PMK would come to power in 2011: Ramadoss
Monday, March 31, 2008
Nayan: If voted to power in the next assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, the first file that the PMK would sign would be for imposing total prohibition in the state, PMK founder-leader Dr S. Ramadoss said here. Expressing confidence that his party would come to power in 2011 with the help of allies, Dr Ramadoss told media that making Tamil Nadu liquor-free was high on the PMK agenda.
Right of education denied for SC,ST,BCs: Expert
Nayan: Private universities in the country will have to accommodate socially backward students to atone for the injustice done to their ancestors by the Indian society, according to Prof Sukhadeo Thorat, chairman, University Grants Commission.An inclusive growth is possible only by ensuring the maximum enrolment of students from the scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, other backward communities and minorities in the area of higher education. These sections were denied the right of education in the past and we have to compensate for that sin, said Prof Thorat.
Auto drivers clash:Tension in Madambakkam
Nayan: Tension prevailed in suburban Madambakkam after two groups of auto drivers clashed. Four sustained minor injuries and an autorickshaw was burnt in the clash. The police said that on Saturday night an auto driver identified as Kamala Kannan of Madambakkam met with an accident after his auto collided with another auto operating in Guduvanchery. Kamala Kannan lodged a complaint with the Guduvanchery police station.
High level panel for heritage tourism
Nayan: As part of an initiative to promote heritage tourism in a big way in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has constituted a high-level panel under the chairmanship of the director of tourism to lay down the conditions for classifying the heritage hotels, scrutinise applications for the same and select the projects.
Crackers blast: Situation panic
Nayan: A cracker blast on the rail track in Tirupathur taluk of Vellore district caused panic among villagers and railway commuters. The incident came close on the heels of the three explosions of detonators on rail tracks at Krishnagiri district. According to reports reaching here, the cracker blast was reported on Sunday at 7.10 am setting off panic among the train commuters and Kakankarai villagers. Rumours also made the rounds that the blast could be the handiwork of naxals from neighboring Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.
Hogenakkal project would be implemented: Karuna
Nayan: Chief minister M. Karunanidhi asserted that Hogenakkal combined drinking water project would be implemented at any cost. Kannada chauvinist outfits had issued an ultimatum to Tamil Nadu to drop Hogenakkal project and that they would not allow TN buses into their state and would smash them if the project was executed, Mr Karunanidhi said, "They have threatened to damage TN buses. Even if they are going to break our bones, we are not worried. We will certainly implement the project.
DPA is split over LTTE
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Nayan: The ruling DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance is split over supporting the LTTE with the senior partner Congress fuming over the rest of the group 'bending backwards' to please the banned Tamil tigers on various issues. Reacting to the latest show of Tiger loyalty by DPA constituents PMK and VCK allegedly assaulting a Sinhala filmmaker and demanding that his film 'Prabhakaran' be banned in Tamil Nadu, a prominent Chennai youth Congress functionary Ilayankudi S. Shabir Ali has announced a protest rally and threatened he would burn the effigy of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
Rain continues in Vaigai and Mullaperiyar
Nayan: As rains continued in the catchment areas of the Vaigai and Mullaperiyar dams, the water level in the Vaigai dam touched the maximum level of 70.6 feet at 6 a.m on Friday. The depression in the Bay of Bengal had led to sudden rains lashing many parts of Tamil Nadu. Crops in the harvesting stage have been damaged and farmers face heavy loss. Though the rains ceased in many of the districts, good rainfall was recorded in the catchment areas of Vaigai and Mullaperiyar dams resulting in the water level going up. This is the first time in over 25 years that the Vaigai dam has reached its maximum level in the month of March.
Tibetans closed their shops at Ooty
Nayan: The Tibetans in Ooty have closed down their shops indefinitely condemning the treatment meted out by China to Tibetans in their homeland. The president of the Tibetan Association in Ooty, Tsering Paljor told media that their protest, which was to pray day and night and let the world know that the Tibetans in Ooty grieved as much as anybody else for the people killed in Tibet.
