B. Kolappan

The Hindu effect: NGT issues notice to Tirunelveli Collector over threats to Tamirabharani fish species Read full article: hindu.u9ilnk.me/d/e9G6xaPW6H For the best experience read this on The Hindu App. bit.ly/THNewsApp

What else can one expect from this government? I doubt whether any of the Ministers would have even read the first volume of the book. At a time when the country is witnessing a concerted push towards a unitary State, with narratives that seek to undermine federalism, who has any regard for State autonomy?

Library book ‘scam’: Madras High Court had sounded warning two years ago, called for enquiry Read full article: hindu.u9ilnk.me/d/BY2lRqCeLm For the best experience read this on The Hindu App. bit.ly/THNewsApp

Major scam in books purchase for Periyar Arivulagam. It is a shame. Who is responsible? thehindu.com/news/national/t…

Sada Master rocks youtu.be/6HGqbaYrHK4?si=sWLG…

Mudalur, Tamil Nadu’s first Christian settlement, stands tall with its magnificent church tower Read full article: thehindu.com/news/national/t… For the best experience read this on The Hindu App. bit.ly/THNewsApp

Repentence Of A Death Row Convict “I have the blood of the past on my hands. Nowhere in the book have I claimed that I am innocent or that false cases were foisted on me. The period, the place I lived in, the politics of the day, the circumstances and my age would all have played a role in the tragedies. But I hope I have become a good man,” he told The Hindu ahead of the award ceremony. youtube.com/watch?v=j40OA_xN…

“Oh, people living in the light, I take you to a world surrounded by darkness. Only sharp eyesight can spot the light in that dark world, but not its heat.” Thus begins Mr. Selvam’s introduction to his chilling account. The manuscript, written in his neat handwriting, is still in his possession. The maturity of his language, both spoken and written, and the change in his outlook speak volumes about the transformative power of sustained reading. From death row to award-winning author, C. Selvam expresses remorse, reflects on the families of his victims Read full article: thehindu.com/news/national/t… For the best experience read this on The Hindu App. bit.ly/THNewsApp

“Baatcha, Baatcha” — the refrain that echoed in cinemas, heralding Rajinikanth’s arrival on screen in a new avatar in Baashha. The film marked a turning point in the actor’s screen image, amid growing speculation about his political ambitions. The song “Singam Ondru Purappattathey” in Arunachalam further reinforced this image of a larger-than-life hero. thehindu.com/news/national/t…

A product of The Hindu A moment to cherish and take pride in: Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay presenting the book to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Published by The Hindu in collaboration with the Tourism Department, the book was curated by me. It is a matter of personal pride to see a publication I curated being presented on such an occasion.

Unacceptable behavior of TVK cadres The behaviour of cadres of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) at a meeting attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unacceptable. No one can object to their desire to see their leader and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay become the Prime Minister of the country in the future. But they had no right to blow whistles, the party’s election symbol, while Mr. Modi was addressing a function on the IIT Madras campus on Sunday. Such conduct showed a lack of decorum. Seated in the last row, the cadres erupted in cheers and whistles whenever Mr. Vijay’s name was mentioned. They continued the display even while the Prime Minister was speaking. They blew whistles and held placards and posters featuring Mr. Vijay’s photographs and slogans hailing him as the future Prime Minister of India. As their activities caused a disturbance, the police asked them to behave. The cadres calmed down briefly but resumed their activities after the function ended.

Buyers’ Remorse and by-elections in Tamil Nadu “Buyers’ remorse” could well describe the situation in Maduranthagam and Dharapuram, which are witnessing by-elections after the AIADMK candidates who won the constituencies joined the ruling TVK and resigned their posts. As consumers, we think twice before buying a product that has failed to meet our expectations. Yet, when it comes to elected representatives, we seem willing to watch them choose their own path and take voters for granted. Perhaps, in Indian democracy, all is fair once the votes have been counted.

Chief Minister Vijay and Khadi Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has asked people to patronise khadi products. But who is likely to follow the advice? It costs a lot to keep even Gandhi in poverty. Khadi products are relatively expensive, and the choice of ready-made khadi garments is limited. More importantly, is Mr. Vijay himself ready to follow his own advice? I doubt it. Politicians routinely pontificate on the virtues of government schools and hospitals. Yet many send their children to CBSE or ICSE schools, or institutions that follow international curricula, and rush to the best private hospitals when they fall ill. Some even run or manage private hospitals and schools catering to those who can afford them. We live in a society where politicians extol virtues they are not always willing to practise themselves. Perhaps the best course is to remain silent and live in peace.

No meeting of minds between Communists and the TVK The relationship between the two communist parties and the ruling TVK is, for all practical purposes, over. Their decision to field candidates in the Maduranthagam and Dharapuram constituencies makes this clear. There is hardly any meeting of minds between them now. Their assessment of the TVK has proved to be wrong. This is not merely a departure from the status quo; it marks a fundamental shift in their relationship.

Suffocating Chennai to death Either OMR or ECR would be an ideal location for a new Secretariat. The late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had planned one near Thiruvidandai. She subsequently shifted the proposal to Queen Mary’s College. Both proposals failed to materialise following stiff opposition. The DMK government constructed a new Secretariat on the arterial Anna Salai, but the building was subsequently abandoned by the AIADMK government. Mr. Stalin had plans to shift the Secretariat to Pooncheri, near Mamallapuram, but officials were not in favour of the proposal. The ruling class and bureaucracy prefer to live in the city, and their interests prevail over other considerations. They will not rest until Chennai is suffocated to death.