Alleged ‘journalist’ Shabbir Ahmed of Dravidian Stockist propaganda outlet The News Minute (TNM) has gone out of his way to portray the arrest of DMK Liquor Minister Senthil Balaji as an act of revenge by the BJP which has happened just days after Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit.
The News Minute, as expected, has cried foul and their journalist, Shabbir Ahmed in this nearly 20-minute video tries to explain the details of the arrest of the minister alleging it to be a handiwork of the BJP to crackdown on political opponents.
He begins by asking the question as to why the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had to conduct the raid now, that too for a scam that happened nearly a decade ago, highlighting the AIADMK reign when it happened. He also stresses the point that the ED harassed Senthil Balaji, which has been peddled by the DMK to play victim card.
In this video, he compares the arrests of Partha Chatterjee of West Bengal with that of Senthil Balaji. He says that even though this action has come in response to the scam, he emphatically believes that there is a political angle to this arrest and that such moves were made basically to break parties and make politicians change affiliations and “move to the BJP”.
He also questions the need to arrest Senthil Balaji at midnight as the investigation was ongoing and that since he is a minister in the state cabinet, there was no risk of him fleeing.
Will Senthil Balaji Be Removed From His Position As A Minister? Asks Shabbir Worriedly
Shabbir Ahmed seemed genuinely concerned about whether Senthil Balaji will be allowed to continue as a minister post his arrest and filing of charges. He talks about the arrest of a former cabinet minister in the Kejriwal-led Delhi government, Satyendar Jain, who he said continued as a minister despite his arrest and it was only after about 14 months after the arrest that he resigned. He also speaks about Manish Sisodia, former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, and mentioned that after he was arrested, Sisodia resigned from his post. So will Senthil Balaji be able to continue as minister or will he have to resign, very sincerely worries Shabbir.
DMK Is Ready For The Next Steps Says Shabbir Confidently
Shabbir very confidently indicates that there is a political shade to the ED raids and the arrest of Senthil Balaji. He also speaks gloriously about how Senthil Balaji rose up the ranks in a very short period of time:
As soon as he joined the DMK, Senthil Balaji was made the DMK Karur District Secretary in 2019. In 2021, he was made the minister and enjoys great support in the Kongu region.
Shabbir continues to sing paeans about Senthil Balaji saying he is a powerful minister and is very close to the Chief Minister MK Stalin and that could be a reason that many were targeting him.
Shabbir also went on to add that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was looking to capture power (win seats in Tamil Nadu) and this could be possible only if Senthil Balaji was removed from the picture. He mentions that Senthil Balaji’s influence over the people and planning and strategy caused a setback to AIADMK in the recent local elections.
According to Shabbir, IT raids in general, are a way to “finish” an entire network of politicians, now again his concern for the Minister is seen as he wonders whether after this arrest, will Senthil Balaji be able to work effectively.
He says that such an attack on Senthil Balaji by the central government is a clear message to the DMK and that he was worried about how MK Stalin will handle this politically and legally.
This is not the first time Shabbir Ahmed blatantly does this, even political analyst Savukku Shankar agrees.
The Commune Mag had earlier reported on how Shabbir shamelessly justified the usurpation of a village by the Waqf board and how his ground reports on the hooch tragedy in May 2023 completely ignored the DMK connections to the incident and shifted the blame on the authorities. He doesn’t stop there – there have been many instances where he has bent backwards to prove his loyalty to the ruling dispensation in Tamil Nadu – here are some articles for you to read:
Amidst the ongoing drama surrounding the arrest of Prohibition and Excise Minister of Tamil Nadu, Senthil Balaji by the Enforcement Directirate (ED) in connection with the transport job scam, a Facebook post made in 2016 from Karunanidhi’s official account is doing the rounds on social media.
The post mentioned the High Court’s order on the cash-for-jobs scam in which Senthil Balaji has been accused and is now arrested. Karunanidhi in the Facebook post goes on to mention that Senthil Balaji has been accused of collecting a sum of ₹4.25 crores through his assistant from numerous individuals, promising them employment opportunities in the transport corporation. However, the jobs were not provided, and the money was not returned.
“Question – In the case pertaining to former Minister Senthil Balaji who has been accused of fraud by promising government jobs for money, the Madras High Court has said that there is no bar on him in contesting election?”, reads the question.
Karunanidhi’s reply goes thus: “Even though the court has not barred him from contesting election, the High Court has directed the police to file an affidavit regarding the status of the case pertaining to the fraud case on Senthil Balaji by coming 7th of the month. According to the details of the case, it is alleged that ₹4.25 crore was given to the minister through his assistant, which the latter had collected from many people to place them in various jobs including drivers and conductors in the transport corporation. But the neither got the job nor their money was returned. The same complaint is there on many ministers. But now a complaint has reached the High Court.”
Senthil Balaji, today a close confidante of the current Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin, had been accused of the same crimes by MK Stalin himself in the past, creating an ironic turn of events.
தமிழக முதல்வர் திரு @mkstalin அவர்களின் நீண்ட நாள் ஆசை இன்று நிறைவேறியது.
