Nainar made the remarks after leading a Tiranga awareness rally in T Nagar here as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign ahead of Independence Day, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for the initiative.

The rally, which began on Thyagaraya Road in T Nagar and concluded at the BJP headquarters, Kamalalayam, saw more than 500 people carrying the national flag and raising patriotic slogans. Several BJP functionaries, including Karate R Thiagarajan, participated in the rally led by Nainar Nagenthran.

Addressing the gathering at Kamalalayam, Nainar Nagenthran said that patriotism should be more widely reflected through the flying of the national flag. Recalling that the Tricolour was once a common sight across the country, he said the campaign aimed to encourage people to display it more prominently.

"Not only BJP workers, even if we belong to the Opposition, when we carry the national flag, but there should also be one feeling and one thought: our nation, our country," he said.

Nainar also said the rally was intended to promote national pride and acknowledged the participation of people beyond the BJP.

He said he was particularly pleased that members of traders' associations, the public and women had joined the rally along with BJP workers and functionaries.

The provisional allotments include 6,914 students from government schools, while 2,647 government-school students have received tentative allotments.

Students with provisional allotment orders have been instructed to report directly to their allotted colleges. Those with tentative allotments must visit the TFC centres mentioned in their choice list.

They have to submit their original certificates and pay the prescribed tuition fees by August 13 to complete the admission process.

Students who fail to report to the college or submit the required documents by August 13 will forfeit their allotted seats. These seats will subsequently be offered to students awaiting upward movement.

Meanwhile, 28,979 students who received allotments in the special counselling and first round are already in the process of joining colleges. For supplementary counselling for BE, BTech and BArch courses, applications will be accepted from August 17 to 31.

The rank list will be published subsequently, and supplementary counselling will be held from September 3-7. Students can check their allotment details on the official TNEA website.

The Bandra Terminus–Velankanni Special will leave Bandra Terminus at 9.30 pm on August 27 and September 1, and reach Velankanni at 10.05 am on the third day. In the return, it will leave Velankanni at 12.45 am on August 30 and September 4, and reach Bandra Terminus at 3 pm the next day.

The trains will stop at Borivali, Vasai Road, Panvel, Pune, Solapur, Wadi, Yadgir, Raichur, Guntakal, Gooty, Renigunta, Katpadi, Vellore Cantonment, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Mayiladuturai and Nagappattinam, among other stations.

Another special, the Valsad–Velankanni Special will leave Valsad at 7.40 pm on September 6 and reach Velankanni at 10.05 am on the third day. On its return, Velankanni–Dahanu Road will leave Velankanni at 3.10 pm on September 8 and reach Dahanu Road at 5.30 am on the third day. Reservations will open at 8 am on August 11.

The move comes against the backdrop of a controversy over the protocol for the sequence to render the State song, which was sung after Vande Mataram and the National Anthem at several functions, including even Vijay's swearing-in ceremony in May.

Recently, 21 MPs from Tamil Nadu urged Governor in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to restore the convention of rendering the State song at the beginning of official functions.

The resolution, listed as government business for Monday, recalls that a Government Order issued in 1970 stipulated that Tamil Thai Vazhthu be sung first at government functions. It was officially accorded the status of the State Song from December 12, 2021, and its rendition was made mandatory before programmes at educational and public institutions.

The proposed resolution also refers to observations made by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in its July 9 letter regarding the singing of the State song.

It states that Tamil Thai Vazhthu represents respect for Tamil language and culture and links its mandated precedence to the linguistic and cultural rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the preservation of Tamil Nadu's cultural identity.

The House will accordingly resolve that the State song shall be mandatorily sung first before programmes at the institutions covered by the resolution.

The deceased, identified as Balakrishnan, a resident of O’ Valley Town Panchayat, had gone out on Saturday evening to divert spring water to his house for domestic use by constructing small earthen barriers and laying a pipeline following rains.

When Balakrishnan failed to return home, his family members and relatives searched for him in the surrounding areas. After their efforts proved unsuccessful, they alerted the police and forest department.

Forest personnel, accompanied by residents, launched a search on Sunday morning. During the operation, they found Balakrishnan’s mauled body near the boundary of a forest area. Some parts of his body had been eaten by a carnivore.

The body was recovered and taken to the Gudalur Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. The incident sparked anger among villagers, who blocked forest department and police vehicles and objected to the removal of the body. They alleged that officials had taken it away in haste without allowing residents to see it.

The protest was withdrawn around noon after Gudalur Revenue Divisional Officer S.K. Gunasekaran held talks with the villagers and assured them that appropriate action would be taken.

Meanwhile, the forest department launched an intensive operation to track the suspected tiger. A team led by Gudalur Forest Range Officer (in-charge) R Ravi conducted an aerial search using a drone. A sniffer dog was also deployed to assist the search, while camera traps were installed at strategic locations to monitor the movement of the animal.

Police said Rajkannan, 54, Bojan, 70 and Radhika, 55 all hailing from Kundha, were bound to Coimbatore in a car through an alternative rugged ghat road, when the mishap happened. As the hill road witnesses limited vehicular movement, the accident went unnoticed for some time.

While nearing Perumpallam, close to Mulli check post, Rajkannan, who was behind the wheels lost control and the car crashed into a barrier, before plunging into a deep gorge.

In the impact of the fall, the car was severely mangled. On receiving information, the Karamadai forest department and Pillur dam police rushed to the spot.

The rescue personnel descended down the gorge using ropes and recovered the bodies of the trio, who were trapped inside the wreckage.

The bodies were taken to Mettupalayam Government Hospital for post mortem.

A case has been registered and further investigation is on.

Addressing a public rally organised by the Congress, MP Praveen Chakravarty and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Manickam Tagore claimed that the proposed delimitation would weaken the voice of southern states in Parliament.

Addressing the media, Manickam Tagore said there was no need to criticise the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, as its sole purpose was to safeguard the State's political rights and representation in Parliament.

He also pointed out that a uniform 50 per cent increase in seats would raise Tamil Nadu's and Puducherry's count from 40 to 60, while increasing Uttar Pradesh's representation from 80 to 120. This, he said, would widen the representation gap between the two states by 20 seats.

"Our position is clear: no delimitation and no increase in seats," Tagore said, advocating instead for reserving seats for women within the existing framework.

He termed political figures who endorsed or facilitated the Centre's proposal as "modern-day Ettappans" (traitors), alleging they were compromising the State's political authority.

The deceased, identified as Basavachetty of Kamaianpuram village, has been cultivating turmeric, potato and maize on his farmland.

A forest department official said the incident occurred around 2 am when Basavachetty heard a noise and came out of his house to check. Shocked at the sight of a wild elephant inside his farm, he attempted to drive it away by flashing a torch. “The elephant became aggressive and attacked him. He died on the spot,” the official said.

Upon receiving the information, Forest Department personnel from the Jeerahalli Forest Range reached the spot and inspected the scene. They subsequently attempted to recover the body to send it for a post-mortem examination.

However, villagers prevented the officials from removing the body and staged a protest, demanding a permanent solution to the recurring problem of wild elephants entering agricultural fields and threatening residents.

