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AIADMK-BJP Split, A Win-Win For Both Parties

By
Ananth Mahadevan
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Recently AIADMK announced that they are separating from the NDA alliance. An article earlier written by this author had supported the idea of BJP going solo in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. It has happened now. Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) met Union Home Minisre Amit Shah in Delhi and post that some of their second rung party leaders met BJP National President JP Nadda before making the divorce official. BJP has not issued any other strong communication on this AIADMK move. The scope of this article is not to get into who is wary of whom, what triggered this decision, whether the Tamil Nadu BJP President, K. Annamalai, was the reason for this rift etc. This article focuses on how this separation will help both parties in the upcoming elections against their main opponent, DMK.

AIADMK can now re-establish their talks with other DMK allies like VCK party who did not have any other alliance options so far as they didn’t want to be seen on the side where BJP is an alliance partner. Some of these parties had to fight under DMK symbol also in the last assembly elections which would have been really embarrassing for their cadres. They will now start negotiating more assertively with DMK for seats and if not given AIADMK is waiting anyways to take them in. The minority voters, especially Muslims, would now start reconsidering their support to AIADMK as BJP has moved out. AIADMK can go aggressive on their more reasonable Dravidam plank compared to the DMK who does not show any hesitation being seen as Anti-Hindu as reinforced by the ugly Sanatana Dharma comments made publicly by some of their leaders. AIADMK will be seen as a more acceptable party by the Hindu voters in Tamilnadu now which will work to their advantage if they are able to set the right narratives. One should not forget that there was actually no significant anti-incumbency for AIADMK during the last 2021 assembly elections and people were quite happy with EPS. It is a fact that Annamalai, through his great communication skills and aggression, has been actively and successfully setting an Anti-DMK narrative whereas AIADMK has been a little passive being the main opposition party. This separation now will help AIADMK regain the media space as a separate entity and not get overshadowed by Annamalai. Their cadres will also be reenergized to fight it out on their own and DMK will not be able to call AIADMK as a subservient B team of BJP. Edappadi’s stature has already gone up amongst its cadres as everyone likes their leader to be strong and decisive. AIADMK can just be friends with BJP like BJD in Odisha and still maintain their base.

On the other hand, BJP will go hammer and tongs with the Annamalai yatra, strengthening their booth level organization, talk openly about eradication of corruption when DMK is talking about eradication of Sanatana Dharma. Obviously, the former narrative of eradication of corruption will appeal more to the TN voters if asked to choose between the two. I have already written about why BJP must go solo and its advantages and will not repeat them here but just to summarize, BJP can aggressively work towards creating its karyakarta base using this opportunity. Annamalai will not be questioned on why he is not talking about corruption in AIADMK and is only targeting DMK. He can freely talk about the misgivings of this Dravidian ideology and give a fresh new alternative ideology to the people of Tamilnadu. Some senior leaders within BJP who were vouching for the alliance with AIADMK will have to fall in line with Annamalai now and work with him wholeheartedly. BJP can easily get the 5 seats on their own which EPS would have allocated to them in the erstwhile alliance. BJP can only grow from here and this split provides them with the opportunity in a silver platter. Hopefully, the BJP top brass will not try to patch up and go the traditional way which will weaken Annamalai’s blistering form if I can use a cricketing analogy. They know that Annamalai is their best option if they want to grow in TN.

Earlier NDA attack on DMK will now become two pronged attack which DMK has to face. Two is always stronger than just one and this will probably give great dividends. You can always consider a post poll alliance and BJP and AIADMK can share the ruling party and the opposition party space by annihilating the DMK. It will be win-win for BJP and AIADMK in 2024 and 2026 elections. Let’s wait and watch!

Ananth Mahadevan is a political commentator based in Bengaluru.

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Chaos And Inadequate Facilities Plague State-Level Taekwondo Games In Kanchipuram, BJP Leader SG Suryah Slams ‘Sports Min’ Udhayanidhi

By
The Commune
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The State Level Taekwondo Games, organized by the Department of School Education, unfolded at Anna Sports Ground along Kanchipuram Railway Road. Unfortunately, participants and their companions encountered severe challenges throughout the event, stemming from woefully inadequate facilities. Athletes from all corners of Tamil Nadu converged for the state-level Taekwondo Games, a prestigious competition that commenced just a few days ago. With over 2000 student-athletes participating, the scale of the event was substantial.

The predicament began on the first day when the boys’ events extended into the late hours, forcing exhausted athletes to rest on the streets near the stadium without access to basic necessities like clean drinking water, food, or shelter. The lack of proper arrangements was alarming, with some individuals resorting to sleeping beside rainwater canals.

Athletes and parents alike voiced their deep dissatisfaction, with a common grievance being the absence of clean drinking water. They were compelled to fetch water from a tank without any purification system in place. The dearth of essential facilities, including proper sanitation and restroom facilities, became a significant concern, especially with the girls’ events scheduled to take place soon.

One participant shared their frustration with the media, stating, “I hail from Tenkasi, which is quite a distance from here. The organizers have failed to provide us with suitable accommodation, and even access to clean drinking water is a challenge. The restroom facilities here are extremely unclean. While the boys’ events were supposed to conclude yesterday, they haven’t finished yet. We have received no information about when our (girls) events will commence. We find ourselves sleeping outdoors, near the canals, enduring countless mosquito bites. The lack of sleep has severely impacted our ability to concentrate and perform in our matches. Furthermore, our equipment is left unattended outside, while we are inside. Will our fellow athletes be able to compete effectively without worrying about their belongings? The organizers haven’t even made adequate accommodation arrangements for us. We must also manage our meals independently, often seeking food outside. Even accessing water is a challenge, and we must make our own arrangements. How can we be expected to focus under these conditions?”

