As Hamas apologists in India cry buckets of tears for Palaistians, there is stone-cold silence when it comes to the plight of minority Hindus in Pakistan.
In Sindh, Pakistan, a Hindu Kachhi community has been subjected to severe hardships and violence due to the actions of a Muslim landlord. The report from South Asian Digest reveals that the landlord’s conduct extended far beyond mere prejudice, involving the demolition of houses and even a temple, as well as the deliberate destruction of an entire Hindu village where families had resided for over four decades.
As per the information which is available, not only houses have been demolished rendering the Hindus in the area homeless, but the Muslim landlord also demolished the temple. After that, he set fire to the entire Hindu village where families had lived for over four decades.
The landlord’s deplorable actions did not end with arson and demolitions; there are also reports of him and his associates forcibly seizing motorbikes from the villagers, exacerbating the difficulties faced by this already marginalized community.
Muslim landlord demolishes houses, Hindu temple, and sets fire to entire Hindu village in Sindh, Pakistan. The Hindu Kachhi community, who had lived there for 40 years, has been left homeless and threatened. https://t.co/nxoja5xqRGpic.twitter.com/OMTc1hQtHK
A video capturing the aftermath of the village’s devastation serves as a grim testament to the extent of suffering endured by this community. It underscores the increasing violence faced by religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan, emphasizing the urgent need for safeguarding and justice for vulnerable communities.
Though Mohammad Ali Jinnah wanted a secular Pakistan, in reality, he saw the Hindus and Sikhs who could not leave during the partition as hostages to ensure Muslims in India were treated fairly. This is not an uncommon incident that has taken place in Pakistan and the plight of the Hindu Kachhi community, which has been grappling with constant persecution and discrimination in Pakistan since the partition.
This incident brings attention to the challenges faced by the Hindu Kachhi community, which has been enduring ongoing persecution and bias in Pakistan since the partition. This community is particularly vulnerable due to their often impoverished and landless status, leaving them at the mercy of influential individuals, like the Islamist landlord responsible for this recent tragedy.
In an official document released by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, a significant development has been disclosed concerning the Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple located in Tiruvannamalai District in Tamil Nadu. The HR&CE department has issued an administrative permission order for the construction of shops on a section of land owned by the temple in front of the East Gopuram. This decision has garnered attention and raises questions regarding its implications for the heritage and sanctity of the temple.
The order, dated 14 September 2023, references various government notifications and correspondences, shedding light on the background and context of this decision. It is noteworthy that the Minister for Hindu Religious Endowments Department, Sekar Babu, announced in the Legislative Assembly on 19 April 2023 during discussions on the grant demand for the fiscal year 2023-2024. This announcement pertained to “Notification No:223,” which outlined plans for constructing shops at an estimated cost of ₹5.99 crores in the area in front of the Rajagopuram, a part of the land owned by the Arunachaleswarar Temple.
The documents further highlight the status of the temple as an “Ancient Temple” listed under Section 46(II) of the Act and its current management by the Temple Associate Commissioner or Acting Officer. The request for administrative permission for the construction of shops and the associated cost calculations were made by the Department of Charitable Appraisal Engineers and funded by the Public Works Department. This entire endeavour was presented as a “Deposit Work.”
Of particular importance, the Charity Commissioner had solicited the government’s attention to this matter. After thorough consideration, the GO reads that the government accepted the proposal, thereby granting administrative permission to the Commissioner of Hindu Religious Charitable Institutions. This permission allows for the execution of the deposit work through the Public Works Department, involving an estimated sum of ₹6.40,00,000/- (Six Crore and Forty Lacs only). This funding is to be drawn from the temple’s resources and allocated to establish the shops in front of the Rajagopuram, within the precincts of the Arunachaleswarar Temple.
The GO concludes with the official directive issued by the Governor, as conveyed by Manivasan, the Principal Secretary to the Government. The communication indicates the relevant recipients of this order and expresses the government’s commitment to implementing this initiative, subject to the specified financial allocation and permissions.
