Page 7 - Pinarayi Vijayan

Sexual assault: Row intensifies as Kerala govt accused of shielding accused

Protests raged in Kerala on Friday as outrage grew over shocking accounts from several female actors in the Malayalam film industry, with the Leader of the Opposition, V D Satheesan, accusing the CPI(M)-led government of shielding the culprits, including actor-politician Mukesh, who stands accused of sexual assault. Mahila Congress activists in Kochi and Kollam took to the streets, demanding the resignation of CPI(M) MLA Mukesh and a thorough investigation into the shocking allegations of sexual misconduct made by female actors in the Malayalam film industry to the Justice Hema Committee. In Kochi, demonstrators vented their anger by beating effigies of Mukesh, Sidhique, and Ranjith -- all accused of sexual assault -- with brooms. In Kollam, a protest march was held outside Mukesh's residence, with activists calling for his immediate resignation as MLA. Satheesan alleged that the accused in the Malayalam film industry scandal are being protected by a "power group" within the ruling

Aspiring male actor files sexual assault complaint against director Ranjith

A new complaint has been filed against director Ranjith by an aspiring male actor, alleging that the director forced him to strip naked and sexually assaulted him

Kerala has invested Rs 1,000 cr to develop AYUSH infra in state, says CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the government has invested Rs 1,000 crore in the past three years to develop the Ayush infrastructure in the state, including an International Institute of Ayurveda Research and a new Ayurveda medical college in Idukki district. The CM inaugurated a two-day Global Ayurveda Summit and Kerala Healthcare Tourism here and set the tone for the deliberations by focusing on the policy initiatives of the state government to facilitate a holistic healthcare environment. The summit is spearheaded by the Confederation of Indian Industry with support from the Ministry of Ayush and Central and State governments. "Our strength lies in seamlessly blending traditional ayurvedic practice with cutting-edge modern medicine," Vijayan was quoted in a release issued by the organisers. The speakers at the summit called for promoting Kerala as God's own healing destination by focusing on the unique strengths of the state in modern medicine, ayurveda

Kerala's industrial landscape to undergo transformation with new city: CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the state's industrial landscape is set to be transformed with the Union Cabinet's clearance for a new industrial city in Palakkad. His statement came a day after the Union Government approved 12 new industrial cities in 10 states including Palakkad in Kerala on the lines of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Dholera in Gujarat to boost domestic manufacturing. In a post on 'X', Vijayan said Palakkad Industrial City which is expected to attract investments worth Rs 10,000 crore and create over 55,000 jobs will now become a reality. "The State government's swift land acquisition efforts and our persistence in securing the Union Government's approval have now paid off. Kerala's industrial landscape is set to be transformed with the Union Cabinet's clearance for this crucial component of the Kochi-Bengaluru Hi-Tech #IndustrialCorridor. #KeralaLeads," the Chief Minister said. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Mod

'Code names for women': Hema committee report shakes Malayalam cinema

The Hema committee, appointed by the Kerala government, highlighted issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry, including unwanted physical advances even before commencing work

Kerala CM urges banks to write off loans of victims of Wayanad landslides

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday urged various banks to write off the loans availed by landslide victims and survivors in Kerala's Wayanad. He said waiving loans would not impose any unbearable burden upon the banks and so it should be written off completely. While addressing a meeting of the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) here, the CM said relaxation in interest amounts or extension of time for remitting monthly installments would not at all be a solution in the landslide-hit regions. Many of those who had availed the loans are dead, and their land became unusable after the disaster, he pointed out. "The only thing we can do is write off the entire loans taken by people in these affected areas," Vijayan said. He expressed the government's strong displeasure with the act of banks continuing to take monthly installments from the landslide survivors and urged the SLBC to take a favourable decision in this regard. Vijayan's reaction came amidst intense protest

Root cause of Wayanad disaster is climate change, says CM Vijayan

He said that experts estimate that due to climate change, rain-dependent rice yields in our country could decrease by 20% by 2050 and by 47% by 2080

Kerala CM protecting those behind controversial 'kafir' post: Oppn UDF

The Congress-led opposition UDF on Friday continued its attack on the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala over the "kafir" campaign that was carried out hours before the LS polls in Vadakara constituency, by accusing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of protecting those who were behind it. The issue in question pertains to a social media post put up ahead of the Vadakara election that reportedly asked people not to vote for LDF candidate K K Shailaja as she was a "kafir" (non-believer). Terming it a hate campaign akin to a terror act which was aimed at dividing people along religious lines for political gains, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan questioned why no case had been registered till date against those who spread the controversial post on social media. Satheesan also questioned how the CM, who holds charge of the Home Department, can feign ignorance about the affidavit filed by the police in the Kerala High Court reportedly stating that the post in question was circulated

Nation sad over Wayanad landslides, but time to move forward: CM Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that while everyone in the country was sad regarding the Wayanad landslides that claimed over 200 lives, it was time to live and move forward for the survival of the state. Vijayan, speaking after hoisting the national flag at the Central Stadium here on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day of the country, also said that even as India excelled in various sectors since its independence in 1947, the scientific awareness in the country was being damaged and superstitions, harmful customs, and outdated rituals were making a comeback. Referring to the landslides in Wayanad, the CM said that Kerala and the country were celebrating the independence day in a time of grief following the disaster. "But, we cannot remain sad. We need to live and move forward for the survival of the state. So, the independence day, this year, should give impetus to the joint activities that ensure the state's survival," he said. The Marxist veteran a

Kerala landslides: CM announces Rs 6 lakh compensation for kin of deceased

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday announced a compensation of Rs six lakh for the next of kin of those who died in the massive landslides that hit Wayanad district on July 30 and claimed over 200 lives. Vijayan said that of the Rs six lakh, Rs four lakh would come from the State Disaster Response Fund and the remaining from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). He also announced that Rs 75,000 would be allocated from the CMDRF to those who lost eyes and limbs or suffered disability up to 60 per cent due to the landslides. The CM also said that Rs 50,000 financial assistance would be given to those who suffered disability between 40 to 60 per cent or suffered very serious injuries in the disaster. Besides that, the survivors opting for rented accommodation or living with their relatives will get Rs 6,000 per month towards rent as part of the government's rehabilitation programme, he said. This amount, however, will not be available to those who get ..

