PTI CHENNAI: Stoutly denying a BJP allegation that he was attempting a create a wedge between the Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, DMK President M Karunanidhi, on Monday asserted that there were problems between the two. He told reporters here that Vajpayee had himself thrown a bomb shell last year after his return from a trip abroad that Advani would lead the party in the next Lok Sabha polls. Vajpayee had made the statement, "knowing certain things that happened in his absence", Karunanidhi said. Asked for his comments on the remarks by BJP national secretary L Ganesan that Vajpayee and Advani were like Ram and Bharat, he said the remarks had clearly proved that problems existed between the two. "If one compares two brothers, they will say Ram and Lakshman, and not Ram and Bharat. Bharat made Ram to walk barefoot, obtaining his chappals to rule the country for 14 years", Karunanidhi said. He said he was not bothered about the findings of the NDTV-Indian Express survey, predicting a victory for NDA. If the election commission sought political parties' views on banning opinion and exit polls, DMK would seek banning such polls, he said adding that the electorate would be influenced by the findings of such polls.
PMK not worried about Rajni fans
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
PTI CHENNAI: The Rajnikant Fans Association's decision to work against PMK nominees in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry would not have any impact on electoral prospects of the party, PMK asserted on Monday. PMK President G K Mani, in a statement here, said the party cadre were not worried and would not give any importance to the decision. "The decision was expected and there was nothing to be surprised about it. Those who were working in the background, with the blessings of AIADMK, has now come out openly," he said. He said AIADMK had got 'jittery' over the findings of NDTV-Indian Express survey, which had said the DMK-led alliance would win in 34 of the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies. In a bid to cheer up the cadre, the AIADMK leadership was in search of people to make statements against the PMK, he said. Rajnikant Fans Association, at its meeting in Pondicherry on Sunday, decided to support BJP and AIADMK nominees in the six constituencies, where PMK had fielded candidates.
Bankers run after deposits to meet annual target
Monday, March 29, 2004
MADURAI: With the financial year coming to a close on March 31, managers and senior executives of nationalised banks are frantically searching for depositors so that they can meet their annual target. There are 170 branches in Madurai city, including private cooperatives and all the 27 nationalised banks. Managers of all these banks are wooing potential customers, asking them to deposit amounts for either a fortnight or a month. Sources said that bank managers, based on the previous year’s performance of their banks, have to secure 15 per cent more deposits. But this is proving to be a herculean task. Sources said not many people are interested in depositing their money with public sector banks (PSBs) as the returns are not lucrative. Banks offer 4 percent interest on deposits up to 45 days, 4.25 percent for deposits from 46 to 90 days, 4.5 percent up to 180 days, 4.75 percent on deposits for a term between 3 months and a year, 5 percent for one year, 5.25 percent for two years and 5.5 to 6 percent for three years. For senior citizens, PSBs offer an additional 0.5 percent interest on deposits. Bankers say the markets are doing well and Madurai’s trade and industry is doing brisk business, but the funds are still not flowing into PSBs. This, according to them, may be because depositors are afraid that the Income Tax department may serve notices asking them to disclose their sources of income. After the government made it mandatory to record the Permanent Account Number (PAN) while accepting deposits exceeding Rs 50,000 from public, customers have begun to distance themselves from banks. PSBs, say many customers, offer only one advantage now: Safety. That is the reason why people who have retired or are on the verge of superannuation prefer to deposit their savings with nationalised banks. Meanwhile, private banks are offering slightly higher returns to their depositors and even sops to ‘important clients’. A top executive of a major PSB, however, says that it would be wiser to deposit savings in nationalised banks and points out the irregularities reported in many private financial institutions. ‘‘At least, our depositors need not be worried about the capital amount. They will get it back at any cost.’’
Heroin worth Rs 50 lakh seized
Monday, March 29, 2004
CHENNAI: Personnel of the Narcotics Intelligence Bureau (NIB) of Crime Branch CID on Sunday arrested four persons for allegedly possessing 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 50 lakh. NIB sleuths said Vadivel (22), Dhanasekaran (23), Balaji (34) and Anwar Basha (24) - all from Red Hills - were arrested based on a tip-off at Ambattur Road-Puzhal junction. The contraband was to be delivered to Sri Lankan nationals living near Puzhal, police said and added that the accused purchased it from unidentified persons who brought it from North India. The four were later remanded in custody, police added.
Wait for an astronomical delight on March 30
Monday, March 29, 2004
CHENNAI: In astronomical lingo, experts and enthusiasts say, the sky watch programme slated for March 30 at the Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre is an exploration of the visible solar system, an opportunity one has to wait for another 32 years. According to officials at the BM Birla Planetarium, beginning the last week of March all five planets visible to the naked eye _ Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter_ were spotted on the western horizon immediately after the sunset. The planets are expected to be visible till the first week of April. ``Mercury was the most difficult to view. Being closest to the Sun, it does not get far above the horizon. It is always the nearest during dawn or dusk. Now, it requires binoculars. But the rest of them can be spotted quite easily with the naked eye,'' says P Iyamperumal, executive director, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre. The alignment is possible because all five planets are grouped within our side of the sun during their orbital cycles around the sun. What we see, according to experts, is not the light emitted by the planets but reflected light they receive from the sun. Subject to clear sky conditions, members of the public can view the five planets from the Planetarium minutes after the sunset. All the planets are visible for about an hour after sun set, officials said. Guidance will be provided by scientists at the centre. Offering a few beginner's tips, an expert at the centre said, ``The brightest is the Venus, the ruddy red one is the Mars, the one below the Gemini twins is the Saturn and most dominant is the Jupiter. Unlike the stars, the planets don't twinkle.'' But not to forget, your feet is firmly fixed on the sixth!
Sunday rain cheers up water-starved city
Monday, March 29, 2004
CHENNAI: Sudden showers in various parts of the city and its suburbs caught many Chennaiites off-guard on Sunday morning. This website’s newspaper gathered some reactions that ranged from pleasant surprise at the opportunity to cool off to sheer frustration for not getting caught in the showers. The most sportive of the lot was Rajesh Kannan from Mogappair who took his one-year-old nephew out because ‘‘he likes to play in the water’’. This is despite the ‘‘mild showers’’ lasting only for more than five minutes. The killjoy of the day was Pazhavanthagal resident Radhika G who was ‘‘very thrilled’’ because it rained for a solid half-an-hour in her area. So she called up her friends in the city to check whether they were also getting a respite from the rising temperature. She managed to ‘‘irritate’’ her friends as the rain god had given the slip in many of the areas. Now for the lazy bones of the day. Varghese Koshy from Shenoy Nagar reports: ‘‘It rained for half-an-hour. Not heavily but it was pleasant. So I decided not to go out in the morning and took a snooze because it was cool.’’ And this is what the weatherman had to say about the unexpected showers: ‘‘There were showers in some areas of the city on Sunday because of the moist air which came from the south-easterly direction from the sea in the morning. The showers have nothing to do with the ‘cyclonic circulation’ over the extreme southern peninsula,which will result in thundershowers over interior Tamil Nadu and Kerala.’’
Fake currency racket in Kodambakkam
Monday, March 29, 2004
CHENNAI: A massive, well-networked fake currency circulation racket is being operated by a gang for over a year now in Kodambakkam. The gang functions with near impunity, trapping many a youth with promises of multiplying money. The prime target group of the gang is young men from neighbouring states who have come to the city in search of livelihood and are employed in restaurants or movie production units in Kollywood. The modus operandi of the racketeers is something like this. One of the main operators would introduce himself as Mohammad and strike a conversation with youths who frequent a small mess in Kodambakkam and demonstrate two currency notes - one genuine and one fake - and ask him to make out which of them is fake. With both the currencies bearing a striking similarity, the youth is confused. Then the man would promise to offer five times the money in exchange for genuine Indian currency and trap them into the illegal business. Or the gang members would even vanish with the genuine currency after staging a fake police raid. Pradeep, (name changed) a waiter at a restaurant, lost Rs 10,000 to this gang thus. ``As soon as I handed over a bag containing Rs 10,000 to the men at the Central Station, a few well-built men posing as police personnel pounced upon them and took them away.'' Pradeep asserts that they were not police personnel because a few days later, the gang members were spotted in the restaurant ``which is their haunt. They washed their hands off the issue claiming that the money as well as the fake currencies were seized by the police''. However, in some of the cases they stick to their promise as was the case with Shanmugham (name changed) who received Rs 5 lakh in fake currencies in exchange for Rs 1 lakh in genuine currency. But then the show of honesty was put up to lure more customers, said Pradeep who had decided to take up the offer after Shanmugham's transaction was successful. Most of this money is being released into circulation in parts of Kerala and Kodambakkam, it is learnt. The gang has won the confidence of several poor youth by citing the transaction with Shanmugham as an example. However, they never provided fake money to others who took the plunge later. Fearing police action against them, the cheated youth never bothered to lodge a complaint. The gang members had told Pradeep that the fake currency notes were printed in Pakistan and were being routed to Chennai through Rajasthan. Pradeep made an informal complaint at the City Police Commissioner's Office when K Vijay Kumar was the CoP in February 2003 and an inspector was appointed to investigate the matter. However, investigation does not seem to be making any progress as the officer was transferred a few months ago. The gang is still at large canvassing for customers and pumping in fake currencies into circulation. When contacted, City Police Commissioner R Natraj said only major cases were handed over to him when he assumed charge and this issue was not discussed. However, he promised necessary action.
