DMK calls for collective opposition to communal danger

Urging the BJP led government at the Centre to give up such communal and linguistic chauvinist approach and concentrate on their promises for ‘development’ given during election time, the DMK General Council called upon all political parties and other movements, believing in secularism, unity in diversity and integrity of the nation, to bury their regional aspirations and political differences and come forward to collectively oppose the communal danger to the nation due to the actions of the BJP government at the Centre.
In a resolution adopted at the General Council meeting on Jan 9 held at Kalaignar Arangam in Anna Arivalayam in Chennai, it was stated that over and above the Constitution referring India as a sovereign nation it was called as a sub-continent, with linguistic States to preserve and protect the rights of people speaking various languages and their linguistic national identity and with a secular administration for various religions.
The preamble of the Constitution states India as a sovereign, socialist, secular democratic republic. The Constitution adopted by the Constituent Assembly and various amendment adopted by Parliament upheld secularism. Honouring the Supreme Court verdict that basic principles of the Constitution including secularism should not be tampered with, all the governments that had come at the Centre so far had functioned.
At the time of independence, the contradictory communal stands among important leaders in two fields of Indian National Congress and Hindu Maha Sabha, and political and social conflicts of Muslim League and Islamic leaders with them led to partition of the nation, as a result of which till date there were threats to the unity and integrity of the country continuing now and then. In this situation, the open communal attitude of the present Central government of the BJP is not only acceptable to all but also cause concern.
The DMK, which reposes full faith in the Constitution, never gave up its secular principle even when there were necessity and compulsion to change its political stand. In particular, in 1999 when the political circumstances necessitated the DMK to align with the BJP, a Common Minimum Programme was prepared for the NDA government on the demand of constituent parties, in which Murasoli Maran played an important part in the drafting. On his insistence an undertaking was given the BJP’s basic political principles of abrogating Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir, constructing Ram temple at Ayodya and Uniform Civil Code would not be pressed for. As long as the DMK was part of the NDA government, it never compromised on any of the assurances in the CMP. The party, whether it was in power or not in the State and Centre, never hesitated to defend secularism and protect minorities. When the NDA was formed in 1999, a programme of action based on ‘secularism, federalism and respect to the feelings of all Indian people’ was declared. But on the contrary, due to the contradictory approach of the Centre on issues like Ayodya, the ADMK regime misusing POTA, ignoring the setting up of Cauvery Board and refusal to accept Tamil as one of the official languages at the Centre, the DMK quit the NDA.
The government of Narendra Modi, who assumed as Prime Minister swearing by the Constitution after the victory in 16th Lok Sabha elections, in the beginning announced various development projects. Further, when they attempted to bring some unwelcome measures, they withdrew accepting our arguments. Though we were about to appreciate it, the reactionary measures announced by some Union Ministers worried us.
Particularly, not only they had given up secularism but creating condition for attempting to convert India into ‘Hindu Rashtra’. Similarly, against the assurance of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and PMs later, the Modi government following conflicting attitude in language policy also amounts to injustice to non-Hindi speaking people and those who did not accept Sanskrit.
In particular, responsible Union Ministers, BJP’s guiding force RSS and Hindu Maha Sabha leaders and the other Parivar outfits are openly speaking and issuing statement like
“All people in India are Hindus”
“Those who are not born to Rama are illegimate”
Bhagavat Gita is national scripture
Gandhi’s assassin Godse is a patriot
Godse should have fired at only Nehru instead of Gandhi
Godse busts should be set up all over the country
Observing Christmas day as Good Governance day
Attempt to teach Sanskrit in Kendriya Vidyalayas
Celebrating Sanskrit Week in CBSE schools
Removing English and using only Hindi in circulars for hostel students of Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi
As such open communal and language imposition actions and degrading other religions and languages will disturb peace and development of the nation against unity and secularism of the country, we have been pushed to the position of losing confidence in then due to such approaches of the BJP government. Such actions of the BJP government are deplored.
Urging the BJP led government at the Centre to give up such communal and linguistic chauvinist approach and concentrate on their promises for ‘development’ given during election time, the DMK General Council called upon all political parties and other movements, believing in secularism, unity in diversity and integrity of the nation, to bury their regional aspirations and political differences and come forward to collectively oppose the communal danger to the nation due to the actions of the BJP government at the Centre.

General Council proud of electing Kalaignar as President, greets and welcomes Perasiriyar, Thalapathi M.K.Stalin

The DMK General Council constituted in the 14th general election of the party, which met on January 9 at Kalaignar Arangam in Anna Arivalayam in Chennai, took pride in election Kalaignar as the President of the DMK and noted in a special resolution,
Among the socio-political movements that were found and functioning in India in the beginning of the 20th century, namely the Indian National Congress putting forward national liberation, Communist movements pressing for economic equity and equality, Indian Union Muslim League for the rights of minorities, Home Rule movement demanding self-governance and RSS alias Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, the South Indian Liberal Federation, Self-Respect movement evolved by Thanthai Periyar later followed by Dravidar Kazhagam, from which the DMK was established as its extension to political field by Arignar Anna.

Kalaignar remains as the political fortress for the Dravidian ideology of over a century and so far elected as the DMK President for 11 times, about whom Kerala’s popular daily ‘Mathrubhomi’ (3.1.2005) in an article stated that it was ‘unprecedented to be the President of a big political party in the world anywhere else’. He was elected as legislator in all the 12 elections he had contested so far and made his mark continuously for the last 57 years in the history of legislature. He assumed office as Chief Minister five times and protected the interests of Tamils and unparalleled achiever in the development of Tamil Nadu.
“The General Council greets and welcomes Thalaivar Kalaignar and DMK General Secretary Perasiriyar and Treasurer Thalapathi M.K.Stalin elected to assist him in leading the party”, the special resolution stated.

Insensitive ADMK regime adds insult to trauma of blast victim’s family

Breaking their silence, the family members of B Bhavani, the Chennai woman who was killed in the Bengaluru blast, on Dec 31 said they feel neglected by the Tamil Nadu government as it did not even have the courtesy to console the grieving relatives and condole the tragic loss of life.
They pointed out the stark contrast in the way the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu handled the aftermath of the blast. Soon after the explosion on Church Street, a woman Superintendent of Police was assigned to look after the 20-odd family members. Bhavani’s nephew R P Murugesan quoted the officer as telling the family, “This is news for everyone, but this is beyond that as you have lost a member of your family.“

“Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met us and sanctioned `5 lakh compensation. State Home Minister and five other Ministers also spoke to us and told us not to lose hope. They arranged vehicles to bring 50 of family members from Bengaluru to Chennai along with my aunt’s body .The drivers were instructed not to stop mid-way and the police personnel accompanied the body till our home in Border Thottam,“ he said.
“We expected the Tamil Nadu government to send a representative to pay homage to the departed soul. It was not a road accident or a natural calamity that claimed her life. She died in a terror strike. It was an attack on the nation,“ said Murugesan, who runs a metal scrap business in Bengaluru.
Suresh Kumar, another relative, pointed out that after the Moulivakkam building collapse, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu visited the site in Chennai and consoled the grieving families from his State, he said.
Bhavani’s son Bharat Narayanan, a Class 10 student of DAV Senior Secondary School in Gopalapuram, should get a government job after he completes his education, Murugesan said. Bhavani is survived by her husband Balan, who runs a tyre business in Border Thottam, son Bharat and daughter Lakshmi Devi, Class 6 student of DAV Girls Senior Secondary School in Gopalapuram.
Kalaignar condoles: Immediately after learning the news, DMK President Kalaignar conveyed his deep condolence to Bhavani’s father Anbusamy (who is a member of the DMK), her husband Balan and relatives.
DMK Treasurer and former Deputy Chief Minister Thalapathi M K Stalin on Dec 31 visited the residence of her, paid floral tribute to her portrait and consoled her family members. He was accompanied by West Chennai district secretary J. Anbazhagan MLA and local party functionaries.
BJP state unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan, former Union Minister G K Vasan and several other leaders also visited Bhavani’s house and consoled the family members.

