Page 72 - Tamil Nadu

ED raids Tamil Nadu's electricity minister in money laundering probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches against Tamil Nadu Electricity department minister V Senthil Balaji and some others as part of a money laundering investigation, official sources said. The raids are being carried out at Balaji's premises in state capital Chennai and Karur. The Supreme Court had last month allowed a police and ED probe into an alleged cash-for-jobs scam against Balaji, who also holds the Prohibition and Excise portfolio. The searches are being undertaken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. Last month, the Income-tax department too had searched people close to Balaji in the state.

Light to moderate rain likely in parts of TN, Puducherry from June 11-15

Light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely to occur in parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday

In swipe at Congress and DMK, Shah dubs them '2G,3G, 4G' parties

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday took a swipe at the Congress and DMK over dynasty politics and alleged corruption, calling them "2G, 3G, 4G" parties and said the time has come in Tamil Nadu to throw away these and give the power to a "son of the soil". Addressing a public meeting here to highlight the nine years of the BJP-led NDA government's achievements, he also lashed out at the two opposition parties at the Centre for opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "uniting Kashmir" with India by a stroke of the pen. "Congress and DMK are 2G, 3G, 4G parties. I am not talking about the 2G (spectrum allocation scam). 2G means two generations, 3G means three generations and 4G means four generations," he said. "The Maran family (of the DMK) is doing corruption for two generations. The Karunanidhi family is doing corruption for three generations. The Gandhi family is 4G. Rahul Gandhi is fourth generation and for four generations they are .

Unless Tamil Nadu widens revenue base, it can slip into debt trap: Experts

Tamil Nadu will fall into a debt trap if the govt continues to borrow to pay the old debt without focusing on infrastructure development, said experts

Home Minister Amit Shah pitches for a Tamil PM in future, says report

Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Sunday pitched for making a Tamil as Prime Minister in the future, party sources here said. The BJP veteran, also its former national president, made the remarks at a closed door meeting of state party functionaries during his visit here. Without divulging details, sources indicated he pitched for a Tamil PM in the near future. Such an opportunity was lost in the past twice, he was said to have stated and reportedly blamed the ruling DMK for this. Shah also exhorted the BJP functionaries to work towards winning over 20 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and strengthen the booth committees for this purpose.

Lack of toilets for women lawyers in court: SC seeks report from Madras HC

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Madras High Court registry to file a detailed report on measures taken to address the lack of toilets for women lawyers in the Nilgiris Court Complex in Tamil Nadu's Ooty. The apex court said the earlier report of the registrar general does not explain in detail about the facilities for women lawyers in the new court complex and as to whether there was any shrinkage of such facilities which were earlier available. A vacation bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal asked the registry to file the report by Sunday. "Let a detailed report be filed by the high court administration through the registrar general. Such report should reach the registry of this court by Sunday through electronic mode and this matter shall be listed on June 12, Monday," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea by Women Lawyers' Association of Nilgiris alleging lack of toilet facilities for female advocates at the recently inaugurated combined court .

TN govt collaborates with Tata to provide Industry 4.0 skilling to youth

The Tamil Nadu government has collaborated with Tata Technologies to transform 71 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into Industry 4.0 technology centres and on Thursday chief minister M K Stalin inaugurated 22 upgraded technology centres at an function at Oragadam in Kancheepuram district. This initiative will enable the poor and rural students besides youth in the state to get training at low cost and become capable of meeting the expectations of the industries, the CM said in his address at the inaugural function which was attended by state ministers, senior officials and Tata Sons Group chairman N Chandrasekaran. It has been planned to upgrade the ITIs at a cost of Rs 2,877.43 crore and in the first phase 22 technology centres were upgraded at a cost of Rs 762.30 crore. Tamil Nadu is in the forefront in several sectors like automobile, electronic components, ICT, and related industries, Fintech, e-vehicles, leather and footwear manufacturing besides banking, financ

Health ministry unveils food safety index, Kerala secures top ranking

Among the larger states, Kerala secured the top ranking, followed by Punjab and Tamil Nadu Among the smaller states, Goa emerged as the leader on food safety index

Tamil Nadu govt employees stage marches in support of protesting wrestlers

Members of the TNGEA staged marches across the state on Tuesday in solidarity with the wrestlers who are on a protest seeking the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges

TN CM launches 500 Urban Health Centres, takes veiled swipe at Guv Ravi

As many as 500 Urban Health and Wellness Centres (UHWCs), spread across the State were virtually inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin here on Tuesday. In his launch address, Stalin said the Dravidian model of governance regarded education and healthcare as its 'two eyes,' and the government accordingly implemented schemes. Tamil Nadu excelled in sectors such as education, in development of the state and in fulfilling the aspirations of the people. However, this could not be seen or understood by a person who held the top position in the State, Stalin said in an implicit reference to Governor RN Ravi. Without naming Ravi again, Stalin said 'he' (Governor) did not accept the Dravidian model of governance and hence made criticisms against the government to confuse people. "People will not bother about it at all. People have understood everything clearly. Let him make such criticism continuously," the Chief Minister said, adding such remarks would only further invigorate

