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TN HRCE Mired In Controversy Surrounding Sacred Tree Removal At Kachabeswarar Temple In Kanchipuram

By
The Commune
-

Kanchipuram renowned as the temple city is home to various sacred shrines and architectural marvels, and Kanchi Kachabeshwarar Temple is one such significant site. In this temple, during the month of Karthikai, a lamp pooja is traditionally performed that is believed to cure various diseases and ailments, draws tens of thousands of devotees.

The Kachabeshwarar temple in Kanchipuram boasts a history of 1600 years and is currently undergoing renovation for consecration ceremony. Unique trees within the temple premises, such as the Nagalingam tree, Chara kondrai tree, Vanni tree, Mango tree, Neem tree, and the Vilva tree are linked to a 200-year-old royal tradition used for Shiva worship.

In Kanchi Puranam it is said that “அக்காஞ்சியில் நீங்காது அமர்ந்திடும் கொன்றைவார் சடையனைக் கச்சபேசன் தனைக் கும்பிடச் சென்றவர் கண்டவர் கருதினர் யாவரும் தீது தீர்ந்து ஒன்றி ஒன்றா நிலை மாறிலா முத்தி பெற்றுய்வரே”
(Legend says that on that day when one bowed down to the slayer of the slayer seated in Kanchi (Kachabesan), one would receive an eternal blessing)

However, a significant concern has arisen among devotees, alleging that Natarajan, an executive officer of the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) has indiscriminately cut down trees in this revered temple and said the trees would be utilized in the Yagasalai (ceremonial fire pit) set up for the Kudamuzhakku (Consecration) ceremony.

This caused widespread dismay among the devotees, and philanthropists which drew sharp criticism directed towards the authorities responsible for the decision, particularly in light of the considerable financial investment made by those who constructed the expansive yagasalai. Questions also arose about the availability of funds for such a grand endeavor while lacking the resources to procure firewood for the ceremonial fire pit (Gundam). Devotees are calling on the HR&CE to reconsider the decision and either preserve the sanctity of the temple or provide a valid rationale for the tree removal.

In response to this situation, Hindu Munani state spokesperson Ilangovan issued a statement of condemnation regarding the issue and various social activists from Kanchipuram submitted a petition during the People’s Grievance Day meeting at the Collectorate in Kanchipuram. The petition calls for action against officials of the HR&CE department who allegedly acted in violation of government rules and requested the issuance of a circular by the department to prevent such incidents in any temple.

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Highlights Of National Sports Awards 2023

By
The Commune
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The National Sports Awards for the year 2023 were officially declared by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 20 December 2023. These awards, presented annually, aim to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding achievements in the field of sports. The Selection Committee, led by Justice AM Khanwilkar, a retired Judge from the Supreme Court of India, evaluated the nominees. The committee included distinguished sports personalities, individuals with expertise in sports journalism, and sports administrators.

The recipients were honored in a special ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 9 January 2024. President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred the awards to deserving individuals in recognition of their exceptional contributions to sports.

The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023 is bestowed upon athletes who have demonstrated remarkable and exceptional performances in sports over the preceding four years. The recipients Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty and Rankireddy Satwik Sai Raj have been acknowledged for their achievements in the sport of badminton.

The Arjuna Awards 2023 are bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional performance in Sports and Games over the past four years, showcasing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline. This year, a total of 26 recipients from various sports have been honored. 

Ojas Pravin Deotale and Aditi Gopichand Swami (Archery), Sheetal Devi (Para Archery), Sreeshankar M and Parul Chaudhary (Athletics), Mohameed Hussamuddin (Boxing),  R Vaishali (Chess), Mohammed Shami (Cricket), Anush Agarwalla (Equestrian) Divyakriti Singh (Equestrian Dressage),  Diksha Dagar (Golf),  Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu (Hockey) Pawan Kumar and Ritu Negi (Kabaddi) Nasreen (Kho-Kho)  Pinki (Lawn Bowls), Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Esha Singh (Shooting) Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (Squash)  Ayhika Mukherjee (Table Tennis), Sunil Kumar and Antim (Wrestling), Naorem Roshibina Devi (Wushu), Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy (Blind Cricket), Prachi Yadav (Para Canoeing).