கோபுர தரிசனம் கோடி புண்ணியம். திருவண்ணாமலை ராஜகோபுரத்தை மறைத்து அதன் முன் கடை கட்ட காண்ட்ராக்ட் விடும் அறநிலையத்துறையை என்ன சொல்ல? நீங்க கடவுளை பார்ப்பதை விட, நாங்க @PKSekarbabu காசு பார்ப்பதே முக்கியம் என HR&CE @tnhrcedept அராஜகம். pic.twitter.com/XL7aES0mJb
This decision has sparked considerable discussion and debate, reflecting the intersection of heritage preservation, cultural significance, and economic development.
Temple activist TR Ramesh posted on his X handle that UNESCO had previously raised concerns regarding substantial structural violations at the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, bringing the matter before the Madras High Court. These violations, attributed to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, have included the construction of a modern office and two “guest houses” within the confines of this ancient temple, which has drawn criticism for its impact on the temple’s historical and cultural significance. He criticized the HR&CE department’s decision to develop a commercial complex near the temple.
UNESCO had earlier pointed out to Hon'ble Madras High Court, the horrible structural violations carried out by @tnhrcedept in Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai.
The Dept which has an Executive Officer in this temple only by Contempt of Court's orders has… https://t.co/pKrc6bePFx
Hindu activist Shefali Vaidya also raised questions about the need for shops to be built close to the temple and that such activity could cause harm to the structure.
Just got to know that there might be an ugly shopping complex coming up right next to the East Gopuram of the Thiruvannamalai temple on the temple land, thanks to @tnhrcedept officials greed! If true, this is neglect of TN temples taken to another level!
The HR&CE department has many a time stepped beyond its limits when it came to generating revenue without taking into consideration the antiquity of a temple or has left temples in the state in an appalling state of neglect.
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On Wednesday (1 November 2023) during a news debate, Congress Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate made derogatory comments about BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala’s mother. It must be noted that Shehzad Poonawala is the brother of Tehseen Poonawala who is an ardent Congress supporter and is often seen spiritedly defending the grand old party of India.
Both Shehzad and Tehseen had lost their father at a young age and their mother Yasmeen had raised them under trying circumstances and during the news broadcast on Zee News, Supriya Shrinate who is now known for her confrontational attitude said “tum apni maa ke naam ko vidrup karne wale log ho”, which means, “You are the people who defame your mother’s name“.
Today Supriya Srinate crossed all limits
She made derogatory comments on my single mother- senior lady in particular & mothers of all BJP karyakartas by saying “tum apni maa ke naam ko vidrup karne wale log ho”
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) November 1, 2023
On his official X handle (formally Twitter), Shehzad Poonawala said, “My mother’s name is YASMEEN. Yes she gave birth to me – Pasmanda Muslim who joined BJP- does it mean such double meaning & dirty comments will be made about her? Why bring in anybody’s mother at all?”
Shehzed is not someone to hold back and is known for articulating BJP’s policy and decisions. He said, “When I called her out for disrespecting my mother who raised me single-handedly – she started using vile language saying “2 kaudi ka””. The term 2 kaudi ka basically means a person who is not worth anything and is very unparliamentary language to be used during a debate.
It has been observed that the Congress party is only sending spokespersons who are rude, confrontational, and not averse to making personal attacks on opponents. Gone are the days when Congress spokespersons would use skillful language to have a spirited debate and now it is all about attacking people at a personal level.
Supriya Shrinate comes from a political family and is the daughter of former MP Harsh Vardhan. She contested the 2019 Indian general election (Lok Sabha election) from Maharajganj constituency and lost badly to BJP’s Pankaj Chaudhary.
In 2019, Shrinate was appointed as the spokesperson of the All India Congress Committee and she also participated in UP Assembly Elections 2022 as star campaigner of Indian National Congress. It must be noted that Congress won just 2% of the popular vote in that election. In 2022, Supriya Shrinate was appointed as Chairman of Social Media and digital Platforms.
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On 1 November 2023, YouTuber and self-proclaimed fact-checker Iyan Karthikeyan of the YouTurn channel announced on his X handle that he had been appointed as the Mission Director of the Fact-Checking Unit under the administrative control of Special Programme Implementation which is the portfolio of DMK scion and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Prior to that, news started circulating on social media about his controversial appointment as the head of the fact-checking unit.
