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The Hindu
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bharat Mata row: CPI(M) accuses Kerala Governor of crossing Constitutional line by using RSS symbols at State events
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has accused Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar of crossing a Constitutional line by using Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) emblems at official functions hosted by Raj Bhavan. CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan told reporters on Friday (June 20, 2025) that General Education Minister V. Sivankutty had held the Constitutional line by walking out of a State function where Mr. Arlekar paid obeisance to the image of a 'woman holding a saffron flag', a ubiquitous heraldic device used by the RSS. He said the picture, 'replete with majoritarian religious imagery, broadcast the RSS' schismatic aspiration to render India a Hindu nation by supplanting the Constitution with the Manusmriti', an anachronistic and ancient text subscribes to a Hindu society defined by a segregationist and repressive caste and gender-based hierarchy. The CPI(M) welcomed the government's decision to include the Governor's role, responsibilities and Constitutional limitations as Head of State of Provincial Governments. 'Under severe social criticism for using RSS imagery at State events, Raj Bhavan initially recanted the political symbolism but relapsed to Sangh Parivar's ways soon after,' Mr. Govindan said.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Left parties stage protest condemning Israel's attack on Palestine
Members of the Left parties in Hassan staged a protest on Tuesday, condemning Israel's attacks on Gaza. Terming Israel's attack on Palestine an act of genocide, the protesters urged the Indian government to stop its partnership with Israel in defence and security areas. The protesters representing the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Community Party of India and the Federation of Dalit and Pro-People Movements gathered at the Mahaveera Circle and raised slogans condemning the attack on Palestine. H.R. Naveen Kumar, district secretary of CPI (M) said thousands of people in Palestine had been killed in the continuous attack. Many more people had been injured. Israel targeted civilians, patients, children, and those who were at rehabilitation centres. 'This is nothing but genocide. Israel has also stopped the supply of food to Gaza,' he said. The protesters opposed the BJP government at the centre for distancing itself from the long-maintained policy on the issue. CPI district secretary M.C. Dongre, CPI (M) leader Dharmesh, DSS leader H.K. Sandesh, Dalit Hakkugal Samiti leader M.G. Pruthvi and others participated in the protest.
India Gazette
12-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"War, terror, escalation, not solutions": CPI(M)'s Tarigami advocates for democratic process to solve conflicts
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 12 (ANI): Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) MLA Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami strongly advocated for a solution to conflicts that remains rooted in 'democratic processes' instead of 'war and terror'. Expressing regrets over the situation in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the recently concluded conflict between India and Pakistan, the CPI(M) leader argued that the farms were destroyed on both sides of the border, affecting the livelihood of all who rely on farming and its produce. 'What happened here in Poonch happened across the border as well. The farms were destroyed on this side and the other side of the border as well. I am not advocating for anyone. I mean to say that escalation is not a solution. War is not a solution. Terror is not a solution. The solution is democratic process,' Tarigami, the lone communist leader of Kashmir and five-times MLA from Kulgam, told ANI. His remarks come after a delegation led by CPI(M) visited Uri in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district earlier to meet people affected by shelling by Pakistan. 'People of J&K participated in the democratic process after seven years. They got the chance and seized it. I want to appeal to the government of India to accept the mandate of the people,' he added. CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby expressed reservations over the compensation amount of Rs 1.3 lakh given to the affected residents. 