In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday, 26 April 2024 dismissed the pleas seeking 100% cross-verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) data with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) records.
The verdict was delivered by a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. Although the cases were reserved for orders on 18 April 2024, they were relisted on 24 April 2024 as the Bench sought technical clarifications from the Election Commission. Considering the responses provided, the orders were pronounced today.
Regarding the conclusion of the judgments, Justice Khanna stated in Court that the requests for reverting to ballot paper voting, complete EVM-VVPAT verification, and providing VVPAT slips to voters to deposit in the ballot box have all been turned down. He said, “We have rejected all of them, after referring to the protocol in place, technical aspects, and data which is on record“.
Thisputs to an end all the propaganda that “news” portals like The News Minute tried to peddle. They had published a misleading article on EVMs and the VVPATs. The headlines of their news reportasusual portrayed a different image when compared to the article. In their report on the VVPATs, the report’s headline reads, “VVPATs print extra slip with BJP lotus symbol during mock polls in Kerala“,however, inside the article, the truth is mentioned, “…when the machines were initialised, three out of 10 VVPAT machines printed out ‘test prints’. All these three prints had the BJP’s lotus symbol on it and the words ‘not to be counted’ were written on top in small letters.”
VVPATs print extra slip with BJP lotus symbol during mock polls in Kerala The same VVPAT machines printed another extra slip with the lotus symbol during the second round of mock poll as well. The issue was rectified only during the third round.https://t.co/d3V8gekGZ1
Over and over again, the Editor-in-Chief, Dhanya Rajendran tried to wash her hands off the fake news peddling by stating that the article mentioned VVPATs and not EVMs.
With this verdict by the Supreme Court, TNM and Dhanya’s propaganda goes bust once and for all.
Jai Bhim – the film that was controversial and also brought to light the story of an Irula tribe family to the fore. This film was released in 2021 and won several accolades. This film was made by actor-virtue signaller Suriya.
At the time of its release, it became clear that neither the actor/production house nor the director (TJ Gnanavel) – Suriya, and the Jai Bhim film crew neither helped her nor sought the real-life Sengenni (Parvathi)‘s permission to turn her life story into a film.
As recent as this month, a picture of Parvathi Rajakannu – the lady whose story was made into the film was seen circulating in social media. Parvathi continues to live in conditions of abject poverty even today.
Image Source: Screenshot of Maridhas video
It is noteworthy that TN Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a long review of the film praising it on his X handle.
Stalin had written, “Great art should make an impact on the audience and bring about a positive change in society. I watched my friend Suriya’s Jai Bhim, in which he has lived as advocate Chandru. It has had a huge impact on me.” He further added,“Suriya did not just make the film on the issues of tribal people, he also contributed Rs 1 crore to the organisation which works for the welfare of tribal people.”
பார்வையளர்களின் மனதில் தாக்கத்தையும் அதன்விளைவாக சமூகத்தில் நல்லதொரு மாற்றத்தையும் ஏற்படுத்துவதுதான் சிறந்ததொரு கலைப்படைப்பு!
Parvathi belonging to the Kuravar community is the wife of Rajakannu who died in police custodial torture in 1993. In a YouTube interview in 2021, Parvathi stated that her two sons were mentally challenged and she had been struggling to make ends meet living with her daughter and son-in-law. In the film, the protagonist is shown to be from the Irular community while Parvathi belongs to the one mentioned above.
It is to be noted that the movie Jai Bhim shows Chandru (actor Suriya) handing over a new house to Sengenni (Parvathi) after her legal victory. However, in reality, Parvathi is still struggling to live, in a hut with not even basic facilities.
The Tamil society including CM Stalin, Suriya, andthe Jai Bhim crew have done injustice to Parvathi. Here’s how.
As mentioned earlier, this film received several international accolades. One among them was the Noida International Film Festival in 2022. Along with such accolades, the film receives awards, international recognition, and a prize money of ₹40 lakhs.
Most often, when films are based on real-life stories, the directors, the actors, or the production house hand over a significant amount to the person on whom the film is based. This is a general phenomenon. However, this was not done by Suriya or his crew.
