In yet another instance, Erode North Police Inspector Shanmugam has been transferred to a control room, widely regarded as a punishment posting, for ordering the removal of certain anti-Hindu books from an ongoing book fair in Erode.
The Book Fair, inaugurated on the 3 August 2023, taking place at the Chikkaiah Naicker College Grounds in Erode, is organised under the banner of the Tamil Nadu Government and People’s Think Tank. This event has drawn widespread attention with a participation of over 230 book stalls. The Book Fair is scheduled to be continue until August 15.
The controversy stems from an advertisement poster displayed at book stalls 59, 101, and 102, showcasing a book titled “Hindutva Fascism – Vergalum Vizhuthugalum (Hindutva Fascism; Roots and Veins.)” Simultaneously, another poster promoted the book ‘Arthamilla Hindu Madham’, (Meaningless Hindu Religion, a counter to the acclaimed best-seller Arthamulla Hindu Madham, Meaningful Hindu Religion written by Kavignar Kannadasan), a publication of the Dravidar Kazhagam. Inspector Shanmugam, stationed at Erode North Police Station, issued an order to remove the advertisement posters related to these two books.
Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam and other Periyarist organisations strongly protested the action of police inspector Shanmugam for ordering the removal of anti-Hindu poster. They claimed that they will not remove the books as the books were not banned in Tamil Nadu.
In a subsequent development, Superintendent of Police Jawahar intervened by transferring Police Inspector Shanmugam to the District Control Room. Additionally, Special Constable Meiyazhagan, who was allegedly involved in the incident but did not inform the District Superintendent of Police about the situation, has been transferred to the Tamil Nadu Armed Police Force which is a Reserve Force and considered a dummy posting.
This incident has sparked a broader discussion about the perceived anti-Hindu stance of the DMK government. Critics argue that the transfer of Inspector Shanmugam could be interpreted as a punitive action for attempting to maintain order and decorum at the book fair.
This is the second such incident this week in which police personnel were transferred for taking action on anti-Hindu issues. Earlier, A police sub-inspector, P Rajendran, was suspended on 7 August 2023 for making supposed “objectionable remarks” against religions after a voice note he posted on a private WhatsApp group that allegedly derided Christianity and Islam went viral on social media. The sub-inspector works at the Pulianthope Traffic Investigation Wing as per reports.
In the wee hours of Monday night, 7 August 2023, officials from the revenue department forcibly opened the gate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office located in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu. They proceeded to remove a statue of Bharat Mata. This action was initiated in response to a complaint that the statue had been placed there without obtaining the necessary permission.
Shortly after the statue’s installation, revenue officials arrived and demanded its removal due to the absence of proper permission. Following intense discussions, an agreement was reached to request official permission today. However, in the late hours of the previous night, more than 100 Tamil Nadu police personnel arrived at the location, forcibly entered the premises, and removed the statue. The statue was then transported to the Tahsildar’s office.
The BJP Virudhunagar district headquarters, designed to be a comprehensive facility, was recently opened along the Virudhunagar-Madurai-Kanyakumari National Highway, in close proximity to the district collector’s office. The inauguration of this office took place during a previous visit to Tamil Nadu by the national party president, JP Nadda, earlier this year.
As part of completing remaining construction tasks and addressing pending interior work, local BJP members made the decision to install the Bharat Mata statue ahead of the upcoming ‘En Mann, En Makkal’ padayatra led by Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party State president K Annamalai, which is scheduled to enter the district between 9 August 2023 and 11 August 2023.
Statue of Bharat Mata Forcefully Removed: Tamil Nadu
In an atrocious incident, Tamil Nadu police removed the statue of Bharat Mata from the premises of the BJP district office in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu. This office was newly inaugurated a few months ago by J.P.Nadda.
— Anand #IndianfromSouth (@Bharatiyan108) August 8, 2023
A video of a police officer jumping over the wall to unlock the gates from inside to allow other officials to enter and subsequently removing the statue of Bharat Mata at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) office in Virudhunagar has been circulating on social media. State President of the BJP, K Annamalai strongly condemned the action carried out.
விருதுநகர் @BJP4TamilNadu மாவட்ட அலுவலகத்தில் நிறுவப்பட்டிருந்த பாரத அன்னையின் சிலையை சுவர் ஏறிக் குதித்து காவல்துறையினர் நேற்று இரவு அப்புறப்படுத்தியிருப்பது வன்மையாக கண்டிக்கத்தக்கது.
தமிழகத்தில் தற்போது நடைபெற்று வரும் ஊழல் திமுக ஆட்சியில், ஒரு கட்சிக்கு சொந்தமான இடத்தில்…
He tweeted saying we strongly condemn the removal of the Bharat Mata statue at the BJP office in Virudhunagar that the police carried out by climbing over the wall.
He also said, “Under the current corrupt DMK regime in Tamil Nadu, there is no right even to install a statue of Bharat Mata in a place owned by a party. This move is a manifestation of the two ministers from this district who are at the height of fear as they are exposing the woes of the corrupt DMK government to the people through our #EnMannEnMakkal yatra.”
DMK Ministers Thangam Thennarasu and KKSSR Ramachandran hail from the Virudhunagar district that Annamalai will be visiting as a part of his padayatra.