'The situation here is highly distressing, as you would have seen with the drone and shelling attacks. The government has only given Rs 1.3 lakh as compensation, which these days cannot even buy a proper door and window. This is highly deplorable, and we strongly disagree with the government's attitude. The democratic process has been destroyed here. Omar Abdullah is the Chief Minister; this is a Union Territory, and Modi and Amit Shah are controlling everything. We heard that the review meeting conducted with the Lieutenant Governor excluded the Chief Minister,' he said. He further addressed the plight of the people affected by shelling, saying, 'An eight-member family has been given a small room--this attitude of the government needs to change. We, MPs from West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and other corners of ... came here to raise the plight of people in border areas. We demanded a special session to discuss it, but the Prime Minister refused. He didn't even attend the all-party meeting, only giving lectures here and there.' The visit followed shelling by Pakistan in the civilian areas of Jammu and Kashmir post Operation Sindoor, which was conducted on May 7. The operation was conducted in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including a Nepalese national. (ANI)
The Print
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Restoration of Article 370, statehood to J&K necessary for peace in region: CPI-M
Addressing the convention, CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby said, 'CPI(M) has been firm that restoration of Article 370, statehood and other legitimate constitutional rights will pave the way for building confidence among the people of J&K, which is quite necessary for peace in the area.' He lauded the role of Kashmiris for holding spontaneous protests over the killings of tourists at Pahalgam on April 22. Srinagar, Jun 11 (PTI) The CPI(M) on Wednesday said restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will pave the way for building confidence among people of the Union Territory, asserting that it is 'necessary' for peace in the region. 'Unity among the people is necessary to thwart the forces of disharmony in the society,' Baby said. The CPI(M) general secretary said post Pahalgam attack, the party demanded for summoning of a special session of Parliament to discuss the situation arising after the Pahalgam terror attack, 'but the government seems to be reluctant to face the Opposition'. CPI(M) MP Amra Ram, while addressing the convention, said that the party 'vehemently favoured the restoration of unceremoniously snatched democratic rights of the people of J&K on August 5, 2019 even without consulting the stakeholders'. 'For the first time in the constitutional history of India, a state was bifurcated and downgraded into two separate Union territories which is against the democratic spirit and ethos of the country,' he said. MP Bikash Ranjan Battacharya said Kashmiryat is a symbol of unity and brotherhood which withstood its testimony during 1947 partition when whole of the sub-continent was engulfed in bloodshed. 'This unity needs to be strengthened in the larger interest of the people of J&K,' he said. Senior CPI(M) leader from J&K and Kulgam MLA, M Y Tarigami, said during the 'testing times' in the aftermath of August 5, 2019, the CPI(M) vehemently opposed the constitutional 'onslaught' of abrogation of Article 370 and downgrading of the state into two separate Union territories. 'It was a direct assault on the bond of J&K with the Union of India. This is the sole example in the country where the boundaries of the state were changed by imposing curfew, restrictions on media/press, and detaining of the political leadership and activists,' he said. He said the government of India must respect the mandate of J&K people and stick to its commitment given on the floor of the Parliament for restoration of full statehood. Meanwhile, a delegation of CPI(M) leaders, currently on a visit to J&K, called on National Conference president Farooq Abdullah at his residence. During the meeting, discussions were held on the prevailing situation in J&K, with both sides emphasizing the importance of peace, dialogue, and safeguarding the democratic and constitutional rights of the people, the NC said in a statement. The party said it was unanimously felt that the people aspired for lasting peace, dignity, and stability. PTI SSB KVK KVK KVK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
How Rajiv Gandhi's Visit Turned Vizhinjam From A Fishing Village To Deepwater Port
A popular phrase in India, 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari', has become a transformational reality. Just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation Jammu & Kashmir's Vande Bharat train and inaugurated the world's highest rail bridge over Chenab, today, in Kerala, 75 km from Kanyakumari, the Vizhinjam deepwater seaport received the world's biggest container vessel, MSC Irina. Projects in India have long gestation periods. The Kashmir rail link had been envisaged by the British. The planning for it began in 1983-84 and has finally taken shape now. Similarly, the idea for a deepwater sea port in Vizhinjam germinated in the days of the Travancore State in the British era. It was revived during a visit by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi - who incidentally had