SC stays Madras HC order on crop loan waiver

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a stay on the Madras High Court directive asking the Tamil Nadu government to extend its crop loan waiver scheme to all farmers, including those with landholdings above five acres.

The apex court’s move is a setback to the Tamil Nadu farmers who had earlier agitated in Delhi for loan waiver and demanded drought relief to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore.

The Madras High Court, in April this year, had directed the government to provide full waiver, irrespective of their land holdings.

In April, several farmers from Tamil Nadu protested at Jantar Mantar demanding waiving off the loans.

In a brief hearing, a bench headed by Justice M B Lokur stayed the high court order and issued notices to the National South Indian River Interlinking Agriculturist Association that had sought the debt waiver

The stay brings relief to the Tamil Nadu government that had argued that the aim was to provide relief only to small and marginal farmers. The government had taken the decision after considering vital parameters -- budgetary allocation, revenue mobilisation, the position of the farmers viz-a-viz their land holding and other considerations, said officials.

Kodanadu estate accountant found dead

In yet another death of a person connected with late chief minister Jayalalithaa's Kodanadu estate, one of its accountants was found hanging in his house near here on Monday, police said.

28-year-old Dinesh Kumar was found hanging from the ceiling of his house in Kothagiri under mysterious circumstances. He was one of the accountants at the Kodanadu estate.

Some months back, a security guard was murdered by a group at the estate.

Subsequently, two men suspected of involvement in the killing of the security guard met with separate road accidents, leading to the death of one of them.

Ooty SP Murali Rambha said that Dinesh Kumar had not gone to office in Kodanadu estate since the past fortnight due to medical reasons.

The body of the computer operator, who used a saree to hang himself, was found by his mother and sister. He was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Reports said Kumar and some of the other staff in the estate were two days ago discussing the fate of their jobs with the likely change in management of the sprawling estate.

Producers upset with theatre owners, not to support strike

Even as theatre owners in the state have gone on an indefinite strike from Monday opposing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that has been levied starting July 1, Tamil Film Producers Council president and actor Vishal has expressed his strong reservations.

"The critical decision was taken (by the chamber) without the consent of other organisations. In fact, we were not even informed and their move came as a shocker," Vishal said.

He added: "We have urged them to revoke their decision and give us time to discuss the taxation issue with the government."

He said that 20 producers would severely be affected because of the move, as their films are currently running in cinema halls across the state.

Vishal, who is also the general secretary of South Indian Artistes Association (Nadigar Sangam), said that time should have been given before the strike.

"In fact, all South Indian industries have together sent a collective representation to the central government asking them to put regional cinema in the least slab because one crore film and a 1,000 crore Hollywood film is in the same tax slab, so that is definitely going to affect the regional cinema,” Vishal added.

Over 1000 theatres shut in TN from today

More than 1,000 cinema houses in Tamil Nadu have cancelled screenings against the imposition of 30 per cent local body tax apart from additional tariffs under the new GST regime.

After the GST was rolled out on the midnight of June 30, theatre owners will have to pay GST of 18% plus the 30% tax imposed by the municipal corporation, adding up to an enormous 48%.

“Though the Tamil Nadu Film Exhibitors Association had decided on Friday to cancel shows from July 3, many theatres shut down yesterday itself,” president of the association, Abirami Ramanathan said, adding about 1,000 cinema halls state-wide are shut now.

Film theatre associations are demanding a roll back of the tax, which came into effect from July 1. The State theatres will stop advance bookings of tickets and all shows across the theatres will be suspended starting today.

Earlier on Saturday, the TN film fraternity, together with all the South Indian industries, notified a collective representation being sent to the Central Government, requesting them to put the regional cinema in the “least slab”.

Cops crack young doctor murder case

The police arrested cousins of doctor N Rajesh, 26, who was found dead in the water tank of his house in Poompuhar Nagar, Kolathur, on Friday.

Rajesh was set to enter wedlock on Monday, and he was murdered over a property dispute when his parents had gone to Sivaganga to invite relatives for his marriage.

Investigation revealed that the murder was committed by the doctor’s cousin R Mahendran and his brother Vijayendran, who live nearby.

Vijayendran and Mahendran are sons of Rajendran, who is the elder brother of Rajesh's father Nagarajan. The two families were living in adjacent houses and there was a dispute between them over an ancestral property, sources said.

