According to a Daily Thanthi report, rubber prices had last touched a peak of Rs 255 per kg in 2010, before falling below Rs 200. The latest increase has raised hopes among farmers that prices will remain at the higher level.

How much rubber is cultivated in Kanniyakumari?

Kerala and Kanniyakumari district in Tamil Nadu are among the leading rubber-producing regions in India. Rubber is cultivated across around 25,000 hectares in Kanniyakumari district.

Why have rubber prices increased?

The rise in rubber prices has been attributed to increased sales in the global automobile industry, a rise in crude oil prices due to the war and higher production costs in major rubber-producing countries, including Thailand, Malaysia and India.

An unwritten convention has been followed in the Assembly that former Chief Ministers, including M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa, are referred to with due respect rather than by their names.

The DMK strongly objected to the Minister's remarks. Intervening in the debate, former Chief Minister and DMK MLA O Panneerselvam recalled that during the AIADMK regime, then Chief Minister MG Ramachandran had warned a ruling party member for referring to former Chief Minister Karunanidhi by his name.

"The members of this Assembly should also follow the dignity and conventions defined by our leaders," Panneerselvam said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay intervened and apologised for his Cabinet colleague's remarks before making a statement under Rule 110.

"It was wrong for the Minister to mention your leader's name. I am sorry," the Chief Minister said.

However, the issue triggered another uproar when Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister Ramesh made remarks about the Leader of the Opposition.

He said the former Chief Minister should give lessons about the dignity of the Assembly to the Leader of the Opposition, who is remaining seated whenever the Chief Minister entered the House.

The remarks led to strong protests from the DMK members. Former Minister KN Nehru intervened and said the same convention had been followed in the previous Assembly as well. Hence, there was no need to lecture the Leader of the Opposition on Assembly dignity, he said.

Leader of the House KA Sengottaiyan intervened and urged the Speaker to put an end to the political exchanges between the members.

Following the intervention, TVK member Balamurugan commenced his speech on the demands for grants.

The government, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, assumed office on May 10 after the TVK won the Assembly elections held in April. Vijay took oath along with nine ministers, taking the Cabinet's strength to 10. A major expansion added 23 ministers on May 21, and the final two ministers were inducted on May 22, raising the total strength to 35.

What were the first decisions taken by Chief Minister Vijay?

On the day he took oath, Vijay signed three important files. These included providing 200 units of free electricity every two months to domestic consumers using up to 500 units, forming the Singappen Special Task Force across the State for women's safety and creating 65 anti-narcotics units to tackle drug abuse in Tamil Nadu.

Which major decisions were taken on liquor shops and government employees?

The government subsequently shut 717 TASMAC liquor shops operating near educational institutions and places of worship.

Vijay also announced a hike in dearness allowance for government employees, taking it to 60 per cent from 58 per cent.

What measures were announced for farmers and Amma canteens?

Vijay directed officials to renovate Amma Unavagams (canteens) across the State and provide quality food.

He also announced a crop loan waiver for farmers who had availed loans through cooperative banks between May 1, 2025 and February 28, 2026. The government later raised the full-waiver ceiling to Rs 75,000, benefiting 14.43 lakh farmers.

What did Chief Minister Vijay discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

Vijay travelled to Delhi on May 27 and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting, he submitted a petition containing a list of issues, including the Mekedatu dam and Tamil Nadu fishermen.

What new schemes were launched for women and children?

On June 9, Vijay launched the Singappen Special Task Force, an exclusive team of women personnel to address crimes against women, functioning under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister. A total of 2,545 posts have been sanctioned for the initiative.

He subsequently announced the 'Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram' scheme, under which every child born in a government hospital to a family permanently residing in Tamil Nadu would receive a 1-gram gold ring.

What were the key announcements in the Tamil Nadu budget?

The TVK-led government's maiden budget presented on August 5 included several announcements, including 8-gram gold coins and silk saree to eligible brides. The government also announced that 70,000 concrete houses would be built in place of huts.

Class 11 students would be provided modern bicycles with helmets and water bottles, while government college students would be given laptops.

Finance Minister Marie Wilson said 125 promises made in the TVK election manifesto had been included in the budget.

How much investment has Tamil Nadu attracted in the first 100 days?

Tamil Nadu has attracted investment commitments of more than Rs 1 lakh crore within the first 100 days of assuming office, with projects worth Rs 1,02,514 crore expected to create 1,21,788 jobs, the State government said at the recent Vettri Tamil Nadu Investors' Conclave.

What investments were secured at the Vetri Tamil Nadu Investors' Conference?

At the Vetri Tamil Nadu Investors' Conclave held on August 13, 97 MoUs attracted investments worth Rs 67,452 crore. These projects are expected to provide employment to 1,06,998 people.

The investments have been spread across 23 districts. An industrial company is also set to be established in Ramanathapuram district for the first time.

What challenges has the TVK government faced in its first 100 days?

Despite the investment push and welfare announcements, the new government has faced criticism over law and order issues, an increase in sexual crimes, power outages and improper garbage disposal.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay launched the system at the Secretariat on Monday. Under the first phase, first-sale documents for plots in layouts and first-sale flats can be registered only online.

The move, announced earlier by Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister D Logesh Tamilselvan, is part of the department’s transition to the STAR 3.0 ecosystem. “The move is intended to improve transparency, reduce physical interface with registration offices,” Logesh said.

Builders, developers and applicants can create a login on the Registration Department portal and submit documents without visiting a sub-registrar office. Executants, claimants and witnesses have to upload Aadhaar details and complete biometric authentication through fingerprint or iris verification.

The department said registering officers will process applications within 24 hours, either registering them, returning them for correction or rejecting them. Documents returned for rectification can be resubmitted within 30 days.

Registered documents will carry the sub-registrar’s digital signature and remain downloadable through the user account for 60 days. Each page will also bear a QR code containing registration details, while a dynamic five-colour endorsement and digital verification mechanism are intended to guard against forgery.

The department expects the shift to reduce footfall at registration offices. Tamilselvan estimated that online registration could cut the crowd by about 30 per cent, while saving citizens time and travel costs.

While the Tamil Nadu government claimed before the apex court that the CWMA's direction was not being complied with, the Karnataka government said the picture being projected was "extremely incorrect".

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) had directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12. The CWMA subsequently upheld the decision.

On Monday, the Tamil Nadu government's plea seeking directions to the Karnataka government for immediate release of the water to it came up for hearing before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.

"We feel that let this matter be posted after a week so that the further status regarding the release may be placed before the court," the bench said. It posted the matter for August 24.

"Ensure compliance of the CWMA directions," the bench said.

Senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan, appearing for Tamil Nadu, told the bench that the CWMA's direction was not being complied with and the state was unable to release water to farmers.