The Dronacharya Award 2023 for exceptional coaches in Sports and Games is bestowed upon coaches who have consistently demonstrated outstanding and meritorious contributions. These coaches play a pivotal role in enabling athletes to excel in international events. The award is presented in two categories: regular and lifetime achievement. In the current year, this prestigious award has been conferred upon a total of eight recipients.

Regular Category Awardees (5): Lalit Kumar (Wrestling), RB Ramesh (Chess), Mahaveer Prasad Saini (Para Athletics), Shivendra Singh (Hockey), Ganesh Prabhakar Devrukhkar (Mallakhamb).

Lifetime Achievement Category Awardees (3): Jaskirat Singh Grewal (Golf), Bhaskaran E (Kabaddi), Jayanta Kumar Pushilal (Table Tennis).

The Dhyan Chand Award 2023 for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games is bestowed upon individuals to recognize their significant contributions to the realm of sports through outstanding performances and ongoing efforts in promoting sporting events even post their retirement. In the current year, this prestigious award has been conferred upon three recipients.

Manjusha Kanwar (Badminton), Vineet Kumar Sharma (Hockey), Kavitha Selvaraj (Kabaddi)

 

(With inputs from PIB)

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DMK IT Wing Spreads Misinformation About Jio Investing In TN GIM 2024; Deletes Post After Being Fact-Checked

By
The Commune
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The Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (TN GIM), launched in 2015, has been a flagship initiative by the state government aimed at attracting both foreign and domestic investments. This two-day event brought together industry leaders, investors, and government officials to showcase Tamil Nadu’s investment potential.

This year’s TN GIM started on 7 January 2024 and has played a pivotal role in attracting significant investments to Tamil Nadu. Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) worth ₹57,354 crores were signed during the event have been reported with notable contributions from major entities like VinFast’s commitment to establishing an EV manufacturing plant, Tata Electronics’ participation, and the substantial investment by the JSW Group are noteworthy highlights. AP Moller – Maersk, a prominent Danish shipping company, has expressed interest in establishing logistics hubs in the state.

However, when the DMK IT wing attempted to propagate misinformation on their X handle, claiming that Reliance Jio had put forth a commitment of ₹35,000 crore investment in Tamil Nadu’s telecom sector during the Global Investors Meet.

Selva Kumar, Vice President – TN BJP, Industrial cell, noting this fallacy criticised the DMK IT wing, and accused them of misunderstanding the message and spreading false information. He wrote, “Mukesh Ambani from Gujarat cancelled his trip to Chennai and attended the investor #GIM2024 conference only for a few minutes via video conference. Moreover, what he generally said was that Jio has invested Rs 35,000 crore in Tamil Nadu so far, but the brainless DMK IT wing has misunderstood it and is spreading the word that Jio is investing Rs 35,000 crore in Tamil Nadu.”

In a concise 2-minute video, Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, conveyed his regret for not being able to attend the meeting. He expressed a sincere desire to participate but cited unavoidable circumstances that prevented his attendance. He said, “Reliance has proudly partnered in Tamil Nadu’s growth over the years. We have opened nearly 1,300 retail stores across the state investing over ₹25000 crores and Jio has invested over ₹35000 crores in Tamil Nadu bringing the fruits of the digital revolution to 35 million subscribers in every town and village in the state”.

The post put out by the DMK IT Wing in this regard has since been deleted.

