Veteran party leaders and ageing workers were felicitated on the occasion. It was also decided to give a scroll of honour to every senior party worker at their homes.
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Echoing similar sentiments, Congress leader PL Punia said that the meagre amount that was being distributed as compensation to the already suffering farmers in the drought-hit Bundelkhand region was an insult to them.”The compensation that is being provided in the drought-hit Bundelkhand region is an insult to the farmers. What kind of compensation is being provided by giving cheques of Rs.75 and Rs.100? The farmers should receive sufficient and adequate compensation, either from the state or from the central government, Punia told ANI.On Monday, the Banda District administration distributed cheques ranging from Rs.23 to Rs.100 as compensation to the farmers.The farmers went to the office of the District Magistrate and expressed their anger, shouting slogans for the dismissal of the former.The farmers also said that the amount that would be spent to encash the cheques would be more than the compensation that was given to them.
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Referring to the latest data brought out by Registrar for Newspapers in India (RNI) in the report, he said newspapers have grown at over eight per cent and a large part of it is because of growth in regional newspapers.
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The messages will also be sent to those with whom Sinha had meetings on ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ during the last 17 months, including voluntary organisations, municipal councils Chairmen, sarpanchs, college principals, hoteliers, industry captains, press personalities, real estate developers, hospital authorities, religious leaders, etc, the note added.
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The ministry’s expert panel said that even this project involves chopping down a sizeable; 14,698 trees that will show significant impact on flora and fauna of the area. The panel has thus asked for re submission of the proposal with additional details such density of forest and details of compensatory afforestation.
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Gandhi also said that she has written to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to include more than one bogey for women in metro trains. “The trains are very crowded, and with the women’s bogey being the first in a train, it is a bit difficult for them,” she said. She said that she has written to ask for three bogies in longer trains and two in smaller ones. “Another scheme I really want to see take off is free bus passes for women over 60,” she said.
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Officials told dna that they were trying to ascertain possible motives of the killer or killers. However the family of the deceased claimed that Ishwar was possessing evidence, in the form of a video clip, against some “corrupt” persons.
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He wondered if Nirupam had done a copy-and-paste work by lifting some articles he might have written for Saamna earlier.
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The DMK government had enacted a legislation in 2009 to ensure the continuance of the bull-taming sport after introducing due regulations.
MK Stalin
DMK Treasurer MK Stalin today urged the Centre and state government to remove the ban on ‘Jallikattu’ and warned that he would lead a protest unless they took steps to enable the bull-taming sport to be held during the Pongal festive season in January.”If the Centre and state don’t take steps for removing theban and hold jallikattu during the coming Pongal festival, I myself will lead a struggle against this after seeking approval from (DMK President) Kalaignar (Karunanidhi),” he said in a Facebook post.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The DMK government had enacted a legislation in 2009 to ensure the continuance of the bull-taming sport after introducing due regulations.Supreme Court had last year banned jallikattu, bull races,bull-fights and other uses of bulls in performances, but therehave been widespread demands in the state, especially in thesouthern districts, that Centre make adequate amendments to ensure that the sport is introduced again in 2016.Supporters of ‘jallikattu,’ organised to coincide with the Tamil harvest festival of Pongal, have been defending it on the grounds that it is a sport of bravery and is reflective of the local tradition. Recently, scores of celebrities, including actress Vidya Balan and India Test captain Virat Kohli, had signed a petition by an animal rights advocacy group seeking upholding of the ban on ‘jallikattu’.
In 1971, the DMK govt led by CM Karunanidhi amended the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious Endowments Act to abolish the concept of hereditary appointments which was challenged in the Supreme Court.
File Photo
Supreme Court on Wednesday said that restriction in ‘Agama Sastras’ didn’t violate the right to equality as defined by Article 14 of the Indian constitution. According to a report in The Hindu, a bench led by Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that the appointment of archakas in temples following ‘Agama Sastra’ – rituals of individual temples concerned – will continue. In 1971, the DMK govt led by CM Karunanidhi amended the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious Endowments Act to abolish the concept of hereditary appointments which was challenged in the Supreme Court. In its judgement, the Constitution bench of the apex court held that the appointments of Archakas was a ‘secular function’ and abolished ‘next-in-line succession’ appointments, but allowed appointments from a given ‘denomination, sect or group’, that had to be followed. This move was criticised because it led to priest appointments being restricted to the community of Brahmins for several decades. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>What’s Article 14 of the Indian Constitution? Equality before law The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth
As soon as messages went viral on social media claiming that “AIADMK workers” were asking NGOs and volunteers to paste “Amma” stickers over relief material, the ruling party sent across counter-messages.