“Ordinance for FDI in insurance sector, mockery of Parliamentary democracy”

Terming the action of the BJP government at the Centre in issuing an ordinance for increasing the FDI ceiling in Insurance sector from 26 percent to 49 percent in less than 24 hours of the adjournment of Parliament as mockery of Parliamentary democracy, DMK President Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee not to give approval for the ordinance.
In a statement on Dec 26, Kalaignar recalled his reply to a question on the BJP regime at the Centre extending invitation for foreign direct investment (FDI) that “the BJP Ministry at the Centre has approved increasing FDI in insurance sector from 26 percent to 49 percent, by which it was expected to get FDI of Rs.25,000 crore in the sector. The previous UPA rule itself took steps for increasing this limit to 49 percent for which Insurance Act amendment bill was also tabled in Parliament. But it could not be adopted due to the opposition of many political parties including the BJP. It is a wrong practice for the BJP, which opposed the move then, now taking the same decision after coming to power. Steps such as invitation for FDI, disinvestment in PSU units, privatization of even manufacturing of defence products were not only reactionary but also would badly affect our economy”.
On the contrary, the Union Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Dec 24 has decided to issue ordinances for increasing FDI in insurance sector from 26 percent to 49 percent, for the auction of coal mines and for permitting 100 percent FDI in medical equipment sector.
As the government could not get approval for these bills in the Rajya Sabha, the BJP had decided to bring them in the form of ordinances after the end of Parliament winter session. Sitaram Yechury MP, one of the leaders of the CPI (M) has appealed to the President, in a letter addressed to him, not to give his approval for the ordinance for increasing the FDI limit in insurance sector.
The select committee of the Rajya Sabha discussed the draft Insurance and its report was placed in the House, but no debate took place on it so far. In that respect it was still the property of the House. When the decision on it was pending, if an ordinance was issued on the same matter, it amounted to violation of the sanctity of Parliament, Kalaignar said.
When the bill was sent to the standing committee in 2008 and it presented its report in 2011, it was the unanimous view of all including its chairman and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who stated “I was the first to permit private sector in insurance sector hoping to attract lot of FDI into India. I also expected that with the arrival of private sector, rural people would get insurance facilities and insurance would be available at cheaper rates. But in the last 15 years, nothing that I expected happened in private companies”. But in the regime of the same party negative step had been taken, Kalaignar noted.
At the international level, only India had the high level of personal savings of people and hence the savings of our people would turn into capital of MNCs. There was no guarantee that they would not flee with this money if they faced any crisis. Particularly, there was no need at all for FDI in insurance sector. Only LIC had lent Rs.1,04,450 crore to electricity sector as investment. The Chairman of NHAI has said that they were depending on LIC for their need of Rs.10,000 crore. The LIC has invested in major shares of the Indian Railways Finance Corporation. Thus when the public sector insurance companies were remaining as life stream for core industrial development, why should the Centre yearn for foreign investment, Kalaignar asked.
When the Central government did not have majority in the Rajya Sabha, attempting to bring ordinance through backdoor would turn parliamentary democracy into a laughing stock, Kalaignar said and appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee not to give approval for the ordinance.

United, valiant struggle of STC workers brings obstinate ADMK regime to its knees

The unprecedented united and valiant struggle of State Transport Corporation workers all over the State that paralyses normal life for four days brought the obstinate ADMK regime to its knees bringing relief to lakhs of commuters after the government agreed to form a committee to discuss wage revision.
The 11 transport trade unions called off their strike on Dec 31. The decision was taken at a meeting between Transport Minister V Senthil Balaji and leaders of 11 unions including the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and CITU, at the Secretariat on the day.
The government agreed to constitute a tripartite committee for conducting negotiations on wage revision.
The committee, to be headed by the Transport Minister and to consist of representatives from the Revenue and Transport Departments, is expected to be formed in two days.  “The unions will discuss 28 demands with the committee,” said A. Soundararajan, general secretary, CITU, after the meeting.
The State government agreed to release the transport employees, who took part in the protest for the past four days and were arrested, said A. Soundararajan, general secretary, CITU.
At the meeting held between Transport Minister and leaders of 11 unions including the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and CITU, at the Secretariat, the Minister gave this assurance, he said.
“The Minister has assured that those who were detained on charges of damaging public property will be brought out on bail. The cases against them will be dropped after a discussion with the Chief Minister. This is a victory for the unity of employees,” Soundararajan said.
According to the union leaders, around 22,000 protestors have been detained across the State and nearly 3,000 in Chennai. “Bus services will be fully restored by January 1 evening as the drivers and conductors who were arrested have to be released,” said K. Natarajan of the LPF.
“The LPF submitted a letter stating that it did not have any problem in inviting other unions for the talks. Subsequently the Minister called us for meeting,” Soundararajan said.
Commuters heaved a sigh of relief after hearing that bus services would be restored. “I left home at 8 a.m. I waited till 10.45 a.m for a bus to Parry’s Corner. All buses were going without signboards. It is good that the strike has come to an end,” said Anand Kumar of T. Nagar. By the evening, the frequency of MTC services in the city improved considerably.

ADMK regime blamed for escalating issue to the point of strike

Taking strong exception to the callous attitude of the ADMK regime not holding talks on the demands of the workers of State Transport Corporations, DMK President and former Chief Minister Kalaignar blamed the government for escalating the issue to reach this level of strike by workers. 
In a statement, the five-time Chief Minister recalled that after the DMK came to power in 1967 it nationalized buses and the state transport corporation started in the names of Pallavan, Pandian, Cheran and Chozhan had grown like a banyan tree with eight transport corporations with 22,000 buses and 1.43 workers catering to the needs of over two crore passengers daily now.
After the ADMK came to power in 1977, the STC workers demanded interim relief of Rs.100 and went on a strike after their stir was not responded by the government and thousands of workers were arrested.
At the request of the trade unions, Kalaignar said he along with G.K.Moopanar, CPI leader M.Kalyanasundaram and all party leaders jointly asked the government to start talks wage settlement talks and solve the issue and announced all party ‘bandh’ as there was no response from the regime.
The then Chief Minister MGR, while participating at a function in Erode, announced wage increase of Rs.27, following which wage revision talks were held and for the first time a tripartite settlement was reached with an increase of Rs. 54. Beginning then during the same MGR regime wage settlements were reached in the years 1980, 1983 and 1986.
Similarly, after the DMK came to power in 1989, the then Transport Minister M.Kannappan invited unions and solved many pending issues.
Again under ADMK regime in 1992 and 1995 during the same Jayalalitha regime there were wage revision talks and settlements.
After the DMK came to power in 1996, the then Transport Minister K. Ponmudi held talks with unions and a settlement was reached on various issues in 1998 including on their long pending demands including pension just like for government employees.
In 2001, after the ADMK assumed power under Jayalalitha’s  leadership, as it was announced that 20 percent bonus (Rs.6,000) paid to transport workers would be reduced to 8.33 percent (Rs. 2,500), the workers were agitated and resorted to stir for 17 days. The ADMK regime did not come forward then also for solving the problem. Not only that; it was her regime which on a single day sacked 1.5 lakh government employees. There were also histories of issuing G.O for the privatization of 50 percent of STC buses.
Immediately after the DMK assumed power for the fifth time in 2006, the term of settlements which was extended to 5 years by the ADMK regime was brought down again to 3 years, two settlements were reached in 2007 and 2010 with the then Transport Minister K.N.Nehru and all the problems of workers were redressed. Issuing GO for treating 17 days’ of strike as working days was hailed a path breaking measure in Indian history.
Again after the change of regime in 2011, Transport Minister Senthil Balaji attempted to privatize fleets of STCs and change the term of settlements from 3 years to 5 years. But due to stiff opposition they could not be implemented. The Employees Federation moved the High Court for selecting trade unions for negotiations through secret ballot in STCs.
As a result of the verdict in that case, union recognition election was conducted, in which securing 57 percent votes of workers (75,432) LPF union was recognized as the sole bargaining union for negotiations. Vide the HC verdict, GO was issued for this recognition for five years up to October 2015. But after the ADMK came to power, it refused to invite and talk to LPF union. As the wage settlement ended with 31.8.2013 and new settlement had to be reached from 1.9.2013, demands were placed and asked for talks the administration did not invite for talks during the last 15 months.
The ADMK union moved the court for inviting them also for talks as they had received 12 percent votes, but no interim stay was order on the plea. Besides not inviting the unitary union of the LPF for talks due to political animosity, the ADMK regime was spreading a false news the LPF had filed some case. After verifying with LPF General Secretary Shanmugham, Kalaignar said he suggested to him to call all trade unions for consultation, jointly place demands and see whether the regime came forward for talks at least then.
Accordingly, all trade unions joined together and invited the ADMK union also for preparing common demand, but the ruling party union rejected the plea. Hence all unions other than that of the ruling party submitted demands and asked the government to hold talks. But the regime again lied of a pending case and delayed. Hence all trade union jointly conducted a conference at Tiruchi on Dec 2 participated by 30,000 workers and according to the decision taken there issued strike notice signed by all to the management on Dec 5. But the management ignored and heroically claimed that the ADMK union had membership of 95,000 and hence they would defeat the strike.
Without inviting trade union representatives for talks on demands, the Chief Minister once again told a lie in the Assembly on 8.12.2014 that a case was pending in the court and announced an interim relief of Rs. 1,000 from 1.1.2015. Incensed by this announcement, gheraoed regional offices of STCs on 9.12.2014 and agitated.
The strike should have formally started on 19.12.2014; the government should have invited for talks immediately after the strike notice was given but the Labour and Transport departments remained passive and ignored the demands.
The DMK leader said transport workers remained patient and with a sense of responsibility mobilized public support from 19.12.2014 to 22.12.2014, lost their patience and decided to strike work from December 29 only after the transport department refused to hold talks with them on December 30. During the talks arranged by the Labour department no responsible higher officials participated. On 27th all trade unions including the ADMK union participated in the talks. When the LPF union, the recognized union, suggested that a tripartite settlement be reached in the presence of the Labour department and talks with all unions be held on Dec 30, the management first agreed but later refused. The management wanted the DMK-affiliated LPF to give it in writing its willingness to take part in the talks. Without seeking prestige the LPF union said they would give the letter but the talks should begin on the day itself when the strike call might be reviewed. But after accepting the letter, it had told them that talks would be held only after December 30 after legal consultations. Hence all trade union representatives announced that till arrangements were made for talks in the presence of the Minister the strike would continue and came out.
He said it was highly condemnable that the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister had allowed the situation to reach this level failing to find a solution at the appropriate time realizing the difficulties over two crore people who voted them to power would have to undergo daily.
“At least now they should come forward to find an amicable solution by holding talks with the representatives of the trade unions,” he said.
Parties seek early end to strike: Leaders of political parties sought the State government’s intervention to bring an end to the strike of the transport employees, saying continuation of the strike would affect crores of people depending on public transport.
PMK leader S. Ramadoss said while Tamil Nadu had not witnessed strike by transport employees for the past 13 years, the State government had forced the workers to resort to the extreme step.
Extending support to the transport employees, CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan accused the government of using the ruling partymen to attack the workers in transport depots across the State.