A team led by Jeerahalli Forest Range Officer M Sakthivel held talks with the protesters and assured them that steps would be taken to create a trench around the vulnerable area to prevent elephants from entering farms.

Following the assurance, the villagers withdrew their protest. The forest department also provided immediate relief of Rs 50,000 in cash and handed over a cheque for Rs 9.5 lakh as compensation to the deceased's family.

villages including Thummakundu and Meghamalai in Andipatti taluk had caused distress among the hill and indigenous communities who had been living there for generations.

He said the residents had been dependent on the forest and hill ecosystem for their livelihood for over a century, cultivating and collecting products including hill honey, cashew, pepper and cardamom.

According to him, their traditional way of life had remained largely in harmony with nature and had not caused ecological degradation. Seeman questioned the rationale behind evicting indigenous communities in the name of protecting forests and wildlife, while allowing commercial activities and infrastructure projects in forest and hill areas.

He alleged that factories, telecommunications towers, electricity infrastructure, research laboratories, roads, railway projects, and luxury resorts had contributed significantly to the destruction of forests, water bodies, and wildlife habitats.

Instead of displacing villagers, the government should take stringent action against illegal tree-cutting and smuggling, as well as encroachment on wildlife habitats and migration corridors, he said.

The police conducted a statewide drive on August 6 and 7, and arrested 837 persons who profited by renting out their accounts to fraudsters.

According to the State police headquarters, the operation targeted individuals linked to 9,804 National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) complaints involving fraudulent transactions amounting to Rs 545.27 crore.

The operation focused on identifying persons involved in opening, providing, operating, and facilitating the misuse of bank accounts for receiving and withdrawing proceeds of cyber fraud.

"Cyber criminals generally use mule bank accounts, opened in someone else's name, to move the money they defraud from public. The original account holder often ‘lends’ or ‘sells’ it to fraudsters for a commission. When a cybercriminal scams someone online, the victim's money is first transferred into a mule account.

From there it's quickly moved to multiple other accounts or withdrawn as cash. This makes it hard for police to trace back to the real offender," said an officer.

The large-scale operation was based on accused profiling through NCRP and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). The profiling was further strengthened through bank fund-trail linkages established by financial data analysis of cybercrime networks.

During the operation, police stations across Tamil Nadu, under the supervision of the respective SPs and Commissioners, arrested 837 cyber criminals involved in 601 cases. The police also registered 157 new FIRs, said the police HQ.

During the operation, the police seized 204 mobile phones, 185 SIM cards, four laptops/desktops, Rs 1 lakh in cash, 114 bank passbooks, 29 cheque books, 73 ATM/debit cards, and a credit card. In addition, 155 mobile numbers and 58 bank account details were identified for further investigation and analysis.

The police will now analyse the seized digital evidence and interrogate the arrested individuals to uncover further layers of the criminal network and identify their associates operating across India.

"These arrests mark a significant achievement in disrupting and dismantling the organised cybercrime network operating across the State. The operation stands as one of the largest coordinated drives of its kind in India, striking at a critical component of the cybercrime ecosystem-the use of mule accounts for the receipt, layering, and movement of illicit funds," said the State police.

ADVISORY TO PUBLIC:

Protect personal information: Avoid sharing sensitive details like passwords, OTPs, or bank information

Never lend your bank account for commission: Do not share your bank account details with others for commission-based activities

Watch out for investment and digital arrest scams: Be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true or claims of urgent legal action

Do not share bank account details for monetary gain: Sharing or allowing the use of bank account details for monetary consideration, whether knowingly or unknowingly, may facilitate cybercrime and attract legal action

If you have fallen victim to cybercrimes, please dial 1930 for the toll-free assistance provided by Cyber Crime wing or register your complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in.

In a statement, Anbumani said paddy bags were lying unprocured in several parts of the Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts, including Papanasam, Ammapettai, Thiruvaiyaru, Mannargudi, Kudavasal, Nannilam, and Valangaiman.

He alleged that the suspension of procurement was due to the failure to provide sufficient trucks to transport paddy already procured from the DPCs to warehouses. This has disrupted the entire chain of transporting paddy from procurement centres to warehouses and subsequently to rice mills, he said.

Anbumani condemned the government's alleged negligence and lack of planning, stating that farmers had harvested the crop after immense hard work but were now unable to sell their produce within the stipulated period.

With rain forecast in the Cauvery Delta districts over the coming days, he warned that the paddy stocks could be damaged and wasted if immediate action was not taken. He urged the government to arrange transportation on a war footing and clear the accumulated stocks at the procurement centres.

He further pointed out that kuruvai cultivation had already been severely affected by drought, resulting in a shortage of rice and an increase of Rs 10-15 per kg in its price.

In this situation, the government must ensure that farmers' harvested paddy does not go to waste, Anbumani said, urging the authorities to speed up the procurement process.

Admissions to MBBS and BDS courses are based on NEET-UG scores. Applications were invited for government and management quota seats in medical colleges across Tamil Nadu, with the deadline extended at the request of students.

A total of 72,627 candidates have applied for 16,199 MBBS and BDS seats in the State this year.

The committee has completed verification of certificates uploaded by candidates. Students who had not uploaded the required documents were given an additional opportunity to submit them. The process was completed on August 7.

Candidates can check their rank and other admission details at the website www.tnmedicalselection.net.

According to the counselling schedule, the first round of counselling will be held from August 13 to 22. Candidates allotted seats in the first round must report to their respective colleges and complete the admission process by August 28.

The second round of counselling is scheduled from August 31 to September 8, while the third round will be held from September 16 to 26.

Speaking at a birthday celebration he hosted for his supporters at a private hotel in Egmore, Sarathkumar said the idea of the tattoo had occurred to him and those who had affection for him could get it done voluntarily.

“‘Nattamai family’ can be our family identity," he said in an obvious reference to the blockbuster movie Nattamalai that made him a top-tier star in the film industry. This was an idea that suddenly came to my mind. Those who are fond of me can get it tattooed if they wish. I am not compelling anyone,” he said.

Sarathkumar, who already has a national flag tattoo on his right shoulder, said he too planned to get the new tattoo but was unable to do so immediately due to his shooting commitments.

“If members of our family want to meet me, this tattoo can serve as a green card. If you have it on your hand, you can meet me directly,” he said.

Interacting with reporters later, Sarathkumar, who is among those in contention for the BJP’s state president’s post, said there was no change in his decision to remain with the party.

“There is no change in my decision. I am firm. The leadership has said a decision will be taken soon. I have never gone anywhere seeking a post,” he said.

He ruled out reviving the Samathuva Makkal Katchi, saying he had ensured responsibilities for those who remained with him, while he alone had no post.

Asked whether he would launch a separate movement if his patience ran out, as former BJP state president K Annamalai did, Sarathkumar said he did not know whether Annamalai had started one. “We too have a movement to serve the people,” he said.

He also urged people to avoid harmful habits, exercise moderation and exercise caution while consuming information circulated on social media.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating the OGSSI Midyear Conference 2026 here, Arunraj said nearly 99 per cent of deliveries in Tamil Nadu were taking place in hospitals, with home deliveries being rare.

