Latest news with #DMK-led
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
BJP's Soundararajan questions DMK,
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 11 (ANI): A war of words erupted in Tamil Nadu between the ruling DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and the opposition party AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam). On Thursday, Tamilisai Soundararajan, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader in alliance with the AIADMK, stated that the government is drawing funds from temple trusts to build colleges, but not from minority institutions. Soundararajan said, 'Actually, former chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami said that the government is taking money from Hindu temples, but not from minority organisations. When other departments also have funds, why are you so biased towards Hindu organisations? You are only taking money from temples. That's what he said.' Speaking to reporters, Soundararajan further said, 'He ( Palaniswami) didn't say temple funds shouldn't be used; he only pointed out issues related to money management. We definitely encourage the use of funds to build institutions. However, the DMK government has twisted his words' This comes after Palaniswami accused the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government of using temple funds given by devotees to build schools and colleges. Ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Palaniswami initiated a statewide campaign titled 'Let's Protect the People, Let's Save Tamil Nadu' in the Mettupalayam area of Coimbatore District. Responding to this, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister PK Sekar Babu said that Palaniswami is unaware of history and is 'drowned in the darkness of ignorance'. Babu stated that the regional party's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was like a 'murky pond', where one can't catch a fish. 'Edappadi is unaware of history. He is drowned in the darkness of ignorance. AIADMK alliance is like a murky pond; you cannot catch fish in it. DMK alliance, on the other hand, is flowing like a clear river,' Babu said. Both the AIADMK and the DMK have launched their campaigns for the assembly election scheduled to be held in 2026. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Temple fund misused, says EPS, slugfest rages
A war of words erupted in Tamil Nadu between the DMK and AIADMK after leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged the DMK-led state government of misusing temple funds managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department to construct colleges. Temple fund misused, says EPS, slugfest rages Addressing an election campaign on Tuesday, Palaniswami said, 'Devotees donate money to temples managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department for their worship. How is it right to divert that money to build colleges? Can't the government build colleges using its own funds? When we governed the state, we established so many colleges using funds generated by the government. You are deliberately using temple funds through the HR&CE department. I'm not saying anything against education. I'm only saying that the government should use its own funds to construct educational institutions.' Hitting back at the AIADMK general secretary, Tamil Nadu Hindu religious and charitable endowments minister PK Sekar Babu on Wednesday said that Palaniswami is unaware of history and is 'drowned in the darkness of ignorance'. 'He is unaware of history. He should know the evolution of the HR&CE department. He should read history and learn how successive chief ministers in Tamil Nadu since the 1950s have used temple funds to establish colleges. AIADMK alliance is like a murky pond; you cannot catch fish in it. DMK alliance, on the other hand, is flowing like a clear river,' Sekar Babu said.
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Major row erupts over use of temple funds in Tamil Nadu
A political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu over the use of temple funds to build government colleges. AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami accused the DMK-led government of diverting donations meant for temples to construct colleges. The DMK defended the practice, stating it has been done for years and temple funds are used for humanitarian needs like education. This has reignited the debate on whether temple funds should be used solely for temple development or can be utilised for broader social welfare. The AIADMK and BJP have criticised the government's actions, while the DMK argues temples have historically supported education in the state. The issue has become a major political flashpoint ahead of next year's assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. And in Karnataka, there's widespread panic over heart attacks, with large crowds gathering at Mysore's Jayadeva Hospital for check-ups. The Karnataka High Court has stayed a state government order to close Jan Aushadhi Kendras in government hospitals, seen as a setback for the Siddaramaiah government. The BJP has criticised the state's move to shut these centers.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"AIADMK alliance like murky pond, DMK's flowing like a clear river": Tamil Nadu Minister PK Sekar Babu slams Palaniswami
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 9 (ANI): Launching a scathing attack on All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami over his 'temple funds misuse' allegations on DMK, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister PK Sekar Babu on Wednesday said that Palaniswami is unaware of history and is 'drowned in the darkness of ignorance'. Babu stated that the regional party's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was like a 'murky pond', where one can't catch a fish. 'Edappadi is unaware of history. He is drowned in the darkness of ignorance. AIADMK alliance is like a murky pond; you cannot catch fish in it. DMK alliance, on the other hand, is flowing like a clear river,' Babu told reporters here. This comes after Palaniswami accused the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government of using temple funds given by devotees to build schools and colleges. Ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Palaniswami initiated a statewide campaign titled 'Let's Protect the People, Let's Save Tamil Nadu' in the Mettupalayam area of Coimbatore District. Last week, AIADMK's Palaniswami reiterated his call for the unity of all like-minded parties to defeat the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu. Addressing the media after launching his election campaign logo 'Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom' (Let's Protect the People, Let's Redeem Tamil Nadu), Palaniswami said, 'All like-minded parties should unite to defeat the DMK, which is anti-people and whoever wants DMK to get defeated, we are happy to form an alliance with them. Their cooperation is needed for this -- that is my opinion.' He said AIADMK was open to allying with anyone who opposed the DMK, including actor Vijay's newly launched party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), despite the latter ruling out any tie-up with the BJP. AIADMK, a key partner in the BJP-led NDA, stood firm on its alliance strategy despite TVK's declaration of going solo. Responding to actor Vijay's announcement of contesting alone, Palaniswami said, 'That is his decision. Each party will criticise the other parties. Based on that, he has criticised our alliance. All parties do this to develop their base; that is normal.' Palaniswami also expressed confidence in AIADMK's return to power in the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. He said, 'This could be just an election campaign, but this campaign journey has a big goal. The goal is to defeat the Stalin Model DMK government. This journey is to reflect the flaws and failures of the DMK government and to remove them. This election campaign would bring a big change. AIADMK will create history by winning the election in 2026.' (ANI)
India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
AIADMK alleges government misusing temple funds to build colleges in Tamil Nadu
AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged the DMK-led state government of misusing temple funds managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to construct arts colleges, calling it a "planned conspiracy".Addressing a gathering, Palaniswami questioned the government's motive, asking, 'Doesn't the government have money to build colleges?' He alleged that the state deliberately dipped into HR&CE funds instead of using public education had temple funds which couldn't be tolerated,' he said. 'I don't want to say this but you understand yourself. Their eyes get excited to see temples and decide to build colleges with the money there.' Condemning the diversion of resources, he said, 'Good people like you donate money for the development of the temple. But they are using that money to build colleges.'Citing the AIADMK's record, he said, 'Didn't we allocate money for building colleges in AIADMK rule? But how is it fair for you to use the HR&CE funds for building colleges?'He added that the move was widely seen as a deliberate attempt to undermine temple institutions. 'People are calling this a conspiracy,' he that he was not opposed to education, Palaniswami remarked, 'I'm not against education. It is as important to the nation as eyes are important to a human.'Responding to the allegation, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai called Palaniswami 'a symbol of shame'. Tagging Palaniswami's comment video, Saravanan, in a strongly worded post on X, said: 'What cruelty. Edappadi Palaniswami, who has become a certified lackey of the RSS organisation! The leader of AIADMK asks why colleges are being opened.'Saravanan ended the post saying that Palaniswami's comment, despite being a former Chief Minister, was a 'disgrace' to Tamil is not the first time EPS has criticised the DMK's handling of temple finances and properties. He consistently argues for transparency and that temple funds should be exclusively used for the upkeep and development of 2022 too, Palaniswami accused the DMK government of diverting money from temple hundis (collection boxes) for purposes other than temple development. He asserted that devotees donate money for temple purposes, and it should only be used for that. He called such acts 'criminal.'- Ends