A report from PuthiyaThalaimurai news pointed out shortcomings in the seating arrangements, with one parent telling the channel, “There are no restroom facilities or food arrangements here. We were informed that there would be no matches past 11:30 PM, and everyone dispersed around 1:30 AM to 2:00 AM. It is apparent that some referees lack the necessary qualifications, leading to considerable chaos inside the venue. They are not assessing the talents of young athletes accurately, and if we question their decisions, we are promptly dismissed. This is the unfortunate reality here.”

As the second round of the girls’ events is scheduled to take place in the coming days, coaches and athletes earnestly hope for improved accommodation and facilities. They expect clear communication regarding lodging arrangements and restroom facilities. They believe that the district physical education teacher overseeing the state-level competition will take appropriate action to address these pressing concerns.

Kanchipuram District Collector Kalachelvi Mohan, speaking with ABP Nadu news agency, acknowledged the issues at Kanchipuram sports ground and attributed them to inadequate planning by the school education department. She assured that responsible officials would face consequences, and efforts were already underway to rectify the situation.

In a response to the situation, SG Suryah, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party Secretary of State, turned to the social media platform X to call out Tamil Nadu Sports Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin for his lackadiasical approach to the ministry he is in charge of. He expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “The Sports Minister of Tamil Nadu’s DMK Government, Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin, appears to lack an understanding of his responsibilities. Similarly, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. M. K. Stalin, does not seem to recognize his own responsibilities. The DMK’s governance is becoming a burden on Tamil Nadu.”

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Congress Voices Support For Leftist Media Outlet NewsClick Amidst Controversy Over Chinese Links And Money Laundering Allegations

By
The Commune
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On 3 October 3 2023, after early morning raids conducted by the Delhi Police on several individuals associated with the leftist media platform NewsClick, the Congress party voiced its support for the portal, which is under scrutiny due to alleged ties with China.

The official X account of the Congress party, asserted that the raids, linked to Chinese funding, reflect Prime Minister Modi’s apprehension and nervousness. The party framed these developments as an attack on free speech and accused PM Modi of intimidating opposition leaders and journalists who “speak the truth.”

In a statement, the Congress party’s official handle declared, “PM Modi is scared and nervous, especially when confronted by those who question his failures. Whether it’s opposition leaders or journalists, those who speak the truth will face harassment. Today’s raids on journalists provide evidence of this.”

These events followed the early morning raids by Delhi Police on 3 October 2023, targeting various locations related to the online portal NewsClick. Among the places searched was the residence of Abhisar Sharma, a former television journalist turned YouTuber, in connection with the NewsClick matter. Multiple journalists associated with NewsClick, including Sanjay Rajoura, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, and Sohail Hashmi, had their premises raided by the police.

Apart from the Congress party’s official Twitter handle, several Congress leaders expressed solidarity with the accused NewsClick journalists and criticized these actions as autocratic.

Pawan Khera, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Department of Congress, suggested that the Delhi Police raids, connected to alleged Chinese funding, were conducted to divert attention from the Caste Census report released in Bihar. He stated, “The early morning raids on contributing journalists at NewsClick come as a fresh distraction from the explosive findings of the caste census in Bihar and the growing demand for a caste census across the country. When faced with unexpected questions, he resorts to the only tactic he has in his predictable playbook – DISTRACTION.”

Digvijaya Singh, another Congress leader, expressed his dismay, saying, “Sad this is happening in a free democratic country.”

 

Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, questioned India’s democratic credentials and the title “mother of democracy.” He argued that the arrests of some NewsClick journalists did not reflect the actions of a “mother of democracy” and accused the government of being intolerant and undermining democracy.

In a statement on social media, Tharoor wrote, “Shocked to learn of the raids on 30 journalists in Delhi and arrests of several of them. These are not the actions of a ‘mother of democracy’ but of an insecure and autocratic state. Why does a government as strong and authoritarian as this one is, feel threatened by a news website? And that too, one that is not even ranked very high in reach or readership? Intolerance is unworthy of everything that India represents. The government has disgraced itself and our democracy today.”

Following the actions against NewsClick and its alleged links with China, old Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Congress party and the Communist Party of China (CPC), as well as other instances, have resurfaced on social media.

The Congress party’s alleged connections with China, including the MoU with CPC and funding to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, have raised questions about its stance toward China, especially in light of its softer approach compared to its stance on the Indian government and journalists accused of receiving funds from China.

One significant reason for the Congress Party’s seemingly favorable stance toward China can be traced back to an agreement in August 2008 between the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress Party and the Communist Party of China (CPC). During the UPA1 government in 2008, the Congress Party and the CPC signed an MoU in Beijing to exchange high-level information and cooperate on important bilateral, regional, and international developments.

This MoU was signed at a time when Left parties in India had expressed distrust in the UPA-1 government led by the Congress Party.

Notably, the close relationship between Chinese leadership and the Congress party, particularly Rahul Gandhi, became evident during the Doklam standoff when Rahul Gandhi was reportedly seen secretly meeting Chinese officials.

Additionally, in 2020, details emerged about the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s (RGF) financial operations, revealing substantial contributions from the Chinese government dating back to 2006.