Police said the accused and the victim had a drink on Thursday and a verbal duel followed. Mahendran killed Rajesh, dumped the body in the water tank with the help of Vijayendran and a friend and escaped.

Kathiramangalam: Stalin, Vijayakanth demand immediate release of arrested protesters

DMK working president M K Stalin and DMDK supremo Vijayakanth among other leaders have hit out at the government and the police for the recent attack on protesters at Kathiramangalam, who were agitating against exploration activities of ONGC.

Stalin urged the Tamil Nadu government to release those arrested in connection with protests held recently at a village in Thanjavur district against "leak" in an ONGC pipe line.

Demanding the immediate release of villagers, Stalin said the police personnel deployed in Kathiramangalam should be withdrawn at once.

A protest against "leak" in an ONGC pipe at Kathiramangalam near Thanjavur turned violent as locals and activists clashed with police officials, prompting them to baton charge the protesters which left several persons, including two policemen, injured.

Vijayakanth said in a statement here that the attack is strongly condemnable as the people were only fighting for their rights.

"They were only conducting peaceful protests," he said. Other leaders such as MDMK general secretary Vaiko and CPI(M) state secretary G Ramakrishnan have already condemned the incident.

The Annual Aani Month Broahmotavam of Arulmigu Lord Sri Narasimhaswamy @ Lord Sri Parthasarathy Thirukoil, Triplicane

The Annual Aani Month Broahmotavam of Arulmigu Lord Sri Narasimhaswamy @ Lord Sri Parthasarathy Thirukoil, Triplicane, Chennai 600 005 starts from 03.07.2017 Sunday will go on till Wednesday 12.07.2017

Out of the 108 Diva Desams Temple this temple is very old and many Alwars have made Mangaladasanam for this Temple.

In this Temple Alrulmigu Yoganarasimhar is sitting in Yagapittam facing west and he is famous for solving all type of diseases. Urchavar Theliasingar (Azhagiyasingar) is giving Dharshan alongwith Sridevi, Bhoodevi Thayar with four hands, Sangu, Chakkaram, Abhaiyam, Aashvanam. Devotees coming for workship need not fear that they are coming for Lord Narasimhar. Lord Narasimhar himself calls all the devotees with his left hand (Aashvanam - meaning for this is calling) and giving blessings with his right hand (Abhaiyam). While Devotees coming around the Lord Narasimhar Swamy sannadhi they use to put salt and pepper. Since Devotees problem will get solved like how salt melts and their diseases will drop out like pepper.

Programme

03.7.2017 Morning 7 am Dharmadhi Peedam

03.7.2017. Evening 7.45 pm Punnai Maravahanam

04.7.2017. Morning 6.15 am Sesha Vahanam

04.7.2017 Evening 7.45 pm Simha Vahanam

05.7.2017. Morning. 5.30am Garuda Seva

05.7.2017. Evening 7.45 pm Hamsa Vahanam

06.7.2017 Morning. 6.15 pm Surya Prabai

06.7.2017 Evening 7.45 pm Chandra Prabai

07.7.2017 Morning. 5.30 am Nachiyar Thirukolam

Evening 4 pm Yoga Narasimhar Thirukolam

07.7.2017 Evening 8.45 pm
Hanumantha Vahanam

08.7.2017 Morning 5 am
Surnaabhisegam

Morning 6.15 am Thangasaparam

Morning 9 am Ekantha Sevai

08.7.2017 Evening 7.45 pm
Yanai Vahanam

09.7.2017 Morning 7 am Thiruther (Car Festival)

09.7.2017 Evening 9 pm Thottathirumanjanam

10.7.2017 Morning 6 am Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Thirukolam

10.7.2017 Evening 7.45 pm Kuthirai Vahanam

11.7.2017 Morning 6.15 am Aalum Pallaku

Morning 11 am Theerthavari

11.7.2017 Evening 7 pm Sathadharsa Vimanam

Thousands of Devotees are expected to participate during this Brahmotavam to get the blessings of Lord Sri Narasimhar Swamy.

Daily Annadanam is taking place under the Tamilnadu CM Annadanam Scheme.

All necessary and important arrangements for the same are being made by MIss M Jothilakshmi, . MA, BL. Assistant Commissioner, Jewel Verification. Deputy Commissioner / Executive Officer / Thakkar (Additional Charge )

T Raghavan