Tirupur farmers hunger strike enters eighth day

IDBI Bank seeks ROC help over nominee director dispute with NTADCL

IDBI Bank has raised governance concerns over the exclusion of nominee directors from board meetings of New Tirupur Area Development Corporation Ltd (NTADCL) post-loan repayment. Despite provisions allowing their retention until all dues are settled, the directors were excluded, leading IDBI Bank to write to the Registrar of Companies (ROC). NTADCL, which underwent Corporate Debt Restructuring in 2011, excluded IDBI Bank and SBI's nominee directors, citing vacancy due to loan repayment. IDBI Bank seeks ROC's intervention to assert its right to retain Nominee Directors until all dues are cleared, citing clauses in the MRA, AoA, and Companies Act, 2013.

New Tirupur Area Development Corporation and IL&FS spat reaches Registrar of Companies

Tamil Nadu man injured while climbing down Velliangiri hills dies days later

COIMBATORE: A 31-year-old Tiruppur native who was injured last week after falling while descending the Velliangiri hills died on Monday evening. The deceased B Veera Kumar belonged to SV Colony in Tirupur district. He was injured at the seventh hill while returning to the foothill after visiting the hilltop Temple on Thursday evening. He was undergoing treatment at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for the last few days but died without responding to treatment. After sustaining injuries, Veera Kumar was taken to the Velliangiri foothill on a dolly and then taken to the Primary Health Centre at Poolvapatti. After first aid, he was shifted to CMCH for further treatment. He died at 3.15 pm on Monday. Eight devotees who took the arduous trek to the Velliangiri hills have died since February 25 due to various reasons, said sources. The number of devotees is expected to fall from this week as Sivarathiri festival was over earlier and Sitra Pournami was marked on Tuesday, an official said. More pilgrims visited this year compared to last year. It is estimated two lakh people had arrived last year and this year the number exceeded it. The number of deaths of devotees declined in the last one month as most of them aware about the terrain and several refrained from visiting the hill following awareness through media, said the official The forest department officials are also monitoring the devotees using drones in order to reduce chances of wildfire. Over 2 lakh devotees visited the hill An official said the number of pilgrims in Velliangiri has exceeded 2 lakh this time. The number of deaths of devotees declined in the last one month as most of them are aware about the terrain, he said

LS polls: Final polling percentage stands at 69.72 per cent in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The final polling percentage in Tamil Nadu for the Lok Sabha elections stands at 69.72 per cent, according to an announcement made by Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo, on Sunday. Of the total number of voters - 6,23,33,925 in Tamil Nadu, 4,34,58,875 have polled their votes for the Lok Sabha elections. Women voters have outnumbered the men in the electoral rolls. In exercising their franchise too, they are ahead of men. Of the 3,17,19,665 women voters, 2,21,58,256 have turned up at the polling booths on April 19. Similarly, of the 3,06,05,793 men voters, 2,12,97,903 voters have exercised their franchise. According to the final voting percentages, Dharmapuri constituency polled the highest: 81.20 per cent, while Chennai Central constituenced polled the least: 53.96 per cent. Polling percentages in all 39 constituenies are as follows: Thiruvallur (SC) - 68.59% Chennai North - 60.11% Chennai South - 54.17% Chennai Central - 53.96% Sriperumbudur - 60.25% Kancheepuram (SC) - 71.68% Arakkonam - 74.19% Vellore - 73.53% Krishnagiri - 71.50% Dharmapuri - 81.20% Tiruvannamalai - 74.24% Arani - 75.76% Villpuram (SC) - 76.52% Kallakurichi - 79.21% Salem - 78.16% Namakkal - 78.21% Erode - 70.59% Tirupur - 70.62% The Nilgiris - 70.95% Coimbatore - 64.89% Pollachi - 70.41% Dindigul - 71.14% Karur - 78.70% Trichy -67.51% Perambalur - 77.43% Cuddalore - 72.57% Chidambaram (SC) - 76.37% Mayiladuthurai - 70.09% Nagapattinam (SC) - 71.94% Thanjavur - 68.27% Sivaganga - 64.26% Madurai - 62.04% Theni - 69.84% Virudhunagar - 70.22% Ramanathapuram - 68.19% Thoothukudi - 66.88% Tenkasi (SC) - 67.65% Tirunelveli - 64.10% Kanyakumari - 65.44%

