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Meet ‘All-In-All’ Sumanth Raman, The Multi-Faceted ‘Doctor’ And ‘Neutral’ Commentator Who Simps For Rahul Gandhi & Congress

By
Vallavaraayan
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Everyone in India and outside who follows Indian politics and watches Indian news at least once in a while would be aware of this gentleman who claims to be a neutral political commentator. But did you know that there are various shades to that neutrality? He is a compulsive commentator who wants to comment about everything under the sun. But he gets super excited and sometimes even jumps the gun when he targets the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His tirade against the Modi government is primarily attributed to his unceremonious removal as the host of BSNL Sports Quiz (a flop show that ran on taxpayer’s money) on Doordarshan in 2019 after he kept targeting the PM Modi and the BJP government. Did he expect that the government would cajole him if he keeps simping for Congress?

Read on to understand the multiple faces of a ‘doctor’ turned quiz master turned political commentator turned Congress simp – Sumanth Raman.

We give you examples of various aspects of Sumanth Raman as below:

‘Gandhi Family Simp’ Face

Yes, you read that right. Here, we present various instances of how Mr All-in-All did all he could to show his loyalty and support for the Gandhi family. Here are subdivisions of this main face:

‘Rahul Gandhi Simp’ Face

Have you noticed any comments from Sumanth Raman, especially after Rahul Gandhi started making comments on OBCs? After he asked for the caste census? No, nada, zilch! Nor does Sumanth Raman think it is necessary when Rahul Gandhi commits a faux pas. Why showcase his leader in a negative light?

On 21 February 2024, a few videos of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra surfaced on social media. In these videos, Rahul Gandhi is seen terrorising a volunteer with questions, inciting the crowd to target and assault a journalist, and nearly choking a volunteer by placing his arms around his neck. But Sumanth has nothing to say. He would rather comment on Modi and BJP.

There are absolutely no comments on this harassment by Rahul Gandhi from Sumanth Raman.

Nor did Sumanth Raman open his mouth to condemn Rahul Gandhi’s statement where he said, “India is not a nation but a union of states”. In fact, he supported his dear Rahul Gandhi by stating that it was already mentioned in the Constitution.

Sumanth Raman was among the first ones to laud Congress scion Rahul Gandhi when the verdict on the electoral bonds came in.

The same Sumanth Raman shifted goalposts when facts were presented in the electoral bonds issue. When a netizen asked him to comment on Congress receiving ₹952 crores as donations through electoral bonds, he shifted focus to DMK for receiving nearly half the amount (₹431 crores). He said a state party (in just a single state) received a large amount and implied that it could not be compared to a national party like the Congress.

Yet another time when he simped for Rahul Gandhi was last year when he wrote a lengthy note about the Wayanad MP. Some of the points in that post were typical of the fanboy type. Examples include, “Rahul appears sincere and does not spread divisiveness.” “…he does come across as a decent person. He meets the press fearlessly and regularly and does not shy away from the most uncomfortable of questions. Handles hecklers well, too, like he showed in the US.” He also batted for the “idea” that Rahul’s popularity was rising and that people were tired of Modi. 

When the Congress peddled propaganda that Prime Minister Modi was notified as an “OBC” only in 1999. Sumanth Raman jumped onto the bandwagon to say that Modi was not an OBC until that year. How clever!

He also supported Rahul by stating that his MP disqualification in the Modi surname case was a blessing in disguise and that he could play the victim and show he was persecuted.

He supported Rahul Gandhi when everyone else called him Pappu. This also shows his “loyal” face.

‘Sonia Gandhi Simp’ Face

A Times Now report that traced Sonia Gandhi’s vote share/victory margin from 2009 to 2019 in Raebareli showed a steady downward trend. In every election, the vote share and victory margin reduced considerably. Yes, Sonia won the seat, but her margins were coming down every election from 55.8% in 2009 to 17.4% in 2019. Look at how our Sonia Gandhi simp Sumanth Raman buttressed her. He said, “Victory margins fluctuate from elections to elections.” When the anchor pointed out that it was a steady downward trend, he said, “Why don’t you go back and look for 2004? You only want to look at the last three elections. What if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contests the seat now in place of her mother? Will you still say that Mrs Gandhi has left the battlefield?”

The same Sumanth Raman had a problem with BJP’s L Murugan contesting from the Rajya Sabha. He had no problem when Sonia Gandhi announced her candidature from Rajasthan, that too for the Rajya Sabha. Here’s what he had to say for L Murugan. “So Murugan_MoS is not contesting from Nilgiris? Going back to the Rajya Sabha is much safer.”

‘Priyanka Gandhi Simp’ Face

In 2019, Sumanth couldn’t contain his excitement when Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was appointed the AICC General Secretary in Eastern UP. He could already see images of her grandmother in his mind.

When Priyanka stated that the abrogation of Article 370 move was illegal, Sumanth supported her by saying, “What Priyanka Gandhi said today was nothing new” and that she only repeated the CWC resolution that had already been released to the media.

When Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification news broke, Priyanka said, “We have Martyrs’ blood in our Vein, will keep fighting“. Sumanth once again showed his support for her, saying, “#PriyankaGandhi takes up the fight.” as if this was a war. 

When Priyanka Gandhi addressed a public rally in Karnataka in April 2023, she said she had seen several PMs and listed her grandmother who took a bullet, father who gave his life for the country, Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh who worked day and night for the country. But she said it was the first time she saw a Prime Minister (indicating to PM Modi) who whined about getting abuses. She went on to add, “The abuses he has received would only fit a page, if I begin to count the number of times he has hurled abuses on my family, I might have to get several books published”.

Sumanth did not leave this chance and very promptly showed his support as below:

Sub-Face: Congress Simp

Sumanth Raman also shows his support for other Congress leaders in this post. Here, he asks for recognition for DK Shivakumar of the Karnataka Congress.

‘Leftist Simp’ Face

Sumanth Raman, while putting on a “neutral” hat, has also been seen talking in support of leftist anti-nationals. Here are a few posts where you can see this characteristic – singing paeans for Jesuit Father Stan Swamy, who was involved in the Elgar Parishad-Maoists links case.

‘Islamist Simp’ Face

In another instance, he is worried about news channels comparing Nupur Sharma and alleged fact-checker Mohammed Zubair’s remarks. From the post, one can see how worried he was about Zubair spending time in prison. 

He even called it a witch hunt!

He even questioned why Nupur Sharma was not jailed for her “remarks”.

‘Sengol Is A Stick; It Is Not A Transfer Of Power’ Face

Repeatedly calls the Sengol a stick. He also repeatedly called the Sengol a Hindu symbol. Notably, Hindu symbolism already existed in the parliament and Supreme Court. He continued to justify the Congress’s argument, saying the Sengol was not historical in nature but was made by Vummudi Bangaru & Sons. 

