TN This Week: DMK’s First Family Accused of Rs 30K Crore Corruption, Govt Makes U-Turn on 2 Policies

The political situation in Tamil Nadu is currently marred by corruption allegations against leaders from both the ruling party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the main opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Audio recordings containing controversial statements, allegedly made by the state finance minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, have been released by YouTuber Savukku Shankar and BJP state chief Annamalai. The recordings accuse the first family of the ruling party DMK of being involved in corruption amounting to over Rs 30,000 crore.

n addition, the Income Tax department has conducted raids in over 50 locations linked to G-Square, a real estate firm that the opposition claims is closely associated with the chief minister M K Stalin's son-in-law, V Sabareesan. The opposition alleges that the firm is being used to launder black money.

In the meantime, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), which was presented in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on April 21, has revealed controversial findings during the AIADMK regime between 2019 and 2021. The report highlights that more than 2,000 highway tenders were submitted using a single computer when Edappadi K Palaniswami was the chief minister.

Amid the exchange of these charges, leaders of both parties visited Delhi.

Palaniswami and other senior AIADMK leaders met Amit Shah, the chairperson of the National Democratic Alliance, at his residence on Wednesday. BJP state president K Annamalai was also present at the meeting. Earlier in the week, Palaniswami had said the party discusses alliance matters only with the national leadership, indirectly scoffing at Annamalai.  

M K Stalin visited President Droupadi Murmu on Friday and invited her to the inauguration of a multi-speciality hospital in Chennai.

In other news, the Madras High Court on Thursday refused to pass any kind of interim orders in favour of the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) in the cases challenging the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling Act, 2022. The Tamil Nadu government released new regulations regarding online gaming on Monday.

A row has sparked in Tamil Nadu over an event in Karnataka, hosted by the BJP, where former minister Eshwarappa refused to stand up in respect for the state anthem Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu and it was stopped abruptly. The event was also attended by BJP chief Annamalai. Following the incident, DMK MP Kanimozhi tweeted with the hashtag #ApologiseAnnamalai.

The Congress councillors spoke against the recently passed state municipal administration amendment rules stating that the projects to be carried out in the city do not require approval from the ward councillors. 

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

GOVT BACKSTEPS ON 2 POLICIES 

Succumbing to pressure from trade unions and alliance parties, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday decided to put on hold the Factories (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill 2023 which enabled 12-hour work days. Read more

The government also revised the liquor license order after announcing that liquor could also be served in marriage halls.

AIADMK general secretary Palaniswami ridiculed the DMK government by calling it a 'U-Turn' government for changing its policy decisions. Notably, the AIADMK MLAs were not in the House when these bills were passed. Read more

SAND MAFIA 'KILL' OFFICER

Lourdhu Francis, 53-year-old village administrative officer (VAO) of Kovilpathu was hacked to death by an armed duo near in Thoothukudi district on Tuesday.

Another VAO in Salem came under attack on Friday, reportedly for foiling an attempt to smuggle the sand, but escaped narrowly.

STUDENT LEADERS REMOVED FROM CONVOCATION

Two scholars from the student union of Tamil University, scheduled to receive their PhD and M Phil degrees from Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi, were removed from the hall of the 13th Convocation on Monday as a “precaution.”

The police detained protesting student activists. Image credit: SFI Tamil Nadu

Students held a protest outside the Thanjavur DIG office on Wednesday condemning the removal of student union leaders. They were detained by the police.

Members from Left parties waved black flags at Governor RN Ravi when he visited the University.

PROTEST BY ANGANWADI STAFF

A protest in Madurai. Image credit: CITU, Tamil Nadu.

 

Members of the Tamil Nadu Anganwadi Staff Association started an indefinite sit-in protest at the collectorates in district headquarters on Wednesday. They demanded that the entire month of May be declared as a summer holiday on par with the school teachers.

Their other demands included a hike in gratuity, provision of pension, filling up vacancies, and time-based pay scale, among others.