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Parent Who Questioned Guv Ravi On NEET Ban Turns Out To Be DMK Party Member

By
The Commune
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Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi participated in an event to felicitate NEET rank-holders from Tamil Nadu. He addressed a gathering of students and parents on 12 August 2023. A Ramasamy, a parent whose daughter had cleared the NEET exam, asked Governor Ravi a question about whether he intended to endorse the anti-NEET Bill.

In response, Governor Ravi said, “I will be the last man to give clearance [to the NEET exemption Bill], never ever! I do not want my children to feel intellectually disabled,”.

The Indian Express reports that Ramasamy works at the Salem Steel Plant and had spent ₹4 lakh annually for coaching over the past 4 years and that he said on the sidelines of the event at Raj Bhavan, “You said our standards are very high and our medical system is very good. But all of these were achieved without NEET,”.

The Bill is currently awaiting review by the President.

However, it has come to light that the same Ramasamy is in fact a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The ruling DMK is against the NEET exam.

In the pictures shared on social media, Ramasamy can be seen wearing DMK flag and canvassing. There are also photos of him paying homage to the late DMK patriarch Karunanidhi.

But many mainstream news outlets had tried to portray as if a parent without political affiliation was against the NEET exam.

The Chief Minister, MK Stalin, also was seen playing NEET politics over an Indian student’s death in the Ukraine war claiming that had there been no NEET, the student wouldn’t have been in such a situation. He has also said that NEET bars the poor from pursuing their medical dreams and the ruling state government (DMK) in Tamil Nadu was working proactively to do away with the exam.

It is to be noted that several students from government schools, lower economic backgrounds, and oppressed communities have in fact cracked the NEET exam and secured medical seats over the years. Read more on this here and here.

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DMK Alliance Partner VCK’s Thirumavalavan Blames RSS For Caste Violence In Nanguneri

By
The Commune
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Addressing a gathering of reporters, Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi founder Thol. Thirumavalavan expressed his concerns about the escalating influence of divisive politics based on caste and religion among school children. Thirumavalavan said that this issue isn’t limited to Tamil Nadu alone, as right-wing groups like RSS are allegedly playing a role in perpetuating these ideologies among students. He claimed that these groups are indoctrinating young minds with religious and caste fanaticism and alleged that students are being coerced into chanting slogans like “Jai Shri Ram.”

Thirumavalavan decried the disturbing trend of caste-related accessories being distributed by certain caste organisations to students, along with displaying caste-associated symbols on their belongings. He attributed the recent incident in which 12th-grade students attacked a fellow student and his sister in the Aadhi Dravidar settlement colony in Nanguneri to the toxic politics of caste and religious discrimination seeping into educational institutions.

While Thirumavalavan condemned the toxic politics infiltrating student communities, he appeared optimistic about the news that Chief Minister Stalin has formed a committee headed by retired judge Chandru to address the issue. He expressed hope that the committee would offer valuable recommendations to curb the spread of divisive ideologies among students. Thirumavalavan emphasised that this problem extends beyond isolated incidents, calling on the Chief Minister to oversee these matters closely.

Thirumavalavan said,”Surveillance on such activities are needed, VCK has been demanding for a separate agency to monitor activities related to caste and religious discrimination, akin to agencies that monitor terrorist activities.”

Amid these assertions, it’s worth noting that Thirumavalavan’s remarks could be seen as an attempt to deflect attention from the perceived inefficacy of the DMK government in addressing the Nanguneri incident. By pointing fingers at the RSS and highlighting broader issues, he seemingly aimed to shift focus away from potential criticisms of the government’s response.

While referring to this, TNBJP State Secretary SG Suryah tweeted, “Coward Mr. @thirumaofficial MP who has no courage to oppose the DMK government, to hide his incompetence and helplessness, to protect DMK family who are the real criminals, is lashing out at #RSS tyranny. The day the Tamils ​​will send you home is not far.”

The horrific incident of class 12 students hacking their fellow classmate to death over caste has been sending shock waves across Tamil Nadu.

It is notable that Thirumavalan had once referred to Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party head, K Annamalai, a shudra and instigated violence against Hindus.

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Former Justice Chandru Who Hurled Casteist Slur At FM Nirmala Sitharaman To Head Committee To Eradicate Casteist Division Among Students

By
The Commune
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Former Justice Chandru who hurled casteist slurs at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is now appointed by the DMK government to head a committee to advise the government on the measures to be taken to create an environment without caste and ethnic divisions among school and college students.

