Page 24 - Kerala

Congress MLA demands apology from CM Vijayan on 'gold smuggling' remark'

The Congress MLA alleged that earlier, when issues of gold smuggling were raised, the CM was silent

Kerala CM's remarks on gold smuggling to please Sangh Parivar leaders: Cong

The opposition Congress on Tuesday intensified its attack against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over his recent statements on gold smuggling through an international airport in Malappuram district and alleged that his remarks were to please the Sangh Parivar leaders in New Delhi. The grand old party sought to know based on which information the CM had made such a revelation. It also made it clear that the CM has an obligation to say what action the state government and the police have taken against the accused if they received money for anti-national activities through gold smuggling. Leader of Opposition, V D Satheesan, lashed out at CM Vijayan, alleging that his statements to a national media outlet in New Delhi contradicted his previous claims made in the Assembly and elsewhere. "The chief minister's remarks that the money reached Malappuram through gold smuggling is used for anti-national activities is meant to please the Sangh Parivar leaders in New Delhi," he said.

What action taken by state govt, CM against gold smugglers: Kerala Guv

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday asked what action has been taken by the ruling Left government or Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who holds the "reins of power", against the groups smuggling gold into the state and using money from it for "anti-national activities". Khan said that he came to know about this development only after reading what Vijayan told a newspaper, but the CM has access to all the information about it. "He (Vijayan) should come forward and tell us what action has been taken by the government against the gold smugglers who have indulged in anti-national activities. "He is holding the reins of power. He cannot just talk to the press and take no action. Why has no action been taken? Whose fault is it if action is not being taken? It is a serious matter. I have read about it only today," the Governor told reporters here. He further said that when he returns to Thiruvananthapuram, he will seek a report from the government on the issue. "I would like t

Kerala reports second Mpox case, third in India; strain being analysed

The first Mpox case in India this year involved a man from Haryana, with a less concerning strain. The second case, detected in Kerala, was the first instance of the more concerning clade 1b strain

Police intensify search for rape accused Malayalam actor Sidhique

With the whereabouts unknown of Malayalam actor Sidhique, who was denied anticipatory bail by the Kerala High Court in a rape case, the police have intensified their search for him by publishing a lookout notice in newspapers seeking information about him. The lookout notice in the newspapers states that 65-year-old Sidhique is an accused in a rape-cum-criminal intimidation case and anyone with information about him should contact the Commissioner of Police of Thiruvananthapuram city or the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Thiruvananthapuram Range. Besides them, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Narcotic cell, Thiruvananthapuram or the Museum police station can also be contacted, the notice said. The notice, which carries a photo of the actor, also contains his physical description -- 5.7 feet tall and well-built. Sidhique has moved the Supreme Court seeking anticipatory bail in the rape case after the Kerala High Court on Tuesday ( September 24), had denied him relief. Th

Wayanad by-election: Priyanka will win by record margin, says Congress

The Congress in Kerala on Wednesday exuded confidence that party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would win the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, vacated by Rahul Gandhi, with a record margin. Addressing reporters here, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said his party was confident of victory in the high range constituency. He said the party leadership and the workers had commenced preparations for the election, but devastating landslides struck Wayanad district. The Lok Sabha MP said the party usually does not conduct any programmes in such areas. There is no doubt that the workers of the Congress party and the United Democratic Front (UDF) would actively take part in various programmes when the election was announced. "As we said before, Priyanka Gandhi will win the constituency with a record margin," Venugopal said. As per law, the by-poll should be conducted within six months and the period would end this November. "So, we are ready for the election," he said. To a query, the Congress

Kerala to revise Mpox rules after reporting India's first new strain case

The Kerala health department announced plans to release revised guidelines for the prevention and treatment of Mpox, a decision that came in the wake of the southern state reporting the country's first confirmed case of the new strain on Monday. The State Level Rapid Response Team (RRT) held a meeting to assess the overall situation in the state. After the meeting, state Health Minister Veena George said instructions have been given to take necessary action if the number of cases increases. "Isolation facilities have been set up in all districts, and monitoring has been strengthened, including at airports. Currently, testing facilities have been arranged in five laboratories. If required, testing facilities will be expanded to more labs," she said in a statement. Although the minister, in her statement, did not mention that the first confirmed case of the Mpox strain in India was found in a patient from Kerala, she announced that revised guidelines for the prevention and effective

