Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, grandson of legendary politician Kalaignar, sticks to his statement comparing Sanatan Dharma to dengue and malaria. He defends it as a call to address the mistreatment of women in the Hindu religion and echoes the views of prominent Dravidian leaders. Despite facing protests and legal action, he refuses to apologize, stating he stands by his words.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has sparked a debate over population control laws by encouraging state residents to consider having more children. This comes after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu recently proposed incentives for families to have more children, citing concerns over an ageing population and reduced political influence. The remark by Stalin has also raised questions about the delimitation process and its potential impact on southern states.
Chief Ministers Chandrababu Naidu and MK Stalin are urging families in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to have more children, citing concerns about ageing population and potential loss of Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming delimitation process. While Naidu has even proposed legislation to incentivize larger families, Stalin has jokingly suggested aiming for 16 children for prosperity, highlighting the impact this population growth could have on the political landscape in India. Meanwhile, a recent government report predicts a significant rise in the number of elderly citizens in the country, particularly in the southern states.
At a mass marriage event in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin referenced a Tamil adage and expressed concern over the impact of the Lok Sabha delimitation exercise on family planning. He urged couples to continue giving Tamil names to their children and reminded them that the traditional saying about acquiring 16 types of wealth does not refer to having 16 children. This comes just days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu controversially advocated for women to have more children to stabilize the population in his state.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu for the next two days, prompting Chief Minister MK Stalin to declare a holiday for schools and colleges in four districts in Chennai on Tuesday, October 15. In addition, the government has also issued an advisory for IT professionals to work from home in affected areas from October 15 to 18. The Chief Minister has also instructed officials to deploy NDRF and SDRF teams in vulnerable areas to prepare for potential floods. Opposition parties, however, have boycotted a Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on the Waqf Bill.
Chaos ensued on Friday night when a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district, causing injuries to over 10 people. Drone footage of the aftermath has revealed the extent of the destruction, prompting outrage from opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. In the wake of the accident, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin called for stronger measures to prevent such incidents, as officials worked to safely transport affected passengers to their destinations.
A train accident in Tamil Nadu, in which an Express train collided with a goods train, caused panic and injured several passengers. Despite the impact and a fire in one of the coaches, there were no reported casualties as rescue teams quickly evacuated over 95% of passengers. Authorities, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, are closely monitoring the situation as relief efforts are underway.
Amidst the chaos and tension surrounding the technical snag that caused an emergency landing for an Air India Express flight in Trichy, the quick actions of the pilot and crew resulted in all passengers landing safely. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Stalin, also played a vital role in coordinating emergency measures for the well-being of all passengers and aircrew. Officials have already begun investigating the root cause of the issue to further prioritize safety in air travel.
Murasoli Selvam, the brother-in-law of Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and former editor of the DMK mouthpiece 'Murasoli', passed away at the age of 84 in Bengaluru. He was the nephew of the late DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi and the younger brother of former Union Minister Murasoli Maran. Selvam's sharp writings under the pseudonym Silandhi in Murasoli were instrumental in clarifying ideological issues for the DMK, including during the party's alliance with the BJP. He was also a film producer and had been living in Bengaluru before his passing.
At the book launch event of DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin praised the party's unwavering principles and resilience against its enemies. He further emphasized the need for more leaders like Siva to combat the BJP's false propaganda and revisionist attempts to rewrite history. The event saw the release of five books written by Siva, with the first copy being handed over to DMK treasurer T.R. Baalu by Mr. Stalin. Actor Prakash Raj, lyricist Vairamuthu, and Dravidian ideologue Suba.Veerapandian were also present at the event, showcasing the strong support and unity within the party.