A horrifying incident unfolded in Nanguneri, Tirunelveli district, as a Class 12 Scheduled Caste student, Chinnadurai, aged 17, and his younger sister, aged 14, were viciously attacked with sickles within the confines of their home on Wednesday (9 August 2023) night. The assault, carried out by three of Chinnadurai’s schoolmates, comes just hours after he had lodged a complaint against them with the school headmaster, detailing their persistent harassment. The assailants, who belonged to a dominant caste, have since been apprehended by the police and are facing charges under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Though the news was widely covered in National media, Tamil media, Tamil journalists, and Tamil actors either did namesake reporting or refrained from debating the matter due to its potential to reflect poorly on the ruling DMK government.

In this situation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that a one-man committee headed by retired Justice K. Chandru has been set up to advise the government on the measures to be taken to create an environment without caste and ethnic divisions among school and college students.

While the initiative by the Tamil Nadu government is indeed positive, concerns have been raised regarding the potential casteist leanings of former Justice Chandru, who has been selected to lead the committee established by the DMK government with the aim of eliminating caste and ethnic divisions among students in educational institutions.

Ever since assuming the role as the committee head focused on addressing caste issues, an old tweet by former Justice Chandru has been circulating on social media. In this tweet, Justice Chandru appeared to make a veiled remark about a BJP leader, presumably Annamalai, by stating, “Like Pickle Lady (a derogatory term targeting Tamil Brahmin women), he is attempting to become a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka.” He implied that Annamalai’s aspirations mirror those of Nirmala Sitharaman, referred to as ‘Oorka Ammaiyaar.’

Even at that time, these remarks made by former Justice Chandru have been met with criticism from various quarters, sparking inquiries into the nature of the judgments issued by him during his tenure as a judge, amid concerns of potential bias stemming from his apparent casteist perspectives. However, the tweets and account of former Justice Chandru are unavailable and only a screenshot of his remarks is available.

The online community, or netizens, have expressed their perplexity over how an individual with casteist inclinations could be entrusted with leading a committee aimed at dismantling caste-based mentalities among students.

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Tamils Learning Hindi: Why Chinmayi Is Wrong And How She Is Adding Fuel To DMK’s Hindi-Hatred Politics

By
Dr. SG Suryah
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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in response to DMK MP Kanimozhi’s allegations of the Central Government imposing Hindi, emphasized that in Tamil Nadu, a mandate against learning Hindi and Sanskrit was enforced in the guise of resisting Hindi imposition.

She said that one has the power and the right to promote Tamil, but not prevent people from learning Hindi or Sanskrit due to their hubris.

Madam Sitharaman makes the argument based on her lived experiences. Many from her generation would testify for how Hindi was virtually absent in school classrooms of Tamil Nadu. 

Responding to Nirmala Sitharaman, acclaimed singer Chinmayi Sripada took to peddle that anyone in Tamil Nadu can learn any language they want.

I respectfully beg to differ with her.

Not every child in Tamil Nadu is as privileged as me or Chinmayi madam. She seems to have studied in The Children’s Garden School and Hindu Senior Secondary School both of which are private schools where Hindi is taught to students.

I too studied in a small private school in Coimbatore where Hindi was taught to me as third language because of which I was able to atleast read and write Hindi when I went to Pune to pursue law. It was only there I picked up Hindi but with lot of struggle.

Those studying in Tamil Nadu government schools do not have the privilege that me or Madam Chinmayi have. So, I kindly request Chinmayi madam to please acknowledge her privileged pedestal before pontificating.

Chinmayi madam harps on to the fact that a lot of people learn Hindi through the Hindi Prachar Sabha in Chennai.

The fact that people are thronging Hindi Prachar Sabha itself is proof that Tamil people want to study Hindi but are not given the option in Tamil Nadu state government schools.

To Chinmayi madam and all other naysayer of Hindi in Tamil Nadu, I ask just one question – What is the harm in just providing an option to study Hindi as third or second language in Tamil Nadu state government schools? This is the point that Hon’ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman wanted to drive home in her Parliament speech.

Madam Chinmayi says that the only factor preventing Tamils from speaking Hindi is the mocking that follows when Tamils speak Hindi.

I agree that people mock when south folks especially those from Tamil Nadu who speak Hindi because of the strong accent or the mistakes made in putting the gender (For example, it is “Neendh Aa Rahi Hai” and not “Neendh Aa Raha Hai”). Even today, I make those mistakes but that doesn’t stop me from communicating in Hindi to my Hindi-speaking friends.

Chinmayi madam should ask herself why Gujaratis or Bengalis or Assamese who are as passionate as Tamils about their language don’t have that problem.

