Page 18 - Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala Guv says Balagopal violated oath, seeks action; CM rejects demand

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informing he has "ceased to enjoy pleasure" in Finance Minister K N Balagopal, accusing him of making speech undermining unity, and urged the CM to take constitutionally appropriate action against his cabinet colleague, a demand turned down by the latter. The Chief Minister has shot back a letter to the Governor rejecting his demand seeking action against Balagopal, an official source told PTI. He reiterated his trust on Balagopal, saying it remains "undiminished." In his letter, the Governor did not explicitly seek for the removal/withdrawal of Balagopal from the LDF cabinet but it seemed to be the essence of his communication to Vijayan. A highly placed source said that in his response, Vijayan said that from a constitutional perspective and factoring in the democratic conventions and traditions of the country, the statement cannot warrant a ground for cessation of enjoyment of the Governor's ...

Kerala guv writes to CM Vijayan, wants finance minister Balagopal sacked

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, in a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, informed that he has "ceased to enjoy pleasure" in Finance Minister KN Balagopal

Kerala varsity row kicks up political storm; CM Vijayan warns Guv Khan

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's move to seek the resignation of Vice-Chancellors of nine universities has kicked up a huge political storm in the southern state with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday issuing a stern warning to the Constitutional head asking him not to cross the limits of his powers. Meanwhile, the ruling LDF announced two-day state-wide protests beginning on Tuesday. Amid growing tension between the Raj Bhavan and the Left government, Khan, using his powers as the chancellor, issued show-cause notices to Vice-Chancellors of nine universities after they refused to send their resignation letters to him before 11.30 AM on Monday as per his directive on Sunday. The Vice Chancellors have been given time till November 3 to respond. The "unusual steps" initiated by Khan also led to a legal battle with eight vice-chancellors challenging the chancellor's move in the Kerala High Court. The high court held a special sitting on Monday evening, despite being a holi

Governor has no authority to seek resignations of VCs, says Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday lashed out at Governor Arif Mohammed Khan for seeking resignation of vice chancellors of nine universities in the state. Vijayan said the Governor has no such powers and accused him of acting against the Constitution and the essence of democracy. The Chief Minister alleged that the Governor's move was an encroachment on the powers of a democratically elected government, and the universities that are supposed to be academically independent. A day after Khan kicked up a political storm seeking resignation of vice chancellors of nine varsities in the state, Vijayan said it was an unusual move and accused him of "waging war" with an intention to "destroy" the universities in the state. "It was the Governor who appointed the VCs of these nine universities and if these appointments were made illegally, then the primary responsibility lies with the Governor himself," the Chief Minister said, adding that the chancellor has no authority to se

Guv Arif keeps blowing hot, but CM Pinarayi says 'This is Kerala'

'Ethu Keralam aanu (This is Kerala) is the stock phrase that CM Pinarayi uses time and again, mostly when he wants to lash out either at the Centre or at his now bete noire - Governor Arif

Kerala govt launches mobile app to prevent cyber crimes against children

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday launched the 'Kunjapp', a mobile application to prevent cyber crimes against children in the state. Vijayan also inaugurated the training for the newly appointed Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) members at Kovalam near here. Addressing the newly appointed members, the Chief Minister said children should not suffer physical, mental or sexual exploitation and the members should work together as they have an important role to play in protecting the children. "The CWC and the JJB members should ensure that the society follows the laws in connection with the children and to make sure that those children who violate law are transformed into model citizens. The members play a major role in moulding the coming generation," he said. Vijayan said the duty of the CWC and JJB members is to ensure the safety and security of the children. "They (CWC and JJB members) take a decision on the safety and rehabilitation

Kerala HC quashes unlawful assembly, rioting case against Pinarayi Vijayan

The Kerala High Court has quashed a case of unlawful assembly and rioting and connected proceedings in a magisterial court against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and 11 other CPI(M) leaders in connection with the 2009 human chain protest against India entering into a trade agreement with ASEAN countries. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas quashed the case against the CPI(M) leaders, also including Prakash Karat, former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and current state Minister for General Education V Sivankutty, saying that there was no use of criminal force by them or the protestors, the protest was not indefinite, normal life was not paralysed and therefore, offences of unlawful assembly or rioting under the IPC were not made out. The case was quashed on the plea moved in the high court by the 12 CPI(M) leaders. While quashing the case, the high court said just like the leadership of a political party is not an immunity against prosecution, the position of the accused shall not

'Efforts to impose Hindi unacceptable,' writes Kerala CM Vijayan to PM Modi

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that efforts to impose the Hindi language are "unacceptable"

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan greetings to citizens on Eid-Milad-un-Nabi

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday extended his greetings to citizens on the occasion of Eid-Milad-un-Nabi, which is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. Vijayan, who is presently on a European tour, said on Twitter and his Facebook page that on this occasion people should celebrate Prophet Muhammad's message of love, kindness and brotherhood. "Eid-Milad-un-Nabi is an occasion to celebrate the message of love, kindness and brotherhood that Prophet Muhammad shared with us. May this day fill us with more happiness. Hearty wishes to all," he said in his tweet and FB post.

Vijayan mulls giving research students access to labs in foreign countries

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said his government will initiate steps to make available in the state facilities that research students in foreign universities have access to. Interacting with a section of doctors and research students at Bergen in Norway, Vijayan said the Scandinavian country provided its students opportunities to use the facilities in other countries for research purposes, and was of the opinion that such a model could be implemented in Kerala too. "Students carrying out research activities in Norway have the opportunity to use the laboratories in other countries. If our research students get such advanced facilities, the quality of our research can improve," he said. The Chief Minister's Office said in a release that during Vijayan's interaction, it was pointed out to him that most students in Kerala were not aware of the research scholarships funded by the state and the Centre. To overcome this, the chief minister has assured to set up an ..