Twitter
The ongoing relief work in Tamil Nadu has been shadowed by charges in social media that AIADMK workers were nudging NGOs to paste stickers of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on relief material, a claim dismissed by the ruling party as “false”.As soon as messages went viral on social media claiming that “AIADMK workers” were asking NGOs and volunteers to paste “Amma” stickers over relief material, the ruling party sent across counter-messages.It said such claims in the social media were totally false and asked volunteers to complain to party headquarters or police if at all such demands were made.”We wish to reiterate that there is no such message in any form to anyone from the party. It is evident that it was a rumour and work by unscrupulous elements to defame the party and our honourable Chief Minister,” a senior AIADMK functionary declining to be named, told PTI.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”It is a rumour, a canard spread by unscrupulous elements,” he said, adding efforts were being made to identify them. To another question, he said, “there is no need for us to insist that stickers of the CM be pasted on relief material. Our partymen are already busy discharging duties assigned to them in connection with relief work,” he said.He said there was a report of a relief-truck halted on Tiruvallur-Tiruttani Road, by some men who falsely claimed to be ruling party workers, asking them to paste “Amma” stickers and banners.Following such claims in the social media, DMK chief Karunanidhi had hit out at AIADMK “for delaying relief by many hours” so as “to paste stickers of Amma on relief materials to seek publicity.”Meanwhile, a Defence Public relations official here said Army men have been sent to Cuddalore for relief work.On reports of “logistical glitches” in relief work involving Army personnel here due to lack of coordination among State, Central agencies, he said, “Relief work is going on by the Army,” but declined to elaborate.Also Read: AIADMK asks volunteers to call and register complaints. Read full report here
Stalin participated in the meet taking a break from his pre-election campaign ‘Namakku Name’ (we for ourselves) and Karunanidhi praised him for his work.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
DMK patriarch Karunanidhi on praised party treasurer and son Stalin, while refuting claims of differences between the two.”I had said while naming him as Stalin that the name stood for iron man,” Karunanidhi said reminiscing the reason for christening his son as Stalin at a meet here which saw functionaries from Vaiko-led MDMK joining DMK.”I had said Stalin would demonstrate through his action whether he is an iron man or not and he has shaped up like Stalin (Russian leader) himself,” he said to a thunderous applause.Stalin participated in the meet taking a break from his pre-election campaign ‘Namakku Name’ (we for ourselves) and Karunanidhi praised him for his work.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”He (Stalin) has done his duty well, irrespective of rain or shine, day or night. I am doing the duty of welcoming him here not only as a father but also as party president ” he said referring to Stalin’s campaign seeking to catapult DMK to power again in next year’s Assembly election.Addressing Stalin formally in Tamil, Karunanidhi said, “He is my son after all, and if I address him formally it may seem like a gap.””No one needs to think that there is such a gap and not (try to) use it (gap) by thinking so. It is a little overboard to address him in formal terms, he is my son after all,” he said.”It is a matter of pride for me that he, who had weathered many storms in the DMK’s saga of sacrifice, participated in this meet,” he added.
Karunanidhi said it was tantamount to vesting the power to probe in the very hands of the accused.
The UN resolution shows that the union government did not take any steps over the unanimous resolution adopted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, said Jayalalithaa
Coming out strongly against a UN resolution that endorsed a domestic probe in Sri Lanka over alleged war crimes, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday expressed deep disappointment and anguish while DMK chief Karunanidhi termed it shocking. Also, both Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi blamed the Centre for not acting on a September 16 resolution of the Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking an international probe. “The resolution passed yesterday will in no way render justice to Sri Lankan Tamils. This resolution is in favour of Sri Lankan government and adversarial to Sri Lankan Tamils,” Jayalalithaa said today in a statement.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>UN Human Rights Council had yesterday adopted a resolution paving the way for a probe involving foreign judges and prosecutors into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. Although the resolution has features like participation of foreign judges it would in no way be equal to an international judicial probe, Jayalalithaa said. “This weak resolution adopted by perceiving a change of heart of the Srilankan government will not do any good to Srilankan Tamils,” she said. Blaming the Centre, Jayalalithaa said “the UN resolution shows that the union government did not take any steps over the unanimous resolution adopted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly.”Recalling writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue seeking action on the Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution, she said “however, that the Central government has not taken any positive steps over this issue has caused unhealable wound.” Tamil Nadu Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Centre to move a “strong resolution” in the UNHRC for an international probe into the alleged war crimes in the 2009 war in Sri Lanka. “I had clearly stated in the Tamil Nadu Assembly that the Indian government had the duty to prevent a resolution asking Sri Lanka itself to probe into war crimes,” she said.Also, she had pointed out that a September 1 resolution of the Srilankan Northern Provincial Council had sought an international probe. International probe was sought so as to ensure justice, to strengthen the Council’s resolution and in deference to the feelings of all Tamils, she said. Expressing shock over UN resolution, Karunanidhi said it was tantamount to vesting the power to probe in the very hands of the accused and doubted if even such a watered down version would be implemented.
