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Madras High Court Directs Investigation Into Murasoli Trust Land Dispute

By
The Commune
-

The Madras High Court on 4 January 2024, presided over by Justice SM Subramaniam, directed the state government to furnish revenue documents related to Murasoli Trust’s land in the Panchami land case. The Trust, representing DMK, sought to restrain the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) from hearing a complaint by Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party Secretary R Srinivasan. The Trust argued insufficient evidence for the Panchami land claim, citing ownership documents. They challenged Srinivasan’s standing, questioning the political bias of former NCSC vice-chairman L Murugan. The NCSC asserted its duty to investigate SC deprivation. 

On 5 January 2024, the Tamil Nadu government informed the Madras High Court that, based on revenue department records, the land housing the Murasoli office belongs to Anjugam Publications, refuting Panchami land claims. RS Bharathi, DMK organization secretary, challenged the National Commission for SC/ST’s notice on the alleged Panchami land issue. The Additional Advocate General asserted Anjugam’s ownership, accusing political misuse of the commission. The Murasoli Trust’s counsel claimed a prolonged, publicity-driven delay. 

In a development on 10 January 2024, the Madras High Court directed the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) to issue new summons in the Murasoli Trust land dispute. Justice SM Subramaniam invalidated the prior summons by ex-NCSC Vice-Chairman L Murugan, now a Central Minister, ordering a fresh notice. The judge urged the commission to conduct an unbiased inquiry, considering the TN government’s documents and BJP’s R Srinivasan’s complaint. 

Dismissing RS Bharathi’s plea to annul the 2019 summons, Justice Subramaniam stated that the disputed facts about Panchami land should be examined through the commission’s investigation. 

The judge observed, “Such disputed facts relating to immovable properties cannot be adjudicated in the present writ proceedings. The complaint before the NCSC is that the Panchami lands allotted to scheduled caste members were transferred to other persons in an illegal manner. Thus an investigation and an inquiry by the commission is warranted for the purpose of ascertaining the truth regarding the character of the land in safeguarding and protecting the interest of the scheduled caste members.” 

Justice Subramaniam noted that the notices from the commission to the petitioner lost relevance as the third respondent, Murugan became a Minister and no longer held the vice-chairman position in the NCSC.

Addressing arguments against the commission investigating property rights, the judge emphasised the primary duty of the commission to safeguard the rights and socio-economic development of SCs under Article 338(5)(b). He said, “It squarely falls within the ambit of the NCSC to probe any such complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the SCs. It is the duty of the Commission to inquire into any such illegal occupation of Panchami lands”.

Rejecting assumptions about the commission exceeding its powers, the judge stated that mere presumption isn’t grounds for a writ of prohibition, especially regarding Bharathi’s plea to halt the commission from hearing complaints.

Regarding allegations of political motive and malice in the summons, the judge emphasized the need to examine the nature of the dispute, prioritizing constitutional and legal rights over political affiliations in the public interest.

TN BJP chief K Annamalai took to his X handle to write about this. He wrote, “Allegations that the Panchami land belonging to Scheduled Castes, where the office of Mursoli, the DMK’s official newspaper, is located have been for years. The fact that the DMK, which should have been asked to explain this allegation on several platforms, has avoided giving an answer has raised strong suspicions among the public. In the case of BJP4Tamilnadu state general secretary Mr. @ProfessorBJP as the first complainant and @BJP4Tamilnadu

 state list team leader Mr. @tadaperiyasami as the second complainant, the DMK sought a ban on the inquiry by the National Listing Commission. The following petition was dismissed today by the Hon’ble Madras High Court and a fresh notice has been issued to start the investigation.

I earnestly request that the DMK should not try to delay the investigation any more and cooperate with the investigation. BJP’s legal struggle to recover Panchami lands belonging to Scheduled Community will continue.”

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“RSS-BJP Event, Won’t Attend”: Congress Declines To Attend Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Consecration Ceremony

By
The Commune
-

On Wednesday, the Congress announced that Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will not be attending the Ram Mandir event scheduled for January 22. This statement from the party aims to put an end to speculations regarding the Congress’s stance on the Ram Temple event, which had been a topic of conflicting opinions within the INDIA bloc partners.

