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Upset over Medical Exam Bill, MK Stalin snubs Governor

For nearly a decade, the state government had made medical admission on basis of Class XII marks…reports Asian Lite News

In a major embarrassment to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, the MK Stalin government officially boycotted his “At Home Reception” over what they called his delay in forwarding the NEET Exemption bill to the Union Government even after the Tamil Nadu assembly passed it unanimously twice.

The government’s stand was officially communicated to the Governor by Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Health Minister Ma Subramanian.

Thennarasu said, “We have told the Governor that his delay in forwarding the bill to the Union Government for President’s assent is disrespecting the assembly and people’s sentiment and the government thinks it would not able to participate in the At Home Reception”.

“It is regrettable that the Governor has not given any timeline to forward the bill,” he added.

Though the Governor had earlier returned the bill after nearly 200 days, the Tamil Nadu assembly had unanimously adopted the bill again and sent it to him, hoping he would forward it to the Centre as per convention, the minister said.

Tamil Nadu opposes the medical entrance exam NEET, arguing it favours the rich who can afford private coaching and denies opportunity to the rural and economically compromised students who can’t afford it.

For nearly a decade, the state government had made medical admission on basis of Class XII marks.

During the UPA regime the then ruling DMK had obtained presidential assent for a similar bill that had exempted the state from NEET.

The President, however, returned a similar bill passed by the assembly during the AIADMK regime.

The DMK government had constituted the Justice AK Rajan Committee and framed this bill on basis of its recommendations, which the Governor has found fault with.

So far, at least 20 medical degree aspirants in the state, including toppers, have died by suicide, unable to crack NEET. The state government believes the law should permit states to opt out of NEET. Political voices in a few other states too, including neighbouring Karnataka, have started opposing NEET.

The ruling DMK’s strong political message comes as the academic year is coming to an end and the application process for the entrance exam has started. The delay by the Governor would scuttle any possibility of NEET exemption for this year, which was a key poll promise by the party.

This, in fact, is a common cause for all political parties in Tamil Nadu except the BJP.

There has been no communication from the Raj Bhavan on the matter yet. Many are raising questions if a time frame ought to be set for Governors to take a call on issues like this.

ALSO READ-Pinarayi, Stalin call for ‘truly federal India’

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Stalin to host Global Investors Meet

Tamil Nadu CM says between April and December, 2021, the foreign direct investment in the state had increased by 41.5%, reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced that the Global Investors Meet (GIM) would be held at the end of 2023. According to him, the pro-industrial policies of the government had boosted the confidence of industrialists, who were keen on investing in Tamil Nadu.

“Between April and December, 2021, the foreign direct investment in Tamil Nadu has increased by 41.5%. We will attract more investment through the GIM and generate employment opportunities for the youth,” he said in a suo motu statement in the Legislative Assembly.

The Chief Minister said Guidance, the agency facilitating investment in the State, had won the Best Investment Promotion Agency award in the Asia Oceania Region.

Explaining that his recent visit to the Dubai Expo had resulted in signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for 14 projects worth Rs 6,100 crore, capable of generating 15,100 jobs, he said the government had begun efforts for the second phase to attract investment.

“Efforts are on to meet investors in the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland in May, the event in Hanover in Germany, the Global Offshore Wind in June in England and investors in the US,” he said.

He also pointed out that the government, after coming to power, had signed 130 MOUs for investment to the tune of Rs 68,375 crore to generate 2,05,802 jobs.

UAE visit a massive success

Last month, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister inked deals worth Rs 6,100 crore with leading investors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi during his four-day trip which will generate employment opportunities for 14,700 people in the state.

According to a statement from the government, UAE-based Lulu Group will invest Rs 3,500 crore to set up shopping malls, hypermarkets and food processing and logistic centres; Nobel Steels will invest Rs 1,000 crore and the White House has earmarked Rs 500 crore. It added that the Transworld Group of Companies will invest Rs 100 crore, Aster D M Healthcare has proposed an investment of Rs 500 crore and Sharaf Group will invest Rs 500 crore.

