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Caste-Based Violence On The Rise In TN: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Fame SC Singer Assaulted By MBC Youths

By
The Commune
-

On 15 November 2023, Malaiyur police arrested two individuals in connection with the assault on Prakash, a 26-year-old Dalit youth, in Pudukottai district on Sunday. Prakash became popular after he participated in the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa singing reality contest. The arrested individuals, Sarathi (23) and Deva (25) said to be from the Kallar (MBC) community, both residents of Athiran Viduthi village, were among the four accused who allegedly attacked Prakash and his cousin Kabilan.

The incident occurred near Meludaiyanpatti as Prakash and Kabilan were travelling home from Varappur on a two-wheeler on 12 November 2023. They were verbally abused with casteist slurs before being attacked with glass bottles and stones. Prakash sustained critical injuries and is undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital, while Kabilan, who was also injured, was discharged on 14 November 2023.

Following Prakash’s complaint, the Malaiyur police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 294(b), 324, 341, and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The police have apprehended Sarathi and Deva, while the search continues for the remaining two accused involved in the assault.

This comes just days after a 16-year-old Dalit boy from Koppampatti village in Pudukottai district allegedly died by suicide, due to relentless assault and harassment by students from a dominant caste. The victim, V. Vishnukumar, a Class XI student at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Keeranur, faced persecution because of his interaction with a girl from the OBC community. The ongoing physical attacks and derogatory comments based on his caste reportedly pushed him to suicide.

Vishnukumar’s mother, Uma, filed a police complaint citing caste-based discrimination as a significant factor in her son’s suicide. Initially registered under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the case was later modified to include provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) and IPC Section 306 for abetment of suicide. The autopsy was conducted, and Vishnukumar’s remains were handed over to his family for the final rites.

Earlier this month a gang of six individuals assaulted and humiliated two Dalit youths by stripping them publicly after they had a bath in the Thamirabarani River.

In October 2023, a Scheduled Caste family residing in the Vidathilampatti hills within the Manapparai municipality faced threats from a dominant Urali Gounder family, experiencing verbal abuse, urine poured on the son, stoning of their house, and physical assault.

The Vengaivayal incident remains fresh in memory, where human waste was found dumped in a water tank used by Dalits in Vengaivayal village of Pudukottai district. 

The Nanguneri incident in August 2023 involved the brutal assault of a Class 12 Scheduled Caste student and his younger sister with sickles in their own home.

Dalit activists are dumbfounded at the rising number of such incidents in the state. They fear the backlash if they attempt to discuss atrocities against Dalits in the state, especially with supporters of the DMK responding with threats, abuse, and caste-based shaming.

The number of caste-related atrocities has been on the rise ever since the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government came to power. Ironically, a party that claims to have established social justice and “eradicated” caste is seeing such displays of horror in its own regime. 

(with inputs from The Hindu)

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Sankaraiah, The Communist Freedom Fighter From TN Who Shared A Close Friendship With Karunanidhi

By
The Commune
-

N Sankaraiah, a centenarian freedom fighter and one of the last two remaining founding members of the CPI(M), passed away in Chennai on Wednesday.

In a short-sleeved white shirt paired with a dhoti and a jhola bag casually slung over his shoulder, this elderly gentleman, though frail in appearance, exuded a formidable presence. His commanding demeanour echoed through public gatherings, resonating like the roar of a lion.

His foray into politics began with the freedom struggle when he joined the protest against the hanging of iconic freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. He was just 9 years old back then. From there, he would go on to become one of the tallest leaders of the Communist party in India. He along with centenarian Kerala communist stalwart and former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, played a pivotal role in establishing the Marxist party in 1964.

Sankaraiah was born on 15 July 1922 in a village near Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district as Pratabha Chandran to Narasimhalu, an engineer employed at a private mill. Later, he adopted his grandfather’s name – Sankaraiah, who was a fervent follower of EV Ramasamy (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers).

Hailing from a family of traditional revenue officials in Athur, a hub of the freedom struggle in Thoothukudi district, his early exposure to EVR’s ‘Kudi Arasu’ daily fuelled his attraction to the Self Respect Movement. But despite being an EVR follower, he participated in the freedom struggle. In Kovilpatti, he actively participated in protests against the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru along with his brother Rajamanickam.

Upon the family’s relocation to Madurai, he attended the American College for his graduation, where he emerged as a student union leader. He organized protests against the imposition of Hindi when Rajaji introduced it in the curriculum. His college days marked his introduction to AK Gopalan, who was instrumental in building the Communist Party in Madurai.

