Latest news with #KAnnamalai
India Today
28-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Chennai court finds Anna University sex assault accused guilty on all charges
A Mahila Court in Chennai declared the accused in the Anna University sexual assault case guilty. The court on Wednesday said all 11 charges against Gnanasekaran were proved using documentary and forensic incident took place around 8 pm on December 23 last year, when Gnanasekaran, a resident of Kottur who ran a biryani stall near the campus, allegedly entered the university premises, sexually assaulted a female student in a secluded area, and assaulted her male to the police, he allegedly shot a video of the incident and blackmailed the duo. He was later arrested by the Greater Chennai police and sent to prison. Soon after his arrest, photographs of Gnanasekaran with functionaries of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) surfaced, leading to a political controversy. While the DMK initially denied any affiliation, opposition parties circulated images claiming he held a position in the party. BJP state chief K Annamalai alleged that Gnanasekaran was a DMK student wing office-bearer and posted photos of the accused with DMK Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi refuted the claims, stating that Gnanasekaran was not a party office-bearer. Chief Minister MK Stalin, in the Assembly, too clarified that while the accused was not a DMK member, he was indeed a sympathiser. advertisement'I assure you that the one arrested in the Chennai student case is not a member of DMK. He is a DMK sympathiser, we don't deny it,' Stalin had earlier filed a petition seeking release from the case, claiming there was no evidence against him and that his arrest was based on suspicion. Tamil Nadu Police filed a counterpetition, and arguments from both sides were placed before the per the Madras High Court's direction, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the case. The SIT later filed a chargesheet in the Mahila Mahila court framed charges against Gnanasekaran under sections various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sexual harassment, BNSS, IT Act and the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment has now sought leniency in punishment, citing his mother's poor health. The court will pronounce the quantum of punishment on June 2.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Stalin misleading people on President Murmu's actions: Annamalai
TIRUVANNAMALAI: Former BJP state president K Annamalai on Friday accused Chief Minister M K Stalin of misleading the people of Tamil Nadu for political gains on Presidential reference. Responding to Stalin's criticism of the centre and the President for reference to the Supreme Court on its April 8 verdict that set timelines for governors and President regarding assent to bills, Annamalai said, 'Article 143 of the Constitution empowers the President to seek clarification from the Supreme Court on important legal issues.' He said, 'The CM is confusing the people by terming a constitutional process as political interference. Article 142 allows the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary to secure complete justice, and Article 143 enables the President to raise constitutional queries,' Annamalai said. 'The President has raised 14 questions in connection with the governor's powers and the time limit set by the apex court. This is well within her constitutional rights,' he said. Citing precedents, Annamalai recalled how Article 143 was used in 1991 during the Cauvery water dispute when the then President referred Karnataka's resolution to the Supreme Court. 'Back then, Tamil Nadu welcomed the intervention. Today, when the same law is used, the DMK calls it unconstitutional,' Annamalai said. Including Ram Janmabhoomi issue, this is the 16th time Article 143 has been invoked in independent India, he said. 'Every institution -- be it the President, Supreme Court, governor or CM -- has defined powers. The President's move respects the court's authority, not questions it,' he said.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Ma Su dismisses NMC notices as routine, former min, docs' asstn disagree
Status: Not ApprovedChennai: Two days after news emerged that the National Medical Commission issued notices to 35 of the state's 36 government medical colleges, the state's health minister dismissed the development as "routine," asserting that all vacancies were filled and deficiencies rectified. His statements, however, failed to address the underlying question: how did Tamil Nadu, which boasts of having the largest number of govt medical institutions, end up in such a mess?The undergraduate medical education board of NMC asked medical college deans to explain the reasons for vacancies in up to 95% of the departments, deficiencies in staff attendance, and inadequacies in services, including surgeries. "When we appointed 2,246 doctors for various posts in primary health centres a few months ago through the medical services recruitment board, we found there were many postgraduates in that batch. They were all posted in