VCK appeals girls admission in priest training institutes
Nayan: Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) has appealed to the government to allow admission of girl students in government-run priest training institutes. The priest training institutes opened by the present government to enable people belonging to backward and Adi Dravida communities become priests admit only male students.
Ganesan may be shifted to Puzhal
Nayan: The Madras high court directed the state government to consider the shifting of a convict Ganesan, who was allegedly tortured and ill treated by the prison officials, from Vellore central prison to any other prison, preferably Puzhal central prison. A division bench comprising Justice D. Murugesn and Justice V. Periya Karuppiah also directed that the convict shall not be kept in solitary confinement.
Cable TV charges could not be brought down: TANCUS
Nayan: The Tamil Nadu Cable TV owners' association (TANCUS) and Federation of Cable TV associations of South India (FCASI) announced that cable TV charges for consumers could not be brought down even though the state government had exempted the cable TV industry from paying entertainment tax in the 2008-09 budget. They said the benefit could not be passed on to the consumers because of the high rates of subscription paid to the pay channels by the cable TV operators.
Sons built temple for father in Dindigul
Friday, March 28, 2008
Nayan: Due to a devotion of a different kind, three dutiful sons have built a temple in memory of their late father in Dindigul. The temple, which also doubles as a free meditation hall, owes its origin to the late Venkatachalam Pillai (70) of Govindapuram in Dindigul, who was a document writer by profession. His three sons: Thilagar, owner of a garment shop in Tirupur, R V Pandiarajan, an advocate, and Kumaresan, another document writer, have dedicated this temple to the man, whom they remember as kindhearted and spiritual.
SSCP under the mercy of Sea Tigers
Nayan: Ships passing through the proposed Sethusamudram Shipping Channel (SSCP) will be under the mercy of Sea Tigers, the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), according to sources. They point out that Sea Tigers have established their supremacy as a 'state-of-the-art maritime terrorist organisation' in the Indian Ocean region, especially the SSCP area which is under construction.
PMK could cooperate with us: DMK
Nayan: Much to the pleasant surprise of the DMK, its ally Congress called upon the PMK not to oppose the Vellore airport expansion scheme or similar projects requiring lands.The Congress plea that instead of opposing acquisition of lands for such developmental projects, the PMK could do well to cooperate with the state government in implementing them, left the PMK virtually dazed as the advice came from a constituent of the DPA headed by the ruling DMK party.
State wide protest for total prohibition on April 1
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Nayan: Close on the heels of the PMK, the DMK's ally which demanded total prohibition in the state, the BJP has sought a review of the prohibition policy and a halt to the mushrooming of IMFL outlets across the state. The party urged the government to restrict the number of shops with bars and take steps to immediately remove those located close to educational institutions, temples and in residential areas. It has threatened to launch a state-wide protest from April 1, if its demands were not met.
Bannari Mariamman temple annual kundam festival held
Nayan: An estimated five lakh devotees gathered at the famous Bannari Mariamman temple for the annual kundam (fire-pit) festival. Prominent among those who walked across the fire-pit was the Satyamangalam DMK legislator L. P. Dharmalingam, who said Amman's bountiful karunai (compassion) ensured he did not suffer blisters on his feet. Nor, for that matter, did any of the others who did the fire walking sustained burns on their feet. The ritual is considered a test of one's absolute devotion to Almighty.
Sabarimala chief priets take park in Sahasrakalasa pooja
Nayan: More than twelve priests led by Kantararu Maheswararu, chief high priest of the Sabarimala temple, will take part in the sahasrakalasa pooja and abhishekam to be held at the Ayyappan-Guruvayurappan Temple at Mahaling-apuram in Chennai. "This is a special pooja meant for peace, prosperity, and happiness all over the world. An opportunity to participate in this pooja and abhishekam itself is a great fortune," said Kantararu Maheswararu.
Are NRIs affiliated with Democrats?
Nayan: More number of Indians in the United States of America are affiliated with the Democrats and have donated over US $ 50,000 to the Democrat candidates Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton, said Ms Deepa Iyer, executive director of the South Asian Leading Together (SAALT), a non-profit org-anization in the United States of America, addressing a digital video conference from the USA about the role of the South Asian community in American polls at the US Consulate here.