தொடர் ஊழல் குற்றச்சாட்டுக்கு ஆளாகியுள்ள திரு செந்தில் பாலாஜியை உடனடியாக அமைச்சர் பதவியிலிருந்து நீக்க வேண்டும் என்று தமிழக முதல்வரை வலியுறுத்துகிறேன்! pic.twitter.com/GyQeKv3Edw
Back in 2021, the Chennai police filed a chargesheet against Senthil Balaji, along with 46 others, including retired and serving officers, in connection with a recruitment scam.
According to sources, out of the 47 accused mentioned by the Chennai City Crime Branch job fraud wing, 33 individuals secured positions in various Transport Corporations, including MTC Chennai, by paying bribes to Senthil Balaji, who was the minister at the time, through his aides in 2014-15. The High Court had ordered a reinvestigation into the recruitment scam, specifically regarding the hiring of reserve crew drivers, conductors, Junior Trades Men, Junior Assistant (JA), Junior Engineer (JE), and Assistant Engineer (AE) in all the Transport Corporations.
Investigations revealed collusion between Senthil Balaji, his close associates, and various officials during the appointment process, abusing their positions of authority. The appointment orders were allegedly issued based on fraudulent lists provided by Balaji, rather than on merit. His aides, B Shanmugam and M Karthikeyan were accused of collecting large sums of money from the candidates on his behalf.
The recent events surrounding the ED raids and subsequent arrest of Senthil Balaji have reignited public attention on the alleged recruitment scam. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how the legal proceedings and investigations unfold, shedding light on the extent of the alleged fraudulent activities and the involvement of various individuals implicated in the scandal.
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DMK Liquor Minister V Senthil Balaji, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at around 4 AM on 14 June 2023, after conducting searches at his premises including his official residence on Greenways Road in Chennai and his office at the State Secretariat in connection with a money laundering case.
These searches are part of an ongoing investigation allegedly for his involvement in a job recruitment scam during his tenure as the transport minister in the erstwhile Jayalalithaa government between 2011 and 2015.
Following the raid on his properties on Tuesday (13 June 2023), the ED took the DMK leader into custody for questioning.
Under tight security, Senthil Balaji was taken to the Omandurar government hospital in Chennai for a medical examination early on Wednesday, as he had complained of “experiencing chest pain”.
Dramatic scenes unfolded as the DMK leader arrived at the hospital. He was seen crying while lying inside a car and kicking those who were trying to get him out of the car.
One netizen wrote “Good news as I woke up. Liquor Minister Senthil Balaji who was apprehended for investigation enacts drama like Kalaignar (Karunanidhi). He has urinated too!”
ஆக… கைது செய்யப்படும் போது எந்த ஒரு சங்கியும் "அய்யோ கொல்றாங்கப்பா" என்று கத்துவதும் இல்லை, பேண்டிலே உச்சா போவதும் இல்லை 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/3L3vL6hiNX
Another netizen wrote “No Sangi during arrest ever shouted ‘Ayayo.. they’re killing me’ (referring to Karunanidhi’s arrest) or pissed in his pants (referring to Senthi Balaji)”
“For one day arrest itself, they’re pissing in their pants. They must’ve sh*t in their pants during MISA (Emergency”, wrote a Naam Tamilar Katchi supporter.
“Hey you Sanghis, you made the poor guy pee in his pants”, wrote a BJP supporter.
A Twitterati asked a doctor whether pissing in pants or kicking action are symptoms of cardiac arrest or health related issues.
Responding to this, senior cardiologist Dr. Deepak Krishnamurthy said that it may be because the person is having low supply of oxygen to the brain or may be having seizures due to cardiac arrest.
The DMK and its allies like the VCK, MDMK and Communists have been blindly opposing the NEET medical entrance exam, ever since it was made mandatory by the Supreme Court. These parties along with their minions in the media have successfully peddled a narrative demonising the exam saying that it puts students from rural, socially and economically deprived students at disadvantage.
However, the students of Tamil Nadu have been coming out with shining colours smashing the propaganda of the pseudo-social justice warriors to smithereens.
This year, Tamil Nadu achieved its highest-ever count in the top 50 positions of the exam, including producing the country’s highest scorer and ranking as the state with the third-highest number of high achievers. This is a significant contrast from five years ago when the state had no representation among the top scorers which education experts and teacher attribute to the poor standard of Samacheer Kalvi (Tamil Nadu government) books.
Among the top 10 ranks, four were secured by candidates from Tamil Nadu. Prabhanjan J, from Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, shared the top spot with Bora Varun Chakravarthi from Andhra Pradesh, both achieving a perfect score of 720. Additionally, Kautav Bauri, a Scheduled Caste candidate from Tamil Nadu, secured the third position.
Historical data indicates that in 2019 and 2021, Tamil Nadu had no representation in the top 50 ranks. However, last year, two candidates from the state made it to this league, and this year, with six candidates in the top ranks, it marks the state’s highest tally ever, ranking only behind Delhi with eight candidates and Rajasthan with seven.
