QChennai: Kamal to Launch Party Ideology in 180 Days and More

Here is your roundup of the top stories from Chennai.

1. Will Spell out Ideology in 180 Days, Says Kamal

Speaking about the criticism and trolls that he received about the party’s name, Haasan said, “People have made fun of this word ‘Maiam’, and ask me if I would always stand in the Maiam. We will look at issues from ‘Maiam’. It doesn’t mean that we will always stay there. Only when you look at it from that perspective will you understand justice and fairness. If I just say there are males and females, I would be excluding the sister here (pointing to the transgender person on the stage).”

He said the party would spell out the ideology soon. “We are being asked constantly to state our ideology. We will do it. We are not here, like others, to just speak and go our way. Intelligent people keep asking about party’s ideology — we will publish it within the next 180 days,” said Haasan.

(Source: The Hindu)

2. Periyar Mooted Dravidam to Undermine Tamil: Raja

A day after disowning his controversial Facebook post advocating the removal of statues of Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar EV Ramasamy, BJP national secretary H Raja triggered a fresh row on Thursday, claiming that it was Periyar who coined the term Dravidam “to undermine Tamil” and to put an end to linguistic chauvinism.

Talking to media persons at Oddanchatram in Dindigul, he claimed that the Justice Party, in a Government Order of 1926, identified Telugu-speaking Dalits as Adi Telungar and Tamil-speaking Dalits as Adi Dravidar. But the latter were not classified as Adi Tamizhar, he said. Dravidam, he said, was imposed on Tamils and Dravida Nadu comprised people living in States where Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu and Malayalam were spoken.

(Source: The Hindu)

3. No Political Vacuum: CM Palaniswami

There was no political vacuum in Tamil Nadu, said Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday.

Asked for his reactions to actor Rajinikanth’s comments that he was entering politics because there was a political vacuum, and his promise to bring back MGR’s rule, the Chief Minister said the present rule was that of MGR’s. He said his government had completed one year’s rule after the demise of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa without any hassles.

(Source: The Hindu)

4. Fast Track Clearance for Industrial Corridors: OPS

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Thursday urged the Union Ministry for Commerce and Industry to accord speedy clearance for the Chennai-Bengaluru and the Chennai-Kanniyakumari industrial corridor projects.

“The government is in the advanced stage of implementing the Madurai-Tuticorin industrial corridor. JICA and the Asian Development Bank are closely working with the government on the projects,” he said, while speaking at the inaugural session of the seventh edition of the International Engineering Sourcing Show (IESS) in Chennai.

He said that the government was committed to boosting investments in the State and would be industry-friendly. The three-day event is organised by EEPC India and would see the participation of over 400 exhibitors, 500 overseas buyers and 10,000 business visitors. The Czech Republic is the partner country.

(Source: The Hindu)

5. Rs 7 Lakh Solatium Announced

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday announced a compensation of Rs 7 lakh to the family of Usha, who was killed in an accident after a traffic inspector allegedly kicked the two-wheeler on which she was riding pillion.

Opposition political parties expressed shock over the incident and slammed the police action on the protesting public. “Based on my order, Tiruverumbur traffic inspector Kamaraj has been arrested and suspended,” Palaniswami said, adding, “A probe has been ordered and action would be taken based on it.”

(Source: The Hindu)

6. Governor Felicitates Mothers

Governor Banwarilal Purohit and his wife Pushpa Devi Purohit on Thursday honoured over 120 elderly women, calling them Mothers of India. They were each presented with a shawl, a citation, a rose and a travel case. Calling the senior citizens hailing from Cuddalore and Tiruvallur districts as women achievers, he said the mother in a family deserves “our admiration, respect and praise,” since it is the mother, who nurtures, nourishes and guides family members with patience and maturity.

Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal, who heaped praises on the Governor, said Purohit was like a bridge between the government and the people. Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said this was the first time that such an event was organised at the Raj Bhavan. “Usually, swearing-in ceremonies would be held in the Durbar Hall. But today, mothers who have weathered many storms are here,” he said.

(Source: The Hindu)

7. High Court to Set up Stall at Trade Fair

In a first of its kind initiative, the Madras High Court Legal Services Authority (MHCLSA) has decided to set up a stall at the 44th All India Tourism and Industrial Trade Fair, conducted by the State government at the Island Grounds here, to create awareness among people about the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2015. The stall will be set up through the Social Welfare Department.

Apart from adoption-related issues covered under chapter VIII of the Juvenile Justice Act, the MHCLSA had also decided to create awareness about gravity of offences committed against children since Section 75 of the Act provides for imposition of rigorous imprisonment for a term up to 10 years if a child suffers physical incapacitation or mental illness on being subjected to cruel acts such as assault, abandonment or abuse.

(Source: The Hindu)