BJP aim is to prevent DMK victory: Annamalai

TALKING TO TOI ELECTIONS 2021

BJP aim is to prevent DMK victory: Annamalai

05.03.2021 

The BJP and the Centre want a government in Tamil Nadu that would push Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development agenda. Hence, the BJP’s sole objective in the assembly polls is to prevent the DMK from coming to power, said BJP vice president K Annamalai in an interview with Shanmughasundaram J

What are the prospects of the AIADMK-BJP alliance in the assembly polls?

The AIADMK-led NDA will definitely come back to power as I don’t see any kind of anti-incumbency against the government and the CM; nor is there any strong pro-DMK wave. When it comes to leadership, people prefer EPS to DMK leader M K Stalin. Of course, there is anti-incumbency against some sitting MLAs and it is up to the ruling party to sort it out.

What are the prospects of the BJP in the polls?

The BJP’s objective this time is to prevent the DMK from coming to power and ensuring the victory of our combination (AIADMK-BJP front). We want EPS to come back to power as part of a larger scheme of things. At the same time, we believe that our time has come in TN. After a gap of 15 years, we will see some of our leaders sitting in the TN assembly.

How do you view V K Sasikala’s decision to quit politics? Did the BJP play a role in it?

I think it’s her personal decision. Our state president L Muruganhas welcomed it. The BJP has no role in what happens in the AIADMK.

Except for one seat, the AIADMKBJP alliance lost all others in the 2019 LS polls? Do you think the trend would have changed within two years?

The outcome of the 2019 LS polls in Tamil Nadu wasabnormal. Anti-Modi sentiment was whipped up by a combination of social media campaigns and careful news narratives. At that time, the AIADMK-BJP alliance was just formed. Things have completely changed now and Stalin is forced to change his narrative every month. The opposition’s anti-BJP and anti-Modi narratives do not have any impact on people.

What is BJP’s narrative for the polls?

We believe the popularity of Narendra Modi is very high in TN because two in every three people in the state have benefited from the Centre’s schemes. He is going to be the party’s biggest ambassador. The PM and the Centre want a government in TN that would push Modi’s development agenda. The EPS-Modi combination and Jayalalithaa factor would work in our favour.

Stalin accused the BJP of admitting several notorious criminals in the party. What is your take?

It is like the pot calling the kettle black. Several leaders of his party face serious criminal charges. We cannot check the background of every person joining our party.

The opposition accuses the BJP of making a mockery of elections bydislodging state governments through unfair means. Puducherry is the latest instance. What have you got to say?

The Narayanasamy-led government has done nothing for Puducherry. (Congress) MLAs, including A Namassivayam, who built the party in Puducherry, came to the BJP on their own. Like G23, (Congress dissidents at the national level) it’s G7 in Puducherry. Knowing that the kitchen cabinet of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Narayanasamy will not allow new leaders to emerge, they came out. It is not fair to say the BJP is killing democracy.

Why are your supporters saying that many TN BJP leaders are against your growth in the party?

I don’t see anybody opposing me, we’re like a family. The party’ssystem is built against it (factionalism). If anybody has an ego issue, itis temporary. I enjoy the role given to me and remain loyal to the party.

BJP says it works for all sections of society. If so, why doesn’t it get support from minorities?

This (BJP) government has done far more than others for minorities. Muslim students get the highest scholarships. It is the DMK that wants to keep them as a vote bank. We see them as part of the country. The triple talaq Act helped us get more votes, particularly from Muslim women. We proved it in Bihar polls and will do it in Tamil Nadu too. It’s only a matter of time.

I-T officials seize ₹3 crore from two business groups

MULTIPLE RAIDS

I-T officials seize ₹3 crore from two business groups

Siddharth Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:05.03.2021 

Income tax department's searches on the premises of two groups of civil contractors in Ramanathapuram and Madurai districts on Wednesday resulted in detection of ₹175 crore unaccounted income and seizure of ₹3 crore unaccounted money, according to an I-T statement.

The income tax department conducted searches on 18 premises. Based on intelligence inputs about the existence of cash, which is likely to be distributed for election purposes, searches were mounted on the business groups. The action resulted in the finding of unaccounted money to the tune of ₹3 crore.

Other findings include the identification of the fact that the assessee was booking bogus expenses under various heads to reduce the profits. The declared profits were less than 2% of the turnover, when in actual accounts the profits exceeded 20%. Similarly, more than 100 subcontractors were introduced to book expenses to meet illegal payments and onmoney payments for property purchases.

These subcontractors filed returns of income from the same IP address, and for the first time ever, showed only this receipt as their sole source of income.

Pallavaram, Pammal now receive piped water supply

Pallavaram, Pammal now receive piped water supply

Oppili.P@timesgroup.com

Chennai:05.03.2021 

More than 40,000 residents in Pallavaram and Pammal municipal limits have begun getting piped water from Metrowater.

A senior official of the agency said that under the project, which was commissioned a couple of days ago, 28,000 connections were provided in Pallavaram, while 13,400 were provided in Pammal.

Metrowater draws more than 4 million litres of water a day (MLD) from Chembarambakkam reservoir for piped supply to the houses in both the municipalities and has collected the required charges.

In Pallavaram, where the requirement is nearly 30 MLD, the municipality buys 5.5 MLD from Metrowater and 1.5 MLD from the TWAD Board that draws from the Palar scheme. The remaining quantity is managed with other sources, an official said.

For residents of areas under Pammal area, where the requirement is 6 MLD, the municipality gets 0.5 MLD from the TWAD Board and another 2.5 MLD from Metrowater.

Given that the water requirement is only set to increase in the two areas where there has been rapid development in the past few years, with residential colonies springing up all over, the authorities the authorities have begun exploiting the abandoned quarries within their jurisdictions. The state department of municipal administration and water supply (MAWS) has set up treatment plants at two quarries in Pallavaram and one in Pammal, the official added.

During the cruel summer of 2019, one of the worst in the memory of the city’s residents, people in some of the core areas were supplied water drawn from some abandoned quarries in the suburbs.

Pilots brace for tough landing at city airport

Pilots brace for tough landing at city airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:05.03.2021 

It’s that time of the year when pilots flying into Chennai will expect a go-around as soaring temperatures will make the airport notorious for wind shear and crosswind.

With the temperature in the suburbs edging closer to 35°C making the day hot and humid, pilots who fly into the city have started to experience turbulence while landing. “This is the season when landing is tough at the airport. There will be wind shear because the ground heats up fast. Usually, the trend of sudden shift in the wind at low level will start in the second week of March. We fly carefully, ready for corrective action,” said a pilot.

Incidence of wind shear has been increasing at the airport in the past few years during summer while constant presence of crosswinds has made pilots wonder whether the wind direction is changing gradually.

“Planes float away because of the sudden shift in wind. Information about wind shear and crosswind will come from the airport but we also check with pilots who have landed to find out about their experience,” said another pilot.

In addition to the routine precautions about safety manoeuvre, airlines have included crosswinds and wind shear landing in simulator training done closer to the summer months. Pilots undergo a simulator training every six months.

However, crosswind is not risky in Chennai. “It is a risk only if it is 90° with 25 knots speed but we see only mostly 70° with 18 to 20 knots. That is not much. Training is given for pilots and there will be constant alerts about the wind condition,” he said.

Professor gets death sentence for killing wife

Professor gets death sentence for killing wife

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:05.03.2021 

A 49-year-old professor, who killed his wife in 2012, was on Wednesday sentenced to death by a trial court in Chennai.

The man, V Kannan, was the head of the MBA department at a private college in Kavaraipettai and was married to Mohanambal of Mettur. The couple lived in an apartment in Anna Nagar. The two had a troubled marriage as the woman was unhappy with the low income of her husband.

According to public prosecutor V Muralikrishnan, Mohanambal was from a wealthy family and often the couple fought over the disparity in wealth between the two families.

On December 16, 2012, the two went shopping in T Nagar but returned home after a quarrel. The next day, during an argument, Kannan picked up a grinding stone and bludgeoned Mohanambal’s head. After she swooned, he slit her throat.

The Thirumangalam police, who were investigating the case, said Kannan had confessed to the murder and said that his wife’s behaviour had provoked him to murder her. The defence counsel denied the allegations against the accused at the fourth additional sessions court.

However, judge A R V Ravi observed that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced Kannan to death for the gruesome murder.

FIR in minister wealth case: 2 HC judges give a split verdict

FIR in minister wealth case: 2 HC judges give a split verdict

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  05.03.2021 

In a rare disagreement, a division bench of the Madras high court on Thursday passed a split verdict over filing an FIR for corruption against dairy development minister K T Rajenthra Bhalaji, with one judge favouring an FIR and another calling it unnecessary.

The issue has now been referred to the chief justice for being sent to a third judge.

The allegation against the minister is that he had amassed wealth disproportionate to his income starting from his days as vice-president of Tiruthangal town panchayat in Virudhunagar district in1996.

While Justice M Sathyanarayanan directed the DVAC to register an FIR, Justice R Hemalatha said she did not find any prima facie case against Bhalaji warranting an FIR.

DVAC submitted 754-page ‘preliminary inquiry’ report

Any further action in this case would not serve any useful purpose and it would be only like flogging a dead horse,” she said and dismissed the PIL.

In view of the dissenting order the case has now been forwarded to the chief justice for suitable action.

It all began in 2013 when on R Mahendran filed a public interest writ petition accusing the minister of having declared that he had no known sources of income and that he was not even an income tax assessee, when he contested the assembly elections in 2011.

On the contrary, in the same declaration, the minister claimed to be in possession of several movable and immovable assets, the petitioner alleged. Therefore, he wanted the court to direct the DVAC to register an FIR against the minister based on his complaint and probe the case.

During the course of hearing, the DVAC submitted a 754-page ‘preliminary inquiry’ report and gave a clean chit to the minister. It concluded that prima facie no case was made against the minister to register an FIR. Taken aback by the detailed inquiry conducted by the DVAC when the object was only to make a preliminary inquiry to ascertain as to whether any cognizable offence had been made out in the complaint or not, the bench refused to close the plea.

The court wondered as to how DVAC could expect the court to drop all proceedings on the basis of an exhaustive investigation conducted without even registering an FIR.

The court was taken aback by the DVAC’s detailed inquiry when the objective was only to a preliminary inquiry to ascertain whether any cognizable offence had been made out in the complaint

புதுக்கோட்டை அரசு மருத்துக் கல்லூரி டூ பசுஞ்சோலை: 3,500 மரக்கன்றுகளுடன் தொடரும் பயணம்புதுக்கோட்டை அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி வளாகத்தில் மரக்கன்று நடுகிறார் அக்கல்லூரியின் முதல்வர் எம்.பூவதி.

புதுக்கோட்டை அரசு மருத்துக் கல்லூரி டூ பசுஞ்சோலை: 3,500 மரக்கன்றுகளுடன் தொடரும் பயணம்புதுக்கோட்டை அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி வளாகத்தில் மரக்கன்று நடுகிறார் அக்கல்லூரியின் முதல்வர் எம்.பூவதி.

புதுக்கோட்டை

புதுக்கோட்டை அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி வளாகத்தை பசுஞ்சோலையாக மாற்றும் முயற்சியில் கல்லூரி நிர்வாகம் முழு முனைப்புடன் ஈடுபட்டு வருகிறது. இதையறிந்து, பணியில் சேர்ந்த இணைப் பேராசிரியர் ஒருவர் இன்று 50 மரக்கன்றுகளை நட்டு, பயணத்தில் இணைந்தார்.

புதுக்கோட்டையில் அடர்ந்த மரங்களுடன் இருந்த கால்நடை பராமரிப்புத் துறைக்கு சொந்தமான இடத்தில் சுமார் 125 ஏக்கரைக் கையகப்படுத்தி 4 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்டது. கல்லூரி மற்றும் மருத்துவமனை கட்டுமானப் பணியின்போது வளாகத்தில் இருந்த வயதான, பட்டுப்போன நிலையில் இருந்த மரங்கள் அகற்றப்பட்டுவிட்டன.

இதையடுத்து, தற்போது கல்லூரியில் நடத்தப்படும் பல்வேறு நிகழ்ச்சிகளின் வாயிலாக சுமார் 3,500 மரக்கன்றுகள் நடப்பட்டு, பராமரிக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.புதுக்கோட்டை அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி வளாகத்தில் மரக்கன்று நடுகிறார் அக்கல்லூரியில் பணியில் சேர்ந்த இணைப் பேராசிரியர் கி.உஷா.

குறிப்பிட்ட ஆண்டுகளில் வளாகமே பசுஞ்சோலையாக மாற வேண்டும் என்ற நோக்கத்தில் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி முதல்வர் எம்.பூவதியின் முன்னெடுப்பை அறிந்து, தனது பங்களிப்பாக இக்கல்லூரியில் பணி மாறுதல் மூலம் இன்று இணைப் பேராசிரியராகப் பொறுப்பேற்ற கி.உஷா, நீண்ட ஆயுட்காலம் கொண்ட தலா 25 ஆலமரம் மற்றும் அரச மரக் கன்றுகளை நட்டார்.

இந்த மரக்கன்றுகளானது மருத்துவப் பணியாளர்களின் குடியிருப்பு அருகே உள்ள குளத்தின் கரையோரம் நடப்பட்டன. மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி முதல்வர் எம்.பூவதி தலைமையில் நடைபெற்ற இந்த நிகழ்ச்சியில் மருத்துவர் வீ.சி.சுபாஷ்காந்தி உள்ளிட்டோர் கலந்துகொண்டனர்.

தாம்பரம் யார்டில் மேம்பாட்டு பணியால் - 30 விரைவு ரயில்களின் சேவையில் மாற்றம்

தாம்பரம் யார்டில் மேம்பாட்டு பணியால் - 30 விரைவு ரயில்களின் சேவையில் மாற்றம்

சென்னை

தாம்பரம் யார்டில் மேம்பாட்டுப் பணிகள் நடக்கவுள்ளதால், வரும் 14-ம் தேதி முதல் 21-ம் தேதி வரை 30 விரைவு ரயில்களின் சேவையில் மாற்றம் செய்யப்படுகிறது.

இதுதொடர்பாக தெற்கு ரயில்வே நேற்று வெளியிட்டுள்ள செய்திக்குறிப்பில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:

தாம்பரம் யார்டில் மேம்பாட்டுப் பணிகள் நடக்கவுள்ளது. இதனால், விரைவு ரயில்களின் சேவையில் மாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன. அதன்படி, புதுச்சேரி - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (06116/06115) ரயில்களின் சேவை வரும் 20, 21-ம் தேதிகளில் ரத்து செய்யப்படுகிறது.

காரைக்குடி - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (02606), மதுரை - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (02636) ரயில்கள் வரும் 14-ம் தேதி முதல் 21-ம் தேதி வரை செங்கல்பட்டு வரை மட்டுமே இயக்கப்படும். இதேபோல், கன்னியாகுமரி - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (02634), ராமேஸ்வரம் - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (02206), குருவாயூர் - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (06128) ஆகிய ரயில்கள் வரும் 19-ம் தேதி செங்கல்பட்டு வரை மட்டுமே இயக்கப்படும். மேலும், திருநெல்வேலி - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (02632) ரயில் வரும் 19, 20-ம் தேதிகளில் செங்கல்பட்டு வரை மட்டுமே இயக்கப்படும்.

குருவாயூர் - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (06128) ரயில் வரும் 19-ம் தேதி விழுப்புரம் வரையும், காகிநாடா போர்ட் - செங்கல்பட்டு (07644), காச்சிகுடா - செங்கல்பட்டு (07652), செகந்திராபாத் - தாம்பரம் (02760) ரயில்கள் வரும் 19, 20-ம் தேதிகளில் சென்னை எழும்பூர் வரையும் இயக்கப்படும். தஞ்சாவூர் - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (06866), மதுரை - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (02638), மன்னார்குடி - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (06180) ஆகிய ரயில்கள் வரும் 20-ம் தேதி செங்கல்பட்டு வரை மட்டுமே இயக்கப்படுகின்றன.

மாற்றுப்பாதையில் இயக்கம்

புவனேஸ்வர் - தாம்பரம் சிறப்பு ரயில் (08496) வரும் 19-ம் தேதி பெரம்பூர், அரக்கோணம், காஞ்சிபுரம் மாற்றுவழியாகவும், தூத்துக்குடி - சென்னை எழும்பூர் சிறப்பு ரயில் (02694), திருச்செந்தூர் - சென்னை எழும்பூர் (06106) சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் வரும் 20-ம் தேதி காஞ்சிபுரம், மேலப்பாக்கம், திருத்தணி மாற்றுவழியாகவும் இயக்கப்படுகின்றன.

செங்கல்பட்டில் இருந்து புறப்படும்

இதேபோல், சென்னை எழும்பூர் - மதுரை (02635), சென்னை எழும்பூர் - காரைக்குடி (02605) சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் வரும் 14-ம் தேதி முதல் 21-ம் தேதி வரையில் செங்கல்பட்டில் இருந்து புறப்படும். சென்னை எழும்பூர் - தூத்துக்குடி (02693), கொல்லம் சிறப்பு ரயில் (06723) வரும் 20-ம் தேதியிலும், செங்கோட்டை சிறப்பு ரயில் (02611) வரும் 20, 21-ம் தேதிகளிலும், திருச்சிராப்பள்ளி சிறப்பு ரயில் (06795), திருசெந்தூர் சிறப்பு ரயில் (06105), ராமேஸ்வரம் சிறப்பு ரயில் (06851) ஆகியவை வரும் 21-ம் தேதி செங்கல்பட்டில் இருந்து புறப்பட்டுச் செல்லும்.

10 ஆண்டுக்கு பின் ரயிலை பார்த்த தேனி மக்கள்: மலர் தூவி, செல்பி எடுத்து உற்சாகம்தேனி வந்த சோதனை ரயில் இன்ஜினை வரவேற்ற பொதுமக்கள்.

10 ஆண்டுக்கு பின் ரயிலை பார்த்த தேனி மக்கள்: மலர் தூவி, செல்பி எடுத்து உற்சாகம்தேனி வந்த சோதனை ரயில் இன்ஜினை வரவேற்ற பொதுமக்கள்.

தேனி  4.3.2021 

மதுரை - போடி அகல ரயில்பாதை வழித்தடத்தில் நேற்று தேனி வரை இன்ஜின் மூலம் சோதனை ஓட்டம் நடந்தது. 10 ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு ரயிலைப் பார்த்த மக்கள் மலர் தூவி வரவேற்றனர்.

போடி-மதுரை இடையே இயக்கப்பட்ட மீட்டர்கேஜ் ரயில்கள் அகலப்பாதையாக மாற்றுவதற்காக 2010 டிசம்பரில் நிறுத்தப்பட்டது. சுமார் 90 கி.மீ. தூரம் உடைய இப்பாதையில் ரூ.450 கோடி மதிப்பில் பணி கள் தொடங்கின. குறைவான நிதி ஒதுக்கீடு உள்ளிட்ட பல காரணங்களால் இப்பணி தொய் வடைந்தது.

இந்நிலையில் கடந்த 2 ஆண்டு களாக இப்பணி வேகம் எடுத்தது. இருப்பினும் கரோனா, வடமாநிலத் தொழிலாளர் பற்றாக்குறை ஆகி யவற்றால் மீண்டும் பணிகள் தாம தமாயின.

கட்சிகள், பொதுமக்கள், வர்த் தகர்களின் தொடர் கோரிக்கையால் கடந்த 6 மாதமாக பணிகள் தீவிரமாக நடந்து வந்தன. ஏற்கெனவே மதுரையில் இருந்து ஆண்டிபட்டி வரை சோதனை ஓட்டம் முடிந்திருந்தது. இதன் அடுத்தகட்டமாக நேற்று தேனி வரை ரயில் இன்ஜின் சோதனை ஓட்டம் நடைபெற்றது.

ஆண்டிபட்டிக்கு பகல் 12 மணிக்கு வந்த ரயில் இன்ஜின் பின்னர் ஆங்காங்கே மெதுவாக இயக்கப்பட்டது. பின்னர் பிற்பகல் 2.15 மணிக்கு தேனிக்கு வந்தது. வழிநெடுகிலும் பொதுமக்கள் இருபுறமும் நின்று ரயில் இன் ஜினை வரவேற்று மலர்தூவி செல்பி எடுத்துக் கொண்டனர்.

ஏறத்தாழ 10 ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு, ரயிலைப் பார்த்த மக்கள் மகிழ்ச்சி அடைந்தனர்.

இதுகுறித்து ரயில்வே அதிகாரிகள் கூறுகையில், இன்ஜின் சோதனை ஓட்டம் முடிவடைந்துள்ளது. விரையில் பெட்டிகளை இணைத்து சோதனை ஓட்டம் நடைபெறும்.

ஜூன், ஜூலையில் ரயில்களை இயக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளது. போடி வரை தண்டவாளம் அமைக்கும் பணி முடிவடைந்துள்ளது என்றனர்.

மகளின் படிப்புக்காக எடுத்து சென்றபோது விவசாயியிடம் ரூ.90 ஆயிரம் பணம் பறிமுதல்

மகளின் படிப்புக்காக எடுத்து சென்றபோது விவசாயியிடம் ரூ.90 ஆயிரம் பணம் பறிமுதல்

செய்யாறு

செய்யாறு அருகே மகளின் படிப்பு செலவுக்காக விவசாயி எடுத்துச் சென்ற ரூ.90 ஆயிரம் பணத்தை தேர்தல் பறக்கும் படையினர் நேற்று முன்தினம் மாலை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

தமிழகத்தில் நடைபெறவுள்ள சட்டப்பேரவை தேர்தலை முன்னிட்டு தேர்தல் நடத்தை விதிகள் அமலுக்கு வந்துள்ளன. தேர்தலில் வாக்காளர்களுக்கு பணம், பரிசுப் பொருட்கள் வழங்குவதை தடுக்க கண்காணிப்பு குழுவினர் வாகன தணிக்கையில் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர்.

அதன்படி, செய்யாறு அடுத் துள்ள வந்தவாசி - காஞ்சிபுரம் சாலையில் ஆக்கூர் கூட்டுச்சாலை சந்திப்பில் தேர்தல் பறக்கும் படை அலுவலர் மோனிகா தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் நேற்று முன்தினம் மாலை 7 மணியளவில் வாகன தணிக்கையில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

அப்போது, அவ் வழியாகச் சென்ற காரை நிறுத்தி சோதனை யிட்டதில், இரண்டு பெண்கள் உட்பட 3 பேர் உரிய ஆவணங்கள் இல்லாமல் ரூ.90 ஆயிரம் பணத்தை எடுத்துச் சென்றது தெரியவந்தது. இதையடுத்து, அந்தப் பணத்தை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

விசாரணையில், காரில் வந்திருந்த நபர் கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டம் களியக்காவிளை பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்த விவசாயி என்றும், சென்னை ஸ்டான்லி மருத்துவமனையில் மருத்துவம் படித்து வரும் மகளின் படிப்பு செலவுக்காக எடுத்துச் செல்வதாக தெரிவித்தார். ஆனால், உரிய ஆவணங்கள் இல்லாமல் பணத்தை எடுத்துச் சென்றதால் பணத்தை பறிமுதல் செய்த அதிகாரிகள், செய்யாறு தேர்தல் நடத்தும் அலுவலர் விஜயராஜிடம் ஒப்படைத்தனர்.

பின்னர் அந்தப் பணம் சார் கருவூலத்தில் ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்டது.

'5 மாவட்டத்தில் கொரோனா பாதிப்பு குறையவில்லை'

'5 மாவட்டத்தில் கொரோனா பாதிப்பு குறையவில்லை'

Updated : மார் 04, 2021 03:22 | Added : மார் 04, 2021 03:20

சென்னை : ''தமிழகத்தில் செங்கல்பட்டு, காஞ்சிபுரம், திருவள்ளூர், கோவை, திருப்பூர் ஆகிய ஐந்து மாவட்டங்களில், கொரோனா பாதிப்பு குறையவில்லை,'' என, சுகாதாரத் துறை செயலர் ராதாகிருஷ்ணன் தெரிவித்தார்.

கொரோனா தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கைகள் குறித்து ஆய்வு செய்வதற்காக, மத்திய சுகாதாரத்துறை இணை செயலர் அருண் குமார் தலைமையில், புதுச்சேரி ஜிப்மர் மருத்துவமனை டாக்டர்கள் சி.பழனிவேல், தினேஷ் பாபு ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய குழு, மூன்று நாள் பயணமாக, மார்ச் 1ல் தமிழகம் வந்தது.தமிழகத்தில், கொரோனா பரவலை கட்டுப்படுத்த எடுக்கப்பட்ட நடவடிக்கைகள், தடுப்பூசிகள் போடுதல் குறித்து, சுகாதாரத் துறை செயலர் ராதாகிருஷ்ணன் உள்ளிட்ட அதிகாரிகளுடன், முதல் நாள் ஆலோசனை நடத்தினர்.

இரண்டாவது நாளான நேற்று, சென்னை அண்ணா சாலையில் உள்ள, அரசு பல்நோக்கு உயர் சிறப்பு மருத்துவமனையின் செயல்பாடுகளை பார்வையிட்டனர்.செயல்பாடுகள் குறித்து, செயலர் ராதாகிருஷ்ணன், மருத்துவமனை இயக்குனர் விமலா, ஒருங்கிணைப்பு அதிகாரி ஆனந்த்குமார் ஆகியோர் விவரித்தனர்.இதையடுத்து, திருவள்ளூர், செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டங்களில் குழுவினர் ஆய்வு நடத்தினர். இன்று தலைமைச் செயலரை சந்தித்து ஆலோசனை நடத்த உள்ளனர்.

இதுகுறித்து, சுகாதாரத் துறை செயலர் ராதாகிருஷ்ணன் கூறியதாவது:தமிழகத்தில், 75 சதவீத சுகாதாரப் பணியாளர்கள் தடுப்பூசி போட்டுள்ளனர். முன்களப் பணியாளர்கள் மற்றும் தேர்தல் பணியில் ஈடுபட உள்ளோர், தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ள முன்வர வேண்டும். முதியோர், 45 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்ட, இணை நோய் பாதிப்புள்ளவர்கள், ஆர்வமாக வந்து தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்கின்றனர்; இது, பாராட்டத்தக்கது. தினமும், 40 ஆயிரம் பேருக்கு தடுப்பூசி போடப்படுகிறது.

சென்னையில், 39 ஆயிரம் தெருக்கள் உள்ளன. இதில், 1,000 தெருக்களில் இருந்து, தினமும் ஐந்து, ஆறு பேர் கொரோனா தொற்றால் பாதிக்கப்படுகின்றனர்.அதேபோல, திருவள்ளூர், காஞ்சிபுரம், செங்கல்பட்டு, திருப்பூர், கோவை ஆகிய, ஐந்து மாவட்டங்களில், கொரோனா பாதிப்பு குறையவில்லை.திருமணம், பிறந்தநாள் உள்ளிட்ட நிகழ்ச்சிகளில் கலந்து கொள்வோர், முக கவசம் அணியாததை பார்க்கும் போது, கவலை அளிக்கிறது. பஸ், ரயில் பயணத்தின் போதும், முக கவசம் அணியாமல் பயணம் செய்கின்றனர்.அனைவரும் முக கவசம் கட்டாயம் அணிய வேண்டும். மிகுந்த எச்சரிக்கையுடன் இருக்க வேண்டும்.

தொற்று அறிகுறி இருந்தால், உடனே அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கு செல்ல வேண்டும். கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி காலாவதியாகி விட்டது என, தேவையற்ற குழப்பத்தை ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டாம். தமிழகத்துக்கு, 26 லட்சம் தடுப்பூசிகளை, மத்திய அரசு வழங்கி உள்ளது. இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

ஒரு கப் தேநீர் விலை ரூ.1,000!

ஒரு கப் தேநீர் விலை ரூ.1,000!

Added : மார் 03, 2021 20:39

கோல்கட்டா:கோல்கட்டாவில் உள்ள ஒரு கடையில், ஒரு கப் தேநீர், 1,000 ரூபாய்க்கு விற்கப்படும் செய்தி, சமூக வலைதளங்களில் வேகமாக பரவி வருகிறது.

இந்தியாவில் பெரும்பாலான மக்களின் அன்றாட வாழ்க்கை, தேநீர் குடிப்பதில் தான் துவங்குகிறது. சாதாரணமாக, ஒரு கப் தேநீர், 10 ரூபாய்க்கு விற்கப்படுகிறது. ஆனால், மேற்கு வங்க தலைநகர் கோல்கட்டாவில், முகுந்த்புர் பகுதியில் உள்ள, நிர்ஜஷ் டீ ஸ்டாலில், 'போ லே' என்ற ஒரு தேநீர் ரகம், ஒரு கப், 1,000 ரூபாய்க்கு விற்கப்படுகிறது.

மேலும், இந்தக் கடையில், 100 வகையான தேநீர் கிடைக்கிறது. இது குறித்து, இந்த கடையின் உரிமையாளர் பார்த்தா பிரதிம் கங்குலி கூறியதாவது:ஏழு ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன், இந்த தேநீர் கடையை துவக்கினேன். வாடிக்கையாளர்களை கவர, 'சில்வர் நீடில் ஒயிட் டீ, கிரீன் டீ, பிளாக் டீ, செம்பருத்தி டீ, லாவண்டர் டீ, ஒயின் டீ, துளசி இஞ்சி டீ, டீஸ்டா வேலி டீ, மகாய்பாரி டீ' என, பல தேநீர் வகைகளை தயாரித்தேன். டார்ஜிலிங் மட்டுமின்றி, பல்வேறு நாடுகளில் விளையும், விதவிதமான தேயிலைகளை இறக்குமதி செய்து, அவற்றை, சரியான தட்ப வெப்ப நிலையில் பாதுகாத்து, பதப்படுத்தி, சுவைமிக்க தேநீர் தயாரிக்கிறேன். அதனால், என் கடையில் விற்கப்படும் தேநீரின் மவுசு, உலகம் முழுதும் பரவியது.

இதையடுத்து, 'சில்வர் நீடில் ஒயிட் டீ' என்ற, ஒரு வகை தேநீர் தயாரிக்கும் யோசனை உதித்தது. சில்வர் நீடில் ஒயிட் டீ வகையை விளைவிக்க, மூன்று மடங்கு, அதிக காலம் ஆகும். அதுபோல, உற்பத்தி செலவும், மூன்று மடங்கு அதிகமாக இருக்கும். அது போல், 'போ லே' வகை தேநீர், கப் ஒன்றுக்கு, 1,000 ரூபாய் என, நிர்ணயித்தேன். பணக்கார வாடிக்கையாளர்கள், இந்த தேநீரை விரும்பிக் கேட்டு பருகுகின்றனர்.இந்த டீத் துாளின் விலை, 1 கிலோ, 3 லட்சம் ரூபாய். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

Free bone marrow transplants resume at Chennai's Rajiv Gandhi Hospital after nearly a year

Free bone marrow transplants resume at Chennai's Rajiv Gandhi Hospital after nearly a year

Dean Dr E Theranirajan said a bone marrow transplant is an expensive procedure and would cost several lakhs in private facilities but at RGGGH, it was being done for free

Published: 03rd March 2021 03:33 PM 

A 44-year-old suffering from multiple myeloma discharged on March 1 after successful bone marrow transplant treatment at RGGGH. (Photo | Special Arrangement)

By Omjasvin MD

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai has resumed bone marrow transplants almost a year after they were stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking to The New Indian Express, Dean of RGGGH Dr E Theranirajan said a bone marrow transplant is an expensive procedure and would cost several lakhs in private facilities but at RGGGH, it was being done for free under the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme.

A 44-year-old suffering from multiple myeloma, admitted on February 2, was successfully discharged on March 1, following treatment for tautologic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Doctors said that the department of Clinical Haematology has done transplants for more than 20 patients at the RGGGH, after the speciality was inaugurated in 2018.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (also called bone marrow transplantation) involves intravenous infusion of stem cells to re-establish proper formation and function in patients whose bone marrow or immune system is damaged or defective due to various acquired or inherited cancerous disorders.

These include blood cancers, genetic diseases associated with abnormal production and function such as thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia and severe combined immunodeficiency.

Doctors said that two more patients are getting transplants while many more patients are waiting.

Making of a Biryani master

Making of a Biryani master

Serving the hungry, being part of the process, and being loyal to his customers are the secrets to S Abdul Samad’s success

Published: 04th March 2021 05:27 AM |

PHOTO: ASHWIN PRASATH

By Kannalmozhi Kabilan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: There are many statements that could ideally describe the laboured life of S Abdul Samad What you sow, so you reap; what goes around, comes around; Insha Allah; mother knows best. But, if you had to pick just one, it’d probably be ‘strife maketh a man’. And his thallu vandi-to-global restaurant chain story too. The man behind the success that is SS Hyderabad Biryani would not be where he is now, if not for the fire that ravaged his father’s poultry factory and changed the nature of their lives overnight.

Forced to become enterprising, it was his mother’s culinary skills born of the experience generations of her family had gained in the palace of Mysuru that Abdul turned to. In the summer of 1995, three years after the fire, after a prolonged period of search and salvation and a succession of kind encounters, he set up his first thallu vandi selling chicken pakoda.

It took another three years for him to move to the biryani business. The kind where there’s one man with a katta pai full of heavy biryani packages, delighting the hungry merchants of Richi Street and ravenous swimmers near Marina with meaty goodness. In the years that followed, he did move on to take a day job in the marketing world, while also handling party orders for his biryani that had by then garnered a solid word-of-mouth reputation.

It was in 2003 that Abdul’s biryani enterprise found a mortar-and-brick home in Perambur. And there has been no looking back since. While the going had certainly not been easy by any means, trust in his mother’s recipe that he had worked hard to master, faith in God and earnest eagerness in doing his part in the scheme of things and doing it well at that is what has kept him going, he says. Here’s an excerpt from the conversation.

Biryani might have still been a novelty when you started out. But what has made you thrive in the business for so many years, amid such competition?

I was a field worker from the start; that’s what helped me survive the competition. When I was selling biryani in Richi Street, people did come back to my biryani master to get him to make the same food for them. But it wasn’t the same. My mother used to say “You be there through the entire food-making process. Make use of what I gave you, what the cook offered and what you saw fit in both and make a distinct recipe. No one should know what you do to make the biryani taste this way.

But it should be unique.” Even in those days, I used to give a sufficient quantity of rice in each biryani packet. Because people should bless you from the heart after eating and not feel cheated. I would pack rice till it looks enough to my eyes; you take it in your hands and it will feel heavy. People began buying one packet for two. This made my biryani stand out. Even today, there is no measure; people still buy one packet for two.

You have had many principles and ideologies define your work. But, what stands out the most?

When I spoke at an event in Bangkok recently, they asked me what is quality to me. Others would say it is in the key ingredients, flavours... But that’s not it. It’s working in such a way that you know god is watching. Because the customer wouldn’t know what I put in the food when I serve it. But He is watching. And that’s the challenge I present to all restaurants. At least after this pandemic, I ask them to give up adding colours and Ajinomoto (MSG) to food. Today, some chef or master might do it to a stranger; but, the same thing is being done to his kin by someone else. This is how it works.

Beyond good food, what would you like your business to stand for?

The idea is to give. In our big outlets in the city, we plan to provide sanitary napkin dispensers in the women’s restrooms; so that it comes in handy during emergencies. Besides this, we plan to introduce a food bank at every one of our outlets. On my part, I will provide ten packets of biryani. Those in need can approach the counter and they will be offered food from this bank. The public can contribute to this effort too, adding the food they can to the bank. In other restaurants, they will give away food to the needy only after they have attended to the customers. Here, it’s the needy we address first.

CHICKEN FRY THE SS WAY

While all of SS Hyderabad Biryani’s outlets have maintained their standard menu with biryani,  tandoori and Indo-Chinese food on offer, the new outlet at Royapuram has stepped off this well-established mould. Shaped like a container unit (though you’re not likely to notice it with all the decor), this outlet features a SS special food court on the ground floor and a small party hall above it. The  food court, besides providing SS staples, also offers SS Halal Fried Chicken; and burgers, fries

and the like.

Plea for Tambaram-Velachery Metro gains momentum

Plea for Tambaram-Velachery Metro gains momentum

Ahead of the Assembly elections, residents of Tambaram have two major demands.

Published: 04th March 2021 05:33 AM 

Representational image 

By OMJASVIN M D

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Ahead of the Assembly elections, residents of Tambaram have two major demands. This includes construction of 15-km long metro railway line on Tambaram-Velachery route and upgrading Tambaram Municipality into an independent Corporation.

“Tambaram has a massive urban population that travels to parts of Chennai and if the metro project fructifies, it would turn out to be extremely beneficial. This has been our proposal for several years, it was said that a feasibility study is ongoing. This project must concretely take shape,” says Sathish Kumar, a local resident.

Recently, Deputy CM O Panneerselvam announced that a Detailed Feasibility Study was underway for the proposed Tambaram and Velachery metro railway line. A second important demand is to upgrade Tambaram Municipality into a Corporation comprising of nearby areas, including Chromepet. Pallavaram residents too have demanded for the same.

“The municipality is densely populated and surrounding it, there are so many residential localities which are still under Town Panchayats. Upgrading it to a Corporation will improve the services of Solid Waste Management, Water Supply, Public Health, and Underground Sewage connection, which is lacking in many houses,” says Dayanand Krishnan, a resident of Chitlapakkam. “If Tambaram becomes a Corporation, it would directly get funds for water supply scheme and infrastructure will be improved uniformly across various localities under it,” adds Dayanand.

No govt nod needed to challenge court order for adverse remarks: Hry AG

No govt nod needed to challenge court order for adverse remarks: Hry AG

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:04.03.2021 

The Haryana government has asked senior bureaucrat Ashok Khemka not to seek its permission to challenge an order passed by a single bench of the Punjab and Haryana high court in which some adverse remarks were made against him.

“The complaint made by Ashok Khemka IAS, which has been adversely commented by the high court in judgment dated January 29, 2021, was in his private capacity and not in discharge of his official duties as a member of the service. Ashok Khemka does not require any previous government sanction in this case and may have recourse to any legal remedy for expunction of adverse remarks against him in the judgment,” the advocate general (AG) office Haryana has clarified in response to Khemka’s request.

The matter relates to appointment of shooter Vishwajeet Singh, who is son of another IAS officer and former director of sports department, Haryana, Jagdeep Singh, in the coveted Haryana Civil Service (executive branch) under sports quota. The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) had recommended Vishwajeet’s name for appointment as HCS officer but his appointment was halted after Khemka made a complaint, raising questions on the affiliation of tournaments for which Vishwajeet was issued the sports gradation certificate that helped him get the job.

However, Vishwajeet had approached the HC, which in its order dated January 29 directed the state government to give him the appointment. The single bench of the HC had also made some adverse comments on Khemka in its judgment.

Significantly, the state’s AG office as well as the office of chief secretary, Haryana, have already found the single bench judgment fit for appeal and to challenge the order. However, sources confirmed that the appeal from the state could not be filed till date because of the intervention of a senior leader of BJP coalition partner, JJP, who has requested chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar not to challenge the decision. The matter regarding the appeal, however, is still pending with the government.

As the remarks were made against Khemka, who was not even impleaded as party in the case, he decided to challenge the judgment of a single bench. Before filing the appeal in his individual capacity, Khemka, who is presently posted as principal secretary, department of archaeology and museums, Haryana, had sought the approval of the state government in view of the All India Services (conduct) Rules 1968.

What rules stipulate

Rule17 of the All India Services (conduct) Rules 1968 provides that no member of the service shall, except with the previous sanction of the government, have recourse on any court or to the press for the vindication of official act which has been the subject matter of adverse criticism or attack of a defamatory character. It further states that if no such sanction is conveyed to the government within12 weeks from the date of receipt of the request, the member shall be free to assume that the sanction sought for has been granted to him.

Thirsty girl enters house, is ‘raped’, killed and buried

Thirsty girl enters house, is ‘raped’, killed and buried

04.03.2021 

After working on a farm in UP’s Bulandshahr last Thursday with her mother and elder sister all day, the14-year-old girl was exhausted. She wanted water. The girl had a mild speech impairment, stammering while she spoke, but she knew a family that lived nearby.

After she entered the house, the girl was allegedly raped and strangled by Harendra (22), a labourer, when she tried to resist, and dumped in a pit. Five days later when police went to question him, they found the house locked. A cop scaled the wall and landed on loose, soft mud. When they dug a little deep, they found the girl’s body — naked, strangled and brutalised, reports Sandeep Rai.

Harendra was arrested from Shimla, where he had fled, on Wednesday.

Accused held from Shimla, admits to crime

Last Thursday, when the girl didn’t return home in two hours, her mother and sister went looking for her. Harendra was found lying inebriated on a cot. No one else was home. They couldn’t find out much. They again went to Harendra’s house on Sunday. It was locked.

Her father, a marginal farmer, then approached the Anupshahr police station to register a missing person case. On Tuesday, police took him along to question Harendra. “He worked as a labourer in Delhi and had come for a few days,” Anupshahr SHO Ram Sen Singh said. No one answered the door. One cop scaled the wall to enter the premises. By this time, Harendra had fled. “We detained his father and put Harendra’s number under surveillance,” he said. “It turned out he was in Shimla.” A police team was sent from UP to arrest him. Police said he was arrested on Wednesday, adding that he has confessed to the murder.

›UP boy, 17, kills Dalit girl for resisting oral sex ›₹1L for info on Hathras molester-killer, P 13

Vanniyar quota unconstitutional: PIL in Madras HC

Vanniyar quota unconstitutional: PIL in Madras HC

Chennai: 04.03.2021 

Then Naadu Makkal Katchi has moved the Madras high court challenging the validity of the bill passed by the Tamil Nadu assembly providing 10.5% internal reservation to vanniyars, hours before election was notified for the state.

On Tuesday, counsel for the petitioner made a mention for urgent hearing of the plea.

According to party founder S Ganesan, if the bill becomes an act, vanniyars and other sub-castes under vanniyakula kshatriya community will enjoy exclusive10.5% reservation in admission to higher education and government services while the other 25 castes under MBC and 68 castes under DC will have to share 7% of the remaining reservation. This exclusive reservation will affect the development of the state besides developing enmity among communities falling under MBC category, the petitioner said. TNN

Bihar medical school halts classes after student dies of Covid

Bihar medical school halts classes after student dies of Covid

V K Tripathi TNN

Patna:  04.03.2021 

A final-year MBBS student of Patna's Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) died of Covid-19 and eight others tested positive over the past three days, prompting the institute to suspend all classes from Wednesday until RT-PCR tests clear the remaining students and hostel inmates. All nine students infected with the virus had been administered their first vaccine dose around three weeks ago. Immunity kicks in only after the second dose.

Principal secretary of health Pratyaya Amrit visited the college and directed hospital superintendent Dr Binod Kumar Singh to ensure that everyone on the campus was tested. He also ordered rapid antigen testing at Aryabhatta Knowledge University, where several students are to write their first MBBS paper on Thursday.

Samples taken from those who have tested positive have been sent to the Institute of Life Sciences in Bhubaneswar for confirmation of the Covid strain.

The deceased had left for Bihar’s Begusarai on February 24 and was admitted to a hospital there with Covid-19 symptoms. He died on Monday.

One of 90 samples show UK strain

Out of 90 samples sent from Mumbai on February 17, only one showed the UK strain (B1.1.7), said preliminary reports shared with the civic authorities. Genome sequencing did not show any other significant variants at the moment. A final report is awaited. Over 350 samples from Mumbai and the districts of Vidarbha were sent to labs across the country for genome sequencing. TNN

Innocent man in jail for 20yrs walks free

Innocent man in jail for 20yrs walks free

Deepak.Lavania@timesgroup.com

Agra:  04.03.2021 

Vishnu Tiwari walked out of Agra Central Jail on Wednesday with three bags to start a new life. In them were his clothes, Rs 600 left over from the stipend he got in jail for his work and a copy of the high court judgment that had ordered his release after 20 years of wrongful incarceration on rape charges. He was wearing a T-shirt gifted by one of his fellow inmates.

As he made his way out, they cheered, garlanded him and applauded. He was finally getting justice and the inmates — the only friends he had had — were happy for him. The moment he stepped out, it all fell silent. No one had turned up to receive him. Two of his brothers and father had died years ago. His elder brother had long disowned him. His younger brother, 33, could not make it. “No one should go through what I did. Many innocent people are languishing in jail. The authorities should at least get them a fair trial,” Vishnu told TOI.

He had lost the fight in him while he was in prison, after trying once, in 2005, to challenge the trial court’s decision to sentence him to life. But prison authorities stepped in on his behalf, approached the State Legal Services Authority and placed his case in HC again which, on January 28, found him not guilty.

SC to decide on TN reservation law after Maratha quota ruling

SC to decide on TN reservation law after Maratha quota ruling

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:04.03.2021 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred hearing on constitutional validity of Tamil Nadu reservation law providing 69% quota in government jobs and educational institutions and said the matter would be heard after the issue of Maratha quota is decided by the Constitution bench.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and R Subhash Reddy directed that the case be listed after the constitutional validity of Maratha reservation is decided by the court, but turned down the plea to tag the case with Maratha quota case so that the Constitution bench decides both the issues.

“After considering the submissions of learned counsel for the parties, we are of the view that these petitions need not be heard along with Civil Appeal No.3123 of 2020 (Maratha reservation) and be listed after the judgment in the case,” the court said.

The state government opposed tagging of the case with Maratha reservation. It contended that 1993 Act has special protection under Article 31B of the Constitution and the case must be heard separately after the Constitution Bench delivers the Judgment in Maratha reservation case.

“The Act which is under challenge is Tamil Nadu Act, 1993 whereas the Maharashtra Act, 2018 was an enactment which was enacted after the Constitution 102nd Amendment. Hence the question pertaining to Constitution 102nd Amendment is under consideration in Maratha reservation case which has been referred to the larger Bench,” senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for state, said.

TAGGING NOT POSSIBLE

Law student posts obscene video on WhatsApp group

Law student posts obscene video on WhatsApp group

Yogita.Rao@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:04.03.2021 

A student from a leading south Mumbai law college posted an obscene video on a WhatsApp group created for coordination of online lectures. While immediate attempts were made to identify the student, the phone number could not be identified and others in the class could not establish the person’s identity too. Eventually, the number was blocked and a complaint submitted to the college principal who, in turn, sent a letter to Marine Drive police station seeking a probe.

After a month passed and the teachers began to moderate all online groups, the student allegedly started harassing a female classmate using the same number. The teachers have now written to the principal again seeking a complaint with the cyber cell, alleging no steps were taken to identify and penalise the student in the past.

The video, which outraged the modesty of women, was posted on the group on February 1. A teacher from the college said there has been a delay in action, both from the college’s side as well as the police. “If a person is not penalised for his actions, he is bound to repeat it,” said the teacher. While online classes have become a necessity in the pandemic, sharing of obscene content and abuses under the garb of anonymity have been a nightmare for teachers. “Many teachers still live with this fear every day. Colleges need to back teachers and take strict action against offenders to set an example,” said a teacher from another college.

Teachers on poll duty say no to postal ballot, move court

Teachers on poll duty say no to postal ballot, move court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.03.2021 

A government school teachers association has moved the Madras high court seeking a direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to permit government servants on election duty to cast their votes through EVMs in their respective constituencies at least three days prior to the actual polling.

Admitting the plea on Wednesday, the first bench of chief justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy directed the ECI to inform its stand by March 8. The association urged the ECI to make such an arrangement saying postal ballot was not effective and that most government staff on poll duty end up not casting a valid vote.

“During 2019 parliamentary election, 24,912 postal ballots were rejected for want of gazetted officer’s attestation of the 2,23,527 postal ballots polled, wasting votes of 15% of government staff on poll duty,” the petitioner said.

Recording the submissions, the bench said, that the ECI must ensure that not even a single voter is left out.

Politics not business for me, says Kamal at city campaign

CAMPAIGN TRAIL KAMAL HAASAN

Politics not business for me, says Kamal at city campaign

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 04.03.2021 

Seeking to claim the legacy of M G Ramachandran, actor Kamal Haasan on Wednesday began his campaign trail from Alandur, earlier Parangimalai constituency which sent MGR to the assembly first in 1967.

“It was from here that part of MGR’s political journey began. I am happy that my journey also starts from here,” Kamal told amid a sea of supporters at Madanandhapuram near Porur.

Earlier in the day, the MNM chief released the party’s agenda for women and youth welfare and sports development at his party office in Alwarpet, after which he took the metro to reach Alandur.

Outside the Alandur metro station, cadres gathered in numbers to mark the beginning of the campaign trail.

Along the trail along the suburbs, the matinee idolturned-politician kept those gathered engaged with promises of a honest government.

Apart from the cadres, several turned up to catch a glimpse of Kamal Haasan, whom they were used to witnessing in the silver screen.

“I came to see Kamal in person. Though I couldn’t get close to him, I am happy that I was part of a historic event,” said G Pavithra, 46, of Thiruvottiyur, who accompanied an MNM cadre.