He continued to mock the Sengol ceremony and the idea behind the Sengol, stating how India survived without the Sengol all these years 

In a debate/discussion with CNN-News18, he toed the Congress line, stating, “There is no evidence to say that this represented a transfer of power from the British to the Indian government of the day.” He called the “transfer of power” narrative around the Sengol a WhatsApp University extrapolation, the official line toed by the Congress. He also said calling the Sengol a secular initiative was problematic in a secular country because the Sengol was a Hindu symbol.

In reality, the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam, which had handed over the Sengol to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, confirmed in May 2023 that the Sengol was presented to the last Viceroy Mountbatten before it was handed over to Nehru as a symbolic transfer of power. BJP leader SG Suryah also spoke to Vummidi Ethirajulu, who was the man behind crafting the Sengol at the time of independence. Ethirajulu himself confirmed the fact that the Sengol was indeed given to India’s first PM, Nehru, as a symbolic transfer of power from the British to the Indians.

‘Anti-Gujarat’ Face

During the COVID pandemic, Sumanth despite being a doctor himself, found much pleasure when the cases in Gujarat were increasing. 

‘Vaccine Hesitancy Enabler’ Face

Around the time when the indigenous vaccines against COVID-19 were rolled out, Sumanth was among those people who enabled vaccine hesitancy. He tried to stoke fear over corona vaccination after Actor Vivekh suffering a heart attack made the news.

He also questioned the efficacy of the 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) drug developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) by calling it “unproven stuff”.

‘I Will Buttress The DMK’ Face

Apart from his love and loyalty to the Congress, Sumanth Raman has also been seen buttressing the DMK several times. When the recent issue of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi refusing to read the speech given to him by the DMK govt, he showed the same support that he would show Congress by saying it was not the Governor’s speech per se and that the Governor did not have to worry about its inaccuracies.

He also advised the Governor to resign, fight elections, and become the state’s Chief Minister. How cute.

‘Fake News Peddler’ Face

In March 2023, Sumanth Raman posted fake news about the NPCI charging a fee for UPI transactions. He even conducted a poll on the topic on his Twitter handle without even confirming the veracity of the news. He later deleted the post.

A few weeks ago, Sumanth Raman jumped onto the bandwagon to peddle fake news. In a post on Uttarakhand being the first state in the country to implement UCC, he wrote, “Goa has had a UCC for decades but never mind facts.” forgetting the most crucial fact that Goa got the UCC under Portuguese rule.

In July 2023, Sumanth Raman made the following post without understanding the context of Governor Ravi’s speech, which was misconstrued as always by the local media, political commentators, and members of the DMK party and government, saying that the Governor is accusing the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister of going on foreign trips just for leisure. Sumanth’s post seemed to follow the narrative set by the DMK members.

In 2020, an X handle named Rofl Republic posted a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that a conference hall was converted into a ward with Army men “to facilitate PM’s photoshoot”. It even said that the Army men “posed like injured patients”. This post was also quote-posted by Sumanth Raman, along with several DMK mouthpieces. 

‘Petrol Bomb Is A Small Thing’ Face

Sumanth Raman trivialised the petrol bomb attack incident that occurred in Raj Bhavan, Chennai, in October 2023. He wrote,

“Law and order in the State does not break down when one possibly deranged person hurls two petrol bombs on the road in front of the Raj Bhavan Gate. #PetrolBomb”. When a social media user replied saying, “It’s not hurling of the bomb, but the ease of availability of such a bomb that’s the concern.”, Sumanth Raman replied, “A petrol bomb is nothing but petrol set alight with some cloth in a bottle and thrown.”

‘I Have A Problem With Truth’ Face

On 12 January 2024, India Today anchor and journalist Shiv Aroor shared a news report on how Israel had used an India Today report at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Hague, during the Gaza deaths hearing. Sumanth Raman, who seemed to have come across the report weeks later, shared it on his X handle with the caption, “Isn’t this something that @IndiaToday should be ashamed of??? Unbelievable that it is being put out as a badge of honour!!!”

It seems like Sumanth has a problem with the truth being told in the open!

‘Secular/Anyone Can Enter Temple’ Face

Sumanth Raman posted on X about a judgement of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court that prevents non-Hindus from entering temple premises. He disagreed with the ruling and was of the opinion that everyone must be allowed entry and to worship if they follow the temple rules. He said, “A large part of religious tourism is just tourism. This applies to all faiths not just Hindus. I know so many who visit our ancient temples to learn about our culture, marvel at the architecture, etc. Why is that bad?”

How secular! 

His Favourite – ‘I Will Question BJP/Modi’ Face

As the country rejoiced and celebrated the Pran Prathishta ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Sumanth Raman, joining the liberal bandwagon to guilt trip the Hindus, made a post implying that if it had not been for the demolition of Babri Masjid, there wouldn’t have been so much fanfare associated with the consecration today. He added that the celebrations are nothing but ‘stoking a community into feeling they have got retribution.’

When the Indian Navy veterans were sentenced to death in Qatar over a spying case, Sumanth Raman ensured he would frequently taunt the government with the Vishwaguru jibe. When the death sentence was announced, he again taunted the government over it. 

However, when the news of their release came about, he praised EAM S Jaishankar for it and ignored the fact that Prime Minister Modi intervened to get this done.

In a shadowy approach, he tried to call out that PM Modi was not a graduate, especially when Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai put out a list of DMK ministers who were not even graduates or matriculates.

He went sour when the Modi government decided to give the Bharat Ratna to former PM Charan Singh. But he didn’t utter a word about why the Congress or the Gandhi family ignored the contributions of Charan Singh and failed to honour him. Except for a newsy tweet, he also did not comment on the Modi government conferring Bharat Ratna on former PM Narasimha Rao, who had saved India from bankruptcy and ushered in the economic reforms through liberalization and privatization. Asking him to tweet about how Sonia Gandhi humiliated Narasimha Rao even in his death would be a little far-fetched given Sumanth’s subservience to the Gandhi family

He also showed his “displeasure” at being unable to question PM Modi by comparing the situation with Joe Biden and his memory issues.

Around the time of the Sengol installation in the new Parliament building in May 2023, a salty Sumanth Raman went on questioning the need for a new building, stating several other countries continued to function in ancient buildings, and there was no need for a change.

What he didn’t realise was that Prime Minister Modi has been trying to decolonise the country in every possible way.

‘I Will Attack Annamalai For Everything He Says’ Face

Sumanth Raman’s dislike for the BJP is so evident that he seems to go after anyone and everyone in the party. After Modi, he began training his guns on Tamil Nadu BJP head Annamalai. Recently, at a press meeting, Annamalai stated that he would not be contesting in the MP elections, and this became a matter to mock for Sumanth. His post seemed to communicate that ‘sacrificial lambs’ would be made to contest to make excuses for failure.

In another instance, Annamalai addressed a student gathering, presenting facts and figures on the predicted revenue for Uttar Pradesh because of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Instead of reading the entire context and going through reports published in leading newspapers, Sumanth Raman, being a compulsive commentator, just had to comment. He demanded an explanation for the 4 lakh crore figure that Annamalai had mentioned. 