(Editor’s note: This story was originally published on 22 September)
By Sandhya Ravishankar
A pink shirt, grey trousers, grey sneakers with neon green laces and shades to boot — MK Stalin, treasurer of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and possible chief ministerial candidate for Tamil Nadu in 2016, painted an incongruous picture for a Tamil politician as he kicked off his election yatra in Kanyakumari on Monday. Later in the day, he exchanged the pink shirt for a blue t-shirt, an even more astounding choice.
On Tuesday, Stalin went a step further — clad in a blue shirt and dark trousers, he rode a scooter in Ambasamudram, Tirunelveli district, leaving the locals in raptures.
Stalin has rarely been seen in trousers — his chosen attire usually is a crisply ironed white shirt and white ‘veshti’ (dhoti) with the DMK black and red colours on the border. Sometimes, during election campaigns, he sports a black and red scarf around his neck.
MK Stalin in an image released by the DMK
The last time Stalin was seen wearing trousers was in 2012 when he traveled with a contingent of DMK MPs to New York and Geneva to hand over petitions regarding the Sri Lankan war crimes issue to the United Nations Secretary-General and the United Nations Human Rights Council. On the day of his return to Chennai, huge posters had been plastered all along airport road in Chennai with a photograph of Stalin clad in a suit with the caption “Yes, we can!” plastered on the banner.
So why the sudden change in look?
Sources within Stalin’s camp tell Firstpost that this is a deliberate move to woo the young voters in the state. “Well, the idea is to break the ice first with the people,” said the source close to Stalin, adding, “He doesn’t want to be seen as a politician, he is going there to hear their issues and get inputs for the DMK’s manifesto. For that, he has to be seen as one among them, a common man.”
A video released by Stalin’s team shows him exhorting the people of Tamil Nadu to outrage. “Kobappadungal (Get angry),” roars Stalin in the video where he is shown walking along the sea. The video showcases the key election issues through letters written to Stalin by the people — unemployment, power cuts, water shortage, alcoholism and rising prices among others. This video will be shown on vans bearing LED screens as he continues on his yatra.
There is a growing understanding within the DMK that the electorate of Tamil Nadu has changed along with the demographics of age and aspirations. 60 lakh first-time voters will ink their fingers in 2016. A large proportion of the electorate next year will be millennials. “The current electorate seeks answers and is much more proactive,” said the source and added, “They want to know how their leader will change things for them.”
This realisation dawned on Stalin’s team following the upheaval created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign in 2013-14. And it is probably with this in mind that Stalin has shifted gears in his electoral campaign that kicked off early in September on his ‘Mudiyattum Vidiyattum’ (Let it end, let it dawn) public rallies. In a public meeting at Tirupur last month, Stalin spoke of change and solutions, getting rid of the usual J Jayalalithaa-bashing rhetoric that has thus far dominated Dravidian politics. Exhorting youngsters to join politics, Stalin outlined specifically how he would change things if the DMK was brought back to power in 2016.
“There are 85 lakh youngsters in the waiting list at the state Employment Exchange,” said Stalin at the rally in Tirupur earlier this month. “I give an assurance to all youngsters of Tamil Nadu that we will create incubation centres to bring in new industries in the state. We will revamp the Employment Exchange itself and bring in private companies, conduct group discussions to ensure employment opportunities for our youth,” he said.
Specifics of this nature are a first for the Karunanidhi-led DMK, a party widely seen as being steeped in corruption and dynastic politics. Stalin’s father M Karunanidhi preferred to issue statements against his political rivals, whether MG Ramachandran or Jayalalithaa of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. If all else failed, Karuna would take the freebie route, promising free colour TVs and playing the caste card. His rival and current Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa too prefers to issue statements decrying Karunanidhi’s moves and motives. Many years have passed since either of these two prominent Tamil politicians walked the dusty roads of the state or mingled with the common man or woman.
Stalin on the other hand, is walking his talk so far. He has been riding autorickshaws, walking in market areas and his team says he will also ride a bicycle as he continues on his ‘Namakku Naame’ yatra across the state. He is kissing babies, shaking hands with bus drivers and students, posing for photographs with elderly vegetable vendors and sipping tea at local chai shops with the locals.
For Stalin, this routine could well be the only option to take on Jayalalithaa in 2016. A discredited and weakened DMK with a nonagenarian leader faces a tough challenge from the rival Dravidian behemoth, the AIADMK, which has been rolling out freebies and welfare schemes with abandon. A personality battle with Jaya would severely backfire on Stalin. Speaking of development, change, aspirations and a connect with young voters is likely to work better for 2016. Stalin’s team has decided that Jayalalithaa’s larger-than-life image can only be countered by a politician who is seen as accessible, approachable and likeable by the masses.
A pink shirt, grey trousers, grey sneakers with neon green laces and shades to boot — MK Stalin, treasurer of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and possible chief ministerial candidate for Tamil Nadu in 2016, painted an incongruous picture for a Tamil politician as he kicked off his election yatra in Kanyakumari on Monday. Later in the day, he exchanged the pink shirt for a blue t-shirt, an even more astounding choice.