Here‘s another award they receive – In 2022, the film received the Huading Award, which is a China-based award. It was allegedly given to Jai Bhim that year for showcasing Communist ideology. It is said that this film was given a cash award of ₹1 crore. It is also alleged that if a filmmaker wants to enter the Chinese film market or get funding from China, they need to have won this award.
Another award that the film received, from the Boston International Film Festival and was given a cash prize of $30,000.
In all these instances, the prize money, or even a part of it was given to Parvathi by Suriya or the director.
To compare, let’s look at Leonardo DiCaprio and what he did for the community on which his film Blood Diamond was based. He is said to have “quietly donated” a sum of funds for the betterment of the locals. However, nothing of this sort was done by Suriya or his director/production house to improve the condition of Parvathi on whose life the film Jai Bhim which received international awards, accolades, and prizes, is based. Parvathi continues to live in poverty as she used to earlier and her life has seen no change at all.
Apart from the prize money through the international film festivals, Jai Bhim is also said to have earned money through the sale of satellite/OTT/digital rights. It is alleged that Amazon gave around ₹45 crores and Kalaignar TV offered ₹10 crores for the rights.
It is noteworthy that Suriya and Jothika shifted base to Mumbai, allegedly for better education for their children/job prospects for the actor couple.
There were reports that some time back Suriya issued a press release saying that he would open a fixed deposit of ₹10 lakh in Parvathi’s name and would hand over the interest accrued to her every month. Compared to the amount earned by the production house/director/actor through the sale of rights, andawards etc, the ₹10 lakhs is a pittance. In fact, she has not even been given a justified amount as royalty for showcasing her story.
Desingu Raja, a 46-year-old resident of Thideer Nagar in the Kasimedu fishing harbour area of Chennai, was brutally murdered yesterday. Desingu Raja, who had been facing charges of murder and attempted murder and he has been living a reformed life for the past 7 years, was sitting on a street corner near his house when the incident occurred.
According to eyewitnesses, a four-member gang arrived in an autorickshaw and attacked Raja, who was seated on an easy chair, slashing his neck with a knife before fleeing the scene. Despite efforts to save him, Raja succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
However, the situation took a different turn when Raja’s mother alleged that the police were complicit in her son’s murder. She claimed that the police turned a blind eye to illegal activities such as the sale of marijuana, narcotic pills, and liquor in the area, and accused them of taking bribes.
She further alleged that her son was murdered by a gang involved in the illegal sale of marijuana and other narcotics, and that the police had prior knowledge of the enmity between Desingu Raja and the gang but did nothing to prevent the crime.
“The police took money, and they were complicit in it. Whether the police didn’t know that this gang is selling marijuana in graveyards at night? It started earlier when they hit my son with a hammer,” she said.
The Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu on 19 April 2024, unfolded with a tranquil atmosphere across the state. Youngsters and first-time voters actively engaged in the electoral process, while seasoned voters also exhibited the same enthusiasm. However, as the day progressed, sporadic issues emerged. Example, actor and comedian Soori encountered a hiccup when attempting to vote in Valasaravakkam, falling under the Sriperumbudur Lok Sabha constituency, due to his name being absent from the electoral roll but his wife name was present.
Then troubles escalated slowly in the Coimbatore district, where numerous voters encountered difficulties casting their ballots at various polling stations. They congregated and voiced their grievances to Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai. Subsequently, a surge of complaints flooded in from the area, prompting the Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party to express concerns regarding the disproportionately high number of missing voter names, particularly in constituencies favorable to them.
On the same day, members of the BJP staged a protest, claiming that approximately 830 voters were omitted from the electoral roll in the Kavundampalayam region within the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency. Many voters arriving at booth number 214 in Angappa School were disappointed to find their names absent from the electoral list. Out of a total of 1,353 voters registered for the local body elections, only 523 were listed for the parliamentary election. Upon learning of the issue, local BJP representatives arrived and interrogated election officials before initiating a sit-in protest. The same was echoed in Mayiladuthurai too.
