Latest news with #Kamaraj
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu has given the Armed Forces its all, be it war with China or Pakistan
Last weekend, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin led a march in Chennai in solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces, which had launched 'Operation Sindoor' targeting terror networks in Pakistan. However, this was not the first time Tamil Nadu stood united — setting aside political differences — to support the efforts of the Centre. In the past, leaders cutting across party lines had rallied behind the Armed Forces, offering everything from blood to bullion during times of war or external aggression. Support to Nehru During the Indo-China War in 1962, the DMK, which was in opposition in Madras State, pledged its support to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru-led government. According to a report published in The Hindu on November 13, 1962, DMK founder C.N. Annadurai pledged his party's support to the Centre in resisting the aggression and called for a moratorium on all political agitations and controversies in the country. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Annadurai said, 'The fact that all parties are united in giving the government wide powers is proof positive that there has arisen a stage when petty political differences ought to be submerged, for the one cardinal principle of safeguarding the dignity and independence of the country.' Meanwhile, the Congress-led government in Madras State formed a 90-member State Committee for National Defence Aid. Chief Minister K. Kamaraj was the chairman of the committee, while Finance Minister M. Bhaktavatsalam served as its treasurer. The committee was tasked with mobilising funds. The government distributed 1,000 hundi boxes in Madras City and 1,500 such boxes in mofussil centres to collect contributions for the National Defence Fund, The Hindu reported on November 15, 1962. The single largest contribution from the State came from Tamil cinema icon and DMK leader M.G. Ramachandran, who donated ₹75,000. During the 1965 India-Pakistan War, Annadurai expressed the unwavering support of his party towards meeting the threat posed by Pakistan to India's territorial integrity. He also called upon Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to forge a powerful phalanx by uniting the various parties in the country, said a report published in The Hindu on May 4, 1965. Kamaraj visits border Kamaraj, then president of the Indian National Congress, visited the Attari-Wagah border along with Home Minister Gulzarilal Nanda and met Indian soldiers to congratulate them on their valour and high morale. He also visited Amritsar to commend the anti-aircraft gunners who shot down two Pakistani Sabre jets. During the 1971 India-Pakistan War, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council unanimously adopted resolutions on December 6, strongly condemning Pakistani aggression and pledging full cooperation and support to the Centre to repel the attack. The resolution also urged the people of Tamil Nadu to extend wholehearted cooperation to the State government in its efforts to implement any decision taken by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to secure men, material, and weapons. 'The dictator of Pakistan, not being satisfied with the suppression of the voice of democracy in East Bengal and wholesale massacre of the people, had indulged in indirect aggression against India by imposing on it the heavy burden of maintaining the refugees pouring from Bangladesh,' The Hindu reported on December 7, 1971, quoting the resolution. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who moved the resolution, said the Ministers had decided to contribute ₹500 to the war fund. He appealed to the members of the legislature to contribute a minimum of ₹100. He also announced that steps would be taken to collect blood from donors, and a unit would be set up for this purpose at the Secretariat. Kamaraj, then leader of the Congress (O), said that at a time the country was facing a war launched by Pakistan, the people must remain united under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, setting aside party, caste, creed, or community differences. In New Delhi, Karunanidhi handed over to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi a parcel of articles transported in six trucks, intended for use by soldiers in forward areas and those undergoing treatment at hospitals. These items, worth ₹3.08 crore, were collected from members of the public by the State Defence Amenities Committee. Later, during Indira Gandhi's visit to Chennai in May 1972, Karunanidhi handed over ₹6 crore, mobilised for the National Defence Fund. Kargil conflict During the Kargil conflict in 1999, the ruling DMK resolved to extend full support to the actions taken by the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to counter aggression in Kashmir following the infiltration of extremist elements from Pakistan. According to a report in The Hindu on June 3, 1999, the DMK passed a separate resolution at its general council meeting, supporting military action in Kargil. Party president and Chief Minister Karunanidhi lauded the courageous and successful efforts of the Indian troops in driving back the infiltrators and foiling their designs. The party's general council also condoled the death of army officers, including Major Saravanan, in the conflict. The Tamil Nadu government also created the Kargil Defence Personnel Fund. An archival report in The Hindu said ₹1.8 crore was collected within two days of the fund having been set up. Various departments of the government, political parties, educational institutions, associations, and companies, including The Hindu, contributed to the fund.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Residents in some parts oppose Corporation's new vending zones