After more than six months on his foot march (padayatra) all across Tamil Nadu, a visibly tired Annamalai had a slip-of-the-tongue moment when he interchanged the words Speaker and Governor earlier this month when Governor RN Ravi refused to address the Assembly owing to his disagreement with the speech given by the DMK government. Sumanth Raman had to jump in and make a comment – typical of a compulsive commentator. His issue was that Annamalai made the same mistake eight times, so it must have been intentional.

One might think Sumanth Raman is probably getting all the praise and adoration for being such a loyal Congress and DMK supporter and repeatedly questioning Modi and the BJP. However, it is a fact that Sumanth Raman faces abuse from Dravidianists and leftists, most often due to his Brahmin identity. 

Abuse From Dravidianists For Being A Brahmin

Alleged writer Meena Kandasamy, in December 2020, called Sumanth Raman a ‘sombu‘ (a derogatory term denoting a supporter) of the BJP and a ‘mama’ to poke fun at his Brahmin origins. She also addressed him in singular in a post on X.

In January 2024, Sumanth Raman commented on the incident wherein a Muslim lady wearing a hijab made casteist jibes at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman by invoking her Brahmin identity. Responding to Sumanth Raman, Thirumurugan Gandhi attacked Sumanth’s Brahmin identity once again. He wrote, “Which community/caste has its own dialect other than the Brahmins? Kongu, Madurai, and Nellai Tamil dialects are spoken by all communities. Brahminical dialect is not spoken by any other caste except Brahmins. The Brahminical dialect is racist in its own right. If Brahminical dialect is used to maintain friendships among themselves, to find their caste identity and to assert their caste superiority in public, how can we call it apart from racism?” Gandhi expressed concern that the Brahmin dialect may be employed to “assert dominance” in public settings.

In January 2023, Sumanth Raman pointed out that the Tamil Nadu government’s total borrowings in FY 2022-23 were expected to be ₹1 lakh crore. He added that it was ₹13000 crore higher than the ₹87000 crore borrowed in the previous fiscal year. He said that the state government debt may cross ₹6.5 lakh crore.

Reacting to this, the then-Finance Minister of the DMK government, PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, resorted to throwing barbs at Sumanth Raman, calling him an ‘epitome of minuscule knowledge’. PTR, known for attacking Brahmins, often made it a point to ridicule Sumanth Raman. And yet, Sumanth continues to buttress the DMK. 

When Sumanth Raman stated in his X post that he supported EWS, a TNM journalist, Balakrishna Ganeshan, spewed casteist venom against Tamil Brahmins. Sumanth Raman had said that while millions of genuinely disadvantaged need the benefits of reservation, the current reservation system was exploited by those who are socio-economically well off! He made a series of posts to one Soumitra Pathare supporting the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota. Reacting to one tweet of Sumanth Raman, The News Minute journalist Balakrishna Ganeshan put out a pun-intended tweet saying, “This thread (andha thread ah thaan sonna)”, referring to the poonool/janeu (sacred thread) worn by Brahmins.

Despite all the flak and abuse he has received, all-in-all Sumanth Raman continues to support the Congress, the DMK, anti-nationals, leftists, and Islamists. He does not have a word to say about the Modi government or speak for Hindus. As someone who finds it compulsive to comment on anything and everything, here’s a piece of advice for you, Dr Sumanth – tomorrow, the party that you are so loyal to will throw you under the bus just for being a Brahmin. Your ‘neutrality’ will not help you.

To conclude, if there’s one assertion from DMK leader PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan that holds true, it’s regarding Sumanth Raman. Whenever someone sees, Sumanth’s face anywhere, PTR’s golden words will come to the mind. 

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TN BJP Functionary Selva Kumar Issued Summons Over Alleged Inflammatory Posts Criticizing DMK’s Move To Release 1998 Coimbatore Blast Convicts

By
The Commune
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Once again, the crackdown on the opposition party persists in Tamil Nadu, aiming to stifle their voices. In the latest incident, Selva Kumar, the Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party Industrial Cell, was called in by the cyber-crime police in Coimbatore for posting on social media on 14 February 2024. The post criticized the ruling DMK government for releasing individuals connected to the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blast case. This contentious action has sparked extensive criticism on social media and has caused significant concern among the residents of Coimbatore.

On 14 February 2024, Selva Kumar shared the following two posts on the micro blogging platform X during the time of the 1998 Coimbatore blast anniversary. In one post, he shared a video of convict and Al-Umma founder Syed Batcha (who received interim bail owing to an impending surgery) welcoming another convict who was released recently. The other video was a clipping of a video from former police officer Varadharajan’s video on the bomb blasts where he narrates how former CM Karunanidhi handled the intelligence information with regard to the blasts.

Ironically, the Coimbatore cyber-crime police registered charges under Section 153 A (1)(b), Section 504 of IPC for Criminal Intimidation, and Section 43(i) r/w of 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2008 against Selva Kumar. These charges carry potential imprisonment for a term extending to 3 years or a fine of five lakh rupees, or both.

 

Selva Kumar took to his official X handle to inform people about these charges filed against him. He also expressed his willingness to cooperate and appear at the police station in response to the summons. A statement released by Selva Kumar read, “Posting not to release Coimbatore terrorists, immediate Prosecution, is arrest next? The hashtag #கோவை_மன்னிக்காது was trending nationally on the 14th. More than twenty thousand citizens from Coimbatore participated in this and solemnly registered their opinion that the terrorists should not be released. The Coimbatore Police took immediate action and registered a non-bailable case based on the complaint filed by the DMK + sectarian alliance parties who were offended by this. They have sent a summons to appear at the Coimbatore Cybercrime Police Station at 11 am today for a personal inquiry regarding this case. I am present at the police station on time.” 

Several netizens criticized the move and argued that it was a politically motivated move by the DMK. 

https://twitter.com/SaffronSurge3/status/1760176501272838296

 

 

This the second time Selva Kumar’s posts on X have attracted the attention of the police department. Here are some of the instances from 2023 and early 2024, several netizens and BJP members were arrested for exercising their freedom of speech.

