Latest news with #DuraiVaiko
The Hindu
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Durai Vaiko welcomes decision to broadcast Tamil programmes on Tiruchi AIR FM
Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko on Tuesday welcomed the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's decision to revert to the practice of broadcasting Tamil programmes on Tiruchi FM 102.1 at night. In a statement, Vaiko pointed out that he recently condemned the All India Radio for broadcasting Hindi programmes on the Tiruchi FM at night and urged the Union Ministry to revert to the standard practice of broadcasting Tamil programmes. Within 24 hours of his demand, the All India Radio had stopped broadcasting Hindi programmes and reverted to the original schedule. It was a good decision. Language was not just a tool for exchanging information, it was the identity of the region and the people, he said. While thanking the AIR officials, Mr. Durai Vaiko said that it was learnt that the Tiruchi FM station was broadcasting the programmes of another station at night. Tiruchi FM authorities should broadcast its own production at night hours, he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tamil back on AIR after backlash over Hindi programmes
Trichy: All India Radio's (AIR) Trichy FM station 102.1 has withdrawn its recently introduced Hindi programmes during night hours following public and political backlash, restoring Tamil content instead. The move has come as a relief to the station's traditional listener base, many of whom urged AIR not to make unilateral language changes in the future. AIR sources said since August 2024, the Trichy station had been relaying Tamil programmes at night (11 pm to 5.45 am) via Chennai FM 101.4. However, from April 9, the station began airing Hindi content during those hours—reportedly under instructions from national headquarters. The sudden switch prompted petitions from listeners, who demanded the return of Tamil programming. The issue also drew the attention of Trichy MP Durai Vaiko, who condemned the language change and urged AIR to restore Tamil broadcasts. "Following public opposition and the MP's representation, we resumed the Tamil relay through Chennai FM from May 31," a Trichy AIR official told TOI. As a majority of the local audience is not fluent in Hindi, listeners insisted that night broadcasts should remain in Tamil or feature Carnatic music. "We need a permanent directive to ensure AIR stations in Tamil Nadu prioritise Tamil programming," said N Periyasamy, a long-time listener from KK Nagar.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
AIR's FM channel replaces Tamil night show with Hindi, gets earful
TIRUCHY: A change in All India Radio (AIR)'s Tiruchy FM 102.1 programme replacing its Tamil night broadcast with Hindi content since April has drawn criticism from listeners and political leaders more recently Tiruchy MP Durai Vaiko alike who term it a back-door imposition of Hindi in a predominantly Tamil-speaking region. Since April 9, AIR Tiruchy has been broadcasting in Tamil from 5.50 am to 11 pm, and switching to Hindi from 11 pm to 5.50 am -- a decision taken under the aegis of Prasar Bharati, the central public broadcaster. A similar pattern was introduced in Chennai's FM Rainbow 101.4 from July 2024. The move has prompted criticism from political leaders, who urged the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to immediately restore full-time Tamil programming.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Denial of Rajya Sabha seat to Vaiko won't affect alliance, says Durai Vaiko
MDMK principal secretary and Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko on Friday said the 'denial' of a Rajya Sabha seat to MDMK general secretary Vaiko [though there was no formal agreement with the DMK on this] had hurt the party cadre and office-bearers, but it would have no bearing on the DMK-led alliance (of which the party is a constituent) in the State. Addressing journalists in Tiruchi, Mr. Durai Vaiko said the party cadre, office-bearers, and well wishers, who were disappointed over the Rajya Sabha seat, expressed concern on various platforms, including social media. 'Mr. Vaiko, in his 61 years of public life, was held in high regard by the people and State and national leaders, including many Prime Ministers. He was at the forefront in protecting the interest of Tamils and Tamil Nadu. Many wanted him to be renominated to the Rajya Sabha to raise his voice for the Tamils. Though the cadres were disappointed, the MDMK would get over it in the interest of the State,' he added. To a question, Mr. Durai Vaiko said the MDMK was allotted a Lok Sabha seat and a Rajya Sabha seat during the seat allocation negotiation with the DMK in 2019. It was allotted a Lok Sabha seat in 2024 and, according to him, the DMK leadership had said a Rajya Sabha seat would be allotted at an appropriate time. When the MDMK insisted on a formal announcement, the DMK leaders had assured the party that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin would take a favourable stand, especially when it came to Mr. Vaiko's nomination, he alleged. When asked whether it would lead to the break up of the DMK-led alliance in the State in the run up to the Assembly election, Mr. Durai Vaiko said it would not have any bearing on the alliance. Mr. Vaiko was offered a Cabinet berth at the Centre thrice. But, he declined the offers as he was not after posts or positions. Hence, the alliance would continue in the interest of the State, he said. Condemns 'Hindi imposition' Meanwhile, in a statement, Mr. Durai Vaiko condemned the All India Radio for broadcasting Hindi programmes on its 102.1 FM station in Tiruchi in the nights. While Tamil programmes were broadcast between 5.50 a.m. and 11 p.m., the FM station switched over to Hindi programmes from 11 p.m. It was nothing but an attempt to impose Hindi in the State, he said
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Unhappy, but we will move on: Durai Vaiko on RS seat snub
Trichy: MDMK principal secretary Durai Vaiko has expressed disappointment at party chief and his father, Vaiko , not being renominated as Rajya Sabha MP. However, he said at a press conference in Trichy on Friday that the party has chosen to move on for the larger interest of Tamil Nadu and well-being of the DMK-led alliance. Stating that Vaiko is the brand and identity of MDMK, Durai said they hope the DMK would compensate them for the 'disappointment' by treating MDMK with 'dignity' in seat allocation for the ensuing assembly election. "Post is not a matter for our leader (Vaiko) as he rejected opportunities not once but thrice in the past to become a Union cabinet minister. We believed that DMK would fulfill the assurance given to us as part of the alliance, by allocating a Rajya Sabha seat. Now, we feel disappointed and sad, but we choose to move on for the alliance to stay intact," Durai Vaiko said. The MP said that when MDMK joined the DMK alliance in 2019 along with Communists and VCK, they were promised one Lok Sabha seat and one Rajya Sabha seat. As Vaiko developed cardiac issues back then, he was urged to become a Rajya Sabha MP due to his health conditions. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, MDMK's key functionaries demanded a Rajya Sabha seat again, but as there was more than a year left in the existing RS term, MDMK believed that DMK would certainly allocate them an RS seat later, he said.