This pattern of spreading misinformation is not new for the IT Wing. Some of the instances where they have peddled misinformation in an attempt to show the Stalin-led DMK government in good light include: 

In an attempt to downplay their handling of the recent floods in the state in comparison to the floods in 2015, the IT wing strived to emphasize their perceived improved performance compared to the previous ADMK administration. They shared “posts” of how water had receded and that there was no flooding whatsoever in the city during Cyclone Michaung when in reality, the city was totally flooded and there was power outage for over 24 hours in most places. 

When Chennai was facing severe flooding after Cyclone Michaung, causing widespread disruption, the situation particular affecting essential services, including the Aavin milk supply chain, impacting residents and children, supporters of the DMK and the IT Wing shared posts that showed how essential services were functioning smoothly wherein the reality was the opposite.

Private milk suppliers offered alternatives at higher prices, leading to concerns about affordability. When the controversy escalated, the DMK IT wing was allegedly spreading misleading information amid the cyclone.

In another attempt by DMK leaders, including Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiyagarajan and DMK IT Wing head TRB Rajaa, were involved in spreading false information about a missing rake carrying 90 coaches from Nagpur to Mumbai on 14 February 2023, but the Central Railways and the Container Corporation of India promptly debunked the claim.

The Central Railways issued a detailed clarification, confirming that the rake, carrying 90 containers, had left MIHAN ICD on 1 February 2023, and is not missing as reported. The information was deemed incorrect, and an investigation into the matter is underway.

Members of the DMK and its IT Wing go above and beyond to claim credit for any achievements that enhance the image of the Tamil Nadu government led by their party. Conversely, they actively work to downplay failures, aiming to present an image that consistently casts them in a positive light.

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Dravidian Model Journalism: Sun News Journalist “Mistakenly” Addresses FIEO President As Vivo Mobile India Div President

By
The Commune
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The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s media mouthpiece, Sun News, is once again in the spotlight – this time for the quality and knowledge level of its journalists. A viral clip shows a Sun News reporter “mistakenly” addressing the President of the Federation of India Export Organization (FIEO) as the President of Vivo Mobile’s India division raising concerns about the channel’s journalistic standards.

In the video, the reporter begins by saying, “At the Chennai Trade Centre where the Global Investors Meet is taking place, we are joined by Vivo India Mobile’s President Israr Ahmed.” He goes on to ask this person, “What discussion are you taking part in today?” The person being interviewed, visibly stifling his smiles says, “I am representing the President of FIEO today. It is a great thing to have the MSME meeting here, Reverse Buyer Seller Meet is taking place.”

A reporter who is unable to differentiate between FIEO and VIVO only goes on to display the quality and the basic understanding of journalists employed by Sun News. This also makes way for uninformed journalists to spread fake news in the process because of themselves being misinformed. 

Getting a quick bite from a VIP at any location without preparedness or reading up on who is attending the event and what FIEO is all about, or whether Vivo India is even participating in the event raises questions about the kind of news propagated by the said channel. 

Some of the previous instances where Sun News peddled misinformation include:

In December 2023, at the time of the floods in Tamil Nadu, Sun News was caught spreading false information about Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s remarks, claiming she said Tamil Nadu flood damages couldn’t be announced as a national disaster. In reality, Sitharaman clarified that there is no practice of declaring any state disaster as a national one, including the Tsunami of December 2004 in Tamil Nadu.

In November 2023, Sun News spread misinformation by incorrectly stating that the online gambling law was applicable. In reality, the Madras High Court ruled on 9 November 2023, that the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022, applies only to “games of chance” and not games of skill like rummy and poker.

In August 2023, Sun News channel’s Twitter handle shared a video alleging a shortage of ordinary pots for welcoming Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai, creating a false narrative of public clamor and commotion. In reality, the pots (kalasa sombu) were intended for distribution during a Nagarathar Sambo Puja at Kashi and were brought to Karaikudi as part of Annamalai’s yatra in memory of the Kashi Nagarathars community.

