Many people accompanied Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy to the inauguration of a haemodialysis unit at the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital recently though the ward has restrictions on the number of visitors.
Normally, visitors are not allowed into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and other special wards in hospitals as patients undergoing treatment might develop infection. But more than 100 persons accompanying the Chief Minister entered the ward wearing footwear. Doctors in the haemodialysis unit remained mute spectators, as they could not prevent their entry. Much to the surprise of the patients, the Mr. Rangasamy lit camphor and performed deeparadhana to the new dialysis unit.
The post of commissioner in the Directorate of Technical Education has been lying vacant for the last three weeks. The commissioner is the go-to person as he deals with not just institutions offering engineering education, but also with polytechnic, catering and even film technology. The commissioner’s approval is needed for increase of student intake and seat matrix, syllabus and conduct of exams. It is normal for officials of Anna University or polytechnic to direct reporters to the commissioner saying he is the only authorised to provide information. While reporters feel the lack of a spokesperson for the department, especially as it is admission time, officials maintain they do not miss the head. “There was once a time when the post remained vacant for over three months. We simply sent the files to the Secretary,” an official said.
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After losing his membership in the party, M.K. Alagiri has kept a low-key in the recent months and avoids mediapersons. Two days ago, when he left for Chennai, some reporters at the airport spotted him and asked for his comments on the DMK’s prospects in the R.K. Nagar Assembly by-poll. Pat came the response: “Ask those in the DMK...” Not satisfied, when another scribe asked him to explain, Mr. Alagiri went on saying: “I had already told you people (scribes) about it when the Lok Sabha polls were held a year ago. Please do not expect me to repeat...”
Mr. Alagiri has been studiously avoiding the press in his home town and if anyone wished to meet him, he talks on the condition that the discussion should not be reported in the media. He left for Chennai, accompanied by his wife, to attend the wedding of his nephew scheduled on June 8 at Arivalayam.
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A poster announcing the wedding of a police Sub-Inspector raised many eyebrows at Vikravandi in Villuppuam district on Sunday. Besides a Kollywood star, the poster had the photo of forest brigand Veerappan displayed prominently next to a lion. Police sources said neither the groom nor the bride was connected to the slain sandalwood smuggler in any way. The posters, apparently printed by the official’s friends, came up in the town and adjoining villages.
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Is groupism rearing its head in Tamil Maanila Congress too? The question came to the fore when a group of partymen proceeded to shut down a TASMAC outlet even while their colleagues were staging a demonstration in Tiruchi on Friday as part of a State-wide agitation seeking total prohibition. Just as the demonstration was on near the Collectorate, a group of about 35 partymen, led by M.D.Raja Raja Cholan, State Secretary, suddenly broke away and marched with the intent to lock down a TASMAC shop and courted arrest. District office-bearers, who were taken by surprise, were none too happy about their action and viewed it as a publicity stunt.
(S. Prasad, R. Sujatha,L. Srikrishna, S. Vijay Kumar and S. Ganesan )