BJP state president K Annamalai, who is contesting in Coimbatore, alleged that approximately one lakh voters’ names have been removed from the constituency’s voter list. He demanded re-polling in areas where these names were missing. Annamalai raised suspicions of political interference, asserting that names of BJP supporters had been deliberately removed from the voter list. The issue escalated when residents of Balan Nagar, Siva Nagar, and Ashok Nagar East in Kavundampalayam were allegedly denied permission to vote despite possessing valid voter IDs. They protested alongside BJP supporters, prompting Annamalai to visit the booth later in the day. Annamalai alleged instances of illogical removals, such as husbands and wives having their names split across different polling stations, and deceased individuals remaining on the list while their spouses’ names were omitted. Complaints regarding the deleted names were submitted to the district election returning officer and the district election observer.
The removal of votes caused confusion on one side, while on the other hand, the Chief Electoral Officer initially disclosed provisional voter turnout data at 7:30 PM post the elections on 19 April 2024, showing a turnout of 72.09%. Yet, this figure was later adjusted to 69.46% on the following day, and the revisions persisted until 21 April 2024. The subsequent alteration in the total voter turnout percentage by the Election Commission to 69.72% further fueled significant confusion among the populace. While minor fluctuations in turnout figures are typical, the discrepancies spanning several points across multiple constituencies raised concerns about the accuracy of the data.
Today, on 25 April 2024, electorates from various areas of Coimbatore assembled in the city to protest against the removal of names from the voter list. Under the banner “Public for Annamalai,” they staged a demonstration outside the Coimbatore District Commissioner’s Office, alleging significant disenfranchisement of voters in the Coimbatore constituency during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
The protest, backed by Annamalai’s supporters, saw the participation of BJP district president Ramesh, Hindu Makkal Katchi founder Arjun Sampath, Jalendran, and other Hindu organizations. During the demonstration, Public for Annamalai supporters chanted slogans demanding the rectification of the disenfranchisement issue and requested arrangements for re-voting before 4 June 2024.
A protester named Ramesh said that, “I had a chance to visit that area as I was in the camp. I went remove the ID of my demised parents, my name was not there. It was very surprising, father, mother’s name is there, my wife’s name is there, my name was not. I mailed continuosly to the election commission asking did they find my death certificate and in what basis did they removed. The only response received was aprroach the nearest Taluk office and no solution was given by them. I agree with all saying that this is a deliberate conspiracy”
Another protester, Gokuladas, approached and shared his experience, stating that he had cast his vote after receiving the voting slip. He revealed that his wife had tragically succumbed to COVID-19, but instaed of her, his daughter’s name was deleted from the voter list. Gokuladas recounted how he presented his Aadhaar card to the polling officer, insisting that both he and his daughter should be allowed to vote. After a heated exchange, the officers provided him with a form to fill out, enabling his daughter to vote after the polling process had commenced.
Following him, another protester named Dharmendra expressed his indignation, demanding to know who authorized the removal of voters’ names from the electoral roll. He questioned how such removal could occur without the consent of the affected individuals. Dharmendra suggested that someone should file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with the Supreme Court, stating that this could provide a permanent solution to the issue.
Another woman stepped forward, introducing herself as a cardiologist, and said, “I’ve resided in the same house in ward 116 for 17 years, along with my father-in-law, mother-in-law, husband, daughter, and son. Although my husband, daughter, and son, who is a first-time voter, had their names on the voter list, mine, along with my father-in-law’s and mother-in-law’s, was missing. This came as a surprise to us. Having lived in the same area for 17 years and consistently voted, we didn’t feel the need to check the voter list beforehand. When we approached the Polling Liaison Officer (PLO), she recognized us by name and by my father-in-law’s name. She suggested our ward might have changed to 117 and promised to verify. We expected her to provide us with a booth slip, but she didn’t. Upon checking online, we couldn’t find our names listed.”
Another woman identified herself as Hema and claimed that she had voted, but while volunteering at the booth, she discovered that most of her cousins’ names had been removed from the voter list. Despite their efforts until 5 o’clock, they were unable to rectify the situation. Additionally, another couple encountered a similar issue where the husband’s name was registered at one booth and he successfully cast his vote, but his wife’s name was listed in another area 2 kilometers away. These incidents left everyone deeply disappointed, and there is a strong demand for a re-election.
