Even Christians unable to celebrate Christmas in BJP-ruled States: TN CM
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday claimed that even Christians were not able to celebrate Christmas peacefully in BJP-ruled States.
Referring to a recent comment made by the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Muslims, Stalin said he did not want to lower the dignity of the Iftar function by recalling about the incident that occurred in the north eastern state.
"Not just Muslims, even Christians cannot celebrate Christmas peacefully in BJP-ruled states." Stalin alleged while taking part in an Iftar function here on Sunday.
Sarma had allegedly made some "anti-Muslim" remarks in February which was slammed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which had urged the Supreme Court to take immediate cognisance of the matter.
Noting that a large number of Islamic organisations have gathered together to take part in the function, Stalin said, "(Today) all minority movements are on one stage. Has it ever been like this before. It was the DMK that created this integration."
"This unity is essential for Tamil Nadu, in fact, it is essential for the whole of India," he stressed.
Hitting out at rival AIADMK and its chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, the DMK chief sought to know whether the former has commented anything about the violence against minorities happening across the country.
"What we ask Palaniswami is that along with the AIADMK party, have you mortgaged your conscience to the BJP. That is what is painful," he alleged.
Stalin asked, "How can Palaniswami establish the rights and safety of minority communities, when their alliance partner BJP spreads hatred against them and seeks to benefit from it? It is not just Palaniswami, many in the country are like this who remain silent whenever trouble occurs to the Muslims through the BJP."
He underlined that it was the DMK which was the first to raise its voice for the rights of Muslims and had passed resolutions in the state Assembly. "That is why the minority community people always stand as a support to the DMK," he said.
Observing that the relationship between the DMK and the Muslims did not happen overnight, Stalin said, "It is a relationship that existed since this movement began. From the time of Quaid-e-Millat to Perarignar Anna (DMK founder CN Annadurai), to Kalaignar M Karunanidhi and now to me, this is a relationship that continues generation after generation."
"This bond is inseparable and will continue forever," he said.
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Three company directors held in Rs 100-crore investment fraud in Kochi
Kochi (Kerala) (PTI): Police on Sunday arrested three directors of a firm accused of cheating hundreds of investors of over Rs 100 crore through a fake investment scheme linked to agricultural tourism here, officials said.
The accused were identified as Muraleedharan, Ashik Murali and Akhil Murali, all natives of Thrissur.
The arrests were made by the Kalamassery police in connection with a fraud involving ATCOS (Agri Tourism Cooperative Society), a firm headquartered at Pathadipalam here.
Police said the company had promised high returns by collecting investments from the public in the agricultural tourism sector, but allegedly cheated hundreds of people and fled with the money.
ATCOS was registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act and operated 13 branches across various districts in Kerala, besides a branch in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, officials said.
When investors failed to receive their promised returns or the invested amount, complaints were filed with the police.
Officials said around 54 cases have been registered against the firm in 32 police stations across the state, including 29 cases at the Kalamassery police station alone.
Following instructions from Kochi City Police Commissioner K S Mahesh Kumar, a special investigation team was formed under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shehensha and Thrikkakara ACP Manoj Kumar.
The team traced the accused to an apartment in Amala Nagar in Thrissur, where they had been hiding after secretly renting the flat, officials said.
The bank accounts of the accused have been frozen, and steps have been initiated to trace their assets, officials said.
Police also conducted a raid at the company’s office at Pathadipalam and seized several documents related to the case.
The accused were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Kalamassery, which remanded them to judicial custody and sent them to Kakkanad jail.
Police said they would seek the custody of the accused for further interrogation as the investigation continues.