  • BJP IT Wing and Social Media State Secretary Trichy Pugal Machendran was arrested for an alleged provocative Facebook post celebrating the death of the terrorist Palani Baba on his death anniversary. The post referred to Palani Baba as a “poisonous influence.”
  • TN BJP Functionary Pravin Raj was arrested in the wee hours of 1 October 2023 for his posts targeting the ruling party and the Congress.
  • The Tamil Nadu police even went up to Noida to try to arrest journalist Abhijit Majumder for his article on Udhayanidhi Stalin’s eradicate Sanathana Dharma remarks. 
  • Critic of the DMK, Badri Seshadri, was arrested for his comments in an interview on a YouTube channel regarding the Manipur issue, during which he made remarks about the Chief Justice of India.
  • The Commune and its directors faced legal action for reporting on the confrontation between Podu Deekshitars of the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and HR&CE officials.
  • Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary SG Suryah was taken into custody under non-bailable sections for his comments regarding Madurai CPI-M MP Su Venkatesan concerning a sanitation worker’s tragic death during drain cleaning in Pennadam town, Cuddalore district.
  • An AIADMK IT wing member was apprehended under non-bailable sections for sharing a video meme that humorously referenced MK Stalin’s video statement on Senthilbalaji’s arrest. The meme did not contain derogatory content.
  • A Pro-BJP Twitter user was arrested for sharing an old article and allegedly misattributing DMK to an illegal liquor-producing gang in Tiruppur, following the recent hooch tragedy in Marakkanam.
  • A Pro-BJP Twitter user was arrested for sharing an old article and allegedly misattributing DMK to an illegal liquor-producing gang in Tiruppur, following the recent hooch tragedy in Marakkanam.
  • Vice President of Tamil Nadu BJP’s Industrial Cell, Selva Kumar, was arrested for criticizing DMK Minister Senthilbalaji.
  • The admin of Voice of Savukku Shankar X handle was arrested for a video meme targeting CM MK Stalin and DMK Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan regarding the “eligible household” clause in the monthly assistance scheme for women.
  • The DMK government traveled to Gujarat to arrest BJP cadre John Ravi, who had made satirical social media posts about CM MK Stalin and his late father, Karunanidhi.
  • N Muthuramalingam, the State Propaganda Secretary of South India Forward Bloc, was arrested for expressing his views on Facebook regarding the release of terrorists convicted in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case. Muthuramalingam had criticized Dravidian parties for considering the release of 36 prisoners, including those convicted for life in the Coimbatore terror attack, leading to his arrest.

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“No! Don’t Beat Him!”: Crowd Turns Hostile On India News Journo After Rahul Gandhi Dog-Whistles About His Caste, Turns Out Journo Was Yadav

By
The Commune
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Rahul Gandhi’s ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh has seen him yapping about his claims of the Narendra Modi-led Central government being unfriendly towards OBCs and Dalits. During a public address on 21February 2024, he asserted that the Ram Mandir is frequented only by prominent figures like PM Modi, Ambani, and Adani, with no representation from backward classes or the Dalit community.

Gandhi’s speech took an aggressive turn when he angrily questioned a journalist about his name (caste) and the ownership of the media organization he represented.

Shiv Prasad Yadav, a journalist with India News, asked a direct question about the absence of Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav. Instead of responding to the inquiry, Rahul Gandhi’s reaction took an alarming turn as he visibly showed agitation and with his signaling leading to the journalist to face physical assault. He started yelling at him “Naam Batao, Naam Batao” (Tell me your name) with the crowd starting to beat him up.

“You are from the media? What is your name? You are Shiv Prasad. What is the name of your owner? What’s the name of your owner? What’s the name? Tell me the name. Tell me the name.” Rahul Gandhi asked the journalist in an attempt to identify his caste.

With crowd getting agitated and turning hostile, they clashed with the journalist and apparently started to beat him.

Upon seeing the crowd getting into a fight with the journalist, a visibly agitated Rahul Gandhi can be hear yelling “Oye! Don’t beat him up!) Don’t beat him. Don’t beat him. Don’t beat him.” and further went on to ask “Is he an OBC? No! Is he a Dalit? No!”

It has now come to light that the Indian News journalist Shiv Prasad indeed belongs to the Yadav community which is part of Other Backward Class (OBC).

Furthering his narrative, Gandhi revived the false claim that President Draupadi Murmu was deliberately excluded from the Ram Mandir inauguration due to her Adivasi background. Contrary to his assertion, President Murmu was formally invited by a delegation from the Ram Temple Trust on January 12. She expressed her intent to visit Ayodhya at a later date and even conveyed her congratulations to the Prime Minister for the temple’s inauguration on January 21.

Gandhi criticized the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few, alleging that the majority, including Dalits, backward classes, Adivasis, and the poor, lacked representation in various sectors. He also took a swipe at the opening of the Ram Temple, claiming it was attended only by the rich and famous.

The BJP reacted strongly to Gandhi’s comments about young men in Varanasi being drunk and lying on roads, connecting it to the government’s focus on influential individuals at the Ram Mandir. Union Minister Smriti Irani condemned Gandhi, stating that he had no right to insult the people of Kashi and the youth of Uttar Pradesh, emphasizing the state’s global recognition for its skilled and talented youth. Irani expressed skepticism about expecting an apology from Rahul Gandhi, describing him as a shameless individual.

BJP Leader Vanathi Srinivasan’s MLA Office Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Certification, A Milestone For Efficient Governance

By
The Commune
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Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mahila Morcha President and South Coimbatore MLA Vanathi Srinivasan has announced a significant milestone for her constituency office. In a groundbreaking achievement, her MLA office in Coimbatore South has become the first in Tamil Nadu to receive ISO 9001:2015 certification. Taking to social media platform X to share her excitement, Vanathi Srinivasan expressed her joy and emphasized the importance of this recognition in ensuring a high level of work commitment from herself and her team.

Drawing attention to the BJP’s dedication to efficient governance, Vanathi Srinivasan highlighted a similar certification received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2011. This historic achievement underscores the BJP’s unwavering commitment to providing efficient, effective, and transparent services to the people they serve.

She wrote, “Delighted to share that my MLA office, Coimbatore South has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Member of the Legislative Assembly in Tamil Nadu to receive ISO 9001: 2015 certification. This accomplishment underscores our unwavering dedication to public service. The certification recognizes our distinguished quality management system in various aspects of legislative duties, constituency representation, policy influence, community engagement, development initiatives, oversight, and fund allocation. The attainment of ISO certification reflects not only our tireless commitment to excellence but also the dedication of my entire team.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi consistently emphasizes enhancing work culture and achieving maximum governance with minimum government intervention. Similarly, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and BJP National President Shri JP Nadda have prioritized enhancing the party’s work ethos and prioritizing dedicated service to the people & that’s why under their leadership, BJP have office in almost all districts of the country. In 2011, when PM Modi was the CM of Gujarat, his office got the ISO 2001:2015 certification. This speaks about our commitment to continuously provide the efficient, effective and transparent services and support to our people.

This certification serves as a testament to our adherence to international standards in the operations and services provided by my MLA office. I am committed to ensuring enhanced efficiency, transparency, and accountability in all interactions with the office for the constituents of Coimbatore South. Today, I conveyed this achievement to our Honorable Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly. This achievement reaffirms both mine and BJP’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of governance and service delivery.”

