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New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Tamil society honours writers who champion social progress, says CM Stalin
CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday said creators must be celebrated during their lifetime and pointed out that Tamil society has always recognised and honoured writers who champion social progress and upliftment. In that spirit, he said, former CM and DMK president M Karunanidhi not only made exceptional contributions to Tamil literature, but also encouraged and elevated other creators. He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day 'Centenary Seminar on Muthamizharignar Kalaignar M Karunanidhi' jointly organised by Sahitya Akademi and Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) Special Centre for Tamil Studies. Stalin said the event marked the 'recognition of Kalaignar as the literary face of India'. Highlighting initiatives to support writers, Stalin noted that the state has implemented the Kanavu Illam scheme to provide houses worth Rs 1 crore each to Sahitya Akademi award-winning writers. 'So far, 15 scholars have benefitted from the scheme. Continuing this initiative, houses have now been allotted to 10 translators who have also received the Sahitya Akademi awards,' he said. 'No other state has introduced such a scheme.' Stalin also recalled that during his tenure as CM, Karunanidhi nationalised the works of 108 Tamil scholars and distributed royalties worth Rs 7.76 crore. 'In the past four years, I have nationalised the works of 36 Tamil scholars and distributed Rs 4.25 crore in royalties,' he added. 'These seminars should not only celebrate Kalaignar but also inspire the creation of a society with egalitarian ideas and progressive thoughts, as he envisioned,' Stalin said. He further noted that Karunanidhi had created a Tamil chair at JNU, which has now developed into a full-fledged department. 'We have allocated Rs 5.30 crore for it, and steps are under way to install a statue of Thiruvalluvar at JNU,' the CM added. JNU vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit praised Karunanidhi's contributions to literature and cinema, saying, 'In turning language into resistance, cinema into conscience, and literature into liberation, Kalaignar became more than an icon -- he is a legend.' She added the Thiruvalluvar statue at JNU will be unveiled by Stalin.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Palaniswami to launch election tour from Coimbatore on July 7
Already, DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin has been visiting many districts to inaugurate completed developmental works and lay the foundation for new projects, apart from holding roadshows without fail to meet the people. Besides, TVK president and actor Vijay is also planning to commence his statewide tour in August from the Cauvery delta area, targeting the farming community. Palaniswami has been attacking the DMK government on almost every issue, and his main target has been the law and order. During the recent months, Palaniswami met district secretaries many times to review the preparations for the Assembly elections and strengthening of the party's IT wing. Significantly, during the past few months, the AIADMK has been staging agitations on people's issues in various parts of the state. Meanwhile, Palaniswami also announced key appointments in the party apparatus. On Friday, Palaniswami appointed former MP T G Venkateshbabu as one of the organising secretaries. Purasai V S Babu, former MLA, has been made the North Chennai North (West) district's secretary. Babu replaces Venkatesh Babu. In Kanniyakumari district, R Jeyasudharshan has been made Kanniyakumari West district secretary, while D John Thangam has been made organising secretary. Madras HC seeks ECI's reply on AIADMK plea Chennai: The Madras High Court on Friday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to submit its reply by a week on the petition filed by AIADMK praying for directions to the poll body to take an expeditious decision on the issue of its (ECI) jurisdiction to enquire about the representations submitted by two former MPs and others for freezing the Two Leaves symbol until the internal dispute cases are decided by the civil courts. A division bench of Justices R Subramaniam and K Surendar issued the direction and adjourned the hearing to July 4. Senior counsel Vijay Narayan, appearing for the AIADMK, submitted that about eight weeks have passed by since the high court issued orders to the ECI to decide (within two weeks) on its jurisdiction, but no decision has been taken so far. Prolongation of the matter by the ECI would give an opportunity to the anti-party elements to utilise the situation against the party, he said, adding that the issue would cause inconvenience to the party since it has to prepare for the 2026 polls. ENS
Mint
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Setback to AIADMK-BJP tie-up in Tamil Nadu? AIADMK throws mixed signals, ‘people don't like…'
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stirred a political row with a prediction that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will form a coalition government in Tamil Nadu following the 2026 state assembly elections. In an interview published on Friday in Tamil daily Dina Thanthi, Shah noted, 'The NDA will for the government in Tamil Nadu after the 2026 assembly elections, and the BJP will be a part of it.' Amit Shah, addressing recent backlash over his stance on English, clarified in an interview that his comments were misinterpreted. 'I said the importance of regional languages should increase,' he explained. 