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Time of India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Amid Bharat Mata row, state to include school lesson on guv's ‘real role'
Thiruvananthapuram: The controversy over the display of a Bharat Mata portrait allegedly used in RSS shakhas at functions in Raj Bhavan has all the signs of snowballing into a protracted showdown between the state govt and governor Rajendra V Arlekar. A day after walking out of an event at Raj Bhavan for the same, general education minister V Sivankutty on Friday said the real role and responsibilities of governors, as defined in the Constitution, would be included in the Class X social science textbook in this academic year. The decision, he said, was taken in view of the increasing attempts to weaken elected state govts using governors. "Since schools are the best places to instil democratic values, the constitutional powers of the governor will be included as a prominent section in the SSLC textbook," he said. Raj Bhavan sources, meanwhile, said the governor continued to stick to his stance that Sivankutty violated protocol by walking out of the event, which, according to Arlekar, was not strictly a state govt function. According to the governor, the distribution of Rajya Puraskar awards to Bharat Scouts and Guides was not a state govt event and the minister had no reason to object to the display of the Bharat Mata portrait. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top Doctor: If You Eat Eggs Every Day, This Is What Happens WellnessGuide Learn more Undo Arlekar had on Thursday stated that there was no question of doing away with Bharat Mata "as we draw our idea of patriotism and nationhood from her." Some Raj Bhavan officials had earlier indicated that the governor had agreed to avoid such portraits at govt functions held at Raj Bhavan. Backing Sivankutty, CPM state secretary M V Govindan said only those who had studied the Constitution could identify violation of constitutional values. He accused Arlekar of trying to convert Raj Bhavan into RSS headquarters. "All those who believe in democracy should oppose this approach by the governor. This is not something CPM alone should protest against," he said after the party's state secretariat meeting on Friday. Hinting at CPM's intent to escalate the controversy, SFI workers took out a march to Raj Bhavan on Friday, carrying banners against the governor. SFI state secretary P S Sanjeev said the governor had no right to use Raj Bhavan to advance his RSS ideology. DYFI also staged a similar protest march to Raj Bhavan on Thursday. Meanwhile, ABVP activists came out in support of the governor, waving black flags at Sivankutty. Agriculture minister P Prasad had earlier refused to attend a function at Raj Bhavan when he was told that he should pay tributes in front of the Bharat Mata portrait before the ceremony.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
15 injured as CPM, BJP cadres clash in Dindigul
Dindigul: A street-corner meeting organised by the CPM in Thadikombu village in Dindigul district turned violent on Friday following a clash with members of the BJP and Hindu Munnani. Around 15 people were injured in the altercation. Police detained cadres from both parties. The incident unfolded during the meeting organised as part of a statewide public campaign by the CPM to highlight people's demands and criticise govt policies. During the meeting, Dindigul union secretary R Sarath Kumar allegedly criticised the BJP-led central govt and the recent Murugan devotees' conference, naming a Hindu Munnani member in the process. This triggered objections from BJP and Hindu Munnani members who were nearby. The verbal confrontation escalated into a physical scuffle. Kumar and Hindu Munnani functionary Vinoth sustained injuries and were taken to Dindigul Government Medical College Hospital for treatment. As supporters from both parties gathered outside the hospital in Dindigul, tensions rose again with slogan shouting and attempts at a road blockade by CPM cadres. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mensualités: Bonne nouvelle pour les propriétaires étouffés par les crédits Bons plans propriétaires En savoir plus Undo During the second round of clashes near the hospital on Friday evening, BJP's Dindigul east district vice-president Bala Murugan suffered a head injury and was hospitalised. Police dispersed the crowd and detained Kumar and other CPM members, along with two BJP and Hindu Munnani supporters. Security was tightened in Dindigul due to the incident. In a statement issued late Friday, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam condemned the attack, alleging that BJP and Hindu Munnani members carried out a "murderous assault" on their cadres. "While Sarath Kumar, Shanmugavel, and Bakkiyam were peacefully campaigning, BJP and Hindu Munnani members attempted to silence dissent through violence. Even at the hospital, disabled comrade Jayanthi and others, including Ponmathi, Perumal, and Vishnuvardhan, were brutally attacked," he said. Shanmugam demanded that the Tamil Nadu govt take immediate action against the perpetrators and urged the police to register cases and ensure accountability. "This is not just an attack on our party but on democratic expression itself," he added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Centre continuously hindering TN development: CPM