Infighting makes ‘hand’ shaky in Tamil Nadu
Monday, March 29, 2004
Chennai, March 28: The brazen display of rebellion by a section of party cadres against the choice of candidates reportedly finalised by the high command for the coming Lok Sabha elections has thrown the Congress party into turmoil in Tamil Nadu. Though factionalism and infighting are nothing new in the Congress, the century-old party is now in an unenviable position having to juggle with a number of factions and strike a balance among them while selecting the candidates. The party leadership, which was quick to strike an alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) after a gap of 24 years, is yet to release its candidate list for the state to the depression of not only the Congress workers but also its allies. The party has been allotted ten seats by the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance, of which it had named only senior leaders, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar and Mr R Prabhu for the Mayiladuthurai and Nilgiris constituencies. The release of candidates list has been delayed after a reported disagreement between Tamil Nadu Congress committee president, Mr G K Vasan and All India Congress Committee general secretary, Mr Kamal Nath, who is also in-charge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu, over the choice of certain candidates. Soon, the dispute spilled into the street with Mr Vasan supporters, including former MPs and MLAs, staging a noisy protest in front of the AICC headquarters in Delhi. They not only shouted slogans denouncing Mr Kamal Nath, but also accused him of accepting bribe from some ticket aspirants in full media glare. The protest had an immediate echo all over Tamil Nadu with Mr Vasan loyalists burning effigies of Mr Kamal Nath and raising slogans against him. The bone of contention is the reported allocation of the Sivaganga seat to former Union minister and Congress Jananayaga Peravai leader, Mr P Chidambaram. Also, none of the Vasan nominees is said to have figured in the draft list, barring former MP, Mr N S V Chithan. Insisting that only loyal Congressmen should be given tickets, party sources said the draft list of candidates contained some unacceptable names which did not find a place in the original list given by the TNCC. Though Mr Vasan, the son of late Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) founder, Mr G K Moopanar, was given the plum post of AICC secretary after he merged the TMC with the parent party Congress in August 2002, his supporters felt that they had been steadily sidelined by the rival factions, especially by former TNCC president, Mr E V K S Elangovan’s camp. Now, the reported leak of draft list has raised their hackles as it said to have contained the names belonging to rival groups. According to sources, Mr Vasan has been demanding that at least three or four of his nominees be accommodated in the list. While the Opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-Bharatiya Janata Party combine watch the developments with amusement, the infighting and dissension in the Congress has made its DPA allies sore. As all the political parties have released their candidates list and their leaders have hit the campaign trail, the Congress has a long way to go to catch up with the rest in terms of wall-writing and publicity. The Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam president, Mr M Karunanidhi, who has been at the hustings since March 22, was upset over the wranglings in the Congress camp, a DMK source said. He had also reportedly drawn the attention of the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi to the need to sort out the issue before it went out of hands. We certainly feel that our electioneering has been handicapped as we are yet to know the names of Congress candidates, the source added. Last week’s ugly incidents of effigy-burning and slapping of leaders’ pictures with sandals at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the party headquarters here, were reminiscent of the revolt by Moopanar loyalists in 1996 against the then Congress prime minister, Mr P V Narasimha Rao’s decision to ally with the AIADMK, which ultimately saw the formation of the TMC. The just-born TMC had created a history by romping home to victory in the 1996 elections in a last-minute alliance with the DMK. However, Mr Vasan was unlikely to follow his father’s footsteps as the situation was totally different now, Congress sources said. According to inside circles, the TNCC president was eventually ready to settle down for Palani and Rasipuram seats. Even the high command appeared to be accommodative to smoothen the ruffled feathers and might, at any time, call Mr Vasan to Delhi for an amicable solution, they said. Though the Congress leadership is expected to release the candidates list on or before March 31, party leaders expressed confidence that the list would be out in a day or two to the satisfaction of all the factions.
Mumbai tighten noose around TN
Monday, March 29, 2004
CHENNAI, March 28. — Amol Mazumdar scored an unbeaten 119 as Mumbai took a huge 219-run first innings lead to tighten their grip on the Ranji Trophy final against Tamil Nadu on the third day at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here today. At stumps, skipper Sairaj Bahutule was unbeaten on 64 with Mazumdar as the visitors ended the day at 513 for five, giving no respite to the Tamil Nadu bowlers who tasted limited success in the first two sessions on a flat track. Mazumdar, who scored his 13th Ranji century, was involved in two big partnerships, adding 131 runs with Bahutule for the unbroken sixth wicket and 113 runs with Vinod Kambli (55) for the fourth wicket. The hosts, who allowed Mumbai to pile up 236 for no loss yesterday, seemed to have got back themselves into the match taking three quick wickets of openers Wasim Jaffer (133) and Vinayak Mane (106) and Bhavin Thakkar (9) in the first hour of the day and later removing Kambli and Manoj Joglekar (0) in the post-lunch session. But, Mazumdar and Bahutule showed determination and went after the bowlers. Madhya Pradesh fight back: Madhya Pradesh were trailing by 251 runs on the third-day of the Ranji Trophy Plate Championship against Maharashtra in Pune.Resuming at overnight score of 26 for one, Madhya Pradesh were 250 for five in reply to Maharashtra’s huge 501 in the first innings. Though Madhya Pradesh began well, none but Naman Ojha (79) could stay for long at the crease. Devendra Bundela (48) and Rahul Bakshi (10) were at the crease at stumps. Brief scores: Maharashtra (1st innings): 501 v Madhya Pradesh (1st innings): 250/5 (N Ojha 79, D Bundela 48 n.o.). — PTI
Scripting success in Tamil computing
Monday, March 29, 2004
He may not hold any brilliant academic credentials in information technology but his work in Tamil computing drew, six years ago, the attention of several experts including M. Anandakrishnan, former IT Advisor to the Chief Minister. Today, his work has widely been recognised. A few months ago, he was given the State Government's award for best Tamil book in computer science. This 37-year-old computer science writer, Anto Peter, speaks to T. Ramakrishnan about business opportunities available in the field for youth and how to promote language computing. A FEW years ago, Anto Peter produced a compact disc on 120 menus of Tamilian food, such as `kuzhi paniyaram,' and `sambar vadai.' He did it more for fun. The content was in Tamil as well as English. But, surprisingly, the product became a hit, particularly among those in Europe and the U.S. "This only underscores the potential that (Tamil) language computing holds. The field is wide open and we need to make use of the opportunities," says Anto Peter, who has been working in Tamil computing since 1990. He has also released Tamil CD-ROMs (read only memory) on nursery rhymes and Tirukkural. Indian language computing, more so Tamil, holds immense scope in the areas of education, entertainment and literature. "Till now, the teaching of basics in Tamil, say `Athi Chudi', has not been done using audio-visual presentations. Now, technology helps you do it, and students grasp the concepts better," he notes. Teachers should also start using more multi-media CD-ROMs. After sometime, they can, on their own, create the CDs, because technology is becoming friendlier by the day. "Only here people do not send e-mail in Tamil. But, invariably all messages I receive from contacts abroad are in Tamil. In fact, I see their longing for Tamil," Mr Peter points out. "This is why I say language computing has a vast market." His award-winning book on Tamil and computers deals with aspects such as encoding, Unicode and how computer machine works with language. He took more than one and a half years to complete the book. But, the challenge lay in keeping himself abreast of technological developments and incorporates them in the work. "It was a great learning experience," he recalls. Mr. Peter, who has written a dozen Tamil books in computer science, says many youngsters, employed as DTP (desk top publishing) operators in street-corner shops, have studied up to high school. They want to improve their knowledge. For them, such books come in handy. He says his book on DTP sold over more than 20,000 copies. He had a problem on deciding whether his works should be completely uni-lingual or not. "I have found out that it is better to use English terms and mention Tamil equivalents too. I feel at this stage (of Tamil writing on IT) that there is nothing wrong in using both English and Tamil." But, he is also conscious of difficulties involved in using Tamil. "Yes, English is comparatively easier to learn. In the case of Tamil, one has to keep in mind the basic features and structure of the language. But, these difficulties are not insurmountable. The challenge lies in overcoming them and not in getting stuck, citing the problems," the writer says. He also points to the fact that it is because that Tamil holds immense potential that Microsoft has made its software programme, "Windows XP," in Tamil also. Acknowledging that there are not many Tamil books in IT, he says efforts are on to remedy the situation. A couple of years ago, a committee on Tamil terminology, constituted by the State Government, approved 7,500 terms for use in Tamil publications related to computers and Internet. "These words can be popularised by the Government. In fact, they are all simple terms, which are available on the website (www.tcwords.com) ." Any language that moves away from science, the more the chances of it becoming irrelevant, wraps up Mr. Peter, who can be contacted at softviewindia@hotmail.com.
Rajni factor returns in Baba backlash
Monday, March 29, 2004
Chennai, March 28: Rajnikanth may be far from the heat and dust of the coming Lok Sabha polls but his fans are not. The Tamil superstar’s 22,000 fan clubs (rasigar mandram) are ready to teach S. Ramadoss’ PMK a lesson for opposing his last major release, Baba, by taking a tip or two from the saintly political-cleanser role he had played in that film. Rajni’s fans have decided to oppose the PMK and will work to defeat all the six candidates the PMK is fielding, including five in Tamil Nadu and one in Pondicherry, said Rajnikanth Fans Associations president Sathya Narayana in Pondicherry today. The dispute goes back to August 2002 when Baba was released. Ramadoss had assailed the actor’s screen mannerisms, including his trademark lighting of a cigarette, for being a corrupting influence on the youth. The workers of his OBC Vanniyar-based party went a step further, forcing cinemas not to screen the film in several towns of Tamil Nadu. The move, Narayana said, had deeply hurt the fans. Baba bombed despite Rajnikanth, in the title role, playing a hero born of divine grace who tries to cleanse a corrupt political system. At the film’s end, he hints at coming back (to real-life politics) to serve the people instead of retreating to Himalayan solitude. Rajnikanth had retreated from the political limelight after galvanising his fans into canvassing for the DMK-Tamil Maanila Congress combine in 1996 with his now famous one-liner: If Jayalalithaa comes back to power, even God cannot save Tamil Nadu. The fans had then pedalled their way into remote villages to popularise the TMC’s bicycle symbol on the eve of the 1996 polls. ADMK chief Jayalalithaa lost that Assembly election, held along with the Lok Sabha polls, partly because of the Rajni factor. But the actor’s subsequent ambiguity in supporting the BJP in the 1998 and 1999 Lok Sabha polls confused his fans. In this situation, Baba made a symbolic difference because it depicted the saint in saffron robes as an ideal-ised motif. With the fans now determined to comprehensively defeat the PMK at the hustings, the party must be feeling the heat in all six Lok Sabha seats it has decided to contest. Ramadoss’ nominees will face the BJP in Chidambaram, Dharmapuri and Pondicherry and its ally, the ADMK, in Chengalpattu, Arakkonam and Tindivanam. The decision of Rajnikanth’s fans will in effect likely help the ADMK-BJP combine and thus hurt the PMK, which is already squirming from having to face former member P.T. Elangovan as the BJP’s nominee from Dharmapuri. In Pondicherry, the PMK is up against Lalitha Kumaramangalam, the sister of former Union minister late Rangarajan Kumaramangalam. The actor, however, has so far not declared any support either for the BJP or Jayalalithaa. Narayana, too, ruled out Rajnikanth directly campaigning against the PMK. The last time the superstar espoused a cause in public was in January 2003 when he went on a dawn-to-dusk fast in Chennai to plead for interlinking of the country’s major rivers.