That’s because they’ve been exposed to Hindi from schooling. Telugu people or Kannadigas are easily able to pick up Hindi because of their exposure to Hindi. Their love for their language doesn’t make them hate Hindi.

It is only the Tamils who suffer because of the Hindi-hate whipped up by DMK and its likes. Just cross Gummidipoondi and a rudimentary Hindi is enough to survive. The anti-Hindi agitation was justified in a sense as Congress under then CM Bhakthavachalam tried to forcefully impose Hindi. But the agitation went too far resulting in Hindi hate which manifests even today – be it calling Hindi-speakers as called “paanipoori waalas”, “cow belt” or people like you adding fuel to the fire by speaking against the learning of an Indian language.

The last line in her post is all about making false equivalences. Who is preventing Chinmayi madam or anyone else for that matter from eating what they want, worship whomsoever they want, speaking whatever language they want, loving whomsoever they want? Did the Central Government pass any law preventing people from doing any of the above?

It is my kind request to Chinmayi madam to not get carried away with the rhetorics peddled by her Leftists and so-called “Liberal” friends.

It is people like Chinmayi madam and those in power today (in Tamil Nadu) who are not allowing poor people to learn a language. All I ask Chinmayi madam is to please let poor Tamils to also reap the benefits that she reaped with her privilege.

Thanks.

SG Suryah is the State Secretary of BJP Tamil Nadu.

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#StalinTheLiar?: Here’s The Evidence Of Jayalalithaa Being Abused And Physically Assaulted By DMK Members

By
The Commune
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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during her speech in the Lok Sabha on the opposition’s no-confidence motion against the central government, highlighted a historical incident involving the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa.

Responding to Thoothukudi DMK MP Kanimozhi who had invoked Draupadi’s disrobing episode in Mahabharata during her speech on Manipur incident, Nirmala Sitharaman drew her attention to the particular event from March 25, 1989, that occurred in the Tamil Nadu assembly when Jayalalithaa was the Leader of the Opposition. Nirmala Sitharaman recounted how Jayalalithaa’s was heckled and her saree pulled in the Assembly, an act carried out by DMK members who were present.

This humiliating incident became a watershed moment in Jayalalithaa’s political career as she swore to set foot to the Assembly only as Chief Minister, which she did in the very next election.

“I agree that women suffering anywhere – Manipur, Delhi, Rajasthan – will have to be taken seriously. No politics played. But I want to remind this entire House of one incident which happened on 25th March 1989 in the Tamil Nadu assembly. Then she hadn’t become chief minister Jayalalithaa’s saree was pulled in Tamil Nadu in the assembly. She was the leader of opposition. The DMK members who were seated there, heckled her and laughed at her… Has the DMK forgotten Jayalalithaa? You pulled her saree, you demeaned her. That day Jayalalithaa took an oath that she will never come to the House unless she becomes the CM. Two years later, she returned as the CM of Tamil Nadu…, Nirmala Sitharaman said in her speech.

However, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in an interview to Hindustan Times had denied that such an incident had happened and called it a “drama” enacted by Jayalalithaa. He even derogated the Union Finance Minister of speaking based on “WhatsApp history”.

“Nirmala Sitharaman reads some WhatsApp history and speaks. Such an incident did not happen to Jayalalithaa in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Everyone present at that time knew that it was a “drama” she was enacting. Former Minister Thirunavakarasu (currently Congress MP from Trichy) spoke in the Assembly saying that Jayalalithaa had rehearsed in her Poes Garden house earlier that this should be done in the Assembly, and that he himself was present at that time.  It is regrettable that Nirmala Sitharaman spoke in the Parliament by misrepresenting the proceedings of the Tamil Nadu Assembly and misleading the House.”, Stalin said.

The truth however is far from what Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin claims.

Evidence of DMK MLAs Abusing And Molesting Jayalalithaa 

On March 25, 1989, the Tamil Nadu Assembly witnessed a shameful episode when Duraimurugan who was then a Minister in the Karunanidhi government assaulted Jaylalithaa and pulled her saree.

She was physically attacked by DMK MLAs as she made her way out of the House. Karunanidhi, then the chief minister, reportedly threw expletives at her after she called him a criminal in Tamil.

