Latest news with #Selvaperunthagai
The Hindu
26-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
TNCC to recognise people who worked for marginalised people
TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai on Saturday said that Tamil Nadu Congress Charitable trust will recognise people who have dedicated their lives for the upliftment of marginalised people, society and the country with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony will take place on former Congress president and Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary on August 20. Making the announcement, he said that the awardees will be selected based on recommendation by a committee. 'The jury will be headed by former High Court Chief justice, Manikumar, and Dr. Sowmya Swaminathan and news anchor M. Gunasekaran will be part of the jury. 'To support their efforts, I will act as the president of the committee along with Congress leader, K. Krishnasamy, K.V. Thangkabalu, Thirunavukkarasar, former TNCC president, K.S. Alagiri, Sudarsana Nachiappan, Congress Legislative Party leader, Rajesh Kumar, will be deputy president of the committee. The awardees will be given a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh,' said Mr. Selvaperunthagai. There will be a total of seven awards given in the name of tallest Indian leaders - Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, K. Kamaraj, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. 'We have planned to invite Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for the awards ceremony,' he said. Protest against PM Furthermore, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said that TNCC cadre will protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by showing black flags in every district he visits in Tamil Nadu. 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi is refusing to release the funds meant for the school education department. He is consistently acting in a way that goes against the welfare of the State. In protest, black flags will be shown in respective districts by district congress committees,' he said.
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Was Ignored": Tamil Nadu Congress Chief Alleges Discrimination During Temple Ritual
Chennai: In what is being seen as a case of caste-based discrimination, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President and Sriperumbudur MLA K Selvaperunthagai has alleged that he was deliberately sidelined during the consecration ceremony of the 1000-year-old Vallakottai Murugan temple in his own constituency. Speaking exclusively to NDTV, the Dalit legislator said he was neither received by officials nor allowed into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. "I couldn't even see the deity," he said. He further alleged that the ceremonial temple flag, traditionally handed to an elected representative during the event, was instead given to another MLA who is not from a Dalit community. "I was invited as the chief guest and asked to come at 8:30 AM. I arrived at 8:25 AM. Still, no one came to receive me. I was ignored," said K Selvaperunthagai. The Congress leader made it clear he is not blaming the government or Chief Minister M K Stalin. He added that the Chief Minister has been actively promoting social justice, pointing to the recent renaming of Backward Class hostels as "Social Justice Hostels" as an example of inclusive governance. "Even MLAs and MPs from Dalit communities face discrimination by some officials. I don't hold the Chief Minister responsible for the mistakes of one or two individuals," he told NDTV. Mr Selvaperunthagai also strongly condemned former Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan for suggesting that he had waited for a VIP darshan. "That is completely false," he said, adding that he was happy the former Governor was given proper respect, but that shouldn't have come at the cost of ignoring an elected representative. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has condemned the incident and demanded an investigation and strict action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Officials associated with temple administration have denied the allegations, calling the incident a case of miscommunication. The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister is reported to have met Mr Selvaperunthagai following the incident. For a specific question on why the temple flag was not given to the local MLA but to another lawmaker, the officer downplayed saying "The flag is neither important nor prestigious". Despite public calls for a formal complaint, the Congress leader and ally of the ruling DMK has said he will not file one, trusting that the Chief Minister will act fairly. "I leave it to the people and the Chief Minister to judge," he said. This incident has stirred debate around caste-based practices and the dignity of elected representatives from marginalised communities in state-run religious institutions.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
I was disrespected at temple: Selvaperunthagai
Chennai: TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai on Tuesday said he was treated with disrespect at the Vallakottai Murugan temple consecration in Kancheepuram despite arriving on time. The DMK allies called for action against HR&CE officials while minister P K Sekarbabu visited the Congress leader and assured action. "The minister expressed regret for the incident," Selvaperunthagai said. The controversy related to the consecration ceremony of the temple, which took place after 17 years. Former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundarajan, Selvaperunthagai, and DMK (Anna Nagar) MLA M K Mohan were among those in attendance. Selvaperunthagai said he wasn't treated with the respect an elected representative deserved. "It is customary for the elected representatives to flag off the temple consecration ceremony by standing on top of the Temple Vimana, and it happens that way in all temple festivals. But during this festival, the HR&CE officials flagged it off. Similarly, there was no one to even guide me and take me to the appropriate places. None of the protocols were followed," he told TOI. Sources in the HR&CE department said officials concerned submitted a report to the higher-ups saying the Congress leader arrived late and missed the prayers, despite priests waiting for him for 30 minutes. Selvaperunthagai denied these accusations. "I was asked to come at 8.30am, and I reached the temple at 8.15am. I was waiting in the temple storeroom to participate in the prayers, but there was no one there to accompany me because of which I had to leave. Some have an ancient mindset." You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai DMK allies including CPI, CPM, and VCK condemned the treatment, and demanded action against the officials. CPI state secretary R Mutharasan said, "This is against social justice, and stringent action should be taken against officials who are responsible for the incident." CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said Selvaperunthagai's caste (SC), was the reason for the alleged discrimination. VCK MP D Ravikumar called for abolition of discrimination in temples.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
DMK-Congress alliance will win more than 200 seats: TNCC president Selvaperunthagai
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai on Monday claimed that the AIADMK cadre will never accept the BJP and its leaders and expressed confidence that the people will give them a fitting response in the 2026 State Assembly elections. Speaking to the reporters in Chennai, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said the BJP, 'which has insulted Periyar (E.V. Ramasamy), Annadurai, MGR and Jayalalithaa', will not be accepted by the AIADMK cadre and the alliance is not 'natural'. According to him, the TNCC's efforts to strengthen its base in rural areas will help the DMK-led alliance as a whole. 'The DMK-Congress alliance will win over 200 seats and with a margin of over 25,000 votes [in each constituency]. We have completed filling up 72% of the village committees. The BJP has formed an alliance that is against people's wishes and that will never gel,' he claimed. Meanwhile, Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib announced K.P. Surya Prakash has been appointed as the president of Tamil Nadu Congress Youth Wing.
India Today
07-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Tamil Nadu Congress chief stopped from taking part in Kancheepuram temple ritual
Tamil Nadu Congress state president and Sriperumbudur MLA K Selvaperunthagai was allegedly prevented by temple authorities from participating in the 'kumbhabhishekam' rituals at the Vallakottai Murugan temple in 'kumbhabhishekam', a consecration ritual conducted after 17 years, marked the end of four years of temple renovation. He alleged that while he was stopped, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan was allowed to perform the holy water Soundararajan was taken to the main tower to perform the 'kudamuzhuku' — the pouring of holy water on the kalasam — Selvaperunthagai was stopped initially. After his supporters raised objections, he was later permitted to approach the tower, but was reportedly halted again by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) officials before participating in the actual ritual. He was also not handed the temple flag, a symbolic honour. 'The 'kudamuzhuku' festival went well and my congratulations. Lakhs visited Thiruchendur temple, and I went there under the supervision of the minister. But officials' apathy was visible. We don't know who is controlling whom,' said Selvaperunthagai later, expressing disappointment at the added that although the situation was handled peacefully, the incident highlighted deeper systemic issues: 'This is a 2000-year-old issue and it can't be settled overnight. Officials did it and we stood with people and watched. I don't want to say anything that affects the Chief Minister or the minister's (PK Sekarbabu) good name.'Selvaperunthagai, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste community, said he was not allowed to see the deity and had to leave for another engagement.'Officials should behave like officials. That is the problem. I don't know why they stopped me and didn't allow me,' he remarked.- EndsMust Watch