'And we should make efforts so that by 2047, all Indians speak in regional languages,' he added. In what appears to be the opposite of Shah's victory claim, AIADMK spokesperson and former minister C. Vaigaichelvan downplayed the possibility of a coalition government in Tamil Nadu and noted, 'So far, people of Tamil Nadu have not accepted such a coalition government, and it doesn't look like it.' Vaigaichelvan noted that their common goal was to defeat the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Hindustan Times reported. However, his remarks and political opinions about Tamil Nadu's 2026 elections sparked strong reactions from the ruling party. DMK Spokesperson TKS Elangovan said, 'They will not win. Even AIADMK people will not vote for the BJP. They have insulted Anna and Periyar. The number of MLAs they have now will reduce further.' On June 22, Hindu Munnani's Lord Muruga devotees conference was held in Madurai, in which leaders of the BJP and AIADMK took part, and the playing of a video clip, allegedly critical of the Dravidian icons Periyar EV Ramasamy, DMK founder CN Annadurai and late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, kicked up a political row. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched a scathing attack on the BJP and its alliance with AIADMK, accusing them of attempting to divide the people of the state on the basis of religion and caste. As reported by PTI, speaking in Tirupathur district on Friday, Stalin said, 'Those in the Centre are trying to divide the people of Tamil Nadu in the name of religion, caste, etc., and they are doing this continuously. When they couldn't do it, they joined with AIADMK here.' Stalin further slammed what he called 'fake spirituality and political drama' by the BJP, alleging that claims of religion being in danger in Tamil Nadu were politically motivated. The AIADMK and BJP formally reunited on Friday after a nearly two-year split, with Amit Shah announcing that the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election will be fought under the leadership of AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami. So far, people of Tamil Nadu have not accepted such a coalition government, and it doesn't look like it. The two parties had previously contested together in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections, but parted ways in September 2023 following political disagreements. (With inputs from agencies) Those in the Centre are trying to divide the people of Tamil Nadu in the name of religion, caste, etc., and they are doing this continuously.
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TNCC chief meets S Ramadoss, says only a courtesy call, no alliance talks
VILLUPURAM: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai met PMK founder S Ramadoss at his residence in Thailapuram near Tindivanam on Friday. The meeting of a leader of the DMK-led alliance amid the intense leadership tussle under way within the PMK between Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss raised eyebrows, especially since Anbumani recently accused the ruling DMK of being behind the tussle. But Ramadoss had later refuted it. Selvaperunthagai, however, clarified to the media, that the meeting, which lasted roughly for about 30 minutes, was purely a courtesy call. 'There is no political angle. Dr Ramadoss has been in public life for 40 years and I met him out of respect,' he said, adding that he enquired about the leader's health. TNCC vice-president K Vijayan accompanied him. 'There was no discussion about alliances. If the PMK is to join the DMK-led alliance, only Chief Minister M K Stalin can decide that,' Selvaperunthagai said. He said Anbumani's remarks blaming the DMK for the PMK's internal rift reflected his lack of understanding. 'Dr Ramadoss is a seasoned politician who will take the right decision in Tamil Nadu's interest.' Selvaperunthagai said the meeting happened while en route to Chennai after attending the centenary celebration of late Congress leader Ilayaperumal at Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore, on Thursday, where senior Congress leader P Chidambaram was present.
India Gazette
4 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Our party will launch new membership drive titled 'United Tamil Nadu' on July 1: DMK MP P Wilson
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 28 (ANI): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP P Wilson on Friday said that a new membership drive campaign titled 'United Tamil Nadu' will be launched on July 1 by DMK President and Chief Minister MK Stalin. Speaking to reporters at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in Chennai, DMK MP said, 'In recent times, Tamil Nadu has been facing several injustices -- such as the non-recognition of the Keeladi excavations, imposition of Hindi, denial of educational funds, postponement of the national population census, denial of medical dreams for students through NEET, and infringement of our rights under the guise of delimitation. These are ongoing attacks on Tamil Nadu.' 'For every one rupee I pay as tax, we receive back only 26 paise. No proper compensation has been given for the damages caused by cyclones. The central government is trying to impose the National Education Policy and make Hindi a compulsory subject. They have even denied us our rightful share of education funding, for which we have approached the courts,' he added. Speaking further about the 'United Tamil Nadu' campaign, he said, 'This initiative aims to protect our land, language, and dignity. They don't want the world to know the historical significance of Tamil Nadu revealed through the Keeladi excavations. That's how deep their hatred toward Tamil Nadu runs.' The 'United Tamil Nadu' initiative emphasises that everyone in the state must come together and fight in unity. The goal is to enrol one crore (10 million) new members in 45 days through 68,000 field agents. The objective is to unite at least 30% of the people in every polling booth, the DMK leader said. The aim of 'United Tamil Nadu' is to reach every household in Tamil Nadu directly, urging them to participate in the campaign -- and to register them in the name of their choice. A special mobile application will be used for this. To support this, the party's tech team will receive state-level training on June 28 and 29, he added. He reiterated that the 'United Tamil Nadu' membership campaign will be officially launched by DMK President and Chief Minister M. K. Stalin through a press meet on July 1. Following that, district-level press meets will be held. On July 2, rallies will be conducted in 26 party districts. The campaign will conclude on August 11, DMK leader stated. (ANI)
