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NIA Arrests Another Key Hizb-Ut-Tahrir Suspect From Chennai In Terror Recruitment Case

By
The Commune
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Police Arrest Six Men Recruiting For Hizb ut-Tahrir

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Chennai has apprehended another significant suspect in the Tamil Nadu Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) case. Faizul Rahman identified as a Nakib and the State Amir of Hizb-ut-Tahrir for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, becomes the seventh individual arrested in connection with the case. This case pertains to a conspiracy led by Hameed Hussain and others aimed at promoting secessionism through the anti-India ideology.

Rahman was found to be actively collaborating with the other detained individuals to advocate for secessionism and solicit military support from Pakistan for the liberation of Kashmir. The conspiracy’s ultimate goal was to establish a Khilafat by overthrowing the Indian government through violent jihad. Investigations by the NIA revealed that Rahman and his associates utilized various social media platforms to disseminate their propaganda and campaigned against voting, labeling it as ‘un-Islamic/haram’ in line with Hizb-ut-Tahrir beliefs.

The arrested individuals had been propagating the violent ideology of HuT under directives from the organization’s central media office, employing encrypted communication channels to reach their followers. They conducted numerous clandestine meetings to promote HuT’s ideology and executed divisive campaigns throughout Tamil Nadu. The NIA, which took over the investigation from the Chennai City police in July 2024, continues its inquiries.

Earlier, the Chennai Cyber Crime Police detained six individuals under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly recruiting for Hizb ut-Tahrir in Royapettah. Those arrested included Dr. Hameed Hussain, his father Mansoor, his brother Abdul Rahman, and their associates Mohammed Maris, Khader Nawaz Sharif, and Ahmed Ali Umari.

These arrests followed an investigation revealing that the group was using YouTube campaigns to recruit for Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organization banned in several countries. The Chennai Police subsequently submitted all relevant documents to the Tamil Nadu government, leading to the NIA registering a case and expanding the investigation.

On 30 June 2024, the NIA conducted searches at 12 locations across Chennai, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, and Trichy. These raids resulted in the arrests of Abdul Rahman and Mujibur Rahman (also known as Mujibur Rahman Altham Sahib) from Thanjavur district. Authorities seized mobile phones, laptops, SIM cards, memory cards, and documents promoting Hizb ut-Tahrir, Khilafah, and Islamic State ideologies.

The NIA’s ongoing investigation suggests that those arrested had recruited members for the internationally banned organization through their online activities. The case has since been transferred from the Central Crime Branch-Cyber Crime Police to the NIA, which is now managing all related evidence and documentation.

Further inquiries will focus on the financial transactions of the arrested individuals. Officials intend to trace the flow of funds into their bank accounts and identify potential additional beneficiaries.

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Chennai Air Show: AIADMK Files Complaint Against Death Of Five Persons

By
The Commune
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Thirsty Crowds Drank From Fire Engines at Chennai Air Show

AIADMK has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), calling for a full and independent inquiry into the deaths of five people during the Chennai air show. AIADMK’s I S Inbadurai, in a complaint to NHRC chairperson Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, requested a thorough investigation into the deaths of five innocent people and the injuries to many others.

On October 6, Chennai witnessed a spectacular airshow from 11 AM to 1 PM, attended by more than 13 lakh people. While the Greater Chennai Police had earlier stated that 6,500 police officers and 1,500 home guards were deployed for duty, they failed to maintain the crowd, resulting in five deaths. At the same time, over 47 people were admitted to various hospitals. In the complaint, Inbadurai blamed the state government for poor planning and mismanagement in handling the crowd and traffic. He stated that while Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and their family were provided with excellent arrangements, including air-conditioned enclosures, the public faced “severe hardships.”

The complainant also pointed out that the Commission had the power to take notice of such incidents, investigate them, and take necessary action against the erring officials responsible for the five deaths. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), lashed out at Chief Minister MK Stalin, saying that the government and police failed to coordinate the air show, which the Indian Air Force had correctly organised.