“Maternal mortality in Tamil Nadu is lower than in other states. Still, we are taking steps to reduce it further through various schemes, including the Thai Maman Thanga Mothiram (TMTM) Scheme,” he said.

“Deliveries in government hospitals have been declining every year. It was 65.8 per cent in 2017-19 and has now fallen to 51 per cent in 2025-26. Poor families struggle to afford deliveries at private hospitals due to the high cost. We have introduced the TMTM scheme to increase deliveries in government hospitals,” the Minister said.

Arunraj said the government would study the reasons behind the decline and promote government hospitals to encourage more women to choose them for childbirth.

He also flagged Tamil Nadu’s declining fertility rate. “The total fertility rate in Tamil Nadu is 1.3, whereas we need to maintain it at 2.1. Our society is ageing. In the future, we need to encourage people to have more children. Human resources are our best resources, and improving them is a major challenge,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said that the state's medical counselling schedule and merit list will be published on August 10.

Arunraj warned of strict action against private medical colleges that illegally collect fees beyond the stipulated period, saying a newly constituted committee was investigating complaints in this regard.

Responding to reports of pregnant women facing long queues at outpatient registration counters, the minister clarified that an Aadhaar card is not mandatory and no government hospital can deny treatment for its absence.

He cited a scheme that lets patients generate an outpatient receipt from home via smartphone.

On the renaming of 'Amma Kudineer' as the 'Payani' water bottle scheme, Arunraj said policy continuity was essential, and welfare schemes would continue irrespective of their names, with the government committed to ensuring that benefits reached people without leakages.

Responding to questions on MPs meeting, he said neither the government nor Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would succumb to pressure. He accused the DMK of compromising on its positions on State rights and social justice and falling into the BJP’s grip to protect the interests of certain family members.

Arunraj further questioned the DMK’s decision to boycott the all-party MPs’ meeting on delimitation. “How can they boycott an important meeting on delimitation merely because an all-party meeting was not convened on the Cauvery issue? They should have attended it,” he said.

At a simple function held on the HC premises, Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari administered the oath of office to the new judges.

With their appointment, the total number of judges in the High Court has gone up to 66, as against the sanctioned strength of 75.

The newly appointed permanent judges were Krishnaswamy Govindarajan, Rajnish Pathiyil, Natarajan Ramesh, GK Muthukumaar and Ramakrishnan Rajesh Vivekananthan.

Additional judges appointed for a period of two years from the Bar were Sankaranarayanan Raveekumar, Nagarajan Dilip Kumar and Ellappan Manoharan.

Judicial officers elevated as additional judges for a period of two years were P Murugan, MD Sumathi, S Alli, C Thirumagal Chandrasekar, Shanmugam Karthikeyan, Baluchamy Murugesan and N Gunasekaran.

In a letter to Palaniswami, the two leaders also sought the re-induction of former executive and general council members who were removed from the party after May 13, 2026, along with restoration of their previous organisational posts.

They said the AIADMK's electoral setbacks were linked to several political decisions and alleged that key decisions were being taken without adequate consultation with senior functionaries.

The leaders cited the party's decision not to accept Union Home Minister Amit Shah's suggestion to include TTV Dhinakaran in the alliance during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. They also referred to the AIADMK contesting the 2021 Assembly elections without parties such as the DMDK, its defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the failure to form an alliance with the TVK during the 2026 Assembly elections.

They further said any move to join hands with the DMK and form a government after the 2026 elections would be against the AIADMK's core ideology. They claimed the issue had contributed to a rift within the party, with 25 MLAs turning against the party leadership.

With local body elections expected within the next six months, Velumani and Viswanathan urged Palaniswami to take steps to strengthen the party.

The demand to bring back Sasikala and Dhinakaran, along with restoring expelled functionaries, is seen as a fresh attempt by the Velumani faction to influence the AIADMK's future course.

The EPS camp has removed several functionaries from organisational posts following the recent internal revolt, amid efforts to maintain control over the party's executive and general council meetings.

While 55 per cent of the state’s agricultural lands rely on river and canal irrigation, which heavily depend on water release from neighbouring states, the remaining 45 per cent depends entirely on groundwater.

"Over four lakh farmers are currently on the waiting list for free agricultural power connections to run their pump sets", he claimed.

The PMK leader alleged that under the tatkal scheme announced last December, 47,554 farmers applied by depositing amounts ranging from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 4 lakh depending on the horsepower of their pump sets, totalling over Rs 1,250 crore. "Additionally, 12,566 farmers who applied under the same scheme in 2023 deposited over Rs 250 crore and are still waiting", he added.

Stating that despite the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) mandate to supply connections within 15 to 90 days of application, not a single connection from the recent drive has been provided even after eight months, Anbumani noted that most of these farmers borrowed money at high interest rates to pay the advance fees.

"Unable to cultivate during the Kuruvai season without power, they are now saddled with mounting debt and severe financial distress", he said.

Terming the delay a grave injustice to the farming community, the PMK chief urged the state government to act immediately and expedite the issue of free agricultural power connections to all 60,120 pending applicants without further delay.

The facility, being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at an estimated cost of Rs 986 crore, will be fully managed by private firms, including operations related to rocket launches, according to a report by Daily Thanthi.

India’s second rocket launch site

India currently has a rocket launch centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, operated by ISRO. The Kulasekarapattinam facility will be the country’s second rocket launch site.

Kulasekarapattinam is located close to the equator, making it suitable for launching rockets with less fuel and placing them in Earth’s orbit. Initially, the facility is expected to be used to launch small rockets.

The government has acquired 2,233 acres of land for the project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the launch facility in February 2024.

Construction work in full swing

Construction work at the site is progressing rapidly. Buildings for the ISRO office, rocket launch operations and rocket maintenance have been constructed. A large helipad capable of handling three helicopters at the same time has also been built.

Thousands of saplings are being planted in five layers along the coast by the Forest Department to help control wind speed in the area.

As the existing East Coast Road passes through the ISRO campus, a new alternative road has been constructed to divert traffic once the launch facility becomes operational. Work is also under way to build two high-level bridges across the Karumeni river at Amarapuram and Karangadu.

Officials said all works are being expedited to make the launch facility operational soon.

Private firms invited to manage facility

Against this backdrop, the Centre has begun steps to hand over the operation and maintenance of the Kulasekarapattinam launch facility to private companies.

The government has invited private firms to take up the complete management of the Rs 986-crore facility and carry out operations related to rocket launches.

The move is aimed at ensuring smooth operation and maintenance of the launch facility once it becomes operational.

Speaking to reporters at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, she said the DMK's proposal for fair delimitation had been accepted by the Congress and the present ruling party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), during the earlier all-party meeting.

She said there had been no official announcement from the Union government about introducing a fresh delimitation Bill during the ongoing Parliament session.

"There has also been no communication regarding any amendment to the existing law. When there is nothing before us, what is there to discuss?" she asked.

She said DMK's position remained that the Centre should assure that the freeze based on the 1971 Census would be extended by another 30 years from 2026 and make the necessary constitutional amendment. If the number of MPs was increased, the representation of Tamil Nadu and other southern states should be enhanced in the same proportion as their existing representation based on the 1971 population, she said.

The Centre should also ensure that Tamil Nadu's present 7.18% share of representation in Parliament was not reduced under any circumstances, she said.