Rather than condemning China’s actions on the global stage, Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader, has publicly praised China on several occasions, hailing it as an “aspiring superpower” and expressing admiration for its Belt and Road initiative.

Given these controversial aspects of the Congress party’s history and its connections with China, social media users have noted that they are not surprised by the party’s stance on actions against journalists accused of receiving Chinese funds and how it is presented as an assault on democracy.

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Leftist Ecosystem In Complete Meltdown As Police Raid NewsClick For Chinese Funding And Money Laundering

By
The Commune
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After government authorities discovered the link between the online portal NewsClick, which had received several crores in funding from the US and China, police on 3 October 2023 conducted raids and  detained several leftist journalists with links to leftist propaganda outlet NewsClick. The ‘journalists’ whose premises have been raided include Sanjay Rajoura, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, and Sohail Hashmi. 

As per reports, the police took away mobiles and laptops for forensics analysis which may give more information on how deep the nexus is between hostile foreign entities and some journalists. 

The Delhi Police Special Cell also searched the residence of senior CPI(M) leader and general secretary Sitaram Yechury. It just be noted that Yechury is married to journalist Seema Chisti who works as an Editor at another leftist Islamist apologist outlet The Wire, a portal run by American Citizen and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholder, and former editor of The Hindu, newspaper Siddharth Varadarajan.

However, the communist leader clarified that the raid was not targeting the CPI-M, but rather the son of a party office employee who works at NewsClick as a graphics artist.

Also, the Mumbai home of activist Teesta Setalvad’s Mumbai was raided in the matter. In August 2023, it was reported that during an investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had found that Newsclick received monies from China that were used to fund NGOs, byTeesta Setalvad’s husband, son, and daughter whom some of the beneficiaries, including Abhisar Sharma and Gautam Navlakha.

Teesta Setalvad has been accused of profiting from the funds she collected for the 2002 Gujarat Riots victims and been accused of tutoring witnesses in cases filed against the Gujarat Government then-CM Narendra Modi. She has also been accused of taking funds (Rs 30 lakh) from Congress leader, the late Ahmad Patel for waging a media war against the Modi-led government in Gujarat.

As the news of the raid hit the grapevine, the left-liberal ecosystem started wailing and within minutes social media like X (Formally Twitter) there was a deluge of messages of solidarity and how the police raids were an attack on freedom of speech and democracy. They even went as far as even if any journalist was the beneficiary of funding from a hostile nation, police conducting an investigation against them was an attack on the free press.

One of the first people to give a smoke screen and cover fire was Rohini Singh who said on her X post, “Journalists raided by the police, laptops and phones taken away because journalism is the biggest crime in new India.” 

She, however, conveniently forgot how jubilant she was when Mumbai police arrested Arnab Goswami of the Republic News Channel. She was not only happy that Arnab one of the most popular journalists had been arrested, but also in that process, passed a snide remark against Karva Chauth.

Pratik Sinha who is the co-founder of Islamic propaganda outlet AltNews with Mohammad Zubair who never loses an opportunity to paint targets on Hindu women on a regular basis, declared that the government was “crossing all limits”.

Arfa Khanum Sherwani who once said Muslims should bide for their time and then strike wrote on X, “Mother of democracy, anyone ? In early morning raids on homes of several journalists, stand-up comics, satirists and commentators, Delhi police has started interrogations in matters “related to terror links”.

But at the same time Arfa Khanum Sherwani on her propaganda portal, thewire, wrote a heartfelt article on why she will not support Arnab Goswami as a journalist.

Habitual virtue signaller, dog-whistling apologist journalist Rajdeep Sardesai said, Breaking story this morning: Delhi police special cell raids homes of several journalists/writers associated with Newsclick website. Take away mobiles and laptops.. interrogation on. No warrant/FIR shown yet. Since when did journalists become state ‘enemies’ in a democracy?

Dhanya Rajendran, the Editor-in-Chief of Dravidianist-Leftist portal The News Minute reposted Abhisar Sharma’s distress call. Her outlet on the other hand covered the incident as if it was a crackdown on free-speech with a headline “Delhi police raids houses of several journalists, political commentators” completely brushing under the carpet the fact that NewsClick peddled Chinese propaganda and has ties to the Chinese Communist Party. 

All hell broke loose when The New York Times exposed the ties of an American businessman named Neville Roy Singham and his association with the Chinese government and his financial support to an Indian leftist propaganda outlet, NewsClick.

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Agre Pashyami: A Masterpiece Of Devotion And Artistry

By
Hridya
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Image Credit - Anitha Guha Bharathanjali

In her bustling household, my maternal grandmother frequently recited a cherished verse as a part of her daily routine. With her every step, she carried a melody that resonated through the kitchen, a hymn that invoked the very essence of Krishna himself.

“Agre Pashyami,” she would intone, her voice carrying a devotion that spanned centuries. These verses from the 100th dasakam (chapter) of the revered Narayaneeyam, composed by the illustrious Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri in the 16th century, were more than just words. They were a portal to a realm where love and surrender to the divine intertwined in poetic grace.

Narayaneeyam, a tapestry woven from the threads of devotion, weaves together the life and exploits of Lord Krishna, drawing from the sacred Bhagavata Purana. Composed in pursuit of divine healing, this masterpiece stands as a testament to the miraculous power of faith. In its 100th dasakam, an ailing Bhattathiri was blessed with a vision, and in verse, he painted the very form of Krishna he beheld.