Stating that the United Arab Emirates and Tamil Nadu share a long history of rich cultural and trade relations, he said, “We are committed to develop and strengthen the ties. There is keen interest to further strengthen the ties between Tamil Nadu and UAE and this is evident after seeing the number of participants in this conference.”

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Tamil Nadu has signed 124 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) attracting investments of $8 billion thereby creating two lakh jobs, he said.

“Tamil Nadu has registered a GDP of 5.8 per cent in 2020-21 in contrast to negative growth in most economies. This clearly shows the faith and confidence global investors have in Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Noting that the State government has drawn up plans to increase the GDP to USD 1 trillion by 2030, Stalin said the government has taken up upgrading infrastructure and developing the skills of the employees to make the achievement.

“In this context, there are large number of opportunities available for you to invest. Opportunities were in abundance in real estate, tourism, and hospitality sector,” he said, adding that the State was home to more than 75 Fortune 500 companies.

“Our doors are always open to do business and to take up investments,” he said.

Addressing the media, Stalin said his trip was “successful” and “he felt at home”. Stalin said he has invited several other investors and assured them that the government will create a favourable scenario for them to begin business. He added that a dashboard will soon be created at the Chief Minister’s Office through which the officials will be regularly monitoring the development to ensure the projects are implemented soon.

Stalin further brushed aside comments from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham, the state’s main Opposition party, which claimed that the trip will not bring welfare to the state and that it was only a “family picnic”.

Responding to a question, the Chief Minister said similar to his visit to the United Arab Emirates, he will definitely visit other countries and meet investors to bring in more investments and employment opportunities for the state if the situation is favourable.

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DMK plans to catapult Stalin to national leadership

Party State Organising secretary R.S. Bharathi, however, said that the invitation extended to Amit Shah was a courtesy. He said that even AIADMK leaders have been invited for the function…reports Asian Lite News

The DMK, which is the third-largest party in the Lok Sabha after the BJP and Congress, is trying to catapult party president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin into the national scenario with the grand inauguration of its party office in the national capital on April 2.

DMK parliamentary party leader and former Union minister T.R. Baalu has already extended invitations to BJP president J.P. Nadda, Congress president Sonia Gandhi Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders. The invitation to Amit Shah who had earlier refused to meet the delegation of DMK parliamentarians regarding the NEET issue has raised several eyebrows.

Party State Organising secretary R.S. Bharathi, however, said that the invitation extended to Amit Shah was a courtesy. He said that even AIADMK leaders have been invited for the function.

It is not a secret that Stalin has been nursing national ambitions and planning to head a regional coalition against the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have been conducting whirlwind tours across the country meeting regional leaders for a possible alternative to the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, Stalin has an advantage with the Congress supporting the DMK leader.

The DMK top brass, including Baalu, is planning to Stalin is catapulted to the national stage. Stalin’s father and late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Kalignar Karunanidhi had entered into political relationship with both the NDA and UPA earlier and T.R. Baalu has been one of the major architects in these shrewd political moves.

It is to be seen how DMK’s will fructify to push Stalin as an alternate regional leader as there are several other players aspring for a national role.

Political commentator and Director of Madurai based think tank, Socio-Economic Development Front Dr. R. Padmanabhan while speaking to IANS said: “Stalin has all the right to be projected as an alternative to the BJP at the centre but it is to be seen as to how the nation as a whole accept a regional party leader from South of India. The DMK party inauguration is indeed a show of strength and networking at New Delhi and is worth a try.”

ALSO READ-Stalin to embark on 4-day UAE visit

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Stalin meets ‘Mozart of Madras’ in Dubai studio

The song has been rendered by a host of singers including A R Rahman and his daughter Khatija Rahman…reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is on a visit to the United Arab Emirates, took time off his hectic schedule to pay a visit to Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman’s studio in Dubai.

Giving details of his visit to Rahman’s studio on Instagram, Stalin wrote, “My friend A R Rahman invited me to his studio and showed me his ‘Moopilla Thamizh Thaye’ album when I had gone to pay a visit to the Dubai Expo 2020. There is no limit to Tamil and music in this world!”

A R Rahman, for his part, said, “M K Stalin avargale, thanks for accepting our invitation to Firdaus studio and honouring us.”