Sleepless ngihts for Villivakkam officials
Nayan: Civic officials of the Villivakkam panchayat union have been spending sleepless nights after they came to know that pattas and documents of a government school and several open space reserve land are reportedly missing for the last few months. Interestingly, a local resident has obtained fake patta for the land that houses a primary school of the panchayat union and now the officials are in the process of creating new records and layout plans for the government property and vacant lands. More land grabs, encroachments and fake patta cases are likely to be unearthed during the process of correcting the land records.
Sethusamudram is not profittable: Experts
Monday, March 24, 2008
Nayan: The Committee of Eminent Persons constituted by the government of India to go into various questions raised with respect to the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) has admitted, albeit indirectly, that it would not be profitable for international cargo liners to operate their ships in the channel.
Engineering student commits suicide
Nayan: An engineering college student committed suicide by hanging himself on Saturday night as he was not allowed to appear for his examination. According to South Police Station Inspector Manimaran, Sathiskumar (23) a first year engineering student at a private engineering college in Tirupur never showed any interest in studies and seldom attended classes. Visiting college was more of a pastime and his fellow students had reported that he liberally bunked classes.
TTDC to introduce houseboats
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Nayan: The introduction of angling and adventure sports like boating and water scooter rides at the TTDC's Muttukadu and Mudaliarkuppam have triggered a surge in tourism activity. Now, the authorities have proposed to introduce two houseboats at the idyllic and sequestered Mudaliarkuppam boating yard on the East Coast Road to lure more tourists and locals as part of the efforts to promote leisure or week-end tourism. Additional facilities are planned at Muttukadu boathouse.
Easter falls on the first Sunday
Nayan: Easter 2008 is unique because of the early date on which it is celebrated. Though Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon during March-April, usually the Easter Sunday falls in the first week of April. It is very rare that Easter falls on the third week of March. This year's Easter is on March 23, which is the third week of the month. The Last time Christians celebrated Easter on March 23 was in 1913. The next time Easter will fall on a March 23 is in 2026.
Candidates from TN elected to Rajya Sabha
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Nayan: As many as six candidates from Tamil Nadu including five from the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance and one from the Opposition AIADMK were declared elected to the Rajya Sabha. The candidates who have been duly elected to fill the vacancies of six members in the Council of States who will retire on April 2 on expiry of term of their office are: S.Amir Ali Jinnah (DMK), T.K.Rangarajan (CPM), G.K.Vasan and Jayanthi Natarajan (both from Congress) and N. Balaganga (AIADMK).
TN sanctions Rs.4.87 crore for butterfly park
Nayan: The state government has cleared the tourism department's proposal to establish a butterfly park and an insect museum at Arignar Anna Zoo at Vandalur here. The artificially created expanse, stimulating a natural habitat for various species of butterfly, will be an added attraction for tourists and other visitors to the zoo. The park is the first of its kind in the state for the winged beauties. The government has sanctioned Rs.4.87crore for the three-year project. An initial sum of Rs.1,50 crore has been sanctioned towards the first installment for the fiscal 2007 - 08. The butterfly park in Singapore is the source of inspiration for the project. A group of officials from the state tourism department who were in Singapore found the project attractive.
Legal hurdles for POTA: Karuna
Nayan: The DMK government, which tried its best to withdraw the cases against all the POTA detainees, would have succeeded but for certain legal hurdles, chief minister M Karunanidhi said. Mr. Karunanidhi, writing in the DMK's mouthpiece Murasoli, said the case against MDMK leader Vaiko was pending in the Supreme Court and the POTA court had rejected the government's plea to withdraw the case against Pavanan. However, the government had filed a review petition in the court, he said.
Rs.12 lakh stolen from jewellery exhibition
Monday, March 17, 2008
Nayan: A sum of around Rs 12 lakh was stolen from a Rajasthani group of businessmen who were in the city for the last five days. Eight businessmen from Rajasthan had been touring the country for the last eight months and had been conducting a jewellery exhibition at Hotel Kanchi here for the past three days. As Sunday was the final day of the exhibition, the group had packed all their sales amounts in two suitcases and got ready to leave for Bangalore early on Monday.
