1. PM Modi Meets DMK Chief Karunanidhi, DMK Says It's a Courtesy Call
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met DMK supremo M Karunanidhi at the latter’s Gopalapuram residence in Chennai on Monday, 6 November. The meeting between the two leaders lasted about 20 minutes. Modi sat next to Karunanidhi and held his hands. This is their first meeting since Modi became Prime Minister in 2014. The DMK has dismissed speculation about the nature of the visit, stating that it was merely a courtesy call.
“Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) is a very senior leader in Indian politics. Modi has respect for him. They used to greet each other during meetings in Delhi and this has been the practice. This visit is simply a courtesy call,” said TKS Elangovan, Spokesperson, DMK. DMK Working President and Karunanidhi's son, MK Stalin, welcomed the prime minister at the gate and honoured him with a red shawl.
Read the full story here.
2. Kamal Haasan Confirms Launch of Party, to Release Mobile App First
Confirming his political plunge, actor Kamal Haasan on Sunday said the first step will be the launch of a mobile software app on 7 November – his 63rd birthday – that will enable him to be in touch with the fans and as well as enable book-keeping. At a function to mark the 39th anniversary of his fan/welfare club, he said his political plunge by starting a political party is confirmed. Haasan said the political party launch will happen in a calm manner and the launch of mobile app is the first step on 7 November.
He said his fans would contribute funds for the political party and the mobile app will facilitate keeping proper accounts of funds collected. According to him, there is no shame in stretching out one's hands for the welfare of the people and if only the rich pay their taxes properly, the country would be on the right path.
(Source: The Quint)
Also Read: Unboxing the Ulaganayagan Aka Kamal Haasan, on His Birthday
3. Will Continue Sketching Govt's Failures: Cartoonist Bala After Getting Bail
Tirunelveli District Court on Monday, 6 November, granted bail to cartoonist Bala, who was arrested a day earlier for his caricature on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and the Police Commissioner. Addressing the media after getting out on bail, Bala said that he will continue drawing cartoons to highlight the failures of the government. “I am also a journalist. I did not commit murder. I don’t regret this cartoon. I will continue to highlight the inefficiency of the government through my cartoons. I will continue to draw cartoons. I will not stop. From Modi to EPS, I will highlight the failures of the government,” said Bala.
The Tamil Nadu cartoonist landed in trouble with the Tirunelveli police in Tamil Nadu over a cartoon targeting the state administration over the immolation of a family hounded by loan sharks. The cartoon that has the administration fuming shows a naked Nellai police commissioner, collector and chief minister trying to cover themselves up with wads of cash, as they close their eyes to a child's burning body.
Read the full story here.
Also Read: Cartoonist Bala’s Arrest Reveals TN’s Record of Strong-Arm Tactics
4. Metrowater to Boost Supply in City as Rain Ends Scarcity
Households in Chennai may soon receive daily supply of water through pipelines, thanks to the northeast monsoon. With the rain steadily boosting the storage in city reservoirs, the Chennai Metrowater has increased water supply to 600 million litres a day, on Monday.
Though the northeast monsoon has brought intense spells of rain since early this month, the reservoirs in Chembarambakkam, Poondi, Sholavaram and Red Hills currently have only a storage of 3,185 million cubic feet (mcft) against the total capacity of 11,057 mcft. But, this is enough to reduce the water scarcity in the city for now. All the reservoirs have been getting a steady inflow of about 1,000 cusecs.
(Source: The Hindu)
Also Read: Chennai Rains: Heroes in Uniform Go Beyond The Call of Duty
5. Jallikattu: SC Sends Notice to Tamil Nadu Govt, Peta Pleas for Ban
The Supreme Court on Monday, 6 November, issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government to seek its response to PETA’s plea for a ban on Jallikattu, the state’s bull-taming sport. The court asked the state government to come up with a response within four weeks of the plea, which challenges the decision of the Tamil Nadu Assembly passing a Bill that makes the sport legal earlier this year.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly lifted the ban after a series of protests broke out in the state, which said the practice was both cultural and traditional. The state government had then claimed that the law legalising it would also ensure that various safety measures are laid out in which the safety of the bulls would be favoured, and the manner in which the sport should be held would be contemplated to great detail as well.
Read the full story here.
Also Read: Jallikattu’s Not Alone! Here Are 15 Equally Surprising Traditions
6. Swathi's Parents Seek Compensation of Rs 3 Crore
The Madras High Court on Monday directed its Registry to take on file a writ petition filed by the parents of S Swathi, a 24-year-old techie who was hacked to death at the Nungambakkam Railway Station here on 24 June last year, seeking compensation of Rs 3 crore from Southern Railway.
“The Registry, by returning the writ petition on the ground of maintainability, virtually acted as the court and exercised judicial function. It has no authority to reject the writ petition on the ground of availability of alternative remedy. It is for the court to decide whether the writ petition should be entertained in a matter in spite of alternative remedy. It is always open to the court to entertain the writ petition notwithstanding the alternative remedy available to the party. We, therefore, hold that it is not within the province of the Registry to return the writ petition on the ground of alternative remedy,” the Division Bench observed.
(Source: The Hindu)
Also Read: Why Anti-Stalking Law Failed to Save Karuna, Swathi and Many More
7. Only 15 Policemen at Poes Garden, TN Govt Tells HC
Police strength in Poes Garden, which ceased to be a high-security locality after the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa last year, has been reduced to 15 from 50. The cut, however, did not come before the Madras High Court rapped the state government on the knuckles last week. After being questioned by Justice N Kirubakaran on why a huge posse of police personnel had to be posted at Poes Garden, the state informed the court on Monday that the strength has been reduced to 15.
The issue of this deployment of police personnel came up during a recent hearing on a case pertaining to steps taken by the state to curb sale of tobacco products near schools. The government said sufficient police personnel were not available to check the menace. It was then that Justice Kirubakaran questioned the deployment of police personnel at Poes Garden when Jayalalithaa was no more.
(Source: Times Of India)
Also Read: Jayalalithaa’s Niece Deepa Opposes Amma Memorial at Poes Garden
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