district hospitals and medical colleges. After this, there were around 415 vacancies. The state filled 328 posts through counselling last week. On Tuesday, an additional 87 doctors (non-service PGs) were given compulsory postings. Now, we have no vacancies in medical colleges," Subramanian told reporters. Additionally, doctors have been instructed to mark biometric attendance at the time of entry and exit as per NMC requirements, he said. "Getting notices from NMC is routine. The regulatory authority points out errors, the mistake is rectified, and deans concerned offer written explanations. It happened to colleges like Stanley, Thanjavur, and Trichy two years ago. This year, at least 400 medical colleges across India, including those in BJP-ruled states, have received similar notices," he said, criticising opposition parties, including BJP leader K Annamalai, for "exaggerating" the issue. Replies to showcause notices have been sent from 25 colleges, the remaining will be sent before the deadline, he said. While doctors' organisations such as the Service and Post Graduate Doctors Association vehemently deny that all vacancies in govt colleges have been filled, former health minister C Vijayabaskar said the government acted "irresponsibly," endangering not just undergraduate medical seats but also the health of the people. "Getting show-cause notices from an NMC may be routine, but doesn't he realise it is unusual for almost all of them to get it at the same time?" he asked. "Our govt tripled the number of undergraduate medical seats by increasing seats in existing medical colleges and adding more medical colleges. Over the last four years, DMK has added no additional seats. But they have made a mess of all the existing colleges by not conducting counselling to fill up vacancies," he said. Doctors' associations claim that there are at least 700 vacancies in the 12,000 posts sanctioned by the directorate of medical education. This includes 400 vacancies in the posts of assistant professors and 300 vacancies in the posts of associate professors and professors. "This situation arose because promotion counselling was not conducted on time. This led to a lot of confusion and litigation. The state did not clear these litigations on time. As a result, counselling for nearly three years was kept in abeyance," said SDPGA state organising secretary Dr A Ramalingam. "The counselling that was completed was for the 2023 batch. We still have two more batches waiting," he said. Doctors also pointed out that the state has not increased the staff strength as per the 2023 regulations of the NMC. The state should have added at least 600 more posts to the existing 12,000 posts, they said. "The state has maintained minimum standard requirements mentioned in the 2023 guidelines. In some departments, we have excess candidates," said health secretary P Senthilkumar. "The vacancies that existed were only because we could not hold counselling due to court cases," he said. MSID:: 121167413 413 |
India Gazette
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Pakistan is waging war on people of India: BJP's Annamalai
Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 10 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader K Annamalai on Saturday said that Pakistan is waging a war on the people of India and that India is retaliating against this. 'We are hitting the terrorist centres in Pakistan. But they are waging war on the people of India. When they wage war on us, we have to retaliate. Otherwise, we are cowards,' Annamalai told reporters here. He said that all Indians must be united as the country is waging a war agaisnt terrorism emanating from Pakistan. 'We are a big economy. Even if Pakistan is fighting, nothing will happen to us. We are waging this war to eradicate terrorist attacks. Therefore, we should all be united. PM Modi has taken a vow that he will catch and eliminate terrorists wherever they are hiding on earth, even under the earth. Pakistan should think twice before taking a life of people in India,' he added. He pointed out that in Pakistan, the elected government has no control over its army. 'Pakistan is a country for the army, where the army controls the government. Pakistan is not under the control of the government. If we want, we can make it nothing, but we are waging war on the basis of morality,' he said. 'Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is supporting the action taken by the Indian government. Everyone is united in opposing Pakistan, including the DMK. Moreover, it is welcome that DMK is holding a rally. At the same time, the DMK government should also give its full cooperation to the Indian government,' he said. Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said that the country's armed forces are capable of giving a fitting reply to the neighbouring country. 'Indian armed forces are very capable of giving a fitting reply. The entire country has confidence that our soldiers--the Army, Air Force, and Navy--are ready,' Shivakumar told reporters here. 'The entire country is supporting the Central Government for their action. We have shown our unity. Even in Karnataka, we have been supporting. We have also done the Tiranga Yatra in their support,' he added. Meanwhile, in a decisive retaliatory action following unprovoked firing by Pakistan Rangers on Friday night, the Border Security Force (BSF) has confirmed the complete destruction of a terrorist launch pad located at Looni in Pakistan's Sialkot district, opposite the Akhnoor area of Jammu. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