The AIADMK leader added: “My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The state government earlier informed that arrangements had been made for transportation and basic facilities. Still, the police force was inadequate to regulate the crowd, and people suffered severe hardships.”

He also noted that such events went off smoothly in other cities where air shows had been held earlier.

–IANS

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Karnataka Congress MLA Nagendra Is ‘Mastermind’ Of Tribal Welfare Scam: ED

By
The Commune
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Karnataka Congress MLA Nagendra Is 'Mastermind' Of Tribal Welfare Scam: ED

The ED claimed on Wednesday that B Nagendra, Congress MLA and former Karnataka Minister for Scheduled Tribal Affairs, has been named as the primary accused and mastermind behind the alleged scam in the Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki ST Development Corporation. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) or charge sheet before the Special Court for MPs/MLAs in Bengaluru concerning the scam.

The federal agency stated that the court has taken cognizance of the PC. “Nagendra allegedly orchestrated the scam with the help of 24 others, including key associates like Satyanarayana Varma, Etakari Satyanarayana, JG Padmanabha, Nageshwar Rao, Nekkenti Nagaraj, and Vijay Kumar Gowda,” the ED said in a statement.

ED initiated the investigation based on FIRs registered by the Karnataka Police and CBI, which uncovered that around Rs 89.62 crore was diverted from the Corporation’s accounts into fake accounts across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and later laundered through shell entities. This scam came to light after the suicide of Chandrasekharan, an employee of the Corporation, in May 2024. ED investigation revealed that under the influence of B. Nagendra, the account of the Corporation was moved to the MG Road Branch without any proper authorisation, where Rs 187 crore, including Rs 43.33 crore from the State Treasury under the Ganga Kalyana Scheme, were deposited without following proper procedures and in violation of government guidelines.

These funds were subsequently siphoned off through multiple shell accounts and converted into cash and bullion. ED investigation also revealed that an amount of Rs 20.19 crore of the diverted funds were used to support a candidate contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Bellary constituency, as well as for the personal expenses of Nagendra. Evidence of these expenditures was discovered during search and seizure operations and corroborated by financial analysis and statements. Details of these election expenses were retrieved from the mobile phone of Vijay Kumar Gowda, who handled the cash on Nagendra’s instructions.

Nagendra, who resigned after the scam came to light, is also accused of obstructing the investigation by destroying mobile phones and instructing others to remain silent. The ED arrested Nagendra and five other key accused during the investigation. The ED stated that further investigation is in progress. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has agreed on the floor of the house that Rs 89.6 crore was misappropriated. The SIT investigating the scam has given a clean chit to former minister Nagendra in the case.

–IANS

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Dravidian Model Deflection? DMK Scion Udhayanidhi Stalin Shares Old Video Of Andhra Sanatanis Stamping His Image Amidst Chennai Air Show Fiasco And Samsung Protests 

By
The Commune
-

In what seems like a typical case of the DMK’s deflection tactics, the party’s scion, Udhayanidhi Stalin, who was recently sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, shared an old video of Hindus of Andhra Pradesh trampling over his photo.

This video went viral when Udhayanidhi made the controversial “eradicate Sanatana Dharma” remarks in September 2023.

The state government is already grappling with the fiasco of the airshow in Chennai going wrong, especially from the administrative front. And with people questioning the efficiency of the DMK government, sharing the video seems to be the perfect way to divert the short attention span of citizens.

On his official X handle, he wrote, “I only feel sorry for the Sanghis who stand so exposed that their political maturity is so much that they think they are insulting me! If the enemies of the philosophy are so angry with us, I see it as proof of how well I am following the Dravidian philosophy. They threw sandals at Thanthai Periyar. They insulted Ambedkar so much. They cheered Anna by whipping him. They made speeches after speeches on Muthamizharignar Kalaignar. There are no harsh words that were not thrown at our club leader. Our principle of equality annoys them. Our success is their frustration of not being able to win over the people by talking about the policy of divisiveness by birth and religion. Let them trample my photo more thoroughly. We cannot clean their dirty brains. At least let their feet be clean. Brothers and Sisters, don’t get angry at this. Avoid reacting to this or getting emotional, let us walk tirelessly on the path of rationality – equality on the path of Thanthai Periyar, Ambedkar, Anna, Muthamizharingar Kalaignar, and our Kazhagam leader!”