In April 2021, during the peak of the second COVID wave, despite an official investigation by Collector Shanmugasundar confirming that seven individuals died at Vellore Government Hospital for various reasons, including heart failure, Tamil news channels, particularly Sun News, falsely alleged that the deaths were due to a scarcity of oxygen cylinders. Officials, including the Deputy Director of District Health Services, clarified that the patients had previously recovered from COVID-19, and their deaths were unrelated to oxygen shortages, yet Sun News continued to disseminate the misleading information without correction.

In June 2021, a manipulated video falsely claiming that an elderly Muslim man’s beard was forcibly cut for not chanting patriotic slogans circulated widely on social media, prompting outrage. Despite clarifications from Ghaziabad Police about the incident having no communal angle, the misinformation persisted, leading to the arrest of three individuals, while an FIR was filed against individuals and media outlets, including AltNews co-founder Muhammad Zubair and Sun News in Tamil Nadu, for spreading the fake news.

In September 2021, Sun News spread lies by claiming that BJP workers left garbage bags on Besant Nagar beach after a cleanup on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. The allegations were refuted, highlighting another instance of misinformation being propagated through the media outlet.

The recurring nature of such incidents prompts questions about whether these are genuine mistakes or deliberate acts, raising doubts about the authenticity of news reported by the Sun News channel and its overall credibility.

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Dravidian Model: Andrea Performs “Oo Solriya Mama, Oo Oo Solriya Mama?” And Other Cine Songs At Global Investors Meet

By
The Commune
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The two-day Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2024 came to a close on 8 January 2024. While the state is said to have attracted over ₹6 lakh crore in investment during the meet, the valedictory ceremony is what raised eyebrows of netizens in Tamil Nadu and outside.

The latter half of the second day saw Kollywood actor Andrea Jeremiah and music composer Stephen Devassy belt out Tamil film songs during their 12-minute performance. The list of songs included “Oo Solriya Mama, Oo Oo Solriya Mama?” which sounds and is known to have vulgar movements as a part of the dance sequence.

Netizens questioned the logic behind the choice of songs, especially the one mentioned above. The singer was also seen grooving similarly to this song. Vulgarity and profanity are seen as a hallmark of the Kollywood industry and to see that seeping into a global event where investors are participating is highly questionable.

Netizens said it suddenly felt like they were watching the Maanada Mayilaada programme patronised by DMK leader Karunanidhi. They also noted that if it was a DMK political meeting, “record dance” was sure to be a part of the programme.

Some even made fun of this part of the valedictory ceremony.

Some questioned if such song and dance was the way to attract investment.

There is a longstanding association between Kollywood and the DMK. Be it DMK leader Karunanidhi’s perverted pen that wrote erotica and passed it off as literature or the lyrics and gyrating movements in Tamil films that are passed off as content that can be viewed by children, the pattern remains consistent – leveraging provocative content to draw audiences. However, the decision to showcase such elements at an international summit raises significant questions.

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“BJP Is Ready To Build Bharat Mata Temple To Fulfill Subramanya Siva’s Dream,” Says TNBJP Chief Annamalai

By
The Commune
-

During his recent visit to Dharmapuri as part of the ‘En Mann En Makkal Yatra’ on Sunday, 7 January 2024, Tamil Nadu state BJP President, Annamalai declared the party’s readiness to build a Bharat Mata temple at Papparapatti. This commitment is in line with the wishes expressed by freedom fighter Subramanya Siva. As part of the visit, he paid homage to the Bharat Mata statue at freedom fighter Subramanya Siva’s memorial in Papparapatti.

