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AIADMK reunification looms on TN horizon

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AIADMK reunification looms on TN horizon

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]But it is too early to say that the proposal can go down without hiccups, and another split won’t happen a few months or years down the line

By Vikram Kilpady

The perils of being closely associated with someone as brazen with corruption as TTV Dinakaran is said to be the reason why the VK Sasikala-led faction of the new grand old party that MG Ramachandran and the J Jayalalithaa built is inching closer to the other faction headed by master Amma loyalist and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Notice no one is saying they want to leave the party and consolidate what they have because Sasikala has been jailed in Parappana Agrahara central prison in Bangalore after being held guilty of corruption. Or for that matter Jayalalithaa.

The leadership vacuum after Jayalalithaa which was usurped by the Sasikala-led faction seems to have been short-lived. The spectacle of Chinnamma lording over party and Tamil Nadu led to the sudden change of mind that O Panneerselvam had on a late Tuesday night. He landed up at the Amma Samadhi along the Marina, but without an Ouija board to communicate with the late supremo. OPS didn’t need the Ouija board since Jayalalithaa’s spirit seemed to have told him to go for broke and pitch his own tent. His detractors say OPS had a lot of WhatsApp chats with certain powerful people in New Delhi and had transferred loyalties with a remote control to that. It’s not OPS who rules Tamil Nadu now, it’s another PS but of the Sasikala camp. His name is Edapaddi Palaniswami, therefore EPS as opposed to OPS. Now, the EPS-led camp wants to be rid of Sasikala and the rest of the Mannargudi mafia in one go. They can do this by uniting themselves with the OPS wing.

Battles for succession make for gory sights, the winner takes all. Be it the one between the much-praised Dara Shikoh and the much-maligned Aurangzeb or the one that put M Karunanidhi at the head of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) after CN Annadurai’s demise. The silver-tongued VR Nedunchezhiyan, said to be Anna’s chosen successor, was out-manoeuvred by the quick-thinking, focused Karunanidhi. Similarly, MG Ramachandran (popular as MGR) broke away when Karunanidhi began ignoring him after becoming jealous of the actor’s ability to rouse the crowds with his workman Tamil.

The two-pronged Dravidian political establishment of the last 40-odd years is now shaped like a trident with the DMK and the two AIADMK factions. Of course, there are other offshoots like the Marumalarchi DMK of Vaiko being the most prominent, now left as the rump that conveniently coalesces like putty to fill spaces in alliances of the NDA kind.

It makes great sense for the AIADMK wings to swallow their differences by remembering the good times they had prostrating full-on sashtanga namaskaar at Jayalalithaa’s feet and wondering whether their ageing knees can take the torture again for Sasikala. But will they or won’t they is best left to them. Questions also populate that board: Will OPS allow EPS to be CM? Who will be the party general secretary and such?

These are decisions they have the leisure to take before Sasikala, who took an extremely cinematic 3-slap vow at the Jayalalithaa Samadhi before leaving for incarceration in Bangalore, returns or her nephew TTV Dinakaran gets time from the Delhi Police chasing him in the alleged case to bribe an Election Commission of India official for the now-frozen two leaves symbol. But not for too long though.

If they remain separate entities, they are likely to take the path of Vaiko and become the BJP’s buddy, or even worse, be swallowed by the saffron party that could do with some hardcore cadres in the state.

Unlike the much-vaunted bid to forge unity among the various communist parties split on nuances of interpretation and make-believe, the AIADMK factions have it easier.

Indeed, AIADMK leaders have an enormous responsibility on their shoulders right now, to the people of the state, especially the farmers who are battling a second successive drought year. Their protests in New Delhi have been on for a month at Jantar Mantar but the only time they grabbed eyeballs is when they stripped naked outside the PMO after they were not allowed to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Parliament winter session: Government lists 15 bills, including Waqf bill

The session will kick off on November 25 and conclude on December 20.

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The government has listed five new ones and one to amend the contentious Waqf law out of 15 bills for the winter session of Parliament. The session will kick off on November 25 and conclude on December 20.

The government has introduced five new bills, including the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, which aims to promote coasting trade and increase the participation of Indian-flagged vessels owned and operated by Indian citizens for both national security and commercial purposes.