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In a recent development that has sparked debates across the state, Police Sub-Inspector P Rajendran has been suspended from duty as a result of purportedly making objectionable comments against religions. The suspension came after a voice note, attributed to him, circulated on a private WhatsApp group where he allegedly criticized Christianity and Islam. The remarks quickly went viral on various social media platforms, triggering a cascade of reactions and discussions.
Rajendran, serving in the Pulianthope Traffic Investigation Wing, is heard in the audio clip making statements that have caused a widespread uproar. He reportedly said, “This is India. We demolished the mosque in the Rama janma bhoomi and we are building a temple. We put the scepter in Parliament. Can you Christians and Muslims, stop this? If you can’t do it here, go and study in Pakistan or Saudi, don’t create religious problems. We are 80 percent, you both are 20 percent and whoever has the majority can rule.”
While acknowledging that some of the comments made by the Sub-Inspector violate professional conduct rules, the swiftness with which action has been taken in this instance has drawn attention to a perceived inconsistency in the handling of religious controversies involving government employees from different faiths.
Several Hindu organizations, including Indu Makkal Katchi, have voiced their condemnation of the DMK government’s actions. They highlight past instances where government servants from minority religions were allegedly engaged in religious activities, yet faced no comparable consequences.
For instance, in May 2023, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu was taken into custody after challenging a Muslim doctor who was wearing a burqa while on government duty. Despite the allegation that the doctor displayed an attitude of arrogance towards the uniform, the government chose to arrest the BJP member rather than address the issue raised.
Indu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath has pointed out the glaring contradiction in how religious incidents involving government employees are dealt with. The arrest of the BJP functionary, despite his complaint about the doctor’s uniform, is contrasted with the prompt suspension of Sub-Inspector Rajendran over his pro-Hindu comments. In a tweet, Indu Makkal Katchi chief Arjun Sampath said, “While no action has been taken on the woman government doctor for wearing Hijab during working hours, action has been taken on SI Rajendran for showing his patriotism.”
மருத்துவராக பணியாற்றும்போது மதம் சார்ந்து உடை அணிவேன் அரசு சீருடை விட என் மதமே பெரிது என்று பகிரங்கமாக பேசிய அரசு மருத்துவர் பதவி நீக்கம் செய்யப்படவில்லை ஆனால் தேசபக்தியோடு செயல்பட்டவர் மீது நடவடிக்கை pic.twitter.com/PaU8iB0uYH
This controversy has also highlighted another case involving a senior IAS officer named Umashankar, who openly advocated Christianity during public meetings, defying service rules. Interestingly, despite calls for action, both the DMK and AIADMK governments refrained from taking any punitive measures against Umashankar for his alleged religious promotion while serving as a government official.
The selective action against officers expressing pro-Hindu sentiments has raised concerns about bias and equity in dealing with religious matters involving government personnel. On social media platforms and among the general public, calls for consistent treatment regardless of religious affiliation have gained traction. Demands have been made for an end to perceived discrimination against pro-Hindu officers and for fair handling of all such cases.
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Neville Roy Singham, the American tech millionaire who is currently based in Shanghai, was named in the New York Times report of 5 August 2023. The report accuses him of using organisations across the world to peddle Chinese propaganda.
Who Is Neville?
Neville Roy Singham is the son of Dr. Archibald Singham, a Sri Lankan Tamil scholar, political scientist, and historian. Dr. Archibald Singham’s roots trace back to Sri Lankan Tamil immigrants who settled in colonial Burma.
In the past, the Ceylon Communist Party (of the Moscow Wing) encompassed Sinhalese and Dutch Burgher members. Conversely, the Ceylon Communist Party (of the Peking Wing) exhibited notable Tamil leadership. His mother is said to be a Jamaican.
Born in Burma in 1932 to parents from Sri Lanka, Archie certainly lived a peripatetic life teaching at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica and then at Howard University, sitting in a room with Fidel Castro and Kenneth Kaunda and then arguing with his close friend CLR James about race and class.
Quick data points about Neville Roy Singham. — Neville is the son of the Sri Lankan Tamil academic, Dr. Archibald Singham.
Singham has maintained a deep ideological connection with the Chinese Communist Party. This affiliation can be traced back to his earlier involvement with the League of Revolutionary Black Workers, a Detroit-based group influenced by Maoist principles.
During this time, Singham assumed the role of a member of the organisation, which championed revolutionary unionism as a response to discriminatory practices within conventional unions. At the age of 18 in 1972, Singham even secured employment at the Detroit Chrysler plant as part of his engagement with the league.
Following his education at Howard University where his father taught, Singham dedicated the subsequent years to establishing a consulting firm that specialised in assisting equipment-leasing companies. Operating initially from a basement in Chicago, he gradually built up this venture. In 1993, he christened his enterprise Thoughtworks, later broadening its scope to encompass what he terms “Agile” software development. This methodology entails adaptive management, decentralised systems, and fostering strong collaboration between developers and users.
As stated in a profile on the Chinese recruitment platform Boss Zhipin, Singham was employed by the prominent Chinese tech giant Huawei from 2001 to 2008 in the capacity of a strategic technical consultant. Throughout this duration, he expressed his admiration for China’s economic framework. In an interview with Fortune magazine’s senior editor David Kirkpatrick in 2008, Singham enthusiastically endorsed China’s economic approach, stating, “China is teaching the West that the world is better off with a dual system of both free-market adjustments and long-term planning.”
