From the 28 Assembly seats in the 2014 elections to three seats in the 2024 polls, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Mehbooba Mufti has been decimated in J&K. Mehbooba Mufti suffered a double jolt in this election.
While her party got decimated, her daughter, Iltija Mufti also lost her first election from the once strong bastion of the Muftis, the Srigufwara-Bijbehara constituency in Anantnag district. Reacting to her party’s defeat, Mehbooba Mufti put up a bold face. She said, “It is encouraging that the people came out and voted in such large numbers. So far as PDP is concerned, everybody must accept the people’s verdict. Winning and losing is part of the election process.”
Her senior leaders, Abdul Rehman Veeri, uncle Sartaj Madni, former minister Gulam Nabi Hanjoora, Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Abdul Gaffar Sofi, Asiya Naqash and Mehboob Beg also failed to win any seat in these elections. Three winners of the PDP include Waheed ur Rehman Parra from Pulwama, Fayaz Ahmad Mir from Kupwara and Rafiq Ahmad Naik from Tral constituency. Among these, Waheed ur Rehman Parra has won more out of his support among the youth than the influence of the PDP in the Pulwama constituency. Fayaz Ahmad Mir was pitched against Nasir Aslam Wani of the NC and for Wani, Kupwara was an unexplored political constituency.
Tral was won by Rafiq Ahmad Naik as the Naik family is politically well entrenched in the Tral constituency. The NC had left this seat for the Congress in their pre-poll alliance agreement. The net deduction from all this is that the PDP has reached the nadir of its political existence in J&K.
The late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed formed the party in 1999 and 2024 has virtually brought the curtain down on this party. From its proclaimed status to play the kingmaker’s role after the 2024 polls, the PDP is left lonely and shorn of its past political clout in these elections. Whether the party is able to resurrect itself after having been flattened by its rivals in the NC, would have to be watched.
The inept handling of political alliances, the surprising choice of fielding her daughter Iltija Mufti by shifting the well-entrenched Abdul Rehman Veeri from Srigufwara-Bijbehara to Anantnag, and listening to advisors whose political experience is restricted to their drawing rooms. These are among the major reasons for the PDP’s rout in the 2024 assembly polls. In politics, however, nobody is ultimately out unless one chooses to call it a day.
–IANS
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The Congress has decided to approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) with regard to what it describes as irregularities in the electoral process in Haryana. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed disbelief at the election results, claiming they contradicted public sentiment and ground realities. “The results are totally unexpected and surprising. It goes against what the people of Haryana were seeking — a mandate for change and transformation,” Ramesh said on Tuesday, questioning the credibility of the poll outcome.
He also alleged that authorities were intimidated, leading to unexpected losses in Haryana constituencies where Congress performed well. Ramesh further revealed that serious complaints about the counting process and the functionality of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in at least three districts had been raised.
“We have received complaints about EVM malfunctions in Hisar, Mahendragarh, and Panipat, with issues regarding machine batteries and inconsistent results,” he said.
These complaints are being gathered and will be presented to the ECI in the coming days. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera echoed these concerns, labeling the election “a victory for manipulation and a defeat for democracy.”
Khera said: “We have received very serious complaints on counting and the functioning of EVMs in at least three districts. We have spoken to our senior colleagues in Haryana, and information is still being collected. We will present this to the Election Commission. Our candidates have raised serious questions. What we have seen today in Haryana is a victory for manipulation, a victory for subverting the will of the people and a defeat of the democratic process.”
He criticised the process, citing disbelief over the unexpected results, and mentioned that Congress candidates had already submitted grievances to local returning officers.
The Congress also focuses on the ongoing political developments in Jammu and Kashmir, where the National Conference-Congress alliance has secured a clear mandate. The coalition’s priority, according to Ramesh, would be the restoration of statehood. “The chapter on Haryana is still not complete. It will continue. Of course, the chapter in Jammu and Kashmir will have a coalition government. As I said yesterday, various attempts were made to ensure the majority would not come to the Congress-NC alliance. Still, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given a very clear mandate for this coalition government,” Jairam Ramesh said.
Earlier in the day, the Congress had complained to the poll body, alleging that there was a slowdown in the update of poll results data on the ECI website. The ECI had rejected the claims and said that the entire counting process is being done in the presence of observers and micro-observers as per the statutory scheme. According to the latest data of the Election Commission of India, the BJP is going to win at least 48 seats in Haryana and will form the next government in the state for the third time in a row.
