TN this Week: 3 Killed of Asphyxiation; Turbulent Assembly Session Concludes

The short, three-day session of the Assembly witnessed turbulent scenes, including the eviction of the members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The reports submitted by the commissions inquiring into the circumstances leading to the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa and the Thoothukudi firing on anti-Sterlite protesters kicked up a political storm. 

Heavy rains lashed different parts of the state, particularly the western districts, leading to waterlogging and flooding. The farmers in the delta regions suffered yet another setback after the paddy kept ready for procurement drenched in the rains.

The Students Federation of India (SFI) held a state-wide protest against the recommendations of the Official Languages Committee on increasing the use of Hindi in higher education and recruitment for Union government jobs.

And the workers of Yamaha Motors in Chennai won a decisive battle against the management, which tried to sabotage the union elections. NewsClick brings a roundup of the happenings in the state this week.

EPS SUPPORTERS EVICTED FROM ASSEMBLY

The three-day Assembly session, which began on October 17 witnessed some turbulence when the camps within AIADMK fought for supremacy. O Panneer Selvam (OPS) occupied the chair of the opposition leaders in the absence of Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS).

The next day saw the participation of the EPS camp in the house but was evicted from the house for creating disruption of the proceedings demanding the removal of OPS from the position of deputy leader of the opposition. The AIADMK has selected R B Udhayakumar for the post, after removing OPS. On October 20, the EPS camp held a protest outside the house and accused the Speaker of murdering democracy... Read More

COMMISSION ACCUSES SASIKALA

The Justice Arumughaswamy Commission, set up in 2017 to enquire into the circumstances leading to the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa has recommended an enquiry into the role of V K Sasikala and several others, including former ministers, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and Doctors.

The report has been ridiculed for getting to conclusions without providing facts and proof of the role of the aforesaid individuals. The commission has not even considered the report of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on the treatment provided to J Jayalalithaa. Read More 

REPORT ON THOOTHUKUDI FIRING TABLED

The report of the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission was formed to study the firing during the anti-Sterlite protest in Thoothukudi in 2018 which claimed 13 lives. The commission has called for action against the collector and named 17 police officers and policemen for firing at the protestors without any provocation. 

The commission has sought action against revenue officials posted in Thoothukudi during the incident. The director general of police (DGP) of the state has suspended one deputy superintendent of police and three policemen as per the recommendations of the commission.   

12 BILLS PASSED

The Assembly passed 12 Bills and adopted a resolution against the imposition of Hindi. The resolution was moved by chief minister M K Stalin, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of imposing Hindi and attempting to remove English completely from the administration. The BJP members walked out against the resolution, while AIADMK members were evicted earlier.

The house also passed 12 Bills on the last day of the session, including one to reduce the powers of the Governor in the state universities. As per the Tamil Nadu University (Second Amendment) Act, 2022 the ‘Chancellor’ has been replaced by ‘Government’ on powers to appoint vice-chancellors.  

PROTEST HINDI IMPOSITION

The SFI held a state-wide protest against the recommendations of the union home minister Amit Shah-led committee, recommending Hindi in higher education institutions and recruitment exams. Protests were held in 26 districts and around 50 school and college campuses.

The protestors in Virugambakkam of Chennai district were detained by the police, leading to criticism from the SFI leadership. They questioned the police action, even as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) led government has been opposing the recommendations vehemently. The protestors were released later after the criticism. 

The youth wing of the DMK also held protests against the recommendations of the Official Languages Committee and insisted the state government continue with the two-language policy followed by the state. 

THREE-DIE CLEANING SEPTIC TANK

Three men died of asphyxiation in a resort in Sriperumbudur near Chennai on October 21. Ranganathan (51), Naveen Kumar (30) and Thirumalai (18) of Katchipathu village near the town were killed after inhaling the toxic gas in their attempt to clean the tank in the Sathyam Grand Resorts and Hotels.

The manager of the resort and the contractor have been detained by the police.  

CM DEMANDS ECLG FOR GARMENT MSMEs

Chief minister M K Stalin wrote to prime minister Narendra Modi on providing an emergency credit line guarantee scheme (ECLG) for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the garment industry. 

The garment sector has been under extraordinary stress following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the slowdown in the economy. The CM requested to provide 20% additional collateral-free credit to the garment industries to save lakhs of jobs and entrepreneurs. 

RAIN DAMAGES

Heavy rains thrashed several parts of the state, with the western and delta districts suffering waterlogs and damages. Salem, Erode, Namakkal and Krishnagiri districts damaged properties including electric poles, roads and a bridge. Hundreds of houses in these districts were flooded by rainwater, while a bedridden 75-year-old woman died after rainwater entered her house. 

The farmers in the delta districts, including Thanjavore, are affected due to the rain which damaged the paddy kept ready for procurement in direct procurement centres (DPC). The farmers have demanded to procure paddy with moisture content up to 22% against the present condition of 17% to reduce their losses.