Latest news with #AadhavanDeetchanya
The Hindu
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Indo-Israel training programme for farmers in Thally cancelled amid protest from CPI(M) and affiliate body
An Indo-Israel training programme for farmers, scheduled for Monday in Thally, has been cancelled. Communist Party of India (Marxist) Tamil Nadu secretary P. Shanmugam had waved the red flag over the programme, organised by the Horticulture Department, because of Israel's war in Gaza. Mr. Shanmugam said he had taken up the issue with the Chief Minister's Office. 'The event has now been cancelled.' When contacted, the project officer of the Indo-Israel Center of Excellence confirmed the development. However, he was not aware of the reason. Senior officials of the Horticulture Department were not reachable. Protest planned The CPI(M) district unit had planned a protest at the venue in Thally. The four-day programme, under the aegis of MASHAV — Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation — was to be held at the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Cut Flowers. The party's intervention came by after writer Aadhavan Deetchanya, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association, condemned the programme. Mr. Deetchanya told The Hindu, 'At a time when Israel's imperialist project decimated Gaza's soil and its children and the country was being isolated and condemned universally, Tamil Nadu's Horticulture Department organising the event amounted to sanitising Israel's crimes...' The Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association had also been at the forefront of the recent protests against Israel Film Festival that was to be organised by a film appreciation foundation. Transfer of technology The Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence have been established, under the Indo-Israel Agriculture Project, as part of cooperation through transfer of technology. In Thally, a Centre of Excellence was established for cut flowers in 2017.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
TNUEF calls for timely implementation of caste census
The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) staged a protest demonstration here demanding time-bound implementation of the caste census announced by the Union government. Protesters of the CPM-affiliated outfit gathered outside the BSNL office, flagging alleged gaps in the Union Government's announcement. According to the TNUEF, the BJP-led government came around to conceding the demand for a caste census after much resistance. However, the announcement made does not specify when the exercise would commence, what the enumeration parameters would be, the timeline for the completion of the census among other details. According to the TNUEF, there was also no budgetary allocation and no end date for completion of the census, casting doubts on the government's intent. The Left parties have maintained that the objective of the caste census was not to aggravate the divides but to statistically arrive at the numbers to remedy the disproportionate allocation of resources and opportunities to certain caste groups, and open up the gates to opportunities in employment and education and enable inclusive growth eliminating generational discrimination. The protests were led by special address by Aadhavan Deetchanya, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association; District Secretary of CPM; District Secretary of the TNUEF.
The Print
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Israeli film fest in Chennai postponed amid backlash for ‘legitimising' Netanyahu govt's actions in Gaza
Earlier in the day, the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association had urged the foundation to call off the festival voluntarily. In a post on Facebook Monday evening, ICAF said that the proposed film festival was being postponed 'due to certain unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances'. Chennai: Following backlash from various quarters, including political parties and groups, and the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers' Artists' Association affiliated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF) has postponed the Israeli Film Festival in Chennai, which was scheduled to be held between 29 and 31 May. 'The foundation, which organises the Chennai International Film Festival, and other countries' film festivals with financial support from the Tamil Nadu government, must not equate Israel with other nations by including an Israeli Film Festival in its line-up,' read the statement issued by the group's state president Mathukur Ramalingam and general secretary Aadhavan Deetchanya. They said that holding such a film festival in Tamil Nadu is 'an act of political insensitivity'. 'At a time when the world condemns the Israeli government for its terrorist actions, including the killing and displacement of Palestinians, holding such a festival in Tamil Nadu, a state with political awareness that upholds the natural rights of Palestinians, is an act of political insensitivity,' the statement added. The association alleged that the festival indirectly supports the Israeli government's actions, and legitimises its attempt to be recognised as a normal nation like others. Additionally, political parties and movements, including Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), May 17 Movement, Tamil National Liberation Movement, and Indian Tawheed Jamaat had released a joint statement, demanding that the event be called off. 'Allowing the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation to hold an Israeli film festival at the Tamil Nadu Government Music College in Chennai would be seen as indirectly supporting Israel's human rights violations,' the statement read. It contradicts Tamil Nadu's long-standing humanitarian traditions and its cultural identity of standing for justice and supporting the oppressed, the statement added, calling on the state government to take a firm stand in support of the Palestinian people's struggle against Israel's 'inhumane' actions. Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil had also urged the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider its decision to host the festival. 'With the world watching in anguish as Gaza faces relentless violence, unprecedented civilian casualties, and obstructed humanitarian aid, proceeding with this event could be perceived as a tacit endorsement or at the very least, indifference to the suffering of a besieged population,' he wrote on X. As someone who deeply believes in the power of art to build bridges and foster understanding, I rarely call for cultural cancellations. But there are moments in history when silence or neutrality risks being complicit. In times of profound human suffering, even symbolic gestures… — Sasikanth Senthil (@s_kanth) May 26, 2025 (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Are Tamil films lazy or nostalgic? Retro hits from Kaithi to GBU wearing thin
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Call off Israeli Film Festival, Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association tells Indo Cine Foundation
Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association has called upon the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF) not to organise the Israeli Film Festival that is scheduled to be held between May 29 and May 31 in Chennai. The association has flagged the timing of the festival, at a time when the Zionist State is being hauled up internationally for war crimes. Especially in a State like Tamil Nadu, where people's political consciousness is aligned with the people of Palestine endorsing their natural right to Statehood, it was tone-deaf on the part of ICAF to equate Israel to other nations and organise the Israeli Film Festival. It amounted to sanitising the crimes of Israel, the association has stated. At a time, when the State of Israel had unleashed colonisation by terror on the peoples of Palestine and grabbed their lands in a continuing war, ICAF has announced an Israeli Film Festival in the name of film appreciation. 'When Israel has been isolated internationally for war crimes, to lend a platform to Israel's cinema alongside the cinema of other countries was akin to normalising the Zionist State's war crimes,' the Statement by TNPWAA said. The Association has called upon the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation to voluntarily call off the festival, failing which, the State Government should deny permission for the conduct of the festival, said the statement released by Madhukur Ramalingam, State President, Aadhavan Deetchanya, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association.