Denial of tickets irks Cong
Saturday, March 27, 2004
PTI CHENNAI: Irked by the denial of Lok Sabha seats to supporters of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President G K Vasan, Congressmen on Wednesday held protest demonstrations in various parts of the state and burned the effigy of Kamal Nath, in charge of partry's Tamil Nadu affairs, demanding his resignation. Police sources said the demonstrations were held in Chennai, Karur, Ramanathapuram, Salem, Sivaganga, Villupuram and other places when the effigies of Kamal Nath were burnt by cadre, owing allegiance to Vasan. In Chennai, Vasan supporters not only burnt the effigy of Kamal nath, but also raised slogans demanding Kamal Nath's immediate resignation. They were also upset with the reported allotment of seats to non-loyalists like Gandhi, an advocate, and former Congress leader and now leader of Congress Jananayaga Peravai, P Chidambaram. Some even went to the extent of threatening to commit self-immolation. Meanwhile, Vasan telephonically conveyed the message to them that he would speak to Congress President Sonia Gandhi tomorrow and try to 'correct' the situation. The TNCC organising secretary, C K Perumal, in a statement, regretted that only traders, 'self-seekers, and selfish people' had been given tickets, and asked the party leadership to make amends so that the party did not face defeat.
Jayaprada pays compunded IT
Saturday, March 27, 2004
PTI CHENNAI: A Metropolitan Magistrate Court has discharged actress and former MP, R Jayaprada, from cases filed against her by the income tax department for non-payment of IT for several years. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate for Economic Offences M Velu discharged her from the cases on a petition filed by the Chief Commissioner of IT (II) withdrawing the complaint against the actress following remittance of over Rs 49.77 lakh by her on September 11 last as compounded fee towards tax for the assessment years 1980-81 till 1985-86. Besides, she had also paid arrears for the assessment years 1979-80 to 1985-86, the department contended. In the year 1985, the IT department had launched proceedings against Jayapradha for non-payment of IT for the assessment years 1980-81 to 1984-85 and in 1993 filed another complaint against her for the assessment year 1985-86. In its petition to the court, the department said she had petitioned the department for compounding the amount following which the department compounded the fee of Rs 33,50,326 for the assessment years 1980-81 till 1984-85 and Rs 16,26,884 for the year 1985-86.
CBI to take over all 48 cases within a week
Saturday, March 27, 2004
CHENNAI: CBI will take over for investigation within a week all the 48 fake stamp paper cases, as ordered by the Supreme Court recently, CBI Director U S Misra said here on Thursday. Already 11 such cases were under investigation and the total would now go up to 59, Misra, who is here on a two-day "familiarisation visit" to the city, told a press meet. Since all these cases had national and international ramifications, 48 teams of officials had been formed for investigating the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam. These teams were now visiting various states and most of the cases were from Maharashtra, Karnataka and some in other states like Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. An Additional Director, a joint director, four DIGs and a contingent of officials would supervise the investigation of these cases, he said adding there was no "political pressure" on them. Misra said a team of officials headed by Joint Director, Economic Offences Wing of the CBI, was in Mumbai yesterday to complete certain 'initial formalities' and held discussions with top level officials there. Asked whether there was any involvement of two top level police officials in the scam from Tamil Nadu, including an IG, Misra said "I cannot commit anything on it now" and added that a team might visit Chennai "anytime."
Film on calf-love wins award
Saturday, March 27, 2004
PTI CHENNAI: A subtle film dealing with calf-love and its inner rhythm made by Anup Kurian has bagged the prestigious Gollapudi Srinivas National Award for the year 2003 instituted by Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation. The award for the English film Manasoraver carries a cash prize of Rs 1.50 lakh and a special memento designed by famous film director and artist Bapu. This is the seventh year of the foundation's "quest for excellence in debut ventures of feature film directors and for good meaningful cinema", says a foundation press note here today. Kurian, a diploma holder from Film and TV Institute of India, Pune, is also an MCA (Master of Computer Applications) and has made advertisement commercials and documentaries. Manasarovar is his maiden feature film.
Jaya violated model code
Saturday, March 27, 2004
PTI CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu unit of CPI-M on Friday alleged that AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa had violated the model code of conduct for political parties during electioneering and wanted the Election commission to take action against her. CPI-M's state unit secretary N Varadarajan told reporters here that Jayalalithaa's outburst against opposition leaders and her comments on Congress President Sonia Gandhi were "gross violation of the model code." He charged that the AIADMK volunteers were indulging in tapping power from the main lines to provide electricity for Jayalalithaa's public meetings and the election commission should take note of it. He also alleged that the AIADMK was attempting to use the women self-help groups to canvass for its candidates. The district collectors had told these groups that they need not repay the loans sanctioned to them and that "somebody" would take care of it, he said. He said his party's campaign theme in the state would be "a secular government at the centre and negative vote for the BJP and AIADMK." He said Tamil Nadu government was indulging in "undemocratic" acts and denying political parties the right to hold rallies and agitations. On his party's alliance with Congress, he said his party was not in "direct" alliance with Congress in any part of the country. In Tamil Nadu, CPI-M was part of the democratic progressive alliance, led by the DMK.
Lt Governor hospitalised
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Lt Governor hospitalised PTI PONDICHERRY : Pondicherry Lt Governor N N Jha was admitted to government general hospital here after he slipped and fell at Raj Nivas while getting ready to go to Vishakapatnam. A bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Services Director said that a detailed clinical examination including CT scan showed that he had not suffered any harm from the fall. In view of the diagnosis as "transient ischemic attack and history of diabetes and hypertension more detailed diagnostic check" was being made on Jha, the bulletin said adding that if needed, the Lt Governor might be shifted to Chennai for advanced treatment. Official sources told newsmen that Jha was getting ready to go to Vishakapatnam to attend a seminar sponsored by the Pondicherry university when he slipped in the bathroom. Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Rangasamy, Ministers E Valsraj, A Elumalai, K Lakshminarayanan, former Home Minister P Kannan, leaders and functionaries of various political parties were among those who called on the Governor at the hospital and wished him speedy recovery.
TN BJP leaders to meet Rajni
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Leaders of the BJP's Tamilnadu unit are likely to meet actor Rajnikant to seek his support for the party's candidates contesting the 10 May general elections, in the State. Speaking to reporters at the BJP headquarters here today, Sukumaran Nambiar, the party's candidate for North Chennai constituency, said 'Rajni's popularity is such that all political parties would claim his support. My feeling is that the actor is an avowed nationalist and hence his support will be for BJP'. Further asked by reporters whether BJP leaders would personally meet the actor to seek his support, Nambiar said, 'of course we will meet him. There is enough time left for that'. Asked how he assessed his chances in North Chennai, Nambiar said though the DMK candidate C Kuppusamy was a tough opponent, he was confident of winning the electorate's favour since the constituency had long been neglected by the DMK which had retained it several times. Moreover, over the years, the DMK's support base had been eroding. The AIADMK had won three Assembly seats in North Chennai. The growing presence of the AIADMK would help the BJP in the elections this time, he observed. Though North Chennai had good potential for economic progress in view of the presence of many industries and the harbour, it had been underutilised by the DMK nominee, he charged. 'In my campaign I will highlight these issues and putforth my development plans for North Chennai', he said. He said the thrust area of his development plan would be to help the fishing community acquire the know-how of the latest technologies in fishing. He would also strive to find a permanent solution to the skirmishes that broke out often between Tamilnadu fishermen and their Andhra counterparts when they 'knowingly' or 'unknowingly' intruded into each other's territory. When asked whether he subscribed to the view that Congress president Sonia Gandhi should not be allowed to become the Prime Minister of the country in view of her foreign origin, he said 'that she had become the Opposition leader itself was due to the weakness of Indian Constitution. The BJP could not make amendment to ban foreign-born citizens from occupying executive and legislative posts since it did not have a two-third majority in the last Lok Sabha'.