This trend aligns with the recent increase in the number of students from Tamil Nadu who fall within the top 95 percentile of qualifying candidates.
The total number of students in Tamil Nadu who scored in the 95th percentile and above has doubled from 2,307 students (1.87% of total candidates) in the past to 4,600 candidates (3.48% of total candidates) in 2022. However, this is the first time that such a significant number of candidates from the state have also made it to the top 50 positions.
For the first time, Tamil Nadu is witnessing a historic transformation in medical education. The aspirations of students from the bottom of the socio-economic ladder are becoming reality with a record number of them entering medical colleges.
Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai congratulated those who cleared the examination urging the DMK to stop politicizing the examination that offers a level-playing field.
“This astounding result from TN is a lesson to parties like the DMK who chose to politicise the NEET examination, which ensured a level playing field for all students aspiring to become Doctors!”, Annamalai said in a tweet.
Delighted to know that 4 students from Tamil Nadu have found a place in the Top 10 ranks in the NEET results released today.
Wholehearted congratulations to all Students who have toiled hard to pass the examination.
This astounding result from TN is a lesson to parties like…
DMK Liquor Minister V Senthil Balaji, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday morning (14 June 2023) following searches conducted at his premises in connection with a money laundering case. The ED took the DMK leader into custody for questioning after raiding his properties on Tuesday.
In the early hours of Wednesday, amid tight security, the ED brought Balaji to the Omandurar government hospital in Chennai for a medical examination, as he had complained of chest pain.
Outside the hospital, a scene of high drama unfolded as the DMK leader arrived. He was observed shedding tears of pain while lying inside a car, while his supporters gathered to protest against the ED’s actions.
According to Senthil Balaji’s lawyer and DMK leader NR Elango, who spoke to India Today, “Senthil Balaji was picked up by the ED and brought to Omandurar government hospital. It appears that he was not conscious when he was admitted to the hospital. This arrest is completely illegal and unconstitutional. We will challenge it through legal means.”
Senthil Balaji’s arrest is bound to jitter the DMK as he is considered to be the most powerful man in the state handling the cash cow ministries of TASMAC and electricity. He is regarded as the financier of the ruling party and had a major role in DMK securing the Erode East bypolls through cash. and the money bank of the ruling party.
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In a surprising turn of events, the office of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vanathi Srinivasan in Coimbatore was infiltrated by an unidentified individual, who later met a tragic fate in a car collision merely hours after the peculiar incident.
Situated on the bustling Coimbatore – Hosur road, the office of Vanathi Srinivasan, the representative for the Coimbatore South Legislative Assembly constituency, became the backdrop for an enigmatic episode. Office assistant Vijay had been diligently carrying out his duties when an unknown person mysteriously entered the premises, promptly proceeding to lock the door from the inside, much to Vijay’s astonishment.
Reacting swiftly, Vijay forcefully intervened, causing the intruder to stumble and sustain minor injuries before hastily retreating from the scene, leaving behind a shroud of intrigue and unanswered questions. Perturbed by the unprecedented occurrence, Vijay promptly lodged a complaint at the Race Course Police Station, urging a thorough investigation into the incident.
In his complaint, Vijay expressed, “On 12 June 2023, at 5:47 pm, an unidentified individual gained unauthorized entry into the office premises. Upon realizing that I was alone, the intruder attempted to forcibly barricade himself inside the room. I managed to repel his advances, but I remain deeply suspicious of his intentions. The authorities must delve into this matter and ascertain his identity and motives.”
Responding to the complaint, the Race course Police promptly initiated a case, meticulously documenting the details provided by Vijay. Furthermore, they reviewed the footage captured by the office’s CCTV cameras in hopes of unearthing crucial evidence regarding the identity of the enigmatic intruder.
Meanwhile, approximately four hours subsequent to the incident, an unidentified individual met a tragic demise in a collision with an undisclosed vehicle along Avinashi Road, a mere two kilometers away from the BJP office. Upon receiving the information, law enforcement swiftly secured the body and dispatched it to the Coimbatore Government Hospital for further examination through post-mortem procedures.
Upon initial investigation, it was revealed that the deceased individual was, in fact, the same person who had unlawfully entered the BJP office earlier. Authorities are presently scrutinizing the CCTV footage obtained from the accident scene in an effort to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this untimely demise.
In a regrettable instance of misreporting, certain news channels erroneously portrayed the incident involving an intruder at the office of BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan in Coimbatore. These channels disseminated inaccurate information, claiming that the intruder was forcefully expelled from the office and subsequently met a tragic demise within a matter of minutes.
பொய் செய்தி RSB மீடியா !
நேற்று மாலை 5.45 மணி அளவில் டாஸ்மாக்கில் சாராயத்தை குடித்துவிட்டு போதையில் எம்எல்ஏ அலுவலகத்திற்குள் நுழைய முயற்சி செய்திருக்கிறான்.
