Page 88 - Tamil Nadu

Release of Rajiv case convicts spotlights AICC-TNCC struggle for power

Absence of staunch opposition by the KS Alagiri-led Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) leadership to the recent release of six Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts was among the reasons cited by a senior office-bearer who offered to quit the party days ago and it is a pointer to the dynamics involved in the ties between the TNCC and the ruling DMK. Congress party's R Kamaraj, who said he is "quitting his post of president" of Tuticorin North District party unit referred to the release of convicts. "Be it the release of Perarivalan or the recent release of six convicts, nothing noteworthy was initiated by the party's State unit under Alagiri to oppose it," 62-year old Kamaraj told PTI, who is a party worker for over four decades. Kamaraj accused TNCC chief K S Alagiri of being only involved in efforts to "protect his interests." He blamed the State unit leadership of not even organising demonstrations on key issues. "The party has only taken part in protests held by allies lik

Lal Bahadhur Shastri oriented country towards self-reliance: TN Governor

The Governor said that India suffered humiliation and was demoralised on defence and food security fronts in the first 17 years of Independence

Stalin launches new initiatives in his constituency, lays foundation stone

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday inaugurated completed projects in his Kolathur constituency in the city and laid the foundation stone for various initiatives. The CM laid foundation stone for projects worth an estimated Rs 38.98 crore, an official release said. Among others, he inaugurated a hostel building and a renovated badminton court. He played badminton with students there and gave away sports equipment to them, it said. The CM also laid the foundation stone for various projects to be undertaken by the city corporation and the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), all at an estimated Rs 38.98 crore, it added.

Groundwater report waters down aquifer-level data, say experts

Assessment units too large in size and too few in number to present micro-level picture, they say

MK Stalin defamation case: Kishore K Swamy sent to custody till Dec 5

After being arrested for putting out a tweet 'demeaning' Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Kishore K Swamy was sent to judicial custody by the Egmore Criminal Court.Swamy will be in judicial custody till December 5.The Court ordered to send, Kishore K Swamy, to Puzhal Prison in Chennai district.Chennai City Police arrested the social media commentator, accused of putting out a tweet demeaning Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.Swamy was arrested by the Central Crime Branch's Cyber Crime Police in Pondicherry for posting defamatory content for TN Chief Minister MK Stalin on Twitter."Kishore K Swamy has been posting political comments on social media. Kishore K Swamy, who has a pro-BJP stance, has been consistently critical of the DMK and its supporting parties. Political critic Kishore K Swamy was arrested and jailed in June under the Gangster Act in 7 cases of defamatory comments against DMK's former Chief Ministers and journalists," police said.The complainant, Imran had filed .

Quality of life, happiness important for development, not just index: TN CM

Development should not be determined on economic indicators alone, but it should hinge on the quality of life and happiness index, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin opined on Monday. The state government has been striving with the noble objective of development for all and development in all sectors, the Chief Minister said. "We believe that development should not be determined only by economic indicators, but, it should be measured also in terms of factors like Human Development Index and Happiness Index," he said while chairing the second review meeting of the state-level District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) in Chennai. The state government's intent is being fulfilled as it is progressing towards its objective without change, Stalin opined. "The most important of these is rural development. I have said that the problems in rural areas should be addressed at the micro level and macro level benefits should be given to them," the Chief Minister ...

EV company Ather Energy lines up aggressive expansion plan in Tamil Nadu

Electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy on Sunday said it has drawn up plans to set up 150 fast-charging grids in Tamil Nadu by the end of the current financial year. The company recently inaugurated its first experience centre in Salem under its move to expand retail footprint in the state. With the inauguration of the experience centre, Ather Energy has nine retail stores in Tamil Nadu. "There are plans to expand its retail footprint to 15 stores and add 150 fast-charging grids in the state by the end of current financial year," a company statement said here. "Ather Energy has experienced an encouraging response from across the state for its scooters. With a high rate of EV adoption and growing acceptance for high-end electric two wheelers, Tamil Nadu is an important market for Ather Energy," chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said. "We have created an electric vehicle that is efficient, high quality and reliable from the ground up and have invested strategically in the

Mangaluru autorickshaw blast: TN Police detain one suspect for questioning

Tamil Nadu Police took into custody a native of Udhagamandalam in Nilgiris over his links with Mohammed Shareeq who is grievously injured in explosion in autorickshaw in Karnataka's Mangaluru

PM pays tributes Subramania Bharathi at Kashi Tamil Sangamam inauguration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday while highlighting the strong bond between Kashi and Tamil Nadu referred to links of eminent poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharathi with the city. In his inaugural speech at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam here, he also said Bharthi was attached with Kashi in such a way that it became his part. "There is a great personality from Tamil Nadu, Subramania Bharathi, a great poet and freedom fighter, who lived for a long time in Kashi and studied here," Modi said and added "it is said that it was here (in Varanasi) that he (Bharathi) sported his popular moustache". The prime minister, who paid rich tributes to the poet, hailed the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) for establishing a chair dedicated to Bharati, which, he said, enhanced its pride. Born in Ettayapuram of Tirunelveli district (present-day Thoothukudi) in 1882, Bharathi had his early education in Tirunelveli and Varanasi. Popularly known as "Mahakavi Bharathi", he was a pioneer of modern

