QChennai: 18 AIADMK MLAs Disqualified; 15-Day-Old Infant Kidnapped

Here’s all the top headlines from the previous day in Chennai.

1. TN Speaker Disqualifies 18 Rebel AIADMK MLAs

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal on Monday disqualified 18 dissident ruling AIADMK MLAs, owing allegiance to sidelined party leader TTV Dhinakaran, who on 22 August submitted individual letters to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao withdrawing support to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

The Speaker held that their actions amounted to “voluntarily giving up membership” of the AIADMK. Opposition leaders and Mr Dhinakaran called the action “murder of democracy” in a bid to manufacture a majority for Mr Palaniswami.

Source: The Hindu

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2. MTC Bus Mows Down Student at Thurimullaivoyal

A Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus fatally knocked down Yeshwant, 21, an engineering student, and rammed a Tasmac bar on CTH Road near Tirumullaivoyal on Monday afternoon.

According to the police, there were 15 passengers in the bus, which was proceeding from Broadway to Avadi.

It knocked down Yeshwant and his friend Jagan, 21, who were walking on the left side of the road.

Source: The Hindu

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3. Disqualification an Act of Cowardice, Says Stalin

Opposition leader and DMK working president MK Stalin on Monday described the disqualification of 18 MLAs supporting TTV Dhinakaran under the anti-defection law as a “murder of democracy”, saying the AIADMK government led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami would be defeated by the people.

He pointed out that the Speaker had refused to take any action against former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and the 10 MLAs supporting him for voting against Mr Palaniswami’s government in February, defying a whip issued by the Chief Whip.

Source: The Hindu

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4. 15-Day-Old Infant Missing From GH

A 15-day-old girl went missing from the premises of the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Monday morning. However, the police claim they have managed to obtain the whereabouts of the child.

According to Narayana Babu, Dean, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Manimegalai, 22, had come in for a master health check-up.

When Ms Manimegalai came out of the building, she found the car with the women and her baby gone. A case was registered at the police station.

Source: The Hindu

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5. CM Consolidating Hold Over Party

The disqualification of 18 MLAs is being viewed in AIADMK (Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) circles as an attempt by Chief Minister and Deputy Coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami to consolidate his hold over the party.

Even though the action was attributed to the decision of Speaker P Dhanapal, what is widely acknowledged within the party is that the Chief Minister’s inputs, regarded as critical, were factored in by the Speaker. Also, in this round of battle between Mr Palaniswami and his chief detractor, TTV Dhinakaran, the former appears to have emerged stronger.

Source: The Hindu

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6. Car Import Case: Sushmita Appears in Court

Actor and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen on Monday appeared as a prosecution witness before a city court in connection with violation of provisions of the Customs Act by her dealer Haren Choksi, through whom she bought an imported car.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had unearthed a scam in importing high-end cars by a group through the Chennai port. The Customs Department, Chennai, filed a criminal case in 2015 against Choksi, a resident of Malabar Hill and importer Vasu Bandari Thamla for having violated the Export and Import (EXIM) policy by importing luxury cars in contravention of ‘Transfer of Residence’ facility of baggage rules.

Source: The Hindu

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7. Waterways in Chennai to be Cleaned Soon

After a delay of a few months, the Water Resources Department is planning to initiate steps to clean the city waterways to prevent flooding during the ensuing northeast monsoon.

Every year, the department desilts major waterways and surplus channels of waterbodies in and around the city ahead of the monsoon, which sets in by October-end. But, this year, it is still awaiting a government order to execute the monsoon preparedness works.

Officials of the WRD said work to remove vegetation is already in progress in Cooum and Adyar rivers as part of the restoration project. This would be continued till the end of the monsoon to ensure free flow of rainwater.

Source: The Hindu

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