TN This Week: Online Gaming Act Passed, SC Allows RSS Marches

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K S Azhagiri started a rail roko protest near Chennai Egmore railway station following Rahul Gandhi's disqualification. The protest targeted the BJP, while also accusing it of “derailing the nation’s economic growth to help businessman Adani”.

Tamil Nadu reported 493 new COVID-19 cases taking the tally of active cases to 2,876. The directorate of public health said that there was no reason to panic as the state had not seen any rapidly expanding clusters yet.

Dry weather prevailed across the state this past week. Parts of Chennai recorded temperatures around 36.5C to 38.5C, which is two and three degrees above normal and the highest temperatures so far this year.

The mortal remains of two soldiers from Tamil Nadu, who were among those killed in a shootout at the Bhatinda military station in Punjab on Wednesday, were laid to rest in their respective hometowns on Friday. It has led to protests by their relatives and people as they were not given military or state funerals.

In the wake of multiple untoward incidents pertaining to juvenile homes, the social welfare department constituted a one-man committee comprising retired Justice K Chandru to recommend measures for effective administration. Meanwhile, three baby girls from a children’s home died due to respiratory problems in Trichy Government Hospital.

Dandapani, a wage worker from Krishnagiri has allegedly murdered his son Subhash for marrying a girl from a different community. He also allegedly killed his own mother Kannamma and attacked Subash’s bride Anusha.

The Puliyampatti municipality office-bearers’ meeting, held on April 13, passed a resolution to construct slaughterhouses, but only for six of the 13 meat sellers removed from the weekly market. This was condemned as a means to divide the meat sellers. Read more

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

ONLINE GAMING BAN APPROVED

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi gave assent, on April 7, to the Bill prohibiting online gambling and regulating online games in the state. The news came out on April 10, the day the state Assembly had adopted a resolution urging the President and the Union government to ensure time-bound gubernatorial assent to Bills passed.

Meanwhile, a legal notice was served to the Governor on April 8 by SP Udayakumar, coordinator of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant protest movement, stating that the Governor had insulted the protesters “by calling the protest foreign-funded”.

A public meeting was held by leaders of the Secular Progressive Alliance on April 13 in Chennai condemning the acts of Governor Ravi. DMK’s deputy general secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi said the protest against Governor RN Ravi will reach Delhi, and it will pave the way for a change of power in Delhi.

Leaders of the secular progressive front. Image credit: CPI(M), Tamil Nadu

RSS MARCHES ALLOWED

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, dismissed the appeals filed by the Tamil Nadu government against Madras High Court orders, allowing the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak (RSS) to conduct rallies in the State.

The RSS on Thursday announced that it will hold its annual Vijayadasami march at 45 places across Tamil Nadu on April 16.

BJP RELEASES ‘DMK FILES’

BJP’s Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai on Friday released “DMK files”, a series on alleged corruption within the DMK government. The BJP leader alleged that DMK leaders’ assets were “worth Rs 1.34 lakh crore”, as per his valuations and estimations.

The DMK dismissed the allegations as "laughable and baseless" and warned that legal action would be initiated against Annamalai.

During his address, Annamalai said he was starting a Yatra to expose all these DMK scams. He also spoke about Rafale and displayed a purported invoice as proof of his purchase. 

AIADMK MLAS WEAR BLACK MASKS

Members of the principal Opposition party AIADMK on Thursday wore black masks covering their mouths at the state Assembly as a mark of protest. It was against the “undemocratic” rejection of the requests by the opposition as the Assembly secretariat did not air the speeches of the opposition leaders live when they raised “people’s issues in the House”.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court directed the Election Commission to decide on AIADMK's representation seeking an updation of the party's bylaws in 10 days.