Latest news with #Ramadoss
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Anbumani lauds father during protest; Ramadoss sacks 3 MLAs
Chennai: Against the backdrop of a leadership struggle in the party, the PMK protest demanding 10.5% quota for vanniyars turned into a show of strength by party president Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday in Villupuram. Speaking amid PMK cadre who gathered from various districts, Anbumani said that ideally vanniyars should be given 18% reservation proportionate to their population. But the 10.5% quota was non–negotiable, he said. Party founder S Ramadoss skipped the protest organized by Anbumani and cracked down on Anbumani supporters by announcing that three PMK MLAs who participated in the stir were being suspended from the party. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Nevertheless, Anbumani praised his father Ramadoss during the protest which coincided with the 46th foundation day of Vanniyar Sangam. Anbumani said the '45 year long protest' by Ramadoss for a separate reservation for vanniyars was longer than the independence struggle undertaken by Gandhi. "Gandhi came to India in 1915 and protested for India's independence until 1947. When compared to that protest, the protest by our ayya (Ramadoss) for a separate reservation for Vanniyars is even longer," Anbumani said. Anbumani attacked the DMK govt for not providing reservation for vanniyars while using the community to get votes. "As many as 23 of the 133 DMK MLAs and 5 MPs are vanniyars, but the party is refusing to provide reservation for vanniyars. Even vanniyar MLAs in DMK are not demanding separate quota for the community," Anbumani said. Earlier, Ramadoss hoisted the Vanniyar Sangam flag at his Thailapuram residence marking the foundation day. Speaking to reporters, Ramadoss said he "wishes success for everyone who protests for the vanniyar cause." However, after the protest, Ramadoss announced that three party MLAs, S Sadhasivam (Mettur), C Sivakumar (Mailam), and S P Venkateshwaran (Dharmapuri), and party spokesperson K Balu will be suspended from the party for "acting against the interest of the party."
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: Govt calls all-party meeting ahead of Monsoon Session of Parliament
Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, set to run from July 21 to August 21, the government has called for an all-party meeting on Sunday. The all-party meeting comes a day after the Opposition INDIA bloc held a virtual meeting on Saturday to discuss its strategy for the Monsoon Session and the issues it intends to raise to corner the government. Notably, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was absent from the meeting after it declared it was only part of the INDIA bloc for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. After the Saturday meeting, the INDIA bloc said there was a consensus among the allies on eight major issues to be raised in Parliament. While the BJP-led NDA government seems to be keen to make the Monsoon Session heavy with its legislative agenda, the Opposition is set to corner the government over multiple issues, ranging from the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor to US President Donald Trump's claim of brokering the India-Pakistan ceasefire, to the Election Commission (EC)'s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, as reported by Liz Mathew. 'The government has a heavy legislative agenda, but the session will be dominated by the SIR exercise in Bihar, Operation Sindoor and Ahmedabad air crash probe,' admitted a source from the Treasury benches. Parliament is also expected to take up the issue of impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma, from whose Delhi residence stacks of currency notes were allegedly recovered. An inquiry committee will be set up by the presiding officer of the House concerned to probe charges against Justice Varma, whose timeline for submitting its report will be crunched from three months, sources said. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) is set to hold a protest on Sunday in Villupuram district against the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government over its 'failure' to implement a 10.5% reservation for Vanniyars within the reservation for Most Backward Communities (MBCs). However, the protest comes at a tumultuous time for the party, which is in the midst of a dispute between PMK founder S Ramadoss and his son, party president Anbumani over the leadership of the regional outfit. But recent reports suggest the two are heading towards rapprochement after the alleged discovery of a tapping device at the senior Ramadoss's home, as reported by Arun Janardhanan. According to two senior PMK sources and a confidant close to the family, a complaint filed on behalf of Ramadoss about the discovery of a sophisticated audio-tapping device at his house, and the hint that the son's side may be implicated in it, had prompted a flurry of damage-control efforts by the family. G Viswanathan, who runs the VIT Group of Institutions and is a long-time friend of the family, is reportedly the chief mediator. However, the PMK and Ramadoss family later got apprehensive that the complaint provided a reason to the DMK government to send in state police into Ramadoss's house, as well as go after Anbumani. The PMK is an ally of the BJP-led NDA in the state. This added an urgency to the mediation efforts between the father and son, and as per sources, a breakthrough is near. A PMK leader said what contributed to the thaw was Anbumani's meeting last week with mother Saraswathi at a family wedding in Chennai. Anbumani and his wife Sowmya touched Saraswathi's feet and sought her blessings, as senior party members watched. The two sides reportedly went on to hold talks for nearly two hours, though Ramadoss and Anbumani made sure that they were not present together at the venue. The signs of a truce before the protest on Sunday, which is expected to attract more than 5,000 party cadres, could provide a symbolic boost to the party. – With PTI inputs