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Repackaging Central Govt Schemes As State Govt Schemes, Repeating Old Schemes Over & Over Again: Highlights Of 2024 TN Budget

By
The Commune
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The fiscal year 2024-25 budget unveiled by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led TN government under MK Stalin, in the state assembly and was presented by Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu under the theme “crossing obstacles and marching towards growth”. It has faced widespread criticism from political commentators, opposition party leaders, and social media users. Critics argue that the budget is merely a facade, lacking consideration for essential financial aspects, burdening citizens with increased debt, and failing to introduce meaningful welfare schemes. Additionally, they highlight the practice of renaming central government schemes and reiterating old initiatives without addressing key concerns.

Fiscal Status Of Tamil Nadu 

The fiscal deficit of the Tamil Nadu government has exceeded the planned figure for the fiscal year 2024 and is hovering just below the fiscal responsibility limit of 3.5%. The state is facing challenges in managing its expenditures, with outstanding debt surpassing ₹8 lakh crore. The revenue deficit has witnessed a significant increase, reaching ₹49,279 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25, compared to the revised estimate of ₹44,907 crore in 2023-24. It is noteworthy that the revised estimate for 2023-24 has also surpassed the budgeted figure for that year, which was ₹37,540 crore.

The government is also mandated to allocate ₹17,117 crore of loss funding to TANGEDCO in the current year, creating a substantial financial burden that hampers the state’s capacity to fund developmental initiatives. Instead of proactively addressing this issue, the government has appealed to the Union Government to exclude this amount from the state’s Fiscal Deficit and Borrowing Ceiling.

(Photo Credit: Business Line)

The State’s Own Tax Revenue receipts are anticipated to be ₹1,70,147 crore in the Revised Estimates, reflecting a reduction from the initially anticipated growth levels. In terms of Capital Expenditure, the Revised Estimates 2023-24 project ₹42,532 crore, slightly lower than the Budget Estimates. The Fiscal Deficit is estimated to marginally increase to ₹94,060 crore in Revised Estimates 2023-24, constituting 3.45 percent of GSDP, while the government aims for a 1 trillion economy by 2030.

In the Budget Estimates 2024-25, the total revenue expenditure is projected to be ₹3,48,289 crore, featuring increased allocations for Subsidies and Transfers to Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam, including ₹14,442 crore for TANGEDCO. The Net Loans and Advances are estimated at ₹11,733 crore, raising concerns. Despite frequent references to Thirukkural and Thiruvalluvar, the alarming rise in deficit budget remains unaddressed. Valluvar’s recommendation for a balanced budget echoes: “It is not a great misfortune for a state if its revenues are limited, provided the expenditure is kept within bounds.” Valluvar also emphasized the importance of budgeting for a surplus whenever possible and avoiding budgeting for a deficit.

(Photo Credit: Business Line)

Unfortunately, the government of Tamil Nadu relies significantly on alcohol revenue as one of its primary sources of income.

Welfare Initiatives For Women – Vote Politics Or Genuine Social Welfare?

The government announced an allocation of ₹13,720 crore for the implementation of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, which involves a monthly direct deposit of ₹1,000 into the bank accounts of 1.15 crore women heading households. Additionally, under the ‘Vidiyal Payana Thittam’ initiative, providing free bus travel to women, will now be expanded to cover hilly areas like Nilgiris, Kodaikanal, and Valparai.

Critics argue that although the ₹1,000 appears to be a beneficial initiative for women, the practical impact within households is questionable. There are concerns that the amount may be appropriated by the male head of the family, diverting funds towards purchasing alcohol from TASMAC, a government-owned entity. Alternatively, women in the family may not receive additional financial support. Also they suggest with a budget of ₹13,720 crore annually, it has the potential to construct 10 AIIMS hospitals and establish numerous industries that could generate employment opportunities with an average salary of ₹20,000.

Additionally under the Vidiyal Payana Thittam’, the government has allotted ₹3,050 crore as compensation to the Transport Department. However, it is noteworthy that the Transport Department is already operating at a loss of ₹450 crore, with an annual deficit of ₹5,400 crore. This has raised concerns that the additional financial burden and may further strain the already struggling Transport Department.

Adayar River Revitalization Project

The government announced that the Adyar River, originating in Guduvanchery, will be revitalized and enhanced under the auspices of the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust. The proposed initiative, with an approximate cost of ₹1,500 crore, will be executed through a public-private partnership. Ironically, this commitment was also made in last year’s budget to rejuvenate the river as part of the ‘one-river one-operator’ project. This drew extensive criticism from netizens and the DMK government faced backlash on social media platforms.

Stray Dog Breeding Issue

In the 2023 budget, the DMK had allocated ₹10 crore to address the issue of stray dog breeding. Surprisingly, in the subsequent 2024 budget, they increased this allocation to ₹20 crore for the same purpose. This caught the attention of netizens who mocked the announcement by sharing and comparing two videos of the finance minister’s speeches in the state legislative assembly. Despite the allocation made last year, stray dog menace has continued to increase by the day in Tamil Nadu.

Recently, Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, J Radhakrishnan, had mentioned that Chennai was home to nearly 1.5 lakh stray dogs.

Renaming Central Govt Schemes As State Govt Schemes – Stickering Away

Netizens conducted online searches to compare yesterday’s Tamil Nadu budget with central government schemes. The DMK government faced criticism for allegedly rebranding existing central government programs without making substantial changes, merely renaming them. Some of the highlighted changes include the POSHAN scheme being renamed as the Ensure Nutrition scheme, the PM housing scheme Awas Yojana rebranded as Kalaignar’s Dream House scheme, the PM Gram Sadak Yojana (village road scheme) renamed as the CM village road scheme, SAKHI Nivas rebranded as the Thozhi scheme, Samagra Siksha as Model schools, Vishwakarma scheme as the Artisan development scheme, Jal Jeevan scheme as the Tap Water scheme, and others.

New Modern Film City Poonamallee – Gets More Budget Allocation Than Schools (Puthumai Penn Thittam)

Criticism arose as the government allocated only ₹370 crore for the implementation of the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Puthumai Penn Thittam, specifically for girl students in Government-aided schools studying in Tamil medium. In contrast, a more substantial amount of ₹500 crore was earmarked for the development of a new modern film city in Poonamallee. The project, spanning 140 acres of land, is expected to encompass extensive facilities, including a five-star hotel. Critics argue that this bias is influenced by the fact that the Chief Minister’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, is an actor seeking influence in the industry.

Netizens eventually proposed that this budget is merely a superficial attempt, which just entailed the renaming and reconstruction of the previous budget, akin to a comedy scene from a Tamil film.

Poverty Alleviation & Thayumanavar Scheme

The government has outlined its ambitious plan to address poverty comprehensively over the next two years through a flagship initiative called the ‘Chief Minister’s Thayumanavar scheme.’ This initiative aims to uplift approximately five lakh of the poorest families by providing integrated government assistance. However, it is noteworthy that the NITI Aayog’s multidimensional poverty report indicates that 1.43% of the population, roughly 10 lakh people, are currently below the poverty line. Despite this revelation, the government has not provided details on the specific strategies or funding allocations for this poverty alleviation effort.