Jayalalithaa herself in an interview with Simi Garewal had said “Nothing really was worth the humiliation I suffered when I was attacked in the Assembly on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on March 25, 1989 in the presence of the Chief Minister Mr. Karunanidhi with both his wives watching from the VIP boxes. All his MLAs and Ministers physically assaulted me. They grabbed anything they could lay their hands upon. Chairs, mics, a heavy brass bell on the Speaker’s table. If they had succeeded in banging it on my head, I wouldn’t be alive today. My MLAs saved me that day. And one of them even pulled at my saree. They pulled at my hair. In fact they tore our some of my hair. They threw chappals at me. They threw big bundles of papers, heavy books at me. That day, I left the Assembly in tears. But I was also angry. I made a vow that day. I said I will never set foot in this Assembly again as long as this man continues to be Chief Minister and when I do enter this Assembly again I will enter as Chief Minister. And I fulfilled my vow.”

There are even pictures of the incident in which Jayalalithaa can be seen clutching her saree tight and holding her mangled hair.

A Tamil Nadu journalist Durai Kanna had witnessed the scenes unfold and testifies the same in an interview. He reveals that Karunanidhi turned the mic towards him and hurled an expletive at Jayalalithaa saying “Yen di ragala panna vandhiya? (Hey you woman, you came to create ruckus is it?”

When Jayalalithaa raised slogans “Nyayam vendum (I need justice)”, Karunanidhi apparently gave her a sexist reply saying “Hey you woman? You want justice is it? Go ask Shoban Babu, Go ask Jaishankar”.

One TK Palanisamy, the then Thiruvottriyur DMK MLA apparently stood on the table and kicked Jayalalithaa on her shoulder and raised his hand to hit her, he says.

I. Periyasamy (currently a Minister in MK Stalin’s cabinet) who was seated in the last rows came hopping tables, stood on one of the tables at the centre, lifted his dhoti up and gave one kick to Jayalalithaa on her shoulder, Durai Kanna reveals. This made Jayalalithaa fall back on a chair.

Other DMK members who attacked Jayalalithaa was Kovai Kannappan alias ‘Car Oti’ Kannappan, who earned the moniker from being Karunanidhi’s car driver.

Veerapandiya Arumugam was the DMK man who pulled Jayalaithaa’s hair thinking it was wig.

He also goes on to elaborate how Budget books were thrown at Jayalalithaa by DMK MLAs.

It was Pon Muthuramalingam, a DMK Minister who tried to hit Jayalalithaa with a brass bell which she mentions in her interview with Simi Garewal.

Incumbent DMK Minister Duraimurugan, who was also a Minister in Karunanidhi government then, went towards Jayalalithaa and pulled her saree. When GK Moopanaar and Kumari Ananthan (father of Tamilisai Soundarrajan), tried to prevent Duraimurugan, the latter allegedly abused Moopanaar for coming in support of Jayalalithaa. After this episode, Duraimurugan came to be regarded as the Dushasana of Tamil Nadu politics.

AIADMK, BJP, AMMK Condemn Stalin

Leader of Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami condemned Stalin’s denial of the horrific incident asserted that Jayalalithaa was attacked by DMK members.

He said that he himself was testimony to what had happened as he was there in the House on that fateful day as an AIADMK MLA.

”Amma (Jayalalithaa) was Leader of Opposition then. I had the opportunity of working with her as MLA then as I was elected from Edappadi. I was in the House then. As someone who saw it I am saying this — in that House, in the presence of then CM Karunanidhi, despite being a woman, a brutal attack was launched on her,” he stated adding that the attack on Jayalalithaa was a planned one.

“It has been reported in detail. It happened in Karunanidhi’s presence. DMK Ministers and MLAs badly attacked Amma… a now senior minister pulled her saree, another (then) minister pulled her hair…. it was a dark day,” he added.

“I can still recall. I was in the House. Such events were unprecedented in the history of the house; a very bad day in the history of the assembly. No women member or LoP had faced such a situation. But today’s CM (Stalin) is demeaning that. Everything had been reported in the press and media,” Palaniswami added.

BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai sharing Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech chastised the DMK for its treatment of women.

TTV Dhinakaran, the head of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, said that “all the people of Tamil Nadu know how the DMK treated Puratchi Thalaivi Amma in the Tamilnadu Assembly on March 25, 1989!”

He also made a scathing attack on MK Stalin saying that he was wantonly distorting history.

“It is unbecoming of the Chief Minister for Stalin to speak like this while forgetting the news and photographs that have appeared in the dailies and weeklies of the day of that terrible incident in 1989 which took place.”, he said.

“Will Never Clear Bill To Scrap NEET”, TN Governor Ravi Says

By
The Commune
-

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi reaffirmed his stance against the anti-NEET bill approved by the state Assembly during an event on Saturday, 12 August 2023. He emphasized that he would never provide his consent to the legislation, which is currently awaiting review by the President.

Addressing a group of students who had successfully cleared the NEET exam along with their parents, the Governor, having previously returned The Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Act, 2021 to the Assembly, only to have it sent back to him, expressed that the NEET examination was not going away.