Left, Congress in Kerala attack Sitharaman over remark on EY employee death

The ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress in Kerala on Monday lashed out at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over her statement on the recent death of a young CA professional employed with audit major EY, and demanded her apology. Anna Sebastian Perayil, who cracked the tough Chartered Accountant exam in 2023 and worked at Ernst and Young, Pune office for four months, died in July. According to a letter her mother wrote to the EY India Chairman, Perayil was overworked with a "backbreaking" load as a new employee that affected her "physically, emotionally, and mentally". In an event held at Chennai on Saturday, Sitharaman had in an apparent reference to the incident, said families should teach the children to handle pressure through divinity. "What should families teach--whatever you study and the job you do, you should have the inner strength to handle that pressure and this can be achieved through divinity only. "Believe in God, we need to have God's grace. Seek God,

No new EV facility planned beyond Chakan plant: Mahindra & Mahindra

Company will roll out Born EVs from Chakan plant by 2025

Rahul Gandhi urges people to visit Wayanad, help revive tourism there

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday urged people to visit Wayanad and experience its beauty, help to revive tourism, rebuild livelihoods and restore its vibrancy. He stressed that while the recent landslide tragedy affected only the Mundakkai area, it has led to a misconception that all of Wayanad has been impacted, causing a sharp drop in tourism. "Wayanad's beauty is undisputed, but it is the compassion and kindness of its people that has always drawn me to it. Today, so many of those people who rely on tourism for their livelihood are looking to you all for help," the former Congress chief said in a Facebook post. "Let me assure you, Wayanad is still vibrant and welcoming, with its spirit unbroken. I urge you to visit and experience its beauty, helping to revive tourism, rebuild livelihoods, and restore its vibrancy," he said. Earlier this month, Gandhi said it is imperative to make a concerted effort to revitalise tourism in Wayanad and encourage people

Pager blasts: Police verify Keralite's background; BJP demands protection

Amid reports linking Rinson Jose, a Kerala native settled in Norway, to the probe into recent pager blasts in Lebanon, the Kerala police on Sunday confirmed a background check on his family, while a BJP leader referred to him as a "son of our nation" and demanded "protection." "There is no case or investigation. Our special branch officials have carried out a background check. There is nothing new in it; such checks are conducted whenever similar news reports emerge," a police officer told PTI. Another police official said that a "precautionary patrol" has been launched in the area near Mananthavady where his family resides following the reports. He said that his family has not requested police protection. Rinson, who went abroad for a job a decade ago, is now a Norwegian citizen. Meanwhile, BJP leader Sandeep G Varier called for protection for Rinson and his family. "He is the son of our nation. He is a Malayali. At any cost, we must provide protection to Rinson and his family,"

Veteran CPI(M) leader M M Lawrence dies at age of 95 due to illness

Veteran CPI(M) leader M M Lawrence, who was among the leaders involved in the attack on a police station at Edappally here during the Communist uprising in Kerala in 1950, has died, party sources said. He was 95. His death occurred at a private hospital where he had been receiving treatment for age-related ailments for about a month. A former Lok Sabha member representing the Idukki seat, Lawrence served in various capacities, including as a member of the CPI(M) Central Committee, a member of the state secretariat, state general secretary of CITU, and convener of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). Born on June 15, 1929, in Mulavukad near Ernakulam, Lawrence participated in the struggle for the country's independence. Lawrance was expelled from St Albert's School for arriving with a tricolor flag tucked in his pocket. He continued his studies at the Ernakulam Municipal Islamic School. He completed his formal education after the 10th grade and became actively involved in ...

ADGP-RSS meeting: Kerala CM Vijayan refutes political intermediary claims

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that sending policemen as interlocutors for political purposes is not the style of the ruling Left. He made this remark during a press conference while responding to a query about the allegations regarding the ADGP's meeting with RSS leaders. "Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan stated that ADGP M R Ajithkumar met with RSS leaders as my intermediary. The opposition leader might be making such statements based on his party's past experiences of using police officers as intermediaries for various purposes. We do not have such practices," Vijayan said. The Chief Minister, however, emphasised that the government takes the matter of Ajithkumar's meeting with RSS leaders seriously and that it is under investigation. "Appropriate action will be taken based on the report we receive," the Chief Minister added.