"They (Karnataka) have started releasing water for irrigation in Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu has not been receiving water," he said. "As of now, they have 76 per cent live storage in the reservoir and they have hardly released," he added.

The bench the asked the Karnataka government, "Why are you not releasing?"

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Karnataka, replied that the picture being projected before it was "extremely incorrect in every material respect".

"This is an extremely severe distress year and when you have an extremely severe distress year as in the present case, there is a mechanism and a machinery for the purposes of balancing," he said.

As far as the Cauvery basin is concerned, Divan said, there is enormous deficit and the CWMA is alive to the situation and has issued directions.

According to the first direction, Karnataka was required to ensure release of 3,500 cusecs of water for 15 days till August 11, he said.

Divan also referred to the subsequent direction to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily for 15 days from August 12, and placed the data before the bench.

He said releasing 12,000 cusecs was very difficult for Karnataka, but instructions have been issued to ensure that this level is maintained.

Divan said the flow was low during the first three-four days but Karnataka will make it up in next few days.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier said the state was not getting its due share of Cauvery water in a rain deficient year.

The Joseph Vijay led-state government on August 3 approached the apex court seeking directions to the Karnataka government for immediate release of the water.

The state government, in its plea, claimed that the quantum allocated to it by the CWRC as well as that released by its neighbour Karnataka was far less.

A CWRC meeting on July 28 directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs for 15 days starting July 29. However, the quantum of water released at Biligundlu ranged between 158 and 550 cusecs from July 29 to August 2, the state government said.

A press release issued by the Tamil Nadu government said that as of August 3, the combined total storage in the reservoirs in Karnataka -- KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy -- stood at 77.537 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) and Karnataka would face no difficulty in releasing Tamil Nadu's due share proportionately.

Following rains in the catchment areas in the KRS and Kabini dams in Karnataka recently, the proportionate water to be realised at Biligundlu should be 26.954 TMC, it said.

"Accordingly, the Cauvery Water Management Authority order allocating 4.536 TMC is very less," the release added.

Karnataka has "failed" to share with Tamil Nadu its due share of water and the quantum was 26.954 TMC, the press release said.

The Mannargudi–Chennai Egmore Express which leaves Mannargudi at 10.50 pm, will terminate at Tambaram instead of Egmore from September 4 to October 13. Its return service will originate from Tambaram from September 5 to October 14 and depart at 11.25 pm.

The Tiruchchirappalli–Chennai Egmore Rockfort Superfast Express departing Tiruchchirappalli at 10.35 pm, will terminate at Mambalam from September 9 to 15 and September 21 to October 14.

The Mumbai CST–Chennai Egmore Superfast Mail will terminate at Chennai Beach from September 12 to 15, while the Salem–Chennai Egmore Superfast Express (22154) will terminate at Mambalam during the same period.

The Chennai Egmore–Salem Superfast Express will also originate from Chennai Beach instead of Egmore from September 13 to 16. It will depart Chennai Beach at 11.30 pm and Egmore at 11.55 pm.

Meanwhile, the Thanjavur–Chennai Egmore Uzhavan Express will be regulated at Mambalam/Kodambakkam during the redevelopment works. The train will be delayed by 20 minutes from September 16 to 19 and by 30 minutes from September 22 to October 15.

The issue was taken up as a Special Calling Attention Motion in the Assembly. The Minister replied to the issues raised by the Opposition parties.

During the debate, Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said student Amuthan did not die in a group clash, but was allegedly beaten to death by a gang of 20 people, and termed the incident a murder.

"His parents and other social activists have alleged that Amuthan's murder took place only after he provided information about drug peddlers. All those involved in Amuthan's murder should be punished with the highest sentence," he said.

Opposition members R Kamaraj (AIADMK), A Ganeshkumar (PMK), Bojarajan (BJP), R Chellaswamy (CPI-M), K Marimuthu (CPI) and Tharagai Gatbet (Congress) also raised the issue.

Minister Nirmalkumar said the incident occurred due to a clash between two groups of students with a motive of vengeance. He also urged the Opposition parties not to divert the issue by linking it to drugs.

Continuing the Minister Nirmalkumar's reply, School Education Minister Rajmohan said there was no need for the police or government to hide the truth in the case. He said, as per the Chief Minister's direction, the charge sheet would be filed within the next three months.

The court also appointed an advocate commissioner to inspect whether CCTV cameras were installed at the police station and whether any cameras had been removed.

The court passed the order on a petition filed by Ayyammal, wife of the deceased Paramasivam, who alleged that police personnel assaulted her husband at Chinthamani police station on July 19 after the couple went there in connection with a complaint over a dispute with their neighbours.

Making the announcement under Rule 110 in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said farmers who had obtained crop loans between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1 lakh would now be eligible for a waiver of up to Rs 75,000.

"If a farmer has obtained a loan between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1 lakh, the maximum amount eligible for waiver will be Rs 75,000. For loan amounts above Rs 1 lakh, the maximum waiver will remain at Rs 35,000," Vijay said.

He said 2,38,264 farmers would benefit from the enhanced waiver limit for loans between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1 lakh. Under the revised provision, these farmers would be eligible for an additional waiver of up to Rs 40,000.

The additional waiver would cost the State government Rs 953.06 crore, the Chief Minister said.

With the latest announcement, the overall crop loan waiver under the scheme would amount to Rs 6,220 crore, benefiting around 13.34 lakh farmers, he said.

The scheme is already under implementation, and crop loans of 13.34 lakh farmers had been waived as of July 31, according to the Chief Minister.

Refuting the opposition charge of a drug-related motive behind the killing of the alleged drug whistleblower - a claim made by the opposition parties - Tamil Nadu Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar said the Coimbatore student's murder was a result of a clash between the fourth year students and second year students, due to previous enmity.

Responding to a "calling attention" motion, the minister said the student who was assaulted succumbed on the way to hospital.

"Two cases were registered and a case under SCT was also included. The body was handed over to his parents following postmortem. About 15 people were arrested in connection with the murder and remanded," Kumar explained amidst uproarious scenes in the Assembly.

The deceased were identified as Neelakandan (25), and Chandru (24), both from Padunelli village. Police have registered a double murder case and launched a search for the assailants. Several police personnel have been deployed in the village to prevent further incidents.

The incident followed a quarrel between two groups from the same community during a cultural programme organised as part of the Aadi festival at the Ponniamman temple in Padunelli on Sunday night. The groups reportedly clashed over the songs being performed on stage, particularly gana songs.

On receiving information, police personnel reached the spot and reportedly pacified both groups before leaving the venue.

After the programme ended around midnight, Neelakandan and Chandru were sitting and talking at a vacant plot near their houses. At that time, a group of unidentified men allegedly arrived on two-wheelers, surrounded the duo and attacked them with sickles before fleeing.