The controversial Government Order (GO) issued by the Tamil Development and Information Department states that there has been a rise in hate speech, misinformation and disinformation and this has necessitated the creation of a fact-check unit by the government.
It has been stated that the primary job of the FCU will be to identify fake news and curb hate speech but critics argue that it is nothing but a fascist move to crackdown on critics of the DMK and its government.
“Addressing hate speech does not mean limiting or prohibiting freedom of speech. It means keeping hate speech from escalating into something more dangerous" – UN secretary General, António Guterres
I am appointed as Mission Director for the Fact check unit under the…
Be that as it may. Several red flag have been raised in the establishment of the FCU and the appointment process for various posts.
Political commentator ‘Savukku’ Shankar raised very pertinent questions in this regard. A video released on his YouTube channel provides insights into recruitment processes in the government setup. Here are some of the questions raised:
Secrecy Surrounding The Establishment Of FCU & Bypassing Legislative Approval
When then Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan presented the state’s budget for the year 2022-23, he mentioned that the state government has decided to form a special Social Media Monitoring Centre under the police department. He claimed that the Social Media Monitoring is being set up to ‘to battle fake news and misinformation on social media platforms’.
In September 2022, based on the directions of the MK Stalin-led DMK government, the Tamil Nadu Police formed a special ‘Social Media Monitor Team’ to monitor social media sites (read people criticizing DMK government on social media).
A whopping 203 officials and police personnel have been deputed for the task of “monitoring fake news on social media intending to create tension, riots, online frauds, drug smuggling, etc”.
Before the current controversy came to light, the government did not announce the setting up of an FCU under the Special Programmes Implementation department.
It was only on 6 October 2023, the Tamil Development and Information (Advt) Department, acting on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government, released a GO outlining the establishment of a fact-checking unit under the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).
The GO detailed that the DIPR’s director had recommended the creation of this unit, with the primary objective of acting as a deterrent against individuals and entities responsible for generating and spreading fake news and misinformation.
However, what has raised concerns is the fact that the setting up of this significant department was not brought up before the Assembly, leaving many to question the apparent urgency of its formation. The department’s operation is expected to incur an annual expenditure exceeding ₹3 crores, a substantial budget allocation. What adds to the unease is the revelation that this funding will be subject to approval in the 2023-24 supplementary budget. Until such approval is obtained, the expenses will be obtained from the contingency fund, prompting inquiries about the necessity and urgency behind establishing the department and utilizing contingency funds at a time when the DMK government is neither able to implement pay parity for government school teachers nor able to give ₹1000 for all women as it promised.
Advertisement And Transparency
The recent High Court ruling regarding contract/temporary job recruitment dictates that candidates must be given an opportunity to compete for public employment through public notifications. However, there has been no advertisement in newspapers or on social media with regard to the job openings.
The positions within the Fact-Checking Unit are as follows: at the helm is the Mission Director, serving as the head of the unit. Supporting the director are the Project Director and Joint Director, both government officials, alongside two Project Leaders and two Human Resources specialists. Other than the Mission Director and the HR Manager, all the posts show relevant qualification requirements. It is for these two posts alone that an exception is made. The position of Mission Director requires either a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Technology (B.E./B.Tech) or a Master’s degree in Journalism or Mass Communication (M.A.), which might seem unusual considering the seemingly unrelated fields. In contrast, the Human Resources (HR) role necessitates a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (B.E.) and a post-graduate degree in Human Resources (HR) – thus raising questions about the selection process.
Recruitment Process
The recruitment process has come under scrutiny, particularly in light of a recent ruling by the High Court. According to the court’s decision, when it comes to contract or temporary job positions, the government is required to employ one of two methods: either by selecting candidates who are registered with employment exchanges or by issuing public notifications to call for applications. Justice Subramaniam emphasized that every eligible individual should have an opportunity to compete for public employment, and he cautioned against government actions that might suggest the hiring of temporary workers to later make them permanent staff.