எம்எல்ஏ அலுவலக உதவியாளர்கள் அவரை வெளியேற்றி இருக்கிறார்கள், அனைத்தும் CCTVல் பதிவாகியுள்ளது pic.twitter.com/Xt7YmTnbtF
Contrary to these misleading reports, the actual events unfolded differently. It is essential to clarify that the tragic incident occurred later, approximately four hours after the initial encounter. The person, later identified as the intruder, was involved in a fatal collision with an undisclosed vehicle on Avinashi Road, a short distance away from the BJP office. Reports say that he was in an inebriated condition.
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Tamil Nadu has been ranked the worst-performing state in terms of RTI responsiveness, with only 14% of the requested information being furnished. This figure is significantly lower than the national average of 57%. Surprisingly, Uttar Pradesh, a state often criticized by DMK and its leaders for its lack of law and order and transparency, performed better than Tamil Nadu, with an RTI responsiveness rate of 82%.
The report, released by Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability in government, assessed the performance of 29 information commissions across India. The evaluation was based on four key parameters: timely disposal of cases, percentage of cases disposed of in favor of applicants, percentage of cases disposed of without any hearing, and percentage of cases where compensation was awarded to the applicants.
The State Information Commission of Tamil Nadu only managed to furnish 14% of the information sought during the 2021-22 period, highlighting its poor performance. The SNS report also revealed that the DMK government failed to provide information on appeals and complaints registered and disposed of by the Information Commissions. The Information Commissioner justified this by claiming that the information could only be provided “after getting the approval of the state Legislative Assembly,” although no such provision exists in the RTI Act. Furthermore, the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission denied information regarding the backlog of appeals and complaints, as well as details of penalties imposed by the Information Commissioners.
According to the report, the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission was the worst-performing body as it denied most of the requested information, including data on the number of appeals and complaints addressed by the Information Commission, penalty details, and compensation awarded. The commission stated that such information could only be provided “after getting the approval of the State Legislative Assembly,” despite the absence of such provisions in the RTI Act.
In addition, the report highlighted the poor gender parity within the composition of the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission, with 83% of its members being men. This gender disparity raises concerns about diversity and representation within the commission.
There could be several reasons behind Tamil Nadu’s dismal performance in terms of RTI responsiveness. One possible factor is the lack of seriousness on the part of the state government in implementing the RTI Act. Another factor could be the inadequate training provided to public information officers (PIOs) in handling RTI requests effectively.
The low level of RTI responsiveness in Tamil Nadu is a significant problem as it hampers citizens’ right to access information about the government and its activities. It also makes it challenging for citizens to hold the government accountable for its actions, undermining transparency and democratic principles.
The SNS report suggests that the Tamil Nadu government has been reluctant to fully implement the RTI Act, with slow appointments of PIOs and a lack of comprehensive training programs. Additionally, there have been reports of the government’s hostility towards RTI activists, further hindering the process of seeking transparency and accountability.
RTI activist organizations like Arappor Iyakkam are demanding that the DMK government takes immediate steps to improve RTI responsiveness in Tamil Nadu. This may include appointing more PIOs, providing enhanced training for PIOs, and creating a supportive environment for RTI activists.
It is worth noting that political commentator Savukku Shankar has accused the government of deliberately keeping the post of Chief of Information Commission vacant to accommodate a soon-to-be retiring IAS officer Irananbu. Such delays in appointments hinder transparency and raise concerns about governance.
The poor performance of Tamil Nadu in terms of RTI responsiveness serves as a wake-up call for the DMK government. Urgent measures need to be taken to improve transparency and accountability.
Notably, despite being labeled as a ‘Jungle Raj’ by DMK leaders and pro-Dravidian news outlets, the state of Uttar Pradesh has outperformed the Tamil Nadu government. The RTI responsiveness of the UP government stands at 82%, significantly higher than the disappointing rate of the Tamil Nadu government.
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches on 13 June 2023 at 20 locations connected to Tamil Nadu Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise Minister V. Senthil Balaji, including his official residence on Greenways Road in Chennai and his office at the State Secretariat. These searches are part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case registered against the minister, allegedly for his involvement in a job recruitment scam during his tenure as the transport minister in the erstwhile Jayalalithaa government between 2011 and 2015.
Tamil Nadu | Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducts raids at the residence of Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji as part of a money laundering investigation. Currently, raids are underway in Chennai, Karur and other places. pic.twitter.com/OQrXw3GSWO
The raids are being conducted at various locations in Chennai, Erode, Karur, and Coimbatore. In addition to Senthil Balaji’s official residence, ED officials are also conducting searches at his brother Ashok Kumar’s residence in Chennai, which is located near the minister’s residence, as well as his ancestral house in Rameswarampatti, Karur.
It is worth noting that the ED had previously sent summons to Senthil Balaji and his brother, but these were quashed by the Madras High Court in September 2022. However, on May 16, 2023, a Supreme Court bench comprising justices V. Ramasubramanian and Krishna Murari allowed appeals against the Madras High Court order. The Supreme Court directed the ED to continue its investigation into the charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The apex court also granted the state police a two-month period to complete their investigation and submit the final report. Earlier, the Crime Branch had registered three First Information Reports (FIRs) and three chargesheets related to the job recruitment scam, out of which one FIR was compromised. These cases were registered during the previous Edappadi K. Palaniswami government.