–IANS
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An FIR has been filed against YouTuber Maridhas for exposing the failures of the Tamil Nadu Police in handling the rape case of a minor in Chennai.
On 9 September 2024, Maridhas released an audio file on his YouTube channel where the police investigated a 10-year-old rape victim.
The minor was raped continuously for about a week, and the incident came to light on 29 August 2024 when the girl experienced severe stomach pain, prompting her mother, a cook, to seek medical attention at a local clinic. Doctors at Kilpauk Medical College subsequently diagnosed her with signs of repeated sexual assault, leading to a report being filed at the Anna Nagar all-women’s police station. An FIR was registered on 30 August 2024, naming a 31-year-old water delivery man, Satish, as the primary suspect in the assault.
After the FIR was lodged, the mother reported that she was summoned to the police station while her daughter remained in the hospital. During this visit, she alleged that the investigation officer, Raji, assaulted and threatened her. The police have denied these allegations but have transferred the officer involved. Additionally, the accused was arrestedonly after media coverage brought attention to the case.
This detail was exposed in Maridhas’s video. It was released to expose the police’s careless attitude and how they were trying to close the case as quickly as possible without word getting out.
On 10 September 2024, two days after the audio was released, the Madras High Court took suo motu cognizance of the case. The mother filed a habeas corpus petition, alleging that she was assaulted at the police station and had her phone confiscated. At the same time,her daughter was questioned at the hospital without parental presence. Reports indicated that police recorded the girl’s statement late at night, which also violated the POCSO Act.
The Madras High Court criticized the police for their shoddy investigation. It transferred the investigation of the Anna Nagar child rape case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), expressing serious concerns about the handling of the case by the Tamil Nadu police. The court noted that despite a 10-year-old girl being repeatedly raped, the authorities harassed her family and delayed the arrest of the main suspect for 12 days. This probe also addressed her mother’s claims of being physically assaulted by a police inspector at the station.
A bench comprising Justices SM Subramaniam and V Sivagnanam highlighted the disturbing treatment of the survivor and cited violations of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court stated,“The parents of the victim have lost confidence in the Tamil Nadu police,” underscoring the urgent need for a thorough investigation by a central agency.
During the proceedings, the court raised questions about procedural irregularities, particularly regarding how the child’s statement was recorded late at night without parental presence.
How Was The Interrogation Done?
In the audio, the minor initially expressed her fear of the police, worried that they might hit her. After being reassured by a female police officer, the child gave her statement. During the recording, she retracted her earlier accusation against a man named Satish, whom she had previously blamed for sexual assault. Instead, she called a minor boy as the perpetrator, stating that the abuse had occurred two years prior. The police officer can be heard telling the child that it is late and they are in a hospital well past her bedtime. It is later known from Maridhas’ video that the interrogation lasted until about 1 AM.
Procedural Violations
The police’s handling of the situation indicates several procedural violations. Firstly, the police should have recorded the child’s statement on video, as law requires. If an audio recording was deemed necessary, such sensitive material should not be leaked to the public. The police are also prohibited from naming any child under 18, even if the child is an accused, in an FIR. Additionally, such FIRs should not be publicly disclosed, yet these guidelines were ignored.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, under Section 24(5), specifies that the police must protect the child’s identity from being exposed to the public or media unless otherwise directed by a Special Court. Section 24(1) also mandates that a child’s statement should be recordedeither at their home or a place of their choosing. It remains unclear if the police obtained the child’s consent before recording her statement at the hospital on 30 August 2024.
Additionally, it is criticized that the police failed to conduct a forensic interview of the child. The audio clip demonstrates poor interviewing practices and trauma-informed interviewing is essential especially when working with child survivors, highlighting that forensic interviews are meant to gather factual information without using suggestive or leading questions that could undermine the child’s testimony.
The girl’s mother also alleged mistreatment by the police. She alleged that while waiting at the police station until midnight for an inspector named Rajeev, he allegedly assaulted her by twisting her hands and beating her while demanding answers. According to the mother, when she explained that she only knew what doctors at the hospital had told her about her daughter’s condition, the inspector insulted her, calling her arrogant and threatening to charge her with negligence in raising her child.
In response, the police denied any allegations of brutality. Vijaykumar, a police officer, claimed that while there were no CCTV cameras in the inspector’s room, footage from other areas had been reviewed, and no evidence was found of the police assaulting the girl’s parents.