“DMK is not against delimitation. But it should not become a punishment for Tamil Nadu for effectively implementing social and economic welfare schemes over the past five decades,” she said.

Kanimozhi pointed out that parties including the Congress, CPI, CPM, IUML and VCK had participated in the earlier all-party meeting and supported the proposal for fair delimitation. "Will these parties change their earlier stand simply by attending this meeting?" she asked.

She said the DMK would continue to oppose any delimitation exercise that affected Tamil Nadu's rights or reduced the State's representation in Parliament.

Questioning the priorities of the TVK-led government, Kanimozhi said it had failed to convene an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu issue despite demands from political parties, and instead convened a consultative meeting on delimitation, which, she claimed, had not been sought by any party.

Describing the move as an attempt to divert attention from the Cauvery issue, she asked whether the State government would send its representatives along with Tamil Nadu MPs to meet the Union Minister for Jal Shakti and hand over the Assembly resolution opposing the Mekedatu project.

"If the TVK-led government is genuinely concerned about the interests of Cauvery Delta farmers, will the Chief Minister send representatives of the State government to meet the Union Minister?" she asked.

Shah, who arrived in Tamil Nadu on a private visit to offer prayers at the Annamalaiyar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, held a brief meeting with Palaniswami at the airport. The meeting, which lasted around 30 minutes, is understood to have focused on the political situation in Tamil Nadu and the recent formation of the TVK government headed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Sources said Shah enquired about the all-party meeting convened by the State government on the delimitation issue and sought Palaniswami's assessment of the discussions.

Shah is also learnt to have briefed the AIADMK leader about the BJP-led Centre's plans to introduce a Delimitation Bill in Parliament in the coming weeks. He reportedly urged Palaniswami to ensure that the AIADMK and its alliance partners participate in the voting on the proposed legislation and extend their support.

The meeting assumes significance as political parties in Tamil Nadu have expressed concern that the proposed delimitation exercise could affect the state's representation in the Lok Sabha.

The view was expressed at a consultative meeting convened by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to discuss the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies. The meeting was attended by 19 MPs from Congress, CPI, CPM, VCK, MDMK and IUML.

After the meeting, Energy and Law Minister R Nirmalkumar said none of the participating parties had sought delimitation. "Tamil Nadu wants no change in the existing number of Lok Sabha seats, either in the State or across the country. The Union government is doing injustice to Tamil Nadu through the proposed delimitation," he said.

VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, CPM MP Su Venkatesan and Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram said the participating parties had expressed a common view that there was no need for delimitation, even if the exercise was carried out fairly.

Thirumavalavan said a resolution opposing the exercise should be introduced in the Assembly and adopted unanimously.

Karti Chidambaram said there would be no benefit in increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from the existing 543 to 815 or 850. "Even now, MPs do not have sufficient time to speak in Parliament," he said.

Meanwhile, TNCC chief Manickam Tagore accused the BJP-led Union government of attempting to revive the delimitation Bill, warning that the move could reduce the political representation of southern states and undermine the federal structure.

In a statement, Tagore said the INDIA bloc had defeated a delimitation Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on April 12, but alleged that the Centre was now planning to bring a fresh proposal offering a 50 per cent increase in the existing number of Lok Sabha seats.

He pointed out that under the proposed formula, Uttar Pradesh's representation could rise from 80 to 120 seats, while Tamil Nadu's could increase from 39 to 58. "The gap between Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu would consequently widen from 41 to 62 seats," he said.

Tagore argued that representation in a federal democracy could not be determined solely through population-based numerical ratios. He cited the freezes on Lok Sabha seat expansion introduced through constitutional amendments during the Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments.

He also said that delimitation before the completion of the caste census could affect the determination of reserved constituencies for SC, ST, and women.

As part of the campaign, district Congress committees have been instructed to conduct peaceful marches on August 9, carrying black balloons bearing the slogan "Cancel the Delimitation Bill". Awareness posters will be posted at locations frequented by students and along major traffic routes on August 12, while short videos and posters featuring the balloon theme will be released online.

Representatives of the DMK, AIADMK, MNM, DMDK and PMK did not attend the meeting. Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, R Nirmalkumar and Rajmohan were also present.

The interview results were released on August 7, according to a statement issued by the academy on Saturday. The successful candidates include K Dixon Samuel from Kanniyakumari district, who secured 62nd rank at the all-India level, and MG Sanjay from Coimbatore district, who secured 75th rank.

The other successful candidates are N Prakash from Mayiladuthurai district (147th rank), V Srinivas from Ranipet district (198th), M Suriyaraj from Tirunelveli district (282nd) and M Thangapandi from Madurai district (326th).

The UPSC conducts the CAPF Assistant Commandant examination annually. The notification for the recruitment was issued for vacancies in the CRPF (204), BSF (24), ITBP (79), SSB (33) and CISF (92).

The Manidhanaeyam Free IAS Academy noted that all its students who appeared for the interview were provided free training classes, expert counselling sessions and mock interviews.

A total of 26 candidates who attended the interview after undergoing training at the academy were also given an incentive of Rs 15,000 each.

The foundation’s founder-president Saidai S Duraisamy congratulated all six successful candidates.

Dixon Samuel also met Duraisamy in person and received his wishes, according to the statement.

Of the 2,23,808 samples tested nationally, Tamil Nadu's count was higher than those of Uttar Pradesh (39,519), Rajasthan (17,325), Kerala (16,746) and West Bengal (14,737). Of the 44,603 samples tested in Tamil Nadu, 3,984 were found non-conforming, or not meeting prescribed food-safety standards or statutory requirements, accounting for about 10 per cent of the national non-conforming count.

Food safety testing saw a sharp rise, taking the number of samples analysed from 18,071 in 2024-25 to 44,603 in 2025-26, the highest among all states and union territories. Convictions too rose 74 per cent over the previous year to 857, while civil cases decided with penalty fell to 1,359, their lowest in the five-year period. Nationally, the corresponding figures were 8,86,712 samples tested, 1,78,692 non-conforming, 1,43,507 civil cases with penalty and 6,251 convictions. The reply also notes that Tamil Nadu has 68 vacant Food Safety Officer posts out of 394 sanctioned.

To the question of whether there is any specific regulatory framework for quick-commerce dark stores, the Union had said that dark stores are covered under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, which governs storage conditions, temperature control, hygiene, transportation, pest control and record-keeping for traceability.

Two other parts of the question also went unanswered: One, state-wise and year-wise deaths due to food adulteration over the last five years and two, reasons behind rising adulteration, contamination, counterfeiting and repeated violations, the Government had stated only that FSSAI lays down science-based standards while enforcement is a shared Centre-State responsibility, with roughly 98 per cent of Food Business Operators regulated by State and UT authorities.

While the decision taken during the meeting of MPs in Chennai is projected as an effort to protect the State's Lok Sabha representation, and the rights of Tamil Nadu and other southern States, the strategy behind the move is not lost on any, as it would force the principal opposition party to make its position clear on delimitation, an issue that the DMK had taken up as one of its key issues ahead of the Assembly polls, only to mellow down after losing power - and allies.

