Why build ₹1000cr parl complex: Kamal to PM

Why build ₹1000cr parl complex: Kamal to PM

Sets Off Poll Campaign At Madurai

Devanathan.Veerappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai/Madurai:  14.12.2020

Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spell out the rationale behind constructing a new Parliament building for about Rs 1,000 crore “when half of India is hungry due to loss of livelihoods triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic”. He was speaking to reporters in Chennai before leaving for Madurai to launch his political campaign.

Comparing its proposed construction to that of the Great Wall of China, he said “thousands of people perished” during its construction, but the dragon nation rulers said the wall was to 'guard' the people. Asked whether MNM will join hands with ‘Aanmeega Arasiyal’ (referring to actor Rajinikanth’s preference for spiritual politics), Kamal said, “Let me reiterate. Alliances will break up and new alliances will emerge. That’s all I can say now.”

Later, addressing cadres at Madurai to set off the campaign for the 2021 assembly election, the actor-turnedpolitician promised to make Madurai the second capital of Tamil Nadu if they came to power. Kamal said it was former chief minister MGR’s dream to make Madurai great. “I am an extension of MGR and I will take up the job of making Madurai great again. It is time to dump those who failed to make MGR’s vision come true,” he said.

In the last 50 years the cultural city has gone to ruins at the hands of corrupt politicians. He could see only bad roads, stagnating sewage and rain water and piling garbage when he went around the city. “There will be jallikattu in January in Madurai. In May, there will be fights with corrupt people. I am ready for it and you should also be ready for it,” he said. “Youths should join our party. Those who have already joined should go door-to-door to reach out to people,” he said.

As for the party’s election manifesto, ideology and strategies, he said the only answer for all these questions is honesty. “Corrupt politicians have stashed thousands of crores in shell companies in foreign nations. If they stop stealing, there will be enough money to develop three Tamil Nadus,” said Kamal Haasan.

Asked about the focus of his party's campaign, he said it was to usher in a totally transformed Tamil Nadu. Answering a question on why he entered politics, he said people of Tamil Nadu celebrated him from the age of five. His did not want to simply thank the people for what they gave him and move away even after seeing poor people struggle. When asked whether he will implement total prohibition, he said it was “a failed concept”. But, private players should be allowed to sell it and not the government which has to concentrate on people’s welfare.

Kamal Haasan during a rally at Avaniyapuram in Madurai on Sunday

Women struggle to avail maternity leave

LOCKDOWN EFFECT

Women struggle to avail maternity leave

Aditi.R@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 14.12.2020

“I am almost six months pregnant and when I asked my employer to grant me maternity leave, he agreed. But then he continued giving me work,” said Rachna* an employee at a private firm in the city. “He said that since I’m working from home I could work easily. Now I spend at least 10 hours a day working, with no maternity leave and sometimes no day-offs too,” she said.

Over the last three months, the state department of labour and employment has received more than 65 complaints from women, working in private firms across Chennai, Kancheepuram, and four other districts, on denial by their employers. Many of the complaints are from those working at different levels in small or medium sized firms in IT, garment manufacturing and a few other sectors. Ever since they started working from home, maternity leaves were either getting cancelled or shortened. The firms adopt different tactics to make them work, including an excuse about shortage of staff, lack of funds to pay salary and sometimes a subtle warning that they may not be able to rejoin.

“I was about to go on my sixmonth maternity two months after the lockdown was imposed. But my employer said that I’ll have to forego my salary for those months since they were already running in losses. I had no choice but to work. I am due any time now,” said another lady who works in a private firm in the city. “My husband lost his job and I’m the sole breadwinner of the family. It’s difficult to manage both my pregnancy and the job at the same time,” she said.

A senior official from the department said that on inquiring, most firms denied cancelling the leaves while the others agreed to ensure that it is provided without fail. “We have been inquiring and taking action accordingly,” said. The official said that they will also be conducting surprise checks and interacting with employers of firms, its human resources department, and its employees. “Our officials have made a list of firms we will start off with, where we suspect such practices. We fear there might be more such cases. The pandemic serves no ground for employers to deprive them of maternity benefits,” he said.

The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act of 2017 mandates paid maternity leave of 26 weeks for women employees unless they have two or more surviving children. It also provides paid leave for 12 weeks to mothers who have adopted or used a surrogate to bear a child for the first time. The TN state government in November 2016, had increased maternity leave for women from six to nine months. Any violation of the Act can amount to at least three months imprisonment.

“The law does not say that the maternity leaves and benefits are not applicable if the women are working from home. There is no exemption,” said P Selvi, advocate, Madras High Court. She said that many women may find it risky to complain fearing losing their jobs, but they are entitled to claim and also approach higher authorities when required.

The law does not say that the maternity leaves and benefits are not applicable if the women are working from home. There is no exemption

Girl forges NEET scorecard to secure medical seat

Girl forges NEET scorecard to secure medical seat

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 14.12.2020

In yet another NEET scam, the Chennai City Police are probing into an alleged malpractice by a woman candidate, who tried to get a medical seat by forging her NEET scorecard and the provisional rank list by replacing another candidate’s credentials with her own.