Case Against Maridhas & ToI
During their arguments in court, in response to the submission by State Public Prosecutor (State PP) Hasan Mohamed Jinnah, informed the court that separate FIRs had been filed against YouTuber Maridhas and journalist A Selvaraj of ToI for sharing the victim’s audio on social media. The court emphasized the need to identify and apprehend the individual responsible for the unauthorized disclosure and distribution of the audio.
The bench also criticized the decision to register FIRs only against a journalist and a YouTuber for leaking information. At the same time,no action had been taken against the woman police inspector who recorded the audio.
The court has since ordered police protection for the survivor and her family while directing further hearings to ensure a comprehensive review of the allegations against both the suspect and the police handling of the investigation.
Maridhas Statement
Maridhas, in his YouTube video, stated that he only intended to highlight the TN Police inadequacies and ensure justice is delivered to the minor child. He even states that he is not worried about taking anticipatory bail and would gladly accept being arrested if it would help her case. The YouTuber also noted that all English newspapers published the news about how the Madras High Court criticised the TN Police, but this was not the case with Tamil media.
Maridhas also alleges that such news is being suppressed in Tamil media to portray that TN is a safe place for women.
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The junior doctors protesting against the rape and murder of their fellow lady colleague at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital staged a sit-in-protest demonstration in front of a police station in Kolkata on Monday night after the cops attached with the police station seized items that were being brought to the venue at Esplanade in central Kolkata where seven junior doctors are in fast-unto-death agitation.
Tension started after two manually paddle-driven vehicles carrying essential items like plastic chairs destined for the hunger strike venue were stopped and seized in a place under the jurisdiction of the Bowbazar Police Station in Central Kolkata.
The cops seized those items because the path through which those plastic chairs were carried by those manually paddle-driven vehicles is not permitted for travelling by slow-moving vehicles under the Calcutta Hackney-Carriage Act of 1919.
There was an altercation between the junior doctors and the cops on this issue, following which the junior doctors started staging sit-in demonstrations in front of Bowbazar Police Station.
“Since the beginning, Kolkata Police has tried to stop our movements on the rape and murder issue. First, the junior doctors engaged in the hunger strike were prevented from raising bio-toilets near the hunger strike venue. Now they are creating unnecessary hurdles for carrying basic items to that hunger-strike venue,” said a representative of West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) spearheading the movement in rape and murder issue.
Meanwhile, the fast-unto-death agitation by seven junior doctors that started on Saturday evening has already crossed over 72 hours while the senior doctors have expressed solidarity towards them by participating in a time-bound fasting agitation.
–IANS
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday for his party’s decisive victory in the Assembly elections.
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar — the former Haryana CM — praised PM Modi and the BJP’s performance, stating: “The people have given a clear message that our work, under PM Modi’s leadership, is resonating with the public. For the first time, the BJP has secured a third consecutive term in Haryana, a record-breaking achievement. No party has done as much as we have for farmers, wrestlers, and soldiers.”
Khattar emphasised that the public’s approval of the BJP’s governance and policies is evident in this victory.
“Our high command has announced Nayab Singh Saini as the Chief Minister, though the parliamentary board will take the final decision,” he said. “I know that in 2014, when we contested the election in Haryana, we gave the slogan — Haryana is one, Haryanvi is one. So, I consider all the people of Haryana as family. Our Chief Minister has always worked for the people of Haryana,” Khattar said.
He continued: “The people have embraced the BJP’s policies and Modi ji’s accomplishments, and this has allowed us to secure yet another term in Haryana.” Reflecting on the opposition’s strategy, Khattar said: “The Congress ran a negative campaign, spreading lies and misleading the public. The people saw through it and chose to reject the Congress.”
On the question, what went wrong with the Congress, Khattar said that only Congress should answer this. The Congress has accused the Election Commission of slow counting. On this, the Union Minister said that Congress has the habit of blaming something or the other for its defeat. Khattar highlighted the party’s work, particularly in supporting farmers and athletes.
“The BJP has done more for farmers than the Congress could ever imagine. The electorate’s refusal to be misled is a testament to our work. I extend my gratitude to the people of Haryana and the BJP workers for this spectacular victory.”
According to the latest Election Commission data, the BJP is on course to win at least 50 seats, a comfortable majority to form the government in the 90-member Assembly. This historic win marks a significant moment for the BJP, securing a third consecutive term in Haryana.