The meeting chaired by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, attended by allies in power but boycotted by all others, including the DMK, AIADMK, and their partners, also resolved to urge all parties to oppose in Parliament any constitutional amendment or new Bill that could alter the existing strength of the Lok Sabha and the present allocation of seats among states.

The DMK, meanwhile, has sought fair delimitation based on the 1971 Census and a constitutional amendment to extend the freeze on the allocation of seats for another 30 years from 2026. It has also demanded that the Centre ensure that Tamil Nadu's present 7.18% share of representation in Parliament is not reduced under any circumstances.

The meeting called for the existing strength of 543 Lok Sabha members and the present inter-State allocation of seats to be retained permanently through appropriate constitutional and legislative amendments. It also sought to retain the existing 2.2:1 ratio between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, warning that any change could seriously affect the representation of states.

They noted that the number of parliamentary seats allocated to southern states, which had successfully implemented population control measures, could decline after the 2026 Census. The proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats by up to 50% was described as an "illusion to sweeten the pill", they said.

The MPs also argued that the existing strength of 543 Lok Sabha members should be retained, pointing out that MPs already had limited time to present their views in Parliament. The proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats by up to 50% was described as an "illusion to sweeten the pill".

The meeting also discussed the powers of the Delimitation Commission, with participants suggesting that Parliament should have the final authority on the issue.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay appealed to MPs from all parties to work together to protect Tamil Nadu's parliamentary representation and oppose any move to alter the existing strength of Parliament and the present delimitation arrangement.

Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, R Nirmalkumar and Rajmohan, along with MPs including P Chidambaram, Manickam Tagore and Thol Thirumavalavan, participated in the meeting.

The meeting was attended by 19 MPs from Congress (11), VCK (2), CPI (2), CPM (2), IUML (1) and MDMK (1), while DMK, AIADMK, PMK, DMDK, and MNM skipped the meeting despite invitations being extended to all 57 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu.

The intensified testing followed recent media reports alleging the presence of moisture and chloride in E20 (20% ethanol blended petrol).

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) in a joint statement said, “The exercise covered the entire supply chain and the fuel quality has remained consistently well within prescribed limits. Contrary to certain assertions being made, there is no evidence of any alarm on account of fuel contamination validated by extensive and scientifically designed tests.”

The three OMCs said that the government has prescribed stringent chloride specifications for ethanol used in petrol blending and has put in place high-frequency monitoring at refineries, distilleries, depots, terminals and retail outlets to ensure compliance. They have also strengthened quality surveillance by conducting water-ingress and density tests 8-12 times a day at every retail outlet, said the companies, while deploying mobile fuel quality testing laboratories and independently validating results through fuel laboratories.

“More than 100 additional petrol samples collected from refineries showed chloride levels at or below 1 part per million (ppm), while ethanol samples from 80 distilleries tested over the past 10 days recorded chloride content below 3 ppm,” OMCs said. “More than 80 samples collected from depots and terminals across the country also showed chloride content below 3 ppm. At retail outlets, more than 160 E20 samples tested over the past few days recorded chloride levels in the 0-3 ppm range, contrary to the claims of several hundred ppm.”

The surveillance identified two isolated instances of elevated chloride levels, where supplies were immediately suspended pending root-cause analysis and corrective action before restoration. The companies said that around 90,000 retail outlets had begun mandatory inspections of underground storage tanks, with checks conducted 8-12 times daily. No water ingress had been detected so far.

Speaking at a CII event earlier on Friday, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri dismissed concerns over E20 fuel quality, saying, “Attempts are being made to create some controversy around the country’s ethanol blending programme. The ministry intensified testing around 2 weeks before a letter dated July 28 raised concerns over fuel quality.”

He pointed to the dedicated teams that conducted extensive checks across fuel retail outlets. “What did they find? They found 4 cases out of over 1 lakh petrol pumps. So obviously, someone out there is trying to place some things out of context,” Puri added. “These fuel outlets are serving an estimated 6-7 crore customers a day. Contamination, if it occurs, can affect any product and isolated cases should not be viewed as evidence of a systemic problem.”

OMCs said that tabulated results of the tests were available on the website of the Centre for High Technology (CHT) and would be updated as more results become available. “Consumers should continue to use E20 petrol with confidence, as the fuel supplied through the OMC network conforms to the prescribed quality specifications and is backed by robust quality assurance and monitoring systems designed to safeguard consumer interests at every stage of the supply chain,” the companies said.

Based on responses from 50 vehicle owners in Coimbatore, the study found that while 82% of consumers were aware of the E20 policy and 34% have accepted it, 66% expressed dissatisfaction with many viewing the fuel as a ‘hidden tax’ on the middle-class.

Lack of trust

The study’s most important finding is the breakdown of trust between policymakers and consumers. Only 12% of respondents said that they relied on official government channels for information about E20. And, a staggering 64% turn to local mechanics and social media for technical guidance.

Despite the government’s efforts to promote the environmental and economic benefits of ethanol blending, respondents of the study felt that they were navigating the transition with inadequate official support.

On a scale of 1 to 5, respondents rated their fear of long-term engine damage at 4.7 and possible mileage loss at 4.6. Many viewed E20 as a ‘hidden tax’ on the middle class with the study finding that consumers rated the economic burden at 4.5 on the same scale.

However, industry voices have pushed back against what they described as unnecessary panic. “What people don’t realise is that we’ve been using E19 fuel for the past five years and we’ve not encountered any issues. There are other countries that use E30 fuel and we export 80% of Bajaj vehicles to those countries. It is more of fear mongering and mental perception that E20 is causing damage to vehicles,” said S Rajavel, State chairperson, Federation of Automobile Dealers Association. “There are additives available in the market that would help prevent rust-related issues in vehicles. People should not leave cars unused with E20 fuel inside for several days to avoid fuel separation, which causes rusting.”

Legacy vehicles Vs New

E20 may not be the best solution for those who own traditional internal combustion engine cars built by established automobile manufacturers or those cars that run on older software and hardware architectures. The study’s most significant finding has serious implications for social equity with a statistical test confirming a strong correlation between vehicle age and dissatisfaction, with owners of legacy vehicles being disproportionately affected.

Vehicle owners with BS-III and BS-IV models, manufactured before 2022, reported a 5-6% drop in mileage and a 28% increase in mechanical failures such as gasket wear and engine stalling. These issues act as an “efficiency tax”, the study said, impacting lower and middle-income groups who cannot afford to upgrade to newer, E20-compliant models.

Speaking about the issue, Karthik Shiv, owner of Carage Car Care, said that in the past one year many legacy vehicles have had a significant drop in mileage. “After the introduction of E20 fuel in the market, there has been a 25-30% drop in mileage in cars and two-wheelers. While we also see issues related to rubber spares and rusting, the mileage drop has turned out to be a predominant concern,” he added. “Owners of legacy vehicles are being forced to bear the financial and technical burden of the transition.”

Most passenger vehicles launched in India from 2023 onwards have been certified by manufacturers as E20-compatible. These incorporate ethanol-resistant fuel lines, upgraded rubber seals, corrosion-resistant metal components and recalibrated engine management systems.