Prior to the Quit India movement and the Naval mutiny, he orchestrated protests and was apprehended in 1941, just 15 days before his degree examinations. His release occurred only hours before the nation achieved independence on August 14, 1947. Upon his release, he assumed the role of the Madurai district secretary of CPI at the youthful age of 22. Later, as a Communist, he faced another four-year term in independent India. His encounters with leaders like K Kamaraj during imprisonment significantly influenced his public career, and subsequent interactions with fellow inmates sharpened his Marxist ideology.

Post-independence, Sankaraiah vehemently opposed the Congress, criticizing their economic policies as detrimental to the welfare of the poor and working classes. Leveraging his extensive grassroot experiences, he played a crucial role in training CPI(M) cadres at various organizational levels.

Sankaraiah held key positions in the unified Communist party until its split in 1964, after which he co-founded the CPI(M). He remained a member of the CPI(M)’s State secretariat and served as the Tamil Nadu State secretary from 1995 to 2002, also being a member of the party’s Central Committee for two decades.

In 1948, when the Communist Party faced a ban in independent India, Sankaraiah and his colleagues went underground, evading state police for three years which he spent with a party worker’s family in Madurai. During this time, he faced numerous challenges, including a skin infection that went untreated due to the clandestine nature of his stay. Despite his arrest in 1951 and subsequent imprisonment in Vellore prison, he continued to be a prominent face of the party’s ideology in Tamil Nadu. When the ban was lifted, he served as the editor of the party’s mouthpiece, Janasakthi. The CPI split in 1964, following which he joined the founding members of the CPI(M) – today only Achuthanandan is one of the surviving members.

Championing the cause against atrocities targeting Dalits, he stood in solidarity with the victims, as seen in the tragic incident when Dalit Panchayat president Murugesan and six others were brutally murdered for participating in the civic polls in Melavalavu village near Madurai. In addition to his own inter-caste marriage, he actively promoted and encouraged unions between individuals from different castes.

He was a very close friend of Karunanidhi. When Karunanidhi was the Transport Minister in Annadurai’s government, he sought the help of Sankarayya to hold talks with protesting transport union workers. Karunanidhi held the Communist leader in high steem and would listen to his speech in Assembly with rapt attention. When Karunanidhi brought in a law to provide legal sanctity to self-respect marriages, Sankaraiah supported his move.

According to an article by One India, Karunanidhi had once said “If the Dravidian Movement had not happened.. if Periyar had not been born.. if Anna had not been born.. I would have been sitting as one of the leaders of the Communist Party on the side of Nallakannu and Sankaraiah”

(with inputs from ETVBharat)

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Mohan Lazarus’s Jesus Redeems NGO Accused Of Serious FCRA Violations, Complaint Filed To Cancel FCRA License

By
The Commune
-

In a recent development, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been approached with a formal complaint against the Christian NGO ‘Jesus Redeems’ based in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.

The complaint, filed by the Legal Rights Protection Forum, a legal activist group, alleges serious violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) provisions.

The Commune accessed a copy of the complaint and here are the details.

Background

Mohan C Lazarus run a Christian organization named Jesus Redeems through which he does religious proselytization activities. He is known for his notoriety in disturbing communal harmony by making anti-Hindu statements.

Multiple FIRs were registered against him at different police stations of Tamil Nadu state under Sections 153, 153-A(1)(a) & (b), 295-A, 505(1)(b) and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code for making statements against Hindu Temples and Hindu Gods during a mass religious gathering. Details of the cases are provided in the below table:

It is noteworthy that in another case, the Regional Passport officer refused to issue a new passport to Mr Mohan Lazarus alias Mohan C. Lazarus because he intentionally suppressed information that he had 4 criminal cases pending against him while submitting the passport application.

In February 2021, the Madras High Court came down heavy and issued a warning to the rabid evangelist pastor for making reckless statements against Hindus and Hindu religion.

However, Lazarus got relief from the High Court through case number W.P.(MD)No.15829 of 2020, asserting his ‘Right to Travel’ as a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. 

The LRPF has pointed out that Mohan C Lazarus and his organization Jesus Redeems attract provisions of the FCRA, 2010 which amounts to suspension/cancellation of the FCRA registration as he has a history of disturbing communal harmony by making provocative speeches and indulging in proselytization activities.

FCRA Violations

‘Jesus Redeems’ is a registered Christian religious organisation operating under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, and holds FCRA registration number 076160018. The founder and signatory authority, Mohan Lazarus alias Mohan C. Lazarus, is also the Chief Executive Officer of a US registered Public Charity organization named ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc.’