The Congress expressed its view that the consecration event has taken on a clear RSS/BJP character. While acknowledging that Lord Ram is revered by millions in India, the Congress accused the RSS/BJP of turning the construction of the temple in Ayodhya into a political endeavor. They noted that the inauguration of the incomplete temple by BJP and RSS leaders seemed to be motivated by electoral considerations.

“The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain. While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event.“, the statement read.

The statement by Jairam Ramesh, a general secretary of the party, further criticized the RSS/BJP for politicizing the Ram temple project, highlighted the temple’s incomplete status, and raised concerns about the timing of the inauguration for political gain. Nonetheless, they affirmed their adherence to the 2019 Supreme Court judgment.

The Congress declining to attend the comes weeks after the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), had criticised Congress for what it deemed a ‘non-committal’ stance on attending the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. The message conveyed was that Congress must explicitly declare its non-attendance, akin to CPI(M), to avoid alienating its Muslim vote bank in Kerala.

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How Dravidanist Media Tried To Peddle Propaganda Against Modi Govt Using A Dubious Complaint Of An “IRS Officer” While Ignoring The Farmer Who Was Detained By DMK Govt Under Goondas Act 

By
The Commune
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The Case of Arul

In November 2023, the DMK government in Tamil Nadu involved the Goondas Act against seven farmers engaged in a sit-in protest opposing the land acquisition for the SIPCOT project in Melma, Cheyyar taluk, Tiruvannamalai district.

Following widespread criticism of the action against protesting farmers, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced the reversal of the decision on 17 November 2023. Six out of the seven detainees were released after their family members met with Cheyyar MLA and Minister for Public Works, Highways, and Minor Ports, E V Velu, requesting their release, as mentioned in the Chief Minister’s statement.

However, the decision to invoke the Goondas Act against environmental activist Arul Arumugam was not rescinded. Arumugam gained prominence for opposing the Chennai-Salem eight-lane highway project during the previous AIADMK regime. Arul, originally from Krishnagiri district, was born into a family of land-owning farmers. Despite working as a Software Engineer at Polaris and Infosys in Bengaluru, Arul’s passion for agriculture led him to leave his corporate job around 2018 and return to Krishnagiri. Taking charge of his patta lands in Chengam region, Tiruvannamalai, after his father’s demise in 2009, Arul fully embraced farming in 2018.

In response to the government’s eight-lane expressway project in 2018, targeting wetlands in Tiruvannamalai, Arul, along with fellow farmers, protested against potential land acquisition. 

Despite campaigning for the DMK in 2021 based on their promise to halt the expressway project, Arul faced criticism when the government did not drop the initiative. Nevertheless, he continued supporting farmers affected by the SIPCOT project through his position as the state Chairman of Uzhavan Urimai Iyakkam. Arul assisted in submitting petitions and organising peaceful protests against the acquisition of 3,174 acres of wetlands, emphasising his commitment to agricultural rights.

Addressing reporters, E V Velu defended the government’s intention to provide jobs for the educated youth in the district, accusing “outsiders” of creating trouble. Velu claimed that one of the detainees, Devan, did not own any land and labeled Arul from Krishnagiri as the chief instigator behind the protest, alleging a pre-planned hindrance to development work.

Contradicting these claims, Devan’s father stated he did not support the protest, while Devan’s wife, D Kalaiselvi, mentioned that some DMK members intimidated the family and coerced her father-in-law to speak against his son. The Goondas Act invoked on Arul was rescinded on 5 January 2024. 

The Case Of 2 Dalit Farmers

A verdict copy that has come to light in the bison death case. On 15 January 2017, as per information received by Salem Forest Guard, Forest Officer Sirajeedin, Athar Divisional Forester P. Ponnusamy, and Nagalur East Beat Conservator of Forests A. Murugan visited Atthar Vattam, Ramanayakanpalayam, Karamanitattu around 5:00 PM to address the issue of an electric fence installed by Chinnuswami’s sons, Krishnan and Kannayanai, in the presence of the village administration officer, to destroy the rats that were destroying tapioca (kuchi kizhangu) planted on the land.

