Page 18 - Tamil Nadu

PM to open India's first vertical lift sea bridge in Rameswaram on April 6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India's first vertical lift sea bridge in Rameswaram and would also dedicate other projects on April 6. On the eve of the official event, the Indian Railways came out with a promotional video of the picturesque new Pamban Bridge. The Railway Ministry said, "Bridging the past, lifting the new, Pamban stands tall with a breathtaking view. This Ram Navami, witness India's First Vertical Lift Railway Sea Bridge unveiling in one day!" The coastal town has come under security cover ahead of the inauguration of the Rs 550 crore bridge. Around noon (April 6), the prime minister would inaugurate the new Pamban Rail Bridge and flag off Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) new train service, and a Coast Guard Ship will be flagged off as the Vertical Lift Span rises up to make way, and witness the operation of the bridge. Modi is expected to visit the renowned Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram at around 12.45 pm for darshan and pooja and later lay the .

PM Modi should resolve TN fishermen issue with Sri Lanka: AIADMK's Sathyan

Sathyan stressed the need for diplomatic efforts to secure the release of detained fishermen

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai opts out of 'state leadership race'

The state party Presidency elections are likely to take place on the 9th and 10th of this month

Stalin calls for all-party meeting after Murmu rejects NEET exemption plea

The call for meeting comes amid multiple controversies surrounding NEET in recent years, which include young people taking their lives if they are unable to clear the exam.

US reciprocal tariffs: An opportunity for TN in jolt to US footwear majors

According to industry experts, the higher tariffs on China and Vietnam will turn out to be most beneficial for Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin to move SC against Waqf Bill, calls it anti-Muslim

DMK chief M K Stalin claimed that the Waqf Bill erodes the independence of the Waqf Board and endangers the rights of the Muslim community

FSSAI asks TN to crack down on sale of banned Chinese garlic in Chennai

Food safety regulator FSSAI has received complaints regarding sale of banned Chinese garlic in Chennai markets and has directed the Tamil Nadu government to look into the matter, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. Import of Chinese garlic has been banned since September 2005 after India found fungus Embellisia alli and Urocytsis cepulae in the product. Minister of State for Agriculture Ram Nath Thakur, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, said the Central Board Of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 546 tonne of Chinese garlic during 2023-24, and 507 tonne during 2024-25. Further, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also received a "complaint regarding sale of Chinese garlic in Chennai markets," he said. FSSAI has directed Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department for monitoring and surveillance activities. All Plant Quarantine Stations under Department of Agriculture have been directed to take necessary measures to .

Tamil Nadu elections: AIADMK triggers talks of a reunion with BJP

A fresh twist came last week when AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, fuelling speculation of a renewed alliance

DMK will always be No 1; contest within Oppn for 2nd spot: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said the competition among opposition parties is to "secure the second place" and the DMK we will always get to the "first place" and be the winner in elections. Addressing an Iftar event at Kolathur here, Stalin said although many parties hold Iftar events, they do not not "open their mouth when Muslims are harmed." Be it the Citizenship Amendment Act, the abrogation of Article 370 or anything that was detrimental to the interests of the minorities, "the first voice of opposition" always came from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Even now, the DMK is continuously fighting against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, since August 2024, in both the Parliament and Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and the Tamil Nadu Assembly has adopted a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw this Bill that "betrayed" the Muslims. Several Indian Muslim organisations, within the country, including Tamil Nadu, and several of them at a global level are ...

'BJP doesn't like Gandhi, MGNREGA named after him': Stalin amid protests

As hundreds of party workers staged massive protests across Tamil Nadu on Saturday, Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin accused the BJP government at the Centre of being "unconcerned" over the plight of the MGNREGA workers. Flaying the BJP government for not releasing the salaries due for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers, he said they don't like Mahatma Gandhi and the 100 days work scheme named after him. The ruthless BJP has set out to destroy the #MGNREGA developed by the #UPA government as the backbone and lifeblood of the Indian rural economy. When lakhs of crores of rupees is waived off for the corporates by one signature, why is there no money to be released as salaries to the poor who have toiled with their sweat under the scorching sun? No money or no heart? Stalin asked in a post on the social media platform X. He further said the voices of DMK members and poor people should reach New Delhi through today's protest across .

Will badly affect Muslims: TN Assembly passes resolution against Waqf Bill

The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024 sought to change the composition of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards to include non-Muslim members.

