TN This Week: Refused for Oct 2, Madras HC Tells RSS can Hold March on Nov 6

A life-size statue of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Annadurai was defaced in Kandamangalam, Villupuram district, on September 25. The statue was found garlanded with slippers and its face covered with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party flag. Miscreants had also placed a picture of DMK MP A Raja, who was recently under attack for his comments on Hinduism.

The Greater Chennai Corporation hiked compensation, from Rs 10 lakh to 15 lakh, to the families of those engaged in manual scavenging work in case of asphyxiation deaths.

The report on forced evictions in India for 2021, released by the Delhi-based non-governmental organisation Housing and Land Rights Network, has shown that nearly 40,000 families in Tamil Nadu were facing the threat of eviction.

Tension prevailed in Kasimedu, Chennai, following the oil pipeline leakage on September 26. The oil spill wreaked havoc on the lives of fishing communities in the locality.

Chief Minister M K Stalin, on September 29, inaugurated the Chief Minister's Fellowship Programme, in which 30 youngsters were recruited for training on various subjects related to the State government to improve. After the two-year period, they will be given postgraduate certificates in public policy and management.

The Kodanad heist-cum-murder case has been transferred to the Crime Branch-CID in order to expedite the case. The case pertains to the Kodanad Estate jointly owned by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and her close aide V K Sasikala, where burglary and murder were reported on April 2017.

As many as eight wings of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) on Sunday started a three-day march towards Sriperumbudur from Chennai to raise awareness of the alleged efforts of the BJP-led Union government to destroy the Constitution of India.

PFI BANNED, NO RALLIES ON OCT 2

Although the Madras high court directed the Tamil Nadu police to allow Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) events in the state, the state withdrew permission for their route march on October 2.

A blanket prohibition for rallies was announced on Gandhi Jayanti following the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI). Permission to the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and left parties' communal harmony rallies were also withheld. Read more.

After the NIA raids in PFI offices and in the houses of its office bearers last week, Tamil Nadu reported 16 petrol bomb attacks at the houses and vehicles of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), RSS and Hindu Munnani Katchi functionaries. The state police arrested 14 people, some related to PFI and SDPI, in connection with the attacks. Read more.

Coimbatore district police on September 27 arrested two cadres of Hindu Munnani on charges of damaging a car belonging to a functionary of the outfit.

Tamil Nadu issued a notification declaring the PFI and its affiliates as an unlawful association a day after the Union Home Ministry imposed a ban on the PFI for "terror links".

OPS PRINTS NEW MEMBERSHIP CARDS

AIADMK interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and his supporters have quietly begun printing new membership cards, without the photograph of former party coordinator O Panneerselvam, for several lakh cadres in the party.

Meanwhile, Edappadi K Palaniswami, on September 30, assured the Supreme Court there would not be an election for the coveted general secretary post until the court hears the leadership row in the party.

PADDY CROPS SUBMERGED

As there were heavy rains across the Delta this week, several thousands of acres of paddy got submerged, and the water failed to recede even after days. Adding to this, water flowing out of irrigation canals, which suffered breaches, damaged crops across the region.

Farmers from the region demanded a crop damage compensation of Rs 35,000/acre and released the pending insurance claims for 2021, besides announcing a protest across the Delta region on October 3 to press these demands.

ONLINE GAMING BANNED

The Tamil Nadu cabinet on September 26 approved an ordinance banning online gaming. It will be implemented after assent from Governor RN Ravi.

The Madras High Court had struck down the state's ban on online games like rummy and poker with stakes, and the Tamil Nadu government appealed to the Supreme Court

Meanwhile, allegedly depressed over her husband losing money in online gambling despite her warnings, a 30-year-old woman died by suicide at her residence in Pammal near Pallavaram.

DEATH IN CUSTODY

Muruganandham (44), from Ariyalur district, who was caught by the public while allegedly stealing a cellphone and handed over to the authorities, was found dead inside the police station restroom on September 26.

Additionally, Akash (20) died in hospital on September 28 after he was taken to Otteri police station in Chennai for inquiry. Police, however, said that the death was not due to any custodial torture.

PROTESTS & STRUGGLES

TNEB CLINCHES DEMANDS

Trade unions in the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) called off their indefinite sit-in protest on September 26 after the management agreed to their demand for withdrawing the provisions that affect employees in its board meeting.

TN Electricity workers protest in Anna Salai, Chennai. Image credit: CITU, Tamil Nadu

ANGANWADI STAFF LIST OUT DEMANDS

Tamil Nadu Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association staged protests in district headquarters demanding full reimbursement of LPG cylinder cost by the government.

Anganwadi staff protest with LPG cylinders in Thiruvarur. Image credit: CITU, Tamil Nadu

The protesters also called for upgrading the employment of workers of mini-Anganwadi centres, new mobile phones for Anganwadi workers, filling up of vacancies, and unconditional promotion of workers upon completion of 10 years in service, among other demands.

DOCTORS' LONG-PENDING DEMANDS

Members from the Federation of Government Doctors’ Associations (FOGDA), on September 25, conducted a demonstration, drawing the attention of the government to their long-pending demand for periodical pay revision and other issues.

Nearly 1,000 doctors participated in the protest near the Chennai District Collectorate.