In such vehicles, experts believe there is little evidence to suggest that E20 will significantly shorten engine life when the manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule is followed. “The engine control unit (ECU) automatically adjusts fuel injection and ignition timing to compensate for ethanol’s different combustion characteristics, ensuring smooth operation,” explained K Rajkumar, an automobile technician who owns a garage in Coimbatore dedicated to vehicle remodelling.

He added that automobile manufacturers conducted extensive durability tests before certifying a vehicle for E20 compatibility, including corrosion testing, cold-start performance, emissions compliance and long-term engine endurance evaluations. “Those who own the newer E20-compatible vehicles have nothing to worry about, as the fuel is unlikely to reduce engine life or cause similar issues like in legacy cars,” he pointed out.

Fuel system

While modern engines are largely capable of handling E20, older vehicles that were designed for lower ethanol blends may experience gradual wear in the fuel system over several years.

“Fuel hoses and rubber seals are among the most vulnerable components. Ethanol can cause older rubber compounds to swell, soften or crack over time. This deterioration may eventually result in fuel leaks or reduced fuel pressure,” explained Shiv. “While currently there is no cause for concern, O-rings and seals used around fuel injectors and fuel pumps may degrade if they are not made from ethanol-resistant materials in the future.”

Although these issues generally develop gradually rather than suddenly, they could increase maintenance costs for owners of older vehicles. “Currently, the main issue is water formation. One of ethanol’s unique characteristics is its ability to absorb moisture from the atmosphere. This becomes a huge problem for vehicles that remain unused for extended periods,” explained the car enthusiast. “In older vehicles with steel fuel tanks, moisture absorbed by ethanol can cause petrol and ethanol to separate, which can cause internal corrosion.”

Gains, Concerns

Beyond the technical debate, experts noted that E20 has significant economic implications as India imports more than 80% of its crude oil requirement.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, by replacing part of petrol consumption with domestically produced ethanol, the government expects to reduce foreign exchange outflow, strengthen energy security and reduce vulnerability to fluctuations in global oil prices. The ministry has stated that ethanol blending has saved over Rs 1.44 lakh crore in foreign exchange and reduced CO2 emissions by about 73.6 million metric tonnes. The policy has also created new demand for agricultural commodities such as maize, sugarcane and damaged food grains, providing an additional source of income for farmers and sugar mills.

However, consumer organisations have argued that while motorists experienced a 3-5% reduction in mileage, retail fuel prices have not fallen proportionately. “The idea behind ethanol blending was to mitigate the damage caused by fluctuating global oil prices, then ideally the price of E20 fuel should also be reduced accordingly. As of now, we’re paying the same price as regular petrol for E20 fuel, and also bearing higher running costs while experiencing a significant drop in mileage. So as of now the only one who is having any economic benefit owing to E20 is the government,” said M Sabarinathan, a member of the public who says he has noticed a 15% mileage drop in his car in the past few months.

While the government is fighting to win the trust of the consumer on ethanol blending, a new nightmare is already working its way through in the form of adulterated fuel. Several car manufacturers are in a fix after consumers filing lawsuits against complaints in their cars owing to ethanol blending.

However, independent studies done by automobile companies have revealed many instances when consumers were saddled with adulterated fuel – a main reason for engine-related issues that are being mistaken for problems caused by E20 fuel. In a recent interview with Autocar magazine, Mercedes-Benz India noted that problems caused by substandard fuel were being mistaken for E20 related issues.

The auto giant said that fuel adulteration has increased under the guise of E20 implementation, which has led to a lot of anxiety among consumers related to drop in mileage and engine performance.

The National Picture

The discontent in Coimbatore is not an isolated incident and several surveys reflect a broader, nationwide discontent against the government’s aggressive ethanol push.

A recent nationwide C-Voter survey found that 55% of respondents oppose E20, and a staggering 53% of even NDA voters are against it, citing concerns over reduced mileage (52.8%) and vehicle damage (54.2%).

In the similar vein, a LocalCircles survey of over 44,000 owners of pre-2023 vehicles found that 66% said that they were experiencing a 10% drop in mileage and 55% reported higher wear and tear or increased repair requirements since the fuel’s rollout. 

These findings are in stark contrast to the government’s official line, which claims the fuel is safe and that the mileage drop is manageable at 1-6%. While the government points to economic benefits in foreign exchange and supporting farmers, consumers complained that a fuel that costs the same at the pump but delivers fewer kilometres.

The Coimbatore study cited several research papers that raised questions about the policy’s implementation. It may be noted that the Legal & Policy Research Division had called for an E20 Bill requiring fuel pumps to clearly display ethanol content and protect consumers from warranty and insurance claim denials.

The division’s research identifies major loopholes in the existing regulatory regime, noting that consumers were left at a disadvantage regarding engine failures and warranty clauses.

Recommendations

The study recommended that for the E20 mandate to succeed, it would require transparent labelling, technical assistance camps and possible price compensation to mitigate financial and technical risks for consumers. While owners of E20 compatible vehicles have no reason to fret, for owners of older vehicles, the picture was more complex.

“While E20 is unlikely to cause immediate engine failure, prolonged use may accelerate wear in fuel system components not designed to withstand higher ethanol content. Regular inspection of hoses, seals, fuel filters and pumps will become increasingly important,” opined Shiv.

The study concluded that the government must go beyond macro-economic rationales and address micro-level complaints of consumers. Apart from the concerns about E20 fuel, Mercedes-Benz India has called upon regulatory authorities and enforcement agencies to implement more rigorous quality inspections at the pump.

Such measures were essential to distinguish genuine instances of fuel contamination from misunderstandings that stem from ethanol blending. With the government considering even higher blends of ethanol to fuel in the future, it’s imperative to address these concerns at the grassroots level to put the anxieties of the end user to rest.

On a scale of 1 to 5, respondents rated their fear of long-term engine damage at 4.7 and possible mileage loss at 4.6. Many viewed E20 as a ‘hidden tax’ on the middle class

Vehicle owners with BS-III and BS-IV models, manufactured before 2022, reported a 5-6% drop in mileage and a 28% increase in mechanical failures such as gasket wear and engine stalling

A recent nationwide C-Voter survey found that 55% of respondents oppose E20, and 53% of even NDA voters are against it, citing concerns over reduced mileage (52.8%) and vehicle damage (54.2%)

Understanding E20: The technical reality

Unlike conventional petrol, ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel produced from renewable agricultural feedstocks such as sugarcane, maize and damaged food grains.

Explaining the way E20 works, V Balaji, who is a part of Team-BHP, a community built for automobile enthusiasts, said that E20 burns cleaner than petrol and has a higher-octane rating, which helps improve combustion efficiency in engines specifically designed for it. “However, ethanol also contains less energy than petrol, which means that vehicles generally consume slightly more fuel to travel the same distance. This indicates that cars not optimised for E20 may experience a minimum reduction in fuel efficiency at least,” he explained.

For motorists, this translates into more frequent refuelling, even though the retail price of E20 petrol remains largely similar to conventional petrol. Consumer organisations argue that while motorists experience reduced mileage, retail fuel prices have not fallen proportionately, leaving vehicle owners to bear higher running costs while broader economic benefits accrue at the national level.