Visa case: Bail granted for Flora Saini
Nayan: The Madras high court granted bail to actress Flora Saini arrested on March 10 in connection with an alleged attempt to obtain visa for her make-up woman Srilatha Dudela by deceitful means. Justice K N Basha granted bail to Flora on the condition that she should execute a bond for Rs 50,000 and two sureties each for a like sum and one among the two, should be from her mother. She should appear before the SI, Royapettah police station, every day between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm for one week for interrogation.
DMK and AIADMK are not for public: AISMK
Nayan: All-India Samathuva Makkal Katchi president and actor Sarathkumar accused both the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK of merely engaging in a war of statements without concentrating on people's probelms. He told media at Coimbatore that both the parties did not find time to solve people's problems but had ample time to issue statements. His party, he said, wanted to do constructive work for the benefit of the poor. Labels: Politics
Newly delimited electoral rolls ready with in 2 months
Nayan: The work on the realignment and reorganisation of the electoral rolls and polling stations based on the newly delimited constituencies will be completed by the end of June, said chief electoral officer Naresh Gupta here. The CEO, who met with the district collectors of Madurai, Virudhunagar, Theni, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Dharmapuri, told media that electoral rolls were being realigned after the Union government issued the notification for the delimitation of constituencies.
Seperate police commissioner's post for suburbs of Chennai
Nayan: Top police brass is looking for plum new postings in the city. In the wake of reports that the State government is thinking of creating a separate police commissioner's post for the suburbs of Chennai, comprising mainly the south and west sides of the city where the real estate price has already skyrocketed, several senior officials, including those now serving in the city, are lobbying to get a posting in the new setup. It is learnt that an officer in the rank of an inspector-general of police will be posted as the commissioner of the suburban commissioner's office. The city would continue to have an officer in the rank of additional director-general of police as its chief. There will be an additional commissioner of police in the rank of deputy inspector-general of police for the new commissioner's post.
All trade unions joined hands against DMK
Nayan: Cutting across party lines, all trade unions joined hands to raise a banner of revolt against the DMK government's order bringing all the 14 unorganised welfare boards under the revenue department, which were functioning under the labour department. The State government issued an order, dated March 4, 2008, directing revenue department officials to undertake works pertaining to registration of members in the unorganised welfare boards, scrutinising the registrations and sanctioning and distributing welfare assistance to the members. The order will come into effect from April 1.
Milk price hike higher: Jayalalithaa
Nayan: AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa maintained that the milk price hike during the present DMK-led regime was much higher than that during her regime. In a media release at Chennai, AIADMK chief said, When I assumed office in 2001, the state economy was left in disarray by the previous Karunanidhi-led regime. I had to pay the milk producers Rs.35 crores. So milk price was hiked by Rs.2 per litre then. Reacting to the chief minister's statement on milk price rise, Ms Jayalalithaa said, After the minority DMK government assumed office, milk price has been raised by Rs.3.25 to Rs.6 per litre for different varieties whereas my regime has hiked the price by Rs.2 to Rs.3 per litre.
Ex servicemen are likely to be tourist police
Friday, March 14, 2008
Nayan: The tourist police force proposed to be formed by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department by requesting the services of policemen will not take off in the present form as the state police has declined to depute its constables for the novel venture. Instead, ex-servicemen are likely to don the role of tourist police.
Cerebral palsy student writing BBA
Nayan: Raghuram a student with cerebral palsy, has been writing his BBA exams for the last three years with the help of scribes. His mother Ms Sasikala is now confident that Raghu will go on to do his MBA. Ms Sasikala told media, I never dreamt that my son with dysfunctional limbs could become a graduate. With the help of scribes, he is now going to make it big in his career.
Free computers for toppers: Chennai corporation
Nayan: A majority of councillors lauded the Chennai corporation's budget at a discussion meeting held in the Ripon Buildings. DMK councillor and works committee chairman Suresh Kumar welcomed the announcements of free computers for toppers in corporations schools, free issuance of birth and death certificates and free burials and cremations in graveyards.