In response to a query posed by A Ramasamy, whose daughter had passed the NEET and was present at the interaction with the Governor Ravi shared, “I will be the last person to grant approval. Never, under any circumstances. I am not willing for my children to feel intellectually inadequate. I want our youth to compete and excel. They have demonstrated this.”

Ramaswamy sought information from Ravi about when he intended to endorse the anti-NEET Bill. In reply, the Governor openly stated, “I am being completely candid. I will never provide approval for the NEET (exemption) Bill.” The parents continued to assert that medical professionals in Tamil Nadu had achieved significant milestones even before the nationwide examination was introduced.

The topic of NEET has provoked substantial debate in Tamil Nadu. The DMK-led government successfully passed the Bill in 2021; however, Ravi declined his approval in February 2022. Consequently, the legislation was re-approved and returned to him. The Bill currently awaits consideration by President Droupadi Murmu.

During the interaction held on Saturday, the Governor strongly advocated for the importance of the NEET exam. He emphasized that accomplishments achieved without the exam would not suffice for future endeavors. He criticized the spread of a misconception that only those who receive specialized coaching can succeed in the medical entrance examination.

Regarding the status of the NEET exemption bill, the Governor noted, “In any case, it has been forwarded to the President due to its placement in the Concurrent List, a domain exclusively within the President’s jurisdiction for approval.” He also highlighted that the CBSE book recommended for preparation was a recognized standard, urging individuals not to criticize the standard itself if the outcomes were subpar, but rather to strive for improvement.

The Governor’s statements are poised to escalate his ongoing disagreement with the government on this matter and other related issues.

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Dravidian Model: 5-Litre Aavin Green Magic Milk Price Hiked By ₹10

By
The Commune
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In yet another blow to common people, the cost of a 5-litre pack of Green Magic milk of Aavin has been increased by ₹10 by the DMK government, leaving the public in a state of shock. Fears are now mounting that this price hike could potentially trigger an increase in the cost of tea and coffee in hotels and eateries across Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu’s state-run dairy enterprise, Aavin, has garnered immense popularity due to its competitive pricing when compared to private milk producers. However, recent developments have raised concerns about the supply of cow’s milk, particularly in cities including Chennai.

A few weeks ago, the state witnessed a significant decline in milk supply attributed to reduced daily procurement by Aavin. The New Indian Express reports that there has been a decrease of 9 to 10 lakh litres of daily milk procurement in Chennai in the month of March, and residents in the southern, eastern, and suburban areas have experienced delays in deliveries.

The shortage was attributed to reduced milk procurement. It was recently reported that the price of milk will be increased to increase procurement price. Since then the price of milk products has increased significantly.

Apart from selling milk, Aavin also sells more than 225 dairy products like butter, ghee, curd, Palkova, ice cream, sweets, and biscuits. Subsequently, the prices of products like ghee were also increased. Recently the price of Aavin Paneer and Aavin Badam Powder has also been hiked.

Adding to the recent developments, the cost of the popular Green Magic milk packet has witnessed an increase. The price of a 5-litre packet of Green Magic milk has been increased by ₹2 per litre by the DMK government. As a result, the price of a 5-litre green milk packet, which was sold at ₹ 210 so far, has been increased by ₹ 10 and is now being sold at ₹220.

The 5-litre milk packets are predominantly purchased by tea shops and restaurants for their daily operations. The recent hike in milk price by the DMK government has evoked apprehensions that this could set off a chain reaction, resulting in higher prices for tea, coffee, and related products. Just recently, the price of yogurt witnessed an increase of ₹10 per litre.

Adding to the turmoil, it has been reported that the quantity of curd in a 120-gram pack has been reduced to 100 grams from the earlier standard. The persistent price hikes across various Aavin products have sent shockwaves through the public.

This isn’t the first instance of price increases from Aavin. In November 2022, the DMK government decided to raise the retail price of the Orange packet Aavin milk (pasteurized full cream milk) by ₹12 per litre. This was in direct response to an earlier government-led increment of ₹3 in the procurement price of milk.