Music for ‘Moopilla Thamizhe Thaaye’ – a Tamil anthem for Tamils and Tamil lovers worldwide has been scored by A R Rahman, while its lyrics have been penned by Thamarai.

The song has been rendered by a host of singers including A R Rahman and his daughter Khatija Rahman.

The video has been directed by Amith Krishnan and has been shot by cinematographers Vijay Karthik Kannan and Bala Subramanyam.

ALSO READ-Stalin to embark on 4-day UAE visit

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Stalin to embark on 4-day UAE visit

The Chief Minister’s office said that after a few high-profile meetings in Dubai, Stalin will reach Abu Dhabi where he will meet the rulers of the UAE…reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will embark on a four-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday, marking his first overseas trip since taking office in May 2021.

During the trip, the Chief Minister will visit the India Pavilion at the Dubai Expo and also conduct high-profile meetings with several CEOs of many foreign and Indian companies to push the case of the state as an investment destination.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu Industries Department said that Stalin will highlight the improved law and order situation in the state, as well as the political stability, citing back-to-back electoral victories for his party since the 2019 general elections.

The Chief Minister’s office said that after a few high-profile meetings in Dubai, Stalin will reach Abu Dhabi where he will meet the rulers of the UAE.

After Stalin’s visit concludes on Sunday, his business discussions will be followed up by his team of officials.

Sources in the Industries Department told IANS that the Chief Minister will monitor the developments after his visit and will push aggressively for more investments to the state and transform it into one of the most sought-after destinations in South India.

Stalin is also scheduled to meet the Tamil diaspora in the UAE and will share the state government’s new schemes and projects undertaken for the welfare of the people.

ALSO READ-Stalin heads to UAE

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Stalin reaching out to non-BJP CMs for national front against BJP

This was a direct attack on Banerjee and hence she seems to have taken a back seat and pushed Stalin to take the lead for the coordination…reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M.K. Stalin will coordinate with non-BJP Chief Ministers and other opposition leaders, including from the Congress and the CPM, to form a national platform against the saffron party.

Stalin has already floated the All-India Federation of Social Justice, in which he invited even his political rival and AIADMK leader, O. Panneerselvam.

It may be recalled that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had requested Stalin to take the charge in coordinating with non-BJP CMs in the country as well as non-BJP political parties, including the Congress and the CPM.

Senior DMK leader and state Water Works Minister S. Duraimurugan told IANS, “Our Chief Minister is an icon of Dravidian struggle and he has excellent rapport with almost all the national leaders. He has already commenced speaking to these leaders for a national platform against the BJP and after the urban local body polls are over on February 19, the momentum of this coordination will increase and a national platform against the BJP will soon emerge.”

Subramanian Ramaswamy, former professor of political science at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, who is also a political observer, told IANS, “Stalin is the apt choice for such coordination as he has good rapport with the Congress, CPM, CPI, and other political parties.

“With regard to Mamata Banerjee, both the Congress and the CPM are skeptical about her. But being a seasoned politician, Banerjee knows well that if she allows Stalin to take the centre stage, things would happen, and for the larger interest, she seems to have decided to play the second fiddle.”

Former General Secretary of CPI-M, Prakash Karat, who is also the party’s politburo member, said in a statement that the broader alliance or rather a broader coordination of opposition political parties will take place only with the presence of the Congress and excluding Congress is not a good move.

This was a direct attack on Banerjee and hence she seems to have taken a back seat and pushed Stalin to take the lead for the coordination.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, according to sources close to him, has already telephoned all the senior leaders, including the Chief Ministers of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Sources also said that Stalin has spoken to senior leaders, including Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and others.

However, the list of opposition leaders does not include Aravind Kejriwal for the time being.

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With Stalin taking the centre stage, he is reminding one of his late father M. Karunanidhi, and his odysseys to Delhi as a kingmaker, in both the NDA and UPA rule at the Centre.

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Stalin terms NEET ‘knowledge untouchability of 21st Century’

He also questioned as to how students could spend on his/her coaching for two to three years for qualifying in NEET…reports Asian Lite News

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said in the Assembly on Tuesday that NEET was discriminatory towards poor students and termed the examination as “knowledge untouchability of the 21st Century.”