In 2010, Thoughtworks organised its Fifth Agile Software Development Conference in Beijing, where Singham asserted his impact on Huawei during his opening address.
Subsequently, Thoughtworks has extended its presence to encompass 17 nations, engaging with clientele in the corporate sphere. Simultaneously, the company has displayed an inclination towards providing pro bono services to progressive media outlets like Democracy Now! and non-profit organisations like the Grameen Foundation, which focuses on extending microloans to underprivileged populations across the world.
In 2017, Singham divested Thoughtworks to Apax, a British private equity firm, for an undisclosed sum (believed to be in the range of hundreds of millions). Following the transaction, he departed from the company entirely. Notably, Apax subsequently facilitated the initial public offering of Thoughtworks on the Nasdaq stock exchange in September 2021, attaining a valuation that nearly approached $9 billion.
Neville Roy Singham’s Investments
Neville Roy Singham has invested in two Chinese firms operating in the consulting and food sectors: Shanghai Luoweixing (with an initial investment of $20 million) and Gondwana Foods ($32.5 million). Singham is also mentioned as the official representative of a third enterprise, namely Shanghai Shinong Company Ltd. Source –
Singham’s investments also intersected with philanthropic endeavors aligned with China’s interests. In 2019, the Justice and Education Fund donated $876,000 to the People’s Welfare Association, a recently established organisation located in Madison, Wisconsin. Notably, one of the directors of this entity, until September 2019, was Daniel Tirado Behrens, who was employed at Shanghai Luoweixing.
It was reported that Singham made use of four recently established nonprofit entities, including the United Community Fund and Justice and Education Fund, which lacked a tangible physical presence. These organisations were associated with addresses solely registered at UPS store mailboxes situated in Illinois, Wisconsin, and New York. According to the New York Times report, substantial amounts of money were observed to circulate globally from these UPS store-affiliated nonprofits. The New York Times successfully traced these funds to activities such as supporting a South African political party, financing YouTube channels within the United States, and contributing to nonprofit initiatives in Ghana and Zambia.
According to the New York Times report, Singham funded a “very important Left-wing think tank” named Tricontinental. The executive director is none other than Vijay Prashad, a Marxist intellectual and political commentator. His bio in Influence Watch reads “Vijay Prashad is a Marxist journalist and historian. An ardent supporter of communism, Prashad is the author of many books defending the ideology’s legacy and is a frequent contributor to a number of left-wing news sites and publications. Prashad is a frequent guest at talks hosted by the New York-based socialist incubator The People’s Forum.”
And what a coincidence that Prashad turns out to be Communist leader Brinda Karat!
Comrade Brinda Karat on her early years. (Yes, yes, she’s my aunt; I already knew that so why bring it up as if it were a surprise?). Women And the Working Class Movement https://t.co/6DYekJoweSpic.twitter.com/zoQhbjt0tQ
In the past, Vijay has also praised Singham to be “A Marxist with a massive software company!”
Fortuitously, Roy built a remarkable software company, which is when I first met him – a Marxist with a massive software company! He sold that company a few years ago and decided to give away all the money toward political education for a new generation of radicals. pic.twitter.com/ytNXXqgtPr
Now if our readers do not remember Vijay, here is a video that went viral in social media some time ago and Vijay was praised for his speech on coloniality. But in reality, he seems to be speaking in support of China.
In 2017, Singham got married to Jodie Evans — a former Democratic political adviser and one of the co-founders of Code Pink, an organisation led by women. This women-led organisation was established in 2002 as a response to the United States’ engagement in the Iraq War, with a focus on promoting peace and social equity.
At the age of 68, Jodie Evans previously held a role as an influential figure within the Democratic Party, overseeing the 1992 presidential campaign of California’s Governor Jerry Brown. Following the 2001 terrorist attacks, she transformed into that of an activist. She gained popularity especially for her distinct pink peace-sign earrings and for her participation in sit-in demonstrations during which she was arrested.
She played a pivotal role in establishing Code Pink as a response to protest the imminent Iraq War, shifting her focus towards activism. The organisation gained notoriety for its disruptive actions during hearings on Capitol Hill.
Evans has been actively involved in advocacy for issues such as climate change, gender equality, and addressing racism. Until a few years ago, she openly voiced her criticisms of China’s authoritative regime.
“We demand China stop brutal repression of their women’s human rights defenders,” she wrote on Twitter in 2015. Later, she shared a photo on Instagram featuring the Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei.
Starting from 2017, approximately 25% of Code Pink’s total donations, which amounts to over $1.4 million, have originated from two entities associated with Mr. Singham, as per nonprofit records. The initial source was one of the UPS store-affiliated nonprofits. The second was a charitable organisation provided by Goldman Sachs as a conduit for clients’ contributions, a platform Mr. Singham had made use of in the past.
However, now, Evans vociferously advocates for China, portraying it as a champion of marginalised groups and a paradigm of economic progress devoid of forced labour or conflict. “If the U.S. crushes China, it would cut off hope for the human race and life on Earth,” she said in 2021.
She describes the Uyghurs as terrorists and defends their mass detention. “We have to do something,” she said in 2021. In a recent YouTube video chat, she was asked if she had anything negative to say about China. “I can’t, for the life of me, think of anything,” Evans responded. Ultimately, her sole grievance was that she encountered difficulties when attempting to use China’s mobile payment applications.