Kamal, while addressing the public at several locations, stated that he was delighted to see MNM’s support growing exponentially and wooed women and youth with promises of monetary compensation for household work and employment for youth. “Time for change has come. However dark it gets, torchlight will show the way,” Kamal said.

The campaign trail concluded at Mangollai in Mylapore where Kamal, in a short speech, took a dig at the ruling AIADMK government and the BJP stressing to the audience that neither he nor the future of Tamil Nadu was for sale. “Some are trying to buy votes. I am not a trader, nor is politics a business for me,” Kamal said

CHOOSING THE RIGHT START: MNM chief Kamal Haasan began his campaign trail at Alandur, earlier Parangimalai constituency from where MGR was elected to the assembly first. The campaign drew a sea of people and led to traffic snarls at Kathipara

Kalam’s advisor joins MNM, made V-P

Chennai:

V Ponraj, who was the scientific advisor of late President A P J Abdul Kalam, joined actor Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Wednesday. After introducing Ponraj at a meeting in Alwarpet, party president Kamal Haasan announced that Ponraj would serve as MNM’s vice-president along with Dr R Mahendran. “I was ready to work with anyone who will make Abdul Kalam’s vision for the country a reality. When the call came from Kamal, I decided to join the party. I am confident of ensuring Kalam’s vision under the able leadership of Kamal Haasan,” Ponraj said. Ponraj said the party he had started — Abdul Kalam Vision India Party — could not even be registered due to hurdles posed by the BJP government. TNN

Bride scoots, groom’s family goes berserk

Bride scoots, groom’s family goes berserk

Chennai:  04.03.2021 

A group of guests ransacked a marriage hall in Nazarethpet after the bride did not turn up for wedding scheduled for Tuesday evening.

Family members of the groom from Chembarambakkam and the bride from Madurantakam were staying at a city hotel to attend the marriage. The bride had gone to a beauty parlour but never returned to the hotel.

Following this, her family members launched a search for the woman, but to no avail.

Subsequently, they informed the bridegroom’s family. By that time, more than 100 guests from both sides had gathered at the hall. In a fit of rage, people from the groom’s side ransacked the hall. A case has been registered. TNN

Sasikala quits politics, urges ‘Jaya followers’ to ensure DMK defeat

Sasikala quits politics, urges ‘Jaya followers’ to ensure DMK defeat

But AMMK Will Fight Poll, Declares TTV

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.03.2021 

In a development that may come as a shot in the arm for the ruling AIADMK, V K Sasikala, the close-aide of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, on Wednesday announced her decision to quit politics. “I have decided to step aside from politics to ensure that the golden rule of Amma (Jayalalithaa) prevails, I am praying hard to my sister whom I consider as god and every god I know,” Sasikala said in a two-page emotional statement. The announcement came on a day when the ruling AIADMK led by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam ruled out any tie-up with Sasikala and her nephew T T V Dhinakaran. The BJP, meanwhile, made it clear that it would not interfere in the internal affairs of the AIADMK.

Sasikala urged the “true followers of Jayalalithaa” to stay united and work for the continuance of the golden rule of former chief ministers M G Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. Jayalalithaa’s wish was to see the party rule the state for more than 100 years, Sasikala said. “Cadres will have to work hard to prevent the evil force DMK from returning to power and ensure that the golden rule of Amma prevails,” she said, thanking party workers and well-wishers.

Seat talks tough task for AIADMK, DMK

Though filing nominations for the TN assembly polls is just10 days away, the AIADMK and the DMK camps seem to have made little headway in clinching a deal with potential allies. While the national parties — the BJP in the AIADMK camp and the Congress on the DMK side — took time off from the seat-sharing talks on Wednesday, smaller parties in both the camps, too, preferred to act tough. While the DMDK upped its ante on the AIADMK side, MDMK has convened a meeting of its high-level committee on Saturday to discuss DMK’s offer of a few seats. Another DMK ally, the VCK, too, was in no mood to return to the discussion table with the DMK. P 7

Sasikala’s decision aimed at uniting Jayalalithaa’s loyalists, says TTV

Reacting to Sasikala’s decision, AIADMK deputy coordinator K P Munusamy said he was happy to note that Sasikala remained loyal to Jayalalithaa. “But it is Dhinakaran, who is creating hurdles for the continuation of Jayalalithaa’s government in Tamil Nadu,” Munusamy said.

Dhinakaran said while his aunt’s decision saddened him, it was aimed at uniting Jayalalithaa’sloyalists.“Shewasworried that Amma’s followers were not united,” the AMMK leader said after a meeting with his aunt at her T Nagar residence. On February 8, while returning to Chennai, Sasikala told reporters that she would return to active politics.

“I urged her to try and do what she wanted (help Jayalalithaa’s government to return to power) by being inside and not by keeping away from politics. That’s why there was a delay in her releasing the statement,” Dhinakaran told reporters.

In her statement on Wednesday, Sasikala didn’t name the AIADMK or AMMK. “I am not hankering after any position, title or power. I will remain grateful to beloved cadres of Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader) and the people of Tamil Nadu,” she said.

Sasikala was released from Bengaluru prison in January after a four-year imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case. She was hospitalized for Covid-19.Afterherreleasefrom hospital and a two-week isolationperiod,shesetoutonalong journey by road on February 8 and reached Chennai the following day. “She was the one who ensured the continuation of Amma’s (Jayalalithaa’s) government by getting the MLAs to elect the present chief minister,” Dhinakaran said.

Dhinakaran said AMMK would go ahead and contest the assembly election. “Talks to form an alliance are on. We will announce it in due course . Meanwhile, the party will announce the candidate list on March 10,” Dhinakaran said, adding that he would contest the polls.

TNCCpresident K S Alagiri said Sasikala had “escaped the trap laid by BJP”, which wanted to take control of AIADMK by creating internal trouble. “Sasikala had enough experience in understanding politics and governance, having spent several years assisting Jayalalithaa. But she lacked the stature of a tall leader,” Alagiri said.

HDFC cuts interest rate to 6.75% for all amounts

HDFC cuts interest rate to 6.75% for all amounts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:04.03.2021 

The country’s largest housing finance company HDFC has cut interest rate on its home loans to 6.75% from 6.8%. HDFC has cut its retail prime lending rate by 5 basis points (100bps = 1 percentage point), which will bring down interest rates for existing borrowers too.

While SBI’s best rate is 5bps lower than HDFC, there are some categories where the latter matches SBI, as the private lender’s new rates are applicable for loans irrespective of the amount.

Speaking to TOI, HDFC MD Renu Sud Karnad said this was the best time for homebuyers as besides rates being at an alltime low, many state authorities have reduced stamp duties and reduced circle rates, which have an impact on stamp duty calculations. “Builders are willing to negotiate prices when they are approached by buyers. With demand picking up, my call to builders is that confidence is still to come in and they should refrain from trying to increase rates,” she said.

According to Karnad, HDFC has the best turnaround time in the industry and it is getting better due to use of technology. “We are able to process applications of even self-employed applicants within a couple of days.” She said the corporation was an early adopter of video KYC and straight-through processing of applications. Karnad said that while the pandemic has resulted in many homebuyers looking for an additional room, the demand for office space would not go away.

Convocation Notification