Another protesting woman arrived from Pothanur, indicating that she belonged to Ward 95. She shared her story, “This time they have removed my vote, I know this after i went to the booth. There are three votes in my house, after me my daughter and my son got voting rights but my son and daughter who came through me have voting rights but not me. All have strategically planned this, all here can guess who planned this. As I was standing in my booth ten to twelve members didn’t had vote, all were Padmavathy, revathy, kuppusamy, Uma like this only we were disenfranchised. I immediately asked how you removed my name and I have a card. They said that this card should be renewed, I asked whether this is for credit card or debit card that should be renewed. she was blabbering asking to get empty form etc. Everything is neatly planned, this is a planned motive to take away all the Hindu votes! All the Hindu votes! See the clean planning on all the booths, in 2022 I’ve voted and in the same area I’ve been residing for past 45 years”
Immediately, the Dravidian underdogs launched a narrative, claiming a calculated agenda behind the events and began promoting their usual narrative without verifying any reports or statements. They singled out the protesters, focusing on those who had already voted and alleging that the entire incident was a staged performance. However, this perspective falls apart when considering that some protesters, like actor Soori, had their names removed from the voter list while their spouses’ names remained. If Soori and his spouse participated in the demonstration, is it hardly wrong? The feeble excuses put forth by D-stocks are pitiful to witness—they lack logic and coherence, merely aiming to promote their narrative and earn approval from their leaders.
#Photostory Protesters Who had Already Voted take part in ‘No Vote’ Demonstration by ‘People for Annamalai’ at South Taluk Office, Coimbatore pic.twitter.com/kYvaTcR0JZ
Even more unfortunate was their dissemination of a video that appeared to condone the normalization of removing names from the voter list without consent, suggesting it was acceptable because similar incidents had occurred in previous elections over the years.
The Madras High Court has ruled against a 2010 amendment that brought Waqf properties under the jurisdiction of the Tamil Nadu Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act of 1976, thereby giving authority to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board to order the eviction of encroachers.
Chief Justice Sanjay V Gangapurwala and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy presiding the bench found the 2010 amendment by the State legislature to be incompatible with the Waqf Act of 1995, a Central law. They determined that encroachers on waqf properties could only be evicted through waqf tribunals established under a 2013 amendment to the Central law.
The judges supported arguments by a group of lawyers, led by Senior Counsel V Raghavachari and SR Raghunathan, that the 2010 amendment exceeded state jurisdiction and required Presidential approval due to its conflict with Union legislation. Rejecting the State government’s argument for the coexistence of state and Central laws, the bench ruled that only the procedures outlined in the Union law should be followed for eviction, as stated in the 2013 amendment.
In their ruling, Justice Chakravarthy highlighted the inadequacy of the original provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995 in addressing encroachments on Waqf properties. He noted the recommendation of the Sachar Committee to extend the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 to waqf properties for the benefit of the public. While Tamil Nadu implemented the 2010 amendment based on this recommendation, many other states did not. Consequently, the Parliament amended the Waqf Act in 2013 to ensure uniformity in eviction procedures nationwide. The bench noted that this amendment superseded the 2010 state amendment.
In concluding their verdict, the bench emphasized, “The Parliamentary law intends to secure the protection of waqf properties which requires uniformity of law and consistency of its application all over the country. The Central Act is thus made as an exhaustive code on the subject. Therefore, the State enactment is repugnant to the Waqf Act of 1995 as amended in the year 2013.”
The #MadrasHC has declared unconstitutional, a 2010 amendment which brought waqf properties under the ambit of the Tamil Nadu Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act of 1976, reports @imranhinduhttps://t.co/2N6e2I1cvg
The Madras High Court has instructed the State to submit a response to a petition requesting legal action against former minister V Senthil Balaji over alleged corruption linked to transformer procurement. Justice G Jayachandran presided over the hearing of the petition initiated by Arappor Iyakkam, a Chennai-based NGO, which asserts that the former minister caused a financial loss of ₹397 crores to the state’s treasury.
During the proceedings, Advocate General PS Raman requested additional time to prepare a response, which the judge granted. Consequently, the State and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) were directed to present their responses, with the next hearing scheduled for the first week of June.