Madurai: A 'Nadaipayanam Pracharam' (walk campaign) was taken out in Madurai by CPM cadres on Wednesday and Thursday condemning the 'anti-people' policies of the BJP-led Union govt. The party said that Tamil Nadu's development through projects and schemes were being hindered at every step. The campaign was conducted by CPM cadres at 10 places on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. In his inaugural address on Wednesday, MP Su Venkatesan charged the central govt and BJP with deliberately stalling several developmental projects, either temporarily or indefinitely. "Since Tamil Nadu is a progressive and secular state and their efforts to disrupt communal and religious harmony are not working, BJP is targeting developmental projects of Tamil Nadu, by shifting new ones or stalling existing projects. The Madurai AIIMS project, even after six years, is now only 25% complete. But, even for one brick, we fought tooth and nail," he said. The MP said several railway projects like the Madurai-Thoothukudi new line via Aruppukottai were stalled for years. "BJP is clearly rejecting Tamil culture and history through rejecting the Keeladi findings. They are also rejecting Tamil Nadu's development and neglecting its welfare. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo In Madurai alone, Rs160 crore was denied to workers by not releasing MGNREGA funds," he said. The central govt is betraying Tamil Nadu by only giving back Rs0.29 in return for paying a tax of Rs1, while states like Bihar are getting even Rs7 in return. During their walk campaign, CPM cadres highlighted various local issues, such as the need for infrastructure development in Madurai, speeding up work for establishing metro rail, need for establishing heavy industries in the region, and the establishment of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Madurai.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Like a lover to an ex: VD Satheesan hits out at CPM's BJP ‘outreach', calls it 'romantic reminder' of Left's past alliances
V D Satheesan attacked M V Govindan's statement. He reminded everyone of CPM's past ties with RSS and BJP. Satheesan mentioned CPM's alliance with Jan Sangh in 1967. He highlighted a photo of EMS Namboodiripad with BJP leaders. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V D Satheesan on Wednesday mocked CPM state secretary M V Govindan's statement, calling it a "romantic reminder" of the Left's past alliances with RSS and BJP . He said CPM hasn't just partnered with Janata Party in the past, but it has also cozied up to Jan Sangh and BJP. Satheesan said while CPM claims it only collaborated during the Emergency and with Janata Party, it allied with Jan Sangh in 1967. Former general secretary P Sundarayya even resigned in 1975 warning against RSS ties, though his letter emerged posthumously. BJP was formed in 1980 and there is a 1989 photo showing EMS Namboodiripad and Jyoti Basu alongside AB Vajpayee, LK Advani, and VP Singh. CPM even cited a CAG report by Hindutva supporter TN Chaturvedi to justify ties-ironic, given how it now dismisses CAG findings in Kerala, Satheesan said. He said CPM ideologue Mohit Sen warned in 1989 that aligning with communal forces would doom the Left. "They'll clasp hands with any devil to defeat Congress," Satheesan said, adding that CM Pinarayi Vijayan himself admitted to securing RSS votes. He mocked CPM's vote-seeking tactics ahead of the Nilambur bypoll, comparing them to a "lover pleading to an ex." "During LS polls, it was minority appeasement; now it's majority appeasement," he said, alleging that CPM's PR machinery has been pushing Sangh-style narratives in Malappuram. Even Gadkari's road failures draw no criticism. Satheesan criticized Vijayan's silence on "RSS influence" in the Raj Bhavan and called his meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman-where no state finances were discussed-just a "puttu and kadala" chat. "With CPM, everyone's secular; with us, they turn communal," he quipped, noting how Welfare Party's past UDF support is ignored while CPM stokes Islamophobia. KPCC president Sunny Joseph said Govindan had "inadvertently spoken the truth" CPM long hid.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Nilambur sets tone for future polls; emotional topics trump real issues
MALAPPURAM: UDF is pinning hopes on the possible consolidation of anti-CPM Muslim votes that are likely to be divided among Aryadan Shoukath, P V Anvar, who is fighting as independent, and SDPI candidate Sadiq Naduthodi. There is fear in the UDF camp that the votes against the 'anti-people policies' of the LDF government may be divided among these candidates as all of them raised similar issues against the CPM in the campaign. Jama'at had intensified the campaign with added vigour as the stake is high for the organisation. More than anything else, the CPM raised the issue of Welfare Party's support to the UDF as the main component of the campaign. The UDF believes that the CPM has ulterior motive of garnering the Hindu votes behind singling out the Jama'at, sidelining all other issues including the performance of the government and the development of the constituency. CPM state secretary M V Govindan's controversial remarks on the RSS became an unexpected tool for the UDF to buttress the argument. Welfare Party state president Razal Paleri said it is imperative to defeat the RSS-CPM coalition in Nilambur. 'The stand taken by the BJP in the initial stages of the election had raised suspicions. Now it is clear as to why the party fielded a weak candidate,' he said in a press release. In an article published in the Madhyamam daily on Wednesday, Jama'at leader O Abdurrahman said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM leaders tried to add spice to the campaign by bringing his organisation into the centre of discussions. 'Even before the Welfare Party declared support to the UDF, CPM state secretary M V Govindan and politburo member A Vijayaraghavan competed with each other to keep anti-Jama'at sentiments burning,' he said. There are also efforts from the UDF to utilise the anti-CPM sentiments raging in organisations that are traditionally loyal to the CPM. Facebook posts of Muhammadali Kinalur, former leader of the Kanthapuram group's Sunni Yuvajana Sangham, were used to put the CPM in trouble. Kinalur, however, clarified that his posts are his personal opinions and not that of any organisation.