Sri Lankan navy arrests 11 TN fishermen, takes them to Kangesanthurai camp

11 Tamil Nadu fishermen were apprehended in one boat fishing in the Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu

5 held for attacking YouTuber Savukku Shankar's Chennai home: Police

Savukku Shankar on Tuesday alleged that his house was ransacked in retaliation for exposing an alleged scam in the distribution of vehicles fitted with jet-routing machines

CCI to investigate Tasmac for 'abuse' of dominant market position

Fair trade regulator CCI has ordered an investigation against state-owned liquor retailer Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Ltd (TASMAC) over allegations that it is restricting competition in the state's beer market by favouring select brands. TASMAC is a Tamil Nadu government's wholly-owned company registered under the Companies Act. In an order passed on Tuesday, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) directed the Director General (DG) to complete and submit the investigation report within 60 days. The order came after an individual filed a complaint alleging that TASMAC has been purchasing and selling only a few beer brands, while limiting access to other brands in the market and discouraging competition in business. The complainant argued that this practice violates Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002, which prohibits abuse of dominant position. According to the complainant, TASMAC, which has exclusive rights to sell alcoholic beverages in Tamil Nadu through its ...

Stopping funds of states not implementing 'PM SHRI' unjustified: Parl panel

Not releasing funds to states which have not agreed to implement the PM SHRI schools scheme is not factual and justified, a parliamentary panel has noted. The observations by the committee come amid an ongoing war of words between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government over stoppage of funds worth over Rs 2100 crore after the state refused to implement new National Education Policy (NEP) objecting to the three-language formula. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education,Women, Children, Youth and Sports, headed by Congress' Digivjay Singh, recommended that the Ministry of Education should re-evaluate Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funding allocations and ensure that none of the states are placed in disadvantageous positions for not accepting NEP 2020 or PM SHRI scheme. "The Committee has taken serious note of the non-release of SSA funds to certain states which have not signed MoUs for implementation of PM SHRI scheme. The total funds pending under this scheme to the states a

PM Modi to visit Rameshwaram on Ram Navmi, inaugurate Pamban Bridge

PM Modi will also inaugurate the new Pamban Bridge on the occasion. The new Pamban Bridge will replace the old 1914-built bridge, which was closed in 2022 due to corrosion problems

Actor, karate legend Shihan Hussaini passes away at 60 due to leukemia

Actor, Karate legend and archery exponent Shihan Hussaini died in the wee hours of Tuesday after battling against blood cancer at a private hospital here, his family said. Hussaini, affectionately known as Hu, was a sculptor, painter and an inspiration to hundreds of young minds in taking up martial arts and archery. He was 60. He is survived by his wife and daughter. "I'm very sad to inform that HU has left us. HU will be at the High Command, his residence at Besant Nagar until evening. - Hussaini and family, kamana/mahima," the family members said on his Facebook. "With profound grief, The Archery Association of Tamil Nadu (TAAT) announces the passing of Shihan Hussaini, the founding father of the association and its serving general secretary, at 1.45 am. He succumbed to blood cancer after a courageous battle, leaving behind an irreplaceable void in the world of archery," spokesperson of TAAT, Ashwin Kumar Iyer, said. While battling leukemia at the hospital, Hussaini donated his

CB-CID to probe attack on YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar's house, says DGP

The Tamil Nadu Police' CB-CID wing will probe the incident of a group barging into popular Youtuber and political activist, 'Savukku' Shankar's house here and pouring sewage, the DGP's office has said. The move comes in the wake Shankar making "certain allegations against the Greater Chennai Police and the Commissioner of Police," in an interview, a release from the office of Director General of Police, Shankar Jiwal, said. "Hence, the Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police requested for transferring the aforementioned CSR to any other agency for enquiry. Based on the request, the petition in G-3 Kilpauk Police Station CSR No 118/2025 has been transferred to CBCID for further enquiry," the release from the Head of Police Force (HoPF) said. On Monday, 'Savukku' Shankar's residence here was targeted by a group of persons who allegedly dumped "sewage and human faeces" inside the house, a move that resulted in widespread criticism, including from ruling DMK ally, the Viduthalai

Tamil Nadu's manufacturing lead rests on research and technology

At a panel discussion during the Business Standard Tamil Nadu Round Table 2025 in Chennai on March 12, experts spoke about the sector's future in the state and the changes it is going through

Chennai to Coimbatore: How state is working to become India's GCC hub

A panel discussed 'Shaping Tamil Nadu's Future: Role of GCCs & Beyond' during the Business Standard Tamil Nadu Round Table 2025 in Chennai on March 12