Sam Daniel

A Dampened Deepavali In Tamil Nadu, Hit By GST And Demonetisation

Tamil Nadu News | Written by Sam Daniel Stalin | Thursday October 19, 2017

With a nearly 40 per cent dip in cracker sales, Tamil Nadu saw a rather silent Deepavali this year. Traders say the impact of the Goods and Services Tax or GST and demonetisation appeared to have played a part in the dampened festivities in the state.

'Salaam No 2 For PM Modi If He Apologises For Notes Ban': Kamal Haasan

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Wednesday October 18, 2017

Actor Kamal Haasan, who has announced his plans to enter politics, today apologized for supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's shock decision to ban high-denomination notes a year ago. Haasan, who is 62, said "If the PM accepts his mistake, my salaam (salute) awaits him."

For Serving Food With A Side Of Cockroach, Chennai Hotel Faces Action

Chennai News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Tuesday October 17, 2017

A hotel in Chennai is facing action after serving food with a dreadful garnish - a cockroach. A filmmaker allegedly spotted the bug in the Kuzhi Paniyaaram (a cheese delicacy) he had ordered for his daughter on Sunday.

Caught On Camera: Tamil Nadu Man Falls 2,400 Feet To Death Near Temple

Tamil Nadu News | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Monday October 16, 2017

A man who fell from the edge of a temple on a cliff in Tamil Nadu, was found dead on Sunday. His fall was filmed by witnesses who barely had a moment to react when he lost his balance.

As OPS Meets PM Modi, His Party Asked About Saffron Hoardings In Chennai

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Thursday October 12, 2017

A change of colour on a Tamil Nadu government campaign is being read by many as a not-too-subtle hint that the ruling AIADMK is cosying up to the BJP.

A Year After Dog Thrown From Building, Another Horror Video From Chennai

Tamil Nadu News | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Wednesday October 11, 2017

The cellphone video - shot in the campus of Vellore Institute of Technology -- shows a black dog being dragged down a flight of stairs, two wire nooses wound tight around its neck.

Hearing On Disqualification Of 18 AIADMK Rebel MLAs Adjourned: 10 Points

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Debanish Achom | Monday October 9, 2017

The Madras High Court today adjourned to November 2 a petition challenging the Tamil Nadu Speaker's decision last month to disqualify 18 legislators of the ruling AIADMK loyal to VK Sasikala, who has been evicted by the party as its chief. The court had last month refused to stay Speaker P Dhanapal's order, but said the seats of the disqualified le...

GST Worries: Chennai's Small, Medium Businesses Seek Government Intervention

Business | J Sam Daniel Stalin | Sunday October 8, 2017

From a hit to working capital to fear of job losses and closure, there's uncertainty among small and medium scale industries on the impact of GST.

Few Gather To Welcome A Politically Weakened Sasikala In Chennai

Tamil Nadu News | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Saturday October 7, 2017

Nearly eight months after she was jailed for corruption, VK Sasikala drove into her sister-in-law's house in Chennai, her home till Wednesday when her parole would end. But the homecoming would have been a disappointing sight for the former AIADMK chief, as only about 500 people had gathered to receive her. Among those waiting were a dozen women wh...

No Visitors, No Politics, No Poes Garden As Sasikala Gets 5-Day Parole

Tamil Nadu News | Edited by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Maya Sharma, Uma Sudhir, Edited by Arun Nair | Saturday October 7, 2017

VK Sasikala walked out of a Bengaluru prison today, nearly eight months after she was jailed for corruption. She has been granted five-day parole to travel to Chennai and visit her husband in hospital.

As Sasikala's Husband Gets Organ Transplant, Questions Over Teen Donor

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by Uma Sudhir, J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Wednesday October 4, 2017

VK Sasikala's husband M Natarajan had a life-saving double organ transplant today at a Chennai hospital that has denied allegations that a teen accident victim was flown to the city in a brain-dead state to facilitate the surgery

Stay On Tamil Nadu Floor Test Continues As Madras High Court Adjourns Case

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Shylaja Varma | Wednesday October 4, 2017

The Madras High Court today continued its stay on a floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly after hearing a hearing a petition challenging the Tamil Nadu Speaker's decision last month to disqualify 18 legislators of the ruling AIADMK loyal to VK Sasikala, who has been evicted by the party as its chief. The case gas been adjourned to next Monday. Tod...

Prepping For Politics, Kamal Haasan Starts Meetings. Look Who's In

Tamil Nadu News | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Wednesday October 4, 2017

Superstar Kamal Haasan is getting some feedback from his fans on his latest role - as a politician. The 62-year-old actor is meeting with fans at his office in Chennai today to discuss his strategy on the new outfit he plans to launch.

Rajinikanth Will Change Politics, Promises Wife Lata. It's When, Not If

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Divyanshu Dutta Roy | Wednesday October 4, 2017

When Rajinikanth enters politics, expect "a lot of change", predicted his wife, Lata Rajinikanth in Chennai today. She was less definitive about when that might be: "only he can say when he is ready", she said.

TTV Dhinakaran, Accused of Defaming PM Modi, E Palaniswami, Charged With Sedition

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Shuch | Tuesday October 3, 2017

Sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and 16 of his supporters have been accused of sedition and defaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state's Chief Minister E Palaniswami in a police case filed in Salem. They allegedly distributed pamphlets that talked about overthrowing Mr Palaniswami and included personal attacks on him and the Prime Mi...