Evans refused to answer questions about funding from her husband but said Code Pink had never taken money from any government. “I deny your suggestion that I follow the direction of any political party, my husband, or any other government or their representatives,” she said in a written statement. “I have always followed my values.”
Code Pink goes on to further defend the Chinese government’s policies, comparing Hong Kong’s pro-democracy demonstrators to Capitol rioters in this 2021 video. In June, activists visited House Select Committee members, denouncing evidence of forced labor in Xinjiang and urging Representative Seth Moulton to visit and observe the happiness of the people.
“They are capitalizing on very legitimate concerns in order to push this pro-authoritarian narrative,” said Brian Hioe, an editor with New Bloom, a progressive Taiwanese news site. “And their ideas end up circulating in a way that affects mainstream discourse.”
It has been found that Chinese state media accounts on Twitter have reshared posts from individuals and groups within Mr. Singham’s circle on at least 122 occasions since February 2020. These retweets were primarily associated with accounts linked to No Cold War and Code Pink.
In 2021, under Evans’ leadership, Code Pink launched a campaign named “China Is Not Our Enemy”. Through a petition on their website, Code Pink asserted that the United States was escalating its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region under the pretext of “deterrence” for a potential conflict with China. However, this approach was deemed to exacerbate tensions, impacting billions of individuals and the unspoiled ecosystems in the area. “China is trapped in an encirclement by the US through increasing military presence and arms sales. Tell Congress that we do not want war with China!”
Nate Singham, the son of Neville Singham, is situated in Brazil, where he serves as a researcher at Tricontinental. In the section titled ‘What We Do’, the think tank explains that its focus lies in developing insights drawn from the lessons of “social and cultural transformations wrought by popular struggles”. The fundamental foundation for this approach to knowledge is rooted in Karl Marx’s ’11th Thesis on Feuerbach’.
Instruments Of Chinese Propaganda
Ever since the New York Times report was published, the name Neville Roy Singham has been making the rounds in media channels.
Latest information suggests a whole new angle of how he might have been involved in various affairs of our country. While the NYT report reveals his connection to the Indian leftist portal, Newsclick, and how the funding to promote Chinese propaganda occurred, news coming in shows that there was more to this input.
BREAKING Neville Roy Singham’s email exchanges with Prabir Purkayastha, various journalists and CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat. Mails focus on 1. Defending China’s position on COVID 2. Supporting Farmers Protests in India 3. Collaborating with Indian communists 4. Promoting… pic.twitter.com/7ZrZYXGIap
It has been revealed that Neville Roy Singham exchanged emails with Prabir Purkayastha of the NewsClick, various journalists, and CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat.
The emails focus on the following points:
Defending China’s position on COVID
Supporting Farmers Protests in India
Collaborating with Indian communists
Promoting Chinese propaganda
Defending border clashes with India
Neville is also seen to be introducing the NewsClick team to the Chinese handlers to take further instructions in the email.
The New York Times report mentioned NewsClick stating that “In New Delhi, corporate documents indicate that Mr. Singham’s network provided financial backing to a news website called NewsClick. The website’s coverage reportedly incorporated Chinese government talking points, with one video stating that “China’s history continues to inspire the working classes.”
ED Raids On NewsClick
On 9 February 2021, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid at the residence of Prabir Purkayastha, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of NewsClick. ED sources revealed that NewsClick had received ₹10 crores through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from an American company.
Interestingly, Prabir Purkayastha claimed to have no knowledge of the reason behind the American company’s transfer of money to his company’s account, and he could not provide any evidence of work done for that specific company.
However, here we see a very different version of Prabir Purkayastha.
Upon further investigation by the ED, it was discovered that another US-based company had provided ₹20 crores to NewsClick, labeling it as ‘Export Remittance.’ This transfer was made in response to NewsClick’s content uploaded on a platform called People’s Dispatch.
According to sources, it was revealed that Purkayastha had received ₹1.5 crores under the pretext of maintenance. Surprisingly, he had employed an electrician with only a ninth-grade education to handle the maintenance tasks at his office. The concerning part was that this transaction lacked any documentation, making it challenging for him to provide a valid explanation to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
It is noteworthy to mention that Prabir Purkayastha is also one of the Directors at Digipub which is a group of leftist and Islamist sympathizing digital portals including Alt News, Newsclick, Newslaundry, Scroll, The News Minute, etc.
Email Exchange Between Neville Roy Singham & NewsClick’s Prabir Purkayastha
On 6 January 2021, an email is sent by Neville Roy Singham to Purkayastha. The email has a map of Arunachal Pradesh and the border shared with China and it says, “…I think we missed the dotted line b/w India & China to the left (east of Bhutan). Clearly, China & India will have to have two maps inside their countries.”
Purkayastha shares a map and says “Here is a map from the Diplomat where China claims Arunachal Pradesh.”
I think we missed the dotted line b/w India & China to the left (east of Bhutan). Clearly, China & India will have to have two maps inside their countries: Neville Roy Singham to Editor in Chief & Founder of NewsClick.@padmajajoshi walks us through the email, dated 6 Jan.… pic.twitter.com/7psNEJO9kg
Such an email exchange makes one wonder what kind of a conversation was actually going on that an independent investor and an independent journalist had to discuss India’s international borders.