MDMK manifesto promises state autonomy
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Coimbatore, March 26: The MDMK today said it would make efforts to bring in necessary Constitutional amendments for decentralisation of powers vested with the Centre to provide autonomy to states, proportional and equal representation to the states in the Council of Ministers and abolition of Governor's post. To provide residuary powers to the states, make coalition as a permanent feature in Indian politics and also to decentralise powers vested with the Centre, the party would make efforts to bring in amendment in the seventh schedule of the Constitution, by changing Union List, State List and Concurrent List, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said after releasing the party manifesto at a function here. The party would strive hard to bring in amendments to the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act so that political parties could get proportional representation on the basis of votes they got in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, considering the coalition politics in future, he said. Alleging that the post of Governor, created by the British, was being "misused," the MDMK sought abolition of these gubernatorial posts. Considering the experiences of "misuse" by the Centre in dismissing the democratically elected state governments, the party, in its manifesto, also sought abolition of Article 356 of the Constitution. The manifesto also promised to take steps to clear all corruption cases filed against politicians and government officials within one year, by constituting special courts. Addressing party office-bearers and workers after releasing the election manifesto, Vaiko, narrating the sequences that led to the MDMK quitting the NDA, said the biggest mortal assault on democracy was the amendment to the Representation of the People Act. When the issue was brought to the notice of Prime Minister Vajpayee, he pleaded ignorance asking, "Is it so," Vaiko said, adding that he came to know about the amendment only when Union Minister of State for Sports Vijay Goel (who was in PMO then), elaborated on it. On his jail life following detention under POTA, Vaiko said he had asked his partymen and even one of his best friends and NDA convenor George Fernandes, not to approach or argue with the Centre to bail him out. The MDMK did a big mistake by voting for POTA, he said. Despite his assurance that POTA would not be misused, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani "bungled" the whole issue and even did not bother to mention his (Vaiko's) name in Parliament during a discussion, he alleged. "Probably, Advani is afraid about the future alliance with the AIADMK," Vaiko said. The Centre chose to appoint a review committee only after one year, due to pressure mounted on it, after 1.1 crore signature campaign and also letter signed by 301 MPs belonging to 36 political parties, he said. Blaming the Centre for appealing in the Supreme Court on vacating the stay on the disputed land at Ayodhya, Vaiko said the Centre had done what the VHP and RSS was supposed to do but hastened to add that "we are not against Hindus". The MDMK wanted to uphold secular fabric of the country and was against the influence of Hindutva forces on the government like saffronisation of education, Vaiko said. Taking a dig at Advani's rath yatra, Vaiko said he was not sure when it would reach its destination, with so many breakdowns en route. Mounting a scathing attack on the Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo, Jayalalithaa, he said he did not want to stoop that low, replying to her remarks. "If I start attacking, no one could bear it. But, I will come like a storm," he cautioned. Citing various incidents, Vaiko said he had taken up various issues that should have been taken up by the Tamil Nadu government. He was the first one to raise the issue of eight Tamil youths facing gallows in Malaysia, after which Jayalalithaa wrote a letter in this regard, Vaiko claimed. Similarly, he had fought hard against privatisation of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) and also taken up Sethusamudram project with the Prime Minister, he said. Saying that the state government had a "sadist mind," Vaiko said attack on freedom of the press by filing cases against 'The Hindu' and 'Murasoli' and dismissal of government employees were some of the proofs for this. (Agencies)
TN Open University to start B Ed course
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Chennai, March 26: Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) will start B Ed course soon after getting the clearance from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), university Vice-Chancellor, Dr M S Palanichamy, said. In an interview to Chennaionline, Palanichamy said the Tamil Nadu government and the Distance Education Council have given 'no objection' certificates to the university for starting the course. "The NCTE has inspected the infrastructure and staff strength of the university. We are awaiting clearance from the NCTE. As soon as we get clearance, we hope to start the course by June," the Vice-Chancellor said. On the courses during this calendar year, Palanichamy said that BA (History), BA (Tourism Studies), BA (Economics), BA (Tamil), BA (English), B Com, MA (History), MA (Political Science), MA (Public Administration), MA (Economics), MA (Psychology), MA (Sociology), M.Com, MBA (3 years), diploma in management, certificate programmes in computing, empowering women through self-help groups, environmental studies, food and nutrition, rural development, teaching English and teaching primary school mathematics would be taught. The last date for receiving applications for the abovesaid courses is April 30. The applications can be had from the Tamil Nadu Open University, Directorate of Technical Education campus, Guindy, Chennai-25, or at the nearest information centre on payment of Rs. 100. The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned Rs 77.8 lakh for payment of salary to the staff and infrastructure development. The government had earlier provided Rs 69.4 lakh to the university, Palanichamy said. The Vice-Chancellor was presented with the Gavoty award instituted by the Gavoty Foundation, France, at Tiruchi last month for his outstanding contribution in the area of admitting rural women under equivalency and contributing education programmes in TNOU. (N. Arun Kumar)
MK to initiate legal action against Jaya
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Chennai, March 27: DMK president M Karunanidhi today said he would initiate legal action against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and BJP's state unit general secretary G Kumaravelu for spreading "falsehood" that he had asked Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to appoint Dayanidhi Maran, son of late Murasoli Maran, as a Union Minister. In a statement here, he said soon after the death of Maran last year, Vajpayee had telephonically asked him to name the DMK nominee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Maran, then a Union Cabinet Minister without portfolio. Karunanidhi said he had told the Prime Minister that he would inform him later. Again when BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu reminded him about the matter, he had told him that he had not decided on it, the DMK chief said. However, Jayalalithaa in her campaign was spreading "falsehood" that he had asked the Prime Minister to appoint Dayanidhi Maran as a cabinet minister and Vajpayee had rejected his request, Karunanidhi said adding that it was an "unadulterated lie". Kumaravelu had also endorsed her statement, he said alleging that it was a planned conspiracy to malign him. He was consulting lawyers to initiate legal action against the two, Karunanidhi said. (Our Correspondent)
Media misquoted me: Kanchi seer
Thursday, March 18, 2004
CHENNAI/KANCHEEPURAM: The controversy over the alleged remarks on Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam by Sri Jayendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam on Wednesday took a new turn with the Kanchi Pontiff blaming it all on the media, even as one more Vaishnavite saint launched an attack on him. ''The media misquoted me on the issue,'' he told reporters in Chennai. The controversy had been triggered following the Kanchi seer's reported remarks against Sri Tridandi Chinna Sriman Narayana Ramanuja Jeer over the conduct of rituals at Tirumala Tirupathi. He was quoted as saying that the Tridandi jeer did not know the difference between the Vaikhasana agama, which had been traditionally followed in the temple, and Visisthadvaita philosophy, of which the jeer was a proponent. The reported comment had followed complaints by the Tridandi jeer that the repair and renovation work and the rituals at the temple were not being done based on the agamas. The Kanchi seer had also reportedly taken objection to the large amount of funds from the TTD being donated to the Jeer for his social service programmes. The controversy had been fuelled further by five Vaishnavaite seers holding a press conference in Chennai on Tuesday condemning the Kanchi pontiff and what they described as a Saivite attempt to interfere in Vaishnavite traditions. In an attempt to put the controversy at rest, the Kanchi seer said on Wednesday that he had in fact told the media in Hyderabad a few weeks ago that the rituals were being conducted according to Vaikhanasa traditions and that the complaints of Jeer Narayanan in this regard were not correct. He said this was interpreted as an attempt to criticise and degrade the Tirupati temple and added, ''In fact I spoke to the media because Tirupati Devasthanam had asked me to issue a statement and solve the matter.'' ''There was no way I could criticise either Tirupati temple or Vaishnavism as such because Lord Venkatachalapathy is my family deity. In fact, the Adi Sankara had worshipped at the temple and several Shaivite monks had also considered Tirupati Venkatachalapathy as their family deity.'' He also said some persons had raked up the controversy unnecessarily for getting publicity without understanding the issue. Earlier in the day, in Kancheepuram, Andavan Swamigal of Srirangam also joined the other Vaishnavite seers in criticising the Kanchi pontiff. Questioning the locus standi of Jayendra Saraswathi, a Saivite seer, to comment on a Vaishnavite temple, Srimad Andavan Swamigal said, ''there were attempts to convert the rituals of the Tirumala temple from Vaikanasa to Pancharathra tradition (both are Vaishnavite traditions). He also said that there was a general view that Jayendra Saraswathi was behind such a move.