One of the key allegations revolves around the recent amendments to the FCRA rules, which explicitly state that the Chief Functionary of the recipient Indian organization should not be a part of the donor organization. ‘Jesus Redeems’ allegedly received significant foreign contributions from ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc., (US),’ a major foreign donor.

Foreign Funds From Christian NGO Compassion International

It has been discovered that foreign donations from Compassion International (USA) to Caruna Bal Vikas, an NGO based in Chennai, were funneled to ‘Jesus Redeems.’ Records indicate that Jesus Redeems received ₹1,67,68,189, more than 1.5 Crore, from Caruna Bal Vikas between 2009 and 2015 under the guise of ‘Welfare of Children.’ From 2014 onward, Compassion International started donating directly to the FCRA-designated bank account of Jesus Redeems, totaling ₹1,13,04,681. This clearly indicates that Jesus Redeems is the primary affiliate of Compassion International (US) and Caruna Bal Vikas. The chronological receipt of foreign contributions from Caruna Bal Vikas and Compassion International (US) is detailed in the attached Annexure-7.

In 2017, the Indian government prohibited Compassion International (US) from donating to Indian NGOs due to various controversies involving child conversion and fundraising through child sponsorship schemes globally and in India. Following a complaint by the Director, FCRA Wing, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, the Economic Offenses Wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Delhi Zone, registered an FIR (RC2202020E003 dated 20-02-2020) against Chennai-based organizations Caruna Bal Vikas and M/s Adhane Management Consultants Pvt Ltd. The complaint highlighted Caruna Bal Vikas’s stated objective of ‘converting poor children into fulfilled Christian adults,’ engaging in religious activities, including conversions to Christianity, which have the potential to disrupt communal harmony, and therefore, violate FCRA, 2010. The complaint also asserted that Compassion International India funded Caruna Bal Vikas and M/s Adhane Management Consultants Pvt Ltd for conversion activities.

The Chinese Link

The complaint further notes a foreign contribution of ₹6,21,274 from BRO Devakumar VG Edwin, identified as the Managing Director of DANGOTE Group, Nigeria, in 2016. DANGOTE Group, a mining conglomerate in Nigeria, has close ties with Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd, a Chinese state-owned company, raising concerns about potential foreign influence.

This connection with China raises concerns more so because of the recent instances of arrest of Prabir Purkayastha, Founder of the NewsClick website, and Amit Chakravorty, its Head of Human Resources, on charges of conspiracy to disrupt India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The arrests were prompted by an investigative report in The New York Times, which alleged that NewsClick had received funding from a network involved in disseminating Chinese propaganda. The arrests highlight concerns about foreign contributions and their potential impact on national security, aligning with the broader context of efforts to curb external influence in India.

Publication Activities

Jesus Redeems is also accused of publishing monthly magazines in various languages without providing the necessary details and declarations required by the FCRA Act. The FCRA Act, 2010 mandates that NGOs engaged in publishing activities must provide details and declarations under the Press Registration of Books Act, 1867. Additionally, they need a certificate from the Registrar of Newspapers of India confirming that their publication doesn’t fall under the category of newspapers. The complaint filed requests the verification of compliance of Mr. Mohan C. Lazarus regarding these requirements, particularly in relation to the official magazine of ‘Jesus Redeems,’ by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Furthermore, the magazine suggests that ‘Jesus Redeems’ operates in multiple countries, including the United States, Australia, Dubai, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and Sri Lanka. The organisation is reportedly hosting Christian religious events abroad, inviting pastors from various countries, including China. With all the information put together, it looks like Mr. Mohan Lazarus is the editor-in-chief, owner, and publisher of these magazines. 

The complaint also notes from the copy of the FCRA return filed by Jesus Redeems that it had received an amount of ₹3,71,154 from an individual named Mr. Shirly Rohan whose residential address in Bangalore. It requests for the basis of receiving donations into the FCRA account from Indian residents.

LRPF Calls For Cancelling FCRA Registration Of Jesus Redeems

Given the gravity of the allegations, the Legal Rights Protection Forum urges the Ministry of Home Affairs to immediately suspend the FCRA registration of ‘Jesus Redeems’ and conduct a thorough investigation into its activities. The complaint highlights potential violations of FCRA provisions, potential foreign influence, and legal issues surrounding the chief functionary.

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TN BJP Leader SG Suryah Calls Out Kollywood’s Silence Over DMK Govt Slapping Goondas Act On Farmers

By
The Commune
-

The DMK government in Tamil Nadu took into custody and detained 20 farmers who had been opposing the surrender of their wetlands for the Melma SIPCOT industrial project near Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai. Hundreds of farmers have been actively resisting the proposed acquisition of approximately 3,000 acres of agricultural wetlands by SIPCOT for it to be leased to private industries.

