1. NIA conducts its first spot inquiry at Coimbatore car blast site
Three days after the probe on the car explosion that took place in front of Sangameswarar Temple at Kottaimedu in Coimbatore was transferred to the central agency, two officials of National Investigation Agency inspected the blast site on October 31, 2022. The temple priest S. Sundaresan, who is the complainant in the case was also inquired by the NIA Superintendent of Police T. Sreejith and NIA Inspector S. Vignesh, who is the investigating officer of the case. Earlier on October 30, a temporary office of the NIA was set up in Coimbatore where a seven-member NIA team has camped and the investigation details were handed over by the Coimbatore city police.
2. Governor’s “conservative” views flayed by Secular Progressive Alliance
Coming together against the views being expressed by the Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, the leaders of the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, in a statement, said he should quit the post if he wanted to express such views to please the BJP leadership.
His views on Sanathana dharma, Aryam, Dravidam, Schedule Castes and Thirukkural were dangerous and absurd, they charged. “It is unfair on his part to express conservative and poisonous ideas while holding a Constitutional post. He is speaking against the Constitution. Does he know that he is acting against the oath he had taken as the Governor of the state?,” the leaders questioned.
The statement was signed collectively by DMK treasurer T.R. Baalu, Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani, TNCC president K.S. Alagiri, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, CPI(M) state secretary K. Balakrishnan, CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan, IUML leader Kader Mohideen, VCK leader Tho. Thirumavalavan, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader M.H Jawahirullah, Kongu Nadu Desiya Katchi general secretary E.R. Eswaran and Tamilaga Vazhurimai Katchi leader T Velmurugan have signed the statement.
Meanwhile, K.S. Alagiri who spoke at Dharmapuri later in the day alleged that the Governor speaks like a propaganda secretary of a political party.
3. War of words between Annamalai and T.N. police continues
A day after the Tamil Nadu police chief C. Sylendra Babu issued a three-page statement accusing him of spearheading a defamatory campaign and diverting the investigation, Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai rebutted the police department’s charge of him spreading “false news” in connection with the recent car blast in Coimbatore.
The BJP leader, on October 30, pointed out that in July this year, a warning was given about Jameesha Mubin, who was killed in the blast that is suspected to have been triggered by an LPG cylinder.
Despite that, he was not put under the State government’s watch, he pointed out adding that the head for the Intelligence Wing in Coimbatore was not appointed until September.
4. Thevar Jayanthi and guru pooja – O. Panneerselvam gifts silver armour of Muthuramalinga Thevar
Leaders of several political parties descended at the memorial of freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar at Pasumpon village in Ramanathapuram district on the occasion of the leader’s 115th birth anniversary and 60th death anniversary.
Following the last-minute cancellation of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s visit to Pasumpon due to back pain as per medical advice, senior Ministers and DMK’s Youth Wing Secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin paid their respects at the memorial.
While the AIADMK interim general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami skipped his visit to Pasumpon for the second consecutive year, his rival O. Panneerselvam marked his attendance.
Amidst the recent court tussle over the custody of the golden armour (gifted to the leader’s memorial by former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa) between the EPS and OPS factions, Mr. Panneerselvam, on Sunday, presented a silver armour of the leader to the memorial. Earlier last week, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ordered the revenue officials of Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts to handle the golden armour till the Thevar Jayanthi concludes this year.
5. Soorasamharam celebrated with fervour
On the sixth and the final day of ‘Kanda Sashti’ festival, ‘soorasamharam’ event was conducted at all temples of Lord Murugan across the State.
Thousands of devotees from far and near witnessed the event at Tiruchendur Sri Subramanian Swamy Temple in Thoothukudi district where the 50-minute ritual of ‘soorar vadham’ (slaying of the demons headed by Soorapadman, which symbolised the victory of good over evil) is performed with much grandeur every year.
