Tamil Nadu

Fake news

The DMK Working President met the Chennai commissioner along with copies of the fake tweets and TV grabs.

The Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu and DMK Working President MK Stalin has met the Chennai police commissioner AK Vishwanathan and filed a police complaint regarding the fake tweets being attributed to him. In his complaint, Stalin says, “Of late, anti social elements have created a fake account that looks just like my Twitter account. They have made it look like I have given opinions that I had not given, in a manner so as to sow division in Tamil society. They have created fake posts and are posting it on WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media channels.” He goes on to say, “Those who are politically opposed to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) and me, those who wish to sully my reputation, those who wish to bring disrepute to the DMK, those who wish to ruin the peace in society, those who have bad intentions are indulging in these mischievous acts.” Fake tweet that says, "Those go to temples need not vote for DMK; if we need to win with the help of voters who go to temples, we don't need such a victory" “These anti-social elements who created fake news have also made it look like the opinions I have not expressed have come out in televisions and media houses; and they are spreading it,” he adds. Stalin attached copies of the fake tweets and TV grabs his letter in order for law enforcement to be able to take swift action with regard to the issue. He met the Commissioner along with DMK’s Organisational Secretary RS Bharathi and the party’s legal advisor NR Elango. Fake TV grab that 'reports' on his 'tweet' Stalin also pointed out mischievous acts like these are punishable offences as per the Section 66(A) of the IT Act as well as the Indian Penal Code. Earlier this month, BJP National Secretary H Raja had used a fake picture of a couple kissing, claiming it was at IIT-Madras, in order to hit out at Stalin for his stance on a Sanskrit song being played at the campus.

Theni Forest Fire

Jayasree had been on ventilator support since March 16, according to the hospital.

TNM Staff

Nearly two weeks after the Kurangani forest fires that raged through the hills in Theni burning trekkers to death on March 11, the death toll has climbed to 19. Sai Vasumathi, 26, succumbed to her injuries at Grace Kennet Hospital in the wee hours of Friday morning. She had suffered 56 percent burns. On Thursday, Jayasree, 32, succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital in Coimbatore. A statement from the private hospital read, “We undertook resuscitation efforts with intravenous fluids and wound care. She had full involvement of face, neck, both hands, chest, back, both thighs and right leg. She also had burn injury to the lungs due to inhalation of hot fumes.” Jayasree had been on ventilator support from March 16, according to the hospital. However, she died at around 10 am on Thursday. After battling for his life last week, Kannan, a native of Erode, succumbed to his burn injuries at the Government Hospital in Madurai. He had traveled with newly weds Divya and Vivek and another friend Thamilchelvan from Erode for the Kurangani trek. While Vivek and Thamilchelvan were killed on the spot on Sunday, Divya succumbed to her injuries in hospital. For all four, the Kurangini trip was their first trek. Also read: How the Theni forest fire gave a tragic end to the love story of these newly-weds Anu Vidhya, a 25-year-old trekker from Chennai, also passed away on Thursday after sustaining 80% burn injuries. An avid trekker, she was hoping to be the first vegan to scale Mount Everest. According to the Forest Department, the 39 trekkers, who were trapped in the fire, came in two groups. While Tour De India Holidays led by Prabhu organised a trek for 12 people from Erode, the Chennai Trekkers Club (CTC) had 27 persons for the two-day trek at Kurangani forest. All four organisers of the Chennai Trekking Club were killed in the fire. The Theni police have arrested Prabhu, who organised the Erode trek as part of Tour De India Holidays, and booked him for causing death due to negligence and trespassing into a reserved area. The police is also on the lookout for for Peter Van Geit who founded the Chennai Trekking Club.

Strike

There will, however, be no new Tamil films released as the strike by the Producers’ Council still continues.

TNM Staff

Striking theatre owners in the state decided to call off their indefinite strike on Thursday over local body taxes. The strike by theatres excluding those in Chennai, began on March 16. Theatre owners met Tamil Nadu Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju and Minister for Commercial Taxes KC Veeramani on Thursday for talks regarding their predicament. The government reportedly assured them help, following which the theatre owners decided to call off their strike. Speaking to media persons outside Fort St George, Abirami Ramanathan, who represented the theatre owners said, "CM already called all theatre owners and spoke to us. Based on that petition, today, Ministers and authorities conducted a joint discussion with us. They have given many assurances. Based on those assurances, we are informing that all theatres in Tamil Nadu will operate from tomorrow. While multiplexes in Chennai did not participate in the strike, several B and C centres, especially outside Chennai took part in the strike. With the ongoing standoff between Tamil film producers and Digital Service Providers (DSPs) in the state, these theatre owners were hit badly as no new Tamil films released from March 1. TNFEA had earlier put forth a 4-point resolution to the Tamil Nadu government. This includes completely removing the 8% local body tax, allowing flexibility in reducing the number of seats in the auditorium, making the license renewal period from 3 years to 1 year, and revising theatre maintenance charges from Re 1 per ticket to Rs 5. In October last year, the film industry had strongly objected to the Tamil Nadu government's order levying entertainment tax on the exhibition of movies in theatres. Under the order, 10% tax was levied on Tamil language movies and 20% tax on movies in other languages, over and above the GST. In July, following protests and a refusal from the Tamil Film Producers' Council to screen any films over the 'exorbitant tax', ticket prices had been revised across Tamil Nadu. Also read: Exclusive: Actor Vishal says no question of paying VPF, indefinite strike to continue

Crime

“The hotel employee apparently brought Mathavan a non-vegetarian dish instead of the vegetarian dish that he had ordered,” an investigating official told TNM.