Concerns have arisen due to the absence of advertisements for these positions on social media or in newspapers during the 25 days following the Government Order dated 6 October 2023. Key questions include:
Where were the job advertisements placed?
Who conducted the interviews, and where were they held?
What format was used for the interview process?
How many applications were received?
How many candidates were shortlisted for further consideration?
When nurses are protesting over regularization of their services, here is the DMK government that is recruiting 80 members for a period of one year (extendable after that) to set up a questionable “fact-checking unit”.
Was Reservation Policy Followed?
Concerns have been raised whether 69% reservation policy of the Tamil Nadu government was implemented in appointments. A roster has to be followed as per the General Rules for Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Services in providing reservations. If not followed, it would not just be a serious violation of rules and norms but will be dent the DMK’s credibility of being the flagbearer of social justice.
Exorbitant Salary
Karthikeyan’s salary as Mission Director reportedly surpasses that of a high-ranking government officer. The substantial remuneration raises questions about the allocation of public funds. The salary structure for the positions is as follows:
Mission Director: ₹3 lakhs per month
HR Manager: ₹75,000 per month
Content Writer: ₹40,000 per month
All this when the state is under severe financial crunch when teachers are protesting for pay parity with an increase in salary.
Powers Given To The FCU
As per the Government Order (GO), the Fact-Checking Unit is entrusted with the responsibility of addressing complaints related to the state government, its ministries, departments, public sector enterprises, and various entities, without regard to the platform. The unit is empowered to proactively initiate fact-checking procedures and also accepts complaints from multiple sources. After a thorough assessment to determine relevance, the unit categorizes the received information.
Complaints falling within its scope are subject to rigorous fact-checking using various tools and cross-referenced with official government sources. The information is then divided into two categories: actionable and non-actionable. Within the actionable category, the Central Task Force collaborates with the government’s legal and law enforcement advisory teams to advance cases for legal action through the appropriate authorities.
It is noteworthy that suo moto powers are only given to the High Court and Supreme Court and even the police do not hold these powers.
Allegations Of Favouritism
As reported by South First, it is suggested that members of the DMK IT wing, as well as party cadres active on social media, may have been given preferential treatment in the recruitment process, and it is likely that all the appointments have already been finalized, and the unit is on the verge of being operational.
These allegations and concerns have cast a shadow of doubt over the appointment of Iyan Karthikeyan as the Mission Director of the Fact-Checking Unit and the processes that led to this decision.
It remains to be seen whether the so-called champions of free speech and democracy will challenge this fascist move of the DMK government in courts.
(With inputs from Savukku Media)
Vallavaraayan is a political writer.
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In a move that has raised concerns about threat to democracy and freedom of speech & expression, the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, has decided to create a Fact Checking Unit under the administrative control of Special Programme Implementation which is the portfolio of DMK scion and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.
This FCU is going to be headed by Iyan Karthikeyan, a Dravidian Stockist YouTuber known for peddling DMK propaganda.
Iyan Karthikeyan was previously the Editor-in-Chief of YouTurn, a self-proclaimed “fact-checking” website that also has a YouTube channel where Iyan Karthikeyan along with his team rant for the most part under the pretext of “fact-checking”.
They frequently target DMK critics like Maridhas, journalists Rangaraj Pandey and Sandhya Ravishankar apart from peddling canards about the BJP and its leaders.
Iyan Karthikeyan took to his social media on 30 October 2023 to announce his withdrawal from YouTurn.
சில ஆண்டு சம்பளம் இல்லாமல் யூடர்ன் ஆசிரியராக தொடங்கிய பயணம்.
மெல்ல மெல்ல வளர்ந்து பிபிசி நேர்காணல் உட்பட பல செய்திகளில் நமது பணி பற்றி பேசப்பட்டது, பல்வேறு பத்திரிகைகளில் விவாத நிகழ்ச்சிகளில் பங்கேற்று பேசியுள்ளேன், Tedx இல் பேசியது, கூகுள் நீயூஸ் இனிசியேட்விவ் பயிற்சியாளர்,…
After news of his appointment as “Mission Director” of “Fact-Checking Unit” hit the headlines, Iyan Karthikeyan took to social media to announce the same.