Teary farewell to Communist leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in Kerala

CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Marxist party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, along with other leaders carried the body of Balakrishnan to the pyre readied at Payyambalam beach

BJP demands Kerala CM remove ally INL, minister over links with banned PFI

The Kerala unit of the BJP on Wednesday demanded that CM Pinarayi Vijayan should ask for resignation of State Ports Minister as he belongs to INL which has close relations with the now banned RIF

Corruption made its way even to Kerala CM Vijayan's office: BJP's Nadda

Nadda said that the CPI-M government in Kerala was creating a debt trap, claiming the debt has almost doubled in Kerala.

PFI violence in Kerala pre-meditated, culprits will not be spared: Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday termed the violence in the state during the hartal called by the Popular Front of India (PFI) a day ago, as a premeditated one and said the culprits will not be spared. Vijayan, while addressing a senior police officers association's event here, condemned the violence and said it resulted in destruction of public and private properties in the state. "In yesterday's hartal, led by the PFI, Kerala witnessed a pre-meditated violence. The state witnessed an organised and violent interference from their part resulting in huge loss to the state," Vijayan said. The Chief Minister said it was an attempt to destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the state and that the culprits will not be spared. In near simultaneous raids across the country, a multi-agency operation spearheaded by the NIA on September 22 led to the arrest of 106 activists of the PFI in 11 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country, officials had said. Th

Chasm between Kerala Guv Arif Mohammed and CM Pinarayi Vijayan set to widen

After a brief pause, the dispute between Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan is likely to resurf with Congress leader Jyothikumar Chamakala approaching the Court

Congress will not retain its Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, says CM Vijayan

The Congress will not be able to retain the Lok Sabha seats it had won during the 2019 Parliamentary elections in the state as MPs including, Rahul Gandhi, have 'failed' to resist the BJP in the national polity, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. The Chief Minister also taunted the Congress party over the inclusion of V D Savarkar's photo among the 20 Indian freedom fighters in a banner erected for welcoming the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' led by Rahul Gandhi. Addressing a massive crowd here as part of the 50th Martyrdom day of Left leader Azheekodan Raghavan, Vijayan said that people of his state have realised that electing Gandhi to Lok Sabha from Kerala was a mistake. "When Rahul Gandhi contested here, our people thought that he was going to become the Prime Minister. But the people now know that it was a mistake. That trick of the Congress will not work here again. The UDF MPs from Kerala are not even resisting the BJP at the national level. They failed to raise an

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates new software lab of IBM in Kochi

Kerala Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday inaugurated the new software lab of IBM, a state-of-the-art global innovation centre, at Brigade World Trade Centre inside the Infopark here. The centre will focus on product engineering, design, and development of new products and solutions in the areas of data and AI and automation and collaborate with the technology eco-system in the region to co-create solutions for the global industry. Vijayan said the investment made by the IBM shows that Kerala's IT hub have the greenest IT spaces and a talent pool of IT professionals. "IBM's choice to establish its software lab at Infopark- Kochi is truly something to celebrate. This investment shows once more that Kerala's IT hubs have the greenest IT spaces, a talent pool of IT professionals, a Centre of Excellence in emerging technologies, and the economic momentum to continue to move the state forward as the country's next digital hub," Vijayan said. The chief minister also said his ...

Kerala CM flays Governor, dubs him 'anti-Communist propagandist'

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday hit out at Governor Arif Mohammed Khan over his allegations against the State government on a number of issues, calling him an anti-Communist propagandist and urged him not to stoop to the level of Opposition politicians who target the Left dispensation in the southern State. Hours after Khan launched an attack on the LDF government at a press conference at the Raj Bhavan, Vijayan, also a veteran CPI(M) leader, accused the former of showing submissiveness towards RSS and told him to understand the history of the Communist movement in Kerala. Khan, the anti-Communist propagandist of the day, should understand that the Communists were subjected to suppression before it came to power in the State through ballot in 1957, Vijayan said at a party programme. Vijayan said the post of the Governor is a Constitutional responsibility not a position from which one expresses personal opinions. The Governor, speaking to the media earlier in the da

Governor cannot reject, withhold bills indefinitely, says Kerala govt

A Governor can withhold the bills passed by a state Assembly, but it cannot be for an indefinite period nor can he reject them, the Kerala government said on Monday. State Law Minister P Rajeeve, speaking to reporters here, said under the Constitution the Governor has the power to give assent to bills, withhold them or send them to the President of India. "The Governor does not have the power to reject the bills," he said. His remarks come in the wake of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan last week saying that will not allow the University Laws Amendment Bill recently passed by the state Assembly as it allegedly seeks to legalise illegalities and pave the way for appointment of "unqualified relatives" of the staff of the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues. Recently, a row broke out over the attempt to appoint the wife of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's personal secretary in the Malayalam department in Kannur University though she had the lowest research score but highest i

Kerala Governor to meet media at Raj Bhavan amid clashes with LDF govt

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan is likely to meet the media on Monday at the Raj Bhavan where he is expected to release some documents and video clippings. Khan had a day ago invited the media to the Raj Bhavan here amidst an ongoing war of words between him and Kerala's LDF government over several issues connected to the functioning of varsities in the state. The Governor, on Sunday, had said he would release to the media letters written by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to him assuring that there will be no interference from the government in the affairs of the universities in the state. He had also said he would put out some video clips, which are probably of the heckling incident he faced at Kannur University in December 2019 when he went there to inaugurate the Indian History Congress. According to Khan, the heckling he faced there was part of a conspiracy to frighten him into not speaking in public and Vijayan had allegedly told the police not to lodge a case in connectio