TN This Week: Vachathi Victory Day Observed on October 21

In a fresh standoff with the Raj Bhavan, the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday accused Governor RN Ravi of ‘refusing’ to approve the award of D Litt to freedom fighter and veteran Marxist leader N Sankaraiah by Madurai Kamaraj University.

The strike called by drivers of the app-based platforms Ola and Uber was withdrawn on Wednesday. The drivers’ union, seeking the state government’s intervention to regulate the aggregators, was promised talks with Tamil Nadu’s Home (Transport) Secretary and Transport Commissioner. Read more

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, rejected Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji’s bail plea on medical grounds in a money laundering case. The Madras High Court had rejected it earlier.

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the important developments from across the state in the past week.

‘STOP WAR ON PALESTINE’

The All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO) held an agitation calling for an end to Israel’s war on Palestine on Friday in Chennai. CPI leader Veerapandian said, “UN, BRICS, and others should interfere and put pressure to stop the war. […] We oppose war, but we stand for liberatory resistance.”

AIPSO state president Prof Venkatesh Athreya said, “Israel upholds state terrorism, and by supporting Netanyahu government and dilly-dallying about Palestine, India has lost its trust on the international front.”

Dr Raveendranath, Secretary of AIPSO, Tamil Nadu said, “Palestine has become an open prison, and the US, France, Britain, and Germany are hand-in-glove with it.”

The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) also held protests to condemn the bombing of hospitals and killing of children and women. Demonstrations were organised by the Students’ Federation of India across university and college campuses in the state.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday called upon the United Nations and other countries to unite to end the war in the Gaza strip.

VACHATHI VICTORY DAY OBSERVED

On behalf of the All India Kisan Sabha, October 21 was observed as the victory day for the Vachathi case. Farmers all across the country celebrated by holding meetings, distributing pamphlets, and calling demonstrations in tens of thousands of places.

The celebrations followed the Madras High Court dismissing all criminal appeals filed against the conviction of, and the sentences awarded by a trial court in 2011 to, officials of the Forest, Police, and Revenue Departments for atrocities committed on the residents of Vachathi tribal village in Dharmapuri district in 1992.

TEMPLE-LAND USERS PROTEST

Protests were held in more than 15 districts on behalf of the Tenant Farmers’ Protection Association. 

Tens of thousands of temple residents, traders, and farmers participated in the protest across Tamil Nadu. They urged the Tamil Nadu government to come forward to resolve their long-standing demands.

EB WORKERS’ PROTEST

CITU-affiliated state electricity board workers' union held demonstrations at district headquarters on Friday. They demanded the cancellation of the e-tender system, identification of contract employees, and direct payment of daily wages to them. They urged for the regularisation of contract workers.

RSS DENIED RALLY

The Madurai bench of Madras High Court on Wednesday disallowed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from conducting their rallies in Madurai, Ramanathapuram, and Sivaganga districts, but gave its nod for the rally in other districts under the jurisdiction of the High Court. 

The state government counsel raised objection to granting permission for the RSS rally in the mentioned districts, citing that celebrations of Thevar Jayanthi and Maruthu Pandiyar guru pooja would take place in these three districts.

FIRECRACKER UNIT ACCIDENTS

On Tuesday, a sudden fire in a private firecracker factory near Sivakasi killed 13 people, including 11 women workers. In another incident a few kilometers away, a 60-year-old worker was charred to death in a blast at a firecracker-making unit. Read more

Following the accidents, inspections were held and six cracker retail shops in Sivakasi, considered a major centre for fireworks in Virudhunagar district, were sealed on Thursday by teams formed by the district administration.