Speaking with reporters on Subramanya Siva, Annamalai highlighted that “Bharat Mata photo was first drawn by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1870. It was a picture of a goddess clad in a saffron saree without any decorations, and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee said Bharat Mata integrates the entire India against the British. In 1905, Abanindranath Tagore drew another version of Bharat Mata – the one that you see today with a lion. He was the nephew of Rabindranath Tagore. The picture was the common symbol which brought together all Hindu and Muslims to fight against the British in Bengal. At the same period, Subramanya Siva here dreamt of building a temple for Bharat Mata after seeing the uprising across the country. Subramanya Siva was suffering from leprosy then, he was not allowed to travel in trains and the British did not allow any kind of treatment for him because they wanted him dead. People with leprosy were not allowed on public transport there was no medicine for leprosy. Subramanya Siva walked all the way from Salem to here to meet Chinnamuthu Mudaliar and got this land registered. Beyond politics, we ought to fulfill his dream of building a temple for Bharat Mata on this 6-acre land. There is a temple here now, but it has been named as memorial. It has been clearly mentioned in this land document that the land must be used for the purpose of ideologies constituted upon Bharat Mata. Subramanya Siva’s dream has not been fulfilled yet, this is beyond all politics, A temple has to be built here to fulfill Subramanya Siva’s dream. BJP is ready to build a temple here, we are ready to build the temple and hand over it to the government, we do not want to take credit for the same. Let the government administer it as a public property”.

Since its inauguration in 2021, the Bharat Mata Ninaivalayam in Papparapatti, Dharmapuri district, the residents have been demanding that it be renamed from Bharat Mata Ninaivalayam to Bharat Mata temple and aspiring for public access, allowing individuals to pay respects and garland the idol in line with the late freedom fighter Subramanya Siva’s vision. It is on the verge of realisation nearly a century after its conceptualisation by CR Das in 1923.

In 2022, the BJP sought permission from the police to garland and conduct a pooja for the Bharat Mata idol around Independence Day. Unfortunately, permission was abruptly revoked at the eleventh hour except for granting access to the freedom fighter’s memorial to pay respects.

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PM Modi’s Visit to Lakshadweep Sparks Historical Reflections On Cuddalore’s Forgotten Heroes

By
The Commune
-

Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep islands on 2 and 3 January 2024, social media has been abuzz with extensive discussions, intense debates, and conversations.

In the context of Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu State BJP President Annamalai, during the “En Mann En Makkal” padayatra on 8 January 2024 in Cuddalore recounted the historicity of two brothers from the district quoting from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat programme on 27 October 2019. 

In the two-minute video clip, Annamalai said, “Tamil Nadu government has failed to speak about two significant leaders from Cuddalore. Prime Minister has previously spoken about them, he introduced the two leaders in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, they are Cuddalore’s Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar and Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar. PM has already spoken about these two brothers in October 2019 in Mann Ki Baat. We desire to let every child from Cuddalore know about them, India got its independence in 1947; Pakistan had an eye on Lakshadweep island. They sent a ship to Lakshadweep to hoist a flag and claim ownership of the island. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel learned about this and directed two brothers from Cuddalore to talk with Travancore Samasthanam in Kerala and go to Lakshadweep with troops to hoist the flag before Pakistan can enter. Today we have an MP from Lakshadweep and if today Lakshadweep is a part of India, the credit goes only to sons of Cuddalore soil Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar and Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar!! Have we read anything about them in the textbooks in Tamil Nadu?”

Mann Ki Baat – Prime Minister’s Radio Programme on 27 October 2019

On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his message to the nation through #MannKiBaat on 27 October 2019, which was broadcasted on All India Radio. During his concise address, the Prime Minister shared insights on leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar, and Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar, along with narrating the story behind the annexation of the Lakshadweep islands. 

