logo
BJP conducting this for political gains: TN Minister Sekar Babu on Murugan conference in Madurai

BJP conducting this for political gains: TN Minister Sekar Babu on Murugan conference in Madurai

India Gazette19-06-2025
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 19 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Minister Sekar Babu has alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is conducting the Murugan Conference in Madurai for political gains.
Speaking to ANI, Sekar mentioned that they did not call any politicians and ask for money from any devotees when they conducted the conference.
'The Tamil Nadu state government didn't call any politicians, and we didn't ask for any money from devotees when we conducted the Lord Murugan Conference. They (BJP) are conducting this conference for political gains,' Sekar Babu said.
However, Tamil Nadu BJP Chief Nainar Nagendran neglected DMK's claims and said that the conference is completely spiritual.
'This conference is completely Spiritual. I am not totally aware whether such a conference has been organised earlier. There is no politics in this... any party can participate in this... We are inviting everyone to this, and it's not even 1% political... I have mentioned earlier calling for unity for alliance, but we haven't received any reply so far from others,' Nagendran said on Tuesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, DMK's youth wing, Dravidar Kazhagam, held a protest against the Union government for not recognising the Keeladi excavations report.
This came after the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, on June 10 said the reports submitted to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) by archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who headed two phases of excavations and unearthed an ancient civilisation in Keeladi in the Sivaganga district, are not technically well supported. 'Further scientific studies are required to validate the findings,' he said.
Recently, the ASI had asked Ramakrishna to resubmit his report on the excavation after making necessary corrections to make it 'more authentic' and to take further action.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday slammed the Centre for not validating an archaeological report that unearthed an ancient civilisation in Keeladi in the Sivaganga district.
'How many obstacles are there for our Tamil race? For thousands of years, we have resisted all of them, establishing the greatness of our heritage with the support of science!' Stalin said in a post on X.
'Yet, some minds still refuse to accept it. It is not the reports that need correction; it is some hearts! Tomorrow, in Veeranoor, Madurai, let us gather in large numbers at the protest organised by DMK Student Wing to express the sentiments of Tamil Nadu to the Union Government! Let us make them correct their ways,' he added. (ANI)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Great progress made, says Trump after US envoy holds talks with Russia
Great progress made, says Trump after US envoy holds talks with Russia

News18

timean hour ago

  • News18

Great progress made, says Trump after US envoy holds talks with Russia

Washington [US], August 7 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said 'great progress" was made during a meeting between his Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in an effort to to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.'My Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, just had a highly productive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Great progress was made! Afterwards, I updated some of our European Allies. Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come," Trump posted on Truth Social. United States special envoy Steve Witkoff held 'useful and constructive" talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, days before the White House's deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or face economic penalties, Al Jazeera met Putin for about three hours on Wednesday in an effort to break the deadlock in the more than three-year war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to Al foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said the two sides had exchanged 'signals" on the Ukraine issue and discussed the possibility of developing strategic cooperation between Moscow and Washington, but declined to give further details until Witkoff had reported back to US President Donald presidential special representative Kirill Dmitriev, who earlier greeted Witkoff and walked with him in a park, posted on social media: 'Dialogue will prevail," Al Jazeera has warned that he would impose sanctions on Russia if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire in its war on Ukraine before Friday. While the White House has not specified the measures it might take, Trump has previously threatened 'secondary tariffs" against Russia's trade partners, including India and after the meeting, Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on goods from India over its purchase of Russian oil. The order stated that the 'actions and policies of the Government of the Russian Federation continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States," Al Jazeera asked on Monday what Witkoff's message to Moscow would be, and whether there was anything Russia could do to avoid sanctions, Trump told reporters, 'Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."Witkoff, a real estate billionaire with no prior diplomatic experience before joining Trump's team in January, has held several lengthy meetings with Putin. Critics have portrayed him as ill-equipped for such sensitive tasks, according to Al previous rounds of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul have failed to achieve who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said on Friday that he wants peace but that his demands for ending the nearly three-and-a-half-year offensive remain unchanged. Moscow has called for Ukraine to cede more territory and renounce Western support, including NATO is calling for an immediate ceasefire, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week urged allies to push for 'regime change" in Moscow, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)

‘Ganga has come to wash your feet': Uttar Pradesh minister's remark sparks controversy
‘Ganga has come to wash your feet': Uttar Pradesh minister's remark sparks controversy

Hindustan Times

timean hour ago

  • Hindustan Times

‘Ganga has come to wash your feet': Uttar Pradesh minister's remark sparks controversy