Boy talks to girl in college, both are fined
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Boy talks to girl in college, both are finedThursday March 18 2004 10:40 IST CHENNAI: What can happen when a boy and girl are ‘caught’ talking to each other in college? Try this: They are fined, suspended or made to stand in the sun for two or three hours. They may also lose attendance points and their pictures are put up on the notice board for all to see. And all of these often happen in some co-educational centres of learning such as the Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, and other Jeppiar institutions such as St. Joseph’s College, Panimalar College, St. Mary’s College and some other engineering colleges like RMK Engineering College and Madha Engineering College. Boys and girls in these places are not allowed to speak to each other and are punished even if they converse on academic subjects or are constrained to borrow anything from one another. In Sathyabama Institute, they sit separately in classrooms and labs. The boys have male lab attendants, the girls have female attendants. There are ‘attenders’ (read spies) to make sure the young people are not breaking rules. They are punished even if found together outside the campus. Karthika (name changed) of Sathyabama Institute describes how absurd the policing can get: ‘‘Once my friend was pulled up for asking the boy next to her about a computer program. Both their parents were called.’’ She found it outrageous that the authorities should bother about such trivialities when there aren’t any campus interviews at the institute. Preethi (name changed) of RMK College of Engineering had an even more bizzare story: ‘‘Two of my classmates are twins, a girl and a boy. They were suspended for a week for speaking to each other.’’ Sudheesh (name changed) of Sathyabama Institute sounds worried: ‘‘This will affect us when we go out into the professional world. We won’t be able to communicate with our women colleagues.’’ Mercifully, as Smitha (name changed) of Madha Engineering College says, rules are not always kept. ‘‘In spite of the rules, we speak to the boys. As long as we are careful and don’t get caught, it is all right.’’ What do the colleges have to say? Chairman of Jeppiar Educational Trust, Jeppiar, denies there are any such rules: ‘‘Some families give instructions to their children and the children themselves may follow it. We have not punished anyone for talking to each other. In fact, at seminars and symposiums they do talk to each other.’’ But he goes on to say that the day scholars are not allowed to mingle with the boarders. Why? ‘‘Because that is bad habit.’’ Also, Jeppiar does not see why his students should visit cinemas or restaurants. ‘‘We provide everything here. I do not even have a canteen run by an outsider. We provide them with whatever they want, sweets, ice-creams, you name it. Why should they go elsewhere? If my students go out and mingle (in cinema theatres, restaurants) somebody will let me know about it,’’ he says. Does he punish the students? ‘‘No, we don’t punish them. We only inform their parents,’’ he says. Dr MRJ Rao, Principal, RMK College, says students are seated separately in class and he does not see what’s wrong with that. ‘‘Do you want them to sit next to each other?’’ he asks. ‘‘Anyway, they have mixed seating during the examinations and they do their training programmes together.’’ Pressed for more details, he says there are ‘‘some restrictions’’ for Ist and 2nd year students to ensure that the youngsters’ minds are ‘‘not diverted’’. But he adds that the students are only ‘‘warned’’ if caught talking, not ‘‘punished’’. Repeated attempts to reach the Secretary of Higher Education Department over phone and fax, drew a blank. But, more than a month ago, a senior department official confirmed receiving the fax and said this was the first time the department had heard about what’s going on in these colleges. He said he would comment only after receiving a report that he has asked for from the Director of Technical Education. On Wednesday, after waiting to hear from him all this time, when this reporter called up the same official, he said a team was supposed to visit these colleges to ascertain what was happening, but they hadn’t because the Director had been busy with some court cases. He also said that he would speak to the Director again and would get back in a week’s time. Whatever the ‘‘merits’’ of not letting boys and girls talk to each other, the psychologists this paper spoke to do not think it is a good idea. Dr Cherian, Director, Research and Treatment, TTK Hospital, says ‘‘suppression’’ only leads to unhealthy behaviour. Dr R Padamavati, Director, SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation) and Psychiatrist, Sundaram Medical Foundation, says treating young adults like kids does not help because youngsters do not learn to behave like adults. Sudha Ramalingam, Advocate, Madras High Court, says there is no law governing codes within a campus, but colleges cannot form by-laws preventing interaction between the sexes.
Simran escorting Olympic Torch Rally
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Coca Cola India launched their Chennai leg of its Olympic Torchbearer nomination programme recently at Chennai’s Park Sheraton. Simran who was here to act with Vijay in Udhaya was the centre of attraction at the function. She formally announced her participation in the Olympic Torch Rally as one of the escort runners. She will be among those representing India in the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay on June 10 at New Delhi. Altogether, Coca-Cola India will select 42 torchbearers and seven escort runners from across the country through its nomination programmes.
Vikram and Sneha voted best Actor and Actress
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Medimix - Dinakaran cinema awards for the year 2003 were announced. Vikram bags the best actor award for his diverse role in Pithamagan and Sneha will receive the best actress award for her outstanding dual role in Paarthiban Kanavu. Pithamagan made a clean sweep bagging 6 awards - best movie producer (V.A. Durai), best director (Bala), best actor, best cinematographer (Balasubramanium), best character actress (Sangeetha) and best stunt director (Stun Siva). Pithamagan was followed by Thiruda Thirudi which bagged 4 awards - the best music director (Dina), best dance director (Sivasankar), best comedian (Karunas) and best female playback singer (Malathy). The best male and female new face awards went to Ravi and Sada respectively for the movie Jayam. The best lyricist award went to Vairamuthu for the movie Iyyarkai. Best male playback singer was voted as Harish Ragavendra for Kaadhal Kondaen. The best character award went to Raghuvaran for the movie Thirumalai. Jeevan was voted the best villain for the movie Kaakha Kaakha. The outstanding actor and actress award went to veterans Gemini Ganesan and Saroja Devi. The awards will be given away at a grand function in Chennai on the 10th of April.
Autograph
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
AutographCast Cheran , Sneha , Ilavarasu , Gopika , Mallika , Kanika and Rajesh. Story - Screenplay - Direction Cheran Music Bharadwaj Cinematography Vijay Milton, Shanky Mahendra, Ravi Varman and Dwarakanath Review - Autograph Autograph centres on Senthil (Cheran) an advertising Manager in Chennai, who boards the Pandian Express to invite people who have made an impact on his life for his wedding and takes the audience along with him right from a small village in Madurai to beautiful locations of Allepey, Kerala. His father His father (Rajesh) was the postmaster of the village. As he takes a trip to these places he goes down in his memory lane and relives his experiences- his school days, his close friends, his schoolmaster and his first love with Kamala (Mallika) etc. Now he meets and invites all of them including Kamala who is happily married with three children. Then he takes his journey to Kerala where he studied in S.N.College in Allepey. There he once again goes back in memory lane on how he fell for Lathika (Gopika), his first kissing experiences and how finally his love was shattered by her father who gets her off married to her cousin. Senthil gets disheartened after seeing Lathika as a widow. But Senthil’s life totally changes after he meets Divya (Sneha) who teaches him the value of friendship and to let go of his past and get on with his life. And in the climax Senthil gets married to Thenmozhi (Kanika) in the presence of all those with who mattered to him in his life. Cheran’s approach is always different from the routine stuff, which he has proved in his earlier films like Porkaalam, Bharathi Kannamma, Paandavar Bhoomi. Here also the producer, director, scriptwriter and actor Cheran has tried to project the film differently with his own classic touches. As an actor he has played well, but as a director there is inconsistency in the screenplay. The film is bit too long and dragging. Sneha has given a brilliant performance. Though appearing in a cameo role, she is so natural and full of zeal. Mallika and Gopika are sufficient. All the characters are etched out well. Music by Bharadwaj is melodious. The four cinematographers need special mention especially the one who has captured the unusual locales of Kerala. Comment : Watchable once .
DMK chief mocks at Election Commission
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
The DMK chief M Karunanidhi today sardonically wondered whether Election Commission actions were confined to statements such as they are 'looking into complaints'. The DMK chief made this cynical observation on the functioning of the Election Commission, while pointing out to incidents such as one in which a policeman cut off his fingers for appeasing God in order to ensure the victory of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. In another incident, he said an AIADMK Minister at a public function in Tuticorin had stated that the police force was behind them. He said the common man was wondering what action the EC had taken on these violations. On the Chief Minister calling PMK founder Ramadoss as casteist in violation of election norms, the DMK chief again sarcastically asked 'is this a code of conduct violation? The EC will take action after proper enquiry!', mocking the Election Commission's response to such violations recently. Refering to Advani's speech in Karnataka that Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya, Karunanidhi said the statement on the Ayodhya issue shows that Advani and Jayalalithaa are together on this. As long as the DMK, PMK and MDMK were in the NDA, Ayodhya issue was not brought to the forefront, he pointed out.
Sonia, Priyanka to campaign in TN
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Congress leader R Prabhu, who is contesting from Nilgiris, today met the DMK chief M Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence. Emerging out of the meeting, he told reporters that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Vadhera will campaign in Tamilnadu for the elections. Prabhu said that he would take up the tea planters' problems in Nilgiris during the election campaign. Prabhu had earlier criticsed the BJP for announcement made by the Centre recenly on fixing price for green tea leaves. He had described it has an election sop at that time.. Meanwhile, A V Bellarmine, CPM candidate for Nagercoil, also called on the DMK chief at the Anna Arivalayam this morning. Ex-ministers Suresh Rajan, Durai Murugan and DMK deputy general secretary M K Stalin were among those present during the meetings.
Search on for missing fisherman
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Coast Guard officials have launched a search for a fisherman who put out to the sea, Sunday and was reported missing by two of his colleagues. According to police, three fishermen - Sivalingam, Veeramuthu and Anbarasu - ventured into the sea, Sunday, in a catamaran. It is said that their catamaran was hit by another ship later that night, damaging it completely. While Veeramuthu and Anbarasu managed to swim back to safety, the other, Sivalingam is said to be missing.
Chennai to host global meet on heart problems
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
For the first time in the country, a two-day international conference on 'International Update on Heart Failure' will be held on 19 and 20 March at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (Deemed University). The meet will deliberate on heart problems and cardiac arrests. Speaking to reporters here yesterday, vice-chancellor of the university Dr S Thanikachalam said that the incidence in cases of heart failure was rising with increasing age. About 80 per cent of patients discharged from cardiac units in hospitals were above 60 years of age. Nearly two lakh patients with heart failure die annually. For about 75 per cent cardiac patients globally the mortality period was five years. The main focus of the conference was to sensitise the doctors to identify the problems earlier and to encourage the general public to go for early correction. Heart failure was the terminal part of all diseases and early identification of the problems could solve many complicated issues of heart attacks, he said. The vice-chancellor urged the public to have a programmed schedule of physical exercise apart from good dietary habits. The conference is being organised by the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute in association with the University of Miami, US, and Cardiological Society of India (Tamilnadu chapter). Nearly 500 delegates are expected to attend the meet.