“Addressing hate speech does not mean limiting or prohibiting freedom of speech. It means keeping hate speech from escalating into something more dangerous" – UN secretary General, António Guterres
I am appointed as Mission Director for the Fact check unit under the…
Concerns have been raised about the need for a ‘fact-checking unit’ and the opaque selection process for appointments to various posts.
The eligibility criteria and the selection process for these positions has raised questions about transparency and equal opportunities for all candidates.
It is to be noted that Iyan Karthikeyan is an engineering graduate. The odds of him having similar qualifications as that of those mentioned in the leaked GO are pretty strange.
Amidst this, it has come to light that Iyan Karthikeyan who has been made the “Mission Director” of the Fact-Checking Unit will receive a monthly salary of ₹3 lakh.
This is more than what the Director of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) earns. A recent report revealed that revealed that S Somanath who had spearheaded the Chandrayaan-3 mission putting India’s Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover on the moon, earns ₹2.5 lakhs a month.
Iyan Karthikeyan getting ₹3 lakh per month of tax payer’s money comes at a time when nurses and teachers are fighting for equal pay and the state is in severe debt.
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As left-liberals across the world try to normalize the dastardly terror attack that was carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023, a senior Hamas official named Ghazi Hamad justified the killing of Jews in Israel and vowed to keep repeating it again and again until the Jewish nation is destroyed.
“We will repeat October 7 again and again until Israel is annihilated,” Hamad said remorselessly over an attack that killed over 1,400 Israelis, including women, children, and the elderly after multitudes of Hamas terrorists intruded the southern border with Israel and went on a murderous spree in Jewish villages.
Hamas Official Ghazi Hamad: We Will Repeat the October 7 Attack Time and Again Until Israel Is Annihilated; We Are Victims – Everything We Do Is Justified #Hamas#Gaza#Palestinianspic.twitter.com/kXu3U0BtAP
“Israel is a country that has no place on our land. We must remove that country because it constitutes a security, military, and political catastrophe to the Islamic and Arab nations, and, therefore, must be finished. We are not ashamed to say this, with full force,” Hamad said.
“We must teach Israel a lesson, and we will do this again and again. The Al-Aqsa flood is just the first time, and there will be a second, a third, a fourth, because we have the determination, the resolve, and the capabilities to fight…We are called a nation of martyrs, and we are proud to sacrifice martyrs,” Hamad added.
In his rant against the killing of civilians in Israel, Hamad said, “We did not want to harm civilians, but there were complications on the ground. And there was a party in the area with a civilian population. It was a large area, across 40 kilometres…the occupation must come to an end, not just in Gaza but in the entire Palestinian lands.”
“The existence of Israel is illogical. The existence of Israel is what causes all pain, blood, and tears. We are victims of occupation, so therefore, nobody should blame us for things we do. October 7, October 10, October 100,000—everything we do is justified,” Hamad said.
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On 31 October 2023, the Federation of All Muslim Organisations and Political Parties organised a protest to condemn Israel’s attack on Palestine. More than 3,000 members and leaders from these organizations reportedly joined the demonstration near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore, Chennai. They accused Israel of “encroaching upon Palestine” with the support of the US, UK, and other nations, citing ongoing Israeli atrocities against the Palestinian people. The leaders criticised India’s decision to abstain from voting when the United Nations passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire.
The demonstration was led by Federation President P.A. Kaja Mohideen Baqavi. Prominent figures, including ManithaNeya Makkal Katchi President M.H. Jawahirullah, SDPI leader Nellai Mubarak, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan, CPM State Secretary K. Balakrishnan, and representatives from various political parties, also participated in the event.
Thirumavalavan spoke in an inflammatory fashion and supported Hamas in this war. Here is a transcript of his speech.
“Israel is carrying out a brutal war of aggression. Israel must stop this war. The nations across the world, democratic countries are voicing their support for Israel to stop this brutality against the Palestinians.”