अग्रे पश्यामि तेजो निबिडतरकलायावलीलोभनीयं

पीयूषाप्लावितोऽहं तदनु तदुदरे दिव्यकैशोरवेषम् ।

तारुण्यारम्भरम्यं परमसुखरसास्वादरोमाञ्चिताङ्गै-

रावीतं नारदाद्यैर्विलसदुपनिषत्सुन्दरीमण्डलैश्च ॥१॥

agre pashyaami tejO nibiDatara kalaayaavalii lObhaniiyaM

piiyuuShaaplaavitO(a)haM tadanu tadudare divyakaishOraveSham |

taaruNyaarambharamyaM paramasukha rasaasvaada rOmaa~nchitaangaiH

aaviitaM naaradaadyairvilasadupaniShat sundarii maNDalaishcha || 

Translates to:

Oh, GuruvAyurappA! I see in your sannidhi a bright blue thEjas(effulgence) having the hue of KaasAmpoo (KalAya Flower) pushpa cluster. I am now immersed in that deep nectarine experience. Next, I see in the middle of that blue effulgence, a beautiful child at the beginning of youth and surrounded by admirers like Sage NaaradhA with joyous horripilation and the various Upanishads in the form of lovely ladies singing Your praise.

Fast forward to an October evening in Chennai, where the spirit of Narayaneeyam came alive in a mesmerizing spectacle aptly titled “Agre Pashyami.” Conceptualised meticulously by the eloquent Upanyasaka Dushyanth Sridhar and the renowned Bharatnatyam exponent Anita Guha, this production is truly a dedication to Lord Guruvayurappan.

The distinguished guests of honour for the evening included Smt. Sheela Balaji is associated with Swami Dayananda Saraswati’s “AIM For Seva,” a noble initiative founded in 2000 to bring education and healthcare within reach of children in rural areas of India. Also in attendance was Shri Srinivasan from the Vikatan Group. During the event, the compere/emcee shared with the audience the diverse philanthropic endeavours undertaken by the Desika Daya Trust. Their initiatives spanned across the country, from supporting patashalas to restoring and preserving temples in and around Tamil Nadu.

The stage was set for an evening of transcendence as the curtains went up at Narada Gana Sabha; the air thrummed with anticipation. The performance unfolded like a divine tapestry, Dushyanth’s narration guiding us through the celestial odyssey. 

The performance commenced with a Seeveli ritual, and we were granted the divine darshan of Lord Guruvayurappa. In a remarkable portrayal, a young girl embodied the deity, standing perfectly still, radiating a continuous and serene smile reminiscent of the Lord’s presence at His Abode in Guruvayur.

Each act, a brushstroke of devotion, revealed the avatars of Lord Mahavishnu. The gasp that escaped the audience as Koormavataram graced the stage bore witness to the spell woven by the artists on stage.

Next in line were the captivating scenes depicting Lord Shiva consuming the Halahala poison, followed by the grandeur of the Varaha avatar, where Bhagawan valiantly protected and rescued Bhoomadevi.

Then came the awe-inspiring enactment of the Narasimhavataram, a performance that completely enthralled the audience in the auditorium. as He tore into Hiranyakasipu. The stunning visual effects further elevated the mesmerising dance sequence, leaving the spectators spellbound. 

Ramavatharam followed with the “capture” of Lord Hanuman, a beacon of brilliance. The music, a symphony of emotions, echoed through the auditorium, and hearts danced evoking the scene’s emotions perfectly with the spirit of Hanuman.

Then came Kalinga Nardhanam, where the stage pulsed with the dance of Lord Krishna subduing the serpent. Mohiniattam wove its magic in portraying Rasakreeda (Rasa Leela), a testament to the diversity of Indian classical dance forms.

And then, a crescendo of devotion, as the Vishwaroopam moment, aka Bhattathiri’s ‘Agre pashyami’ moment unfolded. Many Krishnas graced the stage, a reminder that the divine is all-pervading in every glance, every breath.

As the tale of the Dashavatharam unfolded, Bhattathiri, too, bore witness (along with the audience) to the divine manifestations of the Lord Himself. The artist portraying Bhattathiri skillfully expressed a range of emotions effortlessly as he played his part convincingly, from tears welling in his eyes to the sheer bliss that overcame him when he gets the Vishwaroopam darshan – the audience saw him as Bhattathiri.

Anita Guha’s finesse, honed by years of dedication, shone through every movement and every expression. Familiar melodies from childhood, like “Karuna cheyvan yendu thamasam Krishna…,” a Malayalam keertanam composed by Irayimman Thampi on Guruvayurappan, flooded the heart with cherished memories.

In toto, the music, composed by Dr. Rajkumar Bharati, wove its charm, carrying the legacy of his freedom fighter, renaissance poet great grandfather, Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, the soundscape, crafted by Sai Shravanam, was nothing short of magic. The singers elevated the experience further.

As the final note hung in the air, the audience in a standing ovation – a wave of gratitude for the artists and the team who had painted the divine on the canvas of our hearts. Special mention must be made of the young volunteers from Desika Daya, who graciously escorted all the guests to their seats. This gesture deserves commendation, especially considering that a significant portion of the audience consisted of senior citizens. Given the seating arrangements at Narada Gana Sabha, their thoughtful initiative was truly praiseworthy.

In the embrace of “Agre Pashyami,” time seemed to stand still, transporting the audience for those two hours to the realm of Mahavishnu himself, where everyone was drenched in a dance of devotion, leaving us all with a yearning to realise the Krishna within.

