CHENNAI: The Centre has accepted a demand to release a special coin commemorating the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MG Ramachandran (MGR)’s birth centenary which is being celebrated with much fanfare by EPS and OPS factions of AIADMK in the State.
The Union Finance Ministry intimated former Chief Minister and leader of AIADMK-PTA O Panneerselvam its decision to release the coin engraved with MGR’s image.
“Accepting my request, the Centre has decided to release a coin engraved with MGR’s image,” Panneerselvam said in a statement here on Wednesday.
He added that the Union Finance Ministry dispatched him a letter accepting his demand on July 17.
The leader of the breakaway AIADMK recalled that he made a formal request to the Centre in January this year on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government when he was the Chief Minister.
Expressing delight over the Centre’s decision to release the special coin, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK.
The Union Government had already agreed to release a special postal stamp on MGR.
Panneerselvam, who made a dramatic revolt against VK Sasikala on February 8, raced before the official faction in celebrating the birth anniversary of MGR, the founder of AIADMK.
Coincidentally, MGR too rebelled against M Karunanidhi, heading DMK, before floating his own party in 1972. He was chief minister for nearly 10 years.
After the demise of MGR in 1987, J Jayalalithaa inherited his legacy in leading the party and the government. The AIADMK faction led by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is celebrating MGR’s birth centenary as an official event throughout the State.
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The proceedings were initiated by G Priyadarshini, his former girl friend. Justice MS Ramesh, who entertained the petition on Wednesday, ordered notice to the Central Crime Branch Police (CCB) and dispensed with his appearance in the trial court. In her complaint, Priyadarshini had claimed that she and Varun had been in love since 2007 and the latter promised to marry her. However, after his selection to the IPS in 2011, his attitude towards her changed and he and his parents demanded a dowry of two-kg gold, D50 lakh in cash and a luxury car, she alleged in her complaint filed in 2011.
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PIL seeks orders to send TN team to Andhra Pradesh for Krishna water negotiations
Chennai: A PIL has been filed in the Madras High Court for a direction to the State government to send a high-level delegation to negotiate with the Andhra Pradesh government to secure at least 5 TMC of Krishna water for Chennai city. When the matter came up on Wednesday before a division bench of Justices M Sathyanarayana and N Seshasayee, Special Government Pleader AN Thambidurai took notice on behalf of the State givernment and its agencies.
The bench adjourned the matter till August 9. Earlier, appearing party-in-person, AP Suryaprakasam, the petitioner, said that as per the agreement reached between the two States, Krishna water is being supplied and the required quantum has not reached the zero point due to poor maintenance of the water channel and drawal of water by many people en route illegally. The Srisailam dam in AP, which supplies drinking water to Tamil Nadu, is brimming with rainwater. There is a likelihood of AP showing its benevolence by releasing the water. He prayed for appropriate orders.