Wayanad aid memorandum: Kerala CM slams media for destructive journalism

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday slammed a section of the media for allegedly spreading "fake news" about the memorandum prepared by the state government for central aid in the context of the Wayanad landslide disaster, terming it "destructive journalism." "What is happening in Kerala is destructive journalism. A section of the media has turned into factories for creating controversies," Vijayan said at a press conference. The Chief Minister said that Kerala has been discredited due to the fake news. He alleged that after the media spread false information, a fake narrative emerged, claiming that Kerala was attempting to unfairly grab aid. "The opposition also seized upon these reports. The aim behind these stories was to discredit the state government by any means," Vijayan added. The CM clarified that it is not the ministers who prepare the memorandum in the wake of a disaster, but rather professionals who have proven expertise in the field. He said that the m

One more test negative for Nipah, 134 fall under high-risk category

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Thursday that the Nipah virus test result for another individual who had been in contact with the 24-year-old man who died of the virus in Malappuram last week has come negative, bringing the total number of negative results to 37. She said this after a high-level meeting led by her reviewed the situation here. Speaking to reporters, the minister said that two more people have been added to the contact list, both of whom are in the high-risk category. Among those on the contact list, 81 are healthcare workers. The minister said a total of 177 people are on the primary contact list, while 90 are on the secondary contact list. Out of those on the primary list, 134 individuals fall under the high-risk category. "Today, two people with symptoms have been admitted to the Manjeri Medical College Hospital. Including these two, a total of six people are undergoing treatment at the Manjeri Medical College Hospital, while 21 people are being treate

Work on 12 industrial smart cities to kick off this year; 4 to be completed

In August, the Union Cabinet approved the creation of 12 industrial zones, strategically positioned across 10 states and planned along six major corridors

ADGP row: CPI urges removal of officers deviating from Left policies

The controversy surrounding senior Kerala police officer M R Ajithkumar's 2023 meeting with two RSS leaders continues, as the CPI, a key constituent of Kerala's ruling CPI(M)-led LDF, expressed displeasure on Thursday over his continued tenure as ADGP of law and order. In an article in the party mouthpiece Janayugam, senior CPI leader K Prakash Babu said that whether the meeting was official or personal, it is the responsibility of the ADGP to clarify. At the very least, such matters should be formally communicated to the police chief or the home department, he added. The CPI leader further said that if the ADGP is unwilling to do so, he should be removed from his position. "An officer who does not understand the pro-people stance of a people's government will lead the government into a crisis. This is the situation the ADGP has created," Prakash Babu remarked in the article. He said that there is no doubt among national left-wing political parties that fascism in India manifests

Kerala man confirmed to be affected with Mpox: Health dept Malappuram

The man, who came to the state from the UAE recently, was already admitted to a hospital here with Mpox symptoms, state Health Minister Veena George said in a Facebook post

Samples of 13 people tested Nipah negative, says Kerala health minister

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Tuesday that 13 people who came into contact with a 24-year-old man who died from the Nipah virus in Malappuram district last week have tested negative for the disease. Of the total 175 people on the contact list of the deceased man, the samples of 13 people, comprised in the high risk category, were tested negative at the Manjeri Government Medical College in Malappuram, she told reporters here. The minister said the health department is making all possible attempts to check the spread of the disease by identifying a maximum number of persons who had been in his contact, and giving them preventive medicine. "The samples of those in the high risk category and the persons showing any symptoms are being collected and sent for testing. Samples of more people will be collected today," she said. Though the chance of any spread of the disease is unlikely, the samples of every person showing symptoms would be tested, she said. George further sa

Suspected mpox infection reported from Kerala, samples sent for testing

A suspected case of monkeypox infection has been reported from Malappuram district of Kerala after a man who recently returned from abroad showed symptoms of the disease. A district health official said that the patient arrived in Kerala a few days ago and, after falling sick, was first admitted to a private hospital. "From there he was admitted to the Manjeri Medical College. On suspecting that it might be a case of monkeypox, we sent his samples to the Kozhikode Medical College for testing. The results are awaited," the official said. A new case of monkeypox (Mpox) was reported last week from the national capital after a 26-year-old resident of Haryana's Hisar tested positive for the virus and was admitted to Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital. The Union Health Ministry had termed it an isolated case, similar to the earlier 30 cases reported in India from July 2022 onwards and said that it was not part of the current public health emergency reported by WHO which is regarding clad