(with inputs from Samayam Tamil )

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Nanguneri Horror: One Perpetrator Is Close Relative Of DMK Functionary But Pa. Ranjith Makes No Mention Of It, D Stock ‘Activist’ Blames Hindu Religion

By
The Commune
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A horrifying incident unfolded in Nanguneri, Tirunelveli district, as a Class 12 Scheduled Caste student, Chinnadurai, aged 17, and his younger sister, aged 14, were viciously attacked with sickles within the confines of their home on Wednesday (9 August 2023) night. The assault, carried out by three of Chinnadurai’s schoolmates, comes just hours after he had lodged a complaint against them with the school headmaster, detailing their persistent harassment. The assailants, who belonged to a dominant caste, have since been apprehended by the police and are facing charges under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Reports indicate that Chinnadurai, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community, had been subjected to caste-based harassment at the government-aided school in Valliyoor. The perpetrators, belonging to the Maravar community, reportedly subjected him to humiliation, coercing him to procure cigarettes and snacks for them and subjecting him to bullying. The situation escalated to such an extent that Chinnadurai felt compelled to share his torment with his parents and even stopped attending school a week before the horrifying attack.

The school administration did summon Chinnadurai and his parents for a meeting, during which the young victim communicated the psychological agony he was enduring due to the harassers. While the school authorities warned the harassers and urged the victim to resume his studies, events took a sinister turn on Wednesday when the gang confronted Chinnadurai within the school premises, warning him of dire consequences for having reported them.

Later that night, around 10:30 pm, the six accused students reportedly reached the victim’s residence, wielding sickles, and launched a brutal assault. In an attempt to shield her brother, Chinnadurai’s sister also suffered injuries. Their cries for help alerted neighbors who rushed to their aid, prompting the assailants to flee. Both siblings were taken to Nanguneri government hospital with severe bleeding wounds and were subsequently transferred to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.

Criticism arose over the delayed response by Nanguneri police to the crime scene, leading to the victim’s relatives staging a road blockade. Tragically, during negotiations between the police and the family, a 60-year-old relative collapsed and passed away on the road.

In this situation, all six school students were apprehended by police under Sections of IPC & SC/ST (PoA) Act. They were sent to observation home.

The incident also stirred controversy, with Dalit activist ‘Evidence’ Kathir and the mainstream news portal Malaimurasu alleging political affiliations of the accused’s parents, implicating them in obstructing the investigation. They said that the accused’s parents belonged to DMK and Vaiko’s MDMK.

It has been reported that one of the perpetrators is the nephew of DMK West Union Secretary named Sudalaikannu. It is said that he is using his political clout to save his nephew from enduring the due process of law.

However, film director Pa. Ranjith who has been called out for peddling DMK propaganda in his movies, did not even mention this fact in his social media post.

Instead he brushed it off under the carpet saying “Let us understand the true situation of how caste consciousness is being developed as hatred against Scheduled Caste people in Tamil Nadu. Let DMK government, all political parties, movements and people of Tamil Nadu unite against such caste atrocities and eradicate the caste which is devouring the next generation.”

G Sundarrajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal, a Dravidian Stock and self-proclaimed activist who is also known for being DMK propagandist blamed the Hindu religion without calling out the political affiliation of the perpetrators.

He said “It’s shocking that students from a community that experienced such brutality 100 years ago have done this. This is proof of what Sanatanam (Hindu religion) can do when it takes over a caste.”

Many on social media called out the way in which mainstream media and so-called activists have been handling the issue.

One netizen said “Even though one of the main culprits is the relative of a DMK union secretary, people may ask – isn’t it shameful to give Santanam RSS spin as if you guys have nothing to do with it?”

BJP Tamil Nadu State Secretary SG Suryah said “DMK has emerged as the total image of family politics and abuse of power which we have been talking about from time to time… If there was a BJP or ADMK politician in the same place, Tamil Nadu journalists and wolves pretending to be neutral would be blowing up this issue 24*7 for political gain. But since DMK politician, Nanguneri West Union Secretary Sudalaikannu is concerned, they are forced to keep their mouths shut. Even people like Pa. Ranjith are afraid to directly condemn the erring DMK executive. If your “outrage” is based on the political affiliation of the criminals then you are inhumane animals who do not deserve to live.”

“Sundararajan the founder of Poovulagin Nanbargal, goes a step further and unabashedly speaks as the DMK’s mouthpiece that Sanathanam (Hindu religion) is responsible for this incident. What is this?”, SG Suryah said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi expressed solidarity with the victims, assuring the public of prompt and stringent action. Minister Anbil Mahesh also extended a promise to sponsor Chinnadurai’s education.

(With inputs from Malaimurasu)

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Scheduled Caste Devotees Prevented From Entering Temple In Tiruvarur District, Temple Sealed By Revenue Officials, Cases Filed On SC People

By
The Commune
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In yet another instance of temple closures in Tamil Nadu, the Revenue Divisional Officer has ordered the sealing of the revered Maha Mariamman Temple in Tiruvarur district. The government’s intervention came after efforts to mediate a resolution between two conflicting communities failed.

