If you cite various freedoms & stand by Shankar, you're a supporter of misogyny, of blackmail, extortion & harassment of women and men. Shankar has misused his contacts to do to others what has been done to him. He has ruined lives of many people - men & women. (1) He & his friends have said & done things that have caused irreparable harm to the dignity of women. In a society like ours, it is a struggle for a woman to get by without being groped, have lewd comments passed at her, be sidelined in favour of men, without having (2)

There is a reason why the Tamil media took 24 hours to reluctantly report on #UdhayanidhiStalinControversy on #SanatanaDharma but within minutes, they have headlined his statement of today, headlining how he mocked the PM with a Vadivelu joke. The reason lies in history. (1/n) 1. The 1st Tamil journals of Madras province were largely published by Christian missionaries & had religious content.
2. 1878: The first English newspaper to be published was The Hindu. Nationalistic, pro @INCIndia since patriotism at the time was equal to Congress.
(2/n)

A #thread on #MAAMANNAN . Slightly longish so I ask for your patience. :)

This is not a film review but to note some points that struck me.
Ready?? Let's go! (1/n) This is not about Speaker Dhanabal. It's about @EPSTamilNadu , a throwback to an MK sound-alike & a focussed bid to woo the Scheduled Caste Arunthathiyars of the Kongu belt. After 2 jarring rising suns (literally), the msgng is so blatant you'd have to be blind not to see. (2/n)

I'm stunned that @ThePrintIndia , which I personally hold in high regard, has actually allowed this blatantly false & misleading report to pass editorial muster! @ShekharGupta sir please read on to find the facts. (1/n)

https://twitter.com/ThePrintIndia/status/1639628204985176070

Kalakshetra director met the DGP by herself. No student or "complainant" was with her. The "complainant" being referred to here is who exactly? There is one complainant - a student who filed a complaint against BULLYING by Leela Samson & others at Tiruvanmiyur PS. (2/n)

Yes we know. But who is responsible for it?

https://twitter.com/TheBluePen25/status/1638558851963449345

I feel so tired when people point out the obvious. I've written about Dalit rights in TN extensively. But Dalit activists confuse Dravidianism, Periyarism & Communism for Dalit rights. In reality not one of these isms stand for Dalits. The truth is that these same isms...

Problem will be created by ruling party & administration has to step in to control the damage. Migrant workers in Coimbatore & Tirupur are in fear & leaving for home. Unnecessary toxic violent rhetoric against North Indian labourers & now this appeal in Hindi! Wah! (1/n) Textile industry associations in Tirupur are upset & asking labourers not to leave. They say the industry will collapse without them. Press meet was held by SIMA today. (2/n)

A big thank you to everyone who has read, watched and shared The Lede's latest series - India's 'Soft' Enemies. Many of you are asking for all the three parts, so I am creating a thread and pinning this on my timeline for those interested. (1/n) The series was sparked by billionaire hedge fund investor George Soros' remarks on India. Part 1 delved into how Soros and other foreign entities such as Ford Foundation & Omidyar are regime changers in India. (2/n)

takethelede.in/how-soros-open…

What drama! @ikamalhaasan joins @bharatjodo & walks with @RahulGandhi . Rakes up Hindi imposition. Ropes in Nehru. Retweets a @cpimspeak MP. @arivalayam promptly jumps in joining cause. To put this wannabe politician in perspective - read the #Thread (1/n) Just ahead of the 2021 elections rumour has it that a close aide of late Ahmad Patel gave Rs 200 crore to a certain political party for fighting the TN Assembly elections. Go figure! (2/n)

Some thoughts. Bear with me in this #thread. Jayalalithaa died on Dec 5, 2016. In the absence of a tall leader, TN suffered many attacks. Barely a month after she died, Vardah puyal hit Chennai resulting in bad damages. Ok, natural calamity, can't help it. (1/n) But next came Jallikattu protests. Names of extreme Left wing radical organisations floated about. Makkal Adhigaram, Revolutionary Front of India and whatnot. This was not a spontaneous protest. It was engineered. (2/n)

போங்கு சவுக்கின் பரிதாபங்கள். எவ்வளவு நல்லவனா நடிச்சு ஊருக்கெல்லாம் உபதேசம் கொடுத்த ஆளின் கிரைம் லிஸ்ட் இதோ

Crime list of Thiru Savukku Shankar avargal - from when he was employed with #DVAC = misdemeanours when he was a govt employee. And he lectures everyone else! (1/n) Crime no 1: PR No.3/1999: ‘Censure’ awarded on 31.12.1999 under 17(a) of TNCS (D&A) Rules. Gross negligence of duty by not registering official tapals while holding the charge of the post of an assistant (con'td) (2/n)

Let me add to this tweet by my friend @nav_journo . I too took the trouble to read the entire SC judgement. What is glaring is that the allegations are all refuted by hard inalienable facts. Not by circumstantial or deniable arguments. Let me explain in a thread. (1/n)

https://twitter.com/nav_journo/status/1541240143515885569

Take a look at the 4 main allegations:

1. Zakia Jafri & Teesta Setalvad said the Godhra carnage itself was done by RW groups in order to start riots. Apart from this, they alleged that then CM @narendramodi deliberately did not step in & instead encouraged the carnage.
(2/n)

I haven't seen the SLP filed by the TN govt. But now that I have gone through the order by Justice GR Swaminathan, I am sharing some thoughts here about the order itself - well, because it's a free country. #thanjavur #ariyalur #student #suicide.