–IANS
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The exposure of the admins behind the secessionist handle ‘We Dravidians’ continues to unravel. After key figure Kathir RS, was unmasked for his close ties to the DMK and his involvement in promoting Dravidian secessionism, he deactivated his social media handles, shifting the spotlight to the remaining admins—Shaikh Abid Hasan, Ravi Chola, and Ronald Anto Mathew—all of whom tried to distance themselves from the controversial account.
Shaikh Abid Hasan, a Bengali Muslim, denied any connection to the group despite his bio suggesting otherwise. His posts, however, revealed a troubling pattern of anti-Hindu sentiment, advocating for beef consumption and expressing hatred toward Brahmins. Ravi Chola, a Malaysian Tamil with ties to a catering business and political interests, also claimed no involvement. At the same time, Ronald Anto Mathew, a Christian from Kerala living in Germany, swiftly deleted the group’s Telegram channel after being exposed.
‘We Dravidians’ Admins Exposed
The expose of the admins of the Dravidian propaganda, secessionist handle We Dravidians continued after one of them, Kathir RS was exposed. The Commune had reported about how Kathir was connected closely to the DMK and how Kathir RS was part of the We Dravidians movement which promoted secessionism.
Kathir seems to a psycho with missionarist approach and secessionist tendency. His job seems to work towards regional separatism apart from his hatred on Hinduism. Also, this guy, rebelravi, jeeva seems to be part of the same gang working together in this so-called wedravidians… https://t.co/XwxQoM1vLppic.twitter.com/nQCrl5YD15
It is noteworthy that Kathir seemed to be a Christian, given his blog had posts about Jesus and Christianity, given his blog praised Jesus and his teachings.
After Kathir was exposed, he deactivated his own social media handles as well as that of We Dravidians.
Subsequently, the remaining 3 admins of the social media handle were also exposed and two of them washed their hands off saying they were not part of the team.
Admin 2 – Shaikh Abid Hasan
The second admin, Shaikh Abid Hasan, is a Bengali Muslim.
Meet the 2nd admin of WeDravidians.
A Bengali Muthalman fighting for south india but why? I am pretty sure that he can't even speak Tamil or any South Indian Language pic.twitter.com/pSzjAEPIz8
This user @shershabadia is threatening pogroms against the citizens of Manipur. He also runs a notorious secessionist account called @WeDravidians & runs a political organization @AISecularFront
The third admin with the name Ravi Chola is said to be a Malaysian Tamil. It is not clear whether he is a Christian but is seen with a tattoo of a cross on his arm.
When he got exposed, Ravi who seems to run a catering business apart from dabbling in many other businesses including politics, posted what seemed like a copy-paste job from probably his lawyer.
Subsequently, he deleted the We Dravidians Facebook page and also removed his association with We Dravidians from the profile.
The Facebook page of WeDravidian has been deleted. 3rd admin who was the only admin of Facebook page initially denied his involvement of this secessionist account but first he removed WeDravidian from Bio & later deleted the page
The fourth admin Ronald Anto Mathew turns out to be from Kerala, a Christian but living in Germany. He was also handling the Telegram channel of We Dravidians.
Meet the 4th admin of WeDravidians who also handles its Telegram channel. Lives in Germany but does hatemongering in India pic.twitter.com/H4VZpb2L2K
Thousands of attendees at the Marina Beach event on Sunday, 6 October 2024, faced severe water shortages, with some resorting to drinking water from fire engines as the scorching heat and lack of water provisions took a toll. The event, which had close to 11 lakh people in attendance, saw many scrambling for water with no vendors or adequate water points, leading to desperate scenes throughout the day.
A spectator from Madipakkam recounted a distressing incident involving elderly individuals desperately seeking water. He shared his limited supply but found the sight of numerous thirsty people deeply upsetting. There were reports of people losing consciousness due to lack of hydration, and family units were disrupted as members ventured away from their groups in search of water sources, sometimes wandering considerable distances. Others settled for drinking water from fire engines.
While VIPs were provided with shelters, the general public was herded into makeshift cubicles on the sandy beach. They endured four hours of intense sun with dwindling supplies. Parents, who had excitedly brought their children to the event, watched as the heat and lack of water turned enthusiasm into exhaustion.