Sarath Kumar gets anticipatory bail
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday granted interim anticipatory bail to leading Tamil actor and Rajya Sabha member Sarath Kumar, who apprehended arrest in connection with a criminal case against him. Granting the bail, effective for two weeks, Justice A K Rajan directed the actor to furnish a personal bond for Rs 5000. Last week, a metropolitan magistrate had issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against him for his failure to respond to summons to him to appear in court in connection with an alleged cheque bounce case filed under section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act. In his application, the MP contended that an erstwhile employee of his, who is also his relative, had connived with one Ramesh, who allegedly misused blank cheques signed by him. The MP said if he was arrested he would be put to shame in the eyes of society, besides causing irreparable damage to his reputation
Jaya launches scathing attack on Sonia
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
CHENNAI: Making a very aggressive start to her campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, the AIADMK Supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday evening, launched a scathing diatribe against the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Addressing a massive gathering near the state Slum Clearance Board on the Marina, falling under Central Chennai constituency, Jayalalithaa said that the question before the 100 crore Indians was who should be the future Prime Minister of the country. "Who do you want – a capable leader like Vajpayee or a political novice like Sonia Gandhi? The country's own son or an inexperienced 'pardesi' (foreigner)?" She appealed to the massive sea of people not () to support the alliance that was intent on making Gandhi as the Prime Minister as it would "threaten the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country." Jayalalithaa, in an effort to convince the electorate why it should not support the forces (Democratic Progress Alliance led by the DMK) that supports Gandhi as the Prime Minister, said that the Congress president was a "half-baked" ( 'araivekkadu ') politician - a political "novice" ( kattakutti - one who is just learning) and one who was not born in India.
HC criticises misuse of PILs
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
CHENNAI: Taking strong exception to public interest litigations being filed to project political issues, the Madras High Court on Tuesday said the high court was not a place for such issues. The court's observation came while dismissing a PIL seeking to prevent the anti-Hindutva conference proposed to be organised at Salem by Dalit Panthers of India. "Issues which are purely political, like the present one, have got no place in our delivery system as they are not justiciable," a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice B Subashan Reddy and Justice M Thanickachalam said dismissing petition. The judges pointed out that they had already expressed their views with regard to political cases. The petitioner, one Nagaraj, had sought a court direction to the authority concerned to stop the conference.
Srikkanth to campaign for BJP
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Chennai, March 9: Former Indian cricket captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth today decided to campaign for the BJP and its allies in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Announcing his decision in the presence of BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, Srikkanth told reporters here that he had not joined the BJP but had only decided to campaign for the party as a "long innings" by Vajpayee would help the country develop into a super power. "I will play my natural game (aggressive) in the campaign as I do in cricket," he said. "I am attracted by the call of the BJP that all intelligentsia, sportspersons and every section of society join the national mainstream. There is no use of people like us remaining on the backfoot," he said. He said the BJP's campaign theme of 'India Shining' was a real one in every field. "India is doing well in every field. Even in cricket we are shining now." He was not joining the party now due to some personal commitments, but would consider it at a later stage, he said. He said he would be campaigning for the BJP all over the country and be present when Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani launches the 'Bharat Uday Yatra' at Kanyakumari tomorrow. He said he had decided to campaign on his own. The BJP had approached him but did not force him, he said. He said the BJP had a very good team, captained by Vajpayee, and solid and good players like Advani, Venkaiah Naidu, Pramod Mahajan and Arun Jaitley. "The team could perform well," he said. When asked who would open the innings with him, he said, "Anybody." (Our Correspondent)
Om Puri joins Cong, slams BJP
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Mumbai, March 9: Adding to the already 'star-studded' bandwagon, well-known film star Om Puri today joined the Congress, stating that the country now needed to give a chance to the party to "teach the BJP a lesson". According to Puri, the BJP has not tackled problems like unemployment effectively, and the thrust of the new government should be development and not "singing bhajans and talking of mandir". "I had voted for the BJP last time, but now I wish to vote for the Congress," Puri told newspersons after announcing his entry into the party in the presence of Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal here today. Puri said so far he was neutral in politics and played a limited role of casting his vote. "But now, I feel I should influence the thinking of people and agreed to the request of the Congress to join the party," he added. Puri -- known for his contribution to experimental theatre and films - said the failure of the BJP government to stop the riots in Gujarat after the Godhra incident had hurt him deeply, and he now feels that the BJP cannot be forgiven for it. "The reaction to the Godhra incident was expected but the failure of the government to stop them immediately made me think whether they were state-patronised," Puri said. According to him, the Congress had learnt its lesson after the 1984 riots in Delhi and hoped that it would not repeat its mistakes. (Agencies)
Mr Correct
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Sharat Kumar has a rare bonhomie with the press and often shares with them his thoughts on various matters. This time the brawny actor had a valid point to make against his contemporaries. Expressing his unhappiness on the unhealthy trend in recent times of actors taking pot-shots at their rivals through dialogues in their films, Sharat said, "It wasn't there during the MGR-Sivaji period, nor during the Rajini-Kamal phase. "The actor promised to take up the matter for discussion at the next meeting of the Artistes Association, of which he's an office-bearer.
Cong leader contemplating filing suit against AIADMK
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
CHENNAI: Former TNCC President E V K S Elangovan on Tuesday said that he was thinking of filing a defamation suit against the AIADMK for its "outburst" against Congress President Sonia Gandhi in its election manifesto dubbing her a foreigner. He told reporters here today that Delhi high court had given its verdict that Sonia Gandhi was not a foreigner and a citizen of India . 'I am consulting legal experts on filing a defamation against the AIADMK and its general secretary Jayalalithaa', Elangovan said. The AIADMK manifesto released on March 6 had stated that the DMK-MDMK-PMK combine, which 'continues to support the terrorist and secessionist forces', had now formed an alliance with the Congress headed by the 'Italian-born' Sonia Gandhi. 'This poses a grave danger to the country's security and sovereignty' it said.
Samson to set up hotel, shopping mall in Chennai
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
SAMSON Lighting Pvt. Ltd is keen on setting up a hotel-cum-high quality shopping centre on 0.7-acres in the heart of Chennai. The company has approached the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) to find a suitable hotel chain that can participate in the venture. Considering the location of the plot, the company proposes to convert a portion of the available construction area (about 90,000 sq. ft.) into a high quality shopping mall. Meanwhile, the FHRAI has received a proposal for a joint venture partnership for an Indian restaurant in Helsinki, Finland. Recouping the entire investment is guaranteed in four years as per the marketing study for the project. The minimum investment should be about 4,00,000 euros.
Ramadoss questions Governor's impartiality
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
PMK founder Dr Ramadoss today took strong exception to Governor P S Ramamohan Rao praising the State government at a public meeting here yesterday. In a statement here, he said the opinion expressed by the Governor that the Tamilnadu government was successfully implementing schemes for development of women was not only against truth but also showed him as taking a partial view favouring the ruling party. He said that the Governor's conduct in expressing such views was condemnable and went against EC norms. He (Governor) must atleast take efforts to follow the precedent set by President Abdul Kalam who had decided not to take part in any public function till the polls ended. The Governor must also announce that he would not participate in public functions till the end of elections. If under unavoidable circumstances he has to participate in any meetings or functions, he must refrain from making controversial statements, Ramadoss added.
Rs 292 cr Central relief for TN drought
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
The High Level Committee on Disaster Management has sanctioned a drought relief assistance of Rs 292 crore from the National Calamity Fund to Tamilnadu in addition to the release of three lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains, based on the assessment of the Drought Relief Team which visited the entire State recently. An official press release here said the State government had taken up with the Centre on 14 January this year, the critical water scarcity situation confronting Chennai city and requesting assistance of Rs 700 crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) to tide over the situation. The Centre immediately released an ad hoc amount of Rs 50 crore from the NCCF at the first instance and promised to send a Central team to assess the situation and finalise the total assistance to be given. The State government had also written a letter on 1 February to the Centre on the drought situation requesting an assistance of Rs 1,584 crore besides food grain support of 10.8 lakh metric tonnes for 'Food for Work' programme. In response to the requests, the Union government constituted a Central team to assess the drought situation, which visited the State between 20 and 23 February. Based on their assessment, the High-Level Committee on Disaster Management met yesterday and sanctioned a sum of Rs 292 crore from NCCF which includes Rs 154 crore for drinking water supply for Chennai city.
Plus 2 exams begin tomorrow
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Nearly 5.5 lakh students are expected to appear in the higher secondary examinations which will begin tomorrow in the State. According to Directorate of Government Examinations, the examinations would be held at 1,444 centres in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry. A total of 2, 57,702 boys, 2, 55, 444 girls besides 41,815 private candidates would be taking up the examinations. In Chennai, exams would be held at 126 centres with the total number of candidates put at 44,459. The examinations conclude on 31 May. Special flying squads have been formed to prevent students from indulging in malpractices. The Directorate of Government Examinations has warned students that if anybody was found indulging in any malpractice, they would be debarred for periods varying between one and five years. Besides, they would not be issued mark sheets.
AIADMK manifesto aimed at fooling people: CPI
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
CPI State secretary R Nallkannu while describing the AIADMK election manifesto as one prepared to cheat people at the time of elections said that the party would get a fitting reply from the people for violating the promises made at the time of the Assembly polls. In a statement here yesteday, Nallakannu said the manifesto as usual found faults with the opposition and charged that it had been forged not to bring people's issues to the fore but only schemes to divert attention from basic problems by targetting individuals. He pointed out that the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had charged both the Congress and BJP with neglect of interests of Tamil people in the State Assembly session in November last. After terming the Prime Minister A B Vajpayee as powerless, today he is being certified as the safest leader for the country by her, he said. He wanted to know the reason for Jayalalithaa terming the Congress president Sonia Gandhi as an Italian in this elections after having had an alliance with her for the 13th Lok Sabha polls. He also wondered as to how the Chief Minister who was not even prepared to ask the Prime Minister to convene the CRA meet when he arrived in Chennai in September could have an alliance with him now. Both the farming and the weaving sector are deteriorating. But a Ministry which must anticipate problems has only burdened people by ordering taxes at a time when faced with severe drought. He pointed out that the manifesto also does not refer to POTA or TESMA which stifle democracy. Vindictiveness and irresponsibility of the State governemnt and wrong policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre have resulted in Tamilnadu showing a downward trend, he said.