The two youths sustained severe injuries and died at the spot.

Following the incident, residents gathered in large numbers and expressed anger over the failure to prevent the escalation of the earlier dispute. They alleged that the double murder could have been avoided had the police taken stronger preventive action when the quarrel first broke out during the programme.

Police personnel from Ponnerikarai police station recovered the bodies and sent them to Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital for postmortem examination.

Meanwhile, residents of Padunelli staged a protest outside Ponnerikarai police station on Monday morning, demanding the immediate arrest of those involved. They also blocked traffic on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway.

Police officials pacified the protesters and said special teams had been formed to trace and arrest the suspects at the earliest.

Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N Anand inaugurated the works at the feeder channel of Puthur village lake in Nedunkundram panchayat, Kattankulathur panchayat union, Chengalpattu district, where the restoration has been sanctioned at Rs 3.19 crore.

The initiative, being implemented under the Viksit Bharat–Gram Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-GRAMG), follows directions from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and comes ahead of the northeast monsoon, when the State braces for heavy rainfall and flooding.

The works will involve removing silt and waste from water bodies and restoring feeder channels to ensure that rainwater reaches lakes and ponds without obstruction. The government expects the intervention to enhance storage capacity, facilitate groundwater recharge and improve water availability for irrigation and drinking purposes.

The programme also has a flood-mitigation objective. Officials said poorly maintained feeder channels can obstruct the movement of rainwater, resulting in waterlogging and flooding in agricultural fields and residential areas. Restoring the channels is expected to improve drainage while allowing rainwater to be stored.

N Anand has called for the participation of local bodies, elected representatives, residents and volunteers in the restoration drive, stressing that protecting rural water resources requires community involvement.

Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar, Chengalpattu Collector M Veerappan, MLAs S Thiagarajan and B Vijayaraj, Rural Development Commissioner V Amudhavalli and senior officials attended the launch.

Lauding the chief minister for his numerous initiatives on the social welfare front, women's safety, skill development for youth, and attempts to create employment opportunities in the state, the Speaker told the Assembly that Vijay has proved that the present (TVK) regime is people's government.

"The first 100 days in office marks a new change in Tamil Nadu's history, with the CM taking several appreciable initiatives on women's safety, social welfare schemes, providing 200 units free power, waiving of cooperative farm loans, announcing to construct quality homes for the poor, skill development schemes, proving that this is a government for the people," Prabhakar said.

"The milestone lays a strong foundation for the future dreams of Tamil Nadu to facilitate a transparent and corrupt-free governance, and transform the state into a prosperous and strong Tamil Nadu," the Speaker said.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai is projected to experience moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning as early as Monday evening, while the city and neighbouring districts, including Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, and Villupuram, as well as the Nilgiris in the Western Ghats region are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Wednesday (August 19).

Explaining the prevailing synoptic conditions, VR Durai, head of the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre at RMC, said: “A well-marked low-pressure area persists over the northwest Bay of Bengal near Odisha and Jharkhand. Due to a wind convergence, a feeble trough along and off the Tamil Nadu coast continues in the lower tropospheric levels.”

These weather systems are expected to bring moderate rainfall, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in isolated parts of the Western Ghats districts, Sivagangai, Madurai, and Ramanathapuram on Monday (August 17).

Similar conditions with strong gusty winds are likely across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry through Thursday (August 20). Light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning has been predicted for isolated parts in the rest of Tamil Nadu through Tuesday (August 18).

Meanwhile, maximum temperatures are expected to hover above normal over north interior Tamil Nadu. On Monday, Chennai’s maximum temperature is expected to hover around 37 degrees Celsius, with the minimum dipping to around 27 degrees Celsius.

The inflow, which was at 4,500 cusecs on Saturday rose to 6,500 cusecs by 6 am on Sunday and further to 8,000 cusecs by 10 am.

Eventually, the inflow into Mettur dam increased to 6,179 cusecs on Sunday.

The water level in Mettur rose from 80.93 feet on Saturday (August 15) to 81.31 feet on Sunday, and subsequently the water release increased from 1,500 cusecs to 2,000 cusecs on Sunday.

The truck, laden with cotton bales, was heading to Coimbatore from Hyderabad, lost control and crashed into the bus in the early morning hours of Sunday. The bus overturned on impact, trapping several passengers inside. The police and the public were involved in the rescue operation.

The police said Eswari (54), wife of Sivakumar from Bengaluru, died, while other passengers sustained injuries and were sent to Dharmapuri Government Hospital. The truck driver fled the accident spot.

Shortly after this incident, a truck carrying groundnut husks went out of control and hit a car and an omni travelling ahead on the same stretch. No one was injured in the incident. Both the accidents disrupted traffic for more than three hours.

In a circular, the department outlined procedures for verifying the genuineness of certificates of teachers serving in panchayat union, government, municipal, corporation and government-aided schools. The directions also cover newly appointed teachers.

According to the circular, educational certificates should be forwarded to the concerned university, educational institution, examination board or government examination authority for authentication. Verification must be completed promptly after a teacher joins service instead of being delayed for several years, insisted the circular.

The department noted that delays in obtaining genuineness certificates could create administrative difficulties, particularly when teachers seek transfers, promotions or other service benefits. Officials have therefore been instructed to maintain proper records and closely monitor the progress of certificate verification.

The circular also warned that if a certificate was found to be fake or invalid, appropriate departmental action should be initiated without delay. Where necessary, further action should be taken through the competent authorities in accordance with existing procedures.

District educational authorities have been directed to communicate these instructions to the relevant officers and ensure strict compliance. The move is intended to streamline certificate authentication, prevent the use of fraudulent qualifications and ensure that only properly qualified teachers continue in educational service.

In a social media post, Vijay said Antony Sami, John Rose Peter and Kumar, who lived in villages in Hanur taluk, were shot dead in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary area in the early hours of August 15.

“The explanation given by the Karnataka Forest Department regarding the incident is not acceptable,” Vijay said, describing the killings as distressing and strongly condemning them. The post is available on the handle used by CM Vijay in his capacity as TVK president; the official CMO account remains silent.

He demanded a fair investigation into the incident and urged the Karnataka government to constitute a high-level inquiry committee to probe the circumstances leading to the deaths and take appropriate action against those found responsible.

Vijay also called on the Karnataka government to provide all necessary assistance to the victims' families.

He urged the state government to take appropriate measures to ensure that such an incident does not recur.

He also opposed the Tamil Nadu government’s move to evict people living in the Manjolai and Meghamalai areas, questioning the use of the term “encroachers” for residents who had lived there for decades.

