Edappadi Palaniswami vows land ownership for Tamil Nadu temple residents, faces heat
Political analyst Sumanth Raman criticised the plan on X. He said the land does not belong to the government and called the move 'completely unacceptable' and a 'bad move' by Palaniswami.A few days earlier, during his statewide tour, Palaniswami also accused the ruling DMK of misusing temple funds. 'Even seeing temples irritates the DMK. They take temple money meant for development and use it to build colleges,' he told crowds, calling it unfair and questioning why the government doesn't fund colleges from its own budget.The DMK hit back sharply, pointing out that the HR&CE Act allows surplus temple funds for education and charity. Chief Minister MK Stalin accused Palaniswami of echoing BJP's ideology, while Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin called him a 'Sanghi' and said this was not the AIADMK's voice but that of the RSS-BJP.- EndsMust Watch
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
CM: TN will top per capita income under DMK 2.0
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday said the per capita income in Tamil Nadu has doubled under DMK govt, recording a sharp rise compared to the previous AIADMK govt. "We have crossed the national average in terms of per capita income," Stalin said in a social media post on Wednesday. "TN will become the number one state in per capita income under the upcoming Dravidian model govt 2.0," read a tweet by finance minister Thangam Thennarasu that Stalin reshared. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai According to Union govt's data cited by Thennarasu, the per capita income of TN in 2016 was 1.23lakh. It grew to 1.43lakh in 2021 at a rate of 4.42%. From 2021 to 2025, it rose from 1.43lakh to 1.96lakh, accounting for a growth rate of 8.15%, Thennarasu said. TN's per capita income was also higher compared to the country's per capita income. Comparing Tamil Nadu's per capita income growth with that of the nation, Stalin said the state, which holds the second slot below Karnataka, will become first when DMK forms govt in 2026. "This achievement reflects the success of the Dravidian model govt's visionary plans, industrial development, efforts to attract investments, and people's welfare schemes. This is the next crown for our Dravidian model govt, which is working with the principle of everything for all," said Thennarasu.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — July 24, 2025
Unceremonious exit The Vice-President's office, once a symbol of parliamentary balance, is now seen as a new front in partisan conflict. In our constitutional design, neutrality in high offices is not optional but foundational. Yet, this principle has been steadily eroding, perhaps more rapidly of late. Neutrality in constitutional roles ensures institutional trust and continuity. Without it, governance risks becoming a series of political skirmishes fought through institutions meant to rise above them. R. Narayanan, Navi Mumbai Jagdeep Dhankhar's abrupt resignation is a shock. The conspicuous absence of the ceremonial send-off and farewell speeches for him is an unhappy development given his standing as a constitutional authority. As such, parties across the political spectrum should refrain from getting into a political slugfest over his resignation. Instead, they should facilitate the process of the election of the next Vice-President of India. G. Ramasubramanyam, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu politics In an interview in this daily, ('Tamil Nadu' page, July 22), Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who is the AIADMK General Secretary, Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu and also former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, has asserted that his party would return to power and form the government on its own next year. Even though it is the AIADMK's major alliance partner, the BJP is not a strong force. However, there is a strong possibility of its popularity rising in Tamil Nadu on account of its efficient governance at the Centre. But Mr. Palaniswami's ambition to capture power and rule solely will not be realised unless he takes steps to enlarge the spectrum of his political alliance. Anti-incumbency votes will move to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam headed by actor Vijay and the beneficiary will be the DMK despite its mediocre performance. K. Chellappan, Seattle, U.S. The electoral ties forged between the BJP and the AIADMK do not seem to be working well (Editorial and 'Data Point', both July 23). The AIADMK is finding it hard to convince the people that it will not allow the saffron party to swallow it up. It is a 'catch-22 situation' for the AIADMK, as stated in the 'Data Point'. It cannot be seen to be with a party that speaks ill of Tamil Nadu's illustrious leaders. Neither can it sever ties with the BJP for fear of central agencies being unleashed on its leaders. The AIADMK lacks the political heft and the ideological conviction to stand up to the BJP. G. David Milton, Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Why Muslim parties refuse to play the communal card this time