Located in the Arasavanagkaadu area of Kudavasal Taluk, Tiruvarur District, the Maha Mariamman Temple has stood as a cultural and spiritual landmark for over a hundred years. Festivals, particularly during the Tamil month of Aadi, have been marked by fervent celebrations, with rituals such as “Kuthuvilakku Poojai” and “Kaavadi” being significant components of the observance. While the “Kaavadi” event took place recently, the “Kuthuvilakku Poojai” is scheduled for tomorrow.

According to reports, the dominant caste prevailing in the area has taken charge of organizing the temple events during the festival, with participation in the rituals being limited exclusively to individuals from that caste. However, residents belonging to the Scheduled Caste from the same locality have expressed their desire to engage in the temple rituals and have asserted their right to equal participation.

Demanding equal rights, members of the scheduled caste community started a rodo roko on the Thiruvarur-Kumbakonam highway.

In this situation, Tiruvarur MLA Poondi Kalaivaanan, Revenue Divisional officer Sangeetha, Kudavasal Tahsildar, and other police officers engaged to mediate with both communities. However, no solution was reached. Hence the revenue officials sealed the temple.

This marks yet another instance of temple closure under the DMK government’s tenure. Incidentally, Tiruvarur is also the home district of the late DMK patriarch Karunanidhi.

Just weeks ago, the Melpathi Droupathi Amman Temple in Vizhupuram district was similarly sealed after discord between Vanniyar and Scheduled Caste communities regarding temple entry.

Critics and netizens alike have highlighted the differing approaches by authorities in various temple closures. They point to the case of the Chidambaram Dikshithar Temple, where police were forcefully used when devotees were temporarily barred from using the ‘Kanagasabai’ by the temple administration. The contrast between the forceful entry into the Chidambaram Temple and the apparent neutrality exercised by sealing the temple in the case of the Droupathi Amman and Maha Mariamman Temples has drawn skepticism from many quarters.

Several people argued that the DMK government aimed to avoid confrontation with the politically significant so-called ‘backward’ communities by sealing the temples and maintaining a neutral stance, while it entered into Chidambaram temple as it is owned by the microscopic minoity Deekshitars.

In a recent development, the Kudavasal police on Saturday (Aug 12) lodged a First Information Report (FIR) under two sections against the Dalit individuals who staged a road protest, demanding access to the temple. This action taken by the DMK administration has faced significant backlash from the public at large. Many have criticized the DMK government for opting to file FIR against the protesting Dalit group rather than against those responsible for obstructing their entry into the temple.

(with inputs from Thanthi TV)

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How Congress Dismembered Vande Mataram Song To Appease Minorities

By
The Commune
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During his speech against the No-Confidence Motion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 10 August 2023 chastised the Congress calling them as people who dismembered the Vande Mataram song in response to Rahul Gandhi’s “Bharat Mata was murdered in Manipur” remark made in the Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was referring to how Congress owing to its policy of minority appeasement and keeping Mohammad Ali Jinnah in good humour, dropped verses that hailed Bharat Mata equating her to Hindu Gods.

Vande Mataram, An Ode To Mother India

“Vande Mataram”, pronounced as ‘Bande Mataram’ is a poem penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875. It was published in 1882 in his novel “Anandamath” with additional stanzas. Vande Mataram means “I praise thee, Mother” or “I praise to thee, Mother”.

The language employed in this song bears the influence of Sanskrit. Anandmath encompasses details regarding the forceful uprising of Sanyasis against the oppression imposed by Muslims and the British in Bengal in 1772.

The plot of Anandmath revolves around the Fakir-Sanyasi rebellion against the Muslim Nawab, who exploited revenue from villagers. Bengal was grappling with a grave agricultural predicament, and it was Hindu sanyasis and Muslim fakirs who spearheaded the revolt. British troops ended the rebellion, the Nawab was deposed, and the East India Company took control over administration and revenue collection.

However, prior to the publication of Anandmath in 1881, the author added four additional stanzas to this enchanting poem, which he believed symbolised religious emotions.

The four stanzas in Anandmath and Vande Mataram do not provoke any anti-Islam sentiments, as they were added to describe the 1770s period. The Vande Mataram Cry or Anandmath was never anti-Islam but a protest against the Muslim ruler who acted against the interests of common men and the British.