Ethanol can cause older rubber compounds used in fuel hoses and seals to swell, soften or crack over time. This deterioration may eventually result in fuel leaks or reduced fuel pressure. While currently there is no cause for concern, O-rings and seals used around fuel injectors and fuel pumps may degrade if they are not made from ethanol-resistant materials in the future, says Karthik Shiv, owner, Carage Car Care, Coimbatore

As of now, we’re paying the same price as regular petrol for E20 fuel, and also bearing higher running costs while experiencing a significant drop in mileage. So as of now the only one who is having any economic benefit owing to E20 is the government, says M Sabarinathan, a concerned denizen, who has noticed a 15% mileage drop in his car in the past few months

Points to remember

1. Widespread dissatisfaction – 66% 0f owners dissatisfied with E20 policy; only 34% accepted it, though 82% were aware of it

2. Breakdown of trust – Only 12% trust official government sources for E20 info, while 64% depend on local mechanics, social media

3. High consumer anxiety – On a scale of 1-5, fear of long-term engine damage scored 4.7, fear of mileage loss was 4.6, and economic burden at 4.5

4. Disproportionate impact on legacy vehicles – Owners of BS-III and BS-IV vehicles reported a 5-6% drop in mileage, 28% increase in mechanical failures

5. Inequitable ‘efficiency tax’ – Strong statistical correlation between vehicle age and dissatisfaction, disproportionately affecting lower and middle-income groups unable to upgrade to newer models

6. Policy-reality gap – A significant disconnect between government’s macroeconomic rationales and on-ground consumer complaints

Talking after inaugurating a critical-care skill development training camp for nurses at a private hospital in Vadapalani here, he said nurses' skills were as important as doctors' in healthcare.

On delimitation, Arunraj said people expected all political parties to stand together on Tamil Nadu's rights. "Their (DMK's) absence gives people an opportunity to know about them," he said.

He said the Cauvery water dispute and delimitation were both important issues and described them as two eyes. Taking a swipe at the DMK, Arunraj alleged that the party had yielded to the Centre on several issues and claimed that the Congress' exit from the alliance could be viewed within the DMK as an opportunity to move closer to the BJP and escape corruption allegations.

Responding to whether the all-party meeting on delimitation was being convened in haste, he asked why the same concern was not raised when a meeting was held last year, which was attended by the TVK general secretary.

On Chennai's stormwater drain works, Arunraj questioned claims that the projects were 60, 70 or 90 per cent complete. He said the city had lacked proper planning for six decades and alleged that permission had been granted for construction in several waterbodies.

We are living where water bodies were once located, he said, adding that earlier projects were driven by party funding considerations, unlike the present government.

He further added that several announcements were being planned for the Health Department's demand for grants scheduled for August 17.

The video was recorded by the patient's relative. Some social activists have questioned how a cleanliness worker was allowed to attend to a patient while carrying out cleaning work at a government hospital.

They expressed concern that such practices could increase the risk of infection among patients and questioned how the incident occurred without the knowledge of the chief medical officer.

The activists have urged the district administration and the chief medical officer of the government hospital to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

In a statement, Dhinakaran said lawyer Anwarudeen, who was arrested in connection with the alleged registration of Palani temple land worth around Rs 100 crore using forged documents, had died after reportedly falling ill while in prison. He also pointed out that Sub Registrar Justin Manikandan, who was allegedly involved in the case, had reportedly been admitted to the intensive care unit of a government hospital due to health complications.

Dhinakaran said the developments had raised public suspicion, particularly amid a series of complaints about alleged irregularities in the registration of temple properties. He pointed out that another piece of land belonging to the Palani temple was allegedly registered in favour of a private individual on the same day as the disputed transaction. He also referred to the arrest of a person in connection with the alleged illegal registration of land belonging to the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple.

Questioning the circumstances of Anwardeen's death after he returned to prison following CB-CID custodial interrogation, Dhinakaran asked whether he had died due to an alleged assault in custody or because of pre-existing health conditions.

Citing a series of custodial deaths since the TVK government came to power, Dhinakaran urged Chief Minister Vijay's government to transfer the investigation into alleged fraudulent registrations of temple lands in Tamil Nadu to the CBI and bring out the truth.

In a statement, Palaniswami said the protests would be held at the headquarters of all revenue districts across Tamil Nadu, except Chennai, from 9.30 am. He will lead the protest in Thanjavur district.

Palaniswami alleged that the TVK had promised in its election manifesto to completely waive crop loans obtained from cooperative banks by farmers owning less than five acres, while providing a 50 per cent waiver for those owning over five acres.

However, after assuming office, the government had announced that crop loans up to Rs 75,000 for small and marginal farmers would be fully waived, while only Rs 35,000 would be waived for loans above Rs 75,000, he said.

"This has caused widespread resentment among farmers," Palaniswami said, adding that the government had failed to announce a complete crop loan waiver in its Agriculture Budget presented on August 6.

He also accused the TVK government of adopting a "lackadaisical approach" to Karnataka's efforts to construct a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu.

Palaniswami urged the AIADMK functionaries, legislators, former ministers and party cadre would participate in the protests along with farmers, agricultural workers and members of the public. He called upon district-level party units to organise the demonstrations on a large scale.

According to the police, the complainant approached the RDO seeking an NOC and permission for excavation. The officer allegedly demanded ₹50,000 bribe.

Based on the complaint, the anti-corruption police laid a trap and caught the RDO while accepting the cash at his residence near Ottappalam in Paramakudi.

In a statement, Stalin said a delegation of the Joint Action Forum on Minorities, led by DMK MP P Wilson and comprising prominent religious leaders from various denominations, had met the Union Home Minister on August 6.

The delegation urged the Union government to withdraw the FCRA Amendment Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha in March 2026 and to repeal Section 15 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. It also sought that the proposed legislation, along with a comprehensive review of the FCRA's functioning, be referred to a JPC.

Stalin said the DMK had opposed the provisions of the proposed Bill from the beginning, citing their far-reaching implications. "The DMK endorses the request of the Joint Action Forum on Minorities," he said.

He appealed to the Union government to consider the forum's demands in the interests of minority rights and take necessary steps during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The Kumbakonam Mahamaham takes place every 12 years, during which devotees take a holy dip in the Mahamaham and Potramarai tanks and the Cauvery, and pray at 17 temples, including five Vaishnavite temples. With the next Mahamaham falling in 2027, renovations are being carried out by the HR&CE department.

Devotees and social activists from the temple town have appealed to the government to ensure the temple's traditions are retained during renovations. They also filed a petition with the Madras High Court, which directed the Tamil Nadu Heritage Commission to inspect and permit renovation works.

Accordingly, a team of officials from the Tamil Nadu Heritage Commission, headed by chairperson M Nambirajan, visited Kumbakonam on Saturday and inspected all 17 temples and enlisted the renovation works to be carried out ahead of the Mahamaham. "A report would be submitted before the court, and the State government and renovation works would be carried out based on the recommendation," the officials accompanying Nambirajan said.

HR&CE Advisor Sekar, assistant commissioner Hamsan, Mayiladuthurai regional sthapati Jagadeesan and others accompanied the team.

