TN This Week: Minister Ponmudy and Wife Get 3 Years in Jail in Assets Case

FLOOD RELIEF: CM STALIN CRITICISES CENTRE

Unprecedented heavy rainfall battered southern districts of Tamil Nadu and brought regular life to a standstill. At least 35 persons have died in the floods, while a total of 49,707 people have been rescued from the affected areas in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari districts. Crops on over 1.83 lakh hectares have been affected. Read more

Electricity supply was cut off in many places and mobile networks were down since Monday. Due to flooding in Tirunelveli and adjoining districts, many train services were cancelled on Tuesday.

On Thursday, CM Stalin accused the central government of not releasing adequate relief funds when many parts of the state were reeling after severe floods. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has criticised the Tamil Nadu government for "failing to take precautionary measures".

Stalin visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday and presented a memorandum, urging to declare Cyclone Michaung and the torrential downpour in the southern districts as national calamities.

DMK MINISTER, WIFE CONVICTED

Two days after convicting Tamil Nadu minister K Ponmudy in a corruption case, the Madras High Court on Thursday sentenced him and his wife to a three-year jail term, besides imposing a fine of Rs 50 lakh each. The convicted couple, however, were not taken to jail as Justice G Jayachandran suspended the sentence for 30 days to enable them to approach the Supreme Court for an appeal.

Ponmudy ceased to be a minister on Tuesday when the judge pronounced the verdict holding him guilty under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

RELIEF FOR OIL SPILLAGE

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday ordered cash assistance ranging between Rs 7,500 and Rs 12,500 to 9,001 families affected by the oil spill in north Chennai areas.

Due to cyclone Michaung-triggered rains and resultant floods here early this month, oil spillage surfaced in Kosasthalai River/the Ennore Creek. Oil mixed with flood water and it spread further reaching the creek area.

SURVEY ON CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN SCHOOLS

The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) released a survey report on ‘Caste Discrimination in Schools’ at the Dalit Rights Summit held in Chennai on Tuesday. 

The survey showed that Cuddalore district accounts for the most number of schools where students practise caste discrimination in Tamil Nadu. The second on the list is Madurai, as the rural parts of the district practised caste discrimination at schools.

The TNUEF suggested solutions and submitted them to the chief minister. The suggestions included framing of separate law to prevent caste killings and a special law to implement the Scheduled Caste sub-scheme.

PROTEST AGAINST AIRPORT

A protest demonstration was held in front of the Kanchipuram District Collectorate on Tuesday demanding the withdrawal of Government Order No. 210 issued to acquire land for the construction of Parandur Airport without the consent of the farmers. More than 400 farmers participated.

The protestors condemned the Tamil Nadu government for acting illegally by ignoring various aspects of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. They submitted a memorandum to the district collector.