“Regime unashamed of courts imposing penalty”

A regime which had not removed the portraits of their leader on whom the special court in Bangalore imposed a fine of Rs.100 crore was unashamed of the courts repeatedly imposing penalties for non-compliance of court orders, noted DMK President Kalaignar.
Replying to a question on the Madras High Court imposing penalty of Rs.10,000 on the ADMK government, Kalaignar said even after the Bangalore special court sentenced their ‘Amma’ to ten years’ imprisonment and imposed fine of Rs.100 crore, they had not removed her portraits from government offices. So they were not ashamed of the court imposing penalty on the government.
The High Court of Madras has imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 on the Tamil Nadu government for not filing counter affidavits in response to two PILs pertaining to the installation of CCTV cameras in police stations.
The bench comprising of Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice Sathyanarayanan imposed a fine of Rs. 5,000 each on the State for not replying to two separate PILs filed by advocate Prakash Raj and A. Narayanan of Change India Trust on the same issue even after one month, it was reported.
The State has been asked to deposit the money in Mediation and Conciliation Centre attached to the High Court. It also said that the State can deposit the money and then file the counter affidavits within two weeks.
The petitioners had made a plea that the police stations should have CCTV cameras so that torture and human rights violation during investigation is checked.
Earlier, the court had issued a notice to the State government on a PIL seeking installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations in the State.
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, admitting the PIL of Vengai I Prakash Raj, asked the government to file its response within four weeks. They then adjourned the matter to December 16 for further hearing.
In his PIL, Prakash Raj asked as to why police stations could not install CCTV cameras while all banks, ATMs, internet cafes and even the government’s registration department were under CCTV watch.
He cited three incidents : January 8, in Neelankarai police station where a minor suffered bullet injuries under mysterious circumstances; August 10, when a female suspect was allegedly raped and tortured in custody by the Udumalpet police; and October 15, when a Muslim youth was shot dead by a sub-inspector in ‘self-defence’ inside a police station Ramanathapuram district.
He said such custodial excesses would come down, and police too would have proof to repudiate false allegations if they had CCTV footage of station works.
Transport dept. goes to the dogs: Replying to a question on the Supreme Court on Dec 13 setting aside the ‘collusive’ contracts entered into by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) with some advertising companies for the installation of bus shelters in Chennai, Kalaignar said this was one among the several irregularities of the ADMK regime.
Some private advertisement agencies entered into contact with the Metropolitan Transport Corporation for setting up bus shelters and putting up their ads, against which a PIL was filed in the Madras High Court which set aside the contracts. This was challenged by some ad agencies in the Supreme Court.
A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U.U. Lalit dismissed a batch of appeals filed by M/s Nova Ads and others against a Madras High Court judgment. “The whole action, as we perceive, is a fiscal pollution. It is, if we allow ourselves to say so, an acid rain on finance that can really crumble and collapse the financial health of the Corporation, which, in a democracy, is impermissible. It compels us to say that the skilfully designed scheme has the potentiality to bring in ruination in an orderly society governed by law; as if the appellants are determined to treat the proceeding in a court equivalent to experimentation in a laboratory or an adventure in a garden that has no boundary,” the Bench said.
Justice Misra said, “The contracts entered into by the appellants with MTC cannot be sustained and they are accordingly annulled. It is directed that MTC shall take over the management of the bus shelters forthwith and shall proceed to deal with them for all purposes by taking recourse to procedure of tender or auction which should be fair and transparent. The appellants shall pay a cost of Rs. 5 lakh each to the Corporation within a period of eight weeks from Friday.”
The Bench said, “The present batch of appeals characterises series of collusive concessions, maladroit misrepresentations, designed negotiations and infusion of fraud on financial morality; and further epitomises how statutory Corporations can cultivate the proclivity to give indecent burial to their interests, which is fundamentally collective interest that the Corporations are duty bound to protect, preserve and assert for. It is clear as a noon day that MTC, a wing of the State transport department, transgressed its powers, and we are inclined to think deliberately. When a power had not been conferred on MTC to do so and it exercises that power under the cloak of a power conferred, it really paved the path of deviance. The appellants could not have legitimately entered into a settlement with MTC. It could not have entered into an agreement with the State undertaking.”
The Bench also said, “A public authority like MTC is not supposed to enter into this kind of private negotiations without calling for a tender, especially while entering into a contract for the purpose of providing bus shelters. It is well settled in law that wherever a contract is to be awarded or a licence is sought to be given, it is obligatory on the part of the public authority to adopt a transparent and fair method.”
Kalaignar, the five-time Chief Minister, said the Supreme Court could not pass much worse comments about the state of TN Transport department. Though a charge was leveled against the same Minister with evidence, due to some ‘reasons’, either the former or the present Chief Minister did not pay any heed.
‘Advisor’ regime: Asked about the continuing practice of posting ‘advisors’, Kalaignar sarcastically said that there was a Chief Minister for the State above whom there was on ‘Advisor’ in the name of ‘People’s Chief Minister’, an ‘Advisor’ each above the Chief Secretary and the DGP.
Now another advisor has been posted. This time, the post has been created in the Water Resources Organisation of the Public Works Department (PWD). R. Emaraj, former chief engineer and engineer-in-chief of the WRO, has been appointed for the post.
 Emaraj, who retired from service last month, will hold the post for one year. An order to this effect was issued recently, an official says, adding that the latest instance is not an extension of service.
About seven months ago, R. Gopalakrishnan, former Chief Engineer in charge of the buildings wing of the PWD, completed two years of extended service.
At present, there are two advisers in the State government, both of whom retired from service. Sheela Balakrishnan belonged to Indian Administrative Service and functioned as Chief Secretary, while K. Ramanujam was from the Indian Police Service and a former Director General of Police.
Kalaignar said the appointment of Emaraj had been made at a time when many of his juniors were expecting to be posted to the post hitherto held by the official. Administrative section had been assigned to him. The reason for his posting is said to be that he is a close relative of Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam. He is also said to be an expert in ‘handling’ the department, he said sarcastically. It was said that as no one was posted as Chief Engineer for Water Resources Organisation, tenders could not be issued for development works for Rs.500 crore, Kalaignar said.