Another spectator expressed concerns about the event’s organization. They noted a discrepancy between the city police’s recommendation to use public transportation and Southern Railway’s apparent lack of special train services to accommodate the expected large crowds. They also pointed out the confusion surrounding which department was accountable for managing water supplies, highlighting a potential lack of coordination between different agencies involved in the event planning.
The situation worsened at Triplicane MRTS station, where crowds waited hours to catch trains back to southern Chennai, further compounding the day’s difficulties. Despite the visible chaos, the police prioritised clearing the way for VIP vehicles.
Many visitors left with questions for the authorities, particularly regarding providing basic amenities. The stark difference in the treatment of VIPs and the general public did not go unnoticed, as ordinary attendees were left to fend for themselves, raising concerns about future event management in the city.
It is noteworthy that 5 people died and over 200 hospitalised at the end of the event.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay expressed condolences for the five tragic deaths during the Indian Air Forceair show in Chennai but refrained from criticizing the DMK government’s handling of the event, despite widespread complaints of their mismanagement. Among those who died was TVK cadre Karthikeyan, whose family raised questions over the lack of basic amenities and chaotic conditions at the Chennai air show, which drew millions.
Despite the loss, Vijay remains focused on organizing a large-scale conference later this month, sparking criticism over his silence on the government’s failure.
Chennai Air Show Turns Fatal
The air show was a fantastic exhibit of our Indian Air Force’s might on 6 October 2024 for the 92nd IAF Day celebrations in Chennai at Marina Beach. Spectators faced extreme overcrowding, traffic jams, and a lack of basic amenities, all under the intense heat. However, tragedy struck and 5 people died owing to the heat and mismanagement by the ruling DMK government. Mayor Priya blamed the heat for the deaths.
TVK Cadre Dies, Family Suffers Post-Mortem Ordeal
Among the 5 people who died was Karthikeyan, a TVK member.
34-year-old Karthikeyan visited Chennai Marina Beach with his family that fateful Sunday to witness the Indian Air Force’s aerobatic display. A resident of Thiruvotriyur, he worked as an admin at a private logistics company. The TVK cadre was among the millions who gathered to witness the air show, which also aimed to create a Limca Book of Records for the largest public gathering at an event.
His wife, Sivaranjani, recounted the chaos that unfolded after the airshow. As the event ended and crowds surged toward the exit, Karthikeyan left her and their two-year-old son at a bus stop to retrieve their bike parked a kilometer away. He made his way to Nappier Bridge, connecting Fort St. George with Marina Beach, but never returned.
“He went to get his bike. I couldn’t contact him because the phones weren’t working. I waited for two hours, repeatedly calling, and then, around 3:15 PM, someone finally answered. They told me he had collapsed and urged me to come quickly,” Sivaranjani told India Today.
She rushed to the location, only to find Karthikeyan lying unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but upon arrival, he was declared dead. “I don’t know what happened to him for two hours. Who is responsible for this?” Sivaranjani tearfully questioned.
Her ordeal didn’t end there. While waiting at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital to retrieve her husband’s body, she was informed that the ‘cause of death’ could not be determined. Refusing to accept the body without an explanation, Sivaranjani sought answers. However, authorities proceeded to take the signature of one of her distant relatives and loaded Karthikeyan’s body into an ambulance.
“I don’t know what’s happening. Neither I nor Karthikeyan’s mother signed the papers,” a distraught Sivaranjani said, rushing to follow the ambulance transporting her husband’s body.
Karthikeyan, 34, was among the millions of people who turned up to witness the airshow at Marina Beach in #Chennai with his family. After the show ended, he left his son and wife to get his bike but never returned.#ChennaiAirShow | @PramodMadhav6https://t.co/SggiiymIjP
Condoling the mishap and the deaths, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader, actor-turned-part-time politician Vijay wrote on the official X handle, “The incident in which 5 people lost their lives during an adventure program organized by the Indian Air Force at the Marina beach in Chennai is painful. My deepest condolences to their families. During the event, there were reports in the media that the public did not pay enough attention to basic facilities, transport facilities and security, etc., and expressed their anguish. I request the Tamil Nadu government to focus on effectively implementing facilities and security for basic and essential needs in places where people gather in large numbers.”