Sedition Case Against TTV Dhinakaran For Anti-Government Pamphlets: Police

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Anindita Sanyal | Monday October 2, 2017

A case of sedition has been filed against sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and 15 of his supporters for allegedly distributing pamphlets carrying personal attacks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The pamphlets, the Salem police said, also attempted to mobilise the people against the state gover...

Sasikala Wants 15-Day Parole To Meet Critically Ill Husband M Natarajan

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Shuchi Shukla | Monday October 2, 2017

VK Sasikala, recently removed as the chief of Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK, has requested parole for 15 days to attend to her husband M Natarajan, who is critically ill. Ms Sasikala has been in a Bengaluru prison since February this year in a corruption case.

Entry In Politics A Work In Progress, Kamal Haasan Announces New Movie

Tamil Nadu News | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Sunday October 1, 2017

Actor Kamal Haasan and director Shankar have announced that they would do a sequel to their earlier film "Indian". The film is being seen by eager fans as the actor's last appearance on silver screen before he makes a foray into politics.

On Kamal Haasan And Success In Politics, Rajinikanth's Joke

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by Uma Sudhir, J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Anindita Sanyal | Monday October 2, 2017

The disappointment of Sivaji Ganesan's fans over the absence of Chief Minister E Palaiswami wasalmost forgotten today as both Rajinikanth and Kamal Hasaan shared the stage at the inauguration of the Tamil superstar's memorial in Chennai. But Kamal Haasan, who has recently announced his intention to enter politics, touched upon the issue with a dig ...

No Money For Fee, Medical Student Has Been Home For A Year. She Needs Help

Tamil Nadu News | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Saturday September 30, 2017

B Sukanya, a 23-year-old medical student is shattered. With no money to pay her college fees, she has not been attending classes for more than a year. Her father, a Dalit farmer, sold 20 acres of his farmland five years ago, to send his only daughter to a private medical college in Coimbatore, to fulfill his dream to see her as a doctor.

Jayalalithaa Was Drowsy, But Talking, Said First Medical Report: 10 Facts

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by Uma Sudhir, J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Shuchi Shukla | Thursday September 28, 2017

J Jayalalithaa was drowsy and had difficulty breathing, but could speak when she was brought to Chennai's Apollo hospital on September 22 last year, says the first medical report that was filed that day and has now been accessed by local media. The report noted that the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister possibly had pneumonia and that her blood pressu...

Sivaji Ganesan Family Accuses EPS Of Insulting Both Him And Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Shylaja Varma | Thursday September 28, 2017

It is an insult to former superstar Sivaji Ganesan and his contribution to cinema to have his 2.8-crore memorial inaugurated by a minister, the actor's family says, insisting that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami must make the time for the occasion.

Inquiry Into Jayalalithaa Death Will Also Probe How She Reached Hospital

India News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Aloke Tikku | Thursday September 28, 2017

The inquiry commission set up to probe former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death in a Chennai hospital last year will also investigate the circumstances that led to the AIADMK matriarch's hospitalisation in September last year.

Don't Force Schoolchildren To Participate In MGR Centenary Events: Court

Tamil Nadu News | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Wednesday September 27, 2017

Schoolchildren cannot be forced to participate in the birth centenary events of AIADMK's founder MG Ramachandran, the Madras High Court has told the authorities in Tamil Nadu

Another Tamil Nadu Minister OS Manian Says Did Not See Jayalalithaa In Hospital

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Wednesday September 27, 2017

Another Tamil Nadu minister OS Manian said today that leaders of the ruling AIADMK did not see former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at Chennai's Apollo Hospital before her death, stating that they were only briefed on her health by the hospital's chairman Prathap Reddy and the state's health secretary, J Radhakrishnan.

Journalism Professor Stabbed On Madurai Campus, Suspect Is Guest Lecturer

Tamil Nadu News | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Tuesday September 26, 2017

A woman professor who heads the journalism department at a top university in Madurai in Tamil Nadu was stabbed on campus today.

Bare-Chested Girls In Madurai Temple Ritual, 'Worshipped' Like Goddesses

Tamil Nadu News | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Tuesday September 26, 2017

Young girls forced to live bare-chested at a temple in Tamil Nadu's Madurai as part of a bizarre ritual have been spared more indignity after the administration ordered today that they should be allowed to cover their bodies.

'Couldn't Show Jayalalithaa In Nightie': Dhinakaran Claims Video Proof

Tamil Nadu News | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Tuesday September 26, 2017

For months till her death in December, the only source of information on the state of J Jayalalithaa in hospital was a handful of her closest aides, including VK Sasikala, top AIADMK leaders and ministers.

6 Of Family Commit Suicide In Tamil Nadu's Madurai

Tamil Nadu News | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Monday September 25, 2017

Six members of a family, including three women, were found dead last night in their home in Tamil Nadu's Madurai in an apparent suicide pact over debt. Two more, including a teenager were found in a critical state and are being treated in hospital.

We Lied About Jayalalithaa's Health, Confesses Tamil Nadu Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan

South | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Saturday September 23, 2017

Nine months after former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa died in a Chennai hospital after a prolonged illness, Tamil Nadu Forest Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan has asked for the public's forgiveness for lying about her health when she was at hospital.