QChennai: TTV’s Aide Joins DMK; Trans Women Appeal for Rights
Here is your roundup of the top stories from Chennai.
1. Former Tamil Nadu Transport Minister Senthil Balaji Quits AMMK, Joins DMK
Ending days of speculation, V Senthil Balaji, former Transport Minister and key functionary of the TTV Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, on Friday joined the opposition DMK in the presence of party president MK Stalin and other senior leaders.
Balaji, who is one of the 18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs, hit out at the AIADMK government led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam alleging that they were sacrificing the rights of the people of Tamil Nadu at the behest of the BJP.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. 'Cancel Our Citizenship': Struggling for Govt Jobs, 3 TN Trans Women Write to President
Overlooked and ignored in applications for government jobs, three trans women are slamming the country’s inability to provide them with ‘basic rights’ and access to employment opportunities. They have written letters to President Ram Nath Kovind asking their citizenships to be cancelled for the apparent unjust treatment.
In individual letters, R Anushri, K Aradhana and J Kaviya, wrote, “I, a trans woman, am also a citizen of this country. I also pay my taxes for all that I enjoy in this country. As a community, we have not got our basic rights until today. The Transgender Bill has not been passed in the parliament either. I do not deserve to live in this country where I enjoy no rights. Kindly cancel my citizenship.”
(Source: The News Minute)
3. Separate Entrance, Washbasins for ‘Veg’ and ‘Non-Veg’ in IIT-M Mess
The Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC), a student group of the Indian Institute of Technology (Madras) has accused the administration of caste discrimination in a student mess on campus.
A poster read 'Untouchability continues at IIT Madras' reads, "Upper caste households in India would usually have two entrances - one for the upper castes and the other one in the back for the ‘impure’ lower castes. A mess in IIT Madras is now having the same system. This mess has two separate entrances for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Not just that - separate wash basins and separate utensils as well. What started as a demand for ‘pure’ vegetarian mess has become full-fledged untouchability. IIT Madras is trying to become a world-class institute, but the culture inside is still regressive in many aspects!"
(Source: The News Minute)
4. Two Women Killed in Balcony Collapse
Two elderly women, who were reportedly talking while standing in the balcony of a house in Thiruvanmiyur on Thursday evening, died after the balcony collapsed. Police said, Mariammal resided on the first floor of a two-storey building at Thiruvanmiyur along with her son.
“On Thursday evening Tulasiamma had come to meet her and the duo were talking in the balcony when it suddenly collapsed,” said a police officer. “The duo fell and died on the spot. A four-year-old girl, Tamilselvi, who was playing on the ground floor, sustained severe head injuries after the debris fell on her,” added the officer.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. TN Health Secy J Radhakrishnan Appears Before Panel Probing Jaya's Death
Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan on Friday appeared before Justice A Arumughaswamy, Commission of Inquiry, which is probing the circumstances leading to the death of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The panel, constituted by the state government in September 2017 under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, had earlier summoned him to appear before it.
"I had answered the queries raised by the commission, including from the admission (of J Jayalalithaa). It will not be appropriate for me to comment now," Radhakrishnan told. He said the inquiry would continue and he was asked to appear before the commission again on 18 December.
(Source: Deccan Chronicle)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)