சென்னையில் இந்திய விமானப் படை சார்பில், மெரினா கடற்கரையில் நடைபெற்ற சாகச நிகழ்ச்சியின் போது 5 பேர் உயிரிழந்த நிகழ்வு, வேதனையளிக்கிறது. அவர்களது குடும்பத்தினருக்கு என்னுடைய ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்களைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
இந்நிகழ்ச்சியின் போது, அடிப்படை வசதிகள், போக்குவரத்து வசதிகள்…
Despite losing a member of his party, Vijay has not shown any such reaction or questioned the failure of the DMK government to conduct an event of this scale properly. It is noteworthy that Vijay plans to conduct a similar-scale conference in Vikravandi later this month.
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Even as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members conducted route marches across 58 locations in Tamil Nadu as part of their centenary celebrations on Sunday, VCK leader Vanni Arasu accused them of being involved in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination and promoting caste-based oppression.
RSS karyakartas conducted route marches across 58 locations in Tamil Nadu on Sunday, 6 October 2024, as part of their centenary celebrations and Vijayadasami festivities. Supporters dressed in traditional RSS uniforms participated in the marches, with hundreds gathering at key locations such as Kanchipuram, Chrompet, and Ariyamangalam in Tiruchirappalli. The marches were a significant part of the organization’s 100th-year commemorations, drawing large crowds across the state. Union Minister L Murugan also participated in the march.
In a scathing post on social media, Vanni Arasu, Deputy General Secretary of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) party, accused the RSS of being a terrorist organization involved in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Arasu condemned the RSS, claiming that its goal is to establish a Sanatana-Hindu Rashtra across India through violence and oppression.
VCK leader Arasu’s statements reignited controversy, particularly regarding his allegations about the RSS involvement in Gandhi’s assassination. The matter has long been settled exonerating the organization of any role in the assassination of the Mahatma. Additionally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was recently forced to issue a public apology for making similar remarks in the past.
In his post, Arasu went on to criticize the RSS’s alleged suppression of Dalits within the framework of Hinduism. He referenced Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of India’s Constitution and a staunch advocate for the rights of marginalized communities. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism on 14 October 1956, as a form of protest against the caste system entrenched in Hinduism, vowing to fight against the social injustices it perpetuated.
Sharing a picture of Union Minister L Murugan wearing the RSS uniform and participating in the march, Arasu lashed out at him for allegedly betraying Ambedkar’s legacy by supporting the RSS. The VCK leader accused them of aligning with a movement that, according to him, seeks to maintain caste-based discrimination.
Arasu’s statements are seen as provocative, and critics accuse him of spreading misinformation for political gain.
#எச்சரிக்கை காந்தியை படுகொலை செய்த பயங்கரவாத இயக்கம் தான் #RSS. இருமுறை இந்திய ஒன்றிய அரசால் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட அந்த பயங்கரவாத இயக்கம் இன்றைக்கு நீதிமன்றங்கள் மூலமாக பேரணிகளை நடத்துகின்றன. சனநாயகத்தின் மீது எந்த நம்பிக்கையும் இல்லாமல் வன்முறை மூலமாக இந்தியா முழுக்க சனாதன- இந்து… pic.twitter.com/HZUXg1kcgH
It is noteworthy that during a recent interview (in February 2024) on the Hindu Tamil Thisai news channel with host Nivetha Thanimozhi, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader and Lok Sabha MP Thirumavalavan repeated the baseless claim that RSS was responsible for the assassination of Gandhi. He had said, “Gandhi was akin to an RSS member – had intense feelings and faith like them but one important thing he believed was secularism. That’s why he was killed. The RSS is a Brahmin movement that killed him because he held it high. Today it is potrayed and projected as a movement for Hindus. It is a Brahmin association named as RSS like Mudhaliar association, Mukkulathor association, Vanniyar association and there was no Brahmin association on a pan-India level, this is RSS. Why should they kill Gandhi, he was a devotee of Rama. He is the one who said “Ram Ram” at every breath, even when Nathuram Godse was shot with a gun, he fall down saying ‘Hare Ram’, why should they kill him? He was a non-violent person, he did not want to dissect the country even he was not armed, only thing he does not want a religious government,” he further said.
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A few days ago, the Dravidian propaganda handle on social media platform X was exposed, and its admins are being revealed individually. The Commune also reported on how a person named Kathir RS, biographer of TN CM and DMK chief MK Stalin, was the face behind the handle ‘We Dravidians’ that spewed venom against Hindus, especially Brahmins.
