invited all stakeholders to use Andhra Pradesh as a pilot testing field for their drone projects. These pilot projects will help test the effectiveness of drones and, if successful, will be scaled up statewide and replicated across the country. Emphasising the importance of data, he termed it a real wealth that will be important for the country and industry. He highlighted that 400 million terabytes of data are being generated daily, and when combined with AI, this data has the potential to drive innovations that were previously unimaginable.

The Chief Minister spoke about the rise of the knowledge economy, driven by AI, machine learning, and cloud technologies. He stressed the importance of creating a robust ecosystem for knowledge-based industries in Andhra Pradesh. “With the flexibility of operations and accuracy of data, drones, AI, and other emerging technologies will help Andhra Pradesh, and India as a whole, lead the world in the knowledge economy, said the Chief Minister, who believes that drone technology will be a game changer in the future. The Chief Minister mentioned that drones were used for relief operations during the recent floods in Vijayawada. The state administration supplied food and water to people in flood-hit areas by using drones. Stating that drones have a key role in agriculture and infrastructure, Naidu said they can also be used for traffic management in cities. “Some countries are using drones in wars. We are using them for development,” he said. The Chief Minister told the summit that the state government wants to extensively use drones for maintaining law and order.

“Using the drones, we can keep a tab on the movements of rowdy sheeters and check their activities,” he said. He recalled that when he became chief minister for the first time in 1995, he strived for the development of the information technology sector in Hyderabad. HITEC City was built in the PPP model. Minister for Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu, who was also present at the summit, noted that over the past few years, India emerged as a global leader in drone technology driven by innovation, policy reforms, and strong industry partnerships. He mentioned that 132 remote pilot training organisations are empowering a new generation of drone operators. “So far 17,600 remote pilot certificates have been issued and 81 different kinds of drone models have been typed certified,” he said.

The minister said the government banned the import of drones as it wants to encourage startups to come up in the drone sector. “We want people of this country to manufacture the drones. We want young and bright minds to come up with new types of drones that offer indigenous solutions,” he said. Rammohan Naidu said the drone rules of 2021 were liberalised to increase drone operation and encourage more R&D and investment. Stating that 26,500 drones have been registered across the country, he said the potential is huge as the country needs to register one lakh drones.

He noted that through the Drone Didi programme, 30,000 women are being trained as drone pilots for use in agriculture. The Amaravati Drone Summit 2024 has brought key stakeholders from across the drone industry, including government officials, technology innovators, and industry leaders, to explore the future of drones in India. The two-day event highlights advancements in drone technology, industry trends, and opportunities for collaboration.

–IANS

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Protect Hosur Airport Project, Panneerselvam Urges Tamil Nadu Govt

By
The Commune
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Protect Hosur Airport Project, Panneerselvam Urges Tamil Nadu Govt

Expelled AIADMK leader and former chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) on Tuesday urged the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to protect the proposed Hosur International Airport project. In a statement, Panneerselvam said there were reports that the Karnataka government was proposing the construction of another airport at the neighbouring Somanahalli in Karnataka state.

The former Chief Minister noted that the distance between the proposed Hosur and Somanahalli airports would be only 47 km, whereas there must be a minimum distance of 50 km between the two international airports. It is important to note that Hosur is within Tamil Nadu, while Somanahalli is geographically located in Karnataka. In his statement, the Panneerselvam also raised concerns about whether Karnataka’s proposal to construct the Somanahalli airport was intended to diminish the significance of the Hosur project, as the Hosur airport, once commissioned, could undermine the importance of Bengaluru International Airport. He said that it was the duty of the Tamil Nadu government to safeguard the Hosur airport project.

It may be recalled that on several issues, including the sharing of Cauvery waters, the construction of the Mekedatu dam by Karnataka across the Cauvery River, and various border issues, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have often been at loggerheads, sometimes leading to physical clashes between the people of the two states. OPS, a powerful leader of the Thevar community, is attempting to realign and regroup all the estranged leaders of the AIADMK back into the party fold.

K. R. Krishnan, a social activist based in Madurai, while speaking to IANS, said, “O. Panneerselvam is from the powerful Thevar community, which can dictate politics in many southern districts of Tamil Nadu. These districts were once strongholds of the AIADMK. However, after OPS was expelled from the AIADMK, the party lost its clout in the region. He is now trying to make a strong comeback into the AIADMK, which is battered and bruised after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.” He added that OPS is trying to raise issues that are emotionally tied to Tamil society, and this could become a major issue in the coming days.

–IANS

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New Himalayan Snake Species Named After ‘Titanic’ Actor Leonardo DiCaprio

By
The Commune
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New Himalayan Snake Species Named After 'Titanic' Actor Leonardo DiCaprio

A new genus and snake species discovered in the Himalayas has been named after the Academy Award-winning Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio—the “Titanic” star who is also a passionate environmentalist.

The newly described snake species, ‘Anguiculus dicaprioi’ is distributed from central Nepal to Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, whereas ‘Anguiculus rappii’ is distributed in Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, officials said.

These snakes are mostly active from late May to August and are not found at other times of the year, nothing is known about the biology of the two species, and ‘Anguiculus rappii’ is rare and has not been recorded in the last couple of decades.

Virender Bhardwaj first found the snake in his backyard in the western Himalayas during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

He posted its pictures on social media, leading to a sensation – and a three-year-long investigation coupled with laborious research – to identify the snake which resembled ‘Liopeltis rappi’, a species known to be distributed in the eastern Himalayas.

However, the population from Himachal Pradesh differed from the true ‘Liopeltis rappi’ found in Sikkim in many aspects like the scales on the head and general colour patterns — which was confirmed by examining specimens from natural history museums across Europe, the US and even India.

Besides, the DNA sequences generated for this snake did not match any genus and the team included DNA and morphological data for other related species from all over Asia.

The complication of the molecular and morphological data suggested that the snake from HP is related to ‘Liopeltis rapper’ but differed in many aspects to be called a new species. Both belong to a new genus that is endemic to the Himalayas region.

Zeeshan A. Mirza of Max Planck Institute for Biology at Tubingen (Germany), Virender K. Bhardwaj and H. T. Lalremsanga of Mizoram University (India), Saunak Pal of Newcastle University (UK), Gernot Vogel of the Society for Southeast Asian Herpetology(Germany), Patrick D. Cambell of the Natural History Museum (UK), and Harshil Patel of the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation (Mumbai, India) authored a research paper.

The research paper was submitted early this year and published recently by Scientific Reports, an international peer-reviewed journal.

DiCaprio has been actively involved in raising awareness about global climate change, increased biodiversity losses, and the impact of pollution on human health, among other related issues.

“The specific epithet ‘dicaprioi’ is a patronym honouring Leonardo DiCaprio, an American actor, film producer, and environmentalist who has been actively involved in creating awareness about global climate change, increased biodiversity loss, and human health issues through pollution,” the report explained.

“The work not only resolved the status of the Himalayan species but also resolved a taxonomic confusion regarding the genera Liopeltis and Gongylosoma that lasted 180 years. The work provides a newly revised classification of these two genera that are distributed across Asia,” said a statement here.

The members of the genus Anguiculus are small and currently known by two species. These snakes are found at elevations above 1500 meters across the Himalayas.

The authors said that the description of a new snake genus and species from Himachal Pradesh highlights the poor herpetofauna documentation of the western Himalayas.

Preliminary field surveys across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand suggest that the region’s biodiversity has been grossly underestimated. Along with Jammu and Kashmir, it remains the least explored region for the herpetofauna biota it hosts.

–IANS

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India-Russia Ties So Strong That PM Modi Would Understand Me Without Translation: Putin

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The Commune
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India-Russia Ties So Strong That PM Modi Would Understand Me Without Translation: Putin

Highlighting the time-tested India-Russia partnership and his friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday emphasised that the bond between the two countries is so strong that PM Modi would understand him without needing translation. Putin made the remark as both leaders sat down for bilateral discussions in Kazan on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit. “Our relationship is so tight that you will understand me without any translation,” said the Russian President, sparking laughter in the room at the Governor’s Palace.

The Russian President recalled PM Modi’s visit to Moscow in July, the “fruitful negotiations” that were held and thanked the Indian Prime Minister for accepting his invite and coming to Kazan for the BRICS summit. “In Kazan we must make a number of important decisions aimed at further improving the activities of the association and strengthening multifaceted cooperation within its framework. And we greatly value our cooperation in this area, I mean that our states stood at the origins of the association’s creation,” he highlighted. Putin stated that Russian-Indian relations are characterised by a ‘Special Privileged Strategic Partnership’ and continue to develop actively.

“Interaction between legislative bodies is strengthening. Our foreign ministers are in constant contact. Trade turnover is in good condition. And the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission is scheduled for November 12 in New Delhi,” he added. India has maintained a steady relationship with Russia even during the current geopolitical crisis amid the ongoing conflict in the region – a fact that Putin acknowledged once again during his meeting with PM Modi on Tuesday. “Major projects are being developed consistently, and we welcome your decision to open the Consulate General of India in Kazan. Expanding India’s diplomatic presence in Russia will contribute to the further development of bilateral relations,” said the Russian President.

In July, during PM Modi’s visit to Russia – his first to the country since 2019 and first to Moscow after 2015 – Putin conferred the Indian PM with the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia’s highest civilian award. On Monday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar had hailed the growing ties between the two countries. “If you look at our history with Russia after Independence, Russia has never done anything to impact our interests negatively. Among the major countries, there are not many about whom you can say this,” Jaishankar said at the NDTV World Summit.

–IANS

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