On Tuesday, Stalin went a step further — clad in a blue shirt and dark trousers, he rode a scooter in Ambasamudram, Tirunelveli district, leaving the locals in raptures.
Stalin has rarely been seen in trousers — his chosen attire usually is a crisply ironed white shirt and white ‘veshti’ (dhoti) with the DMK black and red colours on the border. Sometimes, during election campaigns, he sports a black and red scarf around his neck.
MK Stalin in an image released by the DMK
The last time Stalin was seen wearing trousers was in 2012 when he traveled with a contingent of DMK MPs to New York and Geneva to hand over petitions regarding the Sri Lankan war crimes issue to the United Nations Secretary-General and the United Nations Human Rights Council. On the day of his return to Chennai, huge posters had been plastered all along airport road in Chennai with a photograph of Stalin clad in a suit with the caption “Yes, we can!” plastered on the banner.
So why the sudden change in look?
Sources within Stalin’s camp tell Firstpost that this is a deliberate move to woo the young voters in the state. “Well, the idea is to break the ice first with the people,” said the source close to Stalin, adding, “He doesn’t want to be seen as a politician, he is going there to hear their issues and get inputs for the DMK’s manifesto. For that, he has to be seen as one among them, a common man.”
A video released by Stalin’s team shows him exhorting the people of Tamil Nadu to outrage. “Kobappadungal (Get angry),” roars Stalin in the video where he is shown walking along the sea. The video showcases the key election issues through letters written to Stalin by the people — unemployment, power cuts, water shortage, alcoholism and rising prices among others. This video will be shown on vans bearing LED screens as he continues on his yatra.
There is a growing understanding within the DMK that the electorate of Tamil Nadu has changed along with the demographics of age and aspirations. 60 lakh first-time voters will ink their fingers in 2016. A large proportion of the electorate next year will be millennials. “The current electorate seeks answers and is much more proactive,” said the source and added, “They want to know how their leader will change things for them.”
This realisation dawned on Stalin’s team following the upheaval created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign in 2013-14. And it is probably with this in mind that Stalin has shifted gears in his electoral campaign that kicked off early in September on his ‘Mudiyattum Vidiyattum’ (Let it end, let it dawn) public rallies. In a public meeting at Tirupur last month, Stalin spoke of change and solutions, getting rid of the usual J Jayalalithaa-bashing rhetoric that has thus far dominated Dravidian politics. Exhorting youngsters to join politics, Stalin outlined specifically how he would change things if the DMK was brought back to power in 2016.
“There are 85 lakh youngsters in the waiting list at the state Employment Exchange,” said Stalin at the rally in Tirupur earlier this month. “I give an assurance to all youngsters of Tamil Nadu that we will create incubation centres to bring in new industries in the state. We will revamp the Employment Exchange itself and bring in private companies, conduct group discussions to ensure employment opportunities for our youth,” he said.
Specifics of this nature are a first for the Karunanidhi-led DMK, a party widely seen as being steeped in corruption and dynastic politics. Stalin’s father M Karunanidhi preferred to issue statements against his political rivals, whether MG Ramachandran or Jayalalithaa of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. If all else failed, Karuna would take the freebie route, promising free colour TVs and playing the caste card. His rival and current Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa too prefers to issue statements decrying Karunanidhi’s moves and motives. Many years have passed since either of these two prominent Tamil politicians walked the dusty roads of the state or mingled with the common man or woman.
Stalin on the other hand, is walking his talk so far. He has been riding autorickshaws, walking in market areas and his team says he will also ride a bicycle as he continues on his ‘Namakku Naame’ yatra across the state. He is kissing babies, shaking hands with bus drivers and students, posing for photographs with elderly vegetable vendors and sipping tea at local chai shops with the locals.
For Stalin, this routine could well be the only option to take on Jayalalithaa in 2016. A discredited and weakened DMK with a nonagenarian leader faces a tough challenge from the rival Dravidian behemoth, the AIADMK, which has been rolling out freebies and welfare schemes with abandon. A personality battle with Jaya would severely backfire on Stalin. Speaking of development, change, aspirations and a connect with young voters is likely to work better for 2016. Stalin’s team has decided that Jayalalithaa’s larger-than-life image can only be countered by a politician who is seen as accessible, approachable and likeable by the masses.
Karunandhi has stated that Tamil is a language spoken by over 80 million people and thus imperative to have a chair at Harvard states the report.
M Karunanidhi
Harvard University has approved the request of two NRI Tamil doctors, Janakiraman and Thirugnanasambandam, to set up a Tamil chair. According to a report in The Hindu, DMK leader M Karunanidhi now wants the state government to help them set it up.Apparently, the cost of setting up the Tamil chair at Harvard is US$ 6 million. Janakiraman and Thirugnanasambandam will be contributing US$ 1 million but the remaining US$5 million needs to be raised. They have reached out to the Tamil community in the United States to raise the funds.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Karunandhi has stated that Tamil is a language spoken by over 80 million people and thus imperative to have a chair at Harvard states the report.