gone there to inaugurate houses for fishermen - in 1985. Veteran Congress Chief Minister Karunakaran pushed the project in 1991. Further thrust came during the regime of Oomen Chandy of the Congress, in whose tenure the Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd was started in December 2015. The completion took place under CPI(M) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in May 2025. A Rocky Journey The project weathered several political storms, including stiff opposition from the Sonia-Rahul Gandhi family, who were opposed to the choice of the Adani group by the Kerala government (headed by Congress leader Oomen Chandy) for implementing the project on the DBFOT (Develop, Build, Finance, Operate, Transfer) model. Regimes changed in Thiruvananthapuram, with both CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opting for the Adani group, though both sides at several points had a slugfest over the project as well. Work began in 2015, and in May 2025, PM Modi inaugurated this prestigious project of the Kerala government. This writer had accompanied Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on some of his trips across the country and was present when he visited Vizhinjam on September 6, 1985, on what was the second day of his three-day sojourn to Kerala. The visit was to study the implementation of various welfare schemes. We reached Vizhinjam in the twilight hours. It was a sleepy fishing village that traced its history to the second century BCE, a fact well-known today thanks to the discovery of pottery finds by archaeologists. Vizhinjam apparently had been part of the Indian Ocean trade route in ancient times. 'Something Is Fishy' The reason for Mr. Gandhi's visit was to review a housing project for fishermen. Rows of newly constructed houses were being shown to him. He noticed that the houses were unoccupied. On enquiry, it emerged that tensions within the fishermen community, which comprised people belonging to Muslim and Latin Christian communities, had spilt over from fishing rights to allotment of houses. Mr. Gandhi was furious. ' Kuchh to gadbad hai '(something is fishy), he muttered. Chief Minister Karunakaran, who was also the minister for fisheries, gestured to an official, who said the allottees had not moved in. The Prime Minister told former Chief Minister A.K. Anthony, who was accompanying him in his capacity as party general secretary, 'Anthony, can you locate an allottee in the crowd? I want to talk to him.' The bluff had been called. The incident was televised on Doordarshan that evening. While Mr Gandhi was infuriated, an unexpected advantage of the visit was a discussion on the history and potential of Vizhinjam. The ball was set rolling. Why Vizhinjam Is Important Vizhinjam, though a project of the Kerala government, is a port of national significance. It is the only transhipment terminal in the Indian subcontinent. Being the pioneer deepwater transportation hub, it contributes to revolutionising India's blue economy. The port has a natural depth of 20 metres and is located strategically within 10 nautical miles off the international shipping lane. Before the commissioning of Vizhinjam, India had no deepwater port, and it had to depend on ports abroad, primarily Colombo (Sri Lanka), to dock Ultra-Large Container Vessels (UCLVs); cargo containers were transported to smaller vessels and shipped to Indian ports. Before Vizhinjam, India thus had to forgo an estimated revenue of about $220 million (approximately Rs 1,990 crore) annually due to this transhipment. The natural depth of 20 metres also ensures that Vizhinjam will not have to spend on seasonal dredging. This, too, will contribute to the health of the blue economy. A New Era In India's Blue Economy With the docking of MSC Irina, which coincides with the first anniversary of the Modi 3.0 regime, a new era is being ushered into India's blue economy. MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company, a Swiss-based container shipping giant) Irina is the biggest container vessel and can carry more than 24,300 standard 20-foot shipping containers stacked up to 22 decks. It measures 399.99 meters in length and 61.3 meters in beam. With the docking of Irinam, Vizhinjam will be competing with international ports like Colombo, Salalah (Oman), Jebel Ali (Dubai-UAE), as well as Singapore. Vizhinjam's strategic location in the international shipping route connects Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Far East. It is proximate to the East-West shipping axis, which accounts for a substantial quantum of global maritime trade. While Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd., which is tasked with running the port, has developed its infrastructure, road and rail connectivity to the place, located 20 km from Thiruvananthapuram on National Highway 66, is still under development. Nonetheless, Vizhinjam will bring substantial savings as it removes India's dependency on ports abroad.
