Page 43 - Kerala

Congress' greed, lust of power led to defeat in Assembly elections: Vijayan

In a strong criticism of the Congress, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said that the grand old party's "greed and lust for power" were the reasons for its defeat in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Vijayan said that the Congress thought it was competent to win against the BJP on its own and therefore, did not join forces with the other INDIA alliance parties in these states to present a united front against the saffron party. "Had they joined hands with the other parties, this would not have been the result. They were greedy and lusted for power. They wanted it all for themselves. That is what led to this situation in those states. "If everyone was together, the result would have been an entirely different one," the Kerala CM said at a press briefing here. Vijayan was responding to queries on what led to the resounding poll defeat of Congress in the three states, two of which -- Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh

Noted economist Professor M Kunjaman found dead at his residence in Kerala

Noted economist Professor M Kunjaman was found dead at his residence here on Sunday, police said. He was 74. Police said he was found dead at his residence at Sreekaryam near here, and they were informed by the residents' association. Kunjaman, also a Dalit rights activist, was a professor of economics at Kerala University for over two decades. In his condolence message, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Kunjaman was a genius who overcame adverse social circumstances with his sheer determination. "Noted for his original understandings and opinions, he had his own vision for Kerala's development. His autobiography, 'Ethiru' is a reflection of the realities of life," Vijayan said, adding that Kunjaman was a teacher with many disciples and a noted writer. The chief minister said Kunjaman's death was a great loss for Kerala.

Kerala objects to Centre's call to deduct Rs 332 cr from IGST settlement

The Kerala government on Saturday raised an objection to a deduction of around Rs 332 crore from the settlement of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) for November 2023 to the state and said it will affect the fiscal situation in the southern state. Addressing the media here, state Finance Minister K N Balagopal said it was not clear as to why this amount was deducted in this manner or what are the calculations underlying such deduction. The senior Left leader also said that a letter in this regard was sent to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking her "urgent intervention". He said an amount of approximately Rs 332 crore was deducted from the settlement of IGST towards "adjustment of advance apportionment to make up the shortfall in the IGST balance". "This deduction is a substantial chunk of the state revenue and adversely affects the fiscal situation in the state," Balagopal said. In the letter, the state finance minister said the calculations of settlements nee

CM rejects allegations of interference in Kannur Univ VC reappointment

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday rejected Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's claims that the government interfered with the re-appointment of Kannur University's Vice Chancellor. On Thursday, the Supreme Court criticised Khan's order reappointing Gopinath Ravindran, stating that the Governor had previously "abdicated or surrendered" his statutory powers for reappointing the VC. The court, while quashing the reappointment, also criticised the Left government for its "unwarranted intervention" in the matter. Talking to media in Shoranur in this north Kerala district, Vijayan dismissed news reports suggesting that the Supreme Court's verdict was a setback for the Kerala government, and termed them baseless. He clarified that the apex court had affirmed that due process was followed in the reappointment. Despite this, the governor continued to claim in the media that there was external pressure, Vijayan added. "The letter written by the ex-officio pro-chancellor -- the high

Global Ayurveda Festival 2023: Ministers from across the world to join

5th edition of Global Ayurveda Festival 2023 will take place in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala today. This is a five-day event which will begin today. VP Jagdeep Dhankhar will inaugurate the event

Experts warn of Covid spike in Kerala as vaccine-induced immunity wanes

Kerala now has 194 active cases, accounting for 61 per cent of the active cases in India

Kerala Guv blames Vijayan for pressuring him to reappoint Kannur Univ VC

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of pressuring him to reappoint Gopinath Ravindran as the vice chancellor (VC) of Kannur University. Khan, speaking to reporters here, said that state Higher Education Minister R Bindu was not to be blamed as the CM used her for seeking reappointment of Ravindran. The Governor's response comes after the Supreme Court quashed the Kerala government's decision to re-appoint Ravindran as the VC of Kannur University. A division bench of the Kerala High Court had on February 23 last year dismissed an appeal against a single-judge order upholding the re-appointment of Ravindran as the VC of the university, saying it was done in accordance with the law and that he was not "an usurper to the post". The impugned judgement and the order passed by the high court dated February 23, 2022 is hereby set aside and as a consequence, the notification dated November 23, 2021 reappointing the respondent number 4 ...