This excerpt is from the Prime Minister’s address where he states, “Friends, all of us know that as India’s first home minister, Sardar Patel undertook the colossal, historic task of integrating Princely states. Scrutinising the minutest of events closely was his rare quality. On the one hand, he concentrated on Hyderabad, Junagarh, and other States; on the other, he was watching far-flung Lakshadweep intently. Actually, when we refer to Sardar Patel’s endeavor, his role in the unification of just a few notable States is discussed. He played a far more significant role when it came to a small region such as Lakshadweep too. Lakshadweep is one of the most beautiful landscapes in India. Soon after Partition in 1947, our neighbour had cast an eye on Lakshadweep; a ship bearing their flag was sent there. When Sardar Patel was informed of this, he wasted no time in initiating stern action. He urged the Mudaliar brothers, Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar and Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar to immediately undertake a mission with the people of Travancore to Lakshadweep and take the lead in unfurling the Tricolour there. Following his orders, the Tricolour was promptly unfurled there and the nefarious dreams of the neighbor of annexing Lakshadweep were decimated within no time. After this incident, Sardar Patel asked the Mudaliar brothers to personally ensure all assistance for the development of Lakshadweep. Today, Lakshadweep is contributing significantly to India’s progress. It is an attractive tourist destination too. I hope you get the opportunity to visit the picturesque islands and its pristine beaches.”

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Adani Invests ₹42700 Crore In TN, This Is How DMK Scion Udhayanidhi Had Spread Canards About Adani

By
The Commune
-

The Dravidianists’ favourite punching bag, Adani group has been making the news recently. The Adani Group has entered into memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to invest more than ₹42,700 crore in Tamil Nadu during the Global Investors Meet 2024. The most substantial investment, totaling ₹24,500 crore, is earmarked for three pump storage projects (PSP) by Adani Green Energy Ltd over the next 5-7 years.

At such a time, videos of DMK minister and son of Chief Minister Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin, who attacked Prime Minister Modi for his “close friendship” with Adani started surfacing. 

Speaking at a Youth Wing members programme in Pudukottai in August 2023, Udhayanidhi Stalin addressing Prime Minister Modi said, “There was only one man who is doing well during your (Modi) 9-year tenure. Your dearest friend, Adani.”

He continued, “Who is this Adani? Mr Modi’s closest friend. You know Mr. Modi is always touring. He will be outside the country more rather than in India. I always say this. Mr. Modi, you are travelling by aircraft, you would travel without a pilot but never without Adani. He is so close to him. He has handed over all existing public sector companies to Adani.”

The Adani Group has a significant footprint in Tamil Nadu across various rapidly advancing sectors, encompassing ports and logistics, edible oil, power transmission, city gas distribution, data centers, green energy, and cement manufacturing.

Through its integrated ports and logistics company, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, the group currently manages the Kattupalli and Ennore Ports. In Tiruvallur district alone, Adani Ports has invested a substantial sum of ₹3,733 crore. These two ports collectively serve the hinterland in the Chennai and Sri City regions, strategically positioned to fulfill the region’s export-import (exim) requirements.

Udhayanidhi Stalin has time and again demonised Adani and the business. In September 2023, when he was in the news for his remarks against Sanathana Dharma, he said, “Have they built the AIIMS in Madurai? Did they take forward any knowledge movement like the Kalaignar Centenary Library? Afraid of having to face questions about Manipur in India, he is globe-trotting along with his friend Adani.”

In October 2023, addressing a party worker meeting, he said, “While Mr. Modi was working overtime for the phenomenal growth of the ‘Adani Empire’ instead of working for all Indians, the DMK was working for the Tamils, Tamil Nadu, and their progress.”

In December 2023, addressing the Youth Wing in Nilgiris, he said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has handed over the country to his friend Adani.”

In December 2023, addressing a party function in Udhagamandalam, Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “I only spoke about equality in my speech,” referring to his speech on Sanathana Dharma, “but Mr. Modi made it a talking point across the country, and also said that only one family was living well in Tamil Nadu,” he said. “There are now Adani railways, Adani airports, roads, and even stadiums. So only one family in India is living well and that is the Adanis.”

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Dravidian Model Global Investors Meet: What The DMK And Dravidian Stock Media Won’t Tell You About VinFast Investment

By
The Commune
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The Tamil Nadu global investors meet (TNGIM) 2024 happened on 07th and 08th January 2024 to attract global investors to the state. The DMK IT Wing has been boasting about the investments so far and sharing the big numbers the meet has attracted. Ironically, the DMK, which has opposed corporatization since 2014, has no issues sharing Ambani’s quotes praising Tamil Nadu for being a business friendly state.