Upon the ED’s arrival at Senthil Balaji’s residence, the minister, who was out for his morning walk, informed the media that he would fully cooperate with the investigation. He stated, “I was on a morning walk with friends. As soon as I was notified about the searches, I immediately took a taxi and rushed to my house. I do not know what the ED is actually looking for in my house. But I will cooperate with the investigation. Be it ED or the Income Tax, I will fully cooperate with them,” Balaji told presspersons.
ED officials, accompanied by representatives from the Indian Bank, conducted a search of Senthil Balaji’s chamber in the State Secretariat, which lasted over three hours. Reliable sources within the ED have revealed that evidence linking Balaji to the job scam and money laundering has been discovered.
Last month, Income Tax officials conducted a nine-day search operation at the residences and premises of Senthil Balaji’s brother Ashok and his relatives. These searches were carried out at 40 locations associated with Balaji and his associates at that time.
Pointing out the old video of CM MK Stalin where he listed out the corruption charges of then ADMK minister Senthil Balaji while speaking in Karur district and, the TNBJP Chief Annamalai tweeted, “Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr. MK Stalin‘s long wish came true today. I urge the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to immediately remove Mr. Senthil Balaji who has been accused of corruption!”
தமிழக முதல்வர் திரு @mkstalin அவர்களின் நீண்ட நாள் ஆசை இன்று நிறைவேறியது.
தொடர் ஊழல் குற்றச்சாட்டுக்கு ஆளாகியுள்ள திரு செந்தில் பாலாஜியை உடனடியாக அமைச்சர் பதவியிலிருந்து நீக்க வேண்டும் என்று தமிழக முதல்வரை வலியுறுத்துகிறேன்! pic.twitter.com/GyQeKv3Edw
MK Stalin in the run up to the 2016 Assembly elections had made a blistering attack on Senthil Balaji who was then a Minister in the AIADMK.
“Senthil Balaji and his brother have the entire Karur district under their control in terms of looting, doing corruption, getting bribes. People living in Karur district are well aware of this. Kidnapping, land grabbing cases are in court. They had brought a ticket vending machine for state transport buses. I was the one to talk about the corruption in that deal with proof in the Assembly. There has been no rejoinder to that. Not just that, an engineering student named Gokul was kidnapped, given death threats, his properties seized. His family went to the court and the case is pending and today there is no clue about where Gokul is.”. Stalin had said.
It is notable that in the month of May, the Income Tax department carried out extensive raids at the homes of individuals associated with Senthil Balaji, including certain contractors. Prior to the search operation, Income Tax officials faced physical assault and were manhandled, resulting in the arrest of multiple individuals who were closely linked to Balaji’s brother, Ashok.
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Self-styled ‘journalists’ at The News Minute, a rabid leftist and Dravidian Stockist portal, often project themselves as champions of democracy, free speech, justice and what not. However, their bravado and ‘truth to power’ attitude is aimed at one party and one section of the people. There are numerous instances of selective outrage of this leftist Dravidian Stockist portal but this one specifically needs to be called out because it is from the portal’s Editor-in-Chief herself.
In April 2023, the central government granted the Press Information Bureau (PIB) enhanced authority to fact-check and request the removal of any information deemed “fake, false, or misleading” about the Central government from social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google.
Dhanya Rajendran of The News Minute however found this problematic. In her monologue on her news portal’s YouTube channel “No Filter With Dhanya Rajendran,” she said “The Indian government has a problem with any journalist or media organisation that reports critically on the government. After many covert and overt attempts to muzzle the media, the government is ready with its latest attempt.”
This certainly isn’t the case as there has never been a government at the Centre which continues to be criticized day in and day out by heavily biased media outlets both within and outside the country, including The News Minute. Dhanya Rajendran’s blanket statement makes it appear as if Communist dictators have taken over the country.
Dhanya in the video vehemently criticised the central government’s attempts to control news content and labelled the draft amendments to digital media ethics rules as “clearly unconstitutional.” She raised doubts about the government’s ability to distinguish between misinformation and disinformation.
She laments that giving these powers to PIB is a clear attempt by the government to decide about news content and that this was just a way to censor Indian media. She then also goes on to accuse the PIB to be the PR wing of the government and that instead of doing PR, she wondered if the PIB would now decide what news is acceptable or not.
Ofcourse, the PIB or the Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) of a state is meant to do PR for the government. It’s in the name itself – Public Relations (PR) and that’s their only mandate. Does Dhanya expect the state’s own propaganda arm to be critical of it? Where is the logic in accusing PIB of doing “PR” for the government? How come nobody else has called out this ridiculous assertion by Dhanya Rajendran?
Be that as it may. Now let us move on to something that happened in Tamil Nadu in March 2022. While Dhanya portrays herself as a crusader for media freedom, her selective outrage and double standards become evident when we examine her silence on similar issues concerning the local DMK government in Tamil Nadu.
In the state budget presented by the then Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, he announced that the state government had decided to form a special Social Media Monitoring Centre under the police department and that the Social Media Monitoring Centre was set up to ‘battle fake news and misinformation on social media platforms’.
