1. Rahul Meets MLAs
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, 24 July, met with all of the party’s eight MLAs from Tamil Nadu.
TNCC president Su Thirunavukkarasar and National General Secretary in charge of Tamil Nadu, Mukul Wasnik, accompanied the MLAs.
The TNCC president said that the meeting lasted over 1.5 hours and added that the Congress president preferred to listen to the MLAs rather than offer advice.
Gandhi was also curious about the political developments in Tamil Nadu, especially those concerning actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Environment Ministry Report Exposes Illegality in NTECL Vallur
In what could be a serious violation of environmental laws, the 1,500 MW NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Limited (NTECL) Vallur thermal power plant is constructing a new fly ash pond using up 190 acres of biologically productive and mangrove-rich wetlands of the Ennore Creek. Various documents accessed by activists indicate that the massive ash pond was being created without obtaining mandatory environmental clearance (EC) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. OPs, Nirmala Should Resign, Says Stalin
Following Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s revelation that a military air ambulance was used to airlift his brother from a hospital in Madurai, the Leader of the Opposition and DMK’s working president MK Stalin has demanded the resignation of Panneerselvam and Union Home Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
“It is a mystery how a defence helicopter was sent for an individual’s personal requirement. In my opinion, Mr Panneerselvam, who misused the defence aircraft, and Ms Sitharaman who sent it, should both resign,” he told reporters when asked about the deputy chief minister’s statement that he was in New Delhi to thank the minister for her help.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Chennai Suburban Trains to Not Run on Fast Lines
While railway officials remain clueless about the sudden spike in accidents at the St Thomas Mount station, Chennai Divisional Railway Manager Naveen Gulati said that suburban trains including fast locals will not be operated in the fast lines until further notice. The wall, which divides platform No. 3 and 4, was built a few years ago in view of the merger of the Velachery-Beach MRTS with St Thomas Mount.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Ayanavaram Rape Accused Get Legal Aid from DSLA
After the Madras High Court Advocates Association decided that no lawyer will represent the accused in the case relating to the rape of a 11-year-old hearing impaired girl, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) has stepped in to provide legal services to the 17 accused. Sources from the DLSA revealed that they met all the accused in the prison and had taken petitions from those who were seeking legal help and wanted to defend their case.
Sources reveal that three bail applications have now been filed.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. Man, Daughter Killed as Tipper Lorry Rams Their Two-Wheeler
A man and his daughter were killed after their vehicle was knocked down by a tipper lorry in Ponneri on Tuesday morning. Police said Kasi, 50, was on his two-wheeler with daughter Anandi, 17, riding pillion, to drop her to school on Tuesday morning. “As they were passing through Ponneri, a tipper lorry hit them from behind, killing both of them on the spot,” said a police source.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
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