No entry for Monster on prowl in Periyar’s land!

Veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani has hailed the Aamir Khan starrer film PK as a wonderful and courageous film. Advani, who recently watched the film, says that everyone should watch it.
“Hearty greetings to (director) Rajkumar Hirani and (producer) Vidhu Vinodh Chopra,” he said. “We are fortunate to have been born in a vast and variegated country like India. This however casts on all patriots a duty to ensure that nothing weakens the unity of the country-neither caste not community not language nor religion,” he added.
Even as wisdom at last seemed to have dawned on the originator of the infamous ‘Rath Yatra’ which preceded ‘Kar Seva’, ‘Silanyas’ etc., culminating in the barbaric act of demolition of the Babri Masji in Ayodya, thus catapulting the communal forces to power at the Centre and in various States, the multi-headed monster of communalism that he incited, wittingly or unwittingly, is still prowling around in search of prey and unstoppable.
In the land of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saffron outfits led by Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Dec 29 disrupted the screening of Aamir Khan-starrer `PK’ at various places, demanding that objectionable scenes “insulting“ Hindu deities and rituals be deleted from the film, just in less than one week after BJP’s senior-most politician L K Advani had praised `PK’ as a “wonderful and courageous film“.
In Ahmedabad, protests turned violent as over 50 Bajrang Dal activists stormed and vandalised two theaters.
Saffron outfits led by Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad disrupted the screening of Aamir Khan-starrer ‘PK’ at various places demanding that objectionable scenes “insulting” Hindu deities and rituals be deleted from the film.
In Ahmedabad, protests went violent as over 50 Bajrang Dal activists stormed and vandalised two theaters, Shiv and City Gold multiplex.
Miscreants burned posters outside Milan cinema in Surendranagar, where the film was being screened, and forced a shutdown of the movie hall for the day. In Rajkot, saffron activists hit the streets against the film.
Elsewhere in Bhopal, Sangh Parivar activists raised slogans against Aamir Khan and jostled with cops outside Jyoti talkies in Bhopal. Bajrang Dal and VHP have given a 24-hour ultimatum to the film’s producers for removing “anti-Hindu” scenes. “It has become a habit with Bollywood to hurt the sentiments of Hindus. They insult our gods and show our spiritual gurus as villains. Why don’t they make a film based on Imam Bukhari and his anti-national statements?” asked VHP-Bajrang Dal spokesman for central India Devendra Rawat.
In Delhi, police said they had beefed up security around several theatres on Dec 29 after violent protests at Rivoli cinema in Connaught Place on Dec 28 when miscreants smashed the theatre’s window panes. The Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, in news for its campaign to install Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse’s bust at different places, demanded a total ban on the film. “PK appeases Muslims and insults Hindus. The film promotes love jihad,” said Mahasabha general secretary Munna Kumar Sharma in a statement. Reports of protests and disruption poured in from Kanpur, Allahabad and Agra in UP.
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali too has demanded that the censor board remove objectionable scenes so that communal harmony is not disturbed.
In Mumbai, Bajrang Dal-VHP workers held protests at 18 locations in Andheri, Ghatkopar and Sion on Sunday. However, the organisations are neither demanding that theatres stop screening nor that the film be banned. Not yet, at least.
The protesters broke windowpanes of ticket counters, tore posters of the film and ransacked the theatre’s offices. Eyewitnesses said the vandalism continued for about half-an-hour. The activists claimed they had resorted to aggressive methods when multiplex and theater-owners refused to stop showing the movie. They also threatened to intensify their protest if the film shows continue.
In Surendranagar and Rajkot, too, activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal came out on the streets to protest against the movie for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments. They burnt the posters of the film.
In Surendranagar, the VHP activists forced Milan Cinema Hall to shut down for the day. They reached the hall while the film was being screened and burnt the posters amid slogan shouting.
The local arm of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad of Mumbai held demonstrations against the film ‘PK’ at 18 locations in the city on Dec 28. They claimed they were neither demanding that theatres stop screenings nor that the film be banned but, notwithstanding their claims, at least one cinema hall pulled out the film.  Matterden (erstwhile Deepak Talkies) in Parel pulled the film from its theatre after protests erupted outside its compound. Employees locked the gates on Dec 29 evening while police stood guard outside. Owner Punit Shah was not available for comment.
In an editorial on Dec 30 under the heading ‘Don’t ban Creativity’, the daily ‘The Times of India’ correctly stated: “A is for aliens, B is for bans. If aliens arrived in India, would they find bans a defining feature of our culture? It’s paradoxical. While our populous diversity engenders rich cultural production, it has become extraordinarily fashionable to discover hurt to one’s sentiments and ban any cultural product not to one’s liking through intimidation. If the Censor Board clears a film, attempts to ban it thereafter are unlawful. This is as it should be. Given the amount of work that goes into making a movie and risks associated with producing it, India’s brilliantly successful movie industry will die an early death if any self-appointed censor is allowed to thwart screenings.
PK, featuring Aamir Khan as an alien who seeks God, is a good example of how Indians at large are far more tolerant than the select few who claim to speak for them. It’s become the most watched film of 2014. However, some self-proclaimed religious spokespersons have taken umbrage. Criticising, being angry is their prerogative. Vandalising theatres, violently intimidating audiences and filmmakers is not. When protests escalate into crimes, government must step in and punish the guilty.
Bollywood’s biggest hit of the year so far, Kick, grossed Rs 233 crore. PK has closed in on that figure after just its second weekend. That’s the voice of a massive audience. Yet Hindutva bullies from Ahmedabad to Bhopal are trying to silence it. Are these elements feeling especially emboldened in BJP-ruled states? An India that tells Pakistan not to be selective in its fight against terror cannot afford to be selective in its own implementation of law and order, winking at goons with the right political connections. That, after all, is exactly what Pakistan does”.
But such incidents of communal intolerance had been occurring regularly in the northern and western India for the last two decades since Advani ventured on his Rath Yatra.
Internationally acclaimed painter of India, M.F.Hussain was ‘exiled’ by Hindutva forces only to ultimately die in a foreign country away from his beloved nation. Then they targeted films, creative works of many leading writers and artists, boys and girls celebrating Valentine Day etc.,
But now the multi-headed monster of communalism is trying to rear its head in Tamil Nadu, the land of Thanthai Periyar and Arignar Anna, where social reformist and progressive works in art and literature have flourished with the patronage of people.
Alleging that Tamil writer Perumal Murugan’s novel Madhorubhagan has portrayed the Kailasanathar temple in Tiruchengode and women devotees in bad light, the BJP, RSS and other Hindu outfits demanded its ban and the arrest of the author. They burnt copies of the book on Dec 26 at Tiruchengode.
The book has also been translated and published in English as One Part Woman by Penguin India and it had already seen two editions.
Murugan, an author of seven novels and a dictionary of dialects of the Kongu (western) region of Tamil Nadu, has filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police seeking protection for him and his family members. “In the last 20 days I have been receiving calls abusing me. It has disturbed me a lot. On Thursday, a group of people visited my house and wanted a copy of the book,” Murugan, who works as a Tamil Professor at the Government Arts College in Namakkal told newspersons.
The novel, Madhorubagan, Tamil equivalent of Ardhanareeswarar, symbolising the unity of Shiva and Shakti, the presiding deity of Tiruchengodu temple, revolves around a childless couple Kali and his wife Ponna.
Their predicament is discussed in the backdrop of the “traditional free, consensual sex rituals” held once in a year during the car festival of the temple in the past.
Kali, the protagonist, resists attempts to allow his wife to participate in the ritual, but in the end he is shattered after he finds her missing from home.
Kannan, the publisher of Kalachuvaudu , the Tamil publishing house which also brings out a literary magazine by that name and had published the book in 2010, said though many communities in Tamil Nadu were embarrassed by certain aspects of their history and culture that could not fit in with their present day middleclass values, no creative writer could obey the dictums of ‘fascist forces’.
“Kalachuvadu will stand by Perumal Murugan. Tamil intellectuals must get together and face this challenge,” said Kannan.
On Dec 26, more than 50 cadres, led by Tiruchengode town RSS president Mahalingam, raised slogans and tried to take out a march from the foothills of the temple to the police station. But they were stopped by Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramasamy, who asked them to prefer a complaint with the local police station. 
While initially their attempt to burn copies of the book was thwarted by the police, they later succeeded in doing so in front of the local police station.
In their petition the BJP, RSS and other Hindu outfits had said that in many pages the author had denigrated Lord Shiva and the women devotees who visited the temple during the car festival.
They also specifically cited that the narratives in pages, 87, 116, 117, 118, 129 and 172 of the book were in bad taste. They demanded the arrest of both the author and publisher.
However, political parties and writers have rallied behind Tamil writer Perumal Murugan, who is under attack from the BJP and other Hindu outfits, for what they call the denigration of Lord Shiva and women devotees in his novel Madhorubhagan.
The Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artistes Association (TNPWAA) on Dec 27 organised a demonstration here, in which senior writers participated to express solidarity with  Murugan.
TNPWAA general secretary Su. Venkatesan and president Tamilselvan alleged that the Sangh Parivar had sought to turn people of a particular area against a writer, hailing from the region. “Any attack on creative works and authors will only turn the clock back. Madhorubhagan deals with human relations in the backdrop of an age-old practice in a part of Tamil Nadu. It cannot be construed as an insult to women or religion,” they said and alleged that these kind of activities were on the rise after the BJP assumed office at Centre.
While CPI(M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan spoke to  Murugan and expressed solidarity, Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, in a statement, said the demand for a ban on the novel was part of a larger design of the Sangh Parivar to convert Tamil Nadu into a land of clashes.
At a press conference, TNCC president EVKS Elangovan said: “Such actions violate the fundamental right of expression. Artistic right to express should not be stifled.”
 Ramakrishnan wondered why the BJP and its offshoots wanted to ban a novel published in 2010. “No one can suppress the freedom of expression. I told  Murugan that my party will stand by him,” he said.
 Alleging that the Sangh Parivar was emboldened to act as the cultural police after the BJP assumed power at the Centre, he urged the State government to provide adequate security for the writer and his family.
 Thirumavalavan said the Sangh Parivar had no right to interfere with the creativity of a writer, who had portrayed a tradition that was in vogue many years ago.
There are more than 50 shades of Hindutva forces virulently functioning after the BJP came to power at the Centre especially with Prime Minister Narendra Modi preferring not to openly denounce their activities. However, the multi-headed monster of communalism will not be allowed smooth entry into this land of Thanthai Periyar and Arignar Anna and polarize the society on communal divide.  r