Annamalai faces tough competition from DMK, AIADMK as he strives for victory

Annamalai faces tough competition from DMK, AIADMK as he strives for victory When the high-profile DMK minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan was moved from Finance to Information Technology department in May 2023, it was widely believed it was a fallout of an audio clip leak by BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai. Then, Annamalai, who had already been generating political controversies, made solid gains in the perception battle, which was all about whether it was the BJP or AIADMK in questioning the powers that be and performing the role of a vibrant opposition party. Months later, 39-year old Annamalai as the BJP candidate in Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency is consistent in challenging both the ruling DMK and main opposition AIADMK. By releasing RTI documents on ceding of Katchatheevu, the Congress party also came under his fierce attack. AIADMK leaders even alleged Annamalai spoke ill of Dravidian icon CN Annadurai and late party supremo J Jayalalithaa and that it was the trigger for snapping of ties with the BJP last year. Hence, be it the audio clip episode, or AIADMK breaking ties, Annamalai became a key point of political discourse in one way or the other. Little wonder, Coimbatore, the hub of western region, is the most keenly watched constituency in Tamil Nadu. Thiaga Rajan had denied BJP's allegation that it was his voice that was heard in the audio clip. Nearly a year after shifting him, Chief Minister M K Stalin Stalin said the moved was effected to improve and reform the IT department. Just to prove its electoral heft, the ruling DMK chose to field its candidate from Coimbatore rather than giving it to allies. Former Mayor, P Ganapaty Rajkumar is the DMK candidate. In 2019, DMK ally CPI(M) won the seat. DMK bets on a string of its welfare schemes including fare-free travel for women in buses. It appears to battle some anti-incumbency like discontent among MSMEs over high cost of electricity despite Stalin's measures to address their grievances. Nearly 3,000 MSME units staged a hunger protest last year opposing power tariff hike. An industry source told PTI: ''The MSME units have been worst hit due to power tariff hike. Representations to the government have not elicited a positive response so far.'' The MSMEs are under stress.'' AIADMK's Singai G Ramachandran (36) is the youngest among candidates fielded by major parties. He and Annamalai are both IIM graduates and Rajkumar (58) holds a doctorate in journalism. In the run up to the polls, though leader of Opposition and AIADMK chief, Edappadi K Palaniswami asserted the fight is only between his party and the DMK, the BJP is working hard and enthusiastic too, to give the well entrenched Dravidian parties a run for their money. BJP workers depend on Annamalai's popularity to emerge victorious. He has has made 100 promises to be fulfilled in 500 days and assurances include cleaning up rivers, an international airport and food vans named after former Chief Minister K Kamaraj. Kamaraj was a veteran of the freedom movement, a Congress icon remembered for his honesty and groundbreaking work for the people. Traditionally, a bastion of the AIADMK, the Left outfits and trade unions affiliated to them hold a sway over segments of workers here. Similarly, the BJP has several pockets of influence in Coimbatore and a committed voter-base. This is also a region where the Hindu outfits have a comparatively good presence. However, BJP's cadre strength appears to be no match for the organisational prowess of DMK and AIADMK. The crux of the AIADMK's campaign here is that only its previous regimes brought growth and developed infrastructure and both the DMK and BJP did nothing for the western region. It dismissed an edge for Annamalai as ''maya'' created in the media by the BJP itself. The AIADMK is very confident that only its candidates would win Coimbatore, Pollachi, Nilgiris, Erode and Tirupur segments. Communally sensitive, the car blast, on Deepavali eve in 2022 is fresh in the memory of people. Recently, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a road show here, he paid homage to the victims of the 1998 serial bomb blast in which 58 people were killed. Incidentally, Annamalai has promised to set up a unit of the National Investigation Agency here. A textile and industrial hub, there are several issues in Coimbatore including the demand of MSMEs to slash GST for job work. Days ago, Chief Minister Stalin addressing a meet at nearby Avinashi alleged Modi's ''twin attack'' of demonetisation and GST implementation has hit industries in this western region. ''Industrial units that had once put up notice boards announcing hiring of workers, now display auction notices,'' he then alleged. The industry source said continuous increase in prices of raw materials and allied goods have further hurt the MSMEs. ''Surge in raw material costs leads to cancellation of orders; it will further lead to decline in exports.'' Coimbatore and nearby areas house textile units, manufacturing units of auto components, wet grinders, motor pumps and foundries. Car makers Maruti Udyog and Tata Motors source up to 30 per cent of their automotive components from the city. Kalamani Jaganathan (36) is Naam Tamilar Katchi's pick. In essence, Coimbatore is facing a four-way contest and Annamalai's entry has made the fight pretty tough. In 1999 LS polls, the BJP's CP Radhakrishnan won the seat as part of alliance with the DMK. In 1998 he won that seat, and the BJP was AIADMK's ally then. Elections to 39 Lok Sabha seats in TN will be held on April 19.