Views Of Gandhi, Tagore, Bose Vs Nehru

Mahatma Gandhi also regarded the song from a pragmatic perspective. Despite his profound respect for the song and its association with the fight for independence, he believed that it shouldn’t become a cause for religious discord. He actively engaged with Muslims, urging them to acknowledge its historical significance while also advising against any form of imposition. His call was for a shared understanding and respect. Eventually, in 1950, President Rajendra Prasad stated in the Constituent Assembly that Vande Mataram would receive equal honor and status as Jana Gana Mana.

The controversy surrounding the inclusion of Vande Mataram in the National Anthem grew as Congress considered the song’s relevance to the freedom struggle. A committee with Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Rabindranath Tagore as members were formed to review the song. Bose feared that it would upset Hindus in Bengal if the song was discarded. Tagore, who gave the tune and first sang it in a Congress Session, responded that the song was accidental and had its own individuality. However, he believed that the entire song would hurt Muslim sentiments. Tagore’s views on the song were evident in his letter to Subash Chandra Bose, where he stated “The core of Vande Mataram is a hymn to goddess Durga: this is so plain that there can be no debate about it. Of course, Bankim does show Durga to be inseparably united with Bengal in the end, but no Mussalman can be expected patriotically to worship the ten-handed deity as Swadesh (the nation).” It’s worth mentioning that Tagore’s “Jana Gana Mana” was also being deliberated upon during this period. In 1950, President Rajendra Prasad declared that Vande Mataram should be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana.

The core of Hindu culture lies in the motherland’s greatness. Every ruler, spanning from Lord Rama to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has harboured a profound sentiment of attachment to the Motherland.

In 1905, Lord Curzon declared the division of Bengal, leading to a revolt and anger from the Indians. The Governor of Bengal imposed a ban on the words ‘Vande Mataram’, which gained nationwide importance and became a National Mahamantra. Mahatma Gandhi wrote that the song, which has since become a national song, is holy and full of emotions. In 1936, Gandhi argued that the song was powerful during the partition of Bengal and opposed sovereignty.

The freedom fighters adopted the word ‘Vande Mataram’ as their favorite word, and a daily newspaper with its name was published on August 6, 1906. Any freedom struggle-related programmes always ended with Vande Mataram and the National Flag was designed by Sister Nivedita at the Kolkata Congress and hoisted by Madam Cama at the International Communist Conference. The song ‘Vande Mataram’ provided freedom fighters and the public with the strength to withstand lathi blows and whiplashes. Today, only the first stanza of the song is sung, and younger generations are unaware of its length.

During the year 1937, at the Congress Working Committee meeting held in Kolkata, a decision was made to truncate this National Song, with the primary intention of mollifying Muslims. This marked the beginning of the misfortune of the song. Muslims were dissatisfied and wanted to eliminate it completely. On 17th March 1938, Barrister Jinnah, Chairman of the Muslim League, objected to reciting the first stanza of ‘Vande Mataram’ too.

In 1940, Congress members were prohibited from using the adage “Vande Mataram” in the Constitutional Conference. However, Muslims objected and were allowed to sing an Urdu song by Bashir Ahmed and recite some stanzas from the Koran. In 1937, the Congress Ministry took power in many regions of India, leading to a strict prohibition of singing “Vande Mataram” on All India Radio. Master Krushnrao, a famous singer, fought for this ban, and in March 1947, the ban was lifted due to Krushnrao’s efforts.

Jawaharlal Nehru who had read the Anandmath only six days before the 1937 Congress Working Committee meeting. In a 1937 letter to Tagore he said that the novel’s setting is likely to cause displeasure among Muslims. Later, he opposed the song ‘Vande Mataram’ and gave the reason for his opposition as that it would not rhyme with the band. However, Krushnrao Fulmbrikar scientifically proved this wrong, earning the title of ‘Vande Mataram Krushnrao’. While Sardar Vallabbhai Patel and Rajendra Prasad as Congress Presidents in 1931 and 1934 concluded their address with Vande Mataram slogan Nehru did not in 1929 and 1936 when he headed the Congress.

Shri. Amarendra Gadgil has written a book named ‘Historical Story of Vande Mataram’. In this book it is mentioned he says ‘There was no reason for the actual discussion of what should be the National song in Free India, but due to the weakness in 1937 that the Congress despised ‘Vande Mataram’ of Congress, with the same weakness further Pt. Nehru removed this patriotic song from the place of the National song.’

On 24th January 1950, the Constitution Committee endorsed ‘Jana Gana Mana’ as the National song. Although the sacrifice of national interest for politics and selfish party motives by Congress and Nehru continues today, it is not acceptable to the entire country or future generations. It is mandatory for those with affection for this history, especially the younger generations, to rethink the song. While the Constitution may have displaced ‘Vande Mataram’ from its position, it remains feasible to reinstate it.

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