Priyanka Thirumurthy

A waiter who served the wrong dish to a drunk customer at a hotel in Kelambakkam got a death scare on Tuesday night when the customer decided to fire a gun at him in a fit of rage. The customer was a lawyer from Madurai and, according to the police, he was enraged that the waiter brought him a meat dish whereas he had ordered a vegetarian dish. The bullet missed the employee of the CC Residency Hotel in Kelambakkam. The lawyer, identified as Mathavan, was arrested under the Arms Act on Wednesday. “The hotel employee apparently brought Mathavan a non-vegetarian dish instead of the vegetarian dish that he had ordered,” an investigating official told TNM. The order was placed at 11 pm and when the advocate pointed out the mistake, the staffer is said to have apologised for it. That, however, did not stop the lawyer from assaulting him. “Mathavan started fighting with the employee and then went on to thrash him. He first threatened him at gunpoint and then finally fired his gun at the employee,” the investigating official added. The bullet reportedly missed the hotel employee and pierced the windshield of a car parked nearby, damaging the vehicle. The hotel staffer was not injured and one of the other employees managed to alert the police. The Kelambakkam police then reached the spot and seized the revolver and four bullets from the advocate. “He was under the influence of alcohol and was with someone. The gun he had with him was a licensed one,” the officer confirmed. “It looks like he attacked the staff despite the apology because of his inebriated condition.” According to reports, the advocate is a resident of Anna Nagar in Madurai and a native of Tirunelveli. He reportedly possessed an identity card issued by the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court bar council. While reports said that he had ordered a meat dish and was served vegetarian food instead, the investigating officials confirmed to TNM that it was the other way around. “We have booked him under the Arms Act and he is now behind bars,” the investigating official said.

Politics

Speaking to TNM, the MKIK (People's Art and Literary Association) said that they made the viral song to combat BJP's communal agenda in Tamil Nadu.

TNM Staff

Screenshot/Facebook

The Rama Rajya Ratha Yatra, which commenced from Ayodhya on February 13, entered Tamil Nadu on Tuesday and met with stiff opposition from political parties in the state. This, even as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami defended the government’s decision to permit the yatra, impose Section 144 in Tirunelveli and make a number of arrests as preventive detention. The opposition parties questioned the government’s stance and claimed that the yatra was an attempt to spread saffron terror in the state. A viral video uploaded on a Facebook page has singer Kovan, a member of the Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam (People’s Art and Literary Association), taking on the yatra and also criticising the Modi government. In the video, Kovan and a group of folk artists start by asking, “Where are you holding your rath yatra?” They go on to add, “This will be the last yatra for Rama rajya.” Equating the Modi rule with the rule of Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana who is worshiped by Hindus as an avatar of Vishnu, the artists sing, “Rama rajya is Modi rajya, even if you are an Aryan stooge, your destruction is for sure.” Showing visuals of the rath yatra, Kovan and troupe sing, “Rama ruled with a pair of slippers in the Ramayana, Modi’s slippers are ruling Tamil Nadu.” This is a reference to an allegation levelled at the AIADMK government which is seen by many as a puppet in the hands of the BJP. Making a cheeky comparison to Rama’s abandonment of Sita with Narendra Modi leaving his wife Jashodaben, they sing, “He ostracised his wife in the Ramayana, it is so apt… oh, I don’t mean Modi!” The singers then go on to say, “Rama brought back Sita and that’s the Ramayana, that was his wife, why should I celebrate?” This is followed by lines that will hit home immediately in the state which harbours simmering resentment over the Centre’s stance in the Cauvery river dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka: “Our Cauvery is also a woman and she must come home. But you’re the one who has kidnapped her and we need to bring her back.” Showing a dancing shot of Jaggi Vasudev, who is among the “spiritual gurus” who are considered to be pro-Hindutva by critics, Kovan and the singers continue, “Gujarat model is Rama Rajyam. No water, no schools, a total zero. It belongs to Adani and Ambani. And the innocent Hindus have cow urine in their mouth.” While several people have liked and shared the video, congratulating the team for their efforts, others have slammed them for targeting the rath yatra. Singer Kovan is not new to controversy. In October 2015, he was arrested by the police on charges of sedition, attempt to create enmity between social groups, and sale of defamatory material. The reason was a viral song which took on the government-run alcohol shops in the state and made references to the then CM of the state, Jayalalithaa. His arrest was slammed by human rights organisations, social activists, political parties and student bodies at the time. Speaking to TNM, Kaliappan, the state joint secretary of the MKIK, who was the first accused in the 2015 case, says, “First, the BJP is targeting the democratic and secular culture of Tamil Nadu. It is in this context that we wanted to expose their intentions behind the yatra. Second, they say India is one country and has one culture, but in the Cauvery issue, they have deliberately stopped Tamil Nadu’s rights – the Centre, particularly the Modi government. On the one hand, they deny Tamil Nadu its rights and on the other hand, they want to bring their communal politics here.” Kaliappan adds that the song was made and performed in just one day. Asked if the MKIK feels that the government will be tolerant to criticism, considering the sedition charges filed in the past, Kaliappan says, “We’re ready to face whatever comes.” You can watch the video here.

INX Media Case

He has been asked to furnish a bond of Rs 10 lakh.

TNM Staff

Karti Chidambaram, son of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram was granted conditional bail by the Delhi High Court on Friday in the INX Media Case. According to ANI, he cannot close bank accounts, influence witnesses or leave the country. Karti has to furnish a bond of Rs 10 lakh. The Central Bureau of Investigation is investigating allegations of Karti taking money from former media baron Indrani Mukherjea, for getting Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media -- now renamed 9X Media -- when his father was the Finance Minister. He was arrested by the CBI in Chennai on February 28 after several raids were conducted in offices and residences. On March 9, the Enforcement Directorate approached the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order which asked the ED not to take "any coercive action" against him till the next hearing of the case slated for March 20. This was then postponed to March 26. Karti is alleged to have received Rs 3.5 crore from Mumbai-based INX media for helping it get the FIPB clearance when it was run by the Peter and Indrani Mukherjea - both accused in the Sheena Bora murder case. The ED, which is probing financial misappropriation in the case, has contended that Mukerjeas "allegedly siphoned off 90 million pounds and the money is suspected to have gone to foreign countries through hawala routes". Following the FIPB clearance, INX Media said it had received Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of Rs 46.20 million, but actually received Rs 3,053.60 million between August 2007 and May 2008, the ED said. Accordingly, this excess foreign exchange equivalent to Rs 3,004.40 million, beyond the disclosed permitted foreign investment, was received by INX Media from three Mauritius-based investors, said the ED.