Speaking at a meeting at a private hotel in Guindy, Seeman said people who had been living in these areas for several years could not suddenly be branded encroachers. “Why is action being taken now when no such action was taken for decades?” he asked.

Seeman questioned where thousands of people would go if they were evicted and said their livelihoods would be severely affected. He also questioned the reference to the residents as encroachers in the reply affidavit filed by the TVK government in the court case.

He urged the State government to review and drop the proposed eviction plans in Manjolai and Meghamalai.

Raising other issues, Seeman expressed concern that the Vaigai River is allegedly turning into a sewage canal and urged political leaders to focus on people’s livelihoods. He also condemned the alleged circulation of drugs among schoolchildren and claimed that the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu had deteriorated.

While people were heading to markets for their weekend shopping, the group decided to spend their morning protecting trees in the city.

Around 30-40 members of the Vaigai Nathi Makkal Iyakkam assembled around 7 am near Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam with nail pullers and tamarind paste.

Onlookers were surprised to see them removing advertisement boards and pulling out at least 10 to 20 nails from each tree.

The members then applied tamarind paste to the holes left by the removed nails. "Now, we are happy. We have safeguarded the trees by applying medicine to their wounds," the enthusiasts said.

"Advertisers do not realise the damage they are causing to the trees and, in turn, to themselves," said M Manikandan, coordinator of the organisation, pointing to a tree with large holes in its trunk. "Advertisement nailing is one of the causes of the death of this tree. The wounds may be small in the initial stages, but over time, they affect the growth of the tree," he claimed.

There used to be around 300 trees around the Teppakulam 12 years ago, providing green cover for people to rest during summer and for children to play in the evening. "Now, nearly 50 per cent of the trees have been removed in the name of commercial activities and tourism," said volunteer Manikandan, who has been living in the area for nearly 20 years.

"Our effort is to preserve the remaining trees. When we see locals watching our activities, we create awareness among them and engage them in the work," he added.

Citing a study by University of Oxford researchers published in Sustainable Cities and Society, the organisation members said Madurai was ranked the seventh most vulnerable city globally to extreme heat risk. "Now, you can feel the scorching heat even at around 10 am," said the coordinator, adding that Thiraviam Road is one of the few places in Madurai that still has some green cover.

"The only way to improve the green cover in Madurai city is to preserve the existing trees and plant new saplings in the city and along the Vaigai," said Kannan from Sellur.

Instead of spending too much money on birthday parties, students should plant saplings in their localities, the organisation urged.

Unhygienic conditions were also found in railway washrooms, the auditor said.

"Water sample from water cooler was positive for E.coli at two stations (Coimbatore and Palakkad Junctions) in SR (Southern Railway), one station (Hyderabad) in SCR (South Central Railway), four stations (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan and Lonavala) in CR (Central Railway) and one station (Madhupur) in ER (Eastern Railway)," the report which studied passenger services at 512 non-suburban grade stations across all zones said.

"Test results of drinking water samples collected from taps on platforms at 49 stations in eight zones during 2022-23 and 56 stations in 9 zones during 2023-24 indicated the presence of total coliform bacteria (including E. coli)," the report stated.

Some strains of E.coli bacteria can lead to food poisoning, diarrhoea and kidney failure. The audit found bacteriological tests, other than total coliforms, to be unsatisfactory at eight stations in four zones during 2022-23 and 11 stations in five zones during 2023-24.

The CAG said the report covered instances identified during its 2019-20 to 2023-24 test audit, along with earlier cases not reported previously and, wherever necessary, instances from after 2023-24 as well.

According to the report, there are 5,908 railway stations under the Non-Suburban Group (NSG), and Indian Railways operated over 7,424 passenger trains (non-suburban) daily and carried 292.4 crore non-suburban passengers in 2023-24.

Outlining the purpose of the detailed inspection, the CAG said the Railway Board had issued various guidelines for the provision of passenger amenities at stations and that an audit was conducted to assess whether Indian Railways' efforts to ensure the provision of passenger amenities and sanitation at stations yielded the intended benefits.

The audit found that 458 out of the 512 selected stations, accounting for more than 89 per cent, were deficient in the provision of Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA).

It said that at these 458 stations, MEAs were either not provided at all or were available below the prescribed norms.

"In April 2018, RB (Railway Board) issued comprehensive instructions prescribing Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA), Recommended Amenities (RA) and Desirable Amenities (DA) for stations categorised as NSG 1 to NSG 6. RB stipulated that MEAs were to be ensured at all stations by 31 August 2018," the report said.

"RB's instructions (April 2018) mandated that MEAs be provided first at all stations, irrespective of category. These include drinking water, waiting halls, seating arrangements, platform shelters, urinals, latrines, high-level platforms, fans, Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), dustbins, clocks and public address systems," it added.

It found even stations like CSMT, Howrah, Sealdah, New Delhi and Mumbai Central, which come under the NSG-1 category, deficient in seating arrangements, sanitary facilities (urinals and latrines), dustbins and electronic train indicator boards, among others.

"Audit scrutiny of NSG-1 category stations revealed deficiencies in core passenger amenities, including drinking water taps (12 stations), fans and water coolers (eight stations each) and signage (five stations)," the report said.

The report also found a shortfall of latrines at 201 stations, urinals at 403 stations and water taps at 2,035 stations, among others.

Among its major recommendations, the CAG urged the Railways to "ensure compliance with prescribed protocols for inspection of water supply systems and comprehensive testing of drinking water quality, including all parameters under the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol."

REPORT ON 512 NSG STATIONS

Coimbatore among stations in which water sample tested positive for E. coli in Southern Railway

Samples from taps on platforms at 49 stations in eight zones during 2022-23, while 56 stations in 9 zones during 2023-24 indicated the presence of E. coli

458 out of 512 stations, accounting for more than 89%, were deficient in the provision of Minimum Essential Amenities

Shortfall of latrines at 201 stations, urinals at 403 stations, and water taps at 2,035 stations

Farmers in parts of Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Coimbatore districts say the wild boar menace has intensified in recent years, with animals increasingly entering farms in groups and damaging crops.

Traditional methods such as crackers, loudspeakers and night patrols have provided only temporary relief as the animals gradually become accustomed to the sounds.

"Until a decade ago, seeing a wild boar was a rare occurrence. But their numbers have increased significantly over the past few years, and they have become a major headache for farmers. Earlier, only one or two boars would come into our tapioca fields. Later, they started invading in groups and causing extensive damage. We installed the bio-fence for the first time in 2023-24 and found it effective in reducing the menace," said K Sivakumar (51), a farmer from Kattupatti near Uthangarai in Krishnagiri.

Further, the farmer said the repellent remains effective for about two and a half months before it needs to be replenished.