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Probe into planting of bugging device under way: PMK founder Ramadoss
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss said on Thursday (July 17, 2025) that a probe has been initiated into the alleged planting of a bugging device beneath his chair at his Thailapuram residence. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ramadoss said a police investigation was under way to determine who had placed the device. All details would come to light in the next two to three days, he added. Monsoon preparedness He said the State is expected to receive higher rainfall this year compared to previous years. With the shutters of several dams in Tamil Nadu remaining in a dilapidated condition due to poor maintenance, such heavy rainfall could lead to a perilous situation. The government should immediately take up the repair of shutters and other mechanical systems to regulate water across all dams ahead of the northeast monsoon. The State government should also release ₹1,000 crore without delay to carry out the repair works, he added. While welcoming the 'Ungaludan Stalin' (Stalin with you) initiative, Mr. Ramadoss said the scheme should have been launched six months earlier. He also referred to a claim that a grievance raised by a woman was resolved within four hours. 'This is not a matter of pride; it is a matter of degradation in the administration,' he said. Mr. Ramadoss further said the judiciary continued to express its displeasure with the style of functioning of the State police. It is really a matter of concern that even after practicing yoga and meditation, the police are indulging in certain behaviours. This only shows that some of these police personnel are not fit to be in their posts.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: In Tamil Nadu, Ramadoss and son patchup; AIADMK draws a line with BJP
THE simmering public rift between Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S Ramadoss and his son, party president Anbumani Ramadoss, may be headed for a cooling down. This has been prompted by the alleged discovery of a tapping device, and the apprehension of a police investigation. According to two senior PMK sources and a confidant close to the family, a complaint filed on behalf of Ramadoss about the discovery of a sophisticated audio-tapping device at his house, and the hint that the son's side may be implicated in it, had prompted a flurry of damage-control efforts by the family. G Viswanathan, who runs the VIT Group of Institutions and is a long-time friend of the family, is reportedly the chief mediator. A complaint filed with police's Cyber Crime Wing by PMK Headquarters secretary M Anbalagan, seen by The Indian Express, says that 'an apparatus (bug)' was found at the official residence of Ramadoss by his staff on the evening of July 9, 'in the usual sitting chair (sofa)', while they were cleaning the furniture. This added an urgency to the mediation efforts between the father and son, and as per sources, a breakthrough is near. A top source in the family said it was Anbumani's father-in-law Krishnaswamy, who is also a friend of Viswanathan, who had urged the VIT Group owner to intervene. Senior Ramadoss and Viswanathan are believed to have met last week on Saturday. The top PMK source said: 'The conversation between Viswanathan and Ayya (Ramadoss) was candid. The focus now is not on ego or succession, but on protecting the family and the party from irreparable damage.' Meanwhile, amid renewed speculation over the terms of the BJP and AIADMK alliance in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) issued his most direct clarification yet on Wednesday: 'There will be no power sharing. EPS will be the Chief Minister. The AIADMK will form the government. Period.' Speaking at Chidambaram, EPS dismissed questions over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks that there would be a 'coalition government' in the state if the NDA won the 2026 Assembly elections. 'You got it wrong,' EPS told reporters. 'It is not going to be an alliance government, but the alliance will form the government. Who is leading this alliance? The AIADMK. Then who will decide about power sharing? We will take the decision.' Behind this public assertiveness, lies a nuanced understanding between the AIADMK and BJP high command – that it is politically harmful for the AIADMK to publicly endorse the idea of a coalition government before the elections, for fear of a backlash from its core Dravidian voter base. In private, sources said, EPS has conveyed to Shah that a power-sharing arrangement could be considered in the case of a win, if 'at a minimal level'. Plot thickens in Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, continued to hold meetings with several ministers on Wednesday, sparking the CM question yet again. These meetings are said to be aimed at understanding their grievances, assessing their performance, and addressing the complaints shared by the party MLAs against the ministers Earlier, the AICC General Secretary had held two rounds of one-on-one meetings with party legislators in the state. Protests intensify in Odisha Demanding the resignation of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over the death of a female college student in Balasore district, Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba on Wednesday said President's Rule must be imposed in the state. The second-year student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College died at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Monday night. She had set herself on fire on the college campus on July 12 over inaction against a professor who allegedly sexually harassed her. Lamba alleged that the student died due to the failure of the system in Odisha. The Congress also gave a call for a bandh on Thursday. Eight political outfits such as the CPI, CPI(ML), RJD, SP, All India Forward Bloc, and NCP have extended their support for the bandh so far. — WITH PTI inputs
