Page 47 - Kerala

Kerala touch adds power to Israel police's combat gear in war against Hamas

A relatively lesser-known company, Maryan Apparel Ltd from Kannur district, has been providing uniforms to this esteemed force, recognised as one of the top police departments globally, since 2012

Cong demands probe into 'backdoor appointments' in KILA, seeks resignation

: The opposition Congress on Wednesday levelled corruption charges against Labour Minister V Sivankutty over appointments made in the state-run Kerala Institute of Labour Administration and urged the state government to order a probe into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment. The Congress accused the minister of appointing party cadre in various posts in KILA violating a 2019 cabinet decision that no appointment should be made there without prior permission. The government should immediately dismiss all those who have been appointed through "backdoor channels," Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan said. The Congress' criticism comes amidst reports by a section of the media that Sivankutty allegedly intervened for the regularisation of a woman DYFI leader working in KILA. "The minister who has committed a violation of oath is not entitled to continue in office, even for a moment. If there is a little bit of political decency and dignity left, Sivankutty

Kerala CM urges EAM Jaishankar to ensure safety of Indians in Israel

As the war between the Hamas militant outfit and the Israeli defence forces continues, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene and ensure the safety of Indian citizens in Israel. Expressing concern over the plight of Indian nationals in Israel, Vijayan said that around 7,000 of them are from Kerala and the continuing hostilities were putting them to extreme hardship and their family members were in a state of extreme anxiety. "I request your goodself to intervene in every possible manner to ensure the safety of our citizens in Israel," the CM said in his letter dated October 9. The surprise weekend attack by Hamas on Israel has claimed nearly 1,600 lives. A Kerala-based woman working as a caregiver in Israel was also seriously injured in the Hamas attack and is presently hospitalised.

Kerala's liquidity strained, seeks Centre's intervention over borrowing cap

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Saturday said the state's liquidity position was severely stressed due to the reduction in the annual borrowing limit and sought the intervention of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman into the issue. In a letter written to the union finance minister, Balagopal said the liquidity stress got aggravated specifically because of the cut in the annual borrowing ceiling for the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24. He said Kerala has been relying on its own sources of revenue for meeting the expenditure during recent years, unlike many other states. Balagopal said the decision of the Union Government to include the borrowing of institutions like KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board) and lower the annual borrowing limit of the state with retrospective effect was causing severe liquidity stress for Kerala. "I write this letter to invite your kind attention to the issue of liquidity stress being faced by Kerala due to the reduction

Congress alleges corruption in cancellation of Kerala power contracts

The Opposition Congress on Saturday targeted Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the recent cancellation of contracts in the power sector signed during the UDF regime and urged the Left government to probe the "corruption" behind the move. There is "conspiracy and corruption" by the Left government and the state Electricity Regulatory Commission is behind the cancellation of long-term power contracts signed during the time of the previous UDF government, it alleged. Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the assembly V D Satheesan said they won't allow the authorities to impose the liability of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) Limited on the public. The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) had been turned into a government-sponsored body by inducting nominees of the ruling CPI(M), and they had helped the authorities facilitate corruption, he charged. The LoP's statement came days after the state cabinet, chaired by CM Vijayan, decided

Delhi Police raids Kerala residence of former NewsClick employee Anusha

The Delhi police on Friday conducted a raid and seized the laptop and phone of Malayali journalist and former NewsClick employee Anusha Paul from her residence near Kodumon here. After a three-member team of the Delhi Police recorded her statement and confiscated her electronic devices, Paul told the media that she was questioned about her association with NewsClick and the CPI(M). She said the questions ranged from whether she reported on farmers' protest, anti-NRC-CAA protests, or about the COVID-19 management of the Union government. "This is a witch-hunt to threaten the organisation and its employees who used to raise voice against the Narendra Modi government and the RSS," Paul said. Paul was staying in Kerala for the treatment of a close family member. She told the media that the Delhi Police asked her whether she knows the Delhi state secretary of the CPI(M), K M Tiwari. "Of course, I know him. I told them that. He is the state secretary of the CPI(M). I am a CPI(M) worker