(Hridya is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Chennai.)

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Christian Villagers In Thoothukudi Boycott After 3 Convert To Islam, Double Standards Of Dravidianist Media Exposed

By
The Commune
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Fishermen from Kombuthurai, a part of the Kayalpattinam municipality, have been staying ashore for the past 11 days to express their disapproval of three Christian fishermen who recently converted to Islam.

The recent converts, namely Anthony Frango (Mohammed Frango), Sebastian (Esa), and Wilfred (Salim), have raised concerns that the Kombuthurai fishermen association prevented them from fishing and selling their catch at Kombuthurai beach, although this claim is contested by the Christian fishermen.

What Happened

According to a Dinamalar report, they were banished by a khap panchayat from attending a public fish auction after the duo converted to Islam as their conversion did not go well with the 200 fishermen living in the village who follow Catholic Christianity.

One of the converts mentioned that they have been restricted from fishing activities for the past four months and have been working as fisher coolies to support their families. They also highlighted that they were denied access to tractors provided by the Kombuthurai Christian fishermen to launch their boats into the sea. They were apparently helped by the neighboring Iykiya Muslim Peravai who offered a tractor, but the local Christian fishermen prevented them from using it.

The district administration has organized another peace meeting for 3 October 2023 to mediate the dispute between the converts, village leaders, and Christian fishermen.

While the matter prima facie looks like a case of Christian villagers boycotting the three persons for converting to Islam, the matter has been underplayed by the mainstream media as a dispute over name of the village. There is a dispute regarding whether ‘Kadaiya’ is the historical name of the Kombuthurai hamlet, and this matter is currently pending in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. 

The New Indian Express (TNIE) reported that the Christian villagers of Kombuthurai have objected to the use of the name ‘Kadayakudi’. According to the TNIE report, the Kombuthurai fishermen allege that the fishermen who converted to Islam have been calling their village ‘Kadaiyakudi,’ which has caused frustration among the Roman Catholic fishermen in Kombuthurai. 

The Double-Standards Of The Dravidianist Media

Except for Dinamalar and TNIE, no other mainstream media in Tamil Nadu has even reported about the issue. However, in July 2023, there was significant media attention surrounding a situation in Poompuhar, a historically significant port during the Early Chola rule, where Hindu fishermen were reported to have cut off communication with converted Christians. BBC Tamil conducted an ‘in-depth’ investigation and carried an elaborate report into allegations that Hindus had ostracized the converts and encouraged them to return to Hinduism if they wished to reintegrate into the community. The report demonized the Hindus who boycotted their fellow members for converting to Christianity as the converts started abusing the former. 

Around 300 Hindu families are said to have converted to Christianity during this period. Given that Poompuhar was originally an all-Hindu village, community elders purportedly decided to boycott those who had converted, while welcoming back those who had returned to Hinduism. Allegedly, converts were subjected to fines, had business dealings severed, and all forms of communication were terminated. According to the BBC report, families gradually began returning to the Hindu faith one by one in response to these restrictions.

However, 22 families continued to adhere to Christianity, leveling various accusations against the Hindu community. These allegations included claims of being barred from participating in significant life events such as births, marriages, and funerals of their relatives, as well as encountering obstacles in their businesses. Subsequently, 15 more converted families chose to return to Hinduism, yet seven families remained steadfast in their Christian beliefs. They filed complaints with the district administration, leading to the initiation of peace talks.

During interviews with BBC, the Hindu side contended, “We are simply keeping our distance from them (the converts) due to differences in beliefs. Their allegations are baseless.” The village head, a Hindu, explained, “They are attempting to convert everyone, which we do not accept. They are following their faith, and we are doing the same. We do not engage with them because they attempt to impose Christianity on us and insult our deities. They converted ten years ago and continue to reside in our village. How can they claim that we are threatening them?“

“They wish to interact with us because their children have grown up, and they wish to arrange marriages. However, why should we accept them when they do not respect our traditions? There are seven thousand people living here. If we make concessions for them, we will have to do the same for everyone. They should be the ones to adhere to the village’s rules. We cannot change our way of life for them.”

The district collector, who participated in the peace talks, stated, “We can intervene if a shopkeeper refuses to sell goods to specific individuals. However, what can we do when individuals choose not to communicate?” The BBC report suggests that the Hindu community in the village cut off communication with the converts only after allegations of abuse of Hindu practices and attempts to convert them to Christianity arose. Despite this context, some media outlets portrayed it as a form of untouchability, disregarding the initial provocations. This raises questions about media coverage in cases where Christian converts have ostracized Muslim converts, with very few reports on such instances.

(With inputs from Hindu Post)

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Shivamogga Skirmish: Swords Brandished, Huge Cutout Of Tipu, Akhand Bharat Map Painted Green With “Muslim Empire” And Aurangzeb Pic

By
The Commune
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On Monday (2 October 2023), the district administration of Shivamogga in Karnataka imposed Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the Ragi Gudda area of the town. This measure was taken in response to clashes that erupted between two communities on Sunday evening during the celebration of Eid Milad. Section 144 is a legal provision that restricts gatherings of more than four people in a specific area to maintain law and order, particularly during times of tension or unrest.

According to reports, the incident happened during the Eid Milad celebrations (birthday of Prophet Mohammed) where a huge cutout of Muslim tyrant Tipu Sultan was erected glorifying him. A large knife, with two saffron-colored figures hanging from it was decorated and shown in full display.