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ramadoss and son set for a thaw, as cold feet in family after ‘tapping' complaint
THE simmering public rift between Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S Ramadoss and his son, party president Anbumani Ramadoss, may be headed for a cooling down – prompted not by a sudden meeting of the minds, but the alleged discovery of a tapping device, and the apprehension of a police investigation. According to two senior PMK sources and a confidant close to the family, a complaint filed on behalf of Ramadoss about the discovery of a sophisticated audio-tapping device at his house, and the hint that the son's side may be implicated in it, had prompted a flurry of damage-control efforts by the family. G Viswanathan, who runs the VIT Group of Institutions and is a long-time friend of the family, is reportedly the chief mediator. A complaint filed with police's Cyber Crime Wing by PMK Headquarters secretary M Anbalagan, seen by The Indian Express, says that 'an apparatus (bug)' was found at the official residence of Ramadoss by his staff on the evening of July 9, 'in the usual sitting chair (sofa)', while they were cleaning the furniture. The complaint added that the device was planted while Ramadoss was not present, and sought a thorough search of the house 'to find out if there are any other devices also fixed in any secret place by the mischief mongers, who all appear to be anti-social elements'. The complaint also urged the authorities 'to take appropriate legal action at the earliest, apart from providing adequate police force for the safety of our Founder President and his family'. However, the PMK and Ramadoss family later got apprehensive that the complaint provided a reason to the DMK government to send in state police into Ramadoss's house, as well as go after Anbumani. The PMK is an ally of the BJP-led NDA in the state. Incidentally, Ramadoss's complaint regarding the 'tapping' device followed earlier questions raised by him about digital security within the party, claiming that his social media accounts were still controlled by those loyal to Anbumani, whom he had dismissed. 'With the Villupuram police reportedly preparing to act on the complaint (over the 'bugging' device), and seeking details, the possibility of law enforcement entering the family properties and potentially questioning Anbumani became too risky for both sides,' said a senior PMK leader. 'Letting them enter the house itself would be detrimental to the party,' said a top source in the party. This added an urgency to the mediation efforts between the father and son, and as per sources, a breakthrough is near. A top source in the family said it was Anbumani's father-in-law Krishnaswamy, who is also a friend of Viswanathan, who had urged the VIT Group owner to intervene. Senior Ramadoss and Viswanathan are believed to have met last week on Saturday. The top PMK source said: 'The conversation between Viswanathan and Ayya (Ramadoss) was candid. The focus now is not on ego or succession, but on protecting the family and the party from irreparable damage.' A PMK leader said what contributed to the thaw was Anbumani's meeting last week with mother Saraswathi at a family wedding in Chennai. Anbumani and his wife Sowmya touched Saraswathi's feet and sought her blessings, as senior party members watched. The two sides reportedly went on to hold talks for nearly two hours, though Ramadoss and Anbumani made sure that they were not present together at the venue. A formal withdrawal of the police complaint on the 'bugging' device is being considered, insiders said, and more family meetings are expected before the weekend. The developments come ahead of a big public protest planned on July 20 by Anbumani, demanding implementation of 10.5% internal reservation for the Vanniyar community within the Most Backward Classes quota. A truce with his father before the meeting, which is expected to attract more than 5,000 party cadres and would be held just kilometres from Ramadoss's home, would be symbolically a big boost for the party. 'We hope that the weekend passes without a knock on the door from the Villupuram police, and the father and son share the stage on July 20,' said a PMK leader. While Ramadoss's office promised to respond soon, Anbumani and Viswanathan were not available for comments. The rift between Ramadoss and Anbumani spilled into the open earlier this year when the senior leader was seen as sidelining the son. Then, in a surprise move, Ramadoss pushed to elevate his grandson P Mukundan – the son of his daughter Gandhimathi – as PMK youth wing president. Anbumani opposed the move, which was seen as an attempt to undercut his leadership. Earlier this month, Ramadoss overruled Anbumani's expulsion of an MLA, saying that as 'working president', he did not have that authority.