One of the investments which the Dravidian Model DMK government has been selling off as a victory for Tamil Nadu is the investment made by Vinfast Auto Ltd.

VinFast Auto Ltd. is an Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturer headquartered in Vietnam. The company is rapidly expanding globally. The company went public in 2023.

However, the company has been in the global news for all the wrong reasons.

Trust Issues

Even their own country people (Vietnamese) have trust issues with the EVs that VinFast produces. The company faces challenges regarding local consumer trust in its EVs, attributed to product issues, negative publicity, and a lack of confidence.

There have been numerous complaints about construction quality and vehicle software problems, which compound the difficulties of promoting EVs in a region with underdeveloped charging infrastructure.

Loss Making

Despite incurring a net loss exceeding $600 million in the third quarter, of 2023 VinFast continues to expand. In the quarter concluding in September 2023, the company reported net losses of $623 million, marking a more than 30% increase compared to the previous year. This loss comes despite a substantial 159% growth in revenue, reaching $343 million during the same period. On NASDAQ, the company has lost 81% of its valuation in the past 6 months. A forecast says that the company will face substantial difficulty as the EV industry growth is slowing down in the US. The company is also trying to sort out its tax situation by establishing a manufacturing unit in the US.

Poor Sales

VinFast had not yet achieved half of its goal of selling 50,000 cars in 2023. As of October 2023, it had reportedly sold around 21,000 cars for the year. Vinfast is a small company which sells only 1070 EV cars and 60% of it was sold to VinGroup owned taxi service, GreenSM. The company sells only 420 cars to the public.

Hoodwinking By DMK?

Vinfast will start their operations in Thoothukudi, where in 2018 a major copper manufacturer – Sterlite industries, was closed after a troubled history. The DMK, Dravidian Stocks and NGOs with ties to the Church were elemental in instigating and sustaining the protests which resulted in violence. Since Sterlite’s closure, the people and small industries of the region which were dependent on Sterlite have been experiencing economic strain. In order to compensate for the economic downfall of the region, the DMK government seems to be bringing in some company to revive the economic fortunes of the region. The DMK government claims that Vinfast has invested ₹16,000 crore, but in reality the company has earmarked only ₹4,000 crore for the initial five years of investment.

Is The Tamil Nadu Administration Friendly Towards EVs?

Tamil Nadu is one of the states that does not give any subsidy to the end user for EVs except for a 100% discount on road tax. However, the newly drafted Tamil Nadu EV policy aims to promote the adoption and development of EVs in the state. The policy also has announced incentives for the EV sector, but it is for the manufacturers and not the buyers.

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Tamil Nadu Transport Workers Union Declare Indefinite Strike Over Unresolved Demands

By
The Commune
-

The anticipated Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu is under the shadow of uncertainty as the indefinite strike declared by Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation (TNSTC) workers has thrown travel plans into disarray for numerous passengers.

Following unsuccessful negotiations with transport authorities on 8 January 2024, union representatives announced on Tuesday that they would proceed with the indefinite strike. The strike, led by workers associated with prominent unions such as the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), and Anna Thozhir Sanga Peravai (ATSP), among others, is fueled by a range of demands.

The primary grievances include the implementation of the old pension scheme, the release of pending dearness allowance, the filling up of vacant posts, and the initiation of talks regarding the 15th wage revision. Despite the pressing nature of these demands, the government, in response, conveyed that discussions could only be entertained post-Pongal, leaving the workers dissatisfied.

CITU leader A Soundararajan expressed disappointment, labeling the government’s response as unjust and unsatisfactory. He remarked, “This is not the reply someone would expect from the government. With great regret, we would like to point out that the government is seeing the transport workers as second-class citizens.”

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