"While smaller and medium-sized wild boars generally avoid the fields because of the smell, larger animals occasionally breach the bio-barrier. We used the repellent last year around our 10-acre farm, where we cultivated tapioca and maize. This year, however, we shifted to plantain because of the heavy infestation affecting tapioca," he added.

Farmers say the repellent itself is relatively affordable, but the labour involved in installing the bio-fence adds to the cost. Rainfall can also reduce its effectiveness, resulting in the repellent's wastage.

K Mugundan, a farmer from Pappireddipatti in Dharmapuri district, said the bio-fence had proved useful in protecting his uncle's tapioca farm. "We erected the bio-fence around a few acres of the farm during the tapioca harvest season last year to keep wild boars away. It considerably helped in reducing the menace," he said.

Farmers in and around Pappireddipatti have traditionally resorted to a range of methods to keep wild boars away, including staying awake through the night and bursting crackers whenever the animals approached.

Many farms also installed loudspeakers that played sounds of elephant trumpeting, other animals and crackers throughout the night. However, farmers said the animals gradually became accustomed to these sounds, reducing their effectiveness.

Some farmers continue to take turns keeping watch at night to prevent the animals from entering their fields.

In Coimbatore district, farmers have also reported positive results from the bio-repellent. Karthikeyan of Iruttupallam near Alandurai said the product had helped reduce wild boar intrusions into a seven-acre farm where vegetables and other crops were cultivated.

"We used the repellent three times on the farm, and wild boar intrusions reduced significantly afterwards," he said.

With the wild boar population and crop damage rising in several farming belts, farmers say the bio-repellent provides a more practical alternative to the increasingly difficult task of guarding fields through the night.

The Tamil Nadu government, in its budget presented on August 6, announced a special wild boar damage prevention scheme under which an eco-friendly bio-repellent developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) will be distributed to farmers at a subsidised price to cover 14,000 acres.

Developed by the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) at Virinjipuram in Vellore, the plant-based repellent has emerged as a widely used tool to protect crops from wild boar incursions. Besides farmers in Tamil Nadu, the herbal solution is also being used in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.

According to Dr V Sendhilvel, associate professor and head of the ARS in Virinjipuram, the bio-repellent has recorded a success rate of about 92 per cent in field studies.

"It couldn't achieve 100 per cent effectiveness because of the odour of certain pesticides used in crops, rain and inadvertent errors in erecting the protective fencing. With the government now announcing subsidised distribution, we are working to increase production to meet the expected demand substantially," he said.

The repellent has been found effective in protecting crops such as paddy, ragi, sugarcane, tapioca and groundnut.

The frequency of application varies depending on the crop cycle. Groundnut farmers, for instance, generally need to use the repellent once, as wild boars tend to raid fields when the pods have filled, and the crop approaches harvest.

Sugarcane, an 11-month crop, requires about three applications, while paddy, with a crop duration of around three months, generally requires two applications.

Vellore, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri are among the districts with particularly high demand, owing to the large wild boar population and the extent of crop damage reported by farmers.

Approved by the TNAU, the formulation is awaiting patent approval. Developed entirely from plant extracts, the product is biodegradable and is not expected to harm other insects or animals.

The growing demand for the product is reflected in its sales. From its commercial launch in 2016-17 until July 31 this year, a cumulative 109,473 litres of the repellent have been distributed to farmers.

The product recorded sales of 153 litres in 2016-17 and 148 litres in 2017-18. Demand increased to 276.5 litres in 2018-19 and 462 litres in 2019-20, before reaching 1,010 litres in 2020-21 and 1,724.5 litres in 2021-22. Sales stood at 1,010 litres in 2022-23.

The biggest surge came in 2023-24, when 1,00,709.5 litres were sold after the State government placed bulk orders for use in sugarcane fields. The repellent was subsequently supplied to farmers at a subsidised price.

Demand has remained steady since then, with sales of 2,138.5 litres in 2024-25, 1,751 litres in 2025-26 and 89.5 litres up to July 31 this year.

The ARS currently has an installed production capacity of up to 600 litres a day. Around 100 litres of the product is also supplied annually to neighbouring states.

Scientists at the research station are now working on a nano formulation that could enable the repellent's odour to disperse more rapidly and improve ease of application. Researchers are also exploring a formulation similar to household odour-repellent products to make its delivery simpler and more practical for farmers.

"The research is aimed at developing a product that is easier to handle and use. However, the impact of El Niño has affected sales this year," Sendhilvel said.

The current application method involves erecting a fence using wooden stakes about 2.5 feet high, placed at 10-foot gaps. An iron binding wire is tied at a height of about 1.5 feet, from which small plastic containers containing the repellent are suspended.

Each container, about 2 cm in diameter, is filled with five millilitres of the repellent. Around 100 such containers are required for an acre and need to be perforated below the neck to allow the odour to disperse. The repellent is priced at Rs 590 a litre, with about half a litre required to cover an acre.

M Raveendran, Director of Research, TNAU, said the herbal formulation was made from volatile plant extracts whose odour is generally disliked by wild boars.

"Several farmers have benefited from the repellent, and we have decided to scale up production. Wild boars can adapt to a particular deterrent if it is used continuously for a long period. Farmers therefore need to adopt different techniques and alternate their strategies to keep the animals away effectively," he said.

The three men, identified as Anthonysamy, Johnrose Peter and Kumar, all residents of Mariya Mangala village in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar, were shot dead during an alleged exchange of fire in the Datti forest area.

Their families and local villagers have claimed that the men had gone into the forest in search of missing cattle.

Tension prevailed at Hanur as villagers and family members staged a massive protest seeking justice for the men. Villagers blocked the road to Male Mahadeshwara Betta. TV visuals from the spot showed pushing and jostling between protesters and police amid heavy security arrangements.

The protesters demanded that the forest personnel who opened fire be brought to the spot and questioned, while police made efforts to control the situation and contain the growing anger among the families and villagers.

The protesters questioned the authority of the forest officials to kill the three men, even if they were hunting.

"They could have shot them in the leg; instead, they shot them in the neck and killed all three," the angry locals said.

P Shanmugam, state secretary of the CPI(M), said, “the three men were believed to have had roots in Coimbatore and that their ancestors had migrated to Karnataka two generations back. We have yet to ascertain whether any of their relatives still live in Coimbatore or not.”

Tamil Nadu leaders, including Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, DMK president MK Stalin and PMK chief Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday demanded that the deaths be registered as a murder case and investigated through a transparent and impartial probe.

Rathesh Raj, who is the brother of a Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer, has been named as one of the seven accused in the case registered by the DVAC in July. The agency has alleged that he functioned as an unauthorised intermediary and exercised undue influence over key decisions in Tasmac.