Environment

Whether you live along the coast or not, this draft plan affects you too.

Manasa Rao

Image for representation

On February 19, the Government of Tamil Nadu released a draft coastal zone management plan to protect the coast and coastal lives along the 13 coastal districts of the state. However, the plan, which is to be modelled on the guidelines in the Coastal Zone Notification (2011) has come under fire for failing on many counts. What is the draft coastal zone management plan? According to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the plan aims to “ensure livelihood security to the fisher communities and other local communities, living in the coastal areas, to conserve and protect coastal stretches, its unique environment and its marine area and to promote development through sustainable manner based on scientific principles taking into account the dangers of natural hazards in the coastal areas, sea level rise due to global warming.” What are its shortcomings? However, environmental activists have slammed the plan for various reasons, not the least of which is that it is not, in fact, a plan. Speaking to TNM, one city based environmental lawyer says, “First let’s understand that it is not a plan. It is only a map. The coastal management plan has to be a holistic document, not a map. Not preparing this as a plan is not only a violation of the guidelines, but also of two court orders from 2014 that set aside previous such maps. This is contempt of court.” While the plan consists of maps to the scale of 1: 25,000, the guidelines specifically state that ‘local level coastal zone management maps shall be prepared for use of officials of local bodies for determination of the CRZ.’ These small scaled maps would take into consideration the local fragility of the ecosystem in the area, unlike the larger map which is more focussed on the topography of the coastal area. According to Pooja Kumar of the Coastal Resource Centre, the absence of these maps spells danger. “A local level map at 1: 4000 scale is important for local authorities to determine whether or not a project is sustainable in that local coastal area. Our coast and its features and all its uses cannot be depicted in one large, zoomed out map. Local level planning cannot take place without detailed maps.” The guidelines also mandate that a hazard line that clearly demarcates land use plan of the area is provided. A hazard line helps clarify the areas where developmental activities will not be allowed to take place. Environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman writes, “The documents uploaded in the Environment Department's website do not present any of this information. The Hazard Line which is to be marked taking into account tides, waves, sea level rise and shoreline changes is absent, opening up tens of thousands of acres of low-lying coastal wetlands for development as real estate. The point of the hazard line is to protect communities from seaborne hazards. Presenting a "plan" without a hazard line totally misses the point and puts communities and property in harm's way. Whom does this affect? Not having a robust plan that lives up to its mandate affects both coastal communities as well as those living in the inner cities and towns. The guidelines say, “States shall prepare detailed plans for long term housing needs of coastal fisher communities in view of expansion and other needs, provisions of basic services including sanitation, safety, and disaster preparedness.” The draft released by the Tamil Nadu government has no provision to this effect. “When a plan is made without a long-term housing plan, the fisherfolk are stuck between rising seas and growing industries. When large scale development takes place in coastal areas, the fisherfolk in the area will be displaced en masse so where do they go to live without a long-term plan?” slams Pooja. For those who don’t live along the coast, this is equally dangerous. Says Pooja, “Most of our drinking water aquifers in the city are in areas that are already prone to salinisation because of flattening of sand dunes and non-maintenance of coastal areas. The Chennai Metro Water Corporation takes about 90 million litres of water from the Kosasthalayar river basin on a daily basis. Unchecked development means 90 million litres of water from just one aquifer is gone.” What can you do? The draft plan is accepting written comments and suggestion from the public in English or Tamil till April 6, 2018 at the Department of Environment, Panagal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai 600 015. According to the guidelines, public hearings on the draft are to be held at the district level, based on which the plan would be revised. The final approved map will be put up on the MOEF website and hard copies made available in the local panchayat office, district collector office.

Strike

TFPC President Vishal tells TNM that 4 movies received permission to continue shooting past March 16 deadline.

Priyanka Thirumurthy

(Picture for representation)

The Tamil industry is already riddled with tensions between producers, Digital Service Providers (DSPs) and theatre owners over the ongoing strike in relation to the Virtual Print fee (VPF). The Tamil Nadu Producers Council had initially seemed united with even directors supporting their fight against paying the fee to DSPs. Agreement in the form of silence prevailed as the TFPC announced that it will no longer bear costs for usage of digital projectors. To augment this fight, they first announced that there will be no new releases in the state from March 3. And next, in an effort to intensify its agitation, it was announced that all operation pertaining to even shooting of Tamil films will have to stop from March 16. However, despite this proposed total shutdown the shooting, actor Vijay’s untitled next venture with director A.R. Murugadoss went ahead as planned. The film was shot at Victoria House in Chennai and resulted in criticism of TFPC’s preferential treatment for actors. Amongst the first to question the permission granted was Producer J Satish Kumar, who took to Twitter to say, "Actor #Vijay‘s shooting is happening now at Victoria Hall. Where is our unity? How can our council give special permission? I strongly oppose this decision. Don’t split up. When more than lakhs of people (day to day workers) without jobs, it's not fair to let a few people work and make others starve. Biggies like Actor Vijay should not encourage this, instead should put his efforts to solve our needs. That's the love, care and justice to our film industry." When TNM asked TFPC President Vishal about the permission given, he denied that any special favours were granted. "Four film units had requested for permission. We had initially said no, but after considering the situation we let them go ahead because they had planned shoots and it would have been costly to cancel them. In Vijay's movie for instance, they had flown in stunt men from Hyderabad and they were not available after this for the next three months. So we told them they can shoot," he says. While actor Siddarth refused to comment on the matter of the VPF strike, he did say on Twitter that, "Every single film is an equal challenge in today's brutal cinema marketplace. If these special permissions to shoot are given to one, please give them to all producers. We are all the same. In the absence of equality and unity, god save us. This TN govt. does not and will not care about cinema. They have proved that for a decade. It will take a miracle for them to suddenly turn around and change that. Revamping the industry is needed, but at what cost? Let the industry show unity first. Then change will follow." The producer's council even issued a statement to explain their decision regarding the other three films."We’d received letters from four people and on that basis, permission had been given. Samuthirakani sir said he has an outdoor schedule (for Nadodigal 2) and is required to shoot on March 23 and 24. Similarly, another production house, 18th Cross Pictures, had said that they’ve erected a set on the ECR and they wanted an extension. They stopped shooting on March 16 and then requested for an extension. Anto Joseph also submitted a letter, stating he needed to shoot for a day because he’d got permission in Delhi," said SS Durairaj (one of the EC members of TFPC) to the media. But even producers and directors who have so far offered unquestioning support to the strike, have now raised doubts."It is true that if we give 4 people permission based on letter submitted, then everybody can submit letters. We should stay united in this matter. But there is lack of clarity on how this happened," a director of a a yet-to-be-released film told TNM. "We will have to ask the Producer's council how exactly this happened." When asked about the alleged lack of unity in producer's council, Vishal says, "There is enough solidarity. We can't do much if certain members perceive the issue in this manner."

