Latest news with #P.Shanmugam
The Hindu
06-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
VCK, CPI(M), CPI leaders meet T.N. CM Stalin, seek law against caste killings
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary P. Shanmugam, and Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary R. Mutharasan on Wednesday (August 6, 2025) submitted a representation to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, urging him to enact a special law against caste killings and to ensure protection for inter-caste and inter-faith couples in Tamil Nadu. The leaders, who met Mr. Stalin at his residence in Chennai, also enquired about his health, as he had recently been hospitalised in Chennai and was discharged after a week. In their joint representation, they said recurring incidents of violence against inter-caste and inter-faith couples in Tamil Nadu highlight the immediate need to enact a special legislation criminalising caste killings. 'Hundreds of lives had been lost to caste-based violence over the past decade. These killings were not just individual or family-driven, but often stem from social pressure, threats from dominant caste groups, katta panchayats (kangaroo courts), and notions of honour and caste purity,' they said. The leaders, in their representation, cited suggestions made by various agencies, private member bills introduced in Parliament and the Tamil Nadu Assembly, and similar legislation passed in other States. They also pointed out that such killings were often registered as murder cases, under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code or Section 101 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, without accounting for the caste-based coercion involved. They urged the Chief Minister to immediately intervene and take steps to enact a special law to ensure safety and protection for inter-caste couples in Tamil Nadu.
The Hindu
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
We will never demand for coalition government in Tamil Nadu: CPI(M) P. Shanmugam
'We will not demand for ministerial postings or coalition government from our alliance partners until we form a government on our own,' said Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary P. Shanmugam. Addressing press during a party event in Ramanathapuram on Thursday, he added that AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswamy, in frustration that no one was accepting his invitation for alliance, seemed to be contradicting his own statements. 'The BJP which is one of the parties in alliance with AIADMK has set a precedent in other States that it will not simply let off their partners. AIADMK, despite knowing that there is danger to their existence, continues to be with them,' he stated. Condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to United Kingdom on the days of Parliament's monsoon session, he said that Mr. Modi knowing that key issues like Pahalgam terror, operation Sindoor, among others were to be discussed, has deliberately avoided attending the sessions. 'By dodging the questions from the opposition, he tries to avoid being held accountable for his actions,' he noted. Further, he said that BJP and its affiliates should stop communalizing the police interrogation of Madurai Adheenam. 'As he made a communal remark regarding an accident, a case was booked against him. The investigation is only regarding that. Giving it a religious colour is condemnable,' he added. Also, he insisted the State government to expedite implementing the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar project. By implementing the project, the water needs of areas like Ramanathapuram and Pudukkottai could be fulfilled, he added.
The Hindu
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Take action on people who are not allowing temple entry for SCs or STs, says CPI(M) State secretary
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)) State secretary P. Shanmugam demanded action against those who are not allowing people from Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) to enter temples. The CPI(M) State secretary participated in a function held at a community hall at Elachipalayam in Namakkal on Friday evening (July 18, 2025) to collect the subscriptions worth ₹3.70 lakh for the party's mouthpiece, Theekkathir. Speaking to the reporters, Mr. Shanmugam said the Madras High Court had ordered the removal of encroachments near the Buckingham Canal in Chennai within eight weeks. People don't prefer to live near water bodies. r They are residing in huts as they have no other options. If their huts are removed, they will lose their livelihood, which is against natural justice. The lawyers representing the government, who should speak against this, are also accepting the orders. It is the duty of the government to save the housing rights of these people , Mr. Shanmugam added. Mr. Shanmugam also said that party flagpoles are the right of political parties to express their ideologies. CPI(M) has appealed against the verdict of the single judge on removal of permanent flagpoles of political parties. The party will continue its legal fight. Talking about the issue around temple entry, Mr. Shanmugam demanded that stern action should be taken against those who are not allowing SC/ST people into the temple. Officials should not delay the issues in the name of peace talks and take action on people who are acting against the law. All caste people should be allowed in all temples and action should also be taken against officials who failed to ensure this, he added. Demanding action against middlemen involved in the sale of kidneys in Namakkal district, Mr. Shanmugam said, 'We heard earlier that weavers in Pallipalayam sold their kidneys to repay their debts. But now people are cheated by middlemen. Stern action should be taken against the middlemen and also against the hospitals concerned,' Mr. Shanmugam added.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Even a person murdering someone would not inflict such violence, says CPI(M) leader
Even a person intending to murder someone would not inflict such violence, said Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary P. Shanmugam on Sunday. Speaking at a protest organised at Thirupuvanam here to demand justice for custodial death victim B. Ajith Kumar, he said that when hundreds of gold theft cases happened in Tamil Nadu every day, why unleash violence on a youth who was just suspected of stealing jewels. 'If this has raised doubts, then the IAS officer under question, who is said to have ordered the inquiry, should be brought under law.' Questioning why the DMK government did not take action against the police officials responsible for the killing of 13 anti-Sterlite protesters even after three years, he said Justice Aruna Jegadeesan Commission report was sitting idle without any action. Under the guise of a special team, all senior police officials were having goons under their control, he charged. In order to ensure fair justice to the victim's family, and to prevent distortion of evidence, it should be ensured that the arrested police personnel be kept in prison till the judgment day. 'As eyewitnesses and other evidence are crucial in this case, the State government should protect them from getting tampered with,' Mr. Shanmugam added.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
If govt. had acted on 24 extrajudicial killings, death of Ajith Kumar could have been avoided: CPI(M) State Secretary
If the DMK government had acted on the 24 deaths in custody recorded after the party came to power, the death of N. Ajith Kumar would not have occurred, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary P. Shanmugam said on Thursday. Mr. Shanmugam visited the family of the victim at their house in Madappuram here. If necessary actions had been taken against the police personnel responsible for the extrajudicial killings, the six policemen would not have killed Ajith Kumar fearing repercussions. 'If police act on their own and disrespect the law, then who is responsible to hold their reins. More than the crime and the accused, human rights and human life if more important,' he added. Since the police enjoyed impunity from both the law and government, they thought they were above the law. In addition to the six police personnel who were suspended and arrested, a senior IAS officer, who is said to have passed the orders, should be brought under the law. Stern actions were essential to prevent such incidents in the future, he further said.