Arappor Iyakkam alleged that between 2021 and 2023, when Senthil Balaji held the position of electricity minister, he manipulated the tendering process for supplying transformers to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) fraudulently acquiring over 4000 transformers, effectively embezzling public funds. The organization claims to have scrutinized the tender process and identified several irregularities that led to financial losses for the state. Furthermore, Arappor Iyakkam urged the court to oversee the investigation by forming a special investigative team to ensure accountability and transparency.
Arappor Iyakkam's writ petition seeking direction for FIR and court-monitored SIT investigation into the complaint filed by #Arappor Iyakkam to DVAC with respect to the Rs 397 crore transformer procurement scam in Tangedco between 2021 to 2023 came today before Madras High… pic.twitter.com/5k8Jx9nEND
In a sworn affidavit submitted to the court, the NGO Arappor elucidated the pivotal role of distribution transformers in regulating voltage for consumer usage along distribution lines. Tangedco, tasked with procuring these transformers, obtains them in various capacities, spanning from 25 KVA to 500 KVA, depending on load demands. The procurement process transpires through tntenders.gov.in, where scrutiny of ten tenders issued between 2021 and 2023 revealed a bid for 45,800 distribution transformers, amounting to ₹1,182.88 crore. Arappor Iyakkam scrutinized bidding trends, bidder involvement, quoted prices, market norms, and other parameters, uncovering irregularities in seven out of the ten tenders, hinting at collusion among bidders and unjust gains for contractors.
A notable observation was that in each tender, more than 26 bidders seemingly participated, giving the impression of robust competition. However, it emerged that virtually all bidders quoted identical prices down to the decimal point, arousing suspicion of collusion to stifle competition and manipulate the tender process. The affidavit highlighted the statistical implausibility of multiple bidders quoting identical rates, suggesting a preconceived agreement to thwart competition.
A petrol bomb was hurled at the house of a lawyer named Mariselvam in Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi district. Pambu Karthik, a DMK worker, who was wanted by the police last year in connection with the smuggling of ration rice, is believed to be behind the attack. Pambu Karthik, known for his proximity to the DMK leadership, ministers, and functionaries, has allegedly been coercing residents to purchase ration rice from every household. It has been reported that Mariselvam warned him against these activities, leading to the petrol bomb attack on Mariselvam’s house.
Reports suggest that a staggering 3.5 tons of ration rice are smuggled from Kovilpatti to other states every month. Last year, Duraipandi was murdered in connection with ration rice smuggling in the area. However, the continuous smuggling of ration rice underscores the audacity of the smugglers.
Expressing his concern, TN BJP Chief Annamalai highlighted the lack of action by both the police and the Tamil Nadu Food Smuggling Cell, given the ruling party’s alleged involvement. He emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent further crimes.
He tweeted, “Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi is distributing rice in ration shops with the noble intention of providing food to all, it is degrading that the DMK is smuggling ration rice and selling it to other states. Since the smuggling of ration rice involves the ruling party, the police not taking any action will lead to more crimes. I urge the DMK government to immediately arrest all the members of the ration rice smuggling gang, including this individual, and take strict action.”
TNBJP Annamalai further added, “I strongly condemn the Thoothukudi district DMK for encouraging the ration rice smuggling gang and creating insecurity among the public.”
தூத்துக்குடி மாவட்டம், கோவில்பட்டியில், ரேஷன் அரிசி கடத்தும் கும்பல், வழக்கறிஞர் ஒருவர் வீட்டில் பெட்ரோல் குண்டு வீசித் தாக்குதல் நடத்தியுள்ள சம்பவம் பெரும் அதிர்ச்சியை அளிக்கிறது. இந்தச் சம்பவத்தில் ஈடுபட்ட பாம்பு கார்த்திக் என்ற திமுகவைச் சேர்ந்த நபர், கடந்த ஆண்டே, ரேஷன் அரிசி… pic.twitter.com/Ln6HyViP1Y
The Madras High Court’s top bench, led by Chief Justice S V Gangapurwala and Justice J Sathya Narayana Prasad, instructed the Tamil Nadu government to furnish a report prepared by a group of archaeological specialists concerning the proposed site for the Vallalar International Centre in Vadalur.