Residents in several zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation have started objecting to the first list of vending zones approved by the Corporation Council last week. Anna Nagar West Extension resident R. Kamaraj says that the residents have opposed the decision to create a vending zone on East Main Road of Anna Nagar West Extension. 'The Corporation has already erected a board informing that the road is a vending zone. We have objected. Once permitted, vendors will encroach on more road space. Garbage will accumulate in our area. Half of the road will be encroached upon by vendors. Residents will lose their rights. Students of four schools take this route, and it will become unsafe for them. We request the Corporation to remove the board immediately,' he demands. 'Prevent notification' Ranganathan Garden resident Sridhar has demanded that the ward councillor prevent the notification of Fifteenth Main Road as a vending zone. 'There is a Siva temple in the locality. We do not want vending zones on the stretch that has been peaceful and calm,' he says. After the resolution was passed by the Corporation Council, the civic body has not sent the proposal to the Tamil Nadu government for gazette notification of the vending and non-vending zones. Once the list of vending and non-vending zones is notified by the government, the civic body will allocate space for vendors. The Corporation has started receiving letters from residents' associations, objecting to the list of vending zones in many areas. 'The town vending committee will consider the objections and make a decision. We will remove the roads from the list of vending zones if the residents object,' says an official of the Corporation. The Corporation's designation of 150 vending and 188 non-vending zones, a year after its vending committee was constituted, has drawn criticism for lack of clarity in the zoning norms, interference of political party members, and delays in issuing corrected identity cards to vendors. 'No clarity on unlisted areas' Sandhya Vedullapalli, a civic activist, says that the vending zone list lacks clarity on unlisted areas. Further, in Ward 103, designated vending streets appear insufficient for Anna Nagar's vendors, raising the question whether the process aligns with guidelines under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, she says. G. Selva of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) points out that in 2021, more than 900 vending zones were identified, but now it is 150. 'In the name of organising, vending zones must not be reduced. Small vendors provide low-income individuals with increased purchasing power, playing a vital role in driving the economic growth. Regional and sub-vending committees must be formed to check on issues related to vending.' Gopalakannan, a vendor on Anna Salai, received a text message that read: 'The Greater Chennai Corporation has requested that street vendors who require any correction in the details on the identity card issued to them take a copy of the issued identity card, mark the required corrections on it, sign it, and submit it along with supporting documents at the respective zonal or divisional office during the special camp to be held from October 19 to 23, 2024.' 'No new cards yet' 'Many submitted the copies for corrections. But I have not received any update on new cards. When we made enquiries, Corporation officials said the cards had not been printed yet,' Gopalakannan adds. S. Kumar, a vendor for 24 years, says the zonal officials have been saying for three months that new cards will be issued in May at the Royapuram Zonal Office. 'Those who were issued new cards were instructed to hand over their old cards. If we received new cards, why would we still have the old ones? We were not informed of the new rules. We continue to use plastic for distributing beverages. The wastewater is discarded down the drain through silt traps,' he says. Some vendors say that moving to another location would be tough as there may be competition and lack of space. P. Karunanidhi, general secretary of the Chennai Street Vendors' Association and a member of the Corporation's vending committee, acknowledges that there is lack of clarity in the norms. Political interference 'The vending committee and the Corporation have the powers with regard to vending zones and the number of permissible traders who can be issued identity cards. But some councillors and ruling party members interfere in these matters. When higher authorities were informed, instead of rectifying the issues, they asked us to coordinate with the politicians,' another vendor claims. Denying these allegations, an official of the Corporation's Revenue and Finance Department says that more than 32,000 cards were issued at camps held in February. 'There were roughly 2,500 vendors who requested for changes in the name, the address, and the date of birth in the cards. The changes were made and new cards were issued,' he says. The Corporation has proposed regional committees for vending and sent the proposal to the government. Once the government approves it, the civic body will start regularising the operations of the vending and non-vending zones and monitor them, the official says.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Books are the keys to the new world, says CM Stalin on World Book Day
On the occasion of World Book Day on Wednesday (April 23, 2025), Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said books are the keys to the new world. In a post on the social media platform X, he said books were like 'a good friend who introduces us to the life we have not lived, the people we have never met, and the times we have not seen'. Mr. Stalin said the State government was establishing a Periyar library in Coimbatore and a Kamaraj library in Tiruchi, on the lines of those in Chennai and Madurai. The Dravidian model government was encouraging reading through book fairs and literary fairs, he said. 'Read the world through books, and knowledge will flourish; read the world as a book, and experience will thrive,' Mr. Stalin said.