The IAF airshow was held on 6 October 2024, and nearly 15 lakh people attended the event. However, several administrative failures left five people dead and scores unwell and admitted to the hospital due to excessive heat and lack of water at the event premises.

It is also noteworthy that a war of words has been ongoing between the Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM and the TN Deputy CM with the former launching a Varahi Declaration amid the Tirupati laddu ghee adulteration issue.

Additionally, the state government seems to be facing a deadlock regarding the protests by Samsung employees, and reports are circulating that the company is considering moving out of the state.

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“Congress Leaders Lock Their Mouths When It Comes To Caste Among Muslims, Makes One Hindu Caste Fight Against Another”: PM Modi Slams Congress’ Divisive Politics

By
The Commune
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PM Modi Slams Congress' Divisive Politics

A day after the BJP’s stellar performance in the Haryana Assembly election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the people of Maharashtra on Wednesday to elect the MahaYuti government again in the upcoming Assembly election to continue the development process.

In his address after laying the foundation stone and inaugurating various projects worth ₹7,600 crore in Maharashtra through video conference, PM Modi said the MahaYuti’s resolve is to make Maharashtra stronger against Maha Vikas Aghadi’s plan to weaken the state.

He congratulated the people of Maharashtra for the launch of a slew of development projects. “Haryana has reflected the country’s mood by blessing us with a third tenure. Congress’ ecosystem of urban Naxalites was busy selling false propaganda to the people. They tried to create a divide between different sections of the society. However, the people saw through their lies. People trust the policies and the governance model of BJP,” PM Modi said.

“It is historic to be elected for the third consecutive time after completing two terms. Congress is creating fear psychosis in the minds of Muslims. Congress feeds on people’s fears. For their vote bank, Congress is communalising the country,” said the Prime Minister.

He further said, “But all the conspiracies of Congress were ruined. The Congress tried to spread lies among the Dalits, but the Dalit community sensed their dangerous intentions. Dalits realised that Congress wanted to divide its vote bank by snatching away their reservation. They have given record support to the BJP. Haryana has reflected the country’s mood by blessing us with a third tenure.”

“It is historic to be elected for the third consecutive time after completing two terms. Congress targeted the youth and tried to provoke them in different ways. But the youth of Haryana, our sisters and daughters, trust only BJP for a bright future. Congress provoked the farmers, but they know who gave them MSP on crops,” said the Prime Minister.

“Congress fights elections on completely communal and casteist lines. Dividing the Hindu society and making it their winning formula is the basis of Congress’ politics. Congress is suppressing the Indian tradition of ‘Sarvajan Hitay – Sarvajan Sukhaye’. It is suppressing the Sanatan tradition,” said the Prime Minister.

He said, “Till today, not even one leader of Congress has spoken about the different castes among our Muslim brothers and sisters. Congress locks its mouth when it comes to the issue of caste among Muslims. But when it comes to the Hindu community, Congress begins the discussion with caste.”.

“The policy of Congress is to make one caste of Hindus fight against another caste. Congress knows that the more Hindus get divided, the more it will benefit. Congress wants to keep the Hindu society on fire by any means so that it can continue to make political gains out of it. Congress applies this formula wherever elections are held in India,” he added.

The Prime Minister said that Congress, a party that ruled the country for decades, is now desperate to regain power. “Every day, they sow seeds of hatred into people’s minds. Soon after Independence, Mahatma Gandhi sensed the vile intentions of Congress, and that’s why he wanted to dismantle the party,” he added.

“Congress has always followed the formula of divide and gain power politics. Congress has repeatedly proved that it is an irresponsible party and it is still creating new narratives to divide the country. Congress keeps bringing formulas to divide society. Congress’ formula is clear, which is to keep scaring Muslims, intimidate them, convert them into vote banks and strengthen the vote bank,” he said.