Investigators strongly believe that Rathesh could have escaped to a foreign country fearing arrest. The DVAC has already arrested at least two persons, including one Mulanoor Karthik, believed to be the head of Karur gang that allegedly operated to extract 'party funds' from bar owners.

The alleged irregularities took place between 2021 and 2025, when former minister V Senthilbalaji held the Prohibition and Excise portfolio. The former minister has managed to get anticipatory bail in the case. The case covers alleged manipulation of bar licence tenders, transport contracts, liquor brand approvals, and transactions involving distilleries, breweries, and bottling companies.

The DVAC has alleged that Rathesh Raj influenced the then Tasmac Managing Director S Visakan, an IAS officer, in matters including liquor brand approvals, bar licence tenders, and transfers of officials. Investigators have described him in the FIR as an "unauthorised power broker".

The case also concerns an alleged network involving bar operators and intermediaries. The DVAC has alleged that tender procedures were manipulated through proxy bidders and misuse of demand drafts, while transport contracts for TASMAC depots were allegedly diverted to favoured firms.

The agency has also alleged inflated or bogus transactions involving suppliers and distilleries, with illicit cash allegedly channelled as kickbacks.
The agency conducted searches at more than 40 locations across Tamil Nadu soon after registering the case and said incriminating documents were seized. Former minister Senthilbalaji and the other accused have denied wrongdoing, and the investigation is continuing.

On Friday (Augst 14), a special programme on cybercrime was conducted for students at St. Gabriel Boys Higher Secondary School in Muthialpet.

During the session, 175 students and 5 teachers were educated on various online threats including cyber stalking, phishing, part-time job frauds, loan scams, digital arrest, fake investment and trading schemes, matrimonial frauds, lottery and courier scams.

During the interaction, police urged teachers to extend the awareness to students and also discuss these threats with parents at home. Officials said a community-driven approach is essential to tackle cybercrime.

"Teachers have been advised to create awareness among students and discuss with their parents too. A community effort is required to create awareness, and we have begun reaching out to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) too. We have been regularly conducting social media campaigns too," said GCP.

Officers explained how fraudsters trap victims through social media, fake calls and fraudulent websites, and urged students to be cautious while sharing personal information online.

Students were also advised to immediately report any cyber fraud by calling the cybercrime helpline 1930 or by filing a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

The awareness drive continued on Saturday (August 15), with a police team conducting an awareness programme at an apartment complex on Radhakrishnan Salai, Valasaravakkam. Pamphlets with safety tips were also distributed to the students and residents.

Senior citizens were advised to be vigilant about fake calls, advertisements promising high returns, fraudulent investment apps, and fake websites and also about the digital arrest scam, in which they are the prime targets. Residents were advised not to transfer money to unknown bank accounts under any circumstances.

Authorities said similar awareness programmes will be rolled out in more schools and RWAs across the city in the coming weeks.

The police have urged anyone who has fallen victim to cyber fraud to immediately call the toll-free helpline 1930 or register a complaint on the national portal http://www.cybercrime.gov.in for assistance.

The department launched enrolment facilities across state schools in February 2024, in association with the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT).

Special camps were planned in over 37,500 schools to spare families long trips to external enrolment centres, with officials acknowledging the hardships faced by rural households.

However, parents and activists allege that ground-level implementation remains patchy. The biggest hurdle is faced by children from tribal communities and economically disadvantaged families who lack foundational supporting documents, primarily birth certificates, which are mandatory for registration.

"After almost a two-year struggle, we procured birth certificates for two Class 7 tribal students and 17 adults last month. Only now have we applied for their Aadhaar," said S Prabhakar, project coordinator at Thozhamai Trust, an organisation working on child welfare across the state.

Although school managements are expected to coordinate the collection and processing of papers, parents in many cases are still forced to navigate government offices and enrolment centres on their own.

Aadhaar is linked to crucial student welfare schemes, including scholarships and financial assistance. School-level camps were specifically intended to ensure children do not miss out on educational benefits due to missing documents.

Stakeholders have urged the department to strengthen school-level enrolment while establishing mechanisms to help students obtain basic documents like birth certificates first, failing which the burden will continue to fall disproportionately on vulnerable families.

CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the three, identified as Anthony Raj, John and Kumar, from Thomaiyarpalayam village in Hanur taluk, had entered the forest area to search for missing cattle when they were allegedly shot dead by forest personnel on Saturday.

He alleged that the forest department was attempting to cover up the killings by falsely claiming that the three had gone hunting.

"The shooting cannot be accepted under any circumstances. The forest personnel responsible should be dismissed and arrested," Shanmugam said. He urged the Tamil Nadu government to convey its strong condemnation to the Karnataka government.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian also condemned the killings and demanded that the Karnataka government register a murder case against the forest personnel involved and order a CBI probe. He also sought adequate compensation for the victims' families.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss demanded a CBI probe and Rs 1 crore compensation each for the families of the three victims.

Anbumani identified the victims said they were descendants of Tamil families who had migrated to the Chamarajanagar region around 100 years ago after losing their land and homes when land was acquired for the construction of the Mettur dam.

He alleged there was no evidence that the three had hunted deer, engaged in a confrontation with forest personnel or carried firearms. The forest department's claim that they were shot during an encounter while hunting deer was false, he said.

Anbumani said residents had been protesting against the killings, leading to tension in the area. He also pointed out that the Chamarajanagar MLA and district in-charge minister, Puttaranga Shetty of the Congress, and the Hanur MLA, Manjunath of the JD (S), had questioned the need for an encounter in the early hours.

PMK leader rejected Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's order for a magistrate-level inquiry and demanded a CBI probe instead.

He urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to condemn the killings and ensure that the Karnataka government paid Rs 1 crore each to the families of the three victims.

Addressing the 22nd convocation of SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) at Kattankulathur here, Radhakrishnan said the recent killing of a student in Coimbatore over allegations of sharing information about the drug trade was deeply painful, adding that he felt as though he had lost a member of his own family.

The Coimbatore murder has triggered a political controversy, with the victim's family alleging that 19-year-old engineering student K Amudhan was killed after he raised concerns over drug abuse and alleged drug peddling on the campus. Police and the college management, however, have denied a drug-related motive and said the killing stemmed from personal enmity and a retaliatory clash. Several persons have been arrested and the investigation is continuing.

Radhakrishnan's warning came as he urged the graduates to make "Rashtra Pratham" (nation first) their guiding principle and to use their knowledge, innovation, and hard work for the country's progress, security, and prosperity.

"Do not merely prepare yourself for the future; prepare yourself to shape the future," he said, describing India's youth as the country's greatest strength.

The Vice-President also said India was poised to become the world's third-largest economy soon and emerge as a stronger economic power by 2047. He urged graduates to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat by embracing innovation, entrepreneurship and research.