Amid the flood situation in several parts of the state, Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister Sanjay Nishad's remark during a visit to a flood-hit village in Kanpur Dehat district's Bhognipur tehsil has triggered strong public and political reactions. Sanjay Nishad is the Uttar Pradesh minister for fisheries and the founder-president of the Nishad Party. (FLE PHOTO) 'Ganga maiya comes to wash the feet of her sons. Just her darshan ensures direct passage to heaven,' Nishad was filmed telling residents when people raised concern over the floods. Sanjay Nishad is also the founder-president of the Nishad Party, an alliance partner of the BJP government in the state. He made the remark on Monday. The video has since gone viral, sparking criticism over the perceived insensitivity of the comment, especially in a region where people have lost homes, livestock and crops to the floodwaters. Locals, however, were quick to point out that Bhognipur is situated near the Yamuna river, not the Ganga. 'At the very least, a minister should know which river is flowing here,' one villager was heard saying. In another clip from the same visit, BJP district president Renuka Sachan, who accompanied the minister, purportedly told an elderly woman that it was her 'good fortune' that 'Yamuna maiya' came to give her darshan. The woman sharply replied, 'Then why don't you stay here and enjoy it every day?' Her reply too was widely shared on social media platforms. Reacting to Nishad's remark, UP Congress president Ajay Rai said, 'Mother Ganga is respected by all, including Hindus and Muslims. This statement has just made fun of the people's faith.' Much of central and eastern Uttar Pradesh has been affected by a flood-like situation due to the rising level of major rivers, including the Ganga and the Yamuna. In Bhognipur, many villages remain submerged, farmlands have been inundated and livestock swept away. Several residents have taken shelter on higher ground or temporary relief camps. In response, the state government has activated its emergency response strategy and formed 'Team 11' of ministers, assigning specific responsibilities to them. Ministers and legislators have also been asked to monitor relief efforts on the ground. Nishad's remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition parties. Samajwadi Party youth wing national president Dr Imran said: 'This government's ministers and officers have become completely insensitive. While people are suffering immensely, such careless remarks are being made instead of providing real help.' Congress Mahanagar president Sandeep Shukla said the comments were 'like rubbing salt into the wounds.' 'People are waiting for relief that hasn't reached them, and instead the minister is giving sermons. Rather than holding those responsible accountable, he is offering mythology in place of action,' Shukla said. Nishad later told a news agency that the remark was made in a lighter vein. 'I was on a visit to a flood-hit area of Nishads where while interacting with them I said that for seeking salvation, people from far away places come to take the holy dip in Ganga and here Ganga 'maiya' was right at their doorstep,' the minister said. 'We Nishads worship rivers, our source of life and livelihoods. So the remark has its own context,' the minister said. Earlier, videos of an Uttar Pradesh police sub-inspector worshipping the Ganga waters at his doorstep in Prayagraj and swimming in the flood waters had gone viral.

East Bengal backs Mamata Banerjee's Bengali language drive during football match
East Bengal backs Mamata Banerjee's Bengali language drive during football match

India Today

timean hour ago

  • India Today

East Bengal backs Mamata Banerjee's Bengali language drive during football match

In a show of solidarity with the Bengali language movement initiated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, supporters of East Bengal Football Club have taken to the playground to express their protest. The movement allegedly began in response to reports of migrant labourers from Bengal facing torture in BJP-ruled the banner it was written in Bengali which raised the question, "Bharat Swadhin kortey sedin porechilam Faansi, Mayer bhasa bolchi boley aajkey Bangladeshi?" (We were hanged that day to bring India's independence. Are we now Bangladeshis because we speak our mother tongue?)advertisementDuring the Durand Cup league match between East Bengal FC and Namdhari FC at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday, banners supporting the Bengali language movement were prominently displayed by East Bengal supporters. This is not the first time the club's fans have used their platform to voice their opinions on social and political issues. Earlier, they had also shown their support against the NRC (National Register of Citizens) by displaying protest banners during a PROTESTS BY EAST BENGAL SUPPORTERS East Bengal supporters have a history of using their platform to voice their opinions on social and political issues. In the past, they have organised protests and displayed banners on various issues, showcasing their passion and commitment to causes they care about. The recent display of banners in support of the Bengali language movement is a testament to OF THE BENGALI LANGUAGE MOVEMENT The Bengali language movement has gained momentum in recent times, particularly after reports emerged of migrant labourers from Bengal facing harassment and torture in other states. The movement seeks to promote and protect the rights of Bengali-speaking people, especially those who are marginalised and vulnerable.- EndsMust Watch

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store