Tamil Nadu CM Continues Attacking BJP, Modi

Chennai: Continuing his scathing attack on the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Chief Minister M K Stalin said that Tirupur would become a Manipur if Modi returned to power again and all its businesses would collapse as a riot-stricken place would not be fit for industrial growth. Speaking at an election meeting at the hosiery town of Tiruppur to introduce INDIA coalition candidates, A Raja of DMK contesting from The Nilgiris and Subarayyan of CPI fighting the April 19 Lok Sabha polls from Tiruppur, Stalin warned the people of reservation getting cancelled if the BJP won the elections once more. The Constitution that helped the country hold its head high though skeptics had predicted the nations disintegration due to its diversity during Independence would be struck down by Modi, he said, adding that not only was the Constitution framed by B R Ambedkar that was under threat but even democracy was in jeopardy. Going by the 10 year rule of the BJP that took the nation on the downward hills and wrecked the economy of cities like Coimbatore and Tirupur that were once seen are destinations of hope for people in search of jobs and livelihoods and it could be predicted what would befall the nation if the BJP won the polls, he said. Referring to an unsavoury incident at Tiruppur on Friday, in which a woman, who raised a question relating to GST to a bunch of campaigners belonging to the BJP, was brutally attacked, he said that was the respect the BJP gave to the people and that was how they treated women. The nation that was now kept united despite the diversity, would be divided on religious and language lines by Modi because of whose agreement with Bangladesh on textiles and the reduction of time limit for repaying instalments was reduced from six months to three months under the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act ruined the businesses, he charged. Since Lok Sabha polls were crucial and the peoples vote for the INDIA coalition candidates was highly essential to retrieve democracy and defeat dictatorship with a view to upholding equality, fraternity, communal amity and social justice, he urged the people to serve as his ambassadors and seek the votes of all the people. He said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had demolished the entire campaign undertaken by Modi in one stroke by making a visit to Coimbatore on Friday when he said that Tamil Nadu, its history, its politics had helped him understand India, besides showing how to care for people. Rahul Gandhi had also acknowledged that he had learnt a lot from leaders of Tamil Nadu like Periyar E V Ramasamy, K Kamaraj, C N Annadurai and K Karunanidhi and the Congress partys manifesto reflected the ideals of the DMK. By stating that the election was between the upholders of social justice and those who sowed the seeds of communal division, Rahul Gandhi proved that he shared the DMKs vision, too, he said, adding that Tamil society had progressed only in the past 100 years after the Dravidian movement came and after several struggles against the 2000 years old enslavement. Stalin also attacked AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, whom he alleged was under the control of the BJP. Even if the AIADMK had any problems with the State unit of the BJP, it had nothing against Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Rahul Gandhi's TN visit has trumped Modi's poll campaign: Stalin

Rahul Gandhi's TN visit has trumped Modi's poll campaign: Stalin Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's single day campaign in the state has ''beaten all the election trips'' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state to seek votes. Referring to the April 12 meet addressed at nearby Coimbatore by him and Gandhi, Stalin said the turnout and the rally was magnificent like the movie ''Baahubali'', and the ''total BJP was trumped,'' by a single public meeting. Further, the chief minister said Gandhi's single day campaign in Tamil Nadu has ''beaten all the election trips'' of Modi to the state to seek votes. ''Rahul Gandhi has proven that Tamil Nadu people can be won over (ruled) only through love.'' Citing Gandhi's comment in Coimbatore that the Lok Sabha polls are an ideological battle, the DMK chief said he has been all along stating that the election is between the INDIA bloc -- committed to upholding social justice -- and the BJP front which is sowing seeds of ''discrimination'' in society. ''Rahul Gandhi's speech has echoed the same opinion.'' The DMK regime is a beacon of social justice that provided reservation to marginalised people including the Backward, Most Backward and Scheduled Castes. ''If Modi is again voted to power, he will first do away with reservation. It is because BJP is allergic to social justice.'' Modi will also change the Constitution drafted by Dr B R Ambedkar. ''That is why we say that Modi returning to power is a danger to the Constitution, a threat to the whole country.'' Furthermore, the DMK president alleged ''stoking violence is in the BJP's DNA,'' and the nation will be an autocracy and the number of poor people will rise if Modi retains power. Referring to a news item (a video clip was also shared in social media) on BJP workers allegedly assaulting a woman in Tirupur for posing GST related questions, he said both the BJP and Modi are detrimental to the nation and its people. ''The BJP will turn Tirupur into a Manipur,'' he alleged. Pointing to the alleged assault, he accused the BJP of arrogance and alleged the Saffron party has become drunk with power. Industrial growth is possible only in a peaceful environment and peace and growth will be lost if ''violent parties like the BJP is allowed entry.'' Due to GST and demonetisation, industries/MSMEs have been seriously affected. A company that came forward to invest in Tamil Nadu was intimidated and it was forced to start its venture in Gujarat, he alleged. For the Production Linked Incentive scheme, tax is collected from Tamil Nadu people and the Centre is giving concession to start industries in Gujarat. ''Only these people are now seeking votes in Tirupur and Coimbatore.'' Stalin addressed the meet at Avinashi in Tirupur district which is among the areas that fall under the Nilgiris LS constituency, where BJP's L Murugan is seeking his luck. In Coimbatore, TN BJP chief K Annamalai is the candidate.