According to a statement by Arappor Iyakkam, the police forcefully entered the farmers’ homes, arrested and remanded 20 of them to judicial custody based on an FIR filed in August 2023 in the wee hours of 4 November 2023. 

The FIR was reportedly registered when the farmers were participating in a collective walk for a public hearing, during which the police intervened, charging them with unlawful assembly and other sections carrying a maximum penalty of five years.

Arappor Iyakkam head Jayaram Venkatesan also noted that the mainstream media is wrongly reporting the news saying that farmers were arrested when they were protesting on 4 November 2023. However, according to Jayaram, no protest happened on 4 November 2023. Apparently, the farmers were picked up police in the wee hours when they were sleeping based on an FIR filed in August.

The proposed land acquisition poses a threat to the farmers’ livelihoods, as they have been cultivating various crops like paddy, sugarcane, and groundnut on these lands for many years.

On 16 November 2023, The South First reported that the Tiruvannamalai District Collector and District Magistrate detained seven farmers from the district under the Goondas Act for peacefully protesting against the Melma SIPCOT industrial project. The seven farmers, who hail from various villages in Cheyyar and Uthangarai taluks, were part of the group of 20 farmers arrested on 4 November 2023, based on the FIR filed in August. They have been placed in central prisons in Tiruchy, Madurai, Coimbatore, Vellore, Cuddalore, and Palayamkottai.

Silence From Kollywood Artists & TN Media

While the entire Kollywood coterie came out in support of the farmer’s protest of 2020-21, not one of them has come out speaking for these farmers who have been arrested under stringent Goondas Act. Actors like Karthi (brother of actor Suriya) had tweeted in support of the protest.

Even the media channels had gone overboard in their reportage portraying the Modi government as fascists and denouncing the Farm Laws. 

Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party State Secretary SG Suryah called out the duality of the media and Kollywood actors especially Karthi in his X post. He wrote, 

“Media journalists and actors who put 24*7 Breaking News by remixing songs for the agricultural protest that took place somewhere. Karthi How disgraceful is it that fake militants like these refuse to open their mouths about the DMK government’s use of goondas on the farmers who waged a religious struggle for the first time in the history of India? Although the words are harsh, the only question is “Oh! Will the dog survive this fate?”

Tamil Nadu BJP Head Annamalai had earlier lashed out at the DMK government condemning their action.

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BJP Kerala Head Says Congress Created 1.25 Lakh Bogus Voter IDs Through App

By
The Commune
-

In a shocking revelation, Kerala BJP State President K. Surendran posted on his social media that the youth wing of the Congress party in the state has created over 1.25 lakh bogus voter identity ahead the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Without taking names, the BJP Kerala President said that it was done using an app which was built at the behest of a Congress MLA from Palakkad district.

“Senior Congress leaders KC Venugopal and VD Satheesan were fully aware of this. Why is the @INCIndia silent on this issue? The Congress party has become a threat to our national security.“, the BJP state leader said.

According to a report by Kerala Kaumudi, several candidates in the youth congress elections have raised concerns about the potential use of forged voter ID cards to manipulate the results. In a complaint addressed to various Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, four individuals who contested in the Thiruvananthapuram district have brought this matter to the party’s attention. The complaint asserts that fake identity cards were extensively utilized for this purpose, facilitated by a specific mobile application. The complaint includes a link to this application, which, upon opening, requires users to register a photo and name. However, when providing the voter ID card details, many individuals, including candidates, allegedly submitted false voter ID numbers.

Source: Kerala Kaumudi

A report by Reporter TV notes that the Election Commission of India’s identity cards were forged using an app and was subsequently used to cast votes. A sample video showcasing the creation of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi’s identity card has been submitted to the AICC.

This app, known as CR Card, requires only a passport-size photograph to generate a counterfeit Election Commission of India Identity Card. By providing details such as name and address, a fake card can reportedly be produced within 5 minutes, and it can even be printed on a PVC card. Some Youth Congress leaders in Kerala claim that thousands of election identification cards have been prepared using the same model. The complaint further alleges that numerous individuals cast their votes using these forged cards, which were purportedly produced by a PR company based in Bangalore.

According to the allegations, individuals using these fake IDs accessed the agency’s dedicated website for the youth congress election and cast their votes. As the uploaded documents were forged, these votes are considered invalid. Numerous such votes were reportedly cast, raising doubts about the accuracy of the election results. Notably, the creator of the application remains unidentified.