In conclusion, the Tamil Nadu budget for 2024-25 has been met with significant criticism, encompassing financial mismanagement, questionable allocation of funds, and skepticism about the efficacy of welfare programs. The government’s reliance on renaming existing schemes without addressing underlying issues has further fueled discontent among the public and political commentators.

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DMK Govt Issues Directive To Omnibus Owners For Passenger Pick-up And Drop-off Only At Three Designated Locations

By
The Commune
-

The Transport Department in Tamil Nadu is currently grappling with challenges on multiple fronts, facing criticism from its own TNSTC employees who are pressing for unresolved demands such as pensions and the release of dearness allowance. On another front, following the construction of the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT), there is an ongoing dispute among omni bus owners regarding parking facilities and the determination of pickup and drop-off locations. Simultaneously, commuters accessing the bus stand are expressing their frustration.

In this complex situation, the Stalin-led DMK government of Tamil Nadu issued a directive to omnibus owners, insisting that they adhere to picking up and dropping off passengers at only three designated locations.

The Transport Commissioner has issued a warning specifying that omnibuses traveling from Chennai to southern districts are permitted to pick up and drop off passengers exclusively at Porur toll plaza, Surapattu toll plaza, and Kilambakkam bus terminal.

The Kilambakkam bus stand was inaugurated on 30 December 2023. However, omni bus owners expressed their reluctance to operate from the new terminal, citing inadequate facilities. Despite unsuccessful negotiations with the government administration, the omni bus owners sought legal recourse by filing a case in the High Court on behalf of the Private Omni Bus Owners Association.

Claiming insufficient parking facilities at Kilambakkam, the bus owners requested permission to pick up and drop passengers within the city for passenger convenience. While asserting that only omnibuses would operate from Koyambedu bus stand, the Madras High Court granted their request and instructed them to pick up and drop passengers at designated points around Koyambedu until further notice on the 9th of the month. Furthermore, Justice RN Manjula postponed the hearing to 15 April 2024, stipulating that passengers should be picked up and alighted exclusively at Porur toll plaza, Surapattu toll plaza, and Kilambakkam bus terminal. The court also emphasized that omnibuses traveling to southern districts should not ply without heading to Kilambakkam bus stand.

The owners of omnibuses sought relief from the Supreme Court, but their appeal was dismissed, challenging the directive issued by the Madras High Court. The order mandates that all southbound Omni buses are prohibited from picking up and dropping off passengers at any location other than the designated ones.

In this backdrop, the Transport Commissioner issued a stern warning, stating, “Owners of omnibuses traveling from Chennai to southern districts must strictly adhere to picking up and dropping passengers only at Porur, Surappattu, and Kilambakkam bus stations. This directive is in line with the Supreme Court verdict. Any violation will result in strict action against Omni buses, including the filing of a contempt of court case. Additionally, these three locations should not be misrepresented in ticket booking software and applications such as Red Bus, Abhi Bus, etc., to avoid confusion among the public. Severe consequences will be imposed on Omni buses found violating this instruction. Omni bus owners themselves will be held fully responsible for any inconvenience caused to the public due to their actions in violation of this directive,” he cautioned.

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“No Concrete Projects Implemented By DMK Govt”, TN BJP Head Annamalai Slams TN Budget 2024

By
The Commune
-

The finance minister of Tamil Nadu, Thangam Thennarasu, presented the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the state assembly. Themed “overcoming obstacles and advancing towards growth,” the budget is said to focus on seven key areas crucial for progress. These areas include improving physical infrastructure, creating job opportunities, enhancing social and healthcare facilities, boosting district export initiatives, refining financial mechanisms, promoting educational excellence, and advocating environmental conservation.

Against this backdrop, the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu strongly criticized the budget and issued an official statement on his official X handle that the DMK government was making empty announcements and failing to deliver on its promises. Annamalai argues that the budget lacks concrete projects, and the government is repeating the same projects from previous years without implementation. He alleged that the DMK had not earmarked funds for most of its announced schemes, relying heavily on the central government’s welfare programs. Annamalai provided examples of how the DMK has renamed central government schemes in the Tamil Nadu budget, such as presenting the POSHAN scheme as ‘Ensure Nutrition’ and the Prime Minister’s Rural Road Scheme as the Chief Minister’s Rural Road Scheme. He claims that the DMK is misleading the public by not acknowledging the central government’s contributions to these programs.

The BJP leader also highlighted discrepancies in the budget, pointing out unfulfilled promises, unspent funds, and the lack of transparency in various allocations. Annamalai questions the effectiveness of the DMK’s financial management, citing concerns about the state’s growing debt burden and the discrepancy between tax revenue growth and government spending.

He wrote, “The DMK, which has been running an advertising regime through empty announcements for three years after coming to power has once again left the people stand in the river who voted for it with a bogus budget.

Apart from the same decorative words appearing in the Tamil Nadu financial report every year, there are no concrete projects made by the Tamil Nadu government. The same projects that have been included in the budget of Tamil Nadu for the last three years, they have not been implemented yet and are being announced again and again every year as new projects. DMK does not seem to have earmarked any funds to implement most of the schemes announced in its election promises.

DMK’s financial statement shows that if the central government’s welfare schemes are removed, what is left is the naming of the bus stand and the advertisements that stand at the level of mere announcements every year. It is a joke that the DMK, which pretends that the central government’s schemes have come up with new names, or hides the central government’s contribution, is stuck unable to fully stage their drama due to lack of foresight.

The press release also pointed out how the TN government had just renamed central government schemes to present them as new schemes. Here are the few of them:

“They have tried to present the central government’s POSHAN scheme as their scheme by calling it ‘Ensure Nutrition’ (Ootachathai Urudhisei). Funding for this is provided by the central government.

The Prime Minister’s House project has been renamed as Kalaignar’s dream house. The funds for the same will go directly to the beneficiaries from the central government. If we change the name of the project, will people believe it? People question as to when Kalaingar, who lived only for his family, thought about the public?

The Prime Minister’s Rural Road Scheme has morphed into the Chief Minister’s Rural Road Scheme. Whether they have implemented them properly is also not the case.

In Tamil Nadu, hill villages are still in a dire situation of being carried on a dolly without road access for emergency medical treatment. This is the true face of the Dravidian model.

Banks provide loan assistance to Women Self Help Groups in the name of central government guidelines. People are wondering what is the DMK government’s contribution in this.

People are not ready to forget easily that the DMK lied in its election promise, that if they came to power, they will waive the jewellery loan. The DMK is advertising about women’s hostels that the central government has come up with in the name of Sakhi Nivas, and renaming them as Thozhi hostels. 20 Sakhi Nivas women’s hostels are functioning in Tamil Nadu. They are unaware of this and have mentioned it as 10 hostels in the financial report of Tamil Nadu.

To increase the green areas of the cities, the project ‘Forests in Cities’ implemented by the Central Government has been in operation since 2020. Already 10 Green ways have been developed in Tamil Nadu through this scheme. Who is the DMK government trying to deceive by hiding this as it is and announcing it as a new scheme?