“Congress was neither interested in development nor legacy. There is development as well as a legacy in our government. We are building a bright future by drawing inspiration from our rich past,” remarked the Prime Minister.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the upgrade of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur. The upgrade entails an investment of ₹7,000 crore.

It will catalyse growth across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, aviation, tourism, logistics, and healthcare, benefiting Nagpur city and the wider Vidarbha region. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the New Integrated Terminal Building at Shirdi Airport worth over ₹645 crore.

It will provide world-class facilities and amenities for religious tourists coming to Shirdi. The proposed terminal’s construction theme is based on the spiritual neem tree of Sai Baba.

In line with his commitment to ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare for all, the Prime Minister launched the operationalization of 10 Government Medical Colleges in Maharashtra: Mumbai, Nashik, Jalna, Amravati, Gadchiroli, Buldhana, Washim, Bhandara, Hingoli, and Ambernath (Thane).

While enhancing the undergraduate and postgraduate seats, the colleges will also offer specialised tertiary healthcare to the people.

In line with his vision to position India as the ‘Skill Capital of the World’, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) in Mumbai. The IIS aims to create an industry-ready workforce with cutting-edge technology and hands-on training. Established under a Public-Private Partnership model, it is a collaboration between the Tata Education and Development Trust and the Government of India.

The institute plans to provide training in highly specialised areas such as mechatronics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, industrial automation, and robotics.

Further, the Prime Minister inaugurated Maharashtra’s Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK). VSK will provide students, teachers, and administrators with access to crucial academic and administrative data through live chatbots such as Smart Upasthiti and Swadhyay, among others.

It will offer high-quality insights to schools to manage resources effectively, strengthen ties between parents and the state, and deliver responsive support. It will also supply curated instructional resources to enhance teaching practices and student learning.

–IANS

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BJP TN Plans Legal Action To Remove EVR Statue At Srirangam Temple Following Court Dismissal Of Case Against Kanal Kannan

By
The Commune
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BJP TN Plans Legal Action To Remove EVR Statue At Srirangam Temple Following Court Dismissal Of Case Against Kanal Kannan

Following the Madras High Court’s dismissal of a chargesheet on 3 October 2024, against film stunt master Kanal Kannan for allegedly advocating the demolition of a statue of EV Ramasamy (EVR) located at the entrance of Srirangam temple in Tiruchi, the Tamil Nadu BJP is preparing to take legal action to remove the statue. They have also stated that protests will continue until the statue is removed.

The prosecution’s case originated from a complaint by the District Secretary of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, who alleged that Kannan’s YouTube channel, “Mai Chennai360,” featured a speech designed to incite unrest and instil fear among certain groups. The complaint claimed Kannan’s statements denigrated the beliefs of God and targeted both Christian priests and Muslims. It was asserted that his remarks fostered enmity and hatred between communities, leading to legal action against him.

Kanal Kannan later petitioned the High Court to annul the case from the Egmore Court in Chennai. Reviewing the situation, Judge Jayachandran observed that the slogans directed at believers near the EVR statue were provocative, resulting in the dismissal of the charges against Kannan.

Kannan argued that demanding the removal of the EVR statue located in front of the Srirangam temple frequented by thousands of devotees, was inappropriate. He claimed that the presence of a statute with inflammatory language against believers constitutes an offence under Sections 153 (promoting enmity) and 505(1)(b) (disturbing public order) of the IPC.

Justice G Jayachandran remarked, “The display of provocative words about believers of God opposite a temple is the cause for the speech. The person who had provoked the speech cannot take advantage of their provocation and prosecute the petitioner” while approving Kanal Kannan’s request to dismiss the charges against him.