The complaint suggests that several successfully elected candidates within the Youth Congress from the district may have downloaded and used this application. The complaint calls for the annulment of the election results. It has been forwarded to the Youth Congress Election Committee, All India President of the organization B V Srinivas, AICC Joint Secretary Krishna Allavaru in charge of Youth Congress, AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and K C Venugopal.

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Dravidian Model: DMK Govt Invokes Goondas Act On Farmers Protesting Against Acquisition Of Their Land For SIPCOT

By
The Commune
-

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu is currently taking steps to invoke the Goondas Act against seven farmers who participated in a sit-in protest against the acquisition of their land for SIPCOT.

This information was presented by the government during the bail plea hearing at the Tiruvannamalai district court on Wednesday, 15 November 2023. The hearing, where counsel for the farmers sought bail for 20 individuals, was adjourned to 20 November 2023. The public prosecutor cited the ongoing initiation of Goondas Act proceedings by the Tamil Nadu government against the key farmers central to the SIPCOT land acquisition protest as the reason for the delay in the bail process.

The detained farmers are facing charges under various sections of the IPC, including 147, 341, 143, 294(b), 353, and 506(1), as well as the Public Property Act. These farmers had peacefully staged a sit-in protest on their patta land for over 125 days, opposing the state government’s plan to acquire 3,200 acres of agricultural wetland for leasing to private industries. Their arrest on November 4 was based on an FIR filed in August.

In the copy of the warrant obtained by Arappor Iyakkam, it says, that a farmer named Pachayappan, has been detained as a “thug” and classifies him as a drug smuggler, cybercriminal, drug peddler, forest offender, gangster, sex offender, squatter and video thief. It also mentions that under the Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act (Tamil Nadu Act No. 14/1982), he has been remanded in Madurai Central Jail from 15.11.2023 to prevent him from acting in a monopoly for the maintenance of public order and public peace.

Arappor Iyakkam posted on their X handle, “The DMK government has arrested a farmer named Pachayappan, who peacefully protested against the acquisition of his land by the government in Tiruvannamalai, under the Goondas Act that under which sex offenders, extortion offenders, and prostitution offenders are arrested. The protester in Tiruvannamalai was taken to Madurai jail so that his family would not be able to meet him easily.

Why is Chief Minister Stalin so angry with the farmers? Has the thought of being the dictator of Tamil Nadu crossed your mind?

Are the farmers who protest peacefully against the government thugs? Is this the social justice your party is talking about? Answer Mr. Stalin.”

Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party Chief K Annamalai took to social media platform X to voice his protest over the developments. He wrote,

“While we think the DMK Govt can’t stoop any lower than its current state, they have proved us wrong by detaining farmers under the Goondas Act. 

Farmers in Tiruvannamalai district in TN have been protesting peacefully for the last 125 days against the government’s decision to acquire 3200 acres of agricultural land for the proposed sipcot. 

We condemn this cowardly act of the DMK Govt & BJP Tamil Nadu assures full legal support for the families of the detainees to ensure that the protesting farmers are protected from this Fascist DMK Regime.”

(with inputs from The New Indian Express)

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“Greatly Relieved To Hear It”: What Nehru Wrote To Alleged Lover Padmaja Naidu When 400+ Hindus Were Killed For Protesting Against Noakhali Massacre

By
The Commune
-

On 10 October 1946, in Noakhali, East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh), Bengali Hindus preparing to worship Goddess Lakshmi were subjected to brutal violence by Islamists. Waves of attackers targeted the numerically weaker Hindus, resulting in the massacre of approximately 5,000, with many more forcibly converted to Islam through methods such as making them eat beef and recite the kalma. The attacks included the rape of Hindu women, often in front of their families, and the destruction of Hindu places of worship. Despite the intense and premeditated nature of the violence, historical accounts often refer to these events as ‘riots’ rather than acknowledging them as genocide. The complicity of the Muslim League administration, British authorities, and Mahatma Gandhi’s failure to prevent the genocide are notable aspects of this tragic episode.

Peasants in Bihar rebelled against the Islamist excesses in Noakhali. In November 1946, over 400 Hindu peasants were killed in a violent confrontation with the police. The peasants were protesting against Muslim atrocities in West Bengal’s Noakhali, where documented evidence revealed the massacre of a significant number of Hindus. International media coverage labelled the event as the ‘Bihar Communal Riots,’ and reports indicated that thousands of Hindu peasants fell victim to the violence, with hundreds specifically killed in indiscriminate police firing.