According to reports, a whopping 203 officials and police personnel have been deputed for the task of “monitoring fake news on social media intending to create tension, riots, online frauds, drug smuggling, etc”.
Back in March 2022, The Commune had expressed concerns about this stating that the DMK government with the state police machinery under its control might use it to muzzle dissenting voices which is what seems to be happening.
In April 2022, the Twitter handle @ITWReports handle surfaced and it identified itself as an ID to report abusive content against individuals, organisations, and Tamil Nadu Government (read it as DMK leaders, DMK, and the DMK government) that will work to clamp down on fake news and other malicious content on social media.
Instance of ITW Reports functioning like Hitler’s private militia has been detailed in this report.
Our readers, we ask of you, by the looks of it, isn’t this a more dangerous and a direct attack on freedom of speech and expression? But guess what? Neither Dhanya Rajendran nor her organization have even uttered a word about the blatant abuse of power by the DMK with the police being used as mercenaries to hunt down on critics.
It is a very well-known fact that the DMK government in Tamil Nadu has been taking extreme action on comments critical of their government made on social media platforms ever since they came to power. Here are a few instances when this has happened:
In July 2021, a case was filed against the AIADMK party’s TV channel, News J, and several members of its IT wing, pertaining to certain posts they had published in the past.
On 9 December 2021, YouTuber Maridhas was taken into custody following a controversial tweet concerning the demise of Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat. The arrest came after a complaint was filed by a DMK functionary, who expressed concern over Maridhas’ tweet drawing a comparison between Tamil Nadu and Kashmir.
In November 2021, Kishore K Swamy, another political commentator known for his criticism of the DMK, was incarcerated for 6 months after slapping the Goondas Act on him.
BJP IT wing office-bearer Saravana Kumar from Dindigul was arrested for criticising the DMK government and later released following a protest by BJP cadres in front of the police station.
Kalyana Raman, a BJP functionary, was apprehended on charges of making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Stalin and his deceased father Karunanidhi.
In April 2023, Vice President of Tamil Nadu BJP’s Industrial Cell, Selva Kumar was arrested for allegedly making remarks against MK Stalin & DMK Minister Senthil Balaji.
More recently, a netizen was arrested on 6 June 2023 for sharing an old news and misattributing DMK to an illegal liquor-producing gang in Tiruppur in connection with the recent hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu.
And in news just coming in, a BJP worker from Kanchipuram, Selvam, has been arrested for tweeting that money in temple hundi belongs to the temple priests while sharing an unrelated video of Bangaladeshi Muslims counting money collections.
— PuthiyathalaimuraiTV (@PTTVOnlineNews) June 12, 2023
In none of the above-mentioned cases did Dhanya Rajendran or her news portal cry foul or accuse the DMK government of suppressing freedom of expression or being unconstitutional in its behaviour?
Does Dhanya Rajendran not see this as an attack on freedom of expression? Is this kind of monitoring common in a democracy? Is this how fake news is tackled? Why did Dhanya Rajendran not voice out her views on her No Filter series against the DMK government for arresting dissenting voices in Tamil Nadu? Does she and her news portal have a tacit understanding with the DMK?
As a journalist, it is essential to maintain impartiality and hold all governments accountable, regardless of their political affiliations. Dhanya’s failure to criticize the DMK government’s monitoring of social media and the arrests of individuals for expressing dissenting views raises questions about her credibility and the objectivity of her reporting. While she readily goes guns blazing against the central government’s peddling unfounded allegations and fearmongering about potential threats to media freedom, she conveniently turns a blind eye to the fascist actions of the DMK government. Her silence and selective outrage only goes on to prove that The News Minute is nothing but an unofficial mouthpiece of the DMK.
Media freedom is a fundamental pillar of democracy, and it should be protected and defended in all circumstances. However, when journalists exhibit bias and apply different standards based on their political preferences, it undermines the very principles they claim to uphold. It is crucial for journalists like Dhanya Rajendran to maintain consistency in their stance on media freedom and not allow personal or political biases to cloud their judgement. Or better declare your political preferences openly (like we do) instead of hiding under the garb of ‘independent media’ to shove down their opinions down the throats of gullible people.
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In this article, the four top armies of the world in terms of military power and equipment are described. Almost without a doubt, no country in the world does not have an army. A significant part of the world’s budget is spent on the armies of those countries because of the fear of security tensions. And more importantly, a large part of the financial circulation in today’s world is used to increase the military power of countries. One of the crucial things you should know about war is that many discoveries and inventions in the world have been made through wars. From the invention of gunpowder to telecommunications and many medicines that were first discovered and produced in war because war is basically an “Economic Activity.”
Although, since long ago, most wars have been fought to strengthen the economic power of the countries. Even Nader Shah’s military expedition and campaign to Indian soil took place to finance Iran’s budget in that period, as well as the presence and military expedition of the U.S.A. in Iraq and Afghanistan in the contemporary era. In addition to establishing and strengthening the U.S. military position in the Middle East, most of its costs were also obtained from the resources of countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore, in this article, the four most powerful armies in the world in 2023 can be recalled.