CSK

After a two year ban, CSK will face the Mumbai Indians on April 7 at the Wankhede stadium.

TNM Staff

Twitter: @ChennaiIPL

Even as CSK fans are waiting with bated breath to watch the men in yellow walk out in style at the Chepauk grounds, the team has already been upping the ante and providing us with a sneak peak before the season officially begins. As the two year ban on the Chennai Super Kings comes to an end this year, namba thala MS Dhoni’s team have been warming up in the city and participating in promotional events with advertisers. And as ever, their social media handles are leading the charge even before the boys in yellow step on to the field. With CSK’s first match is on April 7 against Mumbai Indians, here’s a glimpse of what the team has been up to: Here is Dhoni at netting practice giving us just a glimpse of his helicopter shot that won India the World Cup in 2011! Get that ball back from the car parking please! - #Thala #HomeSweetDen pic.twitter.com/D7mCwp7Poe— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 22, 2018 With Harbhajan Singh in the team now, one can expect a lot of monkeying around Action, , rolling fun day at shoot with @harbhajan_singh @imjadeja @imShard @DJBravo47 @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/aQNUyii5uK— Murali Vijay (@mvj888) March 23, 2018 Here’s Raina, Dhoni and our man Jadeja playing the nadaswaram Start moojik! pic.twitter.com/PjDfPqMDce — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 23, 2018 And the boys dancing, on their way to an epic win Chennai Super Happy Kings #TrustTheLeader! @themuthootgroup #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/OUZ7bM36VV — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 23, 2018 Well, we’re all revved up and can’t wait for April 7.

Politics

A popular face in the television debates on behalf of the AIADMK, Palanisamy's dismissal had raised several eyebrows.

IANS

Image: Twitter/ANI

The ruling AIADMK may reconsider re-admitting its recently dismissed spokesperson and former parliamentarian KC Palanisamy, a senior party leader said. This comes after reports that the recent dismissal of spokesperson Palanisamy has not gone down well within the party."The decision seems to have been taken in a hurry. The party could have resorted to alternate actions," the leader told IANS, preferring anonymity. AIADMK's Coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneeerselvam and Joint Coordinator and Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on March 16 dismissed Palanisamy from the party's primary membership. The spokesperson had taken a slightly different stand from that of the party leadership over the no-trust vote introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Telugu Desam Party against the BJP-led Central government. On March 16 Palanisamy told IANS: "If the Centre refuses to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) as the Supreme Court ordered, the AIADMK may support the no-trust motion." However, the decision to dismiss Palanisamy dented the ruling party's image on its stand on the Cauvery water issue as the entire opposition has been demanding the AIADMK party with 37 members in the Lok Sabha to announce that it would vote against the Central government. It was Palanisamy who first opposed the election of Sasikala as the party's General Secretary and petitioned the Election Commission. Articulate and a popular face in the television debates on behalf of the AIADMK, Palanisamy's dismissal raised eyebrows within and outside the party. Several senior partymen expressed their concern to the top party leadership. Given this situation, the party leadership may reconsider its decision against Palanisamy, it is learnt. The party also plans to appoint functionaries at the grassroots level that would include a sizeable number of women, the party leader said."The selected persons will be those who have a good reputation at the grassroots level and who are loyal to the party," he added. According to him, there will be women officials as well. The party in recent times has weeded out around 3,500 party functionaries said to be loyal to the sidelined leaders like VK Sasikala, jailed in a corruption case, and TTV Dinakaran.

Manual Scavenging

The survey has had a low turnout so far because of poor advertising and the insistence on proof, alleges an NGO working in the field.