On June 22 this year, when Hindu Munnani organised the 'Muruga Bhaktargal Manadu' (Muruga devotees conference), it was as much a celebration of the Hindu religion as it was a political attempt to 'protect' Lord Murugan from being hijacked by DMK, whose govt organised the Global Lord Murugan Conference in Palani in August last year. A fortnight after the right-wing event in Madurai, when Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), a Muslim party, organised a rally at the same venue, some feared communal tension. However, the MMK stage on July 6 presented a different picture: MMK leader M H Jawahirullah was flanked by Thiruvadikudil Swamigal, a Hindu spiritual leader and the founder of Jothimalai Iraipani Thirukootam, and Rev Jegath Gaspar Raj, a Catholic priest and social activist. A week before the MMK event, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) held its zonal conference in Kayalpattinam in Tuticorin on June 29, where the theme, again, was communal harmony. It appears that the two prominent Muslim parties refuse to play the game of religious polarisation — which they believe would benefit only their political opponents. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Also noteworthy was that the Muslim parties' gatherings came after communal tensions in Thiruparankundram, where a controversy involving worship rights at the Murugan temple and Sikkandar dargah arose early this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Play this for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it. Play Game Undo The MMK conference demanded that the govt should protect the dargah. "We don't want secular votes to be split," says IUML state general secretary, K A M Muhammed Abubacker. Jawahirullah concurs. "Some forces want to create disharmony in Tamil Nadu, but the state has always been an inclusive society, a place for communal harmony," says Jawahirullah. "Adequate representation of minorities in elected bodies would help create harmony." MMK and IUML have been DMK allies, and MMK won two assembly seats on the DMK symbol in the 2021 election. Are they acting on their alliance leader DMK's instructions? "We don't have to instruct them," says a DMK leader. "They just behave as responsible members of a secular alliance." IUML national president K M Kader Mohideen acknowledges there is alliance dharma, but there is also a need for human brotherhood like never before. "In Tamil Nadu, we are with DMK, we will continue to be so. This alliance is not only for elections. We are aligned with DMK's slogans of 'ondre kulam, oruvane devan' (one community, one God), 'pirapokkum ella uyirukkum' (all are born equal)," he says. That doesn't stop the parties from calling BJP "anti-Muslim". Speakers at their meetings talk about the lack of Muslims in the Union Cabinet and accuse the Centre of making legislation that goes against minority interests. At its recent zonal conferences in Tirupur and Kayalpattinam, which have significant Muslim populations, IUML emphasised communal harmony. "We chose Kayalpattinam because the port town's Muslim community is known for its historical role in retrieving the Tiruchendur Murugan temple idols looted by the Dutch and taken to Sri Lanka. There are temple inscriptions that commemorate contributions of Muslim traders," says Abubacker. Muslim leaders say they are confident that polarisation attempts by right-wing groups will not fructify in Tamil Nadu because of the high literacy rate and awareness levels. "But when Murugan is used as a political weapon, there is a sense of tension and fear in the state," says Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi (MJK) leader and former Nagapattinam MLA Thamimun Ansari. He says Muslim parties took refuge in "safer places" because of AIADMK's weakness in protecting the minorities. Even the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), a reincarnation of the banned Progressive Front of India (PFI) and a former ally of AIADMK, is speaking moderation. SDPI state general secretary Nellai Mubarak says Tamil Nadu can never be divided on communal lines. "Everyone in Tamil Nadu has the responsibility to preserve social harmony, secularism, and peace," he says. Mubarak recently met chief minister M K Stalin at DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam. "I went to congratulate him for passing a resolution against the Wakf (Amendment) Act in the assembly." IUML has now planned a 'Mohalla Jamaat Yatra' in August to meet 8,000 office bearers and ulema (clergy) across Tamil Nadu to reiterate the importance of "brotherhood and communal amity". Jawahirullah says MMK will hold a thousand street corner meetings from August to emphasise the need for peaceful coexistence of communities, besides seeking fair political representation for Muslims and withdrawal of the Wakf Amendment Act. Muslim groups are raising the demand for a proportionate share for the community in elected bodies in the run-up to the polls. "Only 39 of the 776 MPs are Muslims," says Jawahirullah. Fifteen are in the Rajya Sabha; 24 in the Lok Sabha. "The MPs come from only 12 of the 28 states and three UTs. In the 2024 LS election, only 24 Muslims were elected, which is 4.4% of the House. Of 4,123 MLAs across states and UTs, only 296 are Muslims. In the Tamil Nadu assembly, which has 234 MLAs, only seven are Muslims. In Greater Chennai Corporation, Muslims make up 9% of the population. Yet only four out of 200 councillors are Muslims," he says. Former AIADMK minister Anwhar Raajhaa, who joined the DMK on Monday, accused the BJP of making attempts to destabilise the state's communal balance. "BJP's objective is to win elections through polarisation. It used similar strategies in the northern states and has now struck an alliance with AIADMK to do the same here. But people of Tamil Nadu won't be deceived," says Raajhaa. Email your feedback with name and address to