Typical of Fascism!

Commenting on the reckless handling of the strike by transport workers in the State by the ADMK regime, CITU Tamil Nadu leader A.Soundararajan MLA said for ending the struggle the doors of talks should be opened and not the doors of prisons. He accused the ADMK government of following Fascist principles and adopting oppressive methods.
What is typical of Fascism?
Many Indian researchers do believe that it was Thomas Macaulay, a pioneer of English education in India who proposed the idea of a typical Goebbelsian lie. In one of his addresses to British Assembly, he said that Indians are fools and we can easily play with their emotions with one simple rule. “Repeat a lie a thousand times and it becomes the truth”
Whether Thomas Macaulay was using this concept or not is a subject of debate. However, there is no doubt that Joseph Goebbels used this to arrange one of the anarchist campaigns of Nazi propaganda history. Goebbels believed that with constant repetition of ideas we can make people believe it, no matter whether the idea is a truth or not. He used this concept to make Germans believe that it is only Hitler who could save them from the worst conditions of their life. So also, the ADMK minions keep trying to use this concept to make people of Tamil Nadu believe that Jayalalitha is god-sent alleviator who could only save them from their worst conditions of their life. 
Now, in the absence of Jayalalitha at the secretariat but admittedly guided by her, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam is adopting the same Fascist method of repeating many times to make it appear like truth, in handling the strike by State transport workers.
The State Transport Employees Federation moved the High Court for selecting trade unions for negotiations through secret ballot in STCs. As a result of the verdict in that case, union recognition election was conducted, in which securing 57 percent votes of workers (75,432) LPF union was recognized as the sole bargaining union for negotiations. Vide the High Court verdict, GO was issued for this recognition for five years up to October 2015. But after the ADMK came to power, it refused to invite and talk to LPF union. As the wage settlement ended with 31.8.2013 and new settlement had to be reached from 1.9.2013, demands were placed and asked for talks the administration did not invite for talks during the last 15 months.
The ADMK union moved the court for inviting them also for talks as they had received 12 percent votes, but no interim stay was ordered on the plea. Besides not inviting the sole bargaining union of the LPF for talks due to political animosity, the ADMK regime was spreading a false news the LPF had filed some case. In order to break the stalemate in the interests of wokers DMK President Kalaignar suggested to functionaries of LPF to call all trade unions for consultation, jointly place demands and see whether the regime came forward for talks at least then.
Accordingly, all trade unions joined together and invited the ADMK union also for preparing common demand, but the ruling party union rejected the plea. Hence all unions other than that of the ruling party submitted demands and asked the government to hold talks. But the regime again lied of a pending case and delayed. Hence all trade union jointly conducted a conference at Tiruchi on Dec 2 participated by 30,000 workers and according to the decision taken there issued strike notice signed by all to the management on Dec 5. But the management ignored and heroically claimed that the ADMK union had membership of 95,000 and hence they would defeat the strike.
Without inviting trade union representatives for talks on demands, the Chief Minister once again told a lie in the Assembly on 8.12.2014 that a case was pending in the court and announced an interim relief of Rs. 1,000 from 1.1.2015. Incensed by this announcement, gheraoed regional offices of STCs on 9.12.2014 and agitated.
Even after the strike was forced on the workers due to the indifferent attitude of the regime and people of the State were put into untold sufferings and difficulties, the Chief Minister and the ADMK regime remained reticent. It was highly condemnable that the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister had allowed the situation to reach this level failing to find a solution at the appropriate time realizing the difficulties over two crore people who voted them to power would have to undergo daily. 
The government, meanwhile, insisted that it could not invite all the trade unions for talks unless the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), which has got the sole bargaining agent power, submitted a petition in the High Court stating that it does not mind inviting other unions for talks.
LPF general secretary M. Shanmugam countered the government’s argument. “In 2010, we were elected the sole bargaining agent, by winning majority of votes through secret ballot system. We are in power till October 2015. All of a sudden the transport officials say we do not have sufficient votes now and cannot be the sole bargaining agent,” he said, giving the background to the present impasse.
“The problem is now the government wants a no-objection letter from us. Subsequently, the officials said they will consult the Law Department and inform us on the talks by January end. Why should we wait more as it is already 15 months,” Shanmugam asks.
He said they have no objection to the government holding discussions with other unions and this has been given in writing to the other unions. A. Soundararajan, general secretary, CITU, admitted that the LPF had no objection in other unions being part of the discussion. “We had clarified this with the LPF as they are the sole bargaining agent,” he said.
Even on the third day of the strike on Dec 30, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam repeated the lie that at present, a case was pending before the Supreme Court over the recognition of the LPF as the sole bargaining agent. Referring to the case, the Chief Minister said if the LPF agreed to file a petition before the Supreme Court “that the ADMK-affiliated ATP ‘constituted the majority of the workforce in transport corporations, this would facilitate negotiations with the striking trade unions”.
Reacting to the proposal LPF general secretary M. Shanmugam said, “Is it not ridiculous? Why should I go to the court when my union has been granted recognition for five years?” He contended that his organisation had made suggestions on how to resolve the legal impediment, if at all any.
Panneerselvam wondered how it would be possible to hold talks on wage revision when the matter was sub judice.
The same question was asked by the benami ADMK MLA (of RPI) Se.Ku.Tamilarasan in a debate on a television channel and he asked why could not a secret ballot be conducted now to ascertain the strength of the unions as the workers ‘had lost faith in the LPF’. The LPF leader Shanmugam countered him saying “You have been elected as MLA for five years. If somebody files a petition in the court saying that the people of your constituency had lost faith in you and ask for re-election, will you step down”. The benami ruling party MLA had no answer.
The truth is that the ADMK union had filed a petition in the court but no stay had been granted by the court to the operation of the earlier verdict. The motive of the ADMK regime is to prolong the time and thereby revert back to their original move of making the duration of wage settlement for five years from three years. Due to their political animosity they were resorting to all these Fascist methods of lying repeatedly and resorting to mindless suppression of the rights of workers. 