In its analysis, the court acknowledged that the language on the plaque of the EVR statue had incited Kannan’s response. The court pointed out that the complainant should have realized the plaque’s wording could offend believers in God. Since the statue is located outside a Hindu temple, Kannan, as a representative of the Hindu Munani, expressed valid concerns about the derogatory phrasing. The court concluded that Kannan’s comments did not contain expressions that could incite hatred or animosity among communities. It noted that neither other community members nor those from Kannan’s own group objected to his speech; the complaint came solely from a Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam member. The court reiterated that the provocative wording near the temple led to Kannan’s remarks, emphasizing that the instigator of the provocation cannot then pursue legal action against his reaction.

Kannan’s attorney, Karthikeyan, contended that the statue of EVR statue was deliberately positioned to incite Hindu sentiments. He questioned why a statue of someone who rejected the notion of God would be placed only outside a Hindu temple, calling it an act of anarchy. Karthikeyan also referenced another EVR statue near the Amman Temple in Royapettah, Chennai, which he argued had similarly offensive language. He expressed intentions to seek the statue’s removal through the High Court.

In this regard, the BJP State Secretary Ashvathaman commented that “E.V. Ramasamy allegedly struck a idol of Ram with a sandal, and it was only after one crore people came to see Athi Varadar that the response was returned. Ramasamy referred Independence Day as a “black day” and made statements like, ‘There is no God; those who worship Him are barbarians.’ Installing a statue of someone with such views and including their biography in school curricula misleads students. The statue of E.V. Ramasamy located in front of the Srirangam temple is on temple property. We plan to file a case in the High Court referencing the ruling in the Kanal Kannan case to demand the statue’s removal, along with the inscription on its pedestal. We will continue our protests until the statue is taken down.”

(With inputs from Dinamalar)

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Puthiya Thalaimurai’s Dravidianist Journo Niranjan Kumar Peddles False Rhetoric During Haryana Election Results Coverage; Gets Called Out By Netizens

By
The Commune
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Puthiya Thalaimurai's Dravidianist Journo Niranjan Kumar Peddles False Rhetoric During Haryana Election Results Coverage; Gets Called Out By Netizens

Niranjan Kumar, a journalist affiliated with Puthiya Thalaimurai TV (PTTV), has come under fire on social media for his blatant bias in favour of the Congress party. While reporting outside the BJP headquarters on the recent Haryana legislative elections, Kumar falsely claimed that BJP spokespersons had stopped addressing the press, implying the party was anxious about losing. This was quickly debunked as the BJP secured a historic third term, winning 48 seats, while Congress trailed with 37. Netizens promptly called him out for his contradictory reporting.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a historic third consecutive term in Haryana by winning 48 seats in the assembly elections, while the Congress party garnered 37 seats. The 90-seat assembly held voting in a single phase on 5 October 2024, with a turnout of approximately 68%. The BJP had also emerged victorious in the Haryana Assembly elections in 2014 and 2019.

Despite facing significant opposition and unfavorable political predictions where Congress was projected to secure around 60 seats compared to the BJP’s 20, the BJP casually turned the tables. Silent voters in Haryana demonstrated their support for the BJP, and concerns over instability under Congress, particularly regarding the influence of the Jat community and employment issues, influenced the election results.

However, the Dravidianist journalists, promoted narratives to buttress the Congress. At midday, when the BJP was projected to secure 46 seats and Congress was trailing with only 38, Niranjan Kumar, a Dravidianist journalist, claimed on live TV that BJP spokespersons were avoiding the media due to expected turn in tides. He stated, “Spokespersons were holding continuous press briefings, but for the past half hour, they have been avoiding questions. This change comes as the polling landscape shifts, with the BJP fluctuating around 50 seats. We could see that BJP leaders here are anxious about their ability to sustain the government.”

This caught the attention of netizens and political observers, who took to social media to call him out and mock him with amusement. This isn’t the first instance of Niranjan Kumar’s dubious journalism in support of his political masters; he consistently demonstrates his loyalty at every opportunity.

Falsehoods Niranjan Kumar Has Knowingly Spread

During this recent Lok Sabha election season, Kumar seemingly expressed a strong desire for the victory of the Congress, but when that did not materialize, he immediately started celebrating the success of the DMK like several other Dravidianist journalists.