The Karat Connect
While in the above tweet, Prakash Karat’s name is mentioned, it must be noted that Tricontinental, a Massachusetts-based think tank received donations from Neville. Vijay Prashad, the Executive Director of this organisation, praised Neville as “A Marxist with a massive software company!” on his Twitter.
Fortuitously, Roy built a remarkable software company, which is when I first met him – a Marxist with a massive software company! He sold that company a few years ago and decided to give away all the money toward political education for a new generation of radicals. pic.twitter.com/ytNXXqgtPr
Incidentally, Vijay is the nephew of CPIM leader, Brinda Karat who happens to be Prakash Karat’s wife.
This video shows how involved Prakash Karat was with Neville in the aftermath of the Galwan clash between India and China. In this email, you can see how concerned Karat is because India had decided to stop imports and restrict investments from China.
Source: Screengrab of Times Now video
Newsclick Row
Guancha piece was very detailed, and it's good to see this type of detail there(China) at a time when anti-China feelings are being whipped up by the media here since the border problem…: @PadmajaJoshi reads from the mail sent by Prakash Karat to Neville Singham pic.twitter.com/RoA2IOgkWn
With the skeletons of NewsClick tumbling from the closet, it is the moral responsibility of Prabir Purkayastha, Abhisar Sharma and Digipub members to give clarifications on it.
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Four staff members of a private hostel for children at Thirupparaithurai in Tiruchy district were arrested under the POCSO Act on 5 August 2023 for allegedly sexually assaulting five minor residents. Sources said a total of 240 inmates, including orphaned boys and some students from a nearby school, who preferred a hostel facility, are lodged here.
Approximately four days ago, a staff member from the hostel filed a formal complaint with Collector M Pradeep Kumar, alleging instances of sexual abuse against the children. Following the Collector’s directive, officials from the Social Welfare Department and a District Child Protection officer launched investigations. Their findings indicated that four employees of the hostel were allegedly involved in the sexual assault of five underage boys.
Acting upon the investigation results, the police from Jeeyapuram AWPS took into custody the hostel wardens, namely Dhanasekaran (aged 41) and Yesurajan (aged 32), along with the gardener Parthiban (aged 44) and the cook Sivagiri (aged 34). These individuals were arrested under various sections of the POCSO Act. Collector Pradeep Kumar stated that the affected victims would be under close supervision for a week and would receive counseling. Ongoing inquiries are being conducted to determine whether any other children have experienced sexual abuse. The Collector said that if this is confirmed, the government would assume control of the hostel’s operations.
In the recent past, there have been many cases of abuse reported in the orphanages and old-age homes run in Tamil Nadu.
Kanyakumari Horror – January 2018
In 2018, after nearly three months of being subjected to repeated physical and sexual abuse and attacks, nine underage boys residing at a government hostel for boys in Kanyakumari district came out with the gory details of what happened to them. All this was done by their cook. The victims, all from the SC/ST community, eventually disclosed the disturbing incidents of physical abuse in January 2018 through written statements to school authorities. It was found that Vishwambaran was the primary perpetrator of the abuse, with his assistant Wilson allowing the misconduct to continue silently. The perpetrator was booked under POCSO Act.
Lavanya Suicide – January 2022
The death of a student Lavanya in Michaelpatti, Thanjavur in January 2022, which shook the entire state is another instance where the girl’s death occurred after alleged torture and pressure to convert to Christianity at the Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School in Michaelpatti, near Thanjavur. The case was transferred to the CBI who made it a point to inspect the classrooms, hostel rooms, and the warden’s quarters. The 17-year-old girl’s statement was obtained during her hospitalisation before her eventual passing. An FIR was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act, including abetment of suicide and related charges. The girl’s parents alleged that she was subjected to torture and coercion to convert to Christianity and become a nun, which she had resisted, leading to her tragic decision to end her life. Read more on this case here.
Tiruvannamalai Case – March 2022
In March 2022, a hostel warden of a government-aided children’s home in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai was arrested after allegations that he had sexually abused children. Information received included the fact that seven children who had contacted ChildLine aged between the age of 14-16 alleged that they had been sexually assaulted by the warden. The warden was identified as 36-year-old A Duraipandian, a native of Thoothukudi district. A case under Sections 7, 8, 19 (1), and 21 (2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and Section 506 (1) IPC was registered. The owner of the home – Sagairaj has also been arrested. The hostel is attached to a private school.
Vellore Old Age Home Assault Case – October 2022
St. Joseph’s Charity Home, an establishment catering to destitute and elderly individuals, has been operational in the Gugaiyanallur vicinity of Vellore district since 2017. In 2018, the facility was closed due to reported incidents of violent assaults involving staff members. After a four-year hiatus, the home was recommenced in March 2022 by its administrator. A complaint was lodged with the current District Collector, Kumaravelpandian, regarding the mistreatment of elderly residents. In response, the Revenue Commissioner initiated an examination, resulting in the rescue of 69 elderly individuals in October 2022. These individuals were subsequently provided with initial medical aid at government hospitals.