Voluntarily, the sons admitted to setting up the electric fence on their land on the night of 1 January 2017. They reported that on the morning of 2 January 2017, a male bison and a female bison got entangled in the electric fence and died. The brothers (who turned adversaries later) dug a hole and buried the bison at Ramanayakanpalayam on 2 January 2017. When asked to show the spot where they buried the bison, Kannaiyan revealed the spot and dug up the bison, and in the presence of forest officials from Ramanayakanpalayam, the village administration officer and adversaries. They discovered a male and a female bison dead and decaying in the pit. A veterinary assistant from Kalpaganur confirmed that the decaying animals were wild buffaloes and a veterinary surgeon conducted a post-mortem examination.

Following the doctor’s advice, a pit was dug, and the dead bodies were buried at the location where they were found. Additionally, two buffalo horns, which were not decomposed, were identified by A. Murugan, Nagalur East Beat Conservator of Forests. The horns were seized . Samples were collected on 15 January 2017, in the presence of witness Sirajideen, Forest Officer, and the Village Administrative Officer, as documented in the Mahajar statement, and samples were prepared on the spot.

The ED later decided to stop pursuing the case involving the two Dalit farmers once the news came out.

Is TNM Planting Stories To Peddle Propaganda?

In what appears to be a planted story, the TNM portal had actively pursued the case of Dalit farmers and reporting on letters written by soon-to-retire self-proclaimed activist IRS officer Balamurugan and his wife Dalit Pravina. This story was amplified by other Dravidianist media outlets like Sun News and Kalignar Seithigal.

It is perplexing that how two separate incidents, one involving the death of a bison due to the erection of a fence that was electrified were linked to the ED raids of the farmers. The News Minute also alleged that a BJP leader was involved in land grabbing of the two brothers involved in this matter. Were these stories politically spun for narrative purposes by The News Minute?

It is noteworthy that news media outlets such as The News Minute had been focusing on cases involving Dalit farmers under ED purview that recently made headlines and had not been supporting activists like Arul. 

There have been accusations that the DMK government through its state intelligence is trying to plant stories to embarrass ED.

While TNM previously profiled Arul, they had not taken up his case since it involves questioning the ruling DMK government. 

Following the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung in Chennai, TNM’s Shabbir reported on the shortcomings of the DMK government in managing the floods. In response, a troll army targeted him accusing him of having received money as per an alleged diary of mining baron Sekhar Reddy. Later, TNM’s Editor-in-Chief Dhanya Rajendran ‘thanked’ DMK IT wing chief TRB Rajaa for reigning in his IT wing functionaries. 

The approach seems to be prioritising alignment with their narrative, portraying the central government as a villain and bolstering the image of the BJP as a fascist entity, rather than risking criticism of the DMK.

And that’s why TNM should consider renaming itself from The News Minute to The New Murasoli.

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Tamil Nadu Horror: 19-Yr-Old Burnt To Death After She Marries A Dalit, No Outrage From VCK Head Thiruma And Dravidianist Media

By
The Commune
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Tamil Nadu, a state often hailed as the land of social justice by Dravidian Stocks, recently witnessed a tragic incident where a 19-year-old girl from the Kallar community in Thanjavur, who had married a Dalit, became a victim of a devastating honor killing.

Naveen, a 19-year-old Dalit, tied the knot with his schoolmate Ishwarya on 31 December 2023, with the support of friends in Tirupur. Employed in a garment company in Tirupur and rented a house in Veerapandi in the Tirupur district.

Ishwarya’s father, Perumal, filed a missing person complaint with the Palladam police on 2 January 2024. Allegedly, when Ishwarya was summoned to the police station, she was said to be coerced to leave with her parents. Despite Naveen’s attempts to seek assistance from the police, he purportedly faced rejection, being informed falsely that Ishwarya had returned home.

