TN This Week: Twin Leadership Rejected by AIADMK, Wind Blows Towards EPS

Two firecracker blasts were witnessed in Tamil Nadu this week. Fire raged at a firecracker shop in Dindigul on June 22, killing one person. A day later, on June 23, three people were killed in a blast at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Cuddalore.

The second consignment of relief materials was sent from Tamil Nadu to the people of Sri Lanka affected by an economic crisis. A ship carrying essential commodities worth Rs 67.70 crore left Tuticorin port on June 22.

Tamil Nadu added 1,359 new COVID-19 infections on June 24. The number of hospitalisations has doubled in a week, the un-vaccinated and those with comorbidities are at higher risk.

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the happenings in Tamil Nadu this week.

‘OPS CEASES TO BE COORDINATOR’

Amid cries of ‘single leadership,’ a tense All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general council meeting was held on June 23. Following the court hearing, the meeting did not pass resolutions on the leadership issue.

In a press meet on June 24, senior leader and Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) supporter C Ve Shanmugam said, “Since the amendments related to the top two party posts were not recognised and endorsed by the General Council, these top two positions have become defunct. O Panneerselvam (OPS) and EPS cease to be the Coordinator and Joint-Coordinator respectively.”

The next General Council meeting is scheduled for July 11, when the EPS faction is determined to make him the supreme leader of the party. Read more

Meanwhile, BJP leaders called on EPS and OPS to seek their support for the upcoming presidential election on June 23.

PROTESTS AGAINST AGNIPATH

Besides the left parties and Congress, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and Dravidar Kazhagam have demanded the roll-back of the Centre’s Agnipath scheme.

CPI(M) MP S Venkatesan in anti-Agnipath protest, Madurai. Image courtesy: CPI(M), TN

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held protests in district headquarters across Tamil Nadu, demanding the Centre to not contractualise army work. In some places, they were detained by the cops.

In the DYFI protest against Agnipath in Madurai. Image courtesy: DYFI, Tamil Nadu

 As part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s (SKM) call for protests against the Agnipath scheme, protest demonstrations were held in parts of Tamil Nadu on June 24.

SKM Protest in Chennai. Image courtesy: AIKS, Tamil Nadu

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi described the Agnipath scheme as a revolutionary transformational policy for the progress of the country and said evil forces were misguiding the youth.

'NO SELLING STERLITE PLANT'

Four years after the Tamil Nadu government sealed the Sterlite Copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi district on charges of pollution, Vedanta, on June 20, announced that the plant is up for sale.

On May 22, 2018, police fired at a protest gathering against the proposed expansion of the plant and killed 13 civilians.

The victims of the police firing, villagers, and environmentalists are now opposing the move to sell the plant.

'TN EDU POLICY BETTER THAN NEP'

The Tamil Nadu government filed counter litigation with the Madras high court saying It would be "cruel and disadvantageous to the people of Tamil Nadu" to implement the National Education Policy 2020 since the State has already achieved a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 51.4% as against the target of 50% proposed to be achieved across the country through the policy by 2035."

6,000+ PETITIONS ON CHIDAMBARAM TEMPLE

The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department urged the public for suggestions on the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and received 6,628 petitions on June 20 and 21.

The department has intervened against the freedom enjoyed by dikshitars/priests, leading to mismanagement of funds and violating government orders. Read more

‘STOP DELIBERATION ON MEKADATU’

Delta farmers staged a hunger strike against the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) for scheduling to discuss the Mekedatu dam on June 23. They demanded the Union government initiate steps to prevent the construction of the dam, which would affect farming activities in the entire Delta region.

A delegation of legislature party leaders of Tamil Nadu on June 22 urged the Union jal shakti minister to not allow deliberation on the dam plan of the Karnataka government. The meeting was called off for the time being.

ZOO WORKERS DEMAND REGULARISATION

Hundreds of daily wage labourers at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park are demanding regularisation of jobs and urged authorities to drop the move to bring them under contractual agreement via a third party. They have been holding protest demonstrations every day after work for the past two weeks.