Try millet dosai, bise bele bath and kara adai at the newly-opened Zodiac restaurant in Tirupur

Hectic Activities in Different Political Camps

Chennai : Different political marquees in the State bustled with hectic election related activities on Tuesday as the DMK finalized its seat allocation with the CPI and CPM, the BJP gained strength by the merger All Indian Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) of R Sarathkumar and the DMDK general secretary V Premalatha Vijayakanth sending out a veiled message of going with the AIADMK by openly opposing the implementation of the CAA. Leaders of the CPI and CPM called on Chief Minister M K Stalin to sign agreements on the seat allocation at the Anna Arivalayam, which left the Congress alone to sit across the table and finalise the seats in the DMK-led coalition. As per the agreements signed on Tuesday, CPM would contest from Madurai and Dindigul constituencies and CPI would field candidates from Nagapattinam and Tirupur. Once the Congress comes to the table and signs the agreement for seat allocation, the DMK would be able to wrap up the process by announcing its candidates for the various constituencies and plunge into the campaign process for the Lok Sabha polls as a clear picture would have emerged by then on who would be fighting the elections from where. The BJP camp had reason to rejoice on Tuesday as the AISMK merged with it formally at the party headquarters in Chennai and Sarathkumar announcing that it was the beginning of public service and comparing the regime of Narendra Modi with that of the late K Kamaraj. BJP State president K Annamalai welcomed Sarathkumar to the party and said that the move was to uphold the spirit of nationalism from the Tamil soil. He said Sarathkumar had been vocal about his Nationalistic thoughts through Art and called him a man of high personal integrity and had devoted his life to the service of Tamil people. The AIADMK, which held a human chain agitation in urban areas across the State to protest against the rampant drug menace in the State and to point out the alleged links of ruling party functionaries to the drug smuggling cartel, had a reason to be happy as Premalatha Vijayakanth gave a vague indication that she was not planning to join the BJP-led NDA, through a statement opposing the implementation of CAA. While the talks between the TNCC and DMK leaders are expected to happen soon, the BJP too will complete the process of seat allocation in another weeks time. The AIADMK might wait for the DMDK to make its next move and then clinch a deal with it. As far as the PMK is concerned, it is not clear which way it would swing. It could go with the BJP if its demands were met and come back to the AIADMK. Whatever it is, both the AIADMK and BJP are trying to make an issue out of a DMK functionary caught in connection with a drug smuggling case and gain political capital out of it. Perhaps they might use it as a poll plank, too, against the ruling DMK. For, the slogan of the AIADMK at the human chain agitation was Say no to drugs, Say no to DMK.

India, EFTA trade deal to help boost trade, investments: Indian industry

India, EFTA trade deal to help boost trade, investments: Indian industry The free trade agreement between India and the four European nation bloc EFTA will help boost trade and investments in the country in sectors such as engineering, pharma, food processing, and apparel, says the industry. India on Sunday signed a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) under which New Delhi received a USD 100 billion investment commitment from these four European countries. The investment commitment by the companies of the grouping - Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - would be executed over a period of 15 years and facilitate creation of one million direct jobs in India. Industrialist and Tirupur Exporters Association President A Sakthivel said that the pact would help promote two-way commerce and help Indian apparel exporters increase their shipments. ''The investment commitment will boost domestic manufacturing,'' Sakthivel said. Industry body CII President R Dinesh said that the ''unique'' pledge by EFTA members on USD 100 billion investment will help sectors such as engineering, pharmaceuticals, food processing, apparel and others to grow. ''It will also help both sides to address third markets together,'' Dinesh said in a statement. Sharing similar views, trade expert and Hi-Tech Gears Chairman Deep Kapuria said that EFTA is an important trading block as it is amongst the top ten in the world in trade in goods and services. ''EFTA also has an extensive network of FTAs. Currently, it has trade agreements outside the EU with more than 30 countries, which covers 41 countries worldwide. India's FTA with EFTA would help it in integrating with the wider world market,'' Kapuria said. He added that the EFTA countries are also a major source of outward investment, particularly in pharma, energy and medical devices. ''Hence the FTA would also help India attract FDI from EFTA members,'' Kapuria added.