Ernakulam, Jun 14 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan speaks to the media on the victims who lost their lives in the Kuwait fire incident, at the Cochin International Airport, in Ernakulam on Friday. (ANI Photo)
The order by the Kerala government dated July 15, stated that the secretary (labour and skills) K Vasuki “will hold the additional charge of the matters connected with external cooperation.”…reports Asian Lite News
Reacting to Kerala government appointing a Secretary for External Cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs said that foreign affairs are the “sole prerogative” of the Union Government and not concurrent or state subject, adding that the state governments should not intrude into matters that are beyond their constitutional jurisdiction.
This comes after Kerala government ‘appointed’ senior IAS officer, K Vasuki, as a secretary in charge of “matters concerning external cooperation”.
“The Constitution of India, under the 7th Schedule list 1–Union list, item 10, clearly specifies that foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country, are the sole prerogative of the Union Government,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in the weekly press briefing on Thursday.
“Foreign affairs is not a concurrent subject and definitely not a state subject. Our position is that State governments should not intrude into matters that are beyond their constitutional jurisdiction,” he added.
The order by the Kerala government dated July 15, stated that the secretary (labour and skills) K Vasuki “will hold the additional charge of the matters connected with external cooperation.”
It also mentioned that the Resident Commissioner at Kerala House in the national capital will be supporting Vasuki in matters concerning external cooperation and will liaise with the Ministry of External Affairs, Missions, and Embassies.
This announcement attracted strong criticism from the Centre as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party.
BJP State President K Surendran slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government, saying that it is a “blatant overreach” and a violation of the Union List of the Constitution.
“The appointment of an IAS officer as ‘Foreign Secretary’ in Kerala by CM Pinarayi Vijayan is a blatant overreach and a violation of the Union list of our Constitution. The LDF government has no mandate for foreign affairs. This unconstitutional move sets a dangerous precedent. Is CM Pinarayi Vijayan trying to establish Kerala as a separate nation?” Surendran said on X.
Reacting to the criticism, Kerala Chief Secretary, Dr V Venu, clarified, saying the appointment was part of an effort to establish new relations for the development of the state. He further said the move was not meant to engage in diplomatic relations, which was under the central government’s jurisdiction.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also reacted to the appointment and said that there was nothing unusual and that the appointment of the young officer was a focal point of responsibility within the government. (ANI)
Ernakulam, Jun 14 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan speaks to the media on the victims who lost their lives in the Kuwait fire incident, at the Cochin International Airport, in Ernakulam on Friday. (ANI Photo)
Vijayan said that due to the centre’s indifference on matters including borrowing limit restrictions, the states are struggling to ensure allocations for development activities in crucial sectors…reports Asian Lite News
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday accused the Centre of neglecting Kerala and said that the budget presented in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman displayed a discriminatory attitude towards the states.
Vijayan added that while putting forth the preface of 8 goals of national importance, the finance minister has failed to honour the concerns of most states, including Kerala.
He stated that though it is not intended here to oppose any packages announced for any state in the budget, it is pertinent to mention that the complete neglect of any state is also unacceptable.
“Such an attitude by the centre is detrimental to the progress of states like Kerala. Refusal to consider the longstanding demands raised by Kerala echoes total disrespect to the people of the state,” said the Kerala CM.
Hence, a concerted effort will be made to reiterate Kerala’s demands before the centre, once the budget proposals are studied in detail, he added.
The Kerala CM also said that it is deplorable to note that only those proclamations, that sound indispensable for the political survival of the central government have found their place in the budget.
“So far as Kerala is concerned, the long-term demand for AIIMS has not been mentioned. The state’s concerns about disaster relief and prospects in the tourism sector have been discarded. Such neglect is disheartening and objectionable,” he added.
Vijayan said that due to the centre’s indifference on matters including borrowing limit restrictions, the states are struggling to ensure allocations for development activities in crucial sectors.
“Some of the budget pronouncements related to agriculture infringe on the prerogatives of the states. What was imperative here was to ensure the fiscal empowerment of the states. How can agricultural development be achieved without that empowerment?” he added.
The Kerala CM said that the centre is encroaching on the state’s tax powers while announcing projects in sectors such as urban development.
“It is a matter of fact that the states have to bear partial costs when centrally funded schemes are announced in the budget. It is seen in the budget that the centre is encroaching on the state’s tax powers while announcing projects in sectors such as urban development. The dictum to states to reduce stamp duty is given in the budget speech this time! After the introduction of GST, the states have very limited exclusive tax resources. Now, the centre is biding further invasion into the states’ tax resources by imposing conditions through centrally sponsored projects. This is in contrast to the federal principles enshrined in our Constitution,” he said.
“Significant cuts in important central projects have been announced in the budget. In the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Rs 272,802 crore was allocated in 2022-23, but this time, it came only to Rs 2,05,220 crore. In 2002-23, Rs 12,681 crore was allocated under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Abhiyan. It has now been reduced to Rs 12,467 crore. In 2022-23, Rs 90,806 crore was allocated for the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Scheme, but only Rs 86,000 crore has been allocated this time. These figures indicate an apathetic approach to projects affecting the common people,” he added.
Vijayan further added that the budget ignored the needs of the majority of the states by announcing projects that help ensure the political survival of the central government.
“By announcing only those projects that help ensure the political survival of the central government, the budget ignores the needs of the majority of the states. Such an approach is strongly condemned. Therefore, it is appealing to all that a consensus, regardless of party politics, to stand up against this neglect should be evolved, within Kerala,” the Kerala CM said.
Nirmala Sitharaman presented her record seventh consecutive Union Budget 2024-25 on Tuesday during the Budget Session of Parliament. She makes history as the first finance minister to present seven consecutive budget speeches, surpassing former Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s record of six consecutive budgets as finance minister between 1959 and 1964.
FM Sitharaman, in her seventh consecutive Union Budget for 2024-25, outlined key priorities aimed at fostering economic growth and creating ample opportunities. The priorities include productivity and resilience in agriculture, employment, and skilling and services. (ANI)
The central government has advised immediate public health measures to be taken by the state government as a 14-year-old succumbs to the deadly disease….reports Asian Lite News
The 14-year-old boy who was tested positive for Nipah virus at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital succumbed to the disease on Sunday afternoon, Health Minister Veena George stated.
“A case of Nipah virus has been detected in Mallapuram district of Kerala. A 14-year-old boy from Mallapuram exhibited AES symptoms and was admitted to a healthcare facility in Perinthalmanna before being transferred to a higher health center in Kozhikode. However, the patient later succumbed to the disease. The samples were sent to NIV, Pune which has confirmed a Nipah virus infection,” Govt of India said in a press release.
The Centre has advised immediate public health measures to be taken by the state government, such as active case search in the family of the confirmed case, the neighbourhood, and areas with similar topography. The centre has also advised active contact tracing (for any contacts) during the past 12 days, strict quarantine of the contacts in the case, isolation of any suspects, and collection and transportation of samples for lab testing.
A multi-member joint outbreak response team from the National ‘One Health Mission’ of Union Health Ministry will be deployed to support the State in investigating the case, identifying epidemiological linkages, and providing technical assistance.
Additionally, at the State’s request, ICMR had sent monoclonal antibodies for patient management, and a mobile BSL-3 laboratory for testing additional samples from contacts has arrived in Kozhikode. The monoclonal antibodies had reached before the patient died but could not be used due to his poor general condition.
It is important to note that outbreaks of Nipah Virus Disease (NiVD) have been reported in Kerala in the past, with the most recent one occurring in 2023 in the Kozhikode district. Fruit bats are the usual reservoir of the virus, and humans can become infected by accidentally consuming bat-contaminated fruits, the press release stated.
330 people on contact list
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that seven samples were tested and all came negative, adding that as of now, there are 330 people on the contact list.
She also mentioned that 101 out of 330 are in the high-risk category.
“We tested seven samples today and all are negative. As per today’s assessment, there are 330 people on the contact list. 68 of them are health workers, 101 are in the high-risk category and 7 are in IP admission. Out of this, 6 were in direct contact with the deceased child. One of them doesn’t have an epidemiological link but we tested the sample since the person was showing symptoms and was from the nearby area. But that sample is also negative,” she said.
“The Health Department is continuing this work of testing the samples of those in the contact list. In the Paandikad panchayat (epidemiologic centre) we checked 307 houses. There are 18 fever cases. It’s monsoon season so fever is common. None of these were in contact with the boy. In Aanakkayam panchayat, 310 houses were visited. 10 fever cases were reported. None of them have an epidemiological link,” George added. (ANI)
Kerala can deal with Nipah effectively, says Tharoor
Amritsar: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and Gurjeet Singh Aujla, candidate from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat address a press conference ahead of Lok Sabha elections, in Amritsar, Sunday, May 26, 2024.(Photo: IANS/Pawan Sharma)
Reacting to the recent outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala, Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Sunday that the state had become an “incubator” of many viruses, but he was confident Kerala could effectively deal with the infection.
“Kerala has dealt with these viruses before. We seem to sadly be an incubator of many viruses. Right now, there’s Nipah, there’s H1N1…various other things being talked about, and people are worried about it, particularly in a state which is so advanced, where the health system is considered the best in India,” Tharoor said while speaking to ANI on Sunday morning.
“It seems, on one hand, ironic that the prevalence of these illnesses is so widespread. On the other hand, we also have confidence that if any state can deal with this effectively, it is Kerala,” he added.
“There is nothing to do with politics; it is essentially about building up a credible public health infrastructure, anchored in the communities and with the public’s full involvement and participation. This was in evidence during COVID and was widely recognized around the world. I hope that Kerala will also be able to handle Nipah and these viruses without too much of setbacks,” Tharoor further said.
The Congress leader also prayed for the recovery of a 14-year-old boy who tested positive for the infection on Saturday. (ANI)
New Delhi: CPI(M) MP John Brittas speaks in Rajya Sabha on the second part of Budget Session of Parliament in New Delhi on Monday, March 21, 2022. (Photo: Rajya Sabha/IANS)
The Upper House MP from Kerala further stated, “During the 2000s, we witnessed the formation of the Salem Division from Palakkad, which itself was a blow to the State’s railway infrastructure…reports Asian Lite News
John Brittas, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP, has written a letter to Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, expressing concerns over the reported plans to bifurcate the Palakkad Railway Division to create a new Mangalore Division.
In his letter, John Brittas stated, “I write to you today to express my profound concern and to seek your urgent intervention regarding the reported plans to bifurcate the existing Palakkad Division to create a new Mangalore Division. This proposed decision, if implemented, would not only disrupt the efficient functioning of the Palakkad Division but also further marginalize the State of Kerala, which has long been subjected to neglect in terms of railway development and resource allocation.”
“The Palakkad Division has consistently outperformed many others in terms of passenger traffic and revenue generation, standing as a testament to its strategic significance and operational efficiency. The proposal to carve out a new Mangalore Division from the existing Palakkad Division appears to be part of a larger conspiracy against Kerala, a move that is neither justified by economic rationale nor administrative necessity. It is perplexing to observe that such a move, if true, directly contradicts the detailed press statement issued by Southern Railway in May 2024, which categorically stated that there were no plans, discussions, or proposals regarding the closure of the Palakkad Division or the establishment of any new divisions,” he added.
The Upper House MP from Kerala further stated, “During the 2000s, we witnessed the formation of the Salem Division from Palakkad, which itself was a blow to the State’s railway infrastructure. The current move, reportedly under the guise of administrative restructuring, threatens to further diminish the capabilities of the Palakkad Division, undermining the progress and convenience it has provided to millions of passengers and businesses.”
“Kerala has consistently been at the receiving end of railway neglect. Critical projects and demands, including the introduction of new third and fourth tracks, the allotment of new trains, including new Vande Bharat Expresses, and the much-needed approval for the SilverLine project, have all been met with undue delays or outright neglect. Additionally, Kerala’s enduring demand for a dedicated railway zone remains unfulfilled, further marginalizing the State in the national railway landscape. The long-promised rail coach factory in Kanjikode, once heralded as a significant development, was also systematically denied, exacerbating the sense of neglect and discrimination. The State’s railway infrastructure lags behind despite its substantial contribution to the national railway revenue, a disparity that calls for urgent redressal rather than further division,” he added.
The CPI(M) MP further emphasized, “The people of Kerala have always extended their wholehearted support to the Indian Railways, yet their legitimate aspirations and needs have been overlooked. The proposed division would not only be a logistical and operational setback but also a severe blow to the morale and trust of the people of Kerala in the national railway system.”
“In light of these concerns, I earnestly urge your good self to give urgent directions to the authorities concerned to reconsider and desist from the so-called plan to create a new Mangalore Division by bifurcating the Palakkad Division. Instead, I appeal to your esteemed office to focus on addressing the long-standing developmental needs of Kerala’s railway infrastructure,” he concluded. (ANI)
It’s been an 18-year wait for the mother, whose prayers have been finally answered….reports Asian Lite News
It’s an unprecedented state of excitement at the house of elderly Fatima in Kerala’s Kozhikode, whose son, Abdul Rahim, a death row convict in Saudi Arabia, is set to return home after securing a pardon.
It’s been an 18-year wait for the mother, whose prayers have been finally answered.
The return was made possible through a massive fund collection drive for Rs 34 crore which was given as blood money on the orders of a Saudi Arabian court. The court had ruled that in case the money was not given Rahim would be executed.
The money was handed over in April. The court yielded after the Saudi family accepted the money which enabled the legal proceedings for his release.
Rahim’s mother cannot hide her excitement, and on Friday she said she wants to see her son as soon as possible.
“Even though he calls me, that’s not enough, I just cannot wait any longer to see my son and wish he come at the earliest,” said Fatima.
Rahim’s nephew is also excited and said that the Saudi Arabian court has asked Rahim’s lawyer to be present on Sunday.
“The lawyer has told us, that on Sunday we will know when Rahim will be finally released. And once released, he will be put on a flight back home, for which the entire village is waiting,” said the nephew.
“After the orders of his release came, every minute now seems like hours,” added the nephew.
An auto driver here, Rahim was drawn to the Gulf to make more money. He reached Saudi Arabia in 2006 and got a job as a personal driver-cum-caretaker of a 15-year-old physically challenged boy, who also had a medical ailment where he breathed through an external device connected to his body.
The boy, according to Rahim, misbehaved with him one day while he was driving. As he was trying to quieten him, his hand accidentally touched the external medical device which got disconnected and the boy died.
A court in Saudi Arabia sentenced him for murder and the appeal court upheld this verdict in 2022. The decision was later confirmed by the country’s Supreme Court.
Then following numerous discussions with the Saudi family, they settled for blood money and the doors for Rahim’s freedom were finally opened.
The giant ship was given the traditional water salute, following which she berthed successfully. With the arrival of the first mother ship, Adani Group’s Vizhinjam Port has catapulted India into the world port business as globally this port will rank 6th or 7th…reports Asian Lite News
Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (APSEZ), on Friday, arrived at the inauguration of Adani Group’s Vizhinjam Port, the country’s first trans-shipment port near Kovalam Beach in Kerala.]
Adani was received by top officials of his company and was taken around the venue. Friday marks the official completion of the first phase of the port, which has a 3,000-metre breakwater and 800-metre container berth ready. On Thursday, ‘San Fernando’, a vessel of the world’s second-largest shipping company Maersk, arrived at the port country with over 2,000 containers on it. Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, had called it a “historic day” for Vizhinjam Port which received its first mothership. “This milestone marks India’s entry into global trans-shipment and ushers in a new era in India’s maritime logistics, positioning Vizhinjam as a key player in global trade routes,” the Adani Group Chairman posted on X social media platform on Thursday.
The giant ship was given the traditional water salute, following which she berthed successfully. With the arrival of the first mother ship, Adani Group’s Vizhinjam Port has catapulted India into the world port business as globally this port will rank 6th or 7th. The official function was set to begin with the arrival of the chief guests — Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. In an X post, CM Vijayan said: “This event signifies a monumental moment in Kerala’s maritime history… Vizhinjam Port will create over 5,000 direct job opportunities and significantly boost the industry, commerce, transportation, and tourism sectors”. The port is the first semi-automated container terminal in the country and will also be a global bunkering hub, supplying clean and green fuels like hydrogen and ammonia. Full-fledged commercial operations in the port are slated to begin in a few months. The second and third phase of the project is planned to be completed in 2028 and will be one of the greenest ports in the world. The port is also strategically located as it is just 10 nautical miles from the International Shipping Route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Far East.
Rajesh described Kozhikode as a city with a soul, characterised by humanity, harmony…reports Asian Lite News
Kozhikode in north Kerala, known for its rich cultural heritage, was on Sunday officially declared as India’s first UNESCO ‘City of Literature’.
In October 2023, Kozhikode had earned a place in the ‘Literature’ category of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). State Local Self Government Department (LSGD) Minister, M B Rajesh, on Sunday in an official event here announced the achievement of Kozhikode which earned the place in the ‘Literature’ category of the UCCN.
Rajesh described Kozhikode as a city with a soul, characterised by humanity, harmony, a strong sense of justice and freedom of expression. “These core values have given birth to the vibrant art of Kozhikode,” Rajesh said.
The minister said the efficient functioning of the Kozhikode city corporation played a major role in bagging the ‘City of Literature’ tag from UNESCO after beating cities with rich cultural history like Kolkata. The state government also announced that from coming year, June 23 will be celebrated as the ‘City of Literature’ Day of Kozhikode, a place known for literary greats like late S K Pottakkad and Vaikom Muhammed Basheer.
On this day, special awards will be announced in six categories, a statement issued by the LSGD said. As part of the event, Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas unveiled the logo of the ‘City of Literature’ by UNESCO.
Rajesh visited the house of Jnanpith awardee M T Vasudevan Nair and handed over the Diamond Jubilee award instituted by the Kozhikode city corporation. Known as the city of Zamorins once, Kozhikode, also known as Calicut during British rule, served as the gateway to the coast for many foreigners, such as Persians, Arabs, Chinese, and eventually Europeans, centuries ago.
The cradle of the freedom movement in Kerala, Kozhikode has also been an important destination for book festivals for many decades. Kozhikode is a city where there are over 500 libraries functioning, and has been the base of literary activities of legendary Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair for several decades.
Gwalior and Kozhikode from India are among the 55 new cities which have joined the UCCN. The new list was published on its website on the World Cities Day, which falls on October 31. These new cities were acknowledged for “their strong commitment to harnessing culture and creativity as part of their development strategies and displaying innovative practices in human-centred urban planning”, the UN agency had said in a statement.
While Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh made it to the coveted list in the ‘Music’ category, Kozhikode earned the place in the ‘Literature’ category. These cities join the list of places which received tags from the UNESCO including Bukhara – Crafts and Folk Art, Casablanca – Media Arts, Chongqing – Design, Kathmandu – Film, Rio de Janeiro – Literature, and Ulaanbaatar – Crafts and Folk Art.
With the latest additions, the UCCN now counts 350 cities in more than a hundred countries, representing seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music. The newly designated Creative Cities are invited to participate in the 2024 UCCN Annual Conference (July 1-5, 2024) in Braga, Portugal, under the theme ‘Bringing Youth to the Table for the Next Decade’, UNESCO had said in a statement.
In a statement CM Vijayan said that the Supreme Court on Tuesday sent a notice to the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA)…reports Asian Lite News
Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Tuesday asked the Centre to announce a comprehensive probe into the manner in which the NEET qualifying examination for the year was conducted.
In a statement CM Vijayan said that the Supreme Court on Tuesday sent a notice to the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA).
“It’s alarming to note that the Centre has done nothing about the manner in which serious flaws in the conduct of the test were reported. The credibility of the process of conducting the qualifying test has been questioned,” said CM Vijayan.
“It’s pertinent to note that when the state government conducted this qualifying examination, things were done in a perfect manner.
“This was changed by the Centre and now despite numerous reports of flaws in the conduct of the NEET exam, till date neither the Centre nor the testing agency has said a word about what has happened.
“Hence we demand that the Centre break its silence and address the fears and concerns of the students and their parents by announcing a comprehensive probe into the goof-up.”
For long years, Priyanka had preferred to stay away from the limelight while taking care of the family strongholds of Amethi and Raebareli…reports Asian Lite News
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will make her electoral debut from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, a decision that marks a significant stride for the leader who was appointed Congress general secretary in 