Tiruppur Sexual Assault – January 2023
In January 2023, a pastor was arrested under POCSO Act for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old schoolgirl in Tiruppur. This incident happened at a private hostel where several working women, school and college students stayed. The 15-year-old schoolgirl, residing in the pastor-managed hostel, chose not to return after the Christmas break. She disclosed to her parents that Father Andrews had raped her on December 14, 2022, and had threatened her to keep quiet about the incident. On that day, she skipped evening prayers, citing health issues, and stayed in her room. During his rounds, Pastor Andrews entered her room and sexually assaulted her. The pastor, along with his wife, operated the hostel for children and women and was introduced to the victim’s parents through their church. The victim and her brother were enrolled in the hostel, attending school from there.
Vizhuppuram Rape & Inmates Torture Case – February 2023
Tamil Nadu police apprehended four individuals associated with a Christian home for destitutes – Anbu Jothi Ashramam, including B Jubin and J Maria, in a village near Kedar, on a range of charges, notably including rape. Salim Khan, one of the owners, had lost contact with his father-in-law since August 2021. Subsequently, on February 13, 2023, law enforcement took into custody four employees, among them B Jubin and J Maria, on various allegations, including the crime of rape. Additionally, Warden Muthumaari, computer operator Gopinath, and driver Biju are also facing legal action.
142 residents, encompassing 109 men, 33 women, and a young boy, were rescued and volunteers who aided the rescue disclosed that certain women had been subjected to sexual assault by staff members. Numerous individuals had reportedly been shackled and subjected to torment. A survivor originating from the Christian home, who had arrived as a teenager from Odisha seeking assistance in Vizhuppuram, shared accounts of being raped, physically abused, and coerced into silence. Several women had been restrained using chains on window grills, administered sleeping pills, and sexually assaulted.
A minimum of 15 inmates were unaccounted for, lacking any official records. Those who remained within the facility exhibited signs of physical trauma, including contusions, bruises, and blood clots, and alleged instances of both torture and sexual abuse. Local sources indicated that none of the governmental bodies appeared to have inspected the unregistered institution, which had been operational since 2005. According to residents’ accounts, the unregistered establishment used to deploy a van to pick up destitute individuals in Vizhuppuram, enticing them with the promise of three meals per day and decent employment prospects in a secure environment.
Critics argue if there is a common factor among all these assault cases or if it is just a coincidence that the instances of physical and sexual assault is occurring frequently in hostels, homes, orphanages run by specific individuals.
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The Congress-led UDF in Kerala has decided it will not raise the issue of Speaker Shamseer’s controversial remarks on Lord Ganesha in the Assembly. The Kerala Assembly session began on 7 August 2023.
What a shame! Congress led UDF decided not to raise Lord Ganesha issue in the assembly as it will be targeting speaker A N Shamseer and that might hurt Muslim sentiments! pic.twitter.com/6rzvF0QbnS
Janam TV reports that the Congress believes that if the “myth” issue is discussed in the Assembly, Congress will create an impression that Shamseer, who belongs to the Muslim community, is being subjected to a witch hunt. They reported that the Congress fears that this will alienate the Muslim community from the party and will be reflected in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Janam TV reports that the Congress in Kerala feels that the protest against Shamseer on this issue will be a way for the Left Front to mobilise Muslim votes and that is probably the reason why they have decided that the issue should not be discussed in the Assembly.
Kerala Assembly Speaker had allegedly made controversial remarks about Lord Ganesha at a school function in July 2023. Neither his party nor the Speaker himself volunteered to rephrase or retrack the remarks made. The Nair Service Society and many Hindu organisations conducted Nama Japa yatra in Kerala. However, the ruling CPI-M government filed police cases on the participants.
A police sub-inspector, P Rajendran, was suspended on 7 August 2023 for making supposed “objectionable remarks” against religions after a voice note he posted on a private WhatsApp group that allegedly derided Christianity and Islam went viral on social media. The sub inspector works at the Pulianthope Traffic Investigation Wing as per reports.
“This is Rama Rajyam. Those who don’t accept can go to Pakistan or other countries,” the Inspector, P Rajendran, can be heard making these remarks in an audio message within a WhatsApp group he was a member of.
“This is India. We demolished the mosque in the Rama janma bhoomi and we are building a temple. We put the scepter in Parliament. Can you Christians and Muslims, stop this? If you can’t do it here, go and study in Pakistan or Saudi, don’t create religious problems. We are 80 percent, you both are 20 percent and whoever has the majority can rule,” the police officer allegedly made these comments in a WhatsApp group of his friend.
Inspector of Police, placed under suspension for sharing objectionable religious opinion on social media.
மதரீதியாக சமூக வலைதளத்தில் கருத்து தெரிவித்த காவல் ஆய்வாளர் தற்காலிக பணி நீக்கம்.
— GREATER CHENNAI POLICE -GCP (@chennaipolice_) August 7, 2023
Following the widespread circulation of the video containing the Inspector’s name, the city’s Police Commissioner, Sandeep Rai Rathore, initiated an investigation.
Subsequently, Joint Commissioner (Traffic) NM Mylvaganan conducted an inquiry, and the investigation process verified that the voice note had indeed been transmitted from Inspector Rajendran’s mobile number.