SC to mull over forming guidelines on when governors can send bills to prez

Voicing displeasure over Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan "sitting" for two years on bills passed by the state legislature, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday it will consider laying down the guidelines as to when the governors can refer bills to the President of India for assent. While noting that the Kerala governor has taken decisions with regard to eight bills, the apex court asked him to meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the minister concerned to discuss the legislations, observing let's hope some "political sagacity" takes over. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the submissions of Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the office of the governor, that out of the eight bills, seven have been "reserved" for consideration by the president, while Khan has given his assent to one. "What was the governor doing for two years by sitting on the bills?" the bench, also comprising justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, asked. The attorney .

With LS polls round the corner, Rahul Gandhi calls Kerala, Wayanad as home

Amid indications that Rahul Gandhi may contest again from Kerala's Wayanad constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the former Congress chief said on Wednesday that the southern state and the hill constituency were like a home to him. With less than six months remaining before the Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to take place, Gandhi said that coming to Kerala and Wayanad is not work for him. "I consider it like coming back to my family and meeting my friends. The more I come to Kerala and Wayanad, the more I feel that it is my home," the Congress MP from Wayanad stated. He made these remarks after releasing a book on the late Muslim League Leader P Seethi Haji here.

Kerala tech fest stampede: Three-member committee to investigate incident

Four students were killed and 60 others injured in a stampede-like situation during a Tech Fest at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) on Saturday

CUSAT stampede: SHRC registers case, seeks report from Kerala govt

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Monday registered a case in connection with the stampede at Cochin University's annual tech festival and sought a report from the state government within two weeks. The SHRC has issued a notice to the Aluva Rural SP and the Registrar of the University based on a complaint alleging security lapses in the event. Four people were killed and 60 were injured in the stampede that occurred before renowned singer Nikita Gandhi was to perform at a musical festival in the open-air auditorium of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). The complaint before the rights panel alleged that there was only one entrance to the hall which can accommodate 2,500 people. According to officials, the event was an annual festival, and this year it was scheduled to be held from November 24 to 26. The musical event was organised in an auditorium with a capacity of 1,000 to 1,500 people.

Sitharaman trying to mislead Kerala people on funds disbursement: CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday accused Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of trying to mislead the public through her claims of timely disbursement of required funds to the southern state by the Centre. Sitharaman, a day ago, had dismissed allegations by Kerala's Left government of negligence in fund allocation and claimed that the Central government promptly sends the required funds to the people of the southern state without any delay. She had also blamed the state government for non-release of funds under various categories by the Centre, alleging that it was due to the Left administration's failure to meet the necessary criteria. Refuting the claims and allegations of the Union minister, Vijayan contended that requirements of the southern state were brought to Sithraman's attention several times through written requests from state Finance Minister K N Balagopal. Balagopal had also met the Union minister personally to highlight the state's financial ...

Expert panel to look into Cochin stampede that claimed 4 lives: Kerala govt

The Kerala government on Saturday ordered an investigation into the stampede during the Cochin University's annual festival in which four students were killed and over 60 others were injured. State Higher Education Minister R Bindhu has directed a three-member team, comprising the principal secretary of higher education, and Cochin University's vice-chancellor and registrar, to inquire into the stampede incident, an official release said. The minister has instructed the officials to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report, the release added. Officials said the stampede occurred before renowned singer Nikita Gandhi was to perform at a musical festival in the open-air auditorium of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) near Kochi. Four students, including two boys and two girls, lost their lives, while over 60 others are undergoing treatment at Kalamassery Medical College Hospital and some other hospitals nearby, according to State Health Minister Veena