Resolution At UN That India Abstained From Voting
He said, “Recently at the UN Assembly, Jordan proposed a resolution, and 120 nations voted in favour of it. 14 nations voted against it. 45 countries including India abstained from voting. Even if we count the countries that abstained and those who voted against the resolution, it is only 60 countries. But those who supported the resolution make up 120 countries. The world makes us realise the truth. That the war carried out by Israel on Palestine and the Gaza Strip is unjust, cruel, and terrible and this war needs to stop immediately. This is the voice of the world, the voice of all the democratic nations of the world. As a means to support that voice, today we have congregated here in the thousands.” He added, “When asked why we abstained from voting, they said that in the Jordan Resolution, there is no mention of Hamas, they have not spoken about the attack they carried out. So we abstained, said Yojana Patel, the Indian representative.”
Israel – The Occupier Nation
He called Israel an occupier nation and said, “Israel has occupied Palestine, that is the historical truth. They were chased out of Germany and several other European countries. They entered Palestine with banners saying Germans stabbed us, don’t destroy our hope. The same people are the ones who created Israel and terrorising and suppressing people, they are the Jews.“
He added, “Keeping aside the history of why they were chased out of Germany, the Jewish race is one which has only developed enmity with most of the countries in the world. Israel is not their ancestral land. Israel is not their motherland. With the help of superpowers like America, they occupied territory and created a country of their own and are killing and bringing about the genocide of the same Palestinians who gave them refuge.”
Comparing The Eelam War With That Of Palestine
Thirumavalavan compared the Srilankan Tamil issue with that of the Palestinians. He said, “Even in Eelam, the Singhalese are not the natives of that land. They went from India. But history has been hidden from all. They caused the genocide and massacre of the natives of that land, the Tamils. It continues to this day. The same thing has happened here (Palestine).”
He added, “In 2001, I attended a conference in Durban in South Africa. It was about opposing apartheid. Several Palestinians came there with banners. Even though I do not understand their language, I would stand with the Palestinians during their protests. I came across a flyer that was in English. They constantly spoke for freeing their land and requested the countries of the world to support them. Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Movement would conduct exile Parliament and stress on these requests, same like how Eelam Tamils are having one.”
Hamas – A “Defence Force”
He called Hamas a defence force. He said, “We know that Hamas emerged as a contradictory movement of the Palestinian Liberation Movement. But that movement is the only one that protects the Palestinians. It is not a war-frenzy movement. It is not an occupier-frenzy movement. It is not a movement that hates other races. It did not start an attack on Israel unjustly. Hamas is a defence force that is there to protect Palestinians and Palestine’s land. It is being called a terrorist organisation and extremist organisation by the Sanathana forces in the United Nations Assembly.”
Justifying The Creation Of Hamas
Thirumavalavan also justified the reason for the creation of Hamas. He said, “What is the reason for the emergence of Hamas? Which country has been aggressed against/occupied by Hamas? On 7 October 2023, they carried out rocket strikes. It is not a war of aggression. It is a war against aggression. Shouldn’t India realize this? Shouldn’t America realise this? Is the attack carried out by Hamas a terror attack? or is the attack carried out by Israel a terror attack? Did the Palestinians occupy the Jewish nation or did the Jews occupy the Palestinian nation? Shouldn’t we know the answer to this question? It is a fact that the world knows. It is a historical fact that the Jews occupied the Palestinian nation.”
He also added, “Israel is an occupier nation created by the Jews with the support of America. Who is carrying out the terror attack here? Weren’t the Palestinians the ones who helped them when they came to Palestine raising their banners? Who is carrying out such a terrible attack with cluster bombs and phosphorus against the Palestinians who welcomed them? We are not gathered here on the basis of religion. We are united asking for justice. We are here to question the conscience of the countries of the world. Whenever there is a war between Israel and Palestine, America always comes forward to support Israel blindly.”
Condemning India’s stand On The War
He called India’s stand on the war something that was influenced by “Sanathana forces”. He said, “Today, our Indian nation has become a subordinate of America and has come forward to support Israel blindly. They support America’s stand. Indian politics is based on justice but it is supporting injustice. It is supporting Jews who are an occupier nation. It is against the Palestinians who are the sons of the soil (natives). The BJP government is looking at the Palestinians as Muslims alone. It is not looking at the justice on their side. We want to accuse the BJP, RSS’s Muslim hatred politics has made us take a stand against the Palestinians. They are not looking at this problem, this problem between Hamas and Israel as a fight between occupiers and natives. Should the Palestinian people come back to Palestine or not? Should they not condemn the actions of Israel which is preventing Palestinians from returning?”