Naveen later discovered that his wife had been tragically burned to death by her own family on 3 January 2023. Upon reporting the incident to the police, an investigation ensued, resulting in the arrest of the father and four other relatives implicated in this appalling act.

This honor killing underscores the persistent challenges faced by inter-caste marriages in certain communities, emphasizing the ongoing need for efforts to address such social issues in Tamil Nadu and beyond.

https://twitter.com/ItsyourMB/status/1744640244287463892

Despite this horrific incident coming to light, there has been a muted response from the so-called champions of Dalits VCK head Thol. Thirumavalavan, who is an ally of the ruling DMK. His last social media posts have been about the protest he is spearheading against Coromondel fertilizer factory in Ennore, Chennai.

Other Dravidianist media which had debated in length on violence against women in other states have looked the other way.

Recently Reported Honour Killings In Tamilnadu

In a case of honor killing, a man reportedly murdered his mother and son allegedly due to a disagreement over his son marrying a woman from the Scheduled Caste community against his wishes in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu.

A 24-year-old Dalit individual, Prabhakaran, succumbed to fatal stab wounds inflicted by the father of a 17-year-old girl with whom he was romantically involved in Kumbakonam Tamil Nadu.

Referencing past incidents in Tamil Nadu, netizens are advocating for the enactment of a dedicated law to address honor killings.

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Press Freedom Under Threat In Trudeau’s Canada? Rebel News Journo Arrested After He Questioned Canada’s Dy PM On Not Including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps As Terror Group

By
The Commune
-

Rebel News journalist David Menzies was apprehended on Monday (8 January 2024) after he confronted Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland regarding the government’s decision not to include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the list of designated terrorist entities.

The incident, which took place in Richmond Hill, Ontario, was captured on video and shows Menzies colliding briefly with a police officer while trying to approach Freeland during an event commemorating the destruction of Flight PS752, a Ukrainian International Airlines plane that was downed by the Iranian military in January 2020, resulting in the loss of numerous Canadian lives.

The video from Monday’s encounter appears to depict an officer stepping into Menzies’ path while he was carrying a microphone in the parking lot of a suburban strip mall. Subsequently, the officer grabbed Menzies by his lapels, pushed him against a wall, and accused him of assault before arresting him. Menzies disputed the charge, asserting that he hadn’t physically touched anyone and suggested that it was an unjustified accusation. He also made a reference to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his comments.

The whole incident was captured by David’s cameraman Lincoln Jay.

“This is a trumped-up charge of assault, folks. I didn’t come here to cause any trouble. I came here to do my job and now I’m handcuffed. This is your Canada now, folks. This is the gestapo taking blackface’s orders,“, he vociferously said.

Menzies requested the officer’s name and badge number, but it’s unclear whether those details were provided in the video. The officer in question was later identified as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) protective detail by a spokesperson from the York Regional Police, who clarified that there was no credible security threat, and Menzies was released without conditions.

The RCMP also issued a statement acknowledging their involvement in the incident and mentioned that they were looking into the actions of all parties involved, without providing further details at that time.

Rebel News widely shared the video of the incident and presented their perspective on their website, claiming that Menzies was assaulted and arrested by Freeland’s bodyguards.

The Rebel News said that Menzies was outside a vigil for the victims of terrorism, when he spotted Liberal Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland walking in.

“David tried to ask Freeland a question. But as soon as he did, an RCMP bodyguard ran into David, grabbed him, arrested him and falsely accused him of assault! Soon, David was swarmed by police, handcuffed and frog-marched into a police car.“, it read.

Rebel News further said in its report “David did nothing wrong — except ask a question. The police lied about the assault. They’re the ones who assaulted him. They obviously knew what they were doing was wrong because the cop who attacked David refused to identify himself — David asked multiple times for a name and badge number, which they are obligated to provide. It’s deeply disappointing to see how easily the police lied about what happened, all to please their Liberal masters. But the video doesn’t lie.” adding that David’s rights as a reporter and his rights as a citizen were violated.