“The fact that those who cannot pay for coaching cannot enter medical education and the fact that only those who can pay for coaching for two to three years alone could enter is in itself knowledge untouchability of the 21st Century,” he said.

He also questioned as to how students could spend on his/her coaching for two to three years for qualifying in NEET. “How can students from the poor and downtrodden background manage? That is the question we keep repeating,” he said.

“Like how restricting entry to dark people is apartheid, not preparing the question paper from the syllabus of the State Board of School Education is discrimination too,” Stalin contended.

The Bill was adopted in September only after a committee headed by the Chief Secretary made recommendations based on the Justice A.K. Rajan Committee’s report, he said. Opinions of about a lakh people were considered before the report was submitted to the government, he said.

“NEET did not fall from the skies. It is a test with many defects that sidelines the poor and the downtrodden, and so, we are opposing it. The question is whether we need NEET, which has sent many students to the graveyard and many to prisons,” Stalin said.

Before moving the Bill in the House, Stalin said he hoped that the Governor would respect the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu and would forward the Bill adopted in the House to the President without any delay.

Recalling former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai’s observations in the House on March 30, 1967, against the post of Governorship, Stalin said: “I really hope that the Governor does not create such a situation.”

Contending that it was the “Constitutional duty of the Governor” to forward the Bill adopted by the House on September 30, 2021 for Presidential assent, he said: “I hope that the Governor will do that duty properly, at least henceforth. That is the duty of the Governor towards the Legislature.”

Contending that NEET was not a system established by the Constitution and not made a part of the Constitution, Stalin pointed out that the Medical Council of India (MCI) mandated the creation of NEET and pointed out that the examination was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on July 18, 2013.

Charging that NEET was only benefitting private training institutes, Stalin said several lakhs were being collected from students for these exams. “NEET is an impediment to the education of economically weaker students. It becomes a barrier between them and their dreams of becoming doctors,” he said.

ALSO READ-Stalin: Rejected R-Day tableau to be displayed across TN

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Stalin: Rejected R-Day tableau to be displayed across TN

He said that the letter written by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh rejecting the tableau of the state was “unconvincing.”…reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has said that the tableau rejected by the Centre for the Republic day parade, will be displayed across the state.

He said that the state would also organise a photo exhibition titled ‘Tamil Nadu in Freedom Struggle’ in all major cities across the country.

Stalin, in a statement on Tuesday, expressed shock and disbelief over the rejection of tableau projected by the state for participating in the Republic Day parade and said that the contribution of Tamil Nadu for the country’s independence was no less than any other state.

He said that the letter written by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh rejecting the tableau of the state was “unconvincing.”

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also pointed out that the “Vellore Mutiny” that took place in 1806 preceded the Sepoy mutiny of 1857 and said that ‘Veerathai’ Velu Nachiyar, the queen of Nachiyar had fought against the British almost 70 years before Rani of Jhansi’s fight against the invaders.

He also said that Tamil Nadu had given birth to several freedom fighters, including Veerapandya Kattabomman, the Maruthur brothers, Veeran Sundralingam, Pulithevan, Dheeran Chinnamalai.

He said that the rejection of tableau depicting such brave warriors from Tamil Nadu was an insult to the people of the state.

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Stalin’s Unique ‘Buyback Scheme’ to stem Plastic Pollution

To reduce the stress caused by the overuse of plastic in the environment, the government is planning a strategy to improve Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) for the manufacturers…reports Asian Lite News.

The Tamil Nadu government is developing a strategy to buyback plastic products and to be set up Reverse Vending machines in association with FMCG companies.

Chief Minister on Thursday inaugurated a campaign to make Tamil Nadu plastic-free and to promote cloth bags in large volumes. The government is also in talks with a major corporate company for construction of 1,000 toilets in the state made of non-recyclable plastic waste.

To reduce the stress caused by the overuse of plastic in the environment, the government is planning a strategy to improve Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) for the manufacturers.