Anjana Shekar

The National Safai Karmacharis Finance and Development Corporation’s (NSKFDC) survey for identifying manual scavengers, as part of the government’s rehabilitation plan, is currently underway in Tamil Nadu. But according to officials from Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA), an NGO that has been working with manual scavengers across the country, the survey is not being conducted efficiently. “No proper advertising is being done. If people don’t know about the survey, how will they come?” asks Samuel, State Convenor (TN) of SKA. The timeline to complete the survey’s first phase has been fixed at April 2018. With little over a month left, the survey seems to have made little progress. Consequentially, the turnout so far has been very poor he alleges, with only 15 to 25 people turning up in a day. “In addition, the officials at the camp are sending back those who come to register, asking for proof that they are indeed manual scavengers,” alleges Samuel. In a notice shared on the NSKFDC website, the instructions say that those coming to enroll themselves for the rehabilitation scheme should bring one passport size photograph, bank passbook with a copy, Aadhaar with a copy (any other document in support of their identity, if Aadhaar is not issued) and any other document in support of their claim as manual scavenger. On being asked to provide a document to substantiate their claim, Samuel says, “Manuel scavenging is looked down upon in our country. It is considered the lowliest of jobs and those who do it are shamed. Why would anyone lie about it? And who would give them a certificate or a letter saying they’ve employed a manual scavenger? Employing someone to clean your septic tanks is illegal as per law.” He goes on to add that SKA had submitted a list of identified manual scavengers to the committee but no favourable action has been taken so far. He also alleges that the officers even harassed a few, discouraging them from turning up at camps. “The entire survey is being marred by casteist notions. By restricting these manual scavengers, they are taking away their opportunity to live a dignified life.” According to the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 that came into force from December, 2013, “no person, local authority or any agency shall engage or employ, either directly or indirectly, a manual scavenger, and every person so engaged or employed shall stand discharged immediately from any obligation, express or implied, to do manual scavenging.” The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) also announced the Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) under which identified manual scavengers are provided with a number of benefits, including one-time cash assistance of Rs. 40,000, skill development training up to two years with a stipend Rs. 3,000 per month, concessional loan for self-employment projects, pre-matric scholarships etc. As part of this ongoing survey, six districts have been selected in Tamil Nadu - Chennai, Thiruvallur, Madurai, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari and Trichy. The survey is currently being conducted in Tiruvallur and Trichy. The surveys will be done in four camps in each district and each camp will be two days long. The NSKFDC is spearheading this survey across India for identifying manual scavenging labourers. According to the information shared on its website, a total of 164 districts have been identified in 18 states across the country.

Fraud

The jeweller had earlier admitted to cheating customers in a gold scheme.

Manasa Rao

Image for representation

A doyen among the big wigs of the jewellery industry operating in south India, Nathella jewellers is once again in the news for fraudulent practices. Once located at the heart of Chennai’s shopping district in T Nagar, Nathella was religiously sought after by regulars in the city for nearly 80 years for every jewellery need from weddings to children's ear piercing ceremonies. The latest complaint involves the jewellers defrauding a consortium of 14 banks led by the State Bank of India to the tune of Rs 250 crore. Lodging a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigations(CBI), the SBI said, “Nathella Sampath Jewelry had misrepresented financial statements from 2010 and liquidated the primary asset kept as security/collateral. About Rs 250 crore loans were sanctioned by SBI in a consortium arrangement — which has been classified by the bank as fraudulent on December 22, 2017 — for having misrepresented the financial statements from 2010 and liquidated its primary asset. The matter has been reported to CBI for necessary action.” In October last year, Nathella Sampathu Chetty, a part of the larger Nathella group, admitted to cheating investors to the tune of Rs 75 crore. Following this, the jewellers had to shut shop, bringing to an end a 77 year-old business, for failing to repay dues to customers in a chit fund scheme. Hundreds of police complaints were filed against its management for duping customers in this ‘gold savings’ scheme from which they got no returns. A case was registered against the managing director of the firm, Ranganatha Gupta, his sons Prabanna Kumar and Prasanna Kumar, and their relative Kota Suresh under IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) and relevant sections of the Tamil Nadu Protection of Interest of Depositors Act, 1997. Speaking to TNM at the time, Mani, who had invested in the scheme had said, “I had started investing in the scheme three years ago and paid about Rs. 1,30,000 to Nathella Sampathu Chetty. I came to know about the scheme through a WhatsApp message which asked the customers to pay Rs. 2000 per month. However, Mani had stopped making monthly payments when he learnt that his deposits had been swindled. He did not receive any money in return for his investments. In November 2017, the jewellers assured the Economic Offences Wing investigating the case that they were “taking steps to mitigate the crisis” and that they “planned to repay dues to subscribers of gold savings schemes by March next year.” The latest allegation is also important in a series of cases of jewellers being accused of fraud involving hundreds of crores of rupees. In February this year, it was learnt that diamond jeweller Nirav Modi had fled the country, allegedly duping the Punjab National Bank of two billion dollars, causing a huge uproar against the BJP-led Centre for letting the accused slip. In fact, on Thursday, Chennai-based jewellers Kanishk Jewellers were quizzed by the CBI in an alleged Rs 800 crore scam. The CBI was once again acting on a complaint from SBI and a consortium of banks that had lent money to the jeweller.

Controversy

The Rajya Sabha MP’s wedding to Dr B Ramaswamy was scheduled to take place in New Delhi on Monday.

Manasa Rao

In a dramatic turn of events for Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa, the Family Court in Madurai has stayed her marriage to Dr B Ramaswamy, set to take place on Monday, as his earlier marriage is still legally valid. The MP and Ramaswamy were due to get married in Delhi. The order was pronounced based on a petition filed by Sathyapriya, 34, who had alleged that she hadn’t yet officially divorced Ramaswamy, and hence, his wedding to Sasikala Pushka was legally invalid. The order by Judge N Venkadavaradhan notes, “This court upon consideration of these circumstances finds that the petitioner has prima facie established the subsistence of a valid marriage and if at all the respondent wants to have another marriage, he has to seek a valid relief before the court of law and then also contract another marriage. Hence, under these circumstances, this court feels that it would be just and reasonable to stay the contract of marriage if any by the respondent with any other lady till the disposal of the main HMOP.” While a wedding for a close circle of friends and family was planned at the Lalit Hotel in New Delhi, Sathyapriya’s counsel told TNM, “The judgement copy has stayed the marriage. It is enforceable from the time the order was pronounced. Beyond this, if they conduct a marriage, then it is contempt of court.” Request for mercy killing On Tuesday, in a letter to the district collector of Madurai, Sathyapriya had pleaded for death. “I request you to please return my husband to me. My husband is my husband. If he doesn’t wish to live with me, I request permission for the mercy killing of myself and my child,” she said. In her letter to the Collector, Sathyapriya says things took a turn for the worse when she informed him about the birth of their girl child. “Up until the child was born, we were talking happily on the phone. As soon as I had a girl child, he stopped talking to me. When I was able to contact him again, I told him we have a girl child and he said, I don’t want you or the girl child,” she wrote. Background Speaking to TNM, Sathyapriya said her wedding to Ramaswamy took place on December 10, 2014. “Our family met him through a marriage broker. My family wanted a once-married groom due to my horoscope. I never met his parents. He kept reassuring me that they will come, but they didn’t turn up even for the wedding.” Sathyapriya says that the couple was happily married till the fourth month of her pregnancy. She says, “After the marriage, I went to Delhi and stayed with my husband. Even when I was pregnant, he only took care of me and sent me to my parents’ house. He said he will bring me back after the vazhagappu (baby shower).” However, she also says that there were CCTV cameras inside the house. Justifying the ‘constant monitoring’, she says, “But he had doubts and was very protective of me. He would safeguard me like that. He wouldn’t allow anyone to meet me.” Threats and abuses Sathyapriya alleges that Ramaswamy did not come to even see their daughter after she was born. Instead, rowdies turned up at her parent’s house in Madurai, where was staying. “People first came and offered money for me to sign divorce papers. Then they started threatening us and abusing us. How can I take money when my child won’t have a father?” Following this, Sathyapriya alleges that she filed a complaint at the All Women’s Police Station in Thiruparamgundram, but her husband failed to appear the station. Sathyapriya says Ramaswamy duped the women’s police station when he finally arrived. “He threatened them saying he was a Supreme Court judge. He came with two escorts and he left.” He refused to meet her in Madurai. When Sathyapriya confronted him about the wedding invitation, she says he first denied it. “Then when I asked to give me a yes or no answer, he sent me an invitation to his wedding. How can my own husband invite me to his wedding? What will I do with my child? I have not divorced him. He did not even tell me. It is not a valid.” When asked about the mercy killing Sathpriya says, “Let him first come and look at his daughter’s face. Let him first come and see me. If he doesn’t wish to live with us, we will see. But I want my husband. She (Sasikala Pushpa) is also a woman. She will understand what I am going through. Society is mocking us saying it’s because of my daughter’s bad luck that she has not been able to see her father.” The Collector refused to comment on the issue.

Tamil Nadu

The court however dismissed the petition that wanted the original version of the Tamil Thai Vazhthu penned by Manonmaniam P Sundarampillai to be restored.

TNM Staff

DMK leaders (1968). Photo by Mohan V Raman/Wiki Commons

The Madras High Court recently dismissed a petition by a man asking for the uncut version of the Tamil Nadu anthem ' Neeraarum Kadaludutha' to be restored. The petition was filed by one Ramaboopathy, who said in the petition that he is a social worker and works as an auto driver. The 52-year-old man described himself as hailing from a “cultured Tamil family”, a proud Tamil and “a very religious man”. He said in his petition that he was very upset when the then junior Sankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt, Vijayendra Saraswati, sat through TN’s state song ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ at an event in Chennai in January this year. “I felt it was an insult to the Tamil Goddess, official song of the Government of Tamil Nadu, but later to my shock and dismay I came to know that this song had been cut short, edited in the year 1967 and a generation had grown up not knowing the original version, Government of Tamil Nadu version and an alternate version,” he argued. Ramaboopathy then went on to say that the original, uncut song is “wonderful” and “self explanatory” and has nothing objectionable in it, and therefore does not need to be modified. “The originality cannot be and should not change, it remains as it is and it is our duty to preserve it,” he said. The anthem, written by Manonmaniam Pillai and set to tune by MS Viswanathan has five more lines in the original version on the Tamil Goddess. However, the lines talk about the birth of other Dravidian languages from Tamil and the destruction of Aryan languages, unlike Tamil. The song was played in an official setting beginning 1967 with the first Dravidian party coming to power in the state as CN Annadurai took over as Chief Minister. He asserted in his petition that tampering with the original ‘Tamil Thai Vazthu’ is unnecessary after 100 years. “Forever and ever only the original will prevail and must prevail and ever honest man shall do preserve the original and certainly not the tampered, modified, edited duplicates that got to showcased.” (sic) At another place, he said, “I don’t understand why and what reason the song was cut down to half and edited by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1967, the pride and glory of the Tamil is cut down. I don’t understand why, is it political or social compulsion.” (sic) He asked for the modified version of the TN state anthem to be discarded and the original one reinstated. A division bench of Justices S Manikumar and Bhavani however, dismissed Ramaboopathy’s petition, saying that the (edited) song has been sung for over five decades “all in praise of Tamil language, culture, history and heritage.” “Therefore, there is absolutely no need to change at this length of time,” the bench added. (Image: DMK leaders KA Mathialagan, VP Raman, CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi with Swatantara Party founder C Rajagopalachari at a private function in January 1968.)

Human Interest

Working with prison authorities and NGOs, the prisoners are now exponents in keyboard, drums and the guitar.

Manasa Rao

Most of us tend to forget that prisons aren’t a place where those convicted of crimes are sent to, they are correctional facilities. And true to this purpose, the Coimbatore Central Jail in Tamil Nadu has been imparting lessons in the universal language of music to inmates. And now, six prisoners are set to take the Trinity Music Music College exams – considered a high honour among musicians. Speaking to TNM, the Superintendent of the prison, Senthil Kumar, says, “They have been learning music for a long time. They have been seriously preparing for the exams since last week. The ADGP Ashutosh Shukla and DGP Arivudainambi have been part of this effort. With the help of NGOs, we are able to bring some joy to the prisoners through music. As we go around, we ourselves identify prisoners with musical talent and ask them to participate in the classes. We also encourage them to volunteer themselves.” The SP says he has observed that music helps the inmates heal mentally. “There are many who are serving life sentences and they miss their families and are depressed. Music is a way in which they can feel joy,” he says. Twenty prisoners at the prison learn a variety of instruments such as the keyboard, guitar, drums and tabla. Stephen of the Prison Ministry of India, an organisation that works for prison reform, is thrilled. “We have been teaching them for 13 years, but this is the first year that they will be taking up the exams. I teach them percussions, with notes. My colleagues teach them keyboard and guitar as well. We also help them train their vocal singing skills. This will be very useful for them when they finally leave the prison. Former prisoners have very limited job opportunities. If they write the exams then the certificates can even help them start their own music centres,” he says. The prison authorities and NGOs are also working to encourage more prisoners to face the exams, which will be held in November. The NGOs pitch in with the exam fee, and they generally also provide the instruments to the prisoners. “We hold our lessons once a week on Friday mornings. But they practice the whole week and are thorough with whatever they are taught,” says Stephan. “If I’m unable to make it even for one week, they feel bad. They forget the world when they play. They compose songs on their own or from the books they read.” They even hold performances inside the prison on Gandhi Jayanthi.

Sterlite Thoothukudi

People from the Kumarattiyapuram village have been protesting against gas leaks and bad effluent management for many years.

TNM Staff

Sachin Babu/ Facebook

Thousands of people- young and old- gathered near the Chidambaram Nagar bus stand in Thoothukudi district on Saturday. Shouting slogans, cheering speakers on the stage the protesters had two demands: the expansion plans of the Sterlite Copper Plant in the district should be stopped and the plant itself should be shut down. With people from all walks of life extending support to the villagers from Kumarattiyapuram village, the town also witnessed a complete shutdown. People from the village have been protesting against noxious gas leaks and bad effluent management for more than two decades now. However, on Saturday, thousands came together to lend their voice to villagers' fight against the plant that is part of Vedanta Limited. According to media reports, over 12,000 shops were shut for business on the main and arterial roads. Auto rickshaws, minivans in the area did not operate, bringing transportation to a halt. The villagers slammed the government for inaction over the spread of diseases on account of the pollution. The protestors also emphasised on the contaminated groundwater in the area. Speaking to the media, Fathima Babu of the Anti Killer Sterlite People's Movement said, "There are lot of environmental dangers as well as health dangers, particularly cancer. Almost every house is affected by cancer. Children are most affected. Throat cancer has increased. Eye cancer has also gone up. All this is strange and shocking. We have taken the decision that this district can no longer tolerate this. We have entered the field. The trader's association has played a big role today by shutting shop and striking." The full day agitation comes just a month after 250 people in the area went on a hunger strike upon hearing the expansion plans. In 2013, the Sterlite copper plant was fined by the Supreme Court for polluting the land and water in the area on account of a gas leak. The apex court also slammed the plant for operating without requisite permits for a considerable period of time. Speaking to The News Minute, police officials noted the peaceful manner in which the protests were going on, confirming that no protester had been detained. According to environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman, air pollution is already a matter of worry in Thoothukudi. A copper smelter, he said, would make an already bad situation worse. "Copper smelters are very polluting industries. They lead to the release of sulphur dioxide and dust particles in the air. In addition to this, a plant such as this will require a lot of surface water and resources, which should go for agriculture. Drinking water supply will be depleted," he had earlier told TNM.

Politics

The former Union Minister said that the state need not wait for the Lokpal Act to be amended.

TNM Staff

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday demanded that Tamil Nadu's AIADMK government set up anti-corruption body Lokayukta immediately. Citing the Supreme Court's direction to Chief Secretaries of 12 states - including Tamil Nadu - to explain the reasons for not setting up Lokayukta, he said the state government should pass the necessary law immediately. The former Union Minister said the state government need not wait for the Central government amend the Lokpal Act to set up Lokayukta as there is no connection between the two. On March 23, the Supreme Court sought an explanation from 11 states - Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Puducherry - as to why they have not appointed any Lokayukta or Uplokayukta. The bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R. Banumathi directed that the Chief Secretaries of 11 states and a UT to inform the court on the steps taken for the appointment of Lokayukta or Uplokayukta in two weeks' time. The court order came on a petition filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and top court lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, seeking appoint of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta in the states. Meanwhile in another development, the indefinite hunger strike by social activist Anna Hazare is set to continue further after he reportedly found the draft sent by the government to address to his demands "useless"."We have received the draft from the government. But Annaji said it was useless as it has nothing new but old assurances. It is a routine document. At least, any minister should meet him," said Sushil Bhatt, a core committee member of Team Anna. Earlier this week, Anna Hazare launched a fresh anti-corruption agitation with an indefinite fast in New Delhi’s sprawling Ramlila Maidan and vowed it to continue it till the Modi government comes up with an action plan on Lokpal appointment. IANS inputs

Controversy

The properties of former Anna University VC Rajaram and ex-VC of Dr Ambedkar Law University, Vanangamudi, were also raided.

IANS

Image for representation

Tamil Nadu's anti-corruption bureau, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Saturday said that it has filed corruption cases against two former Vice Chancellors of two major universities in the state. In a statement issued in Chennai, the DVAC said that it had registered a case against former Anna University Vice Chancellor Rajaram and six others for allegations of corruption in the recruitment of teaching faculties in the varsity between 2013-2016. The DVAC conducted searches at seven places in Chennai and Theni and 65 documents pertaining to properties worth about Rs 20 crore were seized. The second case is against Vanangamudi, former Vice Chancellor, Tamilnadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University and five others. According to DVAC, it is alleged that during his tenure, Vanangamudi entered into conspiracy with other accused and violated the admission procedure for Non-Resident Quota of 15%. The DVAC organised search at six locations and 74 documents which reveals properties worth about Rs 95 lakh were seized during the search. Both the cases are under investigation, the DVAC said. Last month the Vice Chancellor of Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore, was arrested by the DVAC while demanding and receiving a bribe of Rs 30 lakh. According to DVAC, 67-year-old A. Ganapathy was caught red handed while receiving the bribe. The DVAC had also booked Dharmaraj, a Professor of Chemistry for aiding Ganapathy. The DVAC said that Ganapathy had demanded the bribe from T Suresh, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry to complete his probation in the post. Ganapathy received Rs 100,000 in cash and Rs 29 lakh in post-dated cheques, the DVAC alleged. Ganapathy accepted the bribe amount at his residence in Coimbatore, around 500 km from Chennai. Meanwhile the state BJP unit said it is a matter of shame for the state intellectuals to see Vice Chancellors getting arrested on corruption charges and other irregularities.