Happy New Year : Prof. A.Ayyasamy

Or, is it new year? How far are we right in calling it new year? Is it new year for Europe, all right, but should we call it new year at all? Don’t  we have our own new year on January 14th? How can any people have two new years?
Those who raise such questions are there, no doubt, but they are very, very few in number – less than ten per cent of people. Well, we have been used to the European calendar for almost two centuries now that it is difficult for us to give up the practice.
The government follows the European calendar for all its purposes, and so do all public sector undertakings. All the private undertakings follow suit. Though the government has announced ‘sakha year’, it is seldom practised. Tamil Nadu has announced Tiruvalluvar Era and it is printed in the calendars and government invitations. Yet, it is the European months which are remembered by people.
Even in the nineteenth century, when people were following the Tamil year and the Tamil calendar, the European year and the date were inscribed side by side with it. We can see this in all the documents produced in the period. The name of the Tamil year, month and the date were followed by the European date in the abbreviated form.
Even that practice was given the go by in mid-twentieth century, when only the date as per the European calendar was written in communications, except on ceremonial occasions.
Britishers used to celebrate new year as a gala occasion, but it was not in any way akin to the free for all of the modern days. It was a ceremonial affair, with the victorian formality, though there was no dearth of fun and merriment. In Delhi and other provincial capitals, the white officials accompanied by their spouses gathered in banquet halls which adored all big cities. The elite among the natives, those who were all able to get themselves close to the British officials, were also invited to such parties. The natives, though proud of the privilege shown to them, could seldom feel at home on such occasions. They seemed to have felt rather uneasy and self-conscious and sat with a feeling of outsiders peeping into a third person’s private affair. They enjoyed the drinks served, though. Even drinking was a formal affair, as they started with a toast for the Empire followed by the Emperor, the Viceroy and so on. This was followed by dancing, in which the officials and their consorts participated, the Indians watching self-consciously.
But to those who had nothing to do with the officials, new year meant nothing, except, perhaps, the holiday. The Indian public never celebrated the new year until the third quarter of the twentieth century.
Of course, we cannot say that the new year meant nothing to us, since it was the European calendar which was followed everywhere. Calendars and diaries were printed only according to the European calendar. Of course our daily sheet calendars displayed the European month and date prominently, but it also shows the Tamil date and the Islamic date. It also displays information regarding the star of the day and the phase of the moon and information regarding various festivals. This tradition is being followed till date.
We have no idea how prevalent the habit of maintaining a diary was among our people prior to the British era, except that the Moghul rulers have kept meticulous records of what transpired on a day to day basis. But, following the Britishers, many of our own men of prominence have cultivated the habit of maintaining diaries, some of which have become useful chronicle in understanding the social milieu of the day.
But such people are very few. It is easy to start writing the diary but it is difficult to continue to habit, which I have discovered to my own chagrin. Try however hard I might, I could never proceed beyond February. I believe only people with certain bent of mind can keep diaries.
Then why is it that people hunt for diaries? Even before the new year, people start hunting for calendars and diaries. There are people who display all the calendars, one beside the other. And go to any house, you can find at least half a dozen unused diaries. Still, they will not stop collecting them. When anyone offers a diary to me, I refuse with all politeness saying that I do not want a diary to be wasted. If at all I get one, I use it as a scrapbook. I required one or two of them while I was working but after that I have no use for them.
Coming to the celebration of new year, I do not remember to have any celebration till the second half of the last century. Of course there was the holiday to celebrate, with movies being released. More than that, there was little to do on the day.
Greeting cards were unknown. The custom of sending Pongal greetings was started by the Dravidian movement and it caught on with people vying with each other in sending greetings on the occasion. It was only after that the custom of sending greetings caught on. Now printing greeting cards has become a lucrative industry.
Special pujas were performed in the temples of Chennai. Outside Chennai new year was not such an important affair. Slowly the habit has spread to the district centres too. According to our anthropomorphic tradition of worship, the deity in all temples retire somewhere between 9 and 10.30 PM and get ready for the dawn worship after about 5 AM, both the occasions ritualistically observed with special hymns. No one will open the temple in between. Now even this age old tradition is changed and special midnight worship is conducted on the new year’s day.
As per our tradition, the day starts at sunrise and we have nothing to do with midnight. But nowadays even God Almighty seems to have changed his routine and is keeping a midnight vigil on the new year’s day.
Side by side with it, midnight revelry too has been going on, with drinking and dancing and youngsters racing in their two wheelers, menacing everyone.
Whether one accepts it or not, one has to take it as a reality. New year has come to stay with us, along with rituals designed for the occasion. Happy new year to everyone, let this year bring the much needed harmony into our families and the society at large.    r

“Only if a govt. properly functioned issues of people will be attended”

Explaining the demands of sugarcane growers and workers of sugar mills in the State over which they had been agitating for some time now, DMK President Kalaignar said that neither the Chief Minister nor Ministers nor officials seemed to be concerned by their plight. Only if a government properly functioned the issues of people would be attended, he observed.
In a statement on Dec 29, Kalaignar said even after three months of the beginning of sugarcane crushing season of 2014-15, the ADMK regime has not so far announced support price for sugarcane for this year so far, worrying the growers. The functionaries of farmers associations had given vent to their anxiety stating, ‘During the DMK rule, tripartite meetings presided over by the Agriculture Minister were held and fair price acceptable to growers and mill managements were fixed, but since the ADMK regime came into being such meetings were not conducted’.
In Tamil Nadu, there were 27 private 13 cooperative and two public sector sugar mills and three lakh farmers were engaged in sugarcane cultivation over 8.6 lakh acres. Last year, the Central and State governments announced procurement price of sugarcane at Rs.2,650 per ton from which transport charges of Rs.100 was recovered. The growers complained that the price was not remunerative for them. During DMK rule, the price was increased to Rs.2,000 per ton in 2010-11 from Rs. 1014 fixed by ADMK regime in 2005-06.
But in this anti-democratic regime there was no place for tripartite meetings and procurement price was fixed unilaterally. This year as the advisory price of the State government was not announced even after three months of crushing season, the previous price of Rs. 2,550 per tonne only was paid. Private mills were paying only between Rs. 2,300 and Rs. 2,400. There were reports now that the Director of Sugars of the State government has sent letters to sugar mills to pay Rs 2,200 per tonne as announced by the Centre, which was objected to by growers association, saying that the reduction by Rs.450 from the already paid price of Rs.2,650 was like adding fuel to fire, particularly when fertilizer expenses, pesticides and workers’ wages had severely increased. They wanted the order of the director to be rescinded because it was favouring private mills and the procurement price should be fixed at Rs 3,500 per tonne this year. They had threatened to start agitations in front of sugar mills if fair price was not announced by convening tripartite meeting. Moreover, in many places the arrears for sugarcane procured for the crushing season of 2013-14 was still not disbursed.
Hence Kalaignar urged the ADMK regime to immediately convene tripartite meeting, fix the State’s advisory price not less than Rs.3,500 and take urgent steps for the disbursal of arrears of Rs.200 crore to farmers.
The workers of public sector and cooperative sugar mills were on stirs since November 9 demanding wage revision. Due to their agitation, crushing work in these mills was affected in turn affecting farmers of different districts also.
But the Chief Minister or Ministers or officials  did not seem to be concerned over these problems of sugarcane growers and workers of sugar mills, Kalaignar said adding only if a government properly functioned, there would be interest in solving the issues of people then and there.