Gaza – Comparison With Chennai
Thirumavalavan compared Gaza to Chennai and complained about how Israel was torturing the citizens. He said, “Gaza which is under the control of Hamas is a small strip of land that is 10km wide and 41km long. 25 lakh people are living in a place which is not even a fifth of Chennai’s land area. More than 1 crore people live in Chennai. For the past 25 days, Israel has been carrying out brutal attacks via air and land. Countries like America and India are watching the spectacle. Where will this lead to? Even if these people think, let the people of Palestine find a solution to the problem, even then the Palestinians will win. If America does not intervene, if their supporters do not intervene, if their army doesn’t go, if they do not help with their weapons, if they do not help financially, Hamas will win and take over Israel.”
He also added, “In the name of destroying LTTE, India, and America supported the Sinhalese and took a stand against the Tamils. In the same way, they named Hamas a terrorist organisation, and in the name of destroying Hamas, they are killing innocent Palestinians. Dead bodies are being transported in containers. They are burying dead bodies en masse. Reports indicate that 50000 pregnant women are unsafe and in dangerous conditions. They cut off the electricity, oil, and water. This is not just a war against terrorism, it is a genocide.”
He called for a gathering, a show of support similar to the gathering of numerous people in Kerala to express support for Palestine. He said even in Tamil Nadu, millions of people stand in opposition to Israel’s brutal war, and that this conflict needed to be halted promptly. He condemned India’s stance and that it must be altered, and efforts will be made to exert pressure on India to raise its voice against the continuation of the war.
While most of his facts are incorrect, his refusal to call Hamas a terrorist organisation and take a stand that is opposite to the national stand, and calling the terror attack of 7 October 2023 as resistance speaks volumes of his alignment with terrorist ideologies.
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The Sanatana Dharma controversy involving DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin witnessed new developments in the Madras High Court when Senior Counsel P. Wilson, representing the case, refused to submit a video clip of Udhayanidhi’s speech as instructed by Justice Anita Sumanth. The DMK counsel cited Article 20(3) of the Constitution, asserting that he couldn’t be compelled to do so.
Wilson urged the judge to instruct the petitioner to provide the necessary materials. He argued that Udhayanidhi was merely a participant, not an organizer, and the petitioner needed to substantiate their case independently. He also questioned why the organizer Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists’ Association (the cultural and literary wing of the Communist Party of India-Marxist) was not involved in the case.
Senior counsel P Wilson made the aforementioned statements during the hearing of the quo warranto petition, which challenges one’s eligibility to hold public office. Members of the Hindu Munnani had filed the quo-warranto petition at the Madras High Court asking, on what basis were DMK Ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin and PK Sekar Babu and DMK MP A. Raja were continuing in their office after calling for the annihilation of Sanatana Dharma (aka Hinduism). The petition came for hearing before Justice Anita Sumanth.
During the proceedings, Senior Counsel Wilson argued that the petitioners should have approached the court with evidence rather than seeking it after filing the case. He emphasized that the DMK Ministers were participants, not organizers, and pointed to Article 20(3) of the Constitution, which provides immunity against self-incrimination. Wilson also accused the BJP of “politicizing the case” and conducting a parallel trial on social media. He said the details of the hearings were being misreported on Twitter by BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai and others.
However, the judge clarified that she would decide the case based on arguments presented in court and not external sources. Justice Anita Sumanth also emphasized that when the court requested materials, they must be supplied to assist the court.
The judge scheduled the next hearing for November 7, allowing time for Wilson and Advocate General R Shanmughasundaram to prepare a counter-affidavit in response to the petitioner’s application.
Earlier in October 2023, in an affidavit submitted to the Madras High Court court, DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said that he made the eradicate Sanatana Dharma remarks in “personal capacity” and not as a Minister.