Another significant legislation that will be introduced by the government is the Indian Ports Bill, 2024. This bill is designed to implement measures for the conservation of ports, enhance security, and manage pollution, ensuring compliance with India’s international obligations and statutory requirements.

Additionally, the government plans to introduce the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, which aims to meet India’s obligations under maritime treaties and support the development of Indian shipping while ensuring the efficient operation of the Indian mercantile marine in a way that serves national interests.

Pending legislation includes the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which is awaiting consideration and passage after the joint committee of both Houses submits its report to the Lok Sabha. The committee is expected to report by the end of the first week of the winter session.

Currently, there are eight bills, including the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, pending in the Lok Sabha, while two additional bills are in the Rajya Sabha.

Furthermore, the government has also listed the Punjab Courts (Amendment) Bill for introduction, consideration, and passage, which seeks to increase the pecuniary appellate jurisdiction of Delhi district courts from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

The Merchant Shipping Bill, along with the Coastal Shipping Bill and the Indian Ports Bill, is slated for introduction and eventual passage.

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes

The court accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The court accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare. The leaders allegedly restricted essential supplies such as food, water, and medical aid to civilians in Gaza, resulting in severe humanitarian crises and deaths, including among children.

Last year in October, Israel had launched attacks on Gaza in retaliation for the surprise attack by Hamas. The Israel-Hamas war has led to the death of thousands of civilians, while lakhs have been displaced. The major infrastructures in Gaza, including hospitals and schools, were also destroyed as Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas.

The International Criminal Court stated that it found reasonable grounds to believe the accused intentionally targeted civilians and limited medical supplies, forcing unsafe medical procedures, which caused immense suffering. This ruling was based on the findings from at least October 8, 2023 until at least May 20, 2024.

The court remarked that it has assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that PM Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza.

Furthermore, it also noted that the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and medical supplies created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, leading to death of civilians, including children due to malnutrition and dehydration.

Additionally, the International Criminal Court dismissed two challenges by Israel against its jurisdiction in the situation in the State of Palestine.

Notably, Israel had contested the ICC’s jurisdiction, claiming it could not be exercised without Israel’s consent. Nonetheless, the Chamber ruled that the Court has jurisdiction based on Palestine’s territorial scope, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It further noted that Israel’s objections were premature, as jurisdictional challenges under the Rome Statute can only be made after an arrest warrant is issued.

Reportedly, Israel had also requested a fresh notification regarding the investigation, started in 2021. Denying the request, the court stated that Israel had earlier declined to request a deferral, making additional notifications unnecessary.

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Yogi Adityanath accords tax-free status to Sabarmati Report film in Uttar Pradesh

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also praised this film.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accorded a tax-free status to ‘The Sabarmati Report’ film, based on the train burning incident at Godhra in Gujarat in 2002, in the state.

The announcement was made after Chief Minister Adityanath attended the screening of Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna-starrer ‘The Sabarmati Report’ in Lucknow with the film’s cast.  

Speaking to reporters, actor Vikrant Massey thanked the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister for making ‘The Sabarmati Report’ film tax-free in the state. “I want to thank Yogi Adityanath ji. This is an important film and I appeal to everyone to go and watch this film,” he said.

Chief Minister Adityanath along with many of his cabinet colleagues watched the film ‘The Sabarmati Report’ under a special screening at a cinema hall in the capital, said a spokesperson of the state government.

Several people associated with the film unit were also present on the occasion. Later the chief minister announced to make this film tax-free in UP.

The BJP-ruled states have been praising the makers of The Sabarmati Report, claiming the team has tried to bring out this truth in front of the people of the country through the film.

The saffron party is appealing to people to watch this film and try to get closer to the truth of Godhra.

Uttar Pradesh becomes the sixth BJP-ruled state after Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to declare lead actors Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna’s film tax-free.

Adityanath said along with identifying the faces of those who are conspiring against the country for political gains, there is also a need to expose them. The film team has discharged its responsibilities to expose the truth, he said, adding an attempt has been made to bring the real truth in front of the country in a big way through the film.

The Sabarmati Report is said to be based on the incident of setting fire to a train full of ‘karsevaks’ in Godhra on February 27, 2002, killing 90 devotees. After this incident, communal riots broke out in Gujarat. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also praised this film.

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