Highlighting the expansion of higher education since 2014, Radhakrishnan cited the establishment of 16 IIITs, eight Central Universities, eight IIMs, seven IITs, two IISERs, one NIT and 12 AIIMS. He said women's enrolment in higher education had risen 42.2 per cent, from 1.57 crore in 2014-15 to 2.24 crore in 2023-24.

He also recalled India's supply of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 100 countries, saying the assistance reflected the country's commitment to humanity and peace.

Calling upon the graduates to uphold constitutional values, respect diversity and strengthen national unity, Radhakrishnan urged them to carry forward the values of Gyaan (knowledge), Kartavya (duty), Karuna (compassion) and Seva (service).

He also conferred degrees and medals, presented an honorary degree to R Velusamy, an executive at Mahindra and Mahindra, and administered the "Say No to Drugs" pledge.

Governor-in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, SRMIST Chancellor TR Paarivendhar, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

The elderly woman was living alone at the farmhouse, the police said. The accused, Vicky of Rishivandiyam in Kallakurichi district, entered the house at night and attacked the woman when she raised an alarm.

Even though the elderly woman pleaded with him to leave her, considering her old age, the accused showed no mercy and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene.

The woman was found unconscious by neighbours on Sunday (August 16) morning after they became suspicious when she did not come out of the house for a prolonged period.

They rushed her to the Anthiyur Government Hospital, from where she was later shifted to the Erode Government Hospital for further treatment. Police said the woman needs to be under treatment for a few more days before discharge.

The Anthiyur police registered a case and examined CCTV footage from the area, which showed Vicky fleeing from her house around the time of the incident.

Vicky, who was in the area for sugarcane harvesting work, was detained and subsequently arrested by the Bhavani All-Women Police Station.

An inquiry is under way whether the accused is involved in any similar offence elsewhere.

Speaking after an environmental awareness rally organised by his We The Leaders movement at Egmore here, Annamalai urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to take action against ministers allegedly involved in corruption and keep them in check. "Some ministers have started taking bribes. I have audio evidence. I am bringing this to the Chief Minister's notice now itself. Put a check on them and set them right," he said.

On the Mekedatu project, Annamalai reiterated his opposition to the proposed dam but said he had faith in Modi's intentions. "Modi is an honest man. He does not do wrong. He should think about the problems that may arise between the two states, bring the Chief Ministers together and find a solution," he said.

Annamalai recalled that the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit had opposed the Mekedatu project when he was its state president, asserting that his stand had remained unchanged even after leaving the party.

He also accused the Opposition of pursuing adjustment politics and attempting to destabilise the TVK government instead of allowing it time to function.

Annamalai further claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had asked him to move to Delhi and take up a responsibility for three years, but he declined, saying he preferred to remain in Tamil Nadu and serve the people.

He urged the State government to earmark Rs 15,000 crore in budget savings over five years for village water bodies, schools and rural development.

The petitioner, advocate Theeran Thirumurugan from Madurai, in his Public Interest Litigation, said he was shocked to find widely circulated videos showing students of Alagappa Model Higher Secondary School, Karaikudi, allegedly raising the slogan “TVK... TVK” during a government function held on August 3 in the presence of dignitaries, including a minister.

The videos and media reports also created an impression that the slogans were not immediately restrained, he contended.

The petitioner said schools must remain insulated from partisan political influence as students are minors and at a formative stage of intellectual and emotional development. Educational institutions should instead foster independent thought, scientific temper, constitutional morality and democratic values, he said.

“Irrespective of the political party involved, school students should neither be encouraged nor permitted to participate in partisan political slogans, political campaigns or political demonstrations within educational institutions or during official government functions conducted on school premises,” he said.

If such practices continued unchecked, government schools and other educational institutions could gradually become platforms for political mobilisation, compromising the objective of providing children with a free, fair, impartial and politically neutral educational environment, he contended.

The petitioner further contended that the issue was not confined to one school. There were no comprehensive State-wide SOPs or binding administrative guidelines governing political activities during government functions on school campuses, he said, adding that the absence of such guidelines could result in similar incidents recurring across the State.

He had submitted a representation to the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary, School Education Department, on August 3, seeking an inquiry into the reported incident and formulation of State-wide guidelines to prevent the use of school students and educational institutions for partisan political activities. As he received no effective response, he approached the High Court.

In his complaint, Jesudas (74) claimed that Edwin, his wife Veena and Veena's sisters Bagiyaselvi and Juliet Rani allegedly abused and threatened him and his wife when they were alone at their house on July 1, in matters related to a property dispute.

The police registered an FIR against the four under sections relating to obscene or abusive speech and criminal intimidation and are investigating.

Online applications for B Ed admissions were invited from June 19 to July 31. A total of 3,149 students applied, following which the rank list was released on July 31. Online counselling was conducted from August 4-10.

Eligible candidates were given the opportunity to select their preferred Colleges of Education during the counselling process.

Following the completion of the first phase, allotment orders were issued online to 1,800 students based on their choices and rank.

Candidates can download their allotment orders on twise.ac.in by entering their online application ID. Students who have received allotment orders must join their respective Colleges of Education by August 21.

The admission process is being carried out through the common single-window counselling system for the government and government-aided B.Ed colleges in the State. Tamil Nadu has seven government Colleges of Education and 14 government-aided B Ed colleges, offering 2,040 seats.

Reacting to the incident, Stalin said the killing of the three Tamils in a Karnataka forest was shocking and strongly condemnable, alleging that the act had been committed with no regard for the value of human life.

He further alleged that Karnataka forest officials appeared to be making efforts to shield those responsible for the deaths and demanded that such attempts be stopped immediately.

"The incident should be registered as a murder case and a transparent, impartial investigation must be conducted. Those responsible must be punished," Stalin said in a social media post, adding that only such action would deter others from committing similar offences.

He also called upon the Tamil Nadu government to register its protest with the Karnataka government over the incident. "The Tamil Nadu government should not remain silent on this matter, like the Mekedatu issue" he said, urging the State government to raise the issue firmly with its Karnataka counterpart.

The former Chief Minister also demanded that the Tamil Nadu government secure adequate compensation for the families of the deceased and take steps to provide government employment to a member of each bereaved family.

The DMK leader said accountability was essential and stressed that the families should receive both justice and appropriate support from the government.

Ayyammal had alleged that her husband Paramasivam (52) was assaulted by police personnel at the station on July 19 after they were taken in connection with a complaint filed by their neighbour.

She further claimed that Paramasivam sustained a head injury in the alleged police assault and that the police subsequently threatened the family.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner said action would be taken based on the inquiry report, adidng that Valakrishnan of Mel Anuppanadi had initially lodged a complaint against his neighbour, Paramasivam, following a dispute over parking of an autorickshaw. Paramasivam also lodged a complaint against Valakrishnan, following which the police registered an FIR and conducted an investigation. "The parties later reached a compromise and approached the police. As an FIR had already been registered, we informed them that they should approach the court," he said.

