TN This Week: CPI(M) Protests GST on Food Items; Another Honour Killing

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) held protests across the state on July 29 demanding the immediate rollback of Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed on essential times.

Recently, 5% GST was imposed on pre-packed, labelled food items like wheat flour, paneer and curd besides hospital rooms with rent of more than Rs 5,000.

In another instance of a firecracker unit blast, one person was killed and other injured near Sivakasi, Virudhunagar district on July 28. Chief minister (CM) MK Stalin condoled the death and announced financial assistance to the families of the deceased and the injured.

Two persons died in a private stone quarry at Kalpadi, Perambalur district, after soil and boulders caved in and fell on them on July 29.

Tamil Nadu has seen a steep rise in the number of custodial deaths from 63 in 2020-21 to 109 during 2021-22.

The state government issued an order on July 28 for providing free breakfast to primary school students starting August. More than 1.14 lakh students at 1,545 primary schools will benefit from the CM’s Breakfast Scheme.

The world’s biggest chess event—the 44th International Chess Olympiad—was inaugurated at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on July 28. Read more

Newsclick brings you a round-up of the main events in Tamil Nadu this week.

CPI(M) OPPOSES GST ON FOOD ITEMS

The CPI(M) held protests across the state on July 29 against the recent imposition of GST on food items and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

CPI(M) members protest GST on essential commodities in Chennai. Image courtesy: CPI(M).

The protesters condemned the “unprecedented burden imposed on people” through the GST hike on essential commodities such as pre-packaged rice, wheat, milk. 

The scientific community has objected to the withdrawal of exemption for scientific equipment. Read more

FIVE SUICIDES IN TWO WEEKS

As many as five school and college students committed suicide in the last two weeks.

The suicides follow the death of a class 12 girl on the school premises in Kallakurichi, on July 13, triggering violent protests. The Special Investigation Team probing the riot arrested five more persons.

The girl’s funeral was telecasted live on many Tamil news channels for several hours. The Madras High Court (HC) on July 29 appealed to the print and electronic media to show a sense of responsibility while reporting news on children.

ANOTHER HONOUR KILLING

In a gruesome incident, S Muthukutti, a 43-year-old lorry driver from Thoothukudi, murdered his daughter Reshma (20) and her husband on July 25 for marrying against his wishes. He had allegedly fixed the marriage of Reshma, a first-year college student, against her wishes. On June 29, she eloped with Manickaraja (28), a Railways daily wager.

On their return to Thoothukudi, the couple, who hail from the same community and were related, were murdered. Last month, a newly married couple was murdered near Kumbakonam by the bride’s brother and a relative.

MONUMENT IN THE SEA?

The Tamil Nadu government has proposed to construct a monument that features a giant pen in the Bay of Bengal off Marina Beach, in Chennai, in honour of late DMK leader and former CM M Karunanidhi’s contribution to Tamil literature.

The pen pedestal would jut out 42 metres above the sea and a 650-metre-long lattice bridge would connect it to the shore.

Activists and experts have questioned the state’s decision to construct the monument in the sea as it will impact the region’s marine ecosystem. The proposed bridge will be amid the turtle nesting and fertile fish breeding ground. Read more

INCREASE IN CUSTODIAL DEATHS

While hearing the Madurai passport scam case, Judge GR Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of Madras HC on July 28 complimented Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai for bringing the scam to light.

Citing the compliment, the Democratic Advocates Association urged the Chief Justice of India to direct the Judge to resign. The association’s letter stated that the Judiciary is an independent organ that cannot support any party. 

VETERINARIANS DEMAND STIPEND HIKE

Nearly 350 students of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANVAS) staged a protest on July 25 demanding an increase in the monthly stipend from Rs 10,500.