An Australian media report estimated that a single village in Bihar witnessed the deaths of more than 400-500 people, excluding casualties from police firing. It was reported that some Muslim refugees also lost their lives in certain areas. 

In November 1946, the then-acting Prime Minister Nehru witnessed the police open fire, resulting in the deaths of 400-1000 Hindus in Nagarnausa, Bihar. This violence ensued as a response to Hindus retaliating against Muslims for the Noakhali massacre, where over 5000 were slaughtered, and numerous women were subjected to rape.

And guess how Nehru, the poster-boy of left-liberals who hail him as a champion of democracy and secularism, reacted to this massacre?

In a letter to Sarojini Naidu’s daughter and his alleged lover, Padmaja Naidu, Nehru said he was “relieved” over the murder of 400 Hindus.

Read this letter which appears in Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Volume 1, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund.

Image Source: Savitri Mumukshu X handle

“My dear,

Why exactly I am writing to you just at this present moment, nearing midnight, when I am tired out, I do not quite know. But suddenly after the excessive strain of the last two days, I had a feeling of reaction and relaxation and I thought of you and wanted to write. 

This evening I returned by air from Bhagalpur. On arrival, I learnt that the military had fired on a peasant mob in the rural areas some miles from here, and about 400 had been killed. Normally such a thing would have horrified me. But would you believe it? I was greatly relieved to hear it! So we change with changing circumstances as layers of fresh experience and feeling cover up the past accumulation.”

 “I have had horror enough during the past two days. Something incredible has happened here, or something that I would have refused to believe in, a few days ago. Hindu peasant mobs have behaved in a manner that is the extreme of brutality and inhumanity. How many have been done to death by them I do not yet know, but it must be a vast number. To think that the simple, unsophisticated, rather likable Bihar peasant can go completely mad en masse upsets all my sense of values.”

Without referencing the Hindu pogrom in Noakhali, he asserted that Hindus in Bihar had been unrestrained in their retaliation. In the letter, he emphasised that a careful equilibrium had been maintained by authorising security forces to engage in large-scale killings of Hindus. He added, “For a few days they had it their own way, with few checks or hindrances. And so when the news came that they have been stopped at last in one place and that 400 of them had died, I felt that the balance had been very slightly righted.”

On 4 November 1946, Nehru issued threats to Hindus, warning that the government would employ force, including aerial bombings, against any retaliation. He urged Hindus, who had suffered atrocities in Noakhali, to protect Muslims even if it meant sacrificing everything.

Reiterating his warnings on November 6, Nehru stated that any Hindu retaliation would be met with the full force of the government, including machine guns, bombs, and airplanes. By Bakrid, he aimed to neutralize all Hindus. 

Surprisingly, Nehru’s letter to Bihar CM Sri Krishna Sinha on November 19 revealed his attempts to cover up his role in the massacre of Hindus.

He downplayed the significance of 250 Hindu casualties and instructed Sinha on how to create an official alibi to protect Nehru. Nehru dismissed the reported number of Hindus killed in East Bengal as exaggerated, refusing to acknowledge the systemic atrocities committed by Muslim Zamindars and the rape of Hindu women, factors that fuelled the anger of impoverished Hindu farmers leading to retaliation.

This dark side of Nehru has been buried deep in the pages of history, by the very same people who exalt him as a ‘freedom fighter’ and beacon of democracy.

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Google’s Bard AI Refuses To Take OpIndia Content Saying “Biased And Unreliable” Source, Calls PM Modi’s Social Media “Biased And False”

By
The Commune
-

Of late, users of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Bing AI have raised concerns over potential biases in AI algorithms used for summarising articles and content. Users have reported instances where Google’s AI, known as Google Bard, refused to summarise an article from OpIndia citing alleged false information and bias. 

Image Source: Arun Pudur X handle

A netizen Arun Pudur shared his experience of using AI to summarise content. 

He wrote that he queried the AI to list all biased and false media.The results included several social media accounts and one of them was of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The other names included Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Nicolas Maduro, and Kim Jong-un.

Image Source: Arun Pudur X handle

When the AI was queried to list all media that it considered biased, there was not a single name from the liberal circles in India. It listed the below:

  • Websites: Jihad Watch, Breitbart News, Daily Caller, Infowars, Fox News, RT, Al Jazeera, Press TV.
  • Newspapers: The Sun, Daily Mail, Express, New York Post, Washington Times, Jerusalem Post, Haaretz.
  • TV Channels: OAN (One America News Network), Newsmax TV, RT America, Press TV.

