VSK TN
Evils Of a Secular Govt administering Hindu Temples
A recent incident inside the Madhava Perumal (Vishnu) temple in Mylapore, Chennai vindicates an old demand by Hindu organisations asking the secular state government to quit from Hindu temple administration. On March 7 a Christian wedding was permitted by the Executive Officer of the temple attached to the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Board (HR&CE), a department of the state government. While rules prohibit the very entry of non-Hindus into a Hindu temple, the EO had brazenly justified his act of allowing a Christian wedding right inside the Mandapam adjoining the Vishnu temple, when angry devotees confronted him over the legality of such permission. In the meantime, a legal notice has been served by Tiruchy based A. Krishnamachari, editor of ‘Panchajanyam’ through his lawyer to HR&CE and to the EO of the temple in this connection on March 19. Till date no reply has been received from both the concerned institutions. “Christians begin by converting and now they are stealthily trying to make inroads into temples and related properties.It simply appals me” said a Chennai based woman advocate.
Over 10,000 “honest” appointments by Tripura CPI (M) government
On March 30, even as Manik Sarkar, the “honest” Chief Minister of Tripura, appealed to students to be ready to make even the “supreme sacrifice” for the country, while presenting awards to outstanding students of Everwin Matriculation School in Chennai suburb Kolathur, back home in Agartala, his government was in deep trouble. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the resignation of the CPI (M) Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty. The Supreme Court, on March 29, had given its verdict cancelling appointment of 10,323 teachers during 2010 to 2012 by the Left Front government. The opposition parties demanded a CBI investigation into the issue while announcing to launch a state wide protest against the “biggest ever recruitment scam” in the state. If Haryana CM Chautala could be jailed in a similar teacher recruitment scam in 2015, why not comrade Manik Sarkar, they asked.
Havelock Island’s name a shame: La. Ganesan
Havelock Island in the Andamans is named after British general, Sir Henry Havelock. BJP member of Rajya Sabha La Ganesan (who hails from Tamilnadu), said that naming a place after a person who had fought Indian patriots in 1857 was a matter of shame. While speaking in the Upper House on March 22, he said General Havelock had fought against Indians during the great upsurge of 1857, led by leaders like Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. Ganesan added that there was a statue of Havelock in the Trafalgar Square in London for his role in crushing the forces of Indian patriots. He questioned that over six decades after Independence, there is still an island named after such a person. He also said that Andaman Islands is a place where people like Veer Savarkar had been jailed. After Ganesan raised questions about an island being named after an East India Company’s General, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said it was a good suggestion which the government should examine. Already residents of Andamans have demanded that islands of A&N must be named after patriots.