C Vijayabaskar, a former health minister, was appointed Pudukkottai district organisational secretary, while former minister MR Vijayabhaskar was made Karur district organisational secretary and deputy district general secretary. Another former minister, Esakki Subbaiah, was appointed Tenkasi district organisational secretary.

The party also appointed 10 others as state deputy general secretaries, including K Maragatham Kumaravel, S Rajagopal, H Zahir Hussain, V Kumar, S Yuvaraj, CV Dhinakaran, K Manikandan, RS Manikandan, K Arulraj and SDR Samuel Raj.

Vijay urged the newly appointed functionaries to work with dedication and strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

The first camp will be held across the state on August 10 from 9 am to 2 pm and the second round on August 17. The camps will be conducted at 54,481 anganwadi centres, 11,723 sub-health centres and 56,483 schools across Tamil Nadu.

As many as 54,481 anganwadi workers, 59,700 school teachers and college professors, 6,543 doctors, 12,456 village health nurses and 2,650 ASHA workers, besides other health personnel, will be involved in the campaign.

Children aged one to two years will be given half a 400 mg albendazole tablet, equivalent to 200 mg, while children and adolescents aged up to 19 years and women aged up to 30 will receive one 400 mg tablet.

The department said albendazole is safe and helps eliminate intestinal worms, while also preventing anaemia and nutritional deficiencies. Deworming can also help improve immunity, physical growth, memory and learning ability, it said.

The Health Department urged parents to ensure that eligible children make use of the camps on August 10 or August 17.

"Let us reduce worm infections and sow the seeds for a prosperous future, " the department said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a rally against the Union government at Kumbakonam, Mutharasan alleged that the BJP-led government was not ready to run the country democratically and that Parliament was not functioning in accordance with constitutional norms.

“The Home Minister Amit Shah should have taken part in the debate on the attack on students who protested against NEET in Delhi, and he should have responded to the questions raised by the opposition members, but he stayed away. He had neither responded to the charges against the scam at the Ram temple at Ayodhya,” Mutharasan said.

He said the promises made to farmers on remunerative prices had not been fulfilled and cases filed against farmers who protested for their demands had not been withdrawn.

“Unemployment rate has been increasing in the country and prices of essential commodities, including rice, have gone steeply high, but the Union government has no reply nor plan to control them, and the people have lost trust in the BJP,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mutharasan, while acknowledging the financial instability in the State, said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had failed to fulfil the promise of crop loan waiver. He also said women were awaiting the enhanced monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500.

The Chief Minister should immediately convene a meeting of an all-party delegation to discuss the Cauvery issue, he said, stressing that it was not an issue concerning a particular political party but rather the entire state of Tamil Nadu.

Addressing an AIADMK Amma Peravai consultation meeting in Thoothukudi, Udhayakumar questioned the difference between the Chief Minister’s election promise and the announcement made by the Finance Minister in the Assembly.

“During the election campaign in Kanniyakumari, Vijay promised to increase the financial assistance provided to fishermen during the fishing ban period from Rs 8,000 to Rs 20,000. But the Finance Minister has now announced only Rs 7,000 in the Assembly. Has the Finance Minister even read the earlier promise?” he asked.

Udhayakumar also criticised the State government over its handling of the Cauvery water dispute and alleged that it had failed to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers.

A police source said Kali Kumar of Sirumalai in Dindigul district had allegedly executed and registered a mortgage deed fraudulently at the Vadamadurai Sub-Registrar Office.

This is the fourth arrest made by the City Crime Branch (CCB) police in the case. On August 4, the special police team arrested Anbalagan, Personal Assistant (Land) to the Ramanathapuram District Collector, Rajkumar of Pudukkottai and Ilayaraja of Usilampatti in connection with the case.

According to the police, Anbalagan, while serving as the Madurai North Tehsildar, allegedly removed the temple’s ownership from the revenue records and transferred the patta in favour of Ramayi Ayyar and eight others on June 24, 2016.

After the temple administration took up the issue with the district administration, former Village Administrative Officer Arasan was placed under suspension, while departmental action and an inquiry by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption were recommended against Anbalagan.

Subsequently, the revenue authorities cancelled the patta and ordered that it be restored in the temple’s name. Despite this, Ilayaraja and P Anil, acting as power agents, executed a registered general power of attorney through the Murappanadu Sub-Registrar's Office and subsequently executed a mortgage deed at the Vadamadurai Sub-Registrar's Office in favour of Kavitha, Piragasu, and Kali Kumar.

The police action followed an FIR registered by the Madurai City Central Crime Branch (CCB) on July 25 based on a complaint lodged by Chellathurai, Joint Commissioner and Executive Officer of the temple. The complaint alleged that 19 persons had conspired to illegally transfer the trust property through fraudulent patta mutation, document registration and mortgage.

According to the police, a will registered in 1930 at the Saidapet Sub-Registrar Office states that the Ashoka Vilas Bungalow and its adjoining garden on Alagarkoil Road in Madurai belong to a trust established to render services to the temples.

As per the conditions of the will, the property could only be leased out and could not be sold, mortgaged or otherwise transferred.

The Transport Department's brand 'Payani', launched on Thursday, aims to serve passengers throughout their journey.

Transport Minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban inaugurated the scheme at the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) headquarters. The department said the initiative aims to ensure passengers have access to purified drinking water at a nominal price throughout long-distance travel.

It may be noted that the Amma Kudineer, Rs 10 per 1-litre canned bottle, was introduced by the then AIADMK government headed by Jayalalithaa in 2012. However, the scheme was discontinued in 2021 after the RO plant in Gummidipoondi became inoperative due to declining groundwater levels. The efforts to reintroduce the popular scheme did not materialise.

Meanwhile, the minister handed over compassionate appointment orders to the legal heirs of 17 employees who died while in service. Sixteen appointments were made to the kin of deceased MTC employees, while one appointment was issued under the SETC.

The minister also honoured four transport corporation employees for their humanitarian response in assisting passengers who suffered medical emergencies, and presented Rs 5,000 each from his personal salary.

Transport Secretary L Nirmal Raj, MTC Managing Director T Mohan, SETC Managing Director K Gunasekaran, MTC Joint Managing Director Rama Sundarapandian and other senior officials attended the event.

The youth, Pavunish and Mahesh, who came to the temple for darshan, allegedly attempted to photograph Arunachaleswarar and Unnamalai Amman using a Meta smart glass. Temple employees deployed near the sanctum noticed the two and detained them. The spectacles were seized and the youth were taken to the temple office, where they were questioned.

The temple administration later handed them over to Tiruvannamalai Town police. After questioning them, the police warned and released them.
The incident occurred as three-tier security arrangements were in place at the temple for Amit Shah's visit.

Hundreds of police personnel had been deployed at the temple from Friday morning ahead of the Union home minister's visit in the evening

The use of cameras is prohibited at the Arunachaleswarar and Unnamalai Amman sanctums. Despite the restriction, some visitors have occasionally recorded photographs and videos of the deities and posted them on social media. Temple officials seize the mobile phones and cameras of those caught doing so and take action.

The temple witnessed a large number of devotees on Friday, as Saturdays and Sundays usually see heavy footfall.

Amit Shah visited the Arunachaleswarar Temple on Friday evening and offered prayers.