A day after DMK chief Karunanidhi said steps would be taken for imposing prohibition in Tamil Nadu if his party was voted to power, PMK and BJP on Tuesday lashed out at that party for lifting the ban while in power and accused it of “ruining” generations.
A day after DMK chief Karunanidhi said steps would be taken for imposing prohibition in Tamil Nadu if his party was voted to power, PMK and BJP on Tuesday lashed out at that party for lifting the ban while in power and accused it of “ruining” generations.PMK chief Ramadoss, in a scathing attack, alleged that Karunanidhi chose to voice support for prohibition eyeing the assembly elections scheduled for next year.”The obvious reason (for making the proposal) is that elections are coming in eight months,” he said, adding, “it sounded like an appeal for clemency to me.”.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”It was Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) who scrapped the total prohibition that was in vogue since 1948 and led Tamil Nadu to the present appalling situation,” he said.Toeing a similar line, BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan said, “It is surprising, he did not bring in prohibition while in power and now says that he will try to do it if voted to power.” She wanted to know if Karunanidhi”s demand for prohibition was linked to “polls or for the betterment of the people.”The PMK chief recalled that when Karunanidhi decided to scrap prohibition in 1971, a ”shocked Rajaji”(veteran Congress leader C Rajagopalachari) “begged” with the DMK leader, then Chief Minister, not to do so.”I remember vividly that Kalaignar not only rejected his request but made a mockery of him by saying ”he met me with a recommendation” and went ahead to remove prohibition.When a whole generation of Tamil Nadu lived without smelling alcohol, it was Kalaignar who introduced them to liquor and ruined them and their generations,” Ramadoss said in a statement.The BJP unit chief also mocked at the DMK supremo saying, “Karunanidhi is also in a stage (now) to seek apology for creating a society of chronic drinkers.” “Karunanidhi”s opinion (supporting prohibition) is correct, however, there is suspicion as he has said this all of a sudden,” she said. BJP would intensify initiatives like protests to press for prohibition, she added.Recalling PMK”s efforts seeking dry days, Ramadoss accused Karunanidhi of not implementing an assurance given to his party that prohibition would be in place in stages.”If Kalaignar has true commitment, let him first close the alcohol manufacturing units of DMK men then talk about prohibition,” he said, adding “the people will not believe Karunanidhi”s words.”On Monday, Karunanidhi had said for the first time in several decades that steps will be taken for imposing prohibition to ensure social change and betterment.
PR Sundaram, Lok Sabha MP representing this Namakkal constituency, made the remarks while addressing a public meeting in Raspuram on Sunday night.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
A ruling AIADMK MP has stoked a controversy by threatening to “cut-off” the tongue of anyone who raises questions about the health of party supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.PR Sundaram, Lok Sabha MP representing this Namakkal constituency, made the remarks while addressing a public meeting in Raspuram on Sunday night. Sundaram, a former two-time MLA, also took a swipe at Jayalalithaa’s arch rival and DMK President M Karunanidhi, who had originally raised the issue of the Chief Minister”s health and asked her to take rest.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”The tongue of anyone who talks about Amma”s health will be cut off,” Sundaram threatened amidst loud cheers from the crowd. He also took a dig at Karunanidhi, saying he was already 93 and that the DMK President had a ‘desire’ to live till 100 years.The DMK chief had at a public meeting earlier this month said, “Tamil Nadu is a state without a Chief Minister, she is not doing her job since she is not well and that is why she should take rest.”The reference was to the AIADMK supremo skipping the Iftar event hosted by the party here on July 1 in which several prominent Muslims participated.”I am unable to come to the Iftar party due to a sudden illness though it is my wish to participate in it (organised by AIADMK) as usual,” Jayalalithaa had said in her address at the Iftar party which was read out by Finance Minister and party treasurer O Panneerselvam.TNCC President EVKS Elangovan had also raised the issue, saying he was ”worried” about Jayalalithaa’s health. However, the Chief Minister had turned up at the Secretariat on July 16 to attend a series of official events.Earlier today, Jayalalithaa chaired a meeting of her cabinet while also addressing her party’s MPs ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament starting Tuesday.