Kashi and Tamil Nadu are timeless cultural centres: PM Modi in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed Kashi and Tamil Nadu as timeless centres of culture and civilisation. The two regions are also the centres of the world's oldest languages Sanskrit and Tamil, Modi said in his inaugural speech at Kashi Tamil Sangamam here. "If in Kashi there is Baba Vishwanath, then in Tamil Nadu there is the blessing of Lord Rameshwaram. Both Kashi and Tamil Nadu are 'Shivmay' (drenched in the devotion of Lord Shiv) and 'Shaktimay' (drenched in the devotion of Goddess Shakti)," he said at the event in his Lok Sabha constituency. There is a Dakshin Kashi in Tamil Nadu too, the prime minister noted. More than 2,500 delegates from Tamil Nadu are visiting Varanasi and will participate in seminars and interact with local people of similar trade, profession and interest. A month-long exhibition of handlooms, handicrafts, books, documentaries, cuisine, art forms, history and tourist places of the two regions will also be organised here. The Tamil Sangamam

AIADMK may part ways with BJP, talks on for new alliances in 2024 polls

Taking an exception to the reported comments, the AIADMK leadership spoke tough about its alliance partner

The governor's role

Conflicts with state govts must be avoided

SHV Energy expands LPG terminal capacity by 30,000 metric tonne at TN plant

SHV Energy Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Dutch multinational SHV Energy N V, has expanded its LPG terminal capacity by 30,000 metric tonne in Tamil Nadu at an outlay of about Rs 500 crore. The facility in Tuticorin would be ramped up from 8,500 metric tonne to 38,500 metric tonne, representing an investment of about Rs 500 crore, the company said on Thursday. SHV Energy Pvt Ltd set up in 1996 under the brand name SUPERGAS has seven import terminals, 20 filling plants. The terminal expansion was inaugurated today by top officials including SHV Energy Bram Graber, SUPERGAS CEO Santanu Guha and other officials, a company statement said. "This expansion will allow us to offer government-run oil companies both the LPG and the storage facilities they need, thereby optimising logistics and strengthening the overall LPG landscape in India, " Graber, who is a member of the World LPG Association Board of Directors, said. LPG would help accelerate India's long term energy needs and would support

TN power utility commences linking Aadhar cards with consumer numbers

The move follows the Centre's directive to streamline the subsidies being provided by the power Discoms in the country

PM Modi to inaugurate Kashi-Tamil Samagam in Varanasi on Saturday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday formally inaugurate the month long Kashi-Tamil Samagam in Varanasi, a senior official said. He will also address the gathering during about three hours stay in his parliamentary constituency, Mahanagar Chairman Vidyasagar Rai said. Modi will formally inaugurate the samagam at the amphitheatre ground of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Aimed at reviving the cultural links between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu, the Kashi-Tamil Samagam is being organised in Varanasi. It is an initiative of the central government as part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'. The programme aims to celebrate the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' and highlight the Tamil language and culture. The programme from November 17 to December 16 will strive to rediscover the centuries-old bond of knowledge and ancient civilisational linkage between Kashi (Varanasi) and Tamil Nadu.

Low pressure area likely over Bay of Bengal, rains to resume in Tamil Nadu

A low pressure area is likely to form over Bay of Bengal soon and rainfall is expected to resume in Tamil Nadu from November 20, the India Meteorological Department said on Wednesday. A cyclonic circulation lies over south Andaman sea and neighbourhood in middle tropospheric levels, the IMD said in a bulletin. "Under its influence, a Low pressure area is likely to form over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman sea during next 24 hours. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and gradually concentrate into a depression over central parts of south Bay of Bengal during subsequent 48 hours." Hence, heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from November 20. Rajapalayam (12 CM) in Virudhunagar district and Ayakudi and Sivagiri (9 and 7 CM respetively) in Tenkasi district received heavy rainfall, during the 24-hour period that ended on November 16 morning. The northeast monsoon (October-December) has been active in Tamil

Guvs can intervene if attempts made to weaken Lokayukta: TN Governor

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Tuesday said if there was any attempt by any state government to weaken the Lok Ayukta system, then the concerned Governor "has a role to play" as they are "not rubber stamps". Speaking at the Lok Ayukta Day event held here, Ravi said if there was any attempt to weaken the institution of Lok Ayukta within the confines of the Constitution, then "Governors have a role to play". "Any kind of amendment which weakens the institution, the Governor must take a call because Governors are not rubber stamps," he said at the event which was also attended by Kerala Law Minister P Rajeeve. His remarks assume significance as the LDF government in Kerala recently passed the controversial Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to make the executive the appellate authority over reports by the anti-corruption watchdog, and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan is yet to sign the same. Khan has been at the receiving end of sharp criticism from the Left government in Kerala for

Low pressure in Bay of Bengal may cause heavy rains in Tamil Nadu

IMD has predicted light to moderate rains with thunderstorms and lighting in several parts of Tamil Nadu on Monday also. The weather department has also predicted thunder and lightning in next 24 hrs

Schools, colleges shut in Mayiladuthurai district of TN amid rain alert

The schools and colleges for the Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu will remain closed tomorrow in view of incessant rainfall in the state, announced the Mayiladuthurai District Collector

Take steps to make Tamil official in Central govt offices: TN Minister

Tamil Nadu Minister for Higher Education K Ponmudy on Sunday appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take steps to make Tamil official language in Central government offices and also allot funds for its development on par with Sanskrit. The appeal comes in the backdrop of the Union Minister requesting the Tamil Nadu government to impart technical education in Tamil on Saturday. "I urge him (Union Home Minister) that Tamil be made a compulsory language in the Central government-run Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools and also fill up posts of Tamil professors in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, which have been vacant for several years," Ponmudy said in a statement here. Responding to Shah's request to impart technical education in Tamil, Ponmudy said such an initiative was already implemented by the DMK in the State 12 years ago. "Kalaignar (the late chief minister M Karunanidhi) already implemented it in 2010 during the DMK regime. Tamil Nadu became the first State in the country to ..