1- The U.S. Army- First World Rank
Image Courtesy: Getty Images
The United States Army is the largest military force in the world. The U.S. military has the highest budget in the world, with a military budget of $762 billion. The U.S. Armed Forces have six divisions, the Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Ground Force, Space Force, Air Force, and Navy. The U.S. military was formed 247 years ago with the start of the American War of Independence from Britain in 1775. The President of the United States of America is the commander-in-chief and determines the military policies of the country’s Army. However, at the same time, the Minister of Defense, selected from among the government delegation members, is in charge of the Ministry of Defense.
The U.S. Army has participated in wars such as World War II, Vietnam War, Korean War, Iraq, and Afghanistan War, which means that almost the biggest battles in the world have either occurred or continued with the presence of this country. Of course, America was not present in the war at the beginning of the Second World War, but the incident of Pearl Harbor caused this country to enter the war and be on the Allied front alongside England and France.
One: The total number of personnel is 1,8320,00
Two: The active forces are 1,3900,00
Three: The total number of planes is 13,300
Four: The total number of fighters is 1914
Five: The total number of tanks is 5,500
Six: The total number of armored vehicles is 303,553
Seven: The total marine assets are 484
Eight: The number of submarines is 68
Nine: The number of aircraft carriers is 11
Ten: The military budget is 762 billion dollars.
2-The Russian Army- Second World Rank
Image Courtesy: Getty Images
The Russian Army, known as the Russian Armed Forces, is the second most powerful Army in the world. But this country ranks first in the world regarding the number of weapons and modern military equipment. Vladimir Putin, the current president of Russia, is in charge of the Supreme Forces. The Russian Army is divided into four categories: ground forces, naval forces, reserve forces, and aerospace forces. The Russian Army was formed in 1992 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The Russian Army has at least two million reserve military personnel. With about one million active military personnel, it ranks fifth in the world regarding the number of people. The Russian Armed Forces have two independent arms, the Strategic Missile Forces and the Airborne Forces. The Russian Army has 83 billion dollars in the military budget. Regarding discipline and military training, the Russian Army is still influenced by the Red Army of the Soviet Communist era.
One: The total military personnel is 1,330,900
Two: The total active forces are 830,900
Three: The total number of planes is 4182
Four: The total number of fighters is 773
Five: The total number of tanks is 12,566
Six: The total number of armored vehicles is 151,642
Seven: The total marine assets are 598
Eight: The number of submarines is 70
Nine: The number of aircraft carriers is 1
Ten: The military budget is 83 billion dollars.
3-The Chinese Army- Third World Rank
Image Courtesy: Getty Images
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army is the third most powerful Army in the world. The Chinese Army was formed in 1927 with the Nanjing Uprising as the Red Army of Chinese Workers and Peasants. The People’s Liberation Army is the same as the National Army of China, which is controlled by the armed forces of the country, the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese National Army consists of five major divisions: The Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Missile Force, and Strategic Support Forces. Most military units nationwide operate in one of these five sectors, depending on their location. With a budget of 230 billion dollars, China’s national Army has second place in defense spending worldwide. With 2 million active personnel, it is known as the world’s largest Army in terms of military strength.
One: The total military personnel is 3,135000
Two: The total active forces are 2,000,000
Three: The total number of aircraft is 3284
Four: The total number of fighters is 1199
Five: The total number of tanks is 4950
Six: The total number of armored vehicles is 174,300
Seven: The total marine assets are 730
Eight: The number of submarines is 78
Nine: The number of aircraft carriers is 2
Ten: The military budget is 230 billion dollars.
Indian Army/Getty/Images
4-The Indian Army – Fourth World Rank
Image Courtesy: Getty Images
India has been declared the fourth-strongest Army in the world. India has been declared the fourth-strongest Army in the world. India is the largest Army in terms of military strength, with 1.5 million active personnel. And with a budget of 55 billion dollars, it is the third largest power in the world in terms of defense expenditure. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army forces. So, the Indian Army consists of four main divisions: The Ground Force, Navy Force, Air Force, and Helicopter Fleet. The Global Firepower ranking report is available at this link: https://is.gd/dcagK3
Will the Indian Army Be Able to Fight in Geopolitical Conflicts?
What should be addressed at the end of this article is that India faces two significant threats: Pakistan and China. Many experts and military analysts believe that the current capability of the Indian Army is very high to defeat Islamabad in a non-nuclear war. However, the evidence and analytical statistics in the paper also show that New Delhi will defeat Islamabad. But against a strong opponent called China, the Indians and their defensive and offensive system will inevitably have big problems. It still depends on how India will update its defensive and offensive system against the opponent called China, and this possibility is possible.