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The Ram Temple in Ayodhya is soon to receive a magnificent eight-foot-tall gold-plated marble throne for the idol of Lord Ram, which is currently being meticulously crafted by skilled artisans in Rajasthan.
Anil Mishra, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has confirmed that this resplendent throne is expected to grace Ayodhya by December 15, as reported by the Economic Times.
The designated location for this splendid throne is the inner sanctum of the Ram Temple, with the throne itself measuring eight feet in height, three feet in length, and four feet in width.
Mishra also mentioned that devout followers of Lord Ram have made generous donations of gold and silver items, including coins and bricks, both prior to and following the formation of the Trust. However, to address security concerns, these contributions will be melted down into a solid block under the supervision of a reputable organization, ensuring their safekeeping.
In anticipation of the grand consecration ceremony, construction efforts for the Ram Temple have been accelerated, with an expanded workforce to meet the demands of the project. Mishra stressed the importance of completing the ground floor of the temple by December 15, regardless of any challenges.
He provided updates on the progress, noting that the first floor is 80% complete, the construction of the inner sanctum is finished, and work on the flooring of the Parikrama Marg has also been completed. The current focus is on installing marble on the floor of the Griha Mandap and other areas, including the stairs.
Mishra further elaborated on the ongoing construction work, stating that the roofing work on all three floors of the passenger convenience center has been finalized, and safety equipment is currently being installed.
The entrance gate of the outer wall (parkota) of the Ram Mandir is in its final stages of construction and is expected to be completed by the end of November. Furthermore, 17 out of the total 19 pillars on the first floor have been installed, and it is anticipated that the first floor will also have a roof by December 15.
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Kanchipuram MLA Ezhilarasan who is also the member of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) visited Kizhapathirpur village in his constituency to inaugurate a Fair Price Shop building there. Upon learning of his presence, he was soon surrounded by several women from the village and women who were part of the MNREGA 100-day job scheme made one specific complaint – that they did not receive the promised ₹1000 under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam.
The Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam was one of the poll promises of the DMK where women were eligible for ₹1000 each month. However, the eligibility came with several conditions. The scheme was launched in September 2023, two years after the DMK came to power in the state.
The state claimed that more than 1 crore women who were eligible for the scheme were identified and narrowed down from the applications received. However, many of those who received seemed the money to be members of the DMK themselves. There were several complaints that women did not receive the promised ₹1000. The ones who received the amount were found to be living in big homes complete with LED TVs and refrigerators.
Owing to this, the women questioned the DMK MLA about the ₹1000 and the failure of the government to give it to them. They also shouted at the MLA after a point. The women said they were asking because it was promised to them. The MLA then said, “No it was not promised to everyone”. Angered by the questions raised, Ezhilarasan asked the women around him about the “₹15 lakhs promised by the BJP”. He said, “Ten years ago, he said he will deposit ₹15 lakhs for each household, why didn’t you question him, did you receive the ₹15 lakhs?”
The DMK MLA can be heard hurling expletives on PM Modi.
A woman in the crowed retorted, “If Modi comes here, we will ask him. Since you are here, we are asking about your promise.”
Another old woman in the crowd chipped in complaining about the ₹1000 she did not receive. This time Ezhilarasan started questioning the VAO why the women did not get their money. Someone from the crowd claimed that they received a message that they did not get it because they did not file their taxes. Ezhilarasan asked, “Do these people look like they file IT? Why cannot you research this properly? Strict action will be taken against you. Do you think the government has to answer for your mistakes?,” he thundered.
Deflecting the blame to someone else is something the DMK is known to be good at. When asked about the ₹1000, the MLA shifted the goalpost by talking about the imaginary ₹15 lakhs and then conveniently shifted the blame to the VAO.
People have started questioning DMK's failures and the shameless pig is abusing the PM and trying to divert their inefficiency, This DMK MLA who is abusing the PM is also the youth wing leader. .@annamalai_k Sir there must be an end to this 15lacs propaganda pic.twitter.com/jUv6vYWect
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) November 1, 2023
This is not the first time that the DMK MLA has resorted to spewing abuses in public.