SC directs Ktk and TN to compenstate Cauvery riot victims
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
New Delhi, Mar 13 (PTI) Twelve years after and against a total claim of Rs 300 crores by victims of 1992 Cauvery Water dispute riots, the Supreme Court today okayed Cauvery Riot Relief Authority (CRRA) award giving a total of Rs 2.35 crores as compensation while directing Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to disburse the money within six months.A Bench comprising Justice S Rajendra Babu, Justice AR Lakshmanan and Justice G P Mathur disposed of two petitions seeking adequate compensation to nearly 10,000 victims of the riots that took place on January 15, 2002. Of the total compensation amount determined by the CRRA, which was constituted pursuant to a direction from the apex Court on April 15, 1999, Karntaka Government would have to disburse Rs 2,04,93,300 to 9576 victims, while the Tamil Nadu Government would pay Rs 29,77,500 to 93 victims. Counsel for the victims, advocate S Ganesh, said the compensation awarded by CRRA was wholly inadequate and alleged that the Authority had summarily dismissed the claims of many a victims. The Bench termed the work done by the CRRA as "commendable" and refused to interfere in the compensation award saying, "it is not possible for us to examine each and every claim placed before the Authority." "We are satisifed that CRRA has applied its mind and has taken into account all relevant factors in determining the quantum of compensation to be paid to the climants," the Bench said. PTI
Huts gutted in Vyasarpadi
Monday, March 8, 2004
CHENNAI: At least five huts were gutted in a minor fire that broke out in the wee hours of Sunday in Vyasarpadi. No loss of life was reported. On receiving the information, fire tenders from Vyasarpadi, Washermanpet and other areas rushed to spot and doused the fire within 15 minutes. While the fire-fighting was on, driver of one of the fire tenders, Thangaraj, 45, was injured when another tender hit him. He is undergoing treatment at Stanley Medical College Hospital and is said to be out of danger. Fire-fighters said a short circuit could be the cause of the mishap.
I’m a victim of despotic leadership, says Aruna
Monday, March 8, 2004
CHENNAI: Former minister Aladi Aruna, who has been suspended from the DMK, on Sunday said he was a victim of despotic party president M Karunanidhi and his son M K Stalin. ‘‘How many candidates in the DMK are better qualified than me to be sent to the Parliament?,’’ he fumed while talking to reporters at his residence. Aruna, who was denied a party ticket to contest from Tiruchendur Lok Sabha constituency, alleged that the practice of selecting party candidates by the parliamentary board of the party had been given a go-by. ‘‘They select candidates according to their whims and fancies. They need only such persons who will not challenge Stalin’s authority,’’ he alleged. However, Aruna denied that he turned against the party leadership only because he was denied a ticket to contest from Tiruchendur. ‘‘When there is no dearth of deserving candidates in the party why did Karunanidhi selected Radhika Selvi, wife of Venkatesa Pannaiyar, who worked against the DMK in Sathankulam by-election,’’ he asked. He also came down heavily on DMK leadership for nominating Dayanidhi Maran as the Central Chennai candidate. ‘‘I will go to each and every street of the constituency and campaign against Dayanidhi Maran,’’ he said. Conceding that he came out in the open only after he was denied ticket, he, however, contended that after all every one was in politics only in pursuit of position and power. He could not be an exception either. ‘‘Barring Buddha and Gandhi every one is after power. Gandhi himself, though not interested in any post, wanted to control the Congress,’’ he noted. Aruna said his contribution as a Member of Parliament was not small. ‘‘I prepared a dissent note against Rajiv Gandhi in Bofors case. I was instrumental in getting subsidy for rice procurement on a par with wheat,’ he said. Asked how could he justify the release of his book on Kamaraj by former President R Venkataraman, who dismissed the DMK government, Aruna said he had no personal quarrel with Venkataraman. ‘‘Who is better qualified to release a book on Kamaraj. If C Subramaniam had been alive, I would have invited him,’’ he added.
HC orders notice on POTA detainees’ bail plea
Monday, March 8, 2004
CHENNAI: Four girls and a boy, all in their early 20s, who had been detained under the POTA for over a year, have moved the Madras High Court seeking bail. Rita Mary alias Uma of Salem, Sathya Mary alias Padma (Chennai), Jayanthi Mary (Madurai) Sathya (Dharmapuri) and Thangapandian (Madurai) were arrested for offences under sections 307, 147, 148 and 120-B of the IPC and under Sec. 25(1)(a) of the Arms Act. The case was later altered to that coming under the POTA. According to prosecution, the five were members of the Radical Youth League (RYL), a friendly organisation of CPI-ML (People’s War Group), a banned organisation. They entered into a criminal conspiracy on Nov. 24, 2002 to commit an act of terrorism. The charge against the accused was that they formed an unlawful assembly in Oothangarai in Dharmapuri district under the pretext of taking karate training. When confronted, the five fired at the police. They moved the special court for POTA cases in Poonamallee seeking bail on two occasions. The court rejected their plea. Hence, the present appeal. A Division Bench, comprising Justice V S Sirpurkar and Justice F M Ibrahim Kalifulla, before which the appeal came up for hearing on Saturday, ordered notice to the DSP, ‘Q’ Branch Police, Coimbatore, returnable in two weeks.
Thirumavalavan to contest from Chidambaram
Monday, March 8, 2004
CHENNAI: Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) general secretary Thol Thirumavalavan would contest from Chidambaram (reserve) constituency as the candidate of People’s Front. Talking to mediapersons, Thirumavalavan said DPI would contest in Mangalore Assembly constituency and Pondicherry Lok Sabha constituency. Mangalore seat fell vacant after Thirumavalavan, who won the seat on the DMK symbol, resigned to protest the non-inclusion of the DPI in Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA). Thirumavalavan said a few more political parties like New Justice Party and Veera Vanniyar Peravai were expected to join the People’s Front in Tamil Nadu. ‘‘Our alliance would demand reservation for Dalit Christians,’’ he said.
Ex-IITians bring technology to better rural lives
Monday, March 8, 2004
CHENNAI: They were among the best technological brains the country produced during the late sixties and early seventies. Today, 30 years later, they are seeking to transfer technology to the rural areas and through that empower the underprivileged. They are the ones who passed out of the premier IIT Madras in 1970. Now, they have come together under the banner of ENVIKAL - Engineering Novel Volunteer Initiative and Knowledge Alliance, a core group of the 1970 batch formed three years ago to change the lives of rural people in a small way. On Sunday, a group of 20 past IITians along with an equal number of Rotarians and IIM alumni headed for the Government High School at Alamadhi, four kms away from Red Hills in suburban Chennai, in a bus. The team included Srini Nageshwar, who belonged to the first batch of IIT Madras (1960-64), Ram Krishnaswamy of Sydney, Raju who works in the US, Kumar, the youngest among the lot who passed out in 1998 and V Varadarajan, who works in his alma mater. ENVIKAL in association with a NGO Divine Mother Society (DMS) had adopted the school in 2001 to empower the children. N T Nathan, the brain behind ENVIKAL, happily explained to his batchmates and fellow IITians on the work done undertaken at the school. It all began in a minuscule way. For nearly three years, the 1970 batchmates working in different countries were interacting through an e-group. Nearly 120 of the 200 batchmates are active on the e-group. ‘‘We wanted to start some activity and then ENVIKAL happened. Through this organisation we want to support any project where technology is used to empower the underprivileged,’’ Nathan, who is placed as vice-president at Future Focus Infotech Pvt Ltd, said. The school at Alamadhi was the first project. Till date nearly 300 class X students have been offered free tuition in Science, Mathematics and English at the DMS Ashram through ENVIKAL. Besides, about 25 students who had passed Plus Two were trained in graphics and some of them are placed in Desk Top Publishing and Photo Imaging Centres. The students are also taken on two motivational trips to the IIT and other scientific institutions in a year. The members have also formed the ENVIKAL Web Services, which is into development and maintenance of websites for NGOs and corporates. ‘‘We plan to have a centre in Chennai where we can identify the needy students and offer necessary support,’’ he added. Also, Nathan is working on expanding the group by involving other IITians. Srini Nageshwar, who is now a Director with TVS Electronics, promised to donate Tamil software, keyboard and printer to the school. Disapproving of the stress on English language softwares, Nageshwar said, ‘‘Unless you use local language you cannot teach computers to primary school children. The idea should be to teach how to use computers as a tool for education.’’ He fondly reminisced how the first batch students at IIT Madras used to cycle their way to the campus from the hostel at the Teachers Training Institute, Saidapet. ‘‘There were no buildings then. The first concrete building on the campus came when we were in the third year,’’ he said. S Suresh, Secretary DMS, appealed to the IITians to contribute their mite for the school. DMS Ashram provides medical care, education and job-oriented courses for inhabitants of seven villages in and around Red Hills.
PM, Jaya to campaign together
Friday, March 5, 2004
CHENNAI: Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa are to share platform together in at least one place in Tamil Nadu during electioneering to Lok Sabha Polls, C P Radhakrishnan, BJP's Tamil Nadu unit president said on Thursday. He told reporters here that the state unit had suggested some dates to the Prime Minister's Office and once the PMO cleared the date, the venue would be decided. On Congress opposition to the 'Bharat Uday Yatra' by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and its charge that it might trigger communal clashes, he said Advani's yatra was mainly to tell the people of the achievements of the NDA government. "How can communal passions be aroused by such a yatra," he asked.
Issue photo ID cards to eunuchs: Court
Friday, March 5, 2004
CHENNAI: The Madras High on Friday directed Tamil Nadu government pleader to inform the court about the action being taken on a circular from the Election Commission about issuance of identity cards to ' aravanis' (eunuchs) to enable them cast their votes in elections. The direction was given by a division Bench comprising Chief Justice B Subashan Reddy and Justice P Shanmugham on a writ petition by a social activist, who sought a direction to the state authorities concerned to issue electoral ID cards to ' aravanis ' living in the state. The petitioner, A Rajini, convenor of Southern Districts Women's Federation who also represents the cause of aravanis , submitted that the then Election Commissioner T N Seshan had directed issue of ID cards to this section of people. "In practice it has not happened," she claimed. Stating that the state had a reformative role to play, the petitioner contended the state ought to have recognised and provided appropriate measures in law. Otherwise, their present position of being forced to beg and resort to prostitution would continue, she said. Claiming that the state had over one lakh of aravanis , she contended that such a substantial group could not be ignored and kept out of the democratic process. They were unable to open bank accounts and were not provided ration cards. As a result of this they were not issued with voting ID cards. Some Western countries had categorised them as 'sexual minorities' and their rights have been recognised in law, the petitioner contended.
