Chennai Woman Withdraws Harassment Case Against National President of ABVP
Chennai: The family of the Chennai woman who had filed a harrasment complaint against the national president of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), has withdrawn their police complaint allegedly over pressure from the association of the apartment complex where both of them live.
Dr Subbiah Shanmugam, who is also the Head of the Surgical Oncology Department at the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, had been accused of harassing his 62-year-old neighbour after she asked him to pay for using her parking slot at the apartment complex.
The woman's family says that Dr Shanmugam urinated at the doorstep of the woman, threw used face masks and garbage, besides harassing her on the phone and breaking a signboard. Her family had also presented CCTV evidence implicating the government doctor.
"Yes we have withdrawn the complaint though we wanted to proceed legally. My aunt wants peace. She faced rampant trouble from the apartment association. We stand by the CCTV evidence we've given. That's genuine," a family member of the woman told NDTV. He also added, "The doctor is an Oncologist. We don't want this police action affect his patients at this time of pandemic
However, the Inspector at the police station where the case was filed denied receiving a request to withdraw the complaint. "We have not received anything. We are investigating as the FIR has been filed. They'd have to approach the court if they want to withdraw," he said.
Narrating the alleged sequence of events, the family member had told NDTV that trouble started at least four months ago when she asked Dr Shanmugam to pay for using her car parking slot at her apartment complex.
"He would call her and harass, asking if he can send her chicken, knowing well she's a vegetarian," the member said.
Though the Chennai police had issued only a CSR receipt earlier they filed the FIR after the controversy drew media attention. He has also been charged for violating quarantine rules and "causing mischief".
DMK MP Kanimozhi had also intervened and sought Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami to ensure that the family's allegations are looked into.
The controversy has also drawn attention on social media with many raising questions whether a government doctor can hold such positions in a politically affiliated body.
Dr Subbiah did not respond to calls. However, an unsigned statement from ABVP sent to media says "Misunderstandings between two families now stand cleared and all issues between the two parties have now been resolved. From day one, both Dr Subbiah and ABVP were stating the facts about the misunderstanding emanating from the parking issues but political vultures were indulging in slander and character assassination of Dr Subbiah Shanmugam".
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