The situation escalated when stones were thrown in the Ragi Gudda area.

Allegedly, Muslims celebrating Prophet Mohammad’s birthday started pelting stones at houses and vehicles, resulting in injuries to several individuals. These actions were reportedly triggered by unconfirmed rumors of stone-pelting on the Eid Milad procession.

Local authorities have urged the public not to spread rumors, as it could exacerbate the situation. However, they have been criticized for not addressing the provocation stemming from the display of a map of Akhand Bharat in green with the image of Aurangzeb under the title “Muslim Empire”.

In any situation of civil unrest or violence, it is essential to rely on credible news sources, official statements, and first-hand information. Video footage circulating on social media depicts even the police facing aggression during the stone-pelting incident. In one video, a woman can be heard exclaiming, “They are beating the police.” Another video shows Muslims waving flags and swords while the police appear to be passive observers. In contrast, just three days prior, Hindus conducted their annual Ganapati Visarjana procession without any reports of violence or vandalism.

Shivamogga Superintendent of Police Mithun Kumar said, “There was a stone pelting incident in Ragigudda last evening. However, we managed to disperse the crowd and the situation is under control now. Around four to five people sustained minor injuries. Section 144 is in force in Ragi Gudda to prevent any untoward incident,” ANI.

 Video evidence shows that once the stone pelting started, even the police were not spared and in the video which is being viewed on social media, one can hear a woman saying ‘Yappa they are beating police’.

In another video, one can see Muslims waving their flags and swords as the police watch as mute spectators. On the contrary, just 3 days ago Hindus had taken their annual Ganapati Visarjana in a fanfare procession but there was no act of violence or vandalism.

Maternal Deaths And Alleged Medical Manipulations Rock Madurai Govt Hospital, Dravidian Model Of Healthcare In Question Once Again

By
The Commune
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Three maternal deaths occurred at Madurai Medical College Hospital / Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), and it has been alleged that doctors manipulated the case sheets and patient records after the deaths. As a result of the investigation by the Madurai Collector, there is a recommendation to suspend one of the doctors involved. In protest of this recommendation, the doctors at GRH have decided to halt elective surgeries. Here is a look at each of these maternal deaths in detail which has been brought to light by The New Indian Express journalist Thinakaran Rajamani.

Death Of Semmalar

Regarding the maternal death of Semmalar, the Madurai Collector conducted an audit on 3 September 2023, with the Corporation Health Officer, JD Health, and a Duty Assistant Professor from GRH present. During this audit, a copy of the case sheet was photocopied. The Collector then instructed the Duty Assistant OG to provide a copy of the case sheet for a detailed audit, which was received by the PHC medical officer on 4 September 2023.

Image Source – Thinakaran Rajamani Twitter Handle

Upon comparing the case sheet from 3 September 2023 to the one received on 4 September 2023, the Collector identified several discrepancies, including:

  1. Rewriting of notes and deletion of treatment prescriptions on 28 August 2023, at 05:15 p.m.
  2. Rewriting of the call-over to the cardiologist on 28 August 2023.
  3. Full notes rewritten on 28 August 2023, at 7 p.m.
  4. Rewriting of the full page and deletion of treatment prescription on 29 August 2023, at 7 a.m.
  5. Addition of signatures to notes on 29 August 2023, at 1 pm and 7 pm.
  6. Absence of documented BT (Bleeding time)/CT (Clotting time) on 31 August 2023, but subsequent documentation after an inquiry by the Collector.
  7. Inclusion of new notes on 31 August 2023, at 5 p.m. and 5.15 p.m., detailing episodes of chills & rigors, vomiting, and abdominal distension.
  8. Documentation of ‘Chief Informed’ after death on 31 August 2023, at 5.45 pm, along with the insertion of a signature.
  9. Addition of ‘On Mechanical Ventilator’ after death on 31 August 2023, at 06.00 pm.
  10. Inclusion of notes about TEG and ordering cryo in the notes on 31 August 2023, at 02:00 a.m.
  11. Complete page change on 1 September 2023, at 07.00 am.
  12. Complete page insertion on 1 September 2023, at 08.00 am.
  13. Complete rewriting of the cardiology and radiology call-over page on 1 September 2023.

The Madurai Collector concludes that it is evident that the OG department at GRH fabricated the case sheet after the maternal death to favor their position.

Death Of Kuppi

On 7 September 2023, Collector Sangeetha held a maternal death audit for Kuppi, who had passed away on 5 September 2023 at GRH in Madurai. During the audit, she discovered that the hospital had manipulated the patient’s records.

Image Source: Thinakaran Rajamani Twitter Handle

Changes made before and after the patient’s death included:

Initially, there were no treatment notes recorded for the patient’s visit to Unit (II) OG on 18 July 2023, only the unit seal was entered. However, after the patient’s death, the HR number, along with a description/diagnosis, was entered into the patient’s treatment notes, as if a diagnosis had been made previously. Additionally, ECHO notes were entered on the same page. Advice regarding admission was also retrospectively entered into the patient’s treatment notes after the maternal death.

Collector Sangeetha also noted that the Department of OG at GRH Madurai did not assign an OG specialist to conduct PMSMA (Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan) high-risk camps at Zonal PHCs (Primary Health Centers) as per the guidelines. This was in contrast to GH doctors who were conducting camps at Block PHCs in Madurai District.