BJP may lodge poll violation complaint against DMK
Friday, March 5, 2004
CHENNAI: Accusing the DMK of collecting 'huge' sums from those who wanted the party ticket to contest the Lok Sabha Polls, the Tamil Nadu unit of BJP on Friday said it may lodge a complaint with the Election Commission against the party on the issue. BJP spokesman Dr H V Hande told reporters here that this was 'gross' violation of electoral laws and norms set by the commission. He alleged the DMK had asked the aspiring candidates to deposit Rs 60 lakh for election expenditure with the party headquarters, which was a gross violation of the Representation of People's Act, because the Commission had fixed a ceiling of Rs 25 lakh on poll expenses by a candidate contesting the Lok Sabha polls.
Campus
Friday, March 5, 2004
Director: M D Sharvi Cast: Rajesh, Nitesh, Divya Dwivedi, Sheethal Shah, Sukanya, Durga Shetty, Rajan P Dev, Kottayam Nazeer, Devan, Saju Kodiyan It’s the college campus. The girls in their spaghetti tops and minis, the guys in their designer wear clothing. The lecturers depicted like a bunch of jokers as is in most Tamil films. The attender - the supposed comedy track - always in the frontline hogging equal or even more importance than the heroes. The gang wars, an unscrupulous politician, and an avaricious college-founder. Innumerable dances, and fights with hockey sticks and cricket bats. So what’s new? Nothing! This is the director’s depiction of campus life, and obviously, he can’t be expecting one to take his film seriously. The plus point of the film is its glamorous, colourful ambience. Attractive fresh faces Divya and Sheethal, their hour-glass figures shown to advantage. Handsome debutants Rajesh and Nitesh in their designer wear. But then the main leads hardly get noticed individually, getting lost somewhere in the over-crowded scenario. Also lost in the glamorous ambience, are the issues the director tries to raise. Like the responsibility of the students, the student-power, the impending sale of the college-land by the avaricious founder, the attempt by a college lecturer (Sukanya in her come-back role) to din some sense into the students - all fail to make any impact.It’s Sharvi’s (he’s directed some Malayalam films) debut film in Tamil, and he could have done better to concentrate on his script, focussing on what exactly he wanted to convey.
Anniyan` launched in style!
Friday, March 5, 2004
The launch of Shankar’s Anniyan was held today between 9.15 and 9.30 am. All the bigwigs of the industry attended the function at AVM studio in Chennai. Vikram dressed in all black hugged Shankar after the pooja and said: "Anniyan will be one of the most important films in my career as I always dreamed to work with Shankar who is one of the finest directors." Both Shankar and Vikram refused to talk anything about the film. Vairamuthu, who is trying to stage a comeback after he fell out with A.R.Rahman, said: "There are five songs in the film and all of them are fantastic. Harris Jayaraj is going to go places after Anniyan music is released." The heroine Sada was missing, as she was busy shooting for a Telugu film in Pollachi. The final word from Shankar: I intend to finish the film in six months and probably release the film for Diwali." However the absence of other stars in the industry at the function was noticed.
Save Tamil Nadu from AIADMK: PMK
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
CHENNAI: PMK, a constituent of the DMK-led Demoratic Progressive Alliance, said on Sunday BJP's attempts to deviate from the national agenda for governance, trying to gain political mileage from the Ayodhya issue and its failure to condemn the AIADMK government for its 'undemocratic' rule were the reasons for the party quitting the NDA. Coming down heavily on the BJP for aligning with the AIADMK, which was 'responsible for the fall of Vajpayee government in 1998', the PMK manifesto, which was released by party founder Dr S Ramadoss, said the BJP, which had criticised the action of the AIADMK in the preamble of National Agenda of Governance, had struck an alliance with the same party. It said despite repeated plea by the PMK, the NDA government had ignored the state's important issues like Cauvery, making Tamil an official language, and giving constitutional protection to the 69 per cent reservation system in the state, leading to the party quitting the NDA. It alleged that AIADMK government was 'conspiring' to suppress the feelings of Tamils and 'black out' the pride of Tamils. There was also an attempt to drag the Tamil Nadu politics away from its well established path, it said adding that it was only to save the state from all these, it had joined the DPA.
DMK alliance anti-Hindu, says VHP
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
SALEM: The VHP state organiser Ramagopalan on Thursday termed the alliance of DMK and its allies as an anti-Hindu one and pledged his outfit’s preparedness to work for AIADMK-BJP alliance in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. In a press meeting in Salem today, the VHP state chief accused the DMK of supporting religious conversions. He charged that the officials were lax in implementing the ordinance on religious conversion as a result of which the process was continuing in the state. Ramagopalan said that the ban on religious conversion should continue. He said that the BJP-AIADMK alliance represented nationalism and spirituality.
Merger option makes Chidambaram jittery
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
CHENNAI: The deference of the decision on the Sivaganga ticket by the Congress has made Congress Jananayaga Peravai (Congress People’s forum) of P Chidambaram uncomfortable. According to sources what was not appreciated by the forum is the lack of a process in a merger, as happened in the case of the Tamil Maanila Congress. It did not want the merger component to be compared to that of the TMC, which merged with the Indian National Congress in August 2002 at a grand function in Madurai . The sources claim that though Chidambaram enjoys a good rapport with the AICC president Sonia Gandhi, she was ill-advised to ask the CJP for a merger for the Sivaganga seat. In case of a merger, the party would like to go stage by stage; District by district, where the Peravai has built up strength. It has elected functionaries in 11 districts. The party is willing to accept any winnable seat from the list of 10 allotted to the Congress by the DMK, which floated the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA). When contacted, Chidambaram remarked: "Merger is a process and not an event." While Chidambaram met Gandhi in Delhi on Sunday, the sitting MP Sudarshana Nachiappan met her two days earlier.
Leaders meet in Chennai on March 6
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
PTI[ TUESDAY, MARCH 02, 2004 08:41:55 PM ] MADURAI: Leaders of the 'people's alliance' will meet in Chennai on March 6 to discuss the issue of seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls, a main partner in the alliance said on Tuesday. Protecting the right and welfare of the Tamil Nadu people would be the election plank of the alliance, K.Rajasekharan, president of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Janata Dal (United), a main partner, said. The other alliance partners are Indian National league, Puthiya Tamizhagam, Dalit Panthers of India and Makkal Tamizha Desam. Talking to newsmen after the party's state executive committee meeting here, he said the alliance partners had tentatively decided to contest in 20 seats in the state of which JD(U) would contest in five seats. On who would lead the alliance, he said People would lead the alliance. Except the Indian National League all the other alliance partners would contest on "Arrow", the symbol of the JDU party. He said though JDU was a partner of the NDA at the Centre, as a partner of the People's alliance, it would oppose BJP and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. He rejected the criticism that all the partners of the People's Alliance were caste-based parties, and said the 'self-styled' Dravidian parties, including DMK and AIADMK, were 'playing more caste politics.' People's alliance would not end with Lok Sabha elections, but would continue for the next assembly and even local bodies elections, he said.
Cong never accused DMK of involvement in Rajiv case
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
PTI CHENNAI: The Congress on Tuesday said it had never accused the DMK, its new ally, of involvement in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal told a press conference here that it was the Jain Commission, which went into conspiracy angle of the assassination, in its interim report had indicted 'some parties' in the incident. But the same commission in its final report had cleared the DMK, he said. On the party's alliance with MDMK and other parties in Tamil Nadu, which had been vocal in its support for outlawed LTTE, Sibal said the country was facing a 'grave threat' from communal forces. The threat from LTTE in the country was not as grave as posed by the 'communal forces' and in order to save the country from these 'evils', the Congress had aligned with these parties, he said justifying the alliance with the MDMK. Accusing the BJP and Sangh Parivar of attempting to disintegrate the nation by encouraging communal forces, he said the country had not developed in any way during the NDA government's rule. ``We are prepared for a discussion with the BJP on the achievements of Congress rule and the BJP rule. They are not prepared for it'', he claimed, adding that "the attacks on the Parliament and Akshardham temple were the only achievements of the BJP-led NDA government." Sibal claimed that it was Congress, which ruled the country for fifty years, which was responsible for the reputation gained by the country among the international community. On Tamil Nadu, he said his party wanted to defeat the 'political corruption' of the AIADMK government in the state and the Lok Sabha polls had come in handy for the party. Asked why the party was hesitant to field more women candidates in the polls, he said though the party favoured 33 per cent for women in state legislatures and parliament, all the parties should 'equally' favour such a reservation. The NDA government, which wanted a consensus on POTA, never bothered to reach it on the women's reservation issue, he alleged. On giving a ticket to former Union Minister and Congress Democratic Forum leader P Chidambaram to contest the polls, Sibal evaded a direct reply and said his party always encouraged parties and persons, who had faith in secularism. 'Chidambaram is one such person', he said. On the India shining advertisements by the NDA government at the Centre, he said 'Congress wanted the common man should shine and not a particular section of the people'. Sibal said the Congress candidates for the Lok Sabha polls from Tamil Nadu would be announced soon. ``We have enough time. The election commission had announced that the polls from the state will be held only on may 10'', he said. The prime aim of the party was to defeat the BJP-AIADMK combine in the state, he said.
