TN This Week: Rice Mill Owners Hold State-Wide Strike Against 5% GST

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin tested positive for COVID-19 on July 12 and is admitted to a hospital in Chennai. He is reportedly recovering well and has been advised rest for a few more days.

On July 15, the state reported 2,312 new COVID-19 cases and one death.

The Tamil Nadu health minister on July 14 announced the shutting of four private hospitals allegedly involved in the sale of egg cells of a 16-year-old girl.

Citing that it is more than a year since the Dravida Munnetra Kazahgam (DMK) came to power, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Tamil Nadu, flagged multiple issues to the government. It included DMK’s poll promise to provide monetary assistance to home makers.

Further investigations were carried out in the Kodanad murder-cum-heist case this week. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) legislator V C Arukutty, late chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s car driver, and the chairman of a textile enterprise were questioned.

An Income Tax Department order attaching at least 14 benami properties, valued at more than 1,600 crore, of former aide of Jayalalithaa V K Sasikala, has been upheld by the Madras High Court. 

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

OPS, EPS LAY CLAIM TO AIADMK

Since the July 11 AIADMK general council meeting, both Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam camps have been making moves to assert their rights over the party. Read more

Palaniswami alleged that the clash in the party headquarters on July 11 was entirely premeditated by the Panneerselvam faction and orchestrated with police support. He suggested that the ruling DMK is favouring Panneerselvam.

Palaniswami faction, on July 13, submitted the party by-law changes and resolutions adopted in the general council to the election commission. On the same day, Palaniswami appointed two deputy general secretaries for AIADMK.

Within five days of being elected the interim general secretary, Palaniswami has expelled 39 Panneerselvam supporters from the party's primary membership.

In response, on July 15, Panneerselvam also announced the expulsion of more than 40 senior party leaders alleging anti-party activities. He has written to the Assembly speaker asking him not to accept decisions taken in the AIADMK general council. As of now, Panneerselvam continues as the Deputy Leader of Opposition.

Both camps have also claimed their authority to maintain bank accounts of the party.

PROTEST AGAINST GUV AT MKU CONVOCATION

Higher Education Minister Ponmudi boycotted the Madurai Kamaraj University convocation alleging that the announcement was unethical and published without consulting the Tamil Nadu government. Union Minister of State L Murugan and former Indian Institute of Science Director Balaram were the guests of honour on the occasion.

Condemning Governor-Chancellor R N Ravi’s special invite to BJP MP Murugan, members of various political parties staged a protest near the Collectorate here on Wednesday.

Members of student groups who called for protests against the governor were picked up by the police.

Moreover, the Central University of Tamil Nadu in Tiruvarur expelled an MSc final year student from the university hostel for allegedly organising a protest holding placards against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

ARAPPOR: FRAUD IN REGISTERING 5,300 ACRES

Anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam submitted a complaint to the CBI and DVAC regarding massive corruption and fraud in the registration of 5,300 acres of Pearl Agrotech Corporation Limited (PACL) lands, which were prohibited to be registered by a Supreme Court Committee. “Senior officials of the Registration Department are involved in this scam,” said the release.

The Tamil Nadu registration department has started a probe into the allegations.

RICE MILLS OPPOSE GST HIKE

The Tamil Nadu Rice Mill Owners’ Association has announced a state-wide strike on July 16, opposing the imposition of a 5% goods and services tax (GST) on essential commodities like rice and pulses which are pre-packed.

As per the association, around 4,000 rice mills across the state remained shut on the day.

‘EXPAND INTERNSHIP’ SAY FOREIGN MEDICOS

From the Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association (TNMSA) - Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) Wing, 150-200 students staged a demonstration along with the support of the Doctors Association for Social Equality in Chennai on July 13. They sought an increase in the allotment of Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) to 20% from 7.5% and demanded that the students be allowed to intern with District Headquarter Hospitals in the state.

LOCAL BODIES BYELECTION

DMK candidates secured nine of the 10 posts in urban local bodies and 16 of the 22 posts in rural local bodies, for which casual elections were held on July 9.