After Jayalalithaa claimed that Tamil Nadu’s “electricity needs have been fulfilled,” Karunanidhi had asked her to answer the people over charges of irregularities in TANGEDCO.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
Hitting out at DMK chief Karunanidhi seeking reply from Chief Minister Jayalalithaa over alleged irregularities in State-run power entity TANGEDCO, Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Natham R Viswanathan on Saturday said his charges were “false and strongly condemnable.””The statement of DMK chief Karunanidhi is false, and strongly condemnable,” he said.After Jayalalithaa claimed that Tamil Nadu’s “electricity needs have been fulfilled,” Karunanidhi had asked her to answer the people over charges of irregularities in TANGEDCO.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The DMK chief had cited media reports over a writ plea in the Madras High Court over allegations of irregularities and scam in the power corporation. He had said “it will only be appropriate for her to come forward to answer the people on such allegations, besides answering the court.”In reference to this, Viswanathan noted that the court was yet to decide if the plea was maintainable at all. The Minister said, “when that is the case, Karunanidhi’s statement based on media reports is false and condemnable.” He said some sections of the media had reported “as if the court had agreed with the claims found in the plea.”Such reports had given an impression “as if the court had pointed out wrong doings concurring with the claims” in the writ plea, he said and added that the petitioner happened to be a man against whom TANGEDCO had taken disciplinary action.
While the minimum fare is Rs 10, the maximum is Rs 40 for a 10 kilometre stretch between Alandur and Koyambedu.
PTI
A day after the launch of the Metrotrain service here, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today urged the Tamil Nadu government and rail authorities to reduce the fares.”On behalf of the DMK which started work for the Metro project during its regime, I urge the Tamil Nadu government and Metro authorities to reduce the fares,” he said.The DMK chief said the authorities should see to it that there were no deficiencies in the project, implemented for the people’s welfare. “The Tamil Nadu government and Metro Rail authorities should see the spending power of the people for travel and accordingly cut down the fare,” he said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>While the minimum fare is Rs 10, the maximum is Rs 40 for a 10 kilometre stretch between Alandur and Koyambedu.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa launched the Chennai Metro Rail train services here yesterday.The 45 km Metro Rail project is estimated to cost Rs 14,600 crore and would cover two routes– the 23.085 km Wannarapet to Airport section– and the 21.961 km stretch from Chennai Central to St.Thomas Mount.Congress and PMK have already strongly criticized the fare and have demanded a downward revision.
DMK supremo Karunanidhi asks party MPs to donate salary as contribution towards relief fund.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi
Extending a helping hand to the victims of quake-hit Nepal, DMK today asked its MLAs and MPs to donate their one month’s salary towards the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.Party chief M Karunanidhi pointed out at the devastation caused by the earthquake and the subsequent suffering of the survivors, and referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance of India’s help to the Himalayan country.”There are reports that MPs are going to contribute their one month’s salary towards relief fund. In line with this, the DMK MLAs and Rajya Sabha MPs should also contribute their one month’s salary,” for this purpose, he said in a statement.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>DMK has 23 MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and four Rajya Sabha MPs.Over 5000 persons have been killed in the earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday.
Agency also includes Sharad Kumar, former MD of Kalaignar TV, in the probe for alleged cover-up
The 2G scam is coming back to haunt Kanimozhi, daughter of DMK Chief M Karunanidhi; Sharad Kumar, former MD of Kalaignar TV; and, Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer Jaffer Sait.Of the three, Sait is the only one who is not an accused in the scam.On Monday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought the Supreme Court’s permission to register a fresh FIR (First Information Report) against the trio’s attempt to cover up the scam”.Without naming any accused, senior advocate K K Venugopal, the CBI counsel, submitted a status report in a sealed cover before the bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”The agency has obtained audio tapes in which the conversations among the accused were recorded and its authenticity has been verified,” the counsel said.”All persons involved in the conversation are accused in the 2G case and several offences under Sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 193 (giving false evidence, 201 (destruction of evidence), 465 (forgery), 467 (forgery in valuable security) are made out against them,” the senior counsel, who read a portion of the report, told the bench.”We want to lodge a new FIR for further investigation against the existing accused. The fresh FIR would be in addition to the offences already committed by the same persons,” he said.The status report was prepared apparently on the application filed by Prashant Bhushan, counsel for petitioner NGO – Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) – in the 2G case. He had alleged that recorded conversations exposed the role of Karunanidhi’s family and an IPS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre in the cover-up attempt.Bhushan relied upon the inquiry conducted by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and said the conversations were between Kanimozhi, then Tamil Nadu chief of Intelligence Jaffer Sait, Karunanidhi’s then secretary M Shanmuganathan, Sharad Kumar (a 2G accused and MD of Kalaignar TV between November 23, 2010, and February 16, 2011.According to the CBI’s April 25, 2011 charge sheet, Kalaignar TV (in which equities are held by Kanimozhi , Sharad Kumar and Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Amaal) received bribes of more than Rs 200 crore from Dynamix Realty (part of the DB Group) through a “circuitous route”.Shahid Balwa, whose company (Swan Telecom) eventually got some of the 2G spectrum licence, was behind DB Group as well.As a cover-up, the alleged bribe of more than Rs 200 crore was shown as unsecured loan in the books of Kalaignar TV, which started showing a refund of this amount with interest to Dynamix Realty through Cineyug Films and Kusegaon F&V.Bhushan alleged that the whole story of loan and its return was a dubious cover-up. Backdated documents were prepared by Sharad Kumar to show this loan. This so-called return of loan was arranged by getting illicit money from other companies, which was shown as advance advertising fee to Kalaignar TV and M Karunanidhi was fully in the know and involved in the cover-up, he alleged.In one of the conversations, Kumar had discussed with Sait as to how he had received information from Cineyug Films about the impending moves of the CBI to arrest people in connection with Kalaignar TV.They also discussed how Kumar manipulated records and antedated more than 100 pages of documents and continued to manipulate records in anticipation of CBI queries.Seeking a thorough investigation, Bhushan said that the acts of Kumar and Sait warrant a complete probe as to how documents were manipulated in the 2G scam to save Kalaignar TV and Karunanidhi’s family.The court has fixed April 30 for further hearing.