“Let’s unite and work for redeeming TN from setbacks and take it on the path of progress” - Kalaignar’s New Year greetings to people of the State

Regretting that due to the hasty action of the Tamil society during the last Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Tamil Nadu lagged behind in all respects at the national level, DMK President Kalaignar greeted the people of the State with the firm hope that the new year 2015 would pave way for all of us to unite in the field and work for getting rid of this sorrow, redeem the State from the present setbacks and take it forward on the path of progress.
In his new year greetings message issued on Dec 31, Kalaignar said the year 2014 established the dictum ‘All are equal before law’ by the Bengaluru special court by exposing the damages done to Tamil Nadu politics by those who wore lies as their ornaments and awarding suitable punishment.
As the 2014 which created a change at the Centre faded, 2015 dawned for people waiting for novel developments. Even after three years of people voting in expectation of change, annoyance had not reduced. There is honesty of fulfilling promises. No power! But the power tariff was hike twice. Bus fare hike shocked us. Milk price hike was cruel. Right from salt the prices of every food article was sky rocketing. No new industry and incapable of protecting existing industries. The life of working class is continuing struggle. For the agitating transport workers prisons are the prizes. Due to authoritarian action confusion prevailed everywhere and in everything. Still they were not interested to clarifying anything. If the dailies and opposition parties pointed out case were filed.
Than evincing interest in development works, the Central government was keen on showing interest in rabble rousing politics of domination like  Sanskrit week in schools, Hindi in social media of government departments, movement of ‘Hindutva’ trampling under feet the principle of secularism,  and not preventing Karnataka from constructing two dams across Cauvery at Mekedatu affecting Tamil Nadu, harming TN by giving approval for Kerala to carry our environmental study for constructing new dam in spite of the Supreme Court declining in Mullaiperiyar issue, betraying Tamil race by wishing victory for war criminal who massacred Tamils, Rajapaksa in the Presidential election in Sri Lanka- 2014 was moving after registering intolerable cruelties against TN, Tamils’ interest and progress, Kalaignar said.  
As the Tamil society hastened without analyzing the good and bad during the periods of the last Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, all should think over the distress of Tamil Nadu lagging behind at the national level in all respects like basic infrastructure, people’s welfare works, production and industrial development and the anti-democratic and anti-people atrocities mounting with every passing day. Kalaignar greeted the people of the State with the firm hope that the new year 2015 would ‘pave way for all of us to unite in the field and work for getting rid of this sorrow, redeem the State from the present setbacks and take it forward on the path of progress’.

Crossing many hurdles, come to carry out this continuing work! - Kalaignar’s epistle to cadre on party elections

Dear brothers and sisters,
Our party’s 14th general election have been gradually completed beginning with branch secretaries to district party secretaries, democratically and at the same time with competing sense for serving. Next, the dates for elections for district party secretaries have been announced. Our party is not the one only announcing district secretaries for respective districts in nomination method. From the founding of the party so far 13 general elections were conducted, i.e. 13th general election was conducted on December 27, 2008, and now 14th general election is being held. The DMK is not the ruling party now. But do you know to what extent there is competition among party cadre for serving the party?
In this 14th organisational election the party membership is 84,36,744. As I already wrote once, between the 13th general election and 14th general election being held now, some changes have been made in the party’s organisational set up. In particular, in the 13th party organisational election there were 36 district party units including Madurai and Coimbatore city units. These districts have now been divided into 65 district units for administrative convenience. Similarly, instead of 392 union parry units already existed now they have been split into 578 union party units. Moreover, town units- 129, area units 97, town panchayat units 538, ward units 1,12,247 are there. Among them city wards 820, town panchayat wards 8,397, town wards 3,735,panchayat wards 99,295 in 12,514 panchayats. Among them elections for panchayat wards, town wards, town panchayat wards, unions and towns have been completed. Elections are being held in city wards.
It taken at all India level, I do not know any other party than DMK properly distributing membership cards to members, and conducting elections from lower to top levels on that basis. There are chances for the rising of some problems in one or two places in elections thus held democratically and scientifically. It has come to my notice that such minor problems arose in some places in this 14th organisational elections. Those complaints could have been given due to animosity for either district party secretaries or party headquarters commissioners. Or as their faction was defeated in the election held such complaints could have been given. It is natural that contests are there in a democratic movement. That too in a great party like the DMK, it is understandable that many want to come to one position. But that contest should be held only fairly, healthily and according to democratic norms and should not be in a wrong manner irresponsibly creating animosity.
I have already reminded the moving speech of Arignar Anna at a meeting in Chennai beach on 26.9.1960-
“The DMK is not only a political party; this is a social reform movement. It is not that among all those involved in it, who should be where; it is also not important as to who should assume responsibility at what time; everyone assuming on responsibility is like the war cantonment in this movement. If enemies try to sneak in they will be crushed in between our closeness. The DMK is only an organisation for everyone to serve from one place, and if others think that there were disparities and animosities among us, it should be only said that they have not understood the history of our growth. We could eat in only one plantain leaf; it was only because womb of one mother could not bear so many children that we were not born to one mother!”
Everyone who contest in elections, winning, losing winning chance, and the party comrades who vote for them should not forget these words of Anna.
At a time when the elections for district party secretaries has been announced and arrangements for them are being made, those who contest should bear one thing in mind. That is when we faced very big defeat in the last Lok Sabha elections, one of the reasons among them as written by dailies was the behaviour of some district secretaries, that too those who were in Ministerial positions. Why, they wrote that it was because some district party secretaries running the party as their personal fiefdom. If it were other parties, without any enquiry those against whom complaints were made could be immediately removed and announced. But, is not the DMK following duty, dignity and discipline?  Has it not removed autocratic method and safeguarding democracy? Hence, me, General Secretary Perasiriyar and Treasurer brother M.K.Stalin have spoken several times as to how to conduct this election. We have discussed as to how to run the DMK in future. Day and night my thinking is only how to consolidate and protect the party, how to develop and what to do for strengthening the party! If the party’s functioning has to be further streamlined, the wrong impression among some people that the party has been handed over to only a few has to be removed. We only thought that the pillars of district party secretaries strongly bearing the party building should not be corroded by termite. We discussed several times as to what to do for that. Among the 65 districts now, 31 are new districts.  Only new persons will be elected as district party secretaries there. Thinking over what could be done for the other 34 districts, only for that after the filing of nominations for the election of district secretaries was over, looking for former Ministers and those who had already served as district secretaries several times among them, inviting such 18 persons in person, me, General Secretary Perasiriyar and brother Stalin spoke to them. In democratically conducted district secretaries’ election, as nobody can be prevented from contesting it was arranged for getting an assurance from those who wanted to contest for the post. In that assurance it is stated,
“According to the decision that an assurance be taken from those who file nomination for the post of district party secretary, this undertaking is taken from those candidates. Those who sign this and handover to leaders, hereby assure that they will not ask for definitely contesting the next Assembly or Parliament elections or accommodate either self or family members in the posts nominated by the President”
Only after signing this undertaking that these 18 persons are contesting in the district secretary election. Against them in some districts some others have filed nominations. Against some nobody is contesting. But as far as the party is concerned, not thinking of fielding those who were Ministers or district secretaries, undertakings have been taken from them only because they should not even think of coming as legislator or Minister again.
The elections for district secretaries for the districts of Thanjavur North, Thanjavur South, Tiruchi North, Cuddalore West and Kanyakumari East at 10 a.m. on 19.12.2014 at Anna Arivalayam, for Nagapattinam North, Nagapattinam South, Coimbatore North, Coimbatore South and Kanyakumari West at 3 p.m. at Anna Arivalayam, Pudukottai North, Pudukottai South and Madurai West at 3 p.m. on the day at Royapuram Arivagam, for Tiruvarur, Karur, Theni and Dharmapuri at 10 a.m. on 21.12.2014, for Namakkal East, Namakkal West, Coimbatore city north and Coimbatore city south at 3 p.m. at Anna Arivalayam, Tiruvannamalai North, Villupuram North, Villupuram South, Tirupur North and Tirupur South at 10 a.m. on 22.12.2014 at Anna Arivalayam, for Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli East, Tirunelveli West and Tirunelveli (Central) districts at 3 p.m. on the same day at Anna Arivalayam. I wish that in these elections, without giving room for any anti-democratic actions, it must be borne in mind that they are held only under whom the party activities are to be carried out in the particular districts for the next five years.
Those who win, without thinking that they have defeated somebody, with the mentality that those who lost the winning chance are also brothers, shake hands and come to see us and behave on Anna’s affectionate, moral and peaceful way without any grudge. Those who lost winning chance also work along with the winners, get into the good books of comrades through their works and strive for winning in the next election and not develop any ill-will.
In colleges, though students compete in different teams in sports events their minds are not affected by defeats. Only sportive feeling is exhibited. Similarly my desire is that in the democratic organisational elections, no enmity is developed they should involve with the only aim of defending the principles of the movement in united manner.
Just as we fulfilled the aim of Anna when he was with us, let this 14th party general election be useful for continuing to march forward in the task we have undertaken in democratic path bearing in mind the five great slogans of ‘we will toil tirelessly on the path of Anna; establish a society sans domination; ever oppose imposition of Hindi; averting violence overcoming poverty; federalism at the Centre, autonomy in state” and maintaining discipline.
Affectionately,
M.K.