With the start of a war against a superpower called China, the Indian Army will quickly need spare parts and support from the manufacturing countries for its vast and diverse fleet. Now, imagine if all the countries exporting weapons to India will have the same opinion about the possible geopolitical and economic wars. Will a country like Russia or European countries with extensive economic relations with China help India easily? The next issue is the many problems and costs that maintenance and training of the military forces will have in support of a conflict. Those interested in military industries and sciences know that there are entirely different ideas in many schools of weapons design and manufacturing in the East and West of the world. Putting together all these military software and hardware, preparing the crew to use and service it, and finally, networking and getting results from these army systems. Nevertheless, this issue is challenging, time-consuming, and expensive at the same time.
One: The total military personnel is 5,132000
Two: The total active forces are 1,450000
Three: The total number of planes is 2210
Four: The total number of fighters is 577
Five: The total number of tanks is 4614
Six: The total number of armored vehicles is 100,882
Seven: The total marine assets are 292
Eight: The number of submarines is 18
Nine: The number of aircraft carriers is 2
Ten: The military budget is 55 billion dollars.
This article was written by Asadullah Jafari “Pezhman” – a Translator, Columnist, and former member of the Afghan National Army. He often writes and translates on Afghanistan and the Middle East issues.
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The New Murasoli: TNM’s Shabbir Ahmed Bends Backwards To Prove Senthil Balaji Arrest Is Politically Motivated
Alleged ‘journalist’ Shabbir Ahmed of Dravidian Stockist propaganda outlet The News Minute (TNM) has gone out of his way to portray the arrest of DMK Liquor Minister Senthil Balaji as an act of revenge by the BJP which has happened just days after Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit.
The News Minute, as expected, has cried foul and their journalist, Shabbir Ahmed in this nearly 20-minute video tries to explain the details of the arrest of the minister alleging it to be a handiwork of the BJP to crackdown on political opponents.
He begins by asking the question as to why the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had to conduct the raid now, that too for a scam that happened nearly a decade ago, highlighting the AIADMK reign when it happened. He also stresses the point that the ED harassed Senthil Balaji, which has been peddled by the DMK to play victim card.
In this video, he compares the arrests of Partha Chatterjee of West Bengal with that of Senthil Balaji. He says that even though this action has come in response to the scam, he emphatically believes that there is a political angle to this arrest and that such moves were made basically to break parties and make politicians change affiliations and “move to the BJP”.
He also questions the need to arrest Senthil Balaji at midnight as the investigation was ongoing and that since he is a minister in the state cabinet, there was no risk of him fleeing.
Will Senthil Balaji Be Removed From His Position As A Minister? Asks Shabbir Worriedly
Shabbir Ahmed seemed genuinely concerned about whether Senthil Balaji will be allowed to continue as a minister post his arrest and filing of charges. He talks about the arrest of a former cabinet minister in the Kejriwal-led Delhi government, Satyendar Jain, who he said continued as a minister despite his arrest and it was only after about 14 months after the arrest that he resigned. He also speaks about Manish Sisodia, former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, and mentioned that after he was arrested, Sisodia resigned from his post. So will Senthil Balaji be able to continue as minister or will he have to resign, very sincerely worries Shabbir.
DMK Is Ready For The Next Steps Says Shabbir Confidently
Shabbir very confidently indicates that there is a political shade to the ED raids and the arrest of Senthil Balaji. He also speaks gloriously about how Senthil Balaji rose up the ranks in a very short period of time:
As soon as he joined the DMK, Senthil Balaji was made the DMK Karur District Secretary in 2019. In 2021, he was made the minister and enjoys great support in the Kongu region.
Shabbir continues to sing paeans about Senthil Balaji saying he is a powerful minister and is very close to the Chief Minister MK Stalin and that could be a reason that many were targeting him.
Shabbir also went on to add that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was looking to capture power (win seats in Tamil Nadu) and this could be possible only if Senthil Balaji was removed from the picture. He mentions that Senthil Balaji’s influence over the people and planning and strategy caused a setback to AIADMK in the recent local elections.
According to Shabbir, IT raids in general, are a way to “finish” an entire network of politicians, now again his concern for the Minister is seen as he wonders whether after this arrest, will Senthil Balaji be able to work effectively.
He says that such an attack on Senthil Balaji by the central government is a clear message to the DMK and that he was worried about how MK Stalin will handle this politically and legally.
This is not the first time Shabbir Ahmed blatantly does this, even political analyst Savukku Shankar agrees.
The Commune Mag had earlier reported on how Shabbir shamelessly justified the usurpation of a village by the Waqf board and how his ground reports on the hooch tragedy in May 2023 completely ignored the DMK connections to the incident and shifted the blame on the authorities. He doesn’t stop there – there have been many instances where he has bent backwards to prove his loyalty to the ruling dispensation in Tamil Nadu – here are some articles for you to read:
DMK D-Stock Media Cry Foul Over Tamizh Thaai Vaazhthu In Karnataka
Annamalai Wont Apologise, Takes D-Stock Media To Cleaners
Shabbir Assaulted By DMK Goons
It will be a good reminder at this juncture that the same Shabbir Ahmed was assaulted by DMK goons in 2014 while covering the elections.
It would do well for The News Minute to change its current named to The New Murasoli as they keep parroting the DMK line time and again.
(Hydra is a freelance writer and columnist.)
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