However, according to sources at Government Rajaji Hospital, Paramasivam reportedly informed the hospital that he sustained injuries in a fall. The sources said he was advised to be admitted as he had sustained a head injury, but he refused. Paramasivam was later admitted to a private hospital, where he died despite treatment.

He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "cheating" people on the issue of women's reservation, as "the women's reservation bill was introduced by a Congress-led government in the past and it was the BJP that opposed the Bill at that time".

Speaking to PTI Videos, Elangovan also slammed the TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu for its performance in its first 100 days.

He criticised the Centre's rationale of linking the 33 per cent quota to an increase in parliamentary seats. "They should implement women's reservation in the existing seats," Elangovan said, calling the delay to increase seat numbers an "insult to women".

Turning his guns on Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, he criticised the allegedly poor administrative performance of TVK's first 100-days of government by calling it "nothing".

Elangovan alleged that the TVK government had only managed to change the names of existing schemes. "Their only ideology is to attack DMK every way".

Responding to CM Vijay's claims of defeating a conspiracy against his government, Elangovan pointed out that the administration lacks an absolute majority and heavily relies on parties that won in the DMK alliance. He warned that these supporting parties could withdraw their backing if the government fails to deliver on its promises.

Elangovan also attacked CM Vijay for targeting DMK chief M K Stalin while the senior leader was not present in the House. He asserted that Vijay is "happy that Stalin is not there" because he could not answer him.

According to him, "Vijay is incapable of spontaneous political debate", stating that the chief minister is "not a well-prepared man" who merely "reads out whatever is given to him in writing". Elangovan contrasted his behaviour with the political decency shown by former chief ministers and iconic leaders like C N Annadurai toward K Kamaraj.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the rendition of the full version of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters, Elangovan said that Senior leader Sonia Gandhi was right in objecting to the rendition of the full song. He said that Sonia Gandhi's stand on the song aligns with the Constituent Assembly's resolution at the time of Independence that only certain portions of the song be sung.

Speaking at the Gram Sabha convened on the occasion of Independence Day, MLA Jamal Mohamed Younoos Y N said instructions had been issued to pass similar resolutions in all 54 village panchayats in the Mayiladuthurai Assembly constituency.

According to the MLA, after Kharge, a prominent Dalit leader, addressed a public gathering in Uttarakhand recently, people allegedly affiliated with the RSS and BJP washed the venue with Ganga water to "purify" it.

"We strongly condemn this act," the MLA said during the meeting.

"He has been a Member of Parliament for multiple terms spanning decades, has served as a Union minister and a minister in the state government, and currently holds the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Treating a leader of his stature in this manner merely because he belongs to a Scheduled Caste is highly condemnable," he said.

The legislator said the Congress had historically stood for equality and that the alleged incident in Uttarakhand was not merely an insult to the party president but an affront to citizens across the country.

"Our nation's freedom was fought for by leaders who believed in equality across caste and religion. This action exposes a discriminatory ideology," he said.

The Gram Sabha meeting also saw discussions on local civic issues, with residents questioning officials about irregularities in drinking water supply, maintenance of water tanks and delays in garbage clearance in the wards.

Addressing a meeting of DMK lawyers from northern districts at Kalaignar Arangam in Anna Arivalayam, Udhayanidhi said the government had become so insecure that people were being arrested for "standing, walking, speaking or posting on social media."

"After waking up, the government appears to have a schedule to decide whom to arrest that day," he said.

Recalling the police action against him over his speech at a farmers' protest in Thanjavur, Udhayanidhi said he initially thought he was being arrested for calling Vijay a "dummy CM", in addition to describing the government as "shameless" and "bad". He said DMK lawyers immediately moved the Madras High Court and fought the case.

He credited the legal wing with securing relief for him and recalled its role in the 2018 legal battle that secured permission for former chief minister M Karunanidhi's burial at Marina.

Taking a swipe at the government, Udhayanidhi said, "In a pack of cards, there may be one or two jokers. Here, all 52 are jokers." He alleged that people did not know who the ministers or MLAs were and said even the "dummy CM" did not know his ministers.

Udhayanidhi also alleged that the TVK government had merely renamed schemes introduced by the previous DMK government. "They came saying they would bring change and a clean, corruption-free government. What have they done? They have changed the names of every scheme brought by our leader. There is no other change. They have put stickers on everything," he said.

Udhayanidhi said Gen-Z activists of the DMK were increasingly being targeted because the government feared their growing political involvement. He named Anbanandam, Vinoth Suryakumar and Saran among those arrested and said DMK lawyers had helped secure their release. He urged lawyers to provide legal protection to party workers facing what he described as false cases and to pursue cases against ruling party functionaries accused of wrongdoing.

Referring to the death of college student Amudhan in Coimbatore, Udhayanidhi alleged that the student had provided information to the police about drug peddling before being attacked and killed by a group of around 20 people. He said the DMK would support the student's family in its demand for justice.

"We will take care of it in the Assembly, and you take care of it in the courts," he told the lawyers.

DMK legal wing secretary NR Elango alleged that the police had adopted an authoritarian approach and urged lawyers to proactively initiate legal measures. RS Bharathi, Rajya Sabha MPs P Wilson and R Girirajan and other senior lawyers attended the meeting.

According to the top court's cause list of August 17, the matter would come up for hearing before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.

On August 12, the apex court had said pleas filed in the matter by the Tamil Nadu government and others, including the DMK, would be taken up for hearing on August 17.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had said the state was not getting its due share of Cauvery water in a rain deficient year.

The Joseph Vijay led-state government on August 3 approached the apex court seeking directions to the Karnataka government for immediate release of the water.

The state government, in its plea, claimed that the quantum allocated to it by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) as well as that released by its neighbour Karnataka was far less.

A CWRC meeting held on July 28 directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs for 15 days starting July 29. However, the quantum of water released at Biligundlu ranged between 158 and 550 cusecs from July 29 to August 2, the state government said.

A press release issued by the Tamil Nadu government said that as of August 3, the combined total storage in the reservoirs in Karnataka -- KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy -- stood at 77.537 TMC and Karnataka would face no difficulty in releasing Tamil Nadu's due share proportionately.

Following rains in the catchment areas in the KRS and Kabini dams in Karnataka recently, the proportionate water to be realised at Biligundlu should be 26.954 TMC, it said.

"Accordingly, the Cauvery Water Management Authority order allocating 4.536 TMC is very less," the release added.

Karnataka has "failed" to share with Tamil Nadu its due share of water and the quantum was 26.954 TMC, the press release said.