Chennai: Joining forces with anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Sunday said his party would be with him in protests against the “draconian” Land Bill in the “national interest.”
The DMK chief who presided over a rally against the Bill here on March 20, in a letter to Hazare, said his “party’s stout opposition to the Bill will continue till the last.”
DMK chief M Karunanidhi. PTI
Replying to a letter of the social activist, who wanted DMK to protest against the Bill and force the Centre to start thinking about farmers, Karunanidhi recalled the rationale articulated by Hazare for opposing the Bill.
“You have raised six important points on the Bill which require very serious attention of all political parties in India,” he said.
“As you have rightly described, the Bill passed in Parliament is really draconian,” he added.
Absence of land survey since Independence, need for a law to prevent conveying fertile land for industrial activities, need to retain a clause enjoining farmers’ consent for private and public private partnership projects were raised by Hazare.
The social activist had also said the provision to carry out a Social Impact Assessment as in the 2013 Land Act should stay like the farmers’ consent clause, the DMK chief said.
Including private hospitals in the list of exemptions cannot be termed as being in the national interest, he said quoting Hazare.
Removing a provision that facilitates re-conveyance of unused acquired land was also highly objectionable.
Taking away a provision (in the Amendment Bill) that disallowed change of productive land with crops for use other than agriculture was also against national interest.
While DMK held state-wide protests against the Bill on March 20, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa had said that her party voted for it in the Lok Sabha as it was in the national interest.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Sunday asked the Centre to request Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to advise his Navy on the recent attacks on Indian fishermen and said such incidents may harm relations between the two countries.
M Karunanidhi
File Photo
The latest incident in which the Lankan Navy attacked some fishermen from Rameswaram fishing near Katchatheevu “has deeply saddened us”, Karunanidhi said in a statement. Stating that the incident had occurred the same day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was meeting Tamils in the island nation, he said more than 30 Sri Lankan Navy personnel came in five boats, attacked the fishermen and damaged fishing equipment. “Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President try to solve the issue through talks, such attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy will cause strains on the relations between the two countries,” he said. “India should urge the Sri Lankan President to advice the Navy personnel in order to reach a solution in this issue,” he said. Also Read: Sri Lanka to release 86 fishermen ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit
The biggest proponent of using Hindi in the Narendra Modi government is Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Be it the United States or Japan, the Prime Minister has spoken in the official language wherever he has travelled. And his government had suggested within weeks of taking oath that Hindi be used as much as possible in official documents. And what PM Modi wants, PM Modi gets.
So, to inculcate the habit of using Hindi among its bureaucrats, the Home Ministry has prepared a list of Hindi translations of English terms that are used by the babus.
Representational image. AFP
According to The Economic Times, “There are 41 phrases in the note, all of them Hindi versions of standard babu English. Examples include ‘as proposed’, ‘issue today’, ‘it is a matter of regret that’, ‘please discuss’, ‘question does not arise’ and ‘urgent attention must be given please’.”
The final decision on the list was taken during a meeting chaired by Home Secretary LA Goyal last Friday.
The Economic Times quoted a senior ministry official as saying, “We already give our comments in Hindi on files which originate in Hindi. Now, we have been advised if we can also try and write our comments in Hindi on all files so that the percentage of Hindi usage goes up. It is not a direction but only an advice to use Hindi more in official communication in terms of file notings.”
The Centre, earlier in January, had given a directive for more use of Hindi during interactions in social media as well.
However, the government’s move to promote Hindi in social media and official work had not gone down well with everyone. Leaders like Karunanidhi, Jayalalithaa and Brinda Karat had criticised the move.
CPM leader Brinda Karat had opposed any move to impose Hindi, while in the Odisha Assembly a member’s attempt to put a question in Hindi was disallowed by the chair.
Shooting off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jayalalithaa had described the home ministry’s proposal as “against the letter and spirit” of the Official Languages Act, 1963, and said the “highly sensitive issue” caused “disquiet” to the people of Tamil Nadu “who are very proud of and passionate about their linguistic heritage”.