The issue came to light after a complaint was lodged by Dr G Selvarajan, additional director of Medical Education and Secretary of Selection Committee, at Periamet police station against the candidate, N B Deeksha of Paramakudi in Ramanthapuram district, and her father N K Balachandran, a dentist.

According to the complaint, on November 30, Deeksha, who had scored only 27 marks in NEET-UG 2020, and her father approached them at a counselling centre claiming that Deeksha had scored 610 marks but not called for counselling. While checking her credentials, officials found that she had scored less marks and did not make it to the rank list to be eligible to appear for the counselling. They then sent them back. The duo also produced a rank list in which Deeksha’s photo and roll number were present.

A probe into the matter revealed that she had applied for the counselling with a forged scorecard, showing she had scored 610 marks.

The officials made an internal probe to look into the matter, when they found out that the scorecard and the rank list produced by Deeksha was forged as she had replaced the photo and roll number of another candidate called N Hrithika, who had scored 610 marks.

However, Deeksha’s father did not accept their claim, leading to police suspecting the daughter to have done it without her father’s knowledge. Police said that the original candidate, Hrithika, had already appeared for counselling and opted for a medical seat.

Periamet police registered a case under Sections 419 (punishment for cheating) , 464 (making false document), 465, 468 (forgery), 471 (using genuine as forged) and 420 (cheating) of IPC against the candidate. A special team has gone to question the girl and his father.

Meanwhile, city police commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal said that an inquiry has been initiated on the alleged malpractice.

சென்னை: பொதுமக்கள் பயன்பாட்டிற்காக, நாளை முதல் மெரினா கடற்கரை திறக்கப்பட உள்ளதால்

DINAMALAR

சென்னை: பொதுமக்கள் பயன்பாட்டிற்காக, நாளை முதல் மெரினா கடற்கரை திறக்கப்பட உள்ளதால், முன்னேற்பாடு பணிகளில், போலீசார், மாநகராட்சியினர் தீவிரமாக செயல்பட்டனர்.

கொரோனா தொற்று பரவல் தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கையாக, கடந்த மார்ச் முதல், நாடு முழுதும் ஊரடங்கு அமல்படுத்தப்பட்டது. அப்போது, சென்னையின் அடையாளமான மெரினா கடற்கரையும் மூடப்பட்டது.அதன்பின், மக்கள் நலன் கருதி, அவ்வப்போது தளர்வுகள் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டாலும், மெரினா கடற்கரையில் மக்களுக்கு, தடை நீடித்தது.தடை மீறியோருக்கு, போலீசார், மாநகராட்சியினர் அபராதம் விதித்தனர்.

இந்நிலையில், சமீபத்தில் மெரினாவில் நீடித்த தடையை, அரசு தளர்த்தியது. தொடர்ந்து, நாளை முதல், பொதுமக்கள் அனுமதிக்க பட உள்ளனர்.இதற்கு முன்னேற்பாடாக, நேற்று மாநகராட்சியினர் கடற்கரை மணற்பரப்பு, சர்வீஸ் சாலை மற்றும் அங்குள்ள பொது கழிப்பறைகளை சுத்தப்படுத்தி, தண்ணீர் வசதிகளை ஏற்படுத்தினர்.

போலீசார் கடற்கரையில், பாதுகாப்பு நடவடிக்கைகள் மேற்கொண்டனர். கிறிஸ்துமஸ், புத்தாண்டு, பொங்கல் பண்டிகைகள் வர உள்ள நிலையில், மெரினாவில் தடை தளர்த்தப்பட்டிருப்பது, மகிழ்ச்சியை ஏற்படுத்துவதாக, பொதுமக்கள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

சென்னை:தாம்பரம் -- நாகர்கோவில் இடையே, வாரத்தில் மூன்று நாட்கள்; மதுரை -- திருவனந்தபுரம் இடையே, தினமும் முன்பதிவு சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் இயக்கப்படுகின்றன.

DINAMALAR

13.12.2020

சென்னை:தாம்பரம் -- நாகர்கோவில் இடையே, வாரத்தில் மூன்று நாட்கள்; மதுரை -- திருவனந்தபுரம் இடையே, தினமும் முன்பதிவு சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் இயக்கப்படுகின்றன.

* சென்னை தாம்பரத்தில் இருந்து, ஞாயிறு, திங்கள், புதன் கிழமைகளில் இரவு, 7:25க்கு புறப்படும் சிறப்பு ரயில், மறுநாள் காலை, 7:30 மணிக்கு நாகர்கோவில் சென்றடையும்

* நாகர்கோவிலில் இருந்து திங்கள், செவ்வாய், வியாழக்கிழமைகளில் மாலை, 4:15க்கு புறப்படும் சிறப்பு ரயில், மறுநாள் அதிகாலை, 4:15 மணிக்கு தாம்பரம் வந்தடையும். இந்த சிறப்பு ரயில், தாம்பரத்தில் இருந்து, 16ம் தேதி; நாகர்கோவிலில் இருந்து வரும், 17ம் தேதி முதல் இயக்கப்படும்.