DMK works for minorities: Stalin

The DMK always strived for the welfare of the minorities, Dalits and Adivasis, party Treasurer Thalapathi M.K. Stalin said in Nagercoil on Dec 23 night.
Speaking at the 17th Christmas festival organised by the Arumanai Vattara Christian Iyakkam at Arumanai, Stalin said that the Arumanai Vattara Christian Youth Iyakkam found in 1998 was engaged in social service away from caste, communal and political affiliations. Over 600 were given welfare assistance, he said greeting the movement on behalf of the party and Kalaignar.
Stalin said that it was the DMK government that extended reservation in 1974 to SC/STs , who had converted to Christianity in education and employment. The DMK government was also responsible for the formation of Minorities Welfare Commission and Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation.
During the DMK rule in 2006-11, the opposition ADMK was dubbing it as ‘minority rule’ and Kalaignar rebuffed taking pride in telling that it was a rule for the welfare of minorities. However, the government was stable for five years. But now in the so-called majority regime of the ADMK, people were not certain as to who was the Chief Minister.
Stalin strongly opposed the move to wind up the self-help group movement, which was introduced in 1989 by the DMK government and was a big success among women.
During the previous two terms (1996-2001 and 2006-2011) of DMK rule, Tamil Nadu saw unprecedented investment in manufacturing, services and infrastructure sectors. Industry was given total support and ensured they faced no hurdles in conducting or expanding their business. This resulted in a massive growth in employment opportunities and revenue for the State.
Today companies like Nokia and Foxconn were closing down and leaving citing lack of government support for continuation of business. Tamil Nadu which could have been one of the largest global hubs for manufacture of electronic components has lost the opportunity thanks to a non-functioning government that has no vision or direction. The dreams of millions of youth lie shattered because of an indifferent government that seems to have forgotten that it owes its first and only allegiance to the people who voted for it.

N. Devaraj, president, Arumanai Vattara Christian Iyakkam, presided.Ezra Sargunam of Ecumenical Church of India, Kanyakumari CSI Bishop Deva Kadatcham, Kottar Bishop Peter Remigious, Marthandam Bishop Vincent Mar Poulos and Thuckalay Bishop Mar George offered felicitations.
Congress MLA S. Vijayadharini representing Vilavancode, DMK MLA Pushpa Leela Alban of Padmanabhapuram constituency, former DMK MP J. Helen Davidson were among others participated.
DMK Treasurer Thalapathi M.K. Stalin participated in the 17th Christmas festival organised by the Christian Associations at Arumanai in Kanyakumari district on Dec 23 and distributed welfare assistance.
The Christian Associations in Arumanai used to invite political leaders for the function every year.
Earlier, Stalin reached Kuzhithurai on Dec 23 evening.
He was accorded a warm welcome by party cadre at Kaliyakavilai on the State border.
Stalin arrived at Arumanai to witness the Christmas rally organised by the associations.
District DMK secretary and former Minister N. Sureshrajan, district in-charge Mano Thangaraj, Bishop Esra Sargunam, Inigo Irudhayaraj, Padmanabhapuram MLA Dr. Pushpa Leela Alban, former MP J. Helen Davidson and others participated.

Thanthai Periyar

About Myself
v I express, plainly and openly, thoughts which occur to me, and which strike me as right. This may embarrass a few; to some this may be distasteful; and a few others may even be irritated; however, all that I utter are proven truths and not lies.
v Not that all the people of the world should act according to my wish, but that come what may, surely in politics and in public life, human justice alone not justice as prescribed by any epoch or religion. Should be imposed; such is my desire.
v As far as I am concerned, I was never a partyman. I have always been a man of principles.
v Till the end of my life, I shall never canvas for a vote. I shall not even expect a word of praise from any quarter.
v I am under no necessity to permanently support anyone for gaining selfish ends. I see no wrong at all in supporting that person who does good to us, Who strives for the removal of our social degradation even if he is a foreigner.
Rationalism
v Why is it that a foreigner is required to find out the hieght of Himalays, while we claim to have discovered the Seven Worlds, above and the Seven more below; why is that when we claim to have the ebility expound Lord Nataraja’s Cosmic Dance, the construction of this simple loud speaker in front of us is an enigma; we should really contemplate on these aspects. You should come forward to use reason to enlarge your general knowledege.
v Man is considered superior to other beings in this world, because he has limitless capacity for knowledge, People in other lands have advanced greatly, utilizing this knowledge. But our countrymen owing to lack of use of this knowledge, are abjectly deteriorating. Stating that ours is a land of enlightenment, we build tanks and temples; in other lands, men fly in space and amaze the whole world.
v What we need today is growth of knowledge, in order to advance in every field. Knowledge should have its sway.
v It is through rationality that man’s longevity has been increased and his mortality has been significantly reduced.
Self-Respect
v We are fit to think of `Self-Respect’ only when the notion of superior ans inferior caste is banished from our land.
v He who does not care for dignity, is no better than to a prostitute, however highly educated he is. His education will only endanger those that care for dignity.
v The aim of genuine Self-respect movement is to change whatever appears to be adverse to man’s feelings of self-respect.
v Man must remove by himself his feelings of inferiority, the feeling that he is lesser born than other beings, and attain self-confidence and self-respect.
v Man must hold his personal respect and dignity as precious as his life.
You Decide for Yourselves
v Decide for yourselves as to what you should think of those who say there is God, that He is a the Preserver of Justice and that He is the Protector of All, even after seeing that the practice of untouchability in the form of man being banned from human sight and contact, from walking into the streets, from entering the temples and drawing water from a tank, is rampant in the land and yet that land is spared from being razed by an earthquake, burnt by the fiery lava of a volcano, engulfed in a deluge from the ocean, submerged in the chasm of the earth, or fragmented by thunder-storm.

Rajapaksa dons double role: Kalaignar

Referring to the report of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who faces elections in a fortnight, promising to initiate a transparent, judicial inquiry probing allegations of war crimes against the Sri Lankan army, DMK President Kalaignar said that it was a ploy by him for getting the votes of Tamils in the Presidential election slated to be held on January 8 and having all along stubbornly rejecting such probe demand from all over the world, it was nothing by donning double role by Rajapaksa.
In a statement on Dec 25, Kalaignar said Rajapaksa announced Presidential election on Nov 20 following which the dates for filing nominations and the polling were announced. An amendment also was made to the Sri Lankan Constitution for amending the restriction for contesting only twice. Though 19 had filed nominations the contest was mainly between the two belonging to the main political parties of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s  United People’s Freedom Alliance’s candidate Rajapaksa and the opposition United People’s Freedom Alliance’s candidate Maithripala Sirisena, supported by Ranil Vikramasinghe and Chadrika Kumaranatunga. The election symbol of Rajapaksa was ‘betal leaf’ and that of Sirisena ‘swan’.
Instead of India maintaining neutrality in this election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished victory for Rajapaksa, raising storm of protests all over the country. Sirisena was Health Minister in Rajapaksa government till last month and some more Ministers had extended support to him thereby removed by Rajapaksa. Moreover, it is said that former Sri Lankan Commerce and Industries Minsiter Rishad Badiyudeen and All Ceylon Congress Party M.P. Amir Ali would campaign in support of Sirisena.
Sri Lankan Tamils were contemplating to vote for whom to protect their lives and Rajapaksa has come forward to offer some new promises to garner the votes of Tamils. Rajapaksa, who faces elections in a fortnight, promised to initiate a transparent, judicial inquiry probing allegations of war crimes against the Sri Lankan army. He made the announcement while releasing his election manifesto. Rajapaksa, who has refused to cooperate with the ongoing U.N.-mandated probe into rights abuses, said: “If any rights have been violated [during the war], justice will be ensured through a transparent domestic judicial mechanism.”
Though during his campaign in Tamils’ areas Rajapaksa wanted them to forget the past, he has not come forward for alliance with Tamil parties. Both the main contestants fear losing majority Sinhala votes if they extended support to Tamils. Both sides have not announce any decision to help Tamils resettle in North East.
The same Rajapaksa in the past assured to implement the recommendations of LLRC report and the 13th Amendment. The TESO conducted struggles of international probe into war crimes there and his letters were handed over to the UNO in New York and UNHRC in Geneva in person by DMK Treasurer Thalapathi M.K.Stalin and former Union Minister T.R.Baalu. There were demands from many more parties in TN for an independent probe. But Rajapaksa rejected all such pleas. On the contrary, if now he offered to conduct probe for getting the votes of Tamils, it amounted to praying to sun after losing eye sight and donning double role, Kalaignar said.