This is seen as a very dangerous situation as AI becomes more prevalent and is used for programming law enforcement, government decision-making, justice, etc. 

Union Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics & Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, weighed in on the matter. He wrote on his X handle, “Search Bias, Algorithmic Bias and AI models with bias – are real violations of the Safety & Trust obligations placed on Platforms under Rule 3(1)(b) of IT rules under the regulatory framework in India. Those who are aggrieved by this can file FIRs against such platforms and safe harbor/immunity under Sec79 will not apply to these cases.” 

The incident raises broader questions about the responsibility and accountability of tech platforms in addressing biases in AI systems that play a significant role in shaping information access and public discourse. 

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Honest Take On NEET By An Erstwhile Medical Aspirant

By
Dr. Praveen Kumar
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I studied in one of the best ICSE/ISC schools in my district. The syllabus was so tough that getting high marks was very difficult. If you got 80% in Maths and sciences, it was seen as a big achievement. However, 80% was insufficient for me to get into the state medical colleges where students studying state syllabus could easily get 200/200. But ISC prepared me to crack any top medical entrance exams in the country. I cracked three. CMC, Vellore, JIPMER Pondicherry and St.Johns, Bangalore. Eventually, I chose CMC, Vellore, as I could stay in my hometown.

History Of Entrance Exams In Tamil Nadu

Till 1989, students could get into a medical college through an interview but, that was found to be inadequate, and TNPCEE was first introduced in 1989 by Anna University. This was actually a very good filtering mechanism where students would be given admission based on a combination of 12th marks and the marks they secured in TNPCEE. The DMK government scrapped TNPCEE in 2006, and students got into medical colleges solely based on their 12th marks.

Problem With Current Education System In Tamil Nadu

After scrapping TNPCEE, another disturbing thing done by the then DMK government was to introduce Samacheer Kalvi, which did more harm than good. It further diluted the quality of the syllabus, thereby making it virtually impossible for students to crack tough competitive exams. With students getting into medical colleges solely based on their 12th marks meant the quality of doctors started getting poorer day by day. The other problem is that students can chase their papers easily, get 200/200 in important subjects, and get into a medical college.

Medical Entrance Exams In Other Countries

Cracking medical entrance exams is mandatory in most developed countries. For example, in Singapore, students have to crack the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to enroll in a medical program. This is similar to NEET in India.

Importance Of Medical Entrance Exams

Unlike engineering, where you learn the basic concepts once, and they don’t change much (except for some new software), medical education is always a continuing process as new diseases and medicine keep emerging. That is why there is something called continuing medical education (CME). Hence, students who aspire to become medical doctors need to have high aptitude, and entrance exams play a key role in evaluating that aptitude. That is why I am always in favour of medical entrance exams, especially for UG. Right now, with no filtering mechanism I place in Tamil Nadu, NEET is the only option available to test the caliber of potential doctors. At the same time, I feel there is no need for NEET for PG and other specializations because the aptitude of students is already tested once. MBBS graduates should be allowed to choose their PG based on their MBBS marks, and perhaps an additional interview would suffice.

History Of NEET

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET, was first tabled by the UPA II government in 2013 in which DMK was a coalition partner. It was taken up by the NDA government and implemented in 2017. Most of the states have embraced it, and students have started preparing for it and it has become a norm now. Even though there are problems in Tamil Nadu around NEET, 4 out of 10 students who crack NEET are Tamils which shows our innate fighting qualities.

Problem In Cracking NEET In Tamil Nadu

The main problem students in Tamil Nadu face in cracking NEET is the mismatch between their syllabus and the expectations from NEET. The questions asked in NEET are totally unconnected to what students studied until then, forcing them to take up NEET coaching, which has now become a big industry on its own. If I had taken up NEET today based on my ISC syllabus, I am confident I would have cracked NEET without undergoing any special coaching.

Politics Around NEET

As mentioned earlier, despite Tamils being successful in cracking NEET, sporadic suicides have made NEET a political issue. The current DMK government has used this issue for political dividends without addressing the crux of the issue. They have continuously given false promises to people that they will get an exemption from NEET. Exception from NEET is definitely impossible as the central govt, Supreme Court, and most state governments are in support of it. As mentioned earlier, as a doctor, I personally feel a competent filtering mechanism should be in place for medical courses. When all Congress state governments have accepted NEET, DMK promising that it will get Tamil Nadu exempted from NEET once the Congress govt comes to power in 2024 is really funny.