Kerala CM seeks fund from Centre to rebuild Wayanad, combat climate change

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday sought financial assistance from the Centre for the rehabilitation of those who had lost everything in the series of massive landslides in Wayanad recently and requested support to combat climate change. The CM listed out the state's demands before Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he arrived here to visit the calamity-hit hamlets in this hill district. After explaining to the PM the impact and intensity of the disaster, which had shocked the state last week, Vijayan also handed over its details as a note, a CMO statement said here. A detailed assessment of the damage is underway and the initial assessment is that the loss incurred was to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees, it said. The state would submit to the Centre a detailed memorandum with regard to the disaster later, the CM said. "The impact of global warming and climate change has affected the state to a great extent and frequent and unpredictable natural disasters

Kerala announces township in secure location for Wayanad landslide victims

The Kerala government on Saturday announced that a township will be established in a secure area to rehabilitate those displaced by the catastrophic landslide that occurred in the Mundakkai region of Wayanad district. During a press conference here, Vijayan said a comprehensive rehabilitation process is planned and will be implemented swiftly. Vijayan said various offers have come from the global community to provide land and construct houses. A 'Help for Wayanad' cell has been formed under Joint Land Revenue Commissioner A Geetha IAS to coordinate these offers. "The government plans a comprehensive rehabilitation process for the survivors, aiming for swift completion. A new, safer area will be identified for constructing a township. The Education Minister will visit Wayanad to ensure that children's education is not disrupted," Vijayan told the reporters here. Detailing the offers received, the CM said Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan has informed that senior Congress leader Ra

Wayanad landslides: CM says 'nobody left to save'; death toll crosses 300

During a review meeting held in Kalpetta, Wayanad, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that all those who are alive have been saved in the last three days

Wayanad landslides: Massive rescue ops underway; 256 dead, 191 missing

Rain-triggered landslides struck Wayanad on Tuesday, claiming the lives of at least 256 people and leaving several hundred injured

Kerala landslides: Autopsy count mounts as doctors battle to save survivors

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, are working round the clock in Kerala's landslide-affected Wayanad, grappling with a distressing situation that involves providing critical care to severely injured survivors and performing autopsies on the remains of victims claimed by the catastrophic event. "Until 7 am today, we have completed 256 autopsies, which include body parts as well. So, it's not 256 full bodies, but also includes body parts. We have handed over 154 bodies to the district administration," said State Health Minister Veena George. She explained that autopsies have been performed on bodies that were swept away by the river and recovered from the Pothukal area in Malappuram district. Speaking about the traumatic situations faced by health workers, the minister revealed that over 100 autopsies were performed on Wednesday night. "It's quite unfortunate. Last night, we performed 112 autopsies, I think. I saw a health worker there, and she was crying. She hadn'

Search ops underway at Mundakkai, number of missing unknown: Minister

As a massive search operation is underway at Mundakkai region in landslide-hit Wayanad with a team of over 3,000 rescue workers, the authorities and locals are still grappling to determine the exact number of people missing. According to the state government, the toll has gone up to 173 while an estimated number of 191 people are missing, though official sources indicate that the actual number may be much higher. The rescue operators are contending with adverse conditions, including muddy soil and rain, as they search through destroyed homes and buildings. State Revenue Minister K Rajan, who is in the disaster-struck region, coordinating the rescue efforts, told the media that the authorities are yet to finalise the number of missing people. "Initially, we used the voter list to identify the missing persons. But since it does not contain the details of the children, we are now relying on ration cards and other details. We are trying to identify the missing people by checking the ..

100 bodies recovered: Major General VT Mathew on Wayanad landslide

Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that the Kerala government could have minimised the losses in Wayanad, the Kerala Health Minister called it "unfortunate"

Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi leave for landslide-hit Wayanad in Kerala

167 people have been declared dead in the aftermath of the landslides as per the Kerala Revenue Department

Kerala landslides: CM Pinarayi Vijayan to chair all-party meet in Wayanad

An all-party meeting, chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will be held in the hill district on Thursday as search and rescue operations by various agencies and armed forces continue in the landslides-hit areas here. State ministers camping in the district, MLAs from Wayanad and political party leaders will participate in the meeting, the district administration said. Besides the all-party meet, Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected to visit the relief camps set up in the landslides-hit areas of the district, according to a statement issued by the party. According to the updates of the death toll on Wednesday night, 167 people have died and 191 are missing in the landslides with over 200 injured. Of the dead, 100 have been identified, the district administration said. The rescue operations continued on the third day with teams of the army, navy and coast guard carrying out a detailed search at three locati

Wayanad landslide: Toll rises to 45, Army deployed for rescue op. Updates

Wayanad landslide updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Kerala CM on the crisis and assured of all the help from the Centre