The Chief Minister’s office has already directed all the district administrations to have a discussion with the companies in their respective districts to evolve strategies regarding buy-back plans of plastics and for use of this material in the construction industry.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu environment department told IANS that the Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages (HCCB) is in talks with the Tiruvallur district administration for use of construction materials from plastic waste.

The company under its CSR initiative has already adopted eight villages in and around Nemam where the factory of HCCB is located and has already got approval for building a model toilet at Nemam in the district of Tiruvallur.

The HCCB has entered into an association with Ricron Panels, a company that has specialised in the business of converting plastic waste into eco-friendly construction material.

The state environment department in a study found that on an average a person in the state is using and discarding a plastic bottle a day. This would lead to installing 5,000 to 6,000 Reverse vending machines in the state for safe deposit of plastic material.

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Stalin looks to team up Tamil diaspora for TN Dollar goal

Thennarasu said that the members would act as brand ambassadors of Tamil Nadu’s industrial ecosystem and they would be given the mandate to open sub-chapters in their respective countries of residences…reports Asian Lite News.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is in the process of roping in Tamil diaspora abroad to achieve the state’s trillion-dollar goal by 2030, a pet project of the Chief Minister.

The Tamil Nadu government has already roped in the services of several non-resident Tamils for this project.

US-based entrepreneur R. Rangaswami, who is Founder and Chairman of Indiaspora which is a network of global Indian origin leaders, has already been roped in for executing the project. A panel of Tamil diaspora including Sunder Pichai of Google, Indira Nooyi, the former Chairperson of Pepsico, and several other technocrats and management experts will be used for developing the economic investment in the state.

Tamil Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu will be the Chairperson of the 12 member panel, and the Vice Chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission, and the state Industries Secretary are the ex-officio members. The Managing Director and CEO of Guidance will also be an ex-officio member.

The others in the 12 member panel are Dr Bala Swaminathan, of the Bala family foundation, Ganesh Radhakrishnan, CEO, Wharfedale Technologies Inc, US, Saravanan M. Sinapan, President, DHRRA, Malaysia, Suresh Sambandam, CEO, KISSFLOW (Founder, Dream Tamil Nadu), M. Arumugam, CEO, Broadline Computer Systems Private Ltd, Tamil Nadu, Elenchezhian Loganathan, CEO, Yaal Exports, Tamil Nadu and Rm Arun, President, SICCI, Tamil Nadu.

Thennarasu said that the members would act as brand ambassadors of Tamil Nadu’s industrial ecosystem and they would be given the mandate to open sub-chapters in their respective countries of residences.

The panel will help the Tamil Nadu government to conduct an annual investment and cultural conclave and the panel members will help the Chief Minister and Industries Minister to conduct physical and virtual meetings with the diaspora in their respective countries.

The panel will connect with the Tamil diaspora and create an online platform for regular interactions.

Big investment push

In July, this year, Tamil Nadu received investment commitments to the tune of Rs 28,508 crore from 49 companies across various segments that will create 83,482 jobs in the state. In an event, organised by the industries department and ‘Guidance Tamil Nadu,’ Stalin laid the foundation stone for nine projects, entailing investments of Rs 4,250 crore that will generate 21,630 jobs.

An official release said 35 Memorandums of Understanding were signed in the presence of the chief minister, with a cumulative investment of Rs 17,141 crore, which would create 55,054 jobs.

General Electric (GE) has proposed to establish a Centre of Excellence to enhance production of aircraft and aeronautical components for industries in the aerospace and defence sector, using advanced manufacturing technologies. While there was no mention of the investment details, the release said an MoU was signed by top executives of GE and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (TIDCO) on Tuesday in the presence of the chief minister.

As per the MoU, the total investments proposed (Rs 28,508 crore) are spread across electronics, auto-components, industrial parks, information technology, manufacturing, food processing, footwear and pharmaceuticals. Guidance Tamil Nadu said it entered into an MoU with American Tamil Entrepreneurs Association to promote start-ups in innovation, research and development in Tamil Nadu. The digital accelerator programme sanctions grants to start-up projects engaged in innovation, Research and Development. The government has sanctioned Rs five crore for this programme.

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