Sri Lankan MP appeals government to halt the war
Nayan: A senior Sri Lankan Tamil MP appealed to the Indian Government to intervene immediately and halt the war in the island's northern region as the latest offensive by the state forces was sure to result in a huge loss of lives and destruction of civilian property. Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian M. K. Sivajilingam alleged that Lankan army chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka during his recent Delhi visit had sought assurance that India would not intervene against his force's new thrust into the rebel-held Vanni region. Fonseka had told the Indian political leaders, army generals and senior officials that the military was planning a major thrust to take Vanni from the LTTE. The plan is to capture the Tamil area from Mohamalai forward defense line up to Paranthan close to Kilinochchi (the LTTE headquarters). Surely, thousands of innocent Tamils will be killed or maimed, said the Tamil MP.
Milk vendors arrested for selling Aavin milk
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Nayan: Around 40 milk vendors were arrested by the city police on charges of selling Aavin milk at prices higher than the maximum retail price (MRP) fixed by the company. The crackdown, which started early in the morning following a number of reports on pricing discrepancies, lasted through the day. Forty milk vendors from across the city were booked for cheating the public. However, most of the arrested vendors were let off after a stern warning, the police said. Reacting to the police crackdown, representatives from the Tamil Nadu Milk Vendors Association said that the police action was unwarranted as the men who had been arrested were only agent who sold the milk to local shops at MRP rates.
Karuna to open Police Academy at Vandalur
Nayan: The Police Academy built on a sprawling campus of over 132 acres at the cost of Rs 60 crore near the southern suburb of Vandalur is ready for occupation. The much awaited modern academy is considered to be the largest project conceived by the state police. Nearly 14 years after it was announced, the project has been completed and chief minister M. Karunanidhi is scheduled to inaugurate the academy on Saturday.
'Reading corners in schools' inaugurated
Nayan: Prof. Krishna Kumar, director, National Council for Educational Research and Training called for a review of the teacher education syllabi to stop the deterioration of the quality of teacher education. Speaking at the inauguration of 'reading corners' in schools across the state at the Karappakkam primary school in the city, he said, The quality of teacher education has started deteriorating. So I urge the state government to conduct a thorough review of the teacher education syllabi.
Mentally retarded centre to come up in Kancheepuram
Nayan: The Tamil Nadu government has selected NGOs at the district-level to establish centres for the mentally retarded and physically challenged adults. The first centre would come up in Kancheepuram district shortly.
Teacher kidnap case: Police arrests a person
Monday, March 10, 2008
Nayan: The Chennai police arrested one Srinivasan for kidnapping his brother Sellapandyan, a teacher in primary school at Villupuram district for a ransom of Rs. 20 lakh. The police shot one member of the kidnapping gang, on Thursday night during a chase. Sellapandyan, who was also running a finance firm, was kidnapped by a gang from Puducherry on instruction from his brother, the police said.
UGC constituted commission on D.B.Jain College
Nayan: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a single-member commission to inquire into the complaints levelled against D.B. Jain College, Thoraipakkam on the outskirts of the city, by the Aided College Teachers Association (ACTA). UGC deputy secretary Mr S.C. Chadha, in a letter to the college principal, said the UGC chairman had nominated Dr Shashi Rai, member, UGC, as a single-member commission to verify the complaints about D.B. Jain College. The UGC has sought Dr Rai's comments and suggestions regarding the complaint.
Two die in police firing in Villupuram
Nayan: Two persons died when police opened fire to quell a clash between Dalits and caste Christians over worshipping at a church in Iraiyur village, Ulundurpettai in Villupuram district, 200 km from here. As many as 15 people, including five policemen were injured in the violence. Director general of police.P. Rajendran said that the police opened fire after a mob of caste Christians entered the houses of Dalits near the church after finishing the Sunday morning prayers. They started assaulting the inmates and damaging property, he said. As many as 30 houses were reportedly damaged by the mob.
Read More:
| 
