TN govt revokes appointment of astrologer as OSD to CM Vijay following criticism
Chennai (PTI): The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday revoked its order appointing Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, an astrologer, as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD - Political) to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
The decision to withdraw the Government Order (GO) comes less than 24 hours after the appointment was made on Tuesday, following a wave of sharp criticism from political opponents and allies of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) alike.
The appointment had sparked a heated debate in the State Assembly earlier in the day. Opposition leaders, including DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth, strongly condemned the move on the floor of the House, questioning the induction of an astrologer into a key political administrative role.
Facing mounting pressure and backlash from various quarters, the Vijay-led administration moved quickly to rescind the appointment.
Vettrivel, widely known as an astrologer, had been designated to handle political affairs in the Chief Minister's Office before the government decided to backtrack on the decision.
Official sources confirmed that the GO stands cancelled with immediate effect. Further details on a replacement for the post are yet to be announced.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
POCSO Act case filed against Harihara Panchamasali Gurupeetha ex-pontiff for sexually harassing boy
Davanagere: A POCSO Act case has been registered against Vachanananda Swami of Harihara Veerashaiva Lingayat Panchamasali Gurupeetha under charge of sexual harassment of a boy, following his dethroning as pontiff of the Mutt.
The Zero FIR, which had been filed at the Lakshmeshwara Police Station in Gadag district, has been handed over to the Harihara Rural Police Station under whose jurisdiction the place of crime is located. The investigation team from the Harihara Rural Police Station has taken the taken statement of the complainant.
The mother of the boy had complained to the Lakshmeshwara Police that the seer often used to get her son, who studied at the Mutt, to give him a massage. Harihara Police, who are currently probing the matter, will take the boy’s statement, Superintendent of Police Dr. HT Shekhar has said.
The seer was dethroned as pontiff of the Mutt recently, after a complaint of sexual harassment of the boy was filed against him. The dethroning also brought the matter of sexual harassment to public knowledge.
District Children’s Welfare Committee officers visited the Gurupeetha and collected statements of various people, including that of the seer.