In response to these findings, instructions were given to suspend the Medical Officer at GRH Madurai responsible for fabricating the case sheet and patient records. It was also mandated that PMSMA high-risk camps be conducted at Zonal PHCs in accordance with the guidelines.

However, as of the date of this communication, no action had been taken by the Dean and Head of Department (HOD) of OG at GRH. Therefore, a request was made to instruct the Dean of GRH Madurai to take appropriate action in this matter.

Death Of Thilagavathi & Subsequent Complaints By Medical College And PHC Doctors

On 29 September 2023, the unfortunate maternal death of Thilagavathi occurred. Sources indicated that there was a dispute between the Corporation Health Officer (CHO) and PHC doctors, who believed the cause of death to be postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), and the medical college (GRH) doctors, who suspected dengue as the cause. This suspicion arose because Thilagavathi’s husband had received dengue treatment at a private hospital. The CHO’s team reportedly took a blood sample from Thilagavathi’s body at GRH in an attempt to support their claim.

In response to this situation, the medical college doctors at GRH wrote a letter to the Dean of the institution, expressing their opposition to the actions taken by the CHO’s team. They criticized the CHO’s team for entering GRH, making photocopies of patient records, and other activities.

Following this, 22 Primary Health Center (PHC) Medical Officers composed a letter addressed to their Corporation Commissioner. In the letter, they pointed out that a significant number of maternal deaths in Madurai district had occurred at the medical college (GRH) hospital after referrals from their PHCs. They highlighted the district Collector’s findings regarding the fabrication of case sheets as part of their concerns.

The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) has adopted a resolution in which they call for the suspension of the Corporation Health Officer (CHO) and request that approximately three out of six Maternal Death Audits be discontinued.

TNGDA has accused the CHO of providing information to a newspaper, claiming that maternal deaths are being concealed. In the event that their demands are not met, TNGDA decided to cease conducting elective surgeries starting from 3 September 2023.

This news comes at a time when there is a visible spike in the cases of alleged medical negligence in government hospitals in the state, some involving women and children. Very recently, a woman who went to the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai for an angio treatment had to get her arm amputated allegedly due to medical negligence of the doctors.

The healthcare system in Tamil Nadu is facing severe challenges, particularly affecting the underprivileged population. It is crucial for the DMK government, which takes pride in the “Dravidian Model” and portrays Tamil Nadu as a pioneer in healthcare, to address these issues promptly.

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Congress Govt In Karnataka Bans Carpooling, Could This Be The Reason?

By
The Commune
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The Congress government in Karnataka on Saturday (30 September 2023) took a strange decision wherein anyone who is carpooling in Bengaluru will suffer a heavy fine from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 and the ruling Congress party has also mandated that passengers not take rides from any of the carpooling apps. 

This unfortunate decision was taken after the government was held hostage by the taxi driver associations who are blaming carpooling services are affecting their daily earnings. As per the new law set forth by the transport department of Karnataka, any whiteboard vehicles for commercial commute purposes will be deemed as ‘illegal’, and said that a fine can be levied ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 if anyone is found operating the carpooling services.

This ban will impact many ride-hailing apps like BlaBla Car, Quickride, Rideshare, Commute Easy, and Carpool Adda and if commuters are forced not to use any of these apps, it will impact their business with a strong possibility of companies laying off employees. Also, affected will be the tens of thousands of IT professionals who use these services to commute to work from their homes and find this service stress-free.

Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has also mentioned that further steps regarding the banning of bike taxis will be considered after a legal assessment.

It is a fact that carpooling for a city like Bangalore where traffic is a major source of problems is the best way to reduce the number of vehicles on Bengaluru roads during peak hours.

Bengaluru has one of the highest traffic densities for any major city in the country and with a population of 11 million and growing, Bengaluru has close to 12.5 million vehicles, which means there are more vehicles per person living in the city.

As per a new report, Bengaluru has suffered a loss of ₹19,725 crore per year due to its traffic delays, congestion, stoppage of signals, time loss, fuel loss, and related factors

Taxi associations and auto-rickshaw drivers’ unions argue that carpooling services are adversely affecting their daily earnings.

However, auto-drivers themselves had blamed the free-bus ride scheme for women introduced by the Karnataka Congress government for fall in their business. 

The Siddaramaiah government taking a leaf out of its ally DMK’s playbook in Tamil Nadu introduced the Shakti Scheme offering free bus rides for women from June 2023.

“My friends and I tirelessly campaigned for the Congress, going door-to-door to garner support. Our dedication led to our families voting for Congress. We proudly displayed their posters on our autos, believing in the promises they made. Little did we know that the consequences of our votes would come back to haunt us,” a disappointed auto driver was quoted saying in a report by Outlook. 

An auto-driver from Majestic Bus Stand The Commune spoke to said that earlier he used to get frequent trips for short commutes to metro station but the free bus ride for women has drastically hit his business.

Some have also alleged another ulterior motive behind this decision of the government. 

The Karnataka Congress government led by CM Siddaramaiah, has introduced a subsidy program for minority community members, offering them a ₹3 lakh subsidy towards the purchase of a four-wheeler vehicle of their choice.

The Karnataka budget unveiled in July 2023 by CM Siddaramaiah introduced three schemes, including the vehicle subsidy program “Swavalambi Sarathi,” for minority communities as well as SC/ST and backward classes.