The Hindu Munnani released a statement on Twitter that, Sri Rama was not a religious leader but an identity of the country. Without understanding it, the Tamil Nadu government dismissed the Pulianthoppu traffic police inspector Rajendran by assuming Rama Rajyam as bigotry and using it as an excuse to fire him. They also questioned whether the Tamil Nadu government will take similar action against Uma Shankar IAS, who brazenly indulges in evangelical activity and peddles superstitions.
ஸ்ரீ ராமர் மதத்தலைவர் அல்ல. இந்திய திருநாட்டின் அடையாளம்.. அதனைப் புரிந்து கொள்ளாமல் தமிழக அரசு புளியந்தோப்பு போக்குவரத்து காவல் ஆய்வாளர் ராஜேந்திரன் அவர்கள் ராமராஜ்ஜியம் என்று கூறியதை மதவெறியாக காரணம் சொல்லி, பணியிடை நீக்கம் செய்திருப்பது வன்மையாக கண்டிக்கத்தக்கது..
DMK Member of Parliament Andimuthu Raja has come under severe criticism from the Arundathiyar community for his recent remarks, branding them as manual scavengers and a minority in their region. Known for his provocative rhetoric and contentious statements, Raja’s latest comments have sparked outrage and demands for an apology. Arunthathiyar community threatened to organize a statewide protest if DMK leader A Raja did not apologize.
During a DMK party’s booth-level agents meeting a few days ago, the former central minister allegedly made disparaging remarks about the Arundathiyar community. He was quoted as saying, “Though Arunthathiyar community, who indulge in manual scavenging cleaning human excreta, is a minority community in that region who are not numerically strong as far as votes are concerned, Karunanidhi granted them 3% reservation. This does not mean I am belittling them.”
The remarks have not only been viewed as derogatory but have also raised concerns about their potential to fuel division and resentment among different communities in the state.
Members of the Arunthathiyar community have expressed their grievances, stating that they have more than 60 lakh people in their community. They highlight that their community received special attention from the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who established a committee chaired by Justice Janardhanan. This committee recommended internal reservation for the Arunthathiyar community, resulting in 3% reservation in education and employment. Despite this, they feel targeted and isolated under the present government led by CM M K Stalin, asserting that their concerns and interests remain unaddressed, and they are continuously neglected.
In response to DMK MP A Raja’s recent controversial remarks branding them as manual scavengers and a minority community, the Arunthathiyar community has demanded a public apology. They vow to organize protests until Raja tenders his apology, with various organizations jointly participating in these demonstrations. They call upon Chief Minister Stalin to take responsibility for ensuring Raja’s apology.
Raja’s history of making controversial statements is not new. During the Erode East by-poll campaigning on February 19, 2023, he made casteist remarks targeting AIADMK and BJP leaders belonging to the Gounder caste.
Reacting to the opposition against erecting a statue for DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, DMK MP A Raja expressed his views by stating that it was because of Karunanidhi that Edappadi Palaniswami studied till BA, Vanathi Srinivasan pursued law, and Annamalai became an IPS officer. He emphasized that it was Karunanidhi’s pen that helped them in their educational and social upliftment, enabling them to be classified into the Backward Class category. Raja further highlighted that without the influence of Karunanidhi’s pen, their lives might have taken different paths, with Annamalai potentially rearing goats, Edappadi Palaniswami doing agricultural labor, and Vanathi Srinivasan picking coconuts on a coconut farm.
During the 2021 Assembly election campaign A. Raja attacked Edappadi K. Palaniswami by saying “Edappadi Palaniswami was born premature and was born out of an illegitimate relationship.” while hailing his leader MK Stalin.
In January 2023, DMK MP A Raja, who was the special guest at the 157th-anniversary function of Kunnoor Anthoniyaar School, Nilgiri District, said: “When we talk about education in India, it becomes a popular topic in today’s political environment. Credits should be given to the British for making education available to even the ordinary people when it had been denied for 3,000 years.” He added “Schools founded by Christian organisations continue to teach about our history. Christianity was the first religion in the world to accept that common people in this society should have access to education. Students recited verses from the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, and the Quran. Students who spoke before me stated that all religions are equal. However, saying this does not imply that I am opposed to any religion.”
In September 2022, A Raja said, “You’re a Shudra till you remain a Hindu. You’re a son of the prostitute till you remain a Shudra. You’re a Panchaman (Dalit) till you remain a Hindu. You’re an untouchable till you remain a Hindu. How many of you wish to stay as children of prostitutes? How many of you wish to remain untouchable? Only if we’re vocal about these questions, it will become elemental in breaking Santhana (Sanatana Dharma).”, the DMK MP said adding that the time has come for Viduthalai, Murasoli, DMK, and DK to take up the issue.
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In a shocking development, a video clip of Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister EV Velu denouncing India and calling it “some place in North India” has triggered widespread criticism and condemnation. The video was shared on social media by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tamil Nadu state president K Annamalai on August 7, exposing the minister’s divisive remarks.
In the video, DMK Minister EV Velu can be heard saying, “What is the state today? The word India never had any impact on us. When has India had an impact on us? I’m making an open statement. There wasn’t any such impact on us. I’m talking about some time ago. Where did we have an impact? There was no impact. India is someplace in North India. We belong to Tamil Nadu. If possible, we have to create a Dravida Nadu. Our thought process was going in that direction.”
The remarks made by the minister have ignited a firestorm of controversy, with many accusing him of openly supporting separatism and undermining the unity and integrity of the nation. The video shared by the BJP state president, Annamalai, further fueled the outrage.