During the hearing of a petition urging the state government to abandon its plans to construct the center at the Peruveli grounds near the Sathya Gnana Sabha, the state government, represented by advocate general PS Raman, provided details on the amenities slated for development at the center, as mandated by the court in the previous session.
The state asserted that an official from the archaeology department had already surveyed the location and only the remains of the 17th and 18th-century surrounding wall have been foundand no construction has taken place in that area, guaranteeing that any structures of archaeological significance discovered during construction would be safeguarded.
Nonetheless, the Chief Justice suggested that it would be prudent for a panel of archaeological experts to evaluate the site and present a report, directing the government accordingly. In response, the state committed to forming a team of three experts to conduct the assessment. Additionally, the bench transferred the case to the special bench comprising Justices Mahadevan and Adikesalu, handling temple-related matters.
The controversy surrounding the establishment of the Vallalar International Centre in Vadalur, allocating a budget of ₹100 crores for the project has sparked protests and legal battles. The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to proceed with construction despite opposition has led to demonstrations, arrests, and demands from residents of Parvathipuram. They argue that the proposed site, adjacent to the sacred Vallalar Deity, holds religious and cultural significance and should be preserved. Despite their efforts, construction continues, prompting renewed protests and calls for legal action. The ongoing dispute highlights tensions between development initiatives and the preservation of religious heritage, underscoring the complex interplay of politics, religion, and community interests in the region.
In this regard, the Hindu Munnani has issued a statement via their official X handle, expressing their welcome from the Honorable Madras High Court, “According to the report, a wall was built during the 17th and 18th centuries when the Archeology Department examined the site of Vallalar Peruveli. Meanwhile, while a petition was filed in the Madras High Court that the construction work should not continue at the Vadalur Vallalar Sathya Gnanasabai Peruveli site and that the construction work should be banned, the High Court Judges, who accepted the petition, said that the construction work should not continue at the Vallalar Peruveli site and that the Hindu Charitable Endowments Department and the Department of Archaeology should inspect the Vallalar Peruveli site. The Hindu Munnani welcomes the order of the Chief Justice that the archaeology department should form a three-member committee to protect the ancient buildings and submit its report to the court.
This is a victory for the continuous struggle of the people and the Hindu Munnani. The Dravidian model gambled away the life of the Sanathana Dharma, again the Sanathana Dharma has won through the court injunction.”
வள்ளலார் பெருவெளி இடத்தை தொல்லியல் துறை ஆய்வு செய்ததில் 17-ம் மற்றும் 18-ம் நூற்றாண்டுகளில் கட்டப்பட்ட மதில் சுவர் இருப்பதாக ஆய்வறிக்கையில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.
இதற்கிடையில் வடலூர் வள்ளலார் சத்திய ஞானசபை பெருவெளி இடத்தில் கட்டுமான பணி தொடரக்கூடாது, கட்டுமான பணிக்கு தடை விதிக்க… pic.twitter.com/sdTnxIbARE
When an educated individual voiced criticism against the incumbent DMK MP, they anticipated a potential shift in the MP’s approach. However, rather than a change of course, the critics faced threats from grassroots-level DMK cadres. These threats included warnings that basic amenities for their newly constructed homes in the area, managed by the DMK as the ruling party in the corporation, would be withheld.
The presiding chairman of the 2nd ward in Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram district, Ramalingam of the DMK, has a son named Siva Ramakrishnan, who is employed as a research developer at Honda Motor Company in Japan. Siva Ramakrishnan also manages a YouTube channel named ‘Japan Tamil Bros’, where he shares his insights on current events in India, Tamil Nadu, and Japan. Recently, he posted a video on his channel criticizing TR Baalu of the DMK, who contested in the recent Lok Sabha election. This video gained significant traction on social media platforms. Interestingly, Ramalingam, Siva Ramakrishnan’s father, was actively canvassing for votes for TR Baalu in the same constituency.