Possible Solution

The main problem around cracking NEET is the Tamil Nadu state syllabus which is subpar compared to CBSE and ICSE/ISC. With TNPCEE scrapped, we don’t have any option but to have NEET as the only filtering mechanism. What the Indian government in collaboration with the state government can do, is to bring a single syllabus across India that is formidable enough to crack any competitive entrance exam (NEET, JEE, etc). Maybe this can be addressed in the new education policy (NEP) introduced by the central government.

Conclusion

NEET is here to stay, and it is the responsibility of the state government to prepare its students for the exam rather than hoodwinking people that they will ban NEET, which is not going to happen at all. If there is one government responsible for NEET-related suicides, it has to be the current DMK government. Udhayanidhi is neither a scholar nor a doctor to understand this. I hope Tamil Nadu can be saved from him!

Dr. Praveen Kumar is a clinician-turned-scientist who is passionate about writing on current affairs.

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“Udhayanidhi Is The Only One Hanging On To NEET To Make It An Issue,”, DMDK Treasurer Premalatha Vijayakanth Lashes Out At DMK Scion

By
The Commune
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Premalatha Vijayakanth, the leader of Desiya Murpoku Dravida Kazhagam and wife of the party’s founder, strongly lashed out at Udhayanidhi Stalin during a press meeting on 15 November 2023. She, in her role as the Treasurer of National Progressive Dravida Kazhagam, was in Tuticorin. Her visit was in connection to her attendance at a wedding ceremony hosted at the residence of the District Secretary in Kanyakumari.

When asked about the NEET exam and its impact on students, Premalatha said, “Nothing like that. Udhayanidhi is the only one who is hanging on to NEET to make it an issue. Supreme Court itself has said that NEET will stay, students are clear about it and so are the teachers and parents. The one who is confusing them is these politicians. If they keep quiet, students from TN will rank first in these exams. Among all the states, students of TN are the most intelligent. Why are they confusing them? Be quiet and do your work, don’t confuse the students. Our students can get the highest marks on a national level. I request all parents, students, and teachers to not get carried away by the words of people like Udhayanidhi and focus on studying. It is clear that if you have to study MBBS you have to clear the NEET exam, you cannot do anything about it. So we have to follow that, no other way.”

A reporter mentioned Udhayanidhi Stalin having completed his political campaign in Kanyakumari and that police have been standing on the roads since morning. She replied, “This is happening to everyone. You asked me a question, so many murders are occurring especially in Thoothukudi. The police force is there to protect the people. But when a politician visits this side, they deploy 50-100 police officers for them. What is anyone going to do? No one is going to do anything. The police force is there to protect the people. Give the people security. No one is going to harm the politicians. They have a lot of security. Just because one politician turns up here, deploying 500-1000 police officers for security is a waste. I remember what Kamarajar said. Upon hearing the police siren, he would ask what is that, the people would say sir security for you. He would rubbish it saying, let’s do our job. Such simple leaders used to live on this land. These people are just wasting taxpayer’s money. There is no need. Are they going to listen to us?”

Another reporter asked her about the 1000 rupee scheme and that many women did not receive it. She replied saying, “Did any woman ask to give them 1000 rupees a month? No one asked. You said that if you win, we will give you 1000 rupees. You are not able to give it today. When campaigning, you said that you would give it to all the women. But today, you say that you will give it to the eligible women. What eligibility are you looking for? Did you look for eligibility during elections? Today why are you looking at eligibility when it comes to giving that 1000 rupees? Women are very angry today. The result of this will definitely be seen in the elections.”

A reporter then moved on to asking about the Sanathana Dharma remarks issue. She said, “He’s made the mistake but pretending that nothing happened. We are all witnessing the opposition to what he said. When we talk about religion, caste, and food habits, we have to be very careful. These are very sensitive issues. No one should talk about religion, caste, or food habits. Everyone has their own religion and caste. Everyone has their own culture. Why are you pinpointing mistakes in it? His own mother goes to all the temples. Stalin says it is her wish. But when others go, they say it is wrong. Before advising others, we should think about whether we are doing it ourselves. Captain is very clear about his principles. See we all wear vibhuti and kumkum always. He came to power acknowledging the fact that his alliance is with the people and God. But these people lie that there is no God and also perform yagna and homa. Why are you advising others? Let your family follow it first. Then tell the people.”

DMDK leader Vijayakanth in the 2011 legislative assembly elections forged an alliance with the AIADMK and entered the fray in 41 constituencies. Out of these, his party achieved significant success, securing victory in 29 seats. Notably, the DMDK outperformed the DMK in terms of seat wins. Vijayakanth, for the second time, clinched the position of MLA by triumphing in the Rishivandhiyam constituency. From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

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