DMK faces formidable challenge as AIADMK, BJP join hands again in Tamil Nadu
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has allied with the All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for next year's Tamil Nadu assembly elections, 19 months after snapping ties, making the contest bipolar with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led grouping. The AIADMK and the BJP contested the 2019 parliamentary and the 2021 assembly elections together, but the DMK-led alliance got the better of them. Their ties soured with K Annamalai's appointment as the BJP state chief in July 2021. The AIADMK passed a resolution in 2023 against him for repeated provocations by insulting the late leader J Jayalalithaa and Dravidian icons, and eventually exited the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Before the fresh alliance was announced, the BJP appointed former AIADMK leader Nainar Nagendran as its state unit chief. The 2026 poll can swing any way, considering the two alliances have strong vote banks. The DMK-led government also faces anti-incumbency. Tamil actor Vijay's Tamila Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) could be the only irritant for the two major Dravidian parties' led alliances. In 2021, the BJP-AIADMK alliance won 75 of 234 seats despite strong sentiment in the DMK's favour. The two fought the 2024 national polls separately, losing all 39 parliamentary seats. The division of anti-incumbency votes helped the DMK-led alliance to sweep the state, winning most seats with huge margins. The AIADMK and the BJP joined hands again to prevent a repeat of the 2024 polls and put up a formidable contest against the ruling DMK, which has tried to project the BJP as a party against Tamil Nadu and its culture. The NDA got 39.29% of the total votes in 2021, and the DMK-led alliance 45.70%. The 2025 Delhi assembly polls showed that gaining six percentage points is possible, provided there is a groundswell for a party. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP remains a minor partner, and its alliance with AIADMK has drawbacks. Political observers believe that many AIADMK and BJP leaders could contest as rebels if they fail to get tickets. The AIADMK could also lose Muslim votes. AIADMK leaders maintain that Muslim voters in Tamil Nadu are firmly with the DMK and the party will not lose much. 'Whatever Muslim votes we had were lost after the death of Amma [Jayalalithaa] and our party joining hands with the BJP,' said a Mulsim AIADMK leader. Internal surveys of the DMK and the BJP indicate that the TVK could get up to 16% of the votes if the elections are held now. Election strategist Prashant Kishore's survey claimed that the party can get up to 20% of the votes. The DMK leadership believes TVK could get anti-incumbency votes, which would have otherwise gone to the AIADMK. Some AIADMK voters could go to TVK over unhappiness with the alliance with the BJP. The AIADMK hopes TVK will cut into DMK votes and help the NDA return to power. Most pollsters estimate that TVK's performance would be decent and could get 8-10% votes. Impact of S Seeman's Naam Tamilar Katchi will also be significant, even though its poll performance has been below par until now. The AIADMK-BJP alliance is also facing issues. A week after Union home minister, Amit Shah declared AIADMK leader Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) would lead the alliance and be the probable chief ministerial candidate, the latter said that the government, if formed, would only be of his party. There is also a question mark over how former deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) and TTV Dhinakaran will be accommodated in the NDA. On Saturday, EPS withdrew a case he filed against Dhinakaran, a week after his party allied with the BJP. EPS is not willing to ally with OPS. Insiders say the Bihar formula, under which major political parties got seats and then allocated some of them to smaller ones, could be implemented in Tamil Nadu. OPS and Dhinakaran are likely to get seats from the BJP quota. The alliance is seen as one of convenience. 'We had no choice,' said an AIADMK leader. A BJP leader agreed, 'AIADMK does not have a choice. They will have to work with everyone.' The BJP is keen to oust DMK, its strongest critic in non-BJP-ruled states. The DMK has sought to counter it by labelling it as an outsider and said it will not allow Delhi to run Tamil Nadu. '[Amit] Shah cannot run Tamil Nadu,' chief minister M K Stalin said. He accused EPS of mortgaging Tamil Nadu's dignity for his 'thirst' for power. A lot could happen before the polls, both seen and unseen, and likely make the Tamil Nadu polls the most-watched in 2026.
