TN This Week: Left, Secular Parties Hold Human Chain Against Divisive Forces

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin was unanimously elected as party president at the general council meeting held on October 9. This was amidst cries of underrepresentation of minorities and lack of democracy in the party. Read more

Meanwhile, in the state opposition party - All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the party’s interim general secretary Edappadi K Palanisamy announced the expulsion of former MP V Maitreyan for extending support to the expelled leader and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

A Hindu Munnani functionary was arrested by Karur district police for distributing pamphlets appealing to Hindus to buy products only from shops run by Hindus for Deepavali.

The ban on online gambling and online games of chance in was implemented in Tamil Nadu this week.

Hours after Tamil film actor Nayanthara and her husband director Vignesh Shivan announced becoming parents of twin boys on October 10, the Tamil Nadu government said that it will examine whether the couple violated surrogacy laws in India.

The State Environment, Forest and Climate Change department has notified around 12,000 hectares in Karur and Dindigul districts for Slender Loris sanctuary, on October 12.

The Tamil Nadu government released an order stating that those receiving subsidies must link their consumer numbers with their Aadhaar cards.

According to the pre-baseline TN Household Panel Survey released this week, there has been a 3% decline in the state's workforce between 2011 and 2018-19. It says that just 50% of the State’s population is employed, and 3.6% of the employable population was unemployed in 2018-19.

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the happenings this week in Tamil Nadu.

'COMMUNAL HARMONY' HUMAN CHAIN

Cadres of the Left parties, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Congress, and other organisations formed the social harmony human chain in various parts of the state on October 11. The rally emphasised not allowing separatist forces, such as the RSS, to disrupt peace in the state based on religion.

A group of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam activists on October 9 held a protest in front of a government primary school alleging an RSS 'shakha' was organised on the school premises in Coimbatore.

HEAVY RAINS IN SEVERAL DISTRICTS

With heavy rain lashing Erode, Salem, and Namakkal districts on October 13 and 14, water entered over a hundred houses in these districts.

Tirupathur District declared a rain holiday for schools and colleges on October 11.

Meanwhile, farmers of the Cauvery Delta and western districts are still facing difficulty selling their Kharif yield in procurement centres due to the increased moisture level in the paddy. Read more

On the same day, Stalin commenced the process of distribution of crop compensation amount to the tune of Rs 481 crore to 4.42 lakh farmers. This was for paddy crops that were destroyed in the Northeast monsoon rains. i

GOVT-GUV WAR OF WORDS CONTINUES

Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK on October 13 targeted governor R N Ravi for his remarks that the ancient Tamil text Thirukkural was “despiritualised” and “politicised” over the years. The party asked him to understand the meaning of the Tamil language text from “experts within the country” and not through translations by foreigners.

DMK’s mouthpiece Murasoli asked the Governor not to belittle Thirukkural by trying to project that the text’s author Thiruvalluvar had nothing new to tell the world other than what the “Aryan Principles” had already said.

TRANSWOMEN ATTACKED

Two men were arrested on October 13 for attacking transgender women and chopping off their hair in the Thoothukudi district.

Police intervened after a video of the incident near Kovilpatti was shared by transgender rights activist Grace Banu, who urged action.

YAMAHA SIDELINES CITU UNION

Around 350 workers belonging to the India Yamaha Motor Thozhilalar Sangam (IYMTS), affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), have been on strike since October 11. They are demanding the management to recognise their union and hold wage talks with them.

One of the protestors Devanand told NewsClick, "CITU is the majority union with 520 members, out of the 850 employees, but the management is holding wage talks with another union which only has 250 members."

IYMTS is also ready to prove its majority through elections.

Following the illegal termination of two workers in the Yamaha plant in Kanchipuram, a similar strike broke out in 2018.

'HIKE STIPEND', SAY VET STUDENTS

About 200 students of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) held a two-day strike demanding a stipend hike of Rs 25,000 and an annual 3% increment in internship allowance on par with medical students.

This is the second protest by the students in three months. They withdrew their two-day protest after the Animal Husbandry Department gave assurance of a stipend hike within a month.

DYFI PROTESTS HINDI IMPOSITION

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has launched a protest against the alleged imposition of Hindi by the BJP-led central government. They are demanding the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams be conducted in regional languages, including Tamil.

The ruling DMK announced a State-wide agitation condemning the alleged imposition of Hindi and the introduction of a nation-level common entrance test for all courses by the Union government.

RAMESWARAM FISHERS PROTEST AGAIN

Fishermen associations on October 10 staged a protest in Rameswaram against the regular attack on their community members and boats by the Sri Lankan Navy. They demanded urgent action by the Centre and State against the attacks being carried out by the Navy in the Palk Strait.

'NO AIRPORT IN PARANDUR'

Protests against the proposed airport at Parandur continue. At a seminar organised by environmental NGO Poovulagin Nanbargal on October 9, farmers highlighted that out of the 4,500 acres outlined for the facility, around 2,500 acres are agricultural land and 1,000 acres of water bodies.

MILK PRODUCERS ANNOUNCE STRIKE

The Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Welfare Association has announced that a continuous milk strike will start on October 28 to raise the price of milk.

The milk producers of Aavin have been requesting the government for more than 4 years to raise the price of milk.