Four dead, 60 injured during stampede at concert in university in Kerala

Four students were killed in a stampede that ensued during a university annual festival here on Saturday night. According to preliminary reports, students inside the Cochin University campus here were enjoying a live musical event of well-known singer Nikita Gandhi which was interrupted by sudden rains that led the audience to scamper for shelter. Several students were injured in the stampede that ensued as students rushed to sheltered areas during the downpour. Four students including two boys and two girls lost their lives while over 60 others are undergoing treatment at Kalamassery Medical College Hospital and some other hospitals, according to state Health Minister Veena George. George said that the condition of four more students are critical. "The entry to the programme was restricted to ticket holders. However, several local residents were also outside the auditorium during the musical show," an eyewitness told media. When the sudden downpour began, the entire audience rush

Kerala HC allows ED to summon CPI(M) leader Thomas Isaac in KIIFB case

The Kerala High Court has granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate to issue fresh summons to senior CPI(M) leader Thomas Isaac, allowing the agency to continue its investigation into alleged violations in the financial dealings of KIIFB during his tenure as the state Finance Minister in the previous LDF government. In an interim order dated November 24, the high court clarified that this decision is subject to further orders from the court and scheduled the matter for further consideration on December 1. The court issued this order in response to a plea filed by Isaac, who sought the quashing of the two summons issued to him by the ED. These summons are part of the agency's probe into alleged violations in the financial dealings of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). "...the pendency of these writ petitions will not stand in the way of the ED issuing fresh summons to any person, including the petitioners, and to continue the investigation; however, ...

FM Sitharaman dismisses Kerala govt's fund allocation 'negligence' charge

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday dismissed allegations by Kerala's Left government of negligence in fund allocation and claimed that the Central government promptly sends the required funds to the people of the southern state without any delay. Responding to the Left government's allegations of not releasing funds under various categories, she pointed fingers at the state government, alleging that it was due to the state's failure to meet the necessary criteria. Criticising the ruling CPI(M)-led alliance, which has announced a protest in New Delhi in January against the alleged neglect by the Central government, the finance minister claimed that the highest amount of Finance Commission Grants has been released to Kerala from 2009-10 to 2023-24 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), all the pending liabilities and the first tranche of 2023-24, covering senior citizen pensions, amounting to Rs

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Man arrested from Kerala for 'threatening to blow up Mumbai airport'

A Kerala resident was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday for allegedly threatening to blow up the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here if he was not paid "one million US dollars in Bitcoin", an official said. The ATS started probe after the Mumbai International Airport Limited, which operates the airport, received a threatening email in its feedback inbox at 11.06 am on Thursday, the police official said. "This is a final warning to your airport. We will blast Terminal 2 in 48 hours unless one million US dollars in Bitcoin is transferred to the address. Another alert will be after 24 Hrs," the email read. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered under Indian Penal Code sections 385 (putting a person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion) and 505 (1) (b) (statements made with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public or against the public tranquillity) at the Sahar police station. The ATS cyber cell, which started a

ASAP Kerala partners with German firm dSPACE to provide skilled manpower

ASAP Kerala, the state-run skill development agency under the Higher Education Department, has forged astrategic partnership with dSPACE, a global leader in mechatronics system software technology based in Germany, to provide jobs for skilled youth in the state. The German firm inaugurated its India operations at Kinfra Park at nearby Kazhakoottam recently. As part of the agreement, dSPACE will collaborate with ASAP Kerala to recruit 100 candidates who successfully complete specific skill training. The Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Usha Titus, Chairperson, and MD of ASAP Kerala, and Franklin George, Managing Director of dSPACE, at a special ceremony held at the office of Ishita Roy, Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education on Thursday. Commenting on the partnership, Ishita Roy stated that the state government's commitment to higher education, outstanding skill development initiatives, and the availability of top talent make Kerala an attractive destination

Kerala police registers cheating case against former pacer S Sreesanth

Sreesanth and the two others have been booked under IPC Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property)