''No need to hide anything in Kodanad issue, dead can’t come alive to testify''

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published   Jan 17, 2019, 5:54 am IST

The CM had clearly explained this issue and had stated that there was nothing to hide, the Minister added.

D. Jayakumar

Chennai: Dismissing the allegations of Sayan in connection with the Kodanad estate episode, as ridiculous and concocted, State Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar claimed, Sayan appeared to heap up baseless charges as the driver Kanagaraj who was killed in an accident, will not come alive to testify.

”There is no need (for us) to conceal anything. The case is in already in the court. I can only say: on what basis did Sayan make the allegations? He said it based on Kanagaraj who had died. Is it possible for the dead to come alive and testify? Impossible. That’s why the allegations are being woven,” Mr. Jayakumar said and dismissed the allegations involving Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami as “baseless and concocted.”

The CM had clearly explained this issue and had stated that there was nothing to hide, the Minister added.

The Kodanad estate break in case resurfaced recently after Tehelka’s former editor Mathew Samuel released a 16-minute investigative video report accusing the role of CM in the case. In the video, two accused (in the burglary case) Sayan and Manoj claimed that the CM wanted them to retrieve Rs. 2,000 crore and some important documents from inside the estate. Both had alleged that it was Jayalalithaa’s former driver Kanagaraj who had told that Mr. Palaniswami was involved in the planning of the estate break-in.

Mr. Jayakumar claimed that DMK president M. K. Stalin somehow wanted to capture power. “He had unsuccessfully tried and desperately wants the Assembly election to be thrust on Tamil Nadu…but more than us, the DMK MLAs are happy over the AIADMK government,” he added.

Chennai: 96-year-old man finally gets freedom fighters pension

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

PublishedJan 17, 2019, 1:02 am IST

In the absence of the same, the district collector alone cannot reject the request of the petitioner, the judge added.

Madras high court

Chennai: The year 2019 began on a good note for a nonagenarian, who was struggling to eke out his livelihood, with the Madras high court directing the state government to grant the State Freedom Fighters Pension to him within eight weeks.

Disposing of the petition filed by Perumal, justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana said, “The petitioner claims to be about 96-year-old and instead of driving him to again go before the respondents (authorities), directing the respondents to sanction him State Freedom Fighters Pension from the date of his application that would meet the ends of justice. Accordingly, the respondents are directed to grant the State Freedom Fighters Pension to the petitioner within eight weeks.”

The petitioner had participated in the freedom movement and he was arrested and suffered imprisonment at the Bellary jail from October 15, 1942 to January 14, 1943. He had been taking part in various social activities thereafter. Though he was struggling to eke out his livelihood, he did not want to apply for pension, as according to him, it was a sacred duty to the nation. But, poverty finally drove him to apply for pension. However, the Krishnagiri district collector sent the impugned proceedings to the state government to turn down his request. The subsequent applications submitted by him were also rejected by the state government in 2014. Hence, he filed the present petition.

The judge said from the date of introduction of the scheme to the freedom fighters, the government issued various orders periodically prescribing the eligibility for availing the benefit. The government issued an order dated February 7, 1996, modifying the procedure for obtaining the co-prisoner certificates in the matter of grant of State Freedom Fighters Pension. There was no mention in the order as to whether the request of the petitioner was considered by the district screening committee, as mandated in the government orders.

In the absence of the same, the district collector alone cannot reject the request of the petitioner, the judge added.

Quoting various judgments, the judge said a perusal of the principles enunciated in the judgments make it amply clear that age cannot be the deciding factor to grant or refuse the pension to a freedom fighter.

3 found with fake tickets at Chennai airport

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedJan 17, 2019, 1:58 am IST

A businessman and a resident of Moulivakkam, entered the airport on Tuesday night by showing a cancelled ticket.

Further investigation revealed that he wanted to send off his wife and daughter and he had allegedly scanned the cancelled ticket to enter the terminal.

CHENNAI: The airport police are now investigating three persons who entered Chennai airport’s international terminal allegedly without valid tickets on Tuesday. According to officials, M. Krishna (42), a businessman and a resident of Moulivakkam, entered the airport on Tuesday night by showing a cancelled ticket. He wanted to see off his wife and daughter flying to Dubai.

He was detained when he tried to leave through the entrance to the departure after AI officials found no booking had been made in his name. The man also gave contradictory information, claiming that he had booked a ticket to fly to Dubai along with his family one week ago, but unfortunately, he had to attend a meeting in the city and cancelled his ticket two days ago.

Further investigation revealed that he wanted to send off his wife and daughter and he had allegedly scanned the cancelled ticket to enter the terminal. His wife who had boarded the flight by then told officials over the phone that he had no plans to fly along with them. Finally, airline officials handed him over to security authorities to probe for 'breach of security and fraud'. He was later handed over to the airport police.

Engg students held: Similarly, S. Vivaan Mhagi, 22, a third-year engineering student in the city originally from Odisha, presented an old ticket to fool CISF personnel and entered the departure lounge to send off her friend. According to reports, her friend had a ticket to travel from Chennai to Patna and she made a fake ticket of an Indigo flight. After her friend made it through the security check, she moved to the departure lounge and requested the CISF personnel that she no longer wanted to fly to Patna and wished to leave.

They found that the customer ID printed on her ticket was false. During interrogation, she admitted that she had manipulated an old ticket to send her friend off. In another case, Wasik Gupta (22), of Madhya Pradesh, who was pursuing final year engineering in the city, was also caught red-handed while leaving the departure terminal. He was handed over to the airport police on Wednesday morning. Further investigations are on.

Salem-Chengapalli highway to be converted to eight-lane road: Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami

Stating that the cost would be Rs 18 crore per kilometre for the 103-km stretch, he said that the Central government would sanction the fund.

Published: 17th January 2019 06:32 AM 

EPS laying foundation stone for flyover at Magudanchavadi | 

Express

By Express News Service

SALEM: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, on Wednesday, announced that the Salem-Chengapalli (near Coimbatore) National Highway will be converted into an eight-lane road at the cost Rs 1,931 crore. Stating that the cost would be Rs18 crore per kilometre for the 103-km stretch, he said that the Central government would sanction the fund.

The chief minister was in the city to inaugurate the memorial built for former chief minister J Jayalalithaa; he also unveiled statues of Jayalalithaa and AIADMK founder and late chief minister MG Ramachandran. Speaking at the event, Palaniswami praised the two former chief ministers for their contribution to the State.

“It was due to the dedication of these stalwarts that Tamil Nadu ranked first in various fields like education and health,” he said. Likening Jayalalithaa and MGR to gods, he said that their schemes would speak for the two for centuries to come. “I am very happy to open memorials and statues of these two great leaders and celebrating it as a government function.”

“We are celebrating and honouring those who worked for the people and the country. We opened a statue and memorial for actor Sivaji Ganesan in Chennai, a memorial and statue for former managing director of Daily Thanthi group B Sivanthi Aditanar at the cost of Rs1.30 crore at Tiruchendur, a memorial and statue for S S Ramasami Padaiyatchi in Karur at the cost of Rs2.1 crore and announced that his birthday will be celebrated as a government function. Works are on for a Bharat Madha temple at Papparapatti in Dharmapuri district and celebrating Pulidevan’s birthday at Tirunelveli district as a government function,” he detailed.


Development works

Participating in an event held at Magudanchavadi, Palaniswami laid foundation stone for two new flyovers at Magudanchavadi and in Ariyanoor on the Salem-Coimbatore National Highway, to be constructed at the cost of Rs90 crore. He also laid foundation stone for 53 new scheme works worth Rs121.55 crore and inaugurated 21 scheme works that were completed at the cost of Rs8.94 crore. He also distributed welfare assistance to 3,816 beneficiaries at the cost of Rs7.24 crore.

In the name of MGR

The chief minister on Wednesday announced that the Omalur main road will be named Bharat Ratna Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Road. “We will destroy all the allegations levelled against us and the hindrance created by our enemies with the support of people and the blessing of the late leaders MGR and Jayalalithaa. On behalf of the government, statues of former chief ministers MGR and Jayalalithaa will be garlanded on their birthdays,” Palaniswami declared.

Down memory lane

Addressing the public at the event in Magudanchavadi, the chief minister recalled how the place helped him win his first election. He had first contested in assembly election in 1989 from the Edappadi constituency, under which fell Magudanchavadi union. It was with the support of people here that he won the election and became an MLA, he narrated.

Case against Stalin

Pointing out that the opposition leader was now visiting villages and conducting grama sabha meetings, the chief minister said that the people of Tamil Nadu will not fall for this. They are clever and know who is working for them, he remarked. He also claimed that M K Stalin had not done any of this when he was a minister.

“Meeting people now is fake advertisement for Stalin. As far as I know, Stalin had not visited any village when he was minister. It is considering the upcoming elections that he is conducting this drama,” Palaniswmai alleged.

In the event, Revenue Minister R B Udayakumar, Social Welfare Minister Dr V Saroja, Collector Rohini Ramdas Bhajibhakare, MPs V Panneerselvam, P R Sundaram, Kamaraj, MLAs Venkatachalam, Sakthivel, Chitra, Manonmani, Raja, Maradhamuthu, Vettrivel and department officials participated.