In a scathing tweet, Annamalai lambasted the DMK and the minister for their divisive speech. He wrote, “DMK Minister Thiru EV Velu expressing what they stood for. This is the true face of parties in the I.N.D.I. Alliance. Once a separatist, always a separatist.”
DMK Minister Thiru EV Velu expressing what they stood for. This is the true face of parties in the I.N.D.I. Alliance.
The minister’s speech has evoked sharp criticism from the general public and political circles alike. Critics argue that such statements from a public official holding a ministerial position go against the principles enshrined in the constitution and the oath of office taken by him before assuming office.
India has a rich cultural and linguistic diversity, and the strength of the nation lies in its unity. The statement made by the DMK minister has been perceived as an attempt to sow seeds of discord and division among different regions and communities. As the video continues to circulate on social media platforms, demands for an explanation and action against the minister are growing louder. Citizens across the country are urging the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate steps to address the issue and ensure that such divisive rhetoric is not tolerated in the political discourse. It remains to be seen how the DMK leadership and the state government respond to the mounting pressure and whether any disciplinary action will be taken against the minister for his controversial remarks.
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A complaint has been lodged against Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thirumavalavan with the Malaysian authorities by temple activist Rangarajan Narasimhan, Malaysian Tamils, and several Malays for his controversial remarks during the 11th World Tamil Research Conference at the University of Malaya.
The conference, which took place from 21st to 23rd July 2023, aimed to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas among Tamil scholars and scholars from various other languages globally. Among the key guests on the first day was VCK head Thirumavalavan, who addressed the attendees, focusing on Tamil nationalism in his speech.
During his address, Thirumavalavan made remarks that denigrated Sanatana Dharma (Hindu religion) while expressing admiration for other Abrahamic religions. He stated, “Philosophy is different and the institutions that implement the philosophy are different, Islam is philosophy. The Muslim religion is an institution that builds mosques, creates imams and ulema, and provides training to recite Quran – that is the institutional process but Islam is a philosophy, Christianity is philosophy, Buddhism is a philosophy – these philosophies speak about brotherhood. What is the philosophy of the Hindu religion? What is the philosophy of Vaishnavism? What is the philosophy of Saivism? Or what is the philosophy of Hindutva? Sanatan Dharma is said to be its philosophy, they claim it is Sanatan Dharma. That Sanatan Dharma rejects brotherhood. This is the problem. It also attacks the Tamil community, it destroys the unity of Tamils. We cannot do anything that can destroy Tamil unity as a Tamil nationalism.”
His statements triggered immediate discontent among a section of the audience, who interrupted him, shouting, “Hey nippatra, (hey stop it), the topic you are speaking on itself is not right!” Subsequently, the event organizer was compelled to issue a clarification, emphasizing that Thirumavalavan’s remarks represented his personal views and did not reflect the views of the organization or the Conference.
In this situation, temple activist Rangarajan Narasimhan, joined by several Malaysian Tamils and Malays, filed a complaint with the Malaysian authorities. The complaint alleges that the VCK chief’s speech constitutes hate speech against the Hindu religion and promotes enmity between various religions.
I told you, that I am a man of my words. Here is the complaint on @thirumaofficial to the Malaysia Authorities. More than a dozen Malaysian Tamlians/Malays filed complaints with the authorities. I will keep updating the progress. pic.twitter.com/2NU8VpvmZV
“During this 11th World Tamil Research Conference, several political leaders and scholars from India attended. One, Mr. Thirumavalavan, leader of Vidudhalai Ciruthai Katchi (VCK) from Tamil Nadu, and a sitting Member of the Indian Parliament also made his speech at the conference. During the speech, he spoke in such a way as to create a rift and unrest between various religious communities of Malaysia, by spreading hatred among each other.
This was opposed right there and a law and order situation was averted by the swift action of the event organizers and the Hon’ble Minister Mrs. Saraswathi Kandasami, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives who was present in the event. As per S. 3(1) states: S(3) (1) A “seditious tendency” is a tendency-
(a) To bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against any Ruler. (b) To excite the subjects of any Ruler or the inhabitants or any territory governed by any Government to attempt to procure in the territory of the Ruler or governed by the Government, the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any matter as by law established. (c) [deleted] (d) To raise discontent or disaffection amongst the subjects of the Yang di- Pertuan Agong or of the Ruler of any State or amongst the inhabitants of Malaysia or of any State; (e) To promote of ill will and hostility or hatred between different races or classes of the population of Malaysia; (ea) to promote feelings of ill will, hostility or hatred between persons or groups of persons on the ground of religion; or (f) to question any matter, right, status, position, privilege, sovereignty or prerogative established or projected by the provisions or Part III of the Federal Constitution or Article 152, 153 or 181 of the Federal Constitution.
Section 3(1)(e)(ea) of the Sedition Act, 1948 confirms that the speech of Mr. Thirumavalavan is targeted to create a situation where citizens of Malaysia from different religions develop ill will and hatred amongst themselves.
In order to protect the integrity and sovereignty of Malaysia, I humbly request the authority to take necessary legal action to bring the perpetrator Mr. Thirumavalavan to Justice and to not allow him to enter Malaysia in the future as this person is known to spread hatred between various communities in India as well.”
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