The Nemmeli, Sea Water Desalination Project was launched in 2020 with a grant of ₹1,200 crore from the Central Government. In April last year, it was reported that the project would be completed and operational. But, like the scheme brought in DMK regime, ₹1,517 Crore allocation in this year’s financial statement is fooling people.

According to the financial report of Tamil Nadu, ₹452 crore has been spent on setting up model schools in Tamil Nadu. But under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, to improve the infrastructure of Tamil Nadu schools, in the last three years more than ten times that Rs. 5,856 crores they forgot to mention that the central government has provided.

Announcing that ₹7,500 crore would be spent over 5 years to improve the infrastructure of schools, till last year, Rs. 3,500 crore of funds have been earmarked under this scheme. But in this year’s report, they said that works worth Rs.2,497 crore are currently being implemented and have allocated another Rs.1,000 crore. This shows that no work has been done till last year.

The central government’s Vishwakarma welfare scheme has been renamed as the Tamil Nadu Artisan Development Scheme. Funding for this is from the central government.

Thus, all the welfare schemes mentioned in the financial statement of the Tamil Nadu government are the schemes which have been implemented for many years under the central government’s financial allocation. DMK stands up to the idea of changing their names and the idea of stickering the Dravidian name on them has become a nose cut.

Has the DMK announced any schemes of their own? Yes, they have. In every annual budget, they announce it without changing a single word. But, nothing has been implemented yet.

An allocation of ₹1,500 crore has been made this year for the rehabilitation of the Adayar river. An allocation of ₹1,500 crore was also made last year for the rehabilitation of Adayar river. We don’t know what happened to those funds.

Every year,  for the restoration of temples under the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, ₹100 crores are usually announced. So far the funds have not been fully spent. Instead, they are taking the temple funds and spending them. Another announcement which does not change every year is the announcement of purchase of new buses and  purchase of electric buses. What is the benefit of not filling the driver vacancies to run the existing buses and just making announcements of purchase every year?

Last year, the DMK announced ₹1,000 crores worth of projects to protect the welfare of fishermen, but did not disclose how much money has been spent on them so far. No details have been given about the allocation of funds for fishermen under the scheme.

It is reported that 60,567 people have been given government employment in the last three years. Out of which only 10,600 vacancies are provided by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. The Tamil Nadu government should clarify how the remaining 50,000 posts were filled.

To top it all, Tamil Nadu’s own tax revenue has grown by 19%, but only 12% has grown, questioning the DMK government’s financial management.

The DMK only mentioned that total debt burden of the Tamil Nadu government will rise to 8.3 lakh crores in the next year, but forgot to mention the total debt burden of Tamil Nadu in the financial statement. The total debt burden of Tamil Nadu is Rs. 9.5 lakh crore would be more. DMK’s only achievement was to increase the total loan amount from Rs 5.6 lakh crore last year by raising to Rs 4 lakh crore within 4 years.

DMK’s election promises that were not included in this year’s financial statement either.

  • A subsidy of  ₹100 for each cylinder
  • The 100-day work schedule will be increased to 150 days
  • Cancellation of education loan
  • Earmarking ₹15,000 crore to provide loan assistance in easy installments to re-operate industries closed during the Covid-19 pandemic
  • MSP for paddy will be raised to ₹2500 per quintal, while the MSP for sugarcane will be raised to ₹4000 
  • Petrol price reduction by ₹5 per litre and diesel price by ₹4 per litre
  • Free tablets to students studying in higher secondary schools and colleges in TN – these tablets will be provided with internet connection download facility 10GB per month in 4G & 5G internet service
  • 2 lakh houses will be built for fishermen
  • Permanent job assurance for Part-time teachers and  nurses
  • Electricity to be billed once a month

Annamalai concluded, “What is the benefit to the people of reading financial status report for three consecutive years without any announcements about important promises in 511 election promises? The reality is that the Chief Minister, who goes on pleasure trips with his family to foreign countries every year in the name of attracting investment, has not brought even a single rupee of investment to Tamil Nadu so far. How many days can we go on with this worn-out Dravidian model of putting the burden of debt on the heads of the people, without the thought of people’s welfare programs in the financial statement, without fully implementing the programs already in operation, without fulfilling the election promises? People are watching.”

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Kerala: IS Colonies In Rahul Gandhi’s Wayanad Constituency? Alleged IB Report Points To Their Existence

By
The Commune
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In a recent revelation reported by Karma News Channel on both their YouTube platform and Facebook handle, a report said to be of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has brought to light the existence of four Islamic State (IS) colonies in Wayanad, Kerala which is also incidentally the constituency of Congress scion Rahul Gandhi.

The IB report outlines that these colonies, resembling IS practices in Syria and Afghanistan, have been strategically established through extensive land purchases and the construction of walled structures. These self-sufficient villages reportedly housing selected Muslim families, have raised significant security concerns.

Stringent regulations are said to be in place, prohibiting outsiders, especially non-religious individuals, from entering the colonies or acquiring property. This security concern was reportedly highlighted in the IB report submitted to the Union Home Ministry.

The villages are equipped with facilities such as madrasas and religious schools, and their operations are shrouded in mystery due to restricted entry, necessitating further investigation. The IB report allegedly notes that the funding for these colonies originates from Malaysia.

Moreover, funds from Malaysia were reportedly invested in quarries and turf courts in Kerala. Numerous institutions in Wayanad are under IB surveillance, with a specific focus on determining potential links between these colonies and banned organizations, including whether they are being used as hideouts.

The allegations have prompted questions regarding the transparency of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government and mainstream Malayalam channels, with critics suggesting a possible connection between these actions and allegations of supporting terrorist organizations for election funds and vote bank politics.

Recent events, such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) confiscating the Popular Front of India’s (PFI) largest weapons training center, Green Valley Academy, at Manjeri in Kerala, have added to growing concerns. The center is reported to have served as a hideout and service wing for individuals involved in serious crimes, including murder.

It is also noteworthy to mention that Rahul Gandhi had declared the Indian Union Muslim League as a “completely secular” party despite the party’s controversial Islamist history.

(with inputs from Karma News)

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EPS Expels Salem ADMK Functionary Who Levelled Corruption Allegations Against Him And Another Party Functionary

By
The Commune
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In a recent development within AIADMK circles in the stronghold of Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS), internal party conflicts emerged among his cadres. In this context, EPS announced the removal of Salem West Union AIADMK Secretary AV Raju from the party. The decision came after allegations were made against Salem Metropolitan City AIADMK Secretary Venkatachalam, accusing him of amassing assets exceeding ₹1000 crore.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami has officially announced that, “Salem West Union Secretary A.V. Raju from Salem Metropolitan District has been suspended from today for acting contrary to the policy goals and principles of the association, acting contrary to the legality of the association, and acting in such a way as to disrupt the organization’s discipline, defying the control of the association and causing stigma and disrepute to the association. Salem West Union Secretary A.V. Raju is removed from all responsibilities, including that of a basic member of the AIADMK.”