(1/n) No one doubts that conversion takes place in TN. It is not illegal. In fact it is a fundamental right to propagate one's religion as per Constitution. It is only forced conversion which is illegal. (2/n)

Let me tell you what happened in 2017 when I was briefly employed with a Tamil news channel. #thread

#Anitha took her life. Obviously the newsroom went crazy. Channel boss wanted full live, hammer, tongs, the works. #neet (1/n) So began the circus. I panicked, ran to PCR & asked everyone to dial it down. Explained copycat suicides to channel boss. Asked anchors, PCR team to stay calm, don't sensationalize, put out suicide prevention helpline numbers. Went ok for a bit. (2/n)

Lots of numbers, very confusing yes, I know. So let me try & break down our expose for you all. If any doubts, pls don't hesitate to ask.

Crux: 252 unexplained deaths on average EVERY SINGLE DAY in May 2021 in #Chennai alone.

I'll tell you how I calculated this. #Thread (1/n) 1. Got into Chennai Corporation site & pulled out all death certificates issued to male/female/transgender persons. This was done for EACH DAY from May 1, 2021 to May 31, 2021. Total death certificates issued in May 2021 by GCC = 15,920 @IndiaAheadNews @mkstalin @RAKRI1 (2/n)

Let me tell you what the situation in Tamil Nadu is like right now. #Thread

1. Calls for ICU beds are skyrocketing. But there are no beds available.

2. Many pvt hospitals are running out of oxygen. They're discharging patients on O2 because it's just not available. (1/n) 3. Some pvt hospitals are just sending out patients because they don't want deaths.

4. Many small hospitals have converted to Covid beds due to govt insistence. But now they have no assured O2 supply.

5. 108 Ambulances are queueing up in a big way outside Govt Hospitals.(2/n)

A few of us have come together to provide info on TN Covid helplines that actually work. We are verifying this ourselves & putting out only numbers that are being answered. This #Thread will keep getting updated. Pls ask those in need to refer. #Covid19IndiaHelp #TNFightsCovid To check where hospital beds are available across Tamil Nadu. #Covid19IndiaHelp #CovidIndia #TNFightsCovid
Please share widely so people know where to go in case of emergency.

We need clear helpline numbers for each district for #COVID19 - where to test, how to request mobile van for elderly/infirm, where beds are available specifically, docs available to consult over phone/online. Pls publicise this @CMOTamilNadu @RAKRI1 @chennaicorp Pls print pamphlets, posters, stick them on walls. @chennaicorp tele-counseling numbers are not working. People need info. They are scrambling without clear info. Pls publicise SOPs - ask media to repeat over and over again. What to do if you have fever. Where to test etc.

Offered without comment. Many of you are asking my views on this. I learnt this years ago from Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar when we discussed about suicide prevention & media impact. Thumb rules - report facts unemotionally, provide info on where to seek help.

After speaking to a variety of experts some things have become clear. We, the people were careless, reckless. Govts - centre + states - had little vision or foresight. They did not listen to experts warning them about 2nd wave. (1/n) #Thread #COVIDEmergency2021 States like Del, Maha, Guj had zero vision to invest in oxygen production. MP is worse - no oxygen produced in the state at all. We've suddenly realised we are unable to transport oxygen. What were state govts doing since Oct-Nov? (2/n)

A short #Thread on #COVID19 and #vaccination. There seem to be misconceptions about the vaccine. Please do share with family and friends who have not yet taken the jab. It is crucial that we all get vaccinated. Why? (1/n) 1. Taking the vaccine does not protect you against contracting Covid. But it performs a very important function. Post vaccination even if you catch Covid, your symptoms will be mild. Death can be avoided. Esp with the 2nd wave being more virulent, it's crucial to vaccinate. (2/n)

#Thread on #TamilNaduElections2021 - before I begin, trolls pls stay off my timeline, you are very boring. This is only for those interested in ground reports. My many district reporter friends have contributed to this thread, so please thank them in your head. (1/n) 1. @arivalayam sweeping Delta and Chennai (3-4 seats in Chennai may be won by @AIADMKOfficial ). This is their traditional stronghold.

2. @AIADMKOfficial sweeping Kongu belt and northern TN Vanniyar belt. This is due to larger than expected Vanniyar consolidation. (2/n)