Politics

Jaya TV CEO said, the move denies justice to farmers who won’t be able to view TTV Dhinakaran’s strike for Cauvery Board, being aired in the channel.

TNM Staff

Twitter/Vivek Jayaraman | logos: Google images

Vivek Jayaraman, the current CEO of Jaya TV and nephew of Sasikala, has condemned government run Arasu cable for allegedly blocking his news channel Jaya Plus. He has also claimed that this move has consequentially limited the reach of Jaya Plus’s coverage of the ongoing hunger strike for Cauvery Water Managament Board, headed by TTV Dhinakaran. Leader of the newly launched party, Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam, Dhinakaran has begun a hunger strike in Thanjavur on Sunday, demanding the speedy constitution of the Board. The day-long fast has been organised in Thilagar Thidal in Thanjavur to press the centre into action. The Supreme Court, on February 16 announced the constitution of Cauvery Management Board after a long-drawn battle between the States. Since the verdict, both the States have raised concern over the constitution of the board. Regarding the blocking of Jaya Plus, Vivek tweeted that the event is being organised for the farmers of Tamil Nadu and by limiting the reach of its coverage, justice is being denied to them. Jaya Plus has been blocked in Arasu Cable through out TN. It’s a cheap gesture done by Arasu Cable MD under EPS govt. Today’s fast event is for our TN farmers. It’s reach has been blocked. How else can justice be bought to our people? — Vivek Jayaraman (@vivekjayarman) March 25, 2018 Apsara Reddy, TTV Dhinakaran supporter, also tweeted that the move is a gag on media and free press. The incapable TN government blocks the very popular News Network Jaya Plus on Arasu Cable the government wing of distributing favoured channels. Attack on media and gagging the press is a grave danger. The LIVE... https://t.co/j6K0VhjDev — Apsara R (@ApsaraReddy) March 25, 2018 However, source close to development informed TNM that Jaya Plus has been downgraded to a lower quality bandwidth (UHF) in the state-run cable network. Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation was incorporated in 2007 by then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who allegedly wanted to break the dominance of the Maran brothers in the cable business. Later chief minister J Jayalalithaa later revived the network in 2011 after she assumed office and even made the Sun group channels (headed by Kala Nithi Maran) unavailable on the Arasu cable network for a brief period. Disqualified AIADMK MLA Vetrivel has also condemned the downgrading of the channel, calling it political vendetta and heights of atrocity. He also added that this dishonours the memory of Late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. This is not the first time that Jaya TV has been under the scanner since the demise of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. The channel, rebranded from JJ TV to Jaya TV by Jayalalithaa herself in 1999, is regarded as the mouthpiece of AIADMK party. The channel which was incorporated in 1995 soon folded in 1996 when Jayalalithaa left office. It was also raided by IT officials between 1996-1997 in relation to the disproportionate assets case. In November 2017, IT raids on Jaya TV brought into focus the properties now owned and controlled by ‘ousted’ AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala’s family and associates. The raids took place at over 180 locations across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, including in offices of Jaya TV, and Namadhu MGR.

Sterlite Protest

Tamils in London gathered outside Anil Agarwal’s home to protest against the expansion of the Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi.

Anjana Shekar

Screengrab

The slogans “Kekudha Kekudha, Tamizhar kural kekudha?” (Can you hear? Can you hear? the voice of the Tamils?) was heard on the streets of Mayfair, London accompanied by the beats of the parai, a folk percussion instrument. In case you were wondering why, it was because a group of protesters had gathered outside the home of Anil Agarwal, the founder of Vedanta Resources. Members of the Tamil community in the United Kingdom, supported by two movements - Foil Vedanta and PARAI - Voice of Freedom, gathered outside Anil’s house, in solidarity with the rally held in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, against the expansion of the Sterlite Copper Plant. Sterlite is a subsidiary of Vedanta. Holding banners that read: ‘Sterlite Kills, Stay out of Tamil Land’ and ‘Ban Sterlite from Thoothukudi’, the demonstration at Mayfair saw the participation of a number of Tamils, and also that of the locals, who came out in support. Sterlite, a subsidiary of Agarwal's Vedanta Resources, began construction of a new smelter plant on the edge of the town of Thoothukudi. In a video shared on Foil Vedanta’s Facebook page, one of the protesters said, “I don't understand why Maharashtra banned this (Sterlite) initially and it is being permitted in Tamil Nadu and I always wonder how they got this permission […]." Foil Vedanta is an independent grassroots solidarity organization focused primarily on the British-Indian mining company Vedanta Resources PLC. PARAI - Voice of Freedom is a UK based passive resistance movement. In the video, another protester, a local asks, “Why is the company, which has one of the worst human rights records, one of the worst environmental records has 58% of its subsidiaries registered in tax-savings. Why is it listed in London? Why did London Stock Exchange allow this company to list and give it its reputation without doing any due diligence? This factory — Sterlite in Thoothukudi — was already there when the company registered here. Sterlite has been banned from Bombay Stock Exchange for two years for a massive case of fraud. Nonetheless, they have allowed this company to register in London.” Watch the video here: In Thoothukudi, protesters gathered near the Chidambaram Nagar bus stand on Saturday with two demands: the expansion plans of the Sterlite Copper Plant in the district should be stopped and the plant itself should be shut down. The full day agitation came just a month after 250 people in the area went on a hunger strike upon hearing the plans for expansion. In 2013, the Sterlite copper plant was fined by the Supreme Court for polluting the land and water in the area on account of a gas leak. The apex court also slammed the plant for operating without requisite permits for a considerable period of time. Read: Thousands come together in Thoothukudi to protest against Sterlite Copper Plant

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