DMK president M Karunanidhi, whose party had successfully led the anti-Hindi agitation in 1960s, had dubbed the move as a beginning of “imposition of Hindi” that would make non-Hindi speaking people second class citizens.
The Centre’s move also found no favour with two of its Tamil Nadu allies also, with both PMK and MDMK opposing it.
DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi was today re-elected as party President for the 11th time in a row by the newly constituted general council. Karunanidhi had during the Lok Sabha poll campaign last year indicated that it could be his last electoral campaign and the election is significant for him as he is now tasked with the responsibility of steering the party for the next five years. Karunanidhi was first elected as president on July 27, 1969 after the demise of DMK founder C N Annadurai. The post was created for the first time since the party was founded in 1949.K Anbazhagan and Karunanidhi’s son M K Stalin were also re-elected as General Secretary and Treasurer respectively.Four audit committee members were constituted to oversee management of party funds.Days ahead of the elections, Stalin dismissed reports as malicious in some sections of media that he was not allowed to contest for the post of General Secretary and that he had offered to quit from his post of Treasurer. The elections to the top posts of President, General Secretary and Treasurer marks the culmination of the 14th organisational elections in the DMK.Despite witnessing a lean phase since the 2011 Assembly elections when it faced rout followed by another drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections last year, the party elections saw active participation of about 85 lakh party men. As part of measures to strengthen the party, the adminstrative structure of the party at the district level was revamped. District secretaries are powerful in the DMK and the structure was revamped to make it broad based and more accountable.The 35 party districts were reorganised as 65 districts and elections were completed in 60 such districts barring regions falling under Salem and Erode. Introduction of a new layer of party units at town panchayats, an intermediary level between branch and union was another important feature of the organisational polls.
Dismissing as ‘malicious’ reports that he had offered to quit as party treasurer, DMK leader MK Stalin today affirmed that he was seeking re-election as party treasurer. Media reports today claimed that Stalin had offered to quit as he was “not allowed” by Karunanidhi to contest for the post of general secretary, a post being held by veteran leader and former Finance Minister K Anbazhagan.Stalin dismissed such reports as malicious rumours. “I condemn this strongly and deny such reports completely. Somebody has spread such rumours with malicious intent,” he told reporters. “I would like to state categorically that this has been done deliberately to create confusion among party ranks,” he added. He also clarified that party district secretaries, including J Anbazhagan had called on him to take his signature for filing papers to the post of treasurer.The visits of party functionaries with Stalin were “used to fuel speculation” by vested interests, a DMK senior leader who declined to be named said. On the demand for a larger role for Stalin by his supporters, he said it was true that they would like to see him go to the top of the party’s organisational pyramid.”The post, however, does not matter. For all practical purposes, he is steering the party and is it not perceptible?” he asked. Though active, Karunanidhi is 91 years old and his peer Anbazhagan is older than him and Stalin was giving DMK the much needed “tactical political direction,” he added. “Be it the process of finalising candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, deciding the party’s electoral strategy or the present organisational polls, you can see his mark everywhere,” the DMK leader said.He pointed out that a sizable chunk of party workers, including district Secretaries like J Anbazhagan and P K Sekar Babu who have been elected in the ongoing 14th party organisational polls are loyalists of Stalin.On the drubbing in the last year Lok Sabha polls the campaign for which was strategised by Stalin, the leader said such electoral losses “cannot diminish his leadership value and skills.” “Victories and defeats are common in any democracy. You need to see his performance holistically,” he said.Meanwhile, expelled DMK leader and elder son of Karunanidhi, MK Alagiri told reporters at the airport here today that he would join the party “if it reformed itself.” Asked to be explicit, he used a Tamil saying which meant that “certain things cannot be ended unless the one who commits it reforms himself and decides to not do it.” He reiterated his charge that there was “no democracy” in the DMK.Top leaders Karunanidhi, Anbazhagan and Stalin are all set to be re-elected as president, General Secretary and treasurer at the party’s general council meet here on January 9.Elections to the top posts will mark the end of the organisational polls in the DMK.
MK. Stalin, the DMK treasurer and son of party president M. Karunanidhi, has offered to give up his post as his supporters want him to replace the former as the party president.According to reports, the decision comes in the backdrop of demands by his supporters for larger role for Stalin. Stalin, who is currently the treasurer, wanted the post of the DMK General Secretary, which is held by K Anbazhagan, but he was asked to continue as the treasurer.The filing of nominations for the post of DMK’s president, general secretary, treasurer and four audit committee members will take place on January 7. Earlier, in May 2014 Stalin had offered to give up his party post following the party’s rout in the Lok Sabha polls.The run-up to the Lok Sabha election saw a bitter fight in the party’s first family, leading to the dismissal of Stalin’s elder brother MK. Alagiri, the DMK south zone organising secretary.Founded in 1949, the DMK is one of India’s oldest parties.
