1. ‘Sterlite Plant Can’t Be Allowed to Operate’
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) told the Supreme Court that Vedanta's Sterlite copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi can't be allowed to operate as it was involved in a series of violations resulting in an alarming level of groundwater pollution.
"This is certainly not an industry that can be allowed to operate," senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan told, counting the number of violations of water and air law resulting in acute environmental degradation. Endorsing the position taken by the TNPCB, the Tamil Nadu government defended the decision to permanently close the Thoothukudi Copper Smelting Plant.
(Source: NDTV)
2. As State Refuses to Relent, Tamil Nadu Government Staff, Teachers End Strike After Nine Days
The nine-day strike by members of Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTTO-GEO), came to an end on Wednesday, after most employees returned to work over the last few days. The state coordinators of the association announced that the strike has been called off.
However, members of the association expressed resent, that neither their demands were met by the government, nor did the chief minister attempt holding peace-talks with them. The strike, which started on 22 January, kept nearly a third of all government employees away from work during the initial days.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. Cartoon in Dinamalar Body Shames BJP Leader Tamilisai, She Slams the Perversion
(Photo Courtesy: Indiaglitz)
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tamil Nadu President Tamilisai Soundararajan has slammed a body-shaming cartoon that appeared in the Tamil daily Dinamalar. A distasteful cartoon that depicts the BJP leader playing ring toss, makes her look wantonly dishevelled.
Speaking to Tamil magazine Vikatan, the leader said, “Women who have more colour are not mocked like this by society. That is perversion. Even if I am a decent woman, a doctor, politician, they are only paying attention to my complexion and my physical appearance. This is a big injustice. They don't like when a woman grows as a strong leader. It is natural then that women are basically not respected.”
(Source: The News Minute)
4. Pa Ranjith to Be Part of Dalit Film Festival in US
Filmmaker Pa Ranjith, who has carved a space for the Dalit perspective in Tamil cinema, will participate in the Dalit Film and Culture Festival 2019 in February in the United States. Screenings will be held at the Columbia University and New School on February 23 and 24.
Pa Ranjith’s last directorial venture Kaala that had actor Rajinikanth in the lead and his latest blockbuster production, Pariyerum Perumal have been shortlisted as part of the festival. These films will compete with four other noted films – Neeraj Ghaywan’s Masaan, Jayan K Cherian’s Papilio Buddha, Nagaraj Manjule’s Fandry and Subodh Nagdeve’s Bole India Jai Bhim.
(Source: The Hindu)
5. Woman's Leg Gets Stuck in Train Toilet, Rescued
In a bizarre incident, a woman's leg got stuck deep in the toilet hole of an express train and she was rescued after the western commode was detached and cut open. The woman, who was not a passenger, endured agony for about half-an-hour till her leg was freed. The departure of the Hyderabad bound Charminar Express was delayed for about 20 minutes on Tuesday evening due to the incident.
A railway official said the woman, who appeared to be mentally challenged, got into the coach at the Chennai Central Railway station after loitering around for some time.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
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