The handle met stiff opposition from Pawan Kalyan’s fans after the latter, and Udhayanidhi Stalin locked horns over Sanatana Dharma’s remarks. An Andhra Pradesh-based advocate filed a police complaint against the handle. Subsequently, the admins deactivated the handle and disappeared.
But did you know that the anti-Hindu secessionist handle We Dravidians had a strong DMK connection? For the launch of this biography, Kathir is seen with a few members known to be staunch supporters of the party or associated with the party itself in some way.
Let us look at each of the DMK members that ‘We Dravidians’ admin Kathir met one-by-one.
Jeyaranjan
Known as Dr Jeyaranjan, he is the Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission in Tamil Nadu. An alleged ‘economist’ J Jeyaranjanwas appointed to the Tamil Nadu State Development Policy Council formed by the MK Stalin-led DMK government when it came to power in May 2021. He also wrotea paper in 2019 in which he accused the DMK of massive corruption in illegal sand mining and mafia.
In 2023, following the floods in Tamil Nadu, in a video clipping shared by DMK mouthpiece Sun News, Vice Chairman of State Planning Commission (SPC) J Jeyarajan is seen peddling lies about the press interview given by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman regarding the floods in TN that time.
In the discussion, the self-proclaimed “economist” criticized FM Sitharaman, accusing her of using arrogant and dismissive body language during an interview, which he said disregarded the struggles of the Tamil Nadu people. He questioned why the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) should focus on the state’s ₹4,000 crore expenditure. He also dismissed claims that the state government pocketed central relief funds, stating that strict rules govern how the money is distributed and accounted for, ensuring proper procedures are followed.
A ‘Bharatanatyam dancer’, Zakir Hussain was appointedby the DMK government in 2022 as an advisor for 17 district music schools. Proclaiming to be a devotee of Lord Ranganatha, Hussain maintains his Islamic name and associates himself with the DMK. He had been accused of sexual harassment by a government music schoolteacher. Hussain is a card-carrying member of the DMK who joined the party in January 2021. He came under the spotlight when it was widely reported in the media that he was prevented from entering the Srirangam Ranganathar Temple. However, he in an interview to a YouTube channelhadclaimed that he had been going to the temple for many years and was never denied entry. The appointment as advisor came to be after this incident.
MM Abdulla
DMK MP Abdulla is known for making secessionist statements in the Parliament. On a day when the Supreme Court of India upheld the abrogation of Article 370 by the Narendra Modi government, INDI Ally DMK MP MM Abdullah made a shocking statement on the floor of Rajya Sabha that borderline called for Kashmir’s secession on a racial basis.
Quoting anti-Hindu and anti-India Dravidian demagogue EV Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers), the DMK MP said“Every race has the right to self-determination. It is applicable for Kashmiri people as well.” Despite objections, the DMK MP kept repeating the same lines and even called for an “investigation of human rights abuses in Kashmir”.
“I propose the concrete steps to address the situation in Kashmir, sir. Establish an independent commission to investigate human rights violations in Kashmir”, the I.N.D.I. Ally DMK MP said.
#DMK MP Mr.Abdulla’s separatist agenda clearly exposed by Union Finance Minister Smt.@nsitharaman in Rajya Sabha today.
After #Congress’s protest against DMK, now DMK refuses to send any Spokespersons today to any channel to discuss #Kashmir.
As of 2021, AS Panneerselvan was the Executive Director of Panos South Asia, working across eight countries. He is a steering committee member of the Global Forum for Media Development and an advisory panel member for the Knight International Journalism Fellowship. He has held senior roles at Sun Network and Outlook magazine, managing editorial policy and covering politics, economy, and Sri Lanka extensively. He is also an adjunct faculty at the Asian College of Journalism. He was a Reuters Fellow at Oxford and lectures globally on media and South Asian issues. What is problematic is that he directed the documentary Making Trouble Where There Is None, produced by Frontline magazine of The Hindu group, which examines ‘communal mobilization under the cover of the Lord Ganesh festival’ in Chennai.
TRB Rajaa
The DMK Minister for Industries and head of the IT Wing, we all know what kind of a personality, TRB Rajaa is. Kathir has often been seen with Rajaa.
MK Stalin
‘We Dravidians’ admin Kathir also presents his book on DMK chief Stalin and why he needs to be the Prime Minister of India. He presents the book to the subject – Stalin himself.
Udhayanidhi Stalin
Lastly, Kathir presents the biography he wrote to Udhayanidhi Stalin.
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