Congress to launch charitable mission in Oommen Chandy's name in Kerala

Senior Congress leaders on Thursday recalled the contributions and work of late Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and said the party would be soon launching a charitable mission in his name to help people across the state. AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, former Union Defence Minister and party veteran A K Antony, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly V D Satheesan, all recalled the love and compassion Chandy had for the people in Kerala. "His work and his love for the people was seen in the farewell the public gave to him on his death," they said while speaking at the launch of a book -- 'Aardramanas' -- about party stalwart Chandy prepared by the KPCC. Venugopal said Chandy touched thousands of lives through his work and he was a leader that the Congress would be proud of forever. He said the party was obligated to him and each Congress member should pay it back in his own way. In his

Kerala CM launches 7 mega projects at Cochin International Airport

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday inaugurated seven "mega projects" at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) here. The chief minister launched the operation of the Import Cargo Terminal, DigiYatra software and Airport Emergency Services at the international airport at an event held at CIAL. He also launched the projects for the first phase of the expansion of Terminal 3, the '0484' luxury aero lounge, an intrusion detection system at the airport and golf resorts. Addressing the gathering, Vijayan said Kerala is showing the public an alternative when even the strategic public sector undertakings in the country, including airports, are being privatised in the country. "We are living at a time when even the strategic public sector undertakings in this country are being privatised. But in Kerala, the public sector undertakings are being protected and are prospering. We even took over the public sector undertakings that the Centre had put up for sale," Vijayan said.

Kerala CM to inaugurate seven 'mega projects' at CIAL on October 2

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate seven "mega projects" at the international airport here on Monday, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) said. The airport authority said the chief minister will inaugurate the operation of the Import Cargo Terminal, DigiYatra software and Airport Emergency Services at CIAL. He will also launch the projects for the first phase of the expansion of Terminal 3, the '0484' luxury aero lounge, an intrusion detection system at the airport and the Golf Resorts. In a Facebook post, Vijayan said the aero lounge will consist of 42 luxury guest rooms, a restaurant, mini conference hall, board room, gym, spa among other facilities. "Once fully operational, with a massive area of 50,000 sq. ft., it will become the biggest lounge facility in the country," Vijayan said. He said the Airport Fire and Rescue force is being upgraded to Airport Emergency Services with the inclusion of two Austrian-made fire engines and other advanced vehic

Heavy rains continue across Kerala; IMD issues yellow alert in 13 districts

Heavy rains continued to lash several parts of Kerala affecting normal life on Saturday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a "yellow alert" warning in 13 of 14 districts of the state except in Kottayam. The yellow alert predicts heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. Uprooting of trees, waterlogging and collapsing of compound walls were reported in many places, but no major casualties have happened anywhere in the state so far in the rains continuing for the last two days. Heavy downpour submerged hundreds of acres of paddy fields at Edathua, a tiny hamlet in the Kuttanad region in Alappuzha district. The shutters of Aruvikkara Dam near the state capital was raised up to 160 cm in view of rising water level, district authorities here said. As the rain is expected to intensify in the coming hours, the state Disaster Management Authority urged people living in high range to maintain extra vigil and directed fishermen not to venture into the sea.

Centre's 'step motherly' treatment hurting Kerala: Finance Min Balagopal

Going through a "growth phase", Kerala is poised for very good development in infrastructure, industrial as well as services sectors that will create more job opportunities, according to the state's Finance Minister K N Balagopal. Amid concerns over the state's financial health, he asserted revenue generation has made a "giant leap" to Rs 71,000 crore in the last fiscal but the central government's "step motherly" treatment has resulted in a liquidity crunch. In an interview with PTI, Balagopal cited reports by various agencies, including the recent Fitch Ratings, to affirm that the "state is now going through a very good economic growth phase." In recent months, the Left-ruled Kerala has been raising its voice against BJP-led Centre's moves on the fiscal front, including alleged delay in releasing GST funds and curbs on the state in terms of raising money. Referring to the steps taken by the finance department for better revenue generation, the minister said through efficient tax

Kerala CM protecting culprits behind Karuvannur bank scam: Cong-led UDF

A day after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that the state government had taken action against those involved in the Karuvannur bank scam case, the Congress-led UDF opposition on Thursday reiterated its allegation that he was protecting the culprits behind the fraud. Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the assembly V D Satheesan alleged that the chief minister was defending and protecting those who looted over Rs 500 crore from cooperative banks in Thrissur. Vijayan on Wednesday had said that if one bad grain was found in a bowl of rice, the entire bowl cannot be thrown away. In response to this, Satheesan contended that the chief minister needs to realise that the entire bowl was full of bad grains. The LoP further contended that the stand taken by Vijayan amounts to discrediting the cooperative sector in the state and turning a blind eye to the suffering of the investors. He said that even the opposition does not want the cooperative sector to be harmed and urged the ..

