TN this Week: Poll Campaign Picks Up Heat; Anti-NEET Bill Re-Adopted

The full-fledged door-to-door campaigns for the urban local body polls began once nominations were withdrawn on February 8 and the final list of candidates were released.

Local issues - such as poor roads, rainwater inundation, inadequate sewage facilities and others - have taken the centre stage in the wards. Voters are expecting solutions to civic problems, and candidates are making relevant promises.

Two petitions insisting that only Hindus wearing appropriate clothes and sporting distinct Sanatana Dharma marks should be permitted inside temples were heard by the Madras High Court on February 10. The court expressed anguish over the religious dress code being flared up to inflame communal passions and said it was up to the individual temples to prescribe a dress code as per its customs.

A BJP spokesperson in Tamil Nadu filed a petition against Facebook for allegedly violating his right to free speech by arbitrarily restricting his verified page. The Delhi High Court on February 9 sought the social media platform to respond to it.

In yet another incident of fire accident in a firecracker unit, a 29-year-old worker suffered 70% to 80% burns on February 8.

NewsClick brings you a roundup of the happenings this week.

COVID-19: DROP IN ALL DISTRICTS

Tamil Nadu added 3,086 new cases of COVID-19 on February 11 when all districts reported a drop in new cases compared to the tally on February 10. The number of inpatients at hospitals in the State has also dropped drastically.

With the decrease in the spread of the virus, people have once again become reluctant to take their timely vaccines.

The private sector, which receives 25% of vaccines from the Centre, has administered only 3% of the total vaccinations in Tamil Nadu.

According to the phase-IV serosurvey conducted, at least 87% of people in Tamil Nadu carried antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The highest prevalence was in the 18-44 age group (89.5%) and lowest in people above 60 years (84.5%).

NEET BILL RETURNED

Less than a week after the Governor returned the bill exempting the state from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), a special session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly re-adopted it on February 8 and is sent to the Governor for the second time.

A 38-year old man was arrested after hurling petrol ‘bombs’ on February 10 at the Tamil Nadu headquarters of the BJP in Chennai in opposition to the party’s pro-NEET stand.

ULB: DMK ACCUSED OF FOUL-PLAY

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is campaigning on the line that it has fulfilled most of its Assembly election promises and shall continue the same in the local bodies. It is also attacking the Centre and opposition in the state.

Whereas the leaders of the opposition parties All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kaazhagam (AIADMK) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the DMK of cheating people and not fulfilling its election promises.

The AIADMK and PMK, have accused the DMK of abducting candidates and forcing them to withdraw from the contest. After an AIADMK councillor candidate in Kancheepuram was found dead in his house on February 10, the party accused DMK of his death. Read more

The State Election Commission issued fresh guidelines for the polls. candidates and parties can hold meetings but not take out rallies on account of COVID-19 curbs.

The Tamil Nadu government announced a public holiday on February 19, the day of polling.

PROTESTS THIS WEEK

FARMERS OPPOSE ONLINE REGISTRATION

Farmers of different districts in Tamil Nadu held protests demanding the withdrawal of online registration for Direct Procurement Centres (DPCs). As farmers were unable to adapt to the online registration, they alleged that traders take advantage.

They demanded the Centre and state government to help the farmers and maintain the conventional method of the procurement process with the token system.

Farmers also criticised the minimal number of DCPs and demanded an increase in numbers.

FISHERMEN PETITION TO DONKEYS

Rameshwaram fisherfolk march towards fisheries department. Image courtesy: CITU, Tamil Nadu

Condemning inaction and opposing corruption, a protest was held against the fisheries department in the form of submitting a petition to donkeys in Rameshwaram. Implying that petitioning the government is no different than petitioning a mule.

It was held under the leadership of the Rameshwaram Island All Country Boat and Small Scale Fishermen and Sea Workers Association, of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU), on February 9. It was against the Deputy Director of Fisheries, Ramnad who took no action against large boats usurping the fish affecting the livelihood of small-scale fisherfolk.

Meanwhile, 11 fishermen from Rameswaram who were fishing in the Sri Lankan waters on February 7 were detained by the Lankan navy.

‘NO SIPCOT IN ARABLE LAND’

On the 50th day of protest against SIPCOT in Paliyapattu. Images courtesy: Theekkathir

People of the Paliyapattu neighbourhood in the Sengam Taluk of Thiruvannamalai district have been in protest for more than 50 days opposing the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (SIPCOT) in their area.

They said that arable land is the basis of their livelihood and bringing heavy industries in the area will affect the environment. They targetted the state for not taking into account the lives and occupations of the local population.

Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal on February 10 stayed a multi-crore rupees government Small Industries Development Corporation Limited (SIDCO) industrial estate project in Tiruvallur district. Allegedly water channels, agricultural lands and archaeological monuments are abutting the region.