“This is Canada, not Iran. Anyone is allowed to ask a politician a question. Even if — especially if —the politician doesn’t like the question. No one is allowed to abuse our people physically, and we will pursue justice whenever they do.“, the report said.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu condemned the arrest, with Gladu calling for the House of Commons heritage committee to be recalled to investigate the matter and demand transparency and accountability regarding Menzies’ apprehension.

(With inputs from CBC News)

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Dravidian Model Of Hypocrisy: Adani Invests In DMK-Ruled Tamil Nadu, Here’s How DMK Leaders & Its Allies Spread Canards About Him

By
The Commune
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The TNGIM 2024 meet, which took place on 7th and 8th January 2024, brought in a slew of new investments to the state. The meet also brought with it many controversies. The opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, mainly the Tamil Nadu BJP, were critical of the background of the investing companies and the reported inconsistencies in the investments. While the DMK, who have spoken so much against corporatisation in the past, have welcomed global investors with open arms now but also have changed their stand against Adani Group as well.

To Oppose Or Not To Oppose?

Ironically, the news of Adani group’s  ₹42, 768 crore investment plans in Tamil Nadu gave a boost to the company’s stocks. However, this is not the first time that the DMK government has been friendly towards the Adani group despite alleging them of scams and crony capitalism in the public. Earlier in 2021, a MoU was signed with Adani Enterprises for establishing a data centre in Chennai. The CM MK Stalin, who was vocal in opposing the Kattupalli port expansion project near Chennai, has not committed to cancelling the expansion and the stand of the government remains ambiguous until now.

The DMK and the ADMK had both promised to scrap the expansion project if elected to power in the 2021 assembly elections. However, DMK is yet to take action on the project after winning the election with a good majority. In the past three years, there were two public hearings planned and both were cancelled after public outcry.

The Tamil Nadu CM even called the PM’s speech in the parliament as ‘rhetoric’ when the opposition parties demanded an explanation about the Hindenburg report of Adani Group. CM Stalin’s son and TN Sports Minister Udhayanidhi has a long history of attacking Adani.

Here are a few other times when MK Stalin and his DMK peddled canards against Adani.

In 2018, MK Stalin had said “Wind power scam, coal procurement scam. What is the reason why the ADMK government has turned the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board into a “hell land” of mega scams and is now offering to import coal to a company like Adani at a price of more than 150% without issuing a tender?”

In 2020, Palanivel Thiagarajan (Finance Minister turned IT Minister now) who was back then the DMK IT Wing chief said “BJP Govt in partnership with corporate friends like Adani, Ambani, promotes monolithic capitalism hostile to public and other businessmen”

 

The Path Of The Allies

One of the main allies of the DMK, Chidambaram MP and the Chief of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) party, Thol. Thirumavalavan has also spoken about Adani in length. In a viral video, he says, ‘Modi party/BJP spreads hatred politics and invests everything to Adani (sic). Modi is not a leader who works hard for Hindus, but he works hard for his benami Adani. Adani is a newly created billionaire by Modi. He cannot directly do business, he cannot be a capitalist, he cannot own a business, so he created Adani as a benami. He created him when he was the CM, he gave him free electricity, thousands of acres of land and created him as a businessman. Whatever assets he earned during his tenure as CM is under Adani’s name, and all the assets he is earning during his tenure now as PM are also under Adani’s name. Modi might not have a family, he may act as a sage who does not seek wealth, but all his assets are under Adani’s name. Adani is Modi’s benami, we should understand that.’

The CPIM, an alliance partner of the DMK, has also had many run-ins with the Adani group in the past and has maintained double standards regarding the Adani group. While the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan vehemently opposed the Adani takeover of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, the party fought with Congress to take credit for the mega port constructed in Vizhinjam. The party even went to the extent of calling the Supreme Court’s verdict in Hindenburg-Adani case as ‘disappointing‘, just a few days ago. The TN CPIM conducted a massive rally against the proposed Adani port at Kanyakumari as a part of Sagarmala Project. However, despite expressing such strong views against corporatisation and Adani in particular, the TN CPIM has maintained silence regarding such investments meet, Kattupalli expansion project and Adani investments in the state.

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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
-

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