AIADMK Salem union secretary sacked from party What is the reason?

This has caused a stir among AIADMK members, and expressing dissatisfaction with the party’s decision, AV Raju held a press conference at his residence in Alaghapuram, Salem. During the meeting, he made startling accusations, asserting that Salem AIADMK Metropolitan City Secretary Venkatachalam was involved in deceitful practices. The allegations included accepting bribes in exchange for facilitating government job acquisitions for his son-in-law at Periyar University in 2020. An amount of ₹30 lakhs was purportedly given, with no repayment or job secured as promised.

He also alleged in a commercial transaction, Venkatachalam assured AV Raju a sum of ₹20 lakhs to facilitate the acquisition of a plot at a reduced cost near a medical college. However, the promised commission has not been provided he alleged.

In pursuit of Anganwadi positions, AV Raju received ₹5 lakhs from two individuals, which he then handed over to Venkatachalam. However, he explicitly stated that he could not guarantee job security and affirmed that the money would not be refunded. He also stated that in 2011 affidafit of Venkatachalam he declared only assets worth ₹41 lakhs now has amassed a wealth of ₹800 crore.

AV Raju disclosed an extensive list of assets, including 123 acres of agricultural land in Pannapatti, 7 acres in Semmankoodal, 32 acres in Vellalapatti, an 8-crore bungalow with a lift in New Road, 20 acres of farmland in Karur, 15 acres of estate in Yercaud, and an apartment in Mullai Nagar. Additionally, he mentioned ownership of 6 cars, 7 buses, and 6 petrol bunks.

Subsequently, he expressed his astonishment at the party suspending him for exposing corruption rather than addressing the allegations. He issued a warning, suggesting that he might disclose information about corruption involving smuggled milk and ghee during Edappadi Palaniswami’s tenure as the head of the Salem Cooperative Milk Department. Furthermore, he asserted that EPS lacks the authority to expel him from the party. He said “I was the director with you in the dairy farm.  Shall I give you the list how much corruption you have done? Among the two I was with Edappadi Palaniswami as the director. Amma has made me the director of the diary for 5 years, I was the one of the director with him and he was the chairman. I know how much load milk have been smuggled and I know the ghee you took while you were the chairman. What allegation can you say on me? ”

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Makkalin Mudhalvar App: Stalin’s Son-In-Law Sabareesan’s Company Rolls Out New App, Subtly Peddles Dravidian Propaganda Against Amul While Also Trying To Indoctrinate Dravidian “Principles” In Youth

By
The Commune
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A new gaming app that is centred around “Dravidian principles” made its debut at the Chennai Comic Con, just in time for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Developed by Populus Empowerment Network (PEN) connected to MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan, the app, titled ‘Makkalin Mudhalvar’ (People’s Chief Minister), invites players to assume the role of a chief minister and navigate the complexities of governance. The game is targeted at youth aged between 16 and 25 and “aims to familiarise” users with the principles underlying the “Dravidian model of governance”.

Makkalin Mudhalvar rewards players for decisions aligning with Dravidian principles, emphasising values such as equality, empowerment, and secularism. Pooja Pradeep, a programme manager at PEN, speaking to India Today explained the game’s mechanics, stating that there were no wrong answers, however when one plays the game, it is evident that points are deducted for making logical choices while the player is rewarded when one makes a choice aligning with the Dravidian ideology.

As the virtual chief minister, players are tasked with upholding the core values of Dravidian ideology, reflecting historical Dravidian party stances. Pooja Pradeep told India Today that the “visionary approach” of Sabareesan Vedamurthy, the founder of Populus Empowerment Network (PEN), was reflected in the game.

We downloaded the app and tried working our way around it. Here are some screenshots in the introductory part – clearly peddling a divisive agenda, establishing the basis for ‘us and them’ narrative.

And thus the Dravidian model, the Dravidian way is introduced to the user. In what can be seen as a very good use of imagery to push the Dravidian ideology, one is reminded of how Dravidianists used art and imagery to peddle Nazi-style propaganda against the Brahmins.

Read further this article to understand how Dravidianists have for long used imagery to peddle their propaganda.

In all their artwork and imagery, the Dravidianists made use of what is known as the Picture Superiority Effect – a phenomenon in which imagery/pictures are remembered more than text or words. The same applies to this game as well. Use of AI to the best of their abilities to peddle the Dravidian propaganda.

Coming back to the game, the user plays the role of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and as soon as the CM takes up the position, a lady (probably State Secretary?) briefs the CM about the “current condition of the state”.

So once the introduction is done with, the player takes over as CM and the Dravidian principles of “Social Justice, Rationalism, Women’s Empowerment, Cultural Ethos, and Federalism” are briefed to the player.

You can see for yourself the type of content that is showcased here – unscientific religious beliefs, superstitions are irrational, calling the central government the Union and calling for autonomy – drilling into the brains of the user, the same language that the Dravidian government uses.

The instructions are given to the player and it suggests that if one follows Dravidian values, election can be won easily.

Following these screens, the task is given by different ministries say Education minister or the Health minister or a business leader who visits the CM for some thing or the other. As the player goes over these tasks, points are added or deducted based on the Dravidian principles each selection comes under.

Among these tasks was a task on a brand named “Bimool” which seems to be a wordplay on brand Amul – which was in the news recently as the DMK government opposed its entry into Tamil Nadu. So the Health Minister comes with a complaint or a problem that Bimool is setting up a factory in the state and this can be a problem for the people.

So, rationally thinking, if one clicks the first option to promote a competitive economy and allow the trade, the results are as below:

When one makes logical decisions, points start reducing as above – in the social justice and health fronts.

Here’s another example: The game also tries to pass off the freebie system (free bus travel for women in Tamil Nadu) as a positive principle – Women’s empowerment. Here are the screenshots. You can see at the top how the points reduce if you reject the idea of free bus travel for women scheme.

However, in reality it is evident that the free-bus scheme has not just led to pushing the exchequer in deep debt but has also led to women being mistreated.

As one progresses in the game, the CM is met with different ministers. For example, the Youth Minister comes up to the CM to ask how he can help youth reach their potential as the youth are tomorrow’s decision makers. The options you are given are: Host a Youth Wing Conference to raise awareness or Build their social skills by hosting a big charity event. It is to be noted that MK Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin, infamous for his remarks against Hinduism, is the Youth Minister and also the DMK Youth Wing Secretary.

Some of the choices are confusing but they are all aimed at achieving only that – confusion and to propagate the so-called Dravidian ideology. Targeting youth in the 16-25 age group can prove to be detrimental if they are exposed to such falsities are an impressionable age and at a time when they are probably going to vote for the first time.

Overall, this app seems to be a waste of time and energy and whose sole aim is to peddle Dravidianist propaganda among unsuspecting first-time voters who they presume to attract through gamification.

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