Under the scheme, eligible individuals can purchase a four-wheeler valued at up to ₹8 lakhs, with the government providing a ₹3 lakh subsidy. Additionally, the government will facilitate bank loans for the remaining amount. This program had been in place during the previous Siddaramaiah regime but was removed by the BJP government. The former Bommai-led BJP government had a similar scheme for people from minority communities which provided a subsidy of ₹75,000 for the purchase of new goods and passenger auto rickshaws along with subsidies for the purchase of taxis. But this scheme later became inactive. 

Rajesh, an IT professional from Whitefield who uses carpooling and sometimes bike taxi services for commuting to office alleged that votebank politics could also be a reason for the banning of car pooling.

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Madurai Bench Denies Bail To 12 Booked For Making Hindu Parents Pull Their Kids Out Of TN Govt-Aided Christian School Over Fear Of Conversion

By
The Commune
- 
Feature Image Courtesy: BBC Tamil, The Hill

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court denied bail to 12 individuals who were accused of stoking communal tensions by a Tahsildar in Tenkasi district allegedly for mobilizing people in a village to withdraw their wards from a government-aided Christian school as they feared proselytization attempts.

Acchankuttam is a village located in Veerakeralampudur taluk of Tenkasi district in Tamil Nadu home to approximately 1000 families, with the majority being Hindus and a minority following Christianity. In this village, there exists a government-aided TDTA Primary School, overseen by the Tirunelveli District Trust Association (TDTA) and managed by the Tirunelveli CSI Diocese. In 2018, the school was shifted to another location as the building became old. Following the relocation of this government-aided school, which had been in operation for over half a century, the school’s administration decided to construct a church on the former school premises which was opposed by the villagers.

In March of 2023, Hindu parents residing in Acchankuttam village took a significant step by stopping more than a 100 of their children to the school due to concerns about proselytization. Parents have claimed that their children were being engaged in prayer activities, which raised concerns.

According to a report by BBC Tamil, Azhagu Muthu, a resident of Acchankuttam, stated that she noticed change in her children’s behavior. She said that her children when asked to pray, would say we will do “jebam” (like Christians say).

“My husband Subramaniam works as a labourer. I work at a beedi factory. Till last year, my eldest daughter studied in the 4th standard, youngest daughter in the 3rd standard, and son in 1st standard at this school. After the school moved to a new location in the north of the town, the children’s behaviour began to change. If I asked them to pray, they said we will “do jabam” (as Christians say). The change in the way the children spoke and behaved alarmed us. We did not send our children to that school after that for fear that they would change their religion,” Azhagu Muthu had said according to the BBC report as translated by the Hindu Post.

She also highlighted that she and many others from her village had received their primary education at this school without such issues in the past.

Soundar Raj, a resident with a son studying in the school in question, raised concerns about conversion efforts at the school. He mentioned that students were being compelled to purchase books related to Christianity, and he opted not to send his son to that school. He emphasized the need for a government school within their town as a permanent solution.

The parents obtained transfer certificates and have appealed to the Tenakasi District Collector and the education department to establish a government school within Acchankuttam. Presently, more than 150 students have withdrawn from the school and according to a report by Daily Thanthi, 76 students have got Transfer Certificates.

The village currently has only one government-aided primary school in the town center, with another school located about 6 kilometers away. Residents find it impractical for their children to travel such a distance on their own and have urged the authorities to establish a government school within their village. They also submitted a petition to Chief Minister M K Stalin requesting a government school in their village. Over 400 people signed the petition, alleging that the administration of the aided primary school was attempting to build a church on a government poromboke land.

“Opposing the construction, we held a road blockade in March and the police arrested us. Since then, we stopped sending our children to that particular school. We have also petitioned the district collector and other officials seeking steps to establish a government school in our village. Our children have to travel to a government school located six km away from our village for writing annual exams,” they said in their petition.

Tenkasi District Chief Education Officer Muthiah had committed to preparing and submitting a comprehensive report to the education department. He noted that while the government would ultimately decide on the school’s establishment, locals were advised to enroll their children in a school of their choice.

On 7 August 2023, the villagers organized a demonstration in Veerakeralampudur against the conversion attempts by the school.

Tenkasi Revenue Commissioner Lavanya refuted the conversion allegations, stating that the residents’ complaint was unfounded. She indicated that the residents’ demands had been forwarded to the government and urged parents not to keep their children away from school until the demands were considered. Lavanya also mentioned that notices had been sent to parents, warning of potential actions under the Right To Education Act if children were not sent to school. The district administration held discussions with Acchankuttam residents, advising them to transfer dropout students to other schools and providing necessary transport facilities.

In the meantime, the Tahsildar has lodged a complaint against individuals who played a prominent role in the peaceful protest aimed at obtaining Transfer Certificates for their children and accordingly a case was filed by the Surandai police against 12 people for stoking “communal tensions”.

They submitted bail applications to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court asserting that they were not responsible for causing communal conflicts and alleged that the police had falsely implicated them based on a fabricated complaint from Revenue Department officials.

The bail petition came for hearing before Justice Ilangovan on 27 September 2023. The DMK government’s counsel argued that providing education to children up to the 5th grade is mandatory, and failing to send children to school constitutes a legal violation. He noted that the School Education Department had issued notices to the parents involved. Expressing concerns about potential disruptions to law and order stemming from the actions of the petitioners, he urged the court not to grant bail.

Following this Justice Ilangovan dismissed the anticipatory bail petitions.

(With inputs from Hindu Post, The New Indian Express, Daily Thanthi)

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