PT for reservation in trading

The Puthiya Tamizhagam has demanded reservation for Dalits in "trade activities" of the private sector.

"Merely employing Dalit people as labourers in private firms will not bring about any major social change," its founder president K. Krishnasamy told reporters here on Sunday. Stating that they should be made business associates through a proper reservation policy, he said the private sector should reserve a proportionate number of dealerships and agencies for Dalits on the lines of public sector petroleum corporations.When asked whether the Dalits had the wherewithal to get dealership of big corporates, he said the Government, which was providing loans to them for starting their own industrial units, should provide financial assistance to obtain dealership.(more...)

DPI flays Left parties' `double speak'

General secretary of the Dalit Panthers of India Thol Thirumavalavan has flayed the Left parties for their "double speak" on the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) divestment issue.

Addressing NLC employees at Neyveli on Sunday, Mr. Thirumavalavan pointed out that the common minimum programme of the United Progressive Alliance had stated that profit-making public sector undertakings would not be considered for divestment or privatisation.(more...)

State Government committed to artists' welfare, says Stalin

The State Government is committed to improving the quality of life of indigent and upcoming artists and has initiated welfare measures, Minister for Local Administration M.K. Stalin said here on Sunday.

It was the DMK Government during 1973 that changed the name of the then Sangeetha Sangam to Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram, which had since then rigorously been promoting the cause of art and culture, he said while inaugurating the Silapadhikaram dance festival organised by the Mandram.(more...)

Jayalalithaa condemns Centre's disinvestment plans in NLC

The AIADMK general secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today condemned the Centre's decision to disinvest ten per cent of equity in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) and pledged her support to striking employees.(more...)

Removal of Jaya's photo irks councillors

Councillors belonging to various parties including Congress today expressed displeasure over a DMK councillor removing former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's picture from the council meeting hall at the town municipality office here.(more...)

DMK insensitive: Thirumavalavan

The Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) General Secretary Thol Thirumavalavan accused the ruling DMK of being insensitive to the political empowerment of Dalits.

Speaking at a function at the martyr’s memorial to mark the ninth death anniversary of seven Dalits at Melavalavu village in the district, he said the massacre, which shocked the entire nation, was a blot on the then Karunanidhi government(more...)

MK has a script

In a renewed bid to revoke the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) disinvestment decision of the Union government, Chief Minister Karunanidhi, in a fax message today to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan, has sought reconsideration of divesting 10 per cent stake especially in view of the NLC workers' resolve to go on an indefinite strike from 4 July(more...)

Cong-DMK repeats success in civic polls

Close on the heels of winning the recently concluded Assembly polls, the Congress - DMK combine in Pondicherry continued its impressive show in the civic polls too. The counting began today.
When reports last came in, DMK's Dr Sridevi was leading by 15,000 in Pondicherry Municipality while Congress candidates N S Jeyapaul, Ramesh and Rao were ahead in Uzhavankarai, Mahe and Yanam Municipalities respectively. DMDK candidate Prabhavathy had established a lead over his nearest rival in Karaikal Municipality.(more...)

Goondas Act on quarrymen

In an announcement that has the potential to assuage the fears of State revenue authorities and various enforcement agencies, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today warned that those indulging in illegal sand quarrying would be booked under the provisions of the Goondas Act.

Speaking to newsmen after today's Cabinet meeting, which is the third one after the DMK's assumption of office, he announced early implementation of Seawater Desalination Project and Metro Rail project. The Bill passed by the previous AIADMK government to take over the Cable TV trade would be repealed, Karunanidhi said.

On the sea water desalination plant, Karunanidhi said that the previous AIADMK regime had decided on a bidder who imposed several conditions unfavourable to the government. 'If such conditions are taken back, the scheme could be given to the same bidder for implementation,' Karunanidhi said and added that with the Central assistance of thousand crores of rupees for the seawater desalination project, it could be implemented soon(more...)

Is the Corporation being used to settle political scores?

The Chennai Corporation's decision to issue a demolition notice for AIADMK MLA Saidai Doraisami's marriage hall in Velachery recently has raised concerns about whether the civic agency is being used to settle political scores.

Questions have been raised over the manner in which the episode was played out: Why should the Deputy Mayor call for a press conference a day ahead of the inauguration of the marriage hall to announce the deviations in the construction? Why should the Chennai Corporation issue a press release regarding the demolition order when they don't normally do so for other such notices issued by them? Will the civic agency release a list of all building deviations in the city?(more...)

Karunanidhi brushes aside Balasingham's remarks

In his first public comment on the LTTE's forgive and forget proposition articulated by its ideologue Anton Balasingham, Tamilnadu Chief Minister Muthavel Karunanidhi sounded unenthusiastic. Muthuvel Karunanidhi : "What Balasingham is saying is not clear. Whatever he had said, he changed it."
He finds what Balasingham had said is "were unclear".

"What Balasingham is saying is not clear. Whatever he had said, he changed it", the DMK supremo, who was once seen as too close to the LTTE, said in reply to a newsman's question.(more...)

Desalination: Cabinet for amending contract clauses

The State Government will consider allowing the firm, which was awarded the contract for the desalination project, if it agreed to amend clauses in the agreement that were against the interests of the Government.

The third meeting of the Cabinet took this decision on Friday.

Simultaneously, work would be taken up on a desalination project to be sponsored by the Centre. Addressing presspersons here, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said that the projects were independent of each other. Chennai's water demand was growing and if the firm was willing to accept the Government's revised agreement, the city would have two desalination plants.(more...)

Flyover projects face difficult hurdle

The DMK Government's plans to commence work on four flyover projects in some of the most congested junctions in the city were yet to clear its first hurdle: clearance from the Chennai Corporation's Works Committee, which is dominated by AIADMK councillors.(more...)

Dowry case against SS Chandran

South Veli Street All Women Police Station registered a case against AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP and cine star S S Chandran and six others on dowry harrassment charges based on a complaint lodged by his nephew’s wife.

Police said, Chandran’s nephew Dhanasekharan married had the complainant Latha in 2002.(more...)