Bribery charges steam against Kerala's health min, Cong calls it 'shocking'

Allegations of bribery have cropped up against a personal staff of Kerala Health Minister Veena George following which the opposition Congress demanded a probe into it. Haridasan, a resident of Malappuram district on Wednesday, alleged that a personal staff member of the minister accepted Rs 1 lakh as bribe for the appointment of his daughter-in-law as a government medical officer. He alleged that a middleman approached him, saying such appointments were being made through the minister's office, and asked him to pay a huge amount as bribe in instalments. A former office secretary of CITU, the trade union wing of the CPI(M), in Pathanamthitta, who allegedly acted as a middleman, also accepted a bribe for the said appointment, he claimed and added his daughter-in-law, however, didn't get the job. Haridasan also released through the media some purported evidence of money transactions between him and the minister's personal staff member. Later in the day, he said officers of the speci

RBI clears K N Madhusoodanan as part-time chairman of Dhanlaxmi Bank

Madhusoodanan has been an independent director with the bank since 2022

Soldier from Kerala taken into custody for false claim of assault

A soldier, who a day ago had claimed he was assaulted by six persons near his home in this southern Kerala district and 'PFI' was written on his back, was on Tuesday taken into custody along with his friend for allegedly giving a false statement about the incident, police said. A senior police officer of the district said that no arrests have been recorded in the case so far and the statements of the soldier -- Shine Kumar -- and his friend were being recorded. "Further action would be taken after verifying the contents of their statements," the officer said. He also said that the soldier's friend has claimed that Kumar wanted to become famous and that is why this entire act was carried out. The officer further said that the soldier was giving various reasons for making such a false statement and they have to be verified. Police also recovered the green paint, brush and tape allegedly used in the incident from the friend's home. The soldier's friend told the media that Kumar plan

Kerala's left govt starts regional review meetings to assess performance

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Cabinet colleagues started their state-wide regional review meeting here on Tuesday in order to assess the public mood and review the performance of the state government. Vijayan chaired the south regional review meeting that would discuss various programmes of the government and would also seek the opinion of the public regarding the implementation of the same, official sources said here. The South regional review meeting includes the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta. All senior officials of government departments, apart from district collectors from the three districts and ministers from these districts were present at the review meeting. NGOs and prominent social workers were also invited to the meeting. The media was not allowed to cover the details of the review meeting. After the meeting of government department officials, a review meeting with senior police officials of these districts will be held i

Tourism sector from across world to assemble in Kerala for travel expo

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will inaugurate the first edition of South India's prestigious travel expo Global Travel Market (GTM 2023) at Kovalam, near here, on September 27. State Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas will preside over the inaugural function of the four-day event at The Leela Kovalam, a Raviz Hotel, at 5 pm, an official release said on Monday. Kerala Chief Secretary V Venu will deliver the keynote address on the occasion. Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai will inaugurate the seminar sessions on September 27 at 6.30 pm. It will deliberate on various topics on the theme 'Experience the Essence of South India: Where Culture Meets Nature'. GTM 2023, an annual B2B travel and trade exhibition, is organised by South Kerala Hoteliers Forum (SKHF), Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (TCCI), Tavas Ventures, and Metro Media. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan will inaugurate the travel and trade exhibition at Travancore International

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One dead, 4 injured in explosion at gelatin factory in Kerala's Kochi

At least one person died and four others were injured in an explosion at a gelatin factory in the Kakkanad area of Kerala's Kochi, the police said on Wednesday

Kerala to conduct surveillance study on Nipah virus: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

The Kerala government has decided to conduct a surveillance study on Nipah virus and directed its Health Department to prepare a detailed report on it, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday