Latest news with #Constitutional
The Hindu
5 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
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala to include Governor's responsibilities, limitations in higher secondary syllabus amid govt-Raj Bhavan tussle
Kerala's General Education department will modify the higher secondary syllabus to include the Governor's role, responsibilities and limitations as the Constitutional Head of Provincial Governments. General Education Minister V. Sivankutty told reporters on Friday (June 20, 2025) that it was socially imperative that students learn about the democratic and Constitutional processes that inform the country's federal polity, including the official role of the Governor as the de jure head of State and the well-defined Constitutional curbs on the high office. Mr. Sivankutty said the younger generation should understand the executive power vested in the elected Chief Minister and Council of Ministers and their collective responsibility to the Legislative Assembly and the public. The move assumed legal and political relevance against the backdrop of protracted Kerala government-Raj Bhavan dispute over the Constitutional bounds of the Governor's office, including alleged intervention in the administration of State-funded varsities as Chancellor, 'refusing' assent to Bills passed by the Legislative Assembly inordinately, 'displaying' political symbols at State events and 'delaying' key Bills by reserving them for the President's assent. Moreover, the LDF had repeatedly accused Raj Bhavan of providing a bully pulpit for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) political messaging. Notably, Rajendra Arlekar's assumption of the Governor's office in January had signalled a thaw in the earlier government-Raj Bhavan relations, often characterised by publicly acrimonious and muckraking confrontations with his predecessor, Arif Mohammed Khan. Nevertheless, Mr. Khan's refusal to sign the Bill seeking the removal of the Governor as Chancellor of State Universities, Raj Bhavan's opposition to the Kerala Lok Ayukta Amendment (Bill), which empowered the executive to accept or reject the ombudsman's findings, and the former Governor's decision to reserve some key Bills for the President's consideration remain serious bones of contention between the political executive and the Constitutional office. Following his swearing-in, Mr. Arlekar held out an olive branch to the government by promising to lobby the Centre for Kerala's development, calling on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the latter's birthday, and co-hosting an 'informal breakfast meeting' with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi. Mr. Arlekar's varied tack appeared to broadcast a detente and incremental normalisation of relations. However, a coldness of manner crept has into the government-Raj Bhavan ties, with Left student organisations protesting against Mr. Arlekar's nominations to varsity senates, accusing him of continuing Mr. Khan's alleged bid to saffronise State varsities. The chill seemed to reach a high point, with two Ministers walking out of Raj Bhavan recently to protest against the use of a saffron flag bearing Bharat Mata's image, allegedly an RSS emblem, at State functions. An apparently unrelenting Raj Bhavan dug its heels in, refused to remove the controversial image from the central hall, and termed Minister Sivankutty's boycott a protocol violation and insult.
India Gazette
10 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Double-engine govt in Bihar has all but given up on proposed 65 per cent reservation": Congress' Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi [India], June 20 (ANI): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Friday alleged that the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in the state has almost 'given up' on the proposed 65 per cent reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). Ramesh, who is the Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications in a post on X, said he proposed three ways out that will make the 65 Per cent reservations in government jobs and educational institutions a reality. 'The PM is in Bihar today. On the basis of the caste survey conducted by the erstwhile INDIA bloc Government in Bihar, the Bihar Government had proposed 65% reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This is under challenge in the Courts. The double-engine Govt in Bihar has all but given up,' he said on X. The Rajya Sabha MP in his first step asked to make the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution and amend the Constitution to overcome the 50 per cent ceiling for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. 'But there are three ways out that the INC has been demanding for long that will make the 65% reservations a reality. 1. Make the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. This was done by the Narasimha Rao government in 1994 for protecting 69% reservations in Tamil Nadu. 2. Amend the Constitution to overcome the 50% ceiling for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This ceiling has only been imposed because of various Supreme Court judgements over the past six decades,' the Congress Rajya Sabha MP said. He further proposed to implement Article 15(5), which enables reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions also. 'Article 15(5) enables reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs in PRIVATE educational institutions also. This has been unimplemented in the past 11 years after the Supreme Court upheld the Constitutional amendment that was introduced by Dr Mannohan Singh's government in 2006. Most definitely the INC will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the Monsoon session of Parliament that begins on July 21, 2025,' he added. This comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar, where he will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects at Siwan. Assembly polls in the state are due in October this year. After the government decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming decadal census, Congress has ramped up its demand for the immediate implementation of the legislation, alongside Article 15(5) to extend reservation to OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions. (ANI)
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Will take up demand for removal of 50% cap on quota during Monsoon session: Congress
The Congress on Friday (June 20, 2025) reiterated its demand of making the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, amending the Constitution to overcome the 50%ceiling for reservations and implementing Article 15(5) which enables reservations for SCs, STs, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said most definitely the party will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament. "The PM is in Bihar today. On the basis of the caste survey conducted by the erstwhile INDIA bloc Government in Bihar, the Bihar Government had proposed 65% reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This is under challenge in the Courts," Mr. Ramesh said on X. The double engine government in Bihar has all but given up, he said. But there are three ways out that the Congress has been demanding for long, that will make the 65% eservations a reality, he said. Mr. Ramesh called for making the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. This was done by the Narasimha Rao government in 1994 for protecting 69% reservations in Tamil Nadu, he said. He also called for amending the Constitution to overcome the 50% ceiling for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This ceiling has only been imposed because of various Supreme Court judgments over the past six decades, Mr. Ramesh said. "Article 15(5) enables reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions also. This has been unimplemented in the past 11 years after the Supreme Court had upheld the Constitutional amendment that was introduced by Dr. Mannohan Singh's government in 2006," he said. Most definitely the Congress will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the Monsoon session of Parliament that begins on July 21, 2025, Mr. Ramesh said.
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Business Standard
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Will demand for removal of 50% cap on quota during Monsoon session: Cong
The Congress on Friday reiterated its demand of making the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, amending the Constitution to overcome the 50% ceiling for reservations and implementing Article 15(5) which enables reservations for SCs, STs, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said most definitely the party will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament. "The PM is in Bihar today. On the basis of the caste survey conducted by the erstwhile INDIA bloc Government in Bihar, the Bihar Government had proposed 65% reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This is under challenge in the Courts," Ramesh said on X. The double engine government in Bihar has all but given up, he said. But there are three ways out that the Congress has been demanding for long, that will make the 65% reservations a reality, he said. Ramesh called for making the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. This was done by the Narasimha Rao government in 1994 for protecting 69% reservations in Tamil Nadu, he said. He also called for amending the Constitution to overcome the 50 % ceiling for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This ceiling has only been imposed because of various Supreme Court judgments over the past six decades, Ramesh said. "Article 15(5) enables reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions also. This has been unimplemented in the past 11 years after the Supreme Court had upheld the Constitutional amendment that was introduced by Dr. Mannohan Singh's government in 2006," he said. Most definitely the Congress will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the Monsoon session of Parliament that begins on July 21, 2025, Ramesh said. His remarks came ahead of Prime Minister Modi's three-state visit for two days from Friday, a tour that will include the launch of multiple development projects in Bihar and Odisha and his participating in a mass yoga programme on the International Day of Yoga. Modi will be in Siwan in Bihar and Bhubaneswar in Odisha on Friday and will also address public meetings, an official statement said. In Siwan, he will inaugurate the new Vaishali-Deoria railway line project worth more than Rs 400 crore and flag off a new train service on the route. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