In the viral video, Ramalingam’s son Siva Ramakrishnan stated, “I don’t know what TR Baalu has achieved in Sriperumbudur constituency that he is contesting there again. Firstly there are so many problems in Sriperumbudur many people will think that it has grown well, what do you mean by growth? There is employment but is there quality of life for the people? There are so many people living there but there is no park there, not even a single park. Does this government have the guts to lay roads? Do they know to lay a road?”
“A huge project has been going on for ten years and has spent hundreds of crores, and it is called the Underground Sewerage Project. Let that underground sewerage project come into operation, and you’ll see whether the project shows its teeth or not, they have converted a four-lane road to a six-lane road, when it was a four-lane road, the town was on this side and the agricultural land was on the other side of the road, so cows died when they crossed the road, 20 of our cows have died, and besides that, the people of the town who cross the road have also died. For that, we have been demanding to build a flyover for many days, and we are keeping it till today. He has not removed anything till now. Not only that, there is a lot of sand and dust, and hygiene is at the very minimum. If you take two streets, there are two to three cancer patients, dialysis is a ritual like going to the temple once a week for them. What has he done for Sriperumbudur, hygiene has deteriorated to such an extent. And with what face is he seeking votes?” he further stated.
ஶ்ரீபெரும்பத்தூர் தொகுதிக்கு என்ன செய்தார் TR Balu?
Following election day on 19 April 2024 in Tamil Nadu, Ramalingam received a call from Sathish, the secretary of the Sriperumbudur town panchayat and husband of the town panchayat president, Santhi. Sathish inquired about the viral video posted by Ramalingam’s son and issued a veiled threat regarding providing essential services such as electricity, drinking water, and drainage connections to Ramalingam’s newly constructed house in the area. Ramalingam shared this incident with his son, Siva Ramakrishnan, during a video call.
Subsequently, Siva Ramakrishnan uploaded another video on his YouTube channel, narrating the incident and expressing how he was hurt by it. He announced his intention to expose all instances of mismanagement and stalled development projects in the constituency through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, utilizing his YouTube platform.
Polimer News reported that when the Sriperumbudur town panchayat secretary Sathish was asked about this matter, he responded that he had no knowledge of the incident and hadn’t encountered the individual in question. He dismissed the accusations as false and challenged anyone with evidence to take legal action against him.
Kadeshwara Subramaniam, the state president of Hindu Munnani, has issued a statement urging Chief Minister Stalin to stop the politics of hatred. Subramaniam’s statement comes in response to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 2006 remarks at the National Development Council (NDC), where he stated that minorities, especially Muslims, have the first right to the benefits of the nation’s development and resources.
In his statement, he stated, “Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s remarks at the National Development Council (NDC) in 2006, stating that minorities, especially Muslims, have the first right to the benefits of the nation’s development and resources, are often cited. Singh’s stance, combined with Nehru’s acknowledgment of his British education, Muslim culture, and Hindu heritage, has led to accusations that the Congress Party practices divisive vote bank politics, prioritizing minority interests over those of the majority Hindus.”
He added, “Manmohan Singh’s announcement in the Congress party’s election manifesto for the current Lok Sabha elections, promising to cover the fees for Muslim students studying in foreign institutions, further fuels these accusations. Critics argue that this move, along with the party’s opposition to majoritarianism, demonstrates the Congress party’s neglect of the Hindu majority in the country, perpetuating a divide between communities.”
He also added, “The Congress’s focus on funding education abroad for Muslim students, rather than investing in world-class educational institutions within the country, is seen as a disservice to India’s educational system, elevating foreign institutions over domestic ones.”
He called out DMK of their Anti-Hindu stance, “In addition to these allegations against the Congress, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Stalin, and his party, the DMK, are accused of furthering an anti-Hindu agenda. Accusations include boycotting Hindu festivals, undermining Hindu traditions, and neglecting Hindu interests. The DMK’s alliance with parties such as the VCK, whose leaders have demanded concessions for Scheduled Castes who convert to Islam, is seen as further evidence of their anti-Hindu stance.”
He concluded, “The Hindu Munnani urges people to reject the divisive politics of the DMK and Congress, emphasizing the importance of national unity, development, and consciousness. They call for voters to see through what they perceive as false propaganda and teach a lesson to parties that they believe prioritize divisive politics over the nation’s well-being.”
