Former MLA to be elected Puducherry BJP chief unopposed on June 30
Ramalingam was the only candidate to file a nomination for the post on Sunday. With no other contenders, he is set to be elected unopposed to lead the party, which is a coalition partner in the AINRC-led government.
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Tamil Nadu government urges Centre to release Keeladi report
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Sunday cited the research findings by a university in England on Keeladi archaeological site and urged the BJP-led Union government to release the Keeladi research report. Liverpool John Moores University reconstructed the facial features of ancient people who lived around 2,500 years ago. (HT photo) UK-based Liverpool John Moores University studied the skulls excavated from Keeladi and reconstructed the facial features of ancient people who lived around 2,500 years ago. The images were generated last year after the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) sent them digital files related to skull samples from Kondagai, the burial site of Keeladi which is believed to have existed in 600BC. On the findings, finance minister Thangam Thenarasu, who holds the archaeology portfolio, said that the UK-based university has reconstructed facial features of ancient people who lived around 2,500 years ago highlighting the antiquity of Tamil culture and civilization to the world. 'Though the Union BJP government has deceitfully tried to suppress the history and heritage of Tamils, constructive scientific findings and historical evidence emerging from the Keezhadi excavations continue to defeat the Union government's unjust denials,' he posted on X. 'The way of life detailed in Sangam literature now stands scientifically validated through the findings at Keeladi,' chief minister MK Stalin said on X. Professor G Kumaresan, head of Ancient DNA Lab of MKU, said: 'We received the data and images last year. Across the world, such facial recognition is done and we also did it to help us have a visual connection.' The facial reconstruction images using DNA analysis showed proximity of the humans in the region to South Asian origin. The lab at MKU which primarily focuses on DNA analysis is working in four directions. 'We are looking at genomic reconstruction by extracting DNA from bones and sequencing them to compare it with that of modern people,' Kumaresan told HT. 'The challenge we face is that we get less DNA markers. We are getting only 4,000 markers per sample whereas you require 100,000 markers.' For the research, MKU has collaborated with David Reich Lab in Harvard University. The MKU lab is also studying animal bones extracted from Keeladi to identify their species, how they came to be domesticated and how these connect to present day animals such as a bull, Kumaresan said. They are also studying agricultural practices from rice and millet extracted from the sites and organic molecules extracted from offering pots in burial sites to understand the ancient civilization's food practices. Minister Thenarasu's statement came after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in May asked its officer K Amarnath Ramakrishna to rework his voluminous report of the first two excavations at Keeladi challenging the dating and classification of key discoveries. Ramakrishna refused to and stood by his report, stating that by relying on AMS dating of 23 artefacts, a chronological sequence of Keeladi to be between the 8th century BCE to 3rd century CE has been established. ASI transferred him on June 17 days after MK Stalin on June 13 said that the truth from the findings in Keeladi does not serve the script of the BJP and RSS and so they are dismissing the rigorously proven antiquity of Tamil culture. The chief minister has framed these archaeological pursuits as part of a broader ideological battle. On June 11, Union minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had alleged that the DMK government was refusing to cooperate with the central government on Keeladi research and politicising the findings. After the first two excavations, Tamil Nadu state department of Archaeology took over from ASI at Keeladi in 2017 and digging entered its 11th phase this year. In response to DMK's comments, the BJP said that the DMK should not politicise archaeology. 'ASI is one of the oldest institutions in the world. They have not rejected the Keeladi report but only asked for clarifications to prove to the world that we have an ancient civilisation,' BJP state leader Narayanan Thirupathy told HT. 'It is the duty of anyone to provide such clarifications by following standard practices. The DMK is unnecessarily mixing regional and linguistic politics with Keeladi,' he added.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
KTR slams Shah for inaction over Cong's corruption allegations
Hyderabad: In a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao has demanded to know why the BJP-led Centre has failed to order an investigation into the corruption allegations against the Congress government in Telangana. Reminding Shah of his own earlier remarks in Nizamabad—where he labelled the Revanth Reddy-led government an 'ATM' for the Congress high command— Rama Rao questioned, 'Why hasn't the Union Home Minister acted upon it? What is stopping the Centre from initiating a probe through the CBI or ED?' Alleging a covert understanding between the BJP and Congress, KTR stated, 'In Delhi, they stage a mock fight. In Telangana, they strike secret deals. Is BJP shielding Revanth Reddy because it cannot take on BRS alone?' He recalled that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had once accused the Congress of running a 'RR Tax' scam in Telangana, yet no investigation was initiated. 'If you only make allegations during visits but allow Congress to loot in broad daylight, what message are you sending to the people?' he asked. The BRS leader also took strong exception to what he described as an orchestrated campaign to defame the Kaleshwaram Project, a landmark irrigation initiative that he said played a pivotal role in making Telangana the top rice-producing state in the country. 'It is unfortunate that a landmark initiative like Kaleshwaram is being targeted purely for political gain,' he said. On the BJP's developmental record in the state, KTR noted, 'Despite having eight BJP MPs and two Union Ministers from Telangana, not a single project has been given national status. No IIT, IIM, or central medical institute has been granted. This discrimination has not gone unnoticed.' He also ridiculed the Centre's repeated 'launches' of the Turmeric Board, pointing out that Union Minister Piyush Goyal had already virtually inaugurated it earlier this year. 'Now Amit Shah is cutting ribbons for the same office set up in a building constructed by former CM KCR. Not a single rupee was allocated in the budget. Even a permanent building has not been sanctioned,' he said. KTR further accused the BJP of betraying Telangana through multiple actions, including scrapping the Bayyaram Steel Plant—meant to provide employment to tribal youth—cancelling Hyderabad's ITIR project, which would have been a game-changer, and pushing forward Andhra Pradesh's Banakacharla project while curbing Telangana farmers' water rights. He also cited the privatisation of operations at the Kazipet Coach Factory, thereby dashing youth employment hopes in Warangal. 'Since coming to power at the Centre, BJP has treated Telangana with hostility. The people have rejected them before and will continue to do so,' said KTR.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
TMC pulls up 2 netas over rape remarks
KOLKATA: Trinamool on Sunday show-caused MLA Madan Mitra and censured MP Kalyan Banerjee for controversial remarks on the alleged gang-rape of a student at a Kolkata law college last week even as its slugfest continued with BJP-led opposition over women's safety in Bengal less than a year after the rape-murder at RG Kar hospital. TMC president Subrata Bakshi sent the notice to Mitra, instructing him to respond within three days over his "unsolicited, unnecessary, and insensitive comments that severely damaged the party's image". Assembly polls are due in Bengal next year. Mitra had remarked Saturday that women should not go to a "closed college if someone calls" - comments that were seen as downplaying the gravity of the rape in which four accused have been arrested. This includes Monojit Mishra, the prime suspect with links to TMC's student wing. Banerjee had also made a controversial statement, asking on Friday "if a friend rapes another friend, how will govt authorities provide protection in such cases?" TMC distanced itself from both comments, saying they were personal opinions of Mitra and Banerjee and the party did not agree with them in any way. A two-member National Commission for Women team on Sunday visited South Kolkata Law College, where the alleged gang-rape occurred on June 25. The team, led by Archana Majumdar, was not allowed into the crime spot, nor was videography permitted.