மற்றொரு ரயில்கேரள மாநிலம், திருவனந்தபுரத்தில் இருந்து மதுரைக்கு, தினமும் முன்பதிவு சிறப்பு ரயில் இயக்கப்பட உள்ளது.

* திருவனந்தபுரத்தில் இருந்து தினமும் இரவு, 8:30க்கு புறப்பட்டு, மறுநாள் காலை, 10:10 மணிக்கு மதுரை சென்றடையும்

* மதுரையில் இருந்து தினமும் மாலை, 4:05க்கு புறப்பட்டு, மறுநாள் அதிகாலை, 5:20 மணிக்கு திருவனந்தபுரம் சென்றடையும்.இந்த சிறப்பு ரயில், 23ம் தேதி முதல் இயக்கப்பட உள்ளது. இதற்கான முன்பதிவு துவங்கி விட்டது.

Central call for 3 IPS officers on Nadda duty; state says no

Central call for 3 IPS officers on Nadda duty; state says no

Trinamool MP Protests Against ‘Pressure’ Tactic

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: 13.12.2020

The Union government has “requisitioned” for central deputation the services of three senior IPS officers who supervised BJP national president JP Nadda’s Diamond Harbour rally security, prompting the Bengal government to express its “inability” to relieve them.

The central move comes two days after Thursday’s attack on Nadda’s convoy on Diamond Harbour Road and a day after the Union home ministry asked the state chief secretary and the state director-general of police to meet the Union home secretary in Delhi on Monday.

The Centre usually seeks the state’s consent before such a move, say officials in Kolkata. “These are Bengal cadre IPS officers. This is a unilateral decision taken by the Centre. Bengal, like the rest of the country, is battling a pandemic under specific laws. So, in this backdrop, the state cannot relieve these officers immediately,” a senior state official said.

The officers caught in the centre-state battle are South Bengal inspector-general of police Rajeev Mishra, Presidency Range deputy inspector-general Praveen Kumar Tripathi and Diamond Harbour superintendent of police Bholanath Pandey.

The issue also found mention in a letter Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha chief whip Kalyan Banerjee wrote to Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla on Saturday. Banerjee, also a lawyer, wrote: “You named three IPS officers for central deputation. All three IPS officers were deployed near the place of occurrence (of Thursday’s incident involving Nadda). Your motive is very clear... you want to create pressure on the officers.”

The Centre’s letter to Bengal seeking specific officers for central deputation did not have any “immediate precedence”, officials here said. One senior Bengal officer was transferred to the Union home ministry in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha poll but that move was effected by the Election Commission.

The usual procedure for central deputations starts with the state government sending its “offer list” (a panel of officers), say officials. The Centre then informs the state government which officers can go on central deputation.

3 officers not on ‘offer list’ sent by Bengal to Centre

About a dozen Bengalcadre officers are now on central deputation; they include a special director-general of police in CRPF, a joint secretary in the cabinet secretariat, two CRPF additional directors-general, a National Crime Records Bureau director and another IPS officer on deputation to the ministry of external affairs.

The three officers asked to go on central deputation were not on the “offer list” sent by Bengal to the Centre, officials here said.

The Centre wrote to all states, including Bengal, in April and November this year, mentioning that they were not sending enough officers for central deputation. Both letters added that all disputes would be referred to the Union home ministry, whose decision would be binding.

Bengal has an IPS cadre strength of around 350 officers and 75 are required to be put on the “offer list” for central deputation. But officials say Bengal works with a fewer number of IPS officers, of whom nine are still undergoing training.

“The states have always used this rationale to not allow officers to go on central deputation,” a senior state government officer told TOI.

The Centre and the Tamil Nadu government have been involved in a protracted legal case on this issue that has reached the Supreme Court. Central deputation rules stress on “concurrence” between state and central governments but they add that the Centre’s decision will be binding if there is any dispute, say officials here.

Bengal has an IPS cadre strength of around 350 officers and 75 are required to be put on the “offer list” for central deputation. But officials say Bengal works with a fewer number of IPS officers, of whom nine are still undergoing training. “The states have always used this rationale to not allow officers to go on central deputation,” a senior state government officer told TOI

Docs: Lalu’s kidneys are functioning only at 25%

Docs: Lalu’s kidneys are functioning only at 25%

Sanjay Sahay TNN

Ranchi:  13.12.2020

Doctors treating jailed RJD president Lalu Prasad on Saturday gave a grim prognosis of his hea-lth, saying the former Bihar CM’s kidneys were functioning “only at 25%” and there could be “a medical emergency” at any moment.

Dr Umesh Prasad of Ranchi’s Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims), who is overseeing Lalu’s treatment, said the medical team’s concerns over the outcome of the latest kidney function test had been conveyed to the authorities, including the Birsa Munda jail administration.

The senior doctor, however, said 24-hour monitoring of the RJD chief ’s health helped the medical team arrest many other potential complications.

Former Union minister and Congress veteran Subodh Kant Sahay and Bihar MLA Rakesh Kumar Roshan met Lalu at the hospital on Saturday.