TN CM lauds IFS official for winning UNESCO award for biosphere management

An IFS officer Jagdish S Bakan who won the prestigious Michel Batisse award 2023 for biosphere reserve management from UNESCO was lauded by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday for his remarkable achievement. The 2017 batch officer of the Indian Forest Service is currently the director of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. The USD 12,000 award is given in memory of Dr Michel Batisse for outstanding achievement in the management of biosphere reserves in line with the recommendations of the Seville Strategy. "Ramanathapuram district forest officer and director of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve @jagdishbakanIFS has been selected for #BiosphereReserveManagement #MichelBatisseAward for Biosphere Reserve Management of UNESCO and brought laurels to Tamil Nadu. Congratulations to him," the chief minister said in a tweet. "I feel proud to hear him say that the award has been possible due to the marine elite force created by our government," he said. Bakan will visit Paris on Ju

Refex Group commits to plant 100,000 trees across TN in next few years

Diversified business conglomerate Refex Group, which is engaged in refrigerant gases, ash, and coal handling, has pledged to plant one lakh trees across Tamil Nadu over the next few years under its 'Trees for Life' initiative, the company said on Monday. Commemorating 'World Environment Day' being observed on June 5 every year, the group has committed towards planting 10,000 trees this year, in partnership with the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Greater Chennai Corporation. Nearly 2,000 tree saplings were planted as part of launching the initiative in the city today, a company statement said. "By using resources in a responsible and efficient manner, we can help conserve them for our future generations. In addition to infusing sustainable practices into our operations, our sustainability strategies also aim to arrest climate change and lead to ecosystem restoration. The 'Trees for Life' project is one such initiative," Refex Group Managing Director Anil Jain said. Minister for Yo

Train crash: Contact to be established with 6 persons, says TN govt

In the Odisha train accident, people hailing from Tamil Nadu were not affected and out of the eight people who could not be contacted, two of them have been traced and they were safe, Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said here on Sunday. On his arrival following a visit to Odisha along with Transport Minister SS Sivasankar to coordinate rescue activities, Udhayanidhi said he and his Cabinet colleague visited hospitals, mortuary, call centre for rescue initiatives. He held discussions with Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena and senior officials. Udhayanidhi said no one from TN was admitted in hospitals and people from the State were unaffected he said quoting latest official information. At the call centre set up by the Odisha authorities, no calls were received seeking information on TN passengers, he said. As regards eight Tamil Nadu people with whom contact could not be established, he said authorities have traced and spoken to two men --Narakanigopi an

Odisha train tragedy: TN yet to get info on 8 of 127 passengers from state

The state government communique called upon the relatives of these missing persons to contact the state helpline numbers: 1070, 9445869843

Fatigued, shocked Tamil Nadu train accident survivors recount trauma

For several survivors of the Odisha train accident who arrived here on Sunday in a special train, the trauma they endured is unlikely to dissipate soon and it was more than shock and disbelief for them. A woman, who is a native of Kerala said she had only seen accidents on televisions and when she experienced it herself, she was terrified. "The bed sheets given to passengers were used to carry the injured and it turned red with blood; a dreadful scene," she told reporters here. The general compartment was overpacked well beyond its capacity, she said recalling what she said she saw. Wearied by the tragedy and the long journey as well, a man said seeing blood, severed limbs and bodies of men and women lying scattered was tormenting. Another passenger who was injured said: "I was asleep in compartment S-1. All of a sudden I heard a bang and before I could realise what happened I almost fainted after something like a rod hit the side of my rib cage." He was taken away in a wheelchair

Stalin announces financial assistance for Balasore train accident victims

"For now, there is no specific detail regarding the number of Tamils dead or injured in the accident. While our officials are continuously coordinating with Odisha government officials," he added

Odisha Balasore train accident: Tamil Nadu declares one-day state mourning

Apart from that the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party has cancelled all its events scheduled for today to celebrate the former Chief Minister Kalaingar Karunanithi's centenary

Gokulraj murder case: Madras HC upholds conviction by trial court

The Madras High Court on Friday upheld the conviction and life sentence awarded to eight people in connection with the murder of a Scheduled Caste engineering student Gokulraj in 2015 in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchengode (Namakkal district), on suspicion that he was in a relationship with an upper caste woman. The court altered the charges against two others accused in the crime to imprisonment for five years. Ten people, against whom the Madurai special sessions court handed out the life imprisonment till death without remission sentence in March 2022, appealed against the judgment. A division bench comprising justices M S Ramesh and N Anand Venkatesh dismissed their appeals today and confirmed the earlier verdict in the case. The bench said it found no perversity in the trial court's judgment convicting the accused. "We remained conscious of the fact that moral conviction has no place in criminal jurisprudence," the bench said. In order to arrive at a conclusion, the court examined seve

English learning programme launched in 36 childcare centres in TN

The Department of Social Defence and the State Childcare Protection Society have launched an English learning programme in 36 childcare centres of Tamil Nadu

Shivakumar urges Tamil Nadu govt to be big-hearted on Mekedatu project

Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar appealed to Tamil Nadu government to be large-hearted and cooperate to help farmers of both the states by implementing the Mekedatu project