CM’s greetings to Guv

Chennai: Chief Minister Palaniswami has greeted Governor Banwarilal Purohit on the occasion of Pongal. He has also sent a bouquet to the Governor. The Governor thanked the Chief Minister for the greetings. In his message to the Governor on Pongal day, the Chief Minister said, “I have great pleasure in conveying my best wishes and greetings to you, the First Lady and all the members of your family for a very Happy Pongal and Sankaranthi.”

Political enemies blamed

Chennai: Stating that political enemies of AIADMK were unleashing a malicious propaganda against the party, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday exhorted the party cadre to work for the victory of AIADMK in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Panneerselvam and Palaniswami, in their epistle to party cadre on the eve of 101st birth anniversary of AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran, said “Our political opponents are astonished at our unity and have been trying to malign the image of the government. We should thwart their designs.”

EPS condemns attack

Chennai: Strongly condemning the attack on Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy near Palk Strait on January 13 wherein a fishermen from Ramanathapuram drowned, Palaniswami granted a financial assistance of Rs5 lakh to the bereaved family. He also promised to take all constructive steps to protect the livelihood resources of State’s fishermen. In a statement here, the Chief Minister said on January 12, nine fishermen from Rameswaram set out for fishing in two boats in Palk Strait, and in the wee hours of January 13, the Sri Lankan Navy chased them away. In the melee, two boats carrying Tamil Nadu fishermen capsized and eight of them were rescued later, while K Muniyasamy drowned.

Bulls taken to Madurai theatre to watch Ajith-starrer 'Viswasam'; turned away

Owners of Mayandi theatre at Usilampatti were flabbergasted when the fans turned up to watch the film, with their richly decorated bulls on 'Mattu Pongal' (worshipping of cattle) day.

Published: 16th January 2019 10:19 PM |

Ajith in Viswasam. (Photo | File)

By PTI

MADURAI: Ajith starrer 'Viswasam' is running to packed houses, but none expected bulls at a theatre, led by die-hard fans of the actor.

Owners of Mayandi theatre at Usilampatti were flabbergasted when the fans turned up to watch the film, with their richly decorated bulls on 'Mattu Pongal' (worshipping of cattle) day.

On this day, cattle owners bathe their cattle, decorate and garland them and worship them as a mark of gratitude for helping them earn their livelihood.

However, the personnel manning the theatre explained to them that the bulls could not be allowed in a theatre, following which the disappointed fans went back to their villages, theatre officials said.

Newly married woman 'ends life' as husband refused to let her visit parents for Pongal

A depressed Parameshwari, 18, allegedly decided to end her life by consuming poison.

Published: 16th January 2019 01:52 PM |

An 18-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu's Rasipuram allegedly committed suicide as her husband didn't allow her to visit her parents for Pongal. 

Parameshwari had tied the knot with 24-year-old Sabarishwaran four months ago. The couple had reportedly not been on good terms and got into an argument recently. When Parameshwari expressed her wish to visit her parents for Pongal, her husband refused to let her go. Subsequently, the depressed Parameshwari allegedly decided to end her life by consuming poison.

The woman's father has lodged a complaint with the police who are investigating the matter. Meanwhile, the woman's family alleged that Sabarishwaran had killed Parameshwari over a dispute. According to a Dinamalar report, the groom's family demanded dowry from Parameshwari. "My daughter is not a coward to commit suicide. They have killed her over the dispute," Parameshwari's mother was quoted as saying.


Parameshwari's relatives also held a protest by blocking roads in Rasipuram demanding that the police arrest Sabarishwaran immediately.

Maths question paper worries teachers in Chennai

The circular notified that the total 90 marks is split up as 20 one-mark questions, seven two-mark questions, seven three-mark questions and seven five-mark questions.

Published: 17th January 2019 05:15 AM 

Image of students used for representational purpose (File Photo | Vinay Madapu/EPS)

By Sushmitha Ramakrishnan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Higher secondary school mathematics teachers fear that a sudden change introduced recently in the board exam question paper pattern may catch students off guard.

They say the objective type one-mark questions usually contained only ‘choose the correct answer’ type questions. However, according to a circular issued by the Department of Government Examinations (DGE) on January 3, the one-mark questions will include match the following, choose the odd man out, choose the correct or incorrect pair and assertion-reasoning.

“Until half-yearly exam, the objective question pattern was different. Students have been prepared for that. Both teachers and students do not know what kind of questions will come now,” said K Manikkam, a mathematics teacher from a private school in Chennai.


The circular notified that the total 90 marks is split up as 20 one-mark questions, seven two-mark questions, seven three-mark questions and seven five-mark questions. The change has been introduced only in the objective-type questions, he said.

The question pattern change may affect government school students the worst, said A Pandian, a higher secondary mathematics teacher from a school in Madurai. “Government school teachers may not be prepared to give impromptu questions in the new pattern and students too will not be able to face these patterns. They will particularly struggle with assertion-reasoning,” he said adding that the change was introduced to prevent students from studying only book-back questions.