In a post following Narendra Modi’s swearing-in for a third term as Prime Minister of India, Kumar intentionally misled his audience with false information on his X account, claiming that Modi’s third cabinet lacked any members directly elected from Tamil Nadu. This statement raised eyebrows, especially since the DMK, as the opposition, had won all the Lok Sabha seats in the state. It appeared as though he was implying that PM Modi should consider including DMK members in the cabinet.

Niranjan Kumar wrote, “Important: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third cabinet did not include a single member of parliament directly elected from Tamil Nadu. L Murugan, Nirmala Sitharaman, and others have also been elected to Rajya Sabha from other states.”

In two other posts, Niranjan Kumar raised concerns about the removal of statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar in the Parliament complex. However, this claim was promptly refuted and labeled as a fake narrative with the Parliament secretariat clarifying that the statues were being relocated systematically and respectfully within the Parliament House complex. Despite this clarification from the secretariat, the so-called Delhi-based journalist chose not to acknowledge or convey their statement, instead opting to propagate the narrative of the Congress party.

This post raises the question of whether Niranjan Kumar is indeed a journalist based in Delhi or if he is from 24, Akbar Road, New Delhi.

Niranjan Kumar wrote, “The Congress party has alleged that the statues of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and the architect of the Constitution of India, Ambedkar, are being removed and placed in a corner. Congress alleges that BJP has started insulting political leaders“

Previously, Niranjan Kumar faced criticism from netizens for blindly sharing information without fact-checking, as promoted by a DMK minister. In a post on his X account, amid the ongoing uproar from I.N.D.I.Alliance partners regarding allegations of the central government “looting tax revenue” from states, he quoted DMK Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan during a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He wrote, “There was a Chief Minister in India who claimed the central government is deceiving them and spoke about federal principles. He said they are taking our state’s tax money and diverting it to other states: he is none other than the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, who is now the Prime Minister.”

However, his claims were quickly debunked. After assuming office, PM Modi increased the allocation of funds to states from 32% to 42%. He also reduced the population weightage in tax distribution from 27.5% to 15%.

Moreover, during the UPA regime from 2004 to 2014, the total funds available to states amounted to ₹30 lakh crore, while from 2014 to 2023, this figure soared to over ₹100 lakh crore.

In terms of tax sharing and assistance, Tamil Nadu received ₹1,52,921 crores under the UPA from 2004 to 2014. In contrast, this amount increased to ₹5,08,337 crores during the Modi regime from 2014 to 2023.

Additionally, Tamil Nadu has benefited from ₹10.76 lakh crores in funds, projects, and grants over the past nine years under the Modi government.

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Samsung To Shift To Other State Over Strike? DMK Gets A Taste Of Its Own Medicine From Its Communist Allies

By
The Commune
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CITU Samsung Protests: A Trojan Horse For China's Manufacturing Dominance?

After multiple discussions between Samsung India’s management and the workers at its Sriperumbudur manufacturing facility, a settlement has been reached regarding the ongoing strike. However, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) announced that the strike would continue, citing the company’s refusal to recognize the newly formed Samsung India Workers’ Union (SIWU) as a significant unresolved issue.

The discussions, which took place on 7 October 2024 at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, involved Labour Minister CV Ganesan, Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, and MSME Minister TM Anbarasan. The company and the workers’ committee signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). According to the MoA, Samsung agreed to implement a temporary “Productivity Stabilisation Incentive” of ₹5,000 per month, effective from October 2024 to March 2025, along with future wage hikes to be discussed in the upcoming wage negotiations for the 2025–2026 financial year.

Industries Minister Rajaa acknowledged that Samsung’s management had met most workers’ demands, including wage increases and additional benefits. He expressed optimism that the strike would soon end and emphasized the importance of Samsung’s role in Tamil Nadu’s journey toward becoming a trillion-dollar economy.

Despite these developments, CITU district secretary E Muthukumar confirmed that the strike would continue until Samsung officially recognized the SIWU. He argued that the agreement was signed only with a workers’ committee, which is seen as more favourable to the company and not with the union.

The strike, which began on 9 September 2024, initially involved over 1,000 out of the 1,800 workers at the Sriperumbudur plant. Established in 2007, the facility manufactures consumer electronics such as televisions, washing machines, and air conditioners.

On 9 October 2024, tensions escalated as police arrested several protesting workers and union members, dismantling a protest pandal without notice. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu assured us that the detained workers had been released and clarified that the government’s actions aimed to manage protests held without prior permission. He reiterated that the matter of union recognition was sub-judice and was awaiting a decision from the Madras High Court.

Relocation Reports?

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that Samsung may be considering relocating its Sriperumbudur plant, with Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat reportedly vying to host the facility. Sources suggest that Samsung could shift operations to its Noida plant due to the ongoing labour unrest, though no official confirmation has been made. Samsung has denied any relocation plans, stating that all worker demands except for union recognition have been addressed.

Despite these assurances, hundreds of workers protested, insisting on union recognition. Videos showing police intervention at the protest site have gone viral on social media, further fueling tensions. Political leaders, including those from the ruling DMK alliance parties, have expressed solidarity with the workers.

The Tamil Nadu unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned the police crackdown, with MP Su. Venkatesan criticised the suppression of workers’ democratic rights.

The Sterlite Protests

It is an open secret that several antinational forces were involved in the protests against Sterlite Copper in Tuticorin, which led to the unrest and subsequent shutting down of the plant. 

As India’s net copper imports grew, Pakistan’s copper exports to China surged significantly, raising questions about the influence of social unrest in Thoothukudi. Protests orchestrated by NGOs and activists, including The Other Media (TOM), marked the closure of Sterlite Copper. 

How The DMK Through Its Proxies Fanned The Protests

It is noteworthy that the DMK, which was in the opposition during these protests (prior to 2021) played a role in fanning the protest through its proxies.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in April 2023 started examining complaints against TOM for alleged misuse of foreign funds in organizing protests against Sterlite. TOM, an FCRA-NGO founded in 1992, has faced scrutiny for its funding sources, including entities like the World Association For Christian Communication, the Christian Conference of Asia, CORDAID of Netherlands, and Trócaire. These NGOs, operating under the guise of environmental and social justice, have been accused of manipulating social unrest for their agendas. The Sterlite protests, involving figures like Fathima Babu, Nityanand Jayaraman, Mohan C. Lazarus, and Samarendra Das, received political patronage and media coverage. The protesters, supported by these NGOs and activists, demanded the permanent closure of Sterlite, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs.

The role of media in amplifying the narratives of these NGOs and activists also came under scrutiny. Portals like The News Minute and The Wire published articles and interviews featuring Nityanand Jayaraman without disclosing his association with TOM. The media played a crucial role in manufacturing opinions and building narratives that contributed to social tensions.

The likes of Mohan C Lazarus who is close to the DMK was an important fringe element instrumental in instigating the people against Sterlite was Mohan C Lazarus. While addressing a huge gathering of Christians, he peddled without any scientific basis that Sterlite Copper was a toxic factory and said that the Church has risen to shut the factory down. He also instigated the Christian population to protest and ‘dispose off the factory’ from Thoothukudi.

He also stated that a huge protest was to be held on 24 March 2018 at Thoothukudi, in which all Catholics, Pentecostals, Church of South India (CSI) would agitate against Sterlite.

Accordingly, thousands of protesters gathered in Thoothukudi on the said date demanding the closure of the plant. The protest gained political patronage from then on, with the likes of Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam, DMK, Communist parties and other separatist outfits like May 17 Movement extending their support.

With both sides holding firm, the stalemate continues, leaving the fate of the plant and its workers uncertain.

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Vettaiyan Filmmakers Release Telugu Version With Tamil Title, Telugu Netizens Call Out ‘Tamil Imposition’

By
The Commune
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Despite the much-anticipated release of Rajinikanth's latest film, controversy has erupted in Telugu-speaking regions over the Telugu title, Vettaiyan - The Hunter.

Tamil film star Rajinikanth is back with another film ‘Vettaiyan – The Hunter’ after a big flop Lal Salaam. This time he is working with a multi-star cast in a film directed by Dravidianist director TJ Gnanavel who is known for his casteist film Jai Bhim. While the audio was launched with much fanfare for the Tamil audience recently, the Telugu audience is miffed with the film’s name.

The Telugu trailer of the Rajinikanth film was launched with the title “Vettaiyan – The Hunter”.

Some netizens from Telugu land stated that there was no word called Vettaiyan in Telugu and alleged Tamil imposition on Telugu people.

“Please tell us the meaning of ‘Vettaiyan’ in Telugu! You are releasing the Telugu version with a Tamil title. Isn’t this an imposition of Tamil on us? We know how your industry and audience would react if a Hindi film’s dubbed version was released with a Hindu title in Tamil Nadu. Though I’m an ardent fan of Superstar @rajinikanth, I will not watch this for insulting the Telugu people. Apologise to the Telugu audience and change the title, or else we’ll boycott the film.”

Some others also stated that the name of the film was misspelt as Vattayan in Telugu where the part Vatta meant “testicles”!

 

The film is being distributed by Red Giant Movies owned by the first family in the state.

The Telugu-speaking people rightly called out the duplicity of filmmakers and distributors. On the one hand, they would claim Hindi imposition at the drop of the hat but release their films dubbed in Hindi as it suits them.

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Govt Notice, Poor Service, Tanking Stock: Ola Electric Skids Off The Road

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The Commune
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Govt Notice, Poor Service, Tanking Stock: Ola Electric Skids Off The Road

From a show-cause notice from the government to consumers flooding social media platforms over myriad complaints regarding its e-scooters and service centres—while its share continues to slide—there appears no respite for Bhavish Aggarwal-run Ola Electric.

On Tuesday, Ola Electric’s share touched its lowest at Rs 86 apiece before recovering a bit—a massive 43-35 per cent drop from its all-time high of Rs 157.40 a few days earlier.

The stock made its public debut at Rs 76 a piece. In a stock exchange filing, the EV company admitted that it has received a show-cause notice from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).

“The Central Consumer Protection Authority has provided a timeline of 15 days to the company to respond to the show cause notice. The company will respond to the CCPA within the given timeframe with the supporting documents,” said the EV company.

According to the show-cause notice, Ola Electric “appears to be in violation of several provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.”

It took serious note of the complaints by consumers related to manufacturing defects, partial or no refunds on booking cancellations, recurring defects despite servicing, overcharging, inaccurate invoices, and multiple issues with batteries and vehicle components.

The National Consumer Helpline, operated by the Department of Consumer Affairs, received 10,644 complaints since September last year related to Ola Electric.

Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, said: “The CCPA is looking into a large number of complaints about Ola Electric, mainly related to service inefficiencies.” “We hope the company addresses these concerns promptly and resolves the issues faced by consumers,” she mentioned. Meanwhile, aggrieved customers continued to flood social media platforms, sharing their plight with hardware and software issues with its flagship electric two-wheeler.

“Even after the big announcement in service expansion, service centres are working the same. I delivered my scooter to Ola 3 weeks ago and received it last Saturday after completion of repair. Though it’s not properly fixed, OLA asked me to book RSA under my cost. I regret my decision to buy this scooter in 2022 even without a review. @bhash check yourself on this to understand what is going on,” posted an angry user on X.

Another commented: “Ola scooters, at their core, are poorly engineered products. People got carried away by the design aspect. The OLA updated 2.0 platform has taken away any repairability in the product and replacement is the only way for even minor issues. How is any of this GREEN?”

–IANS

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TheCommune
The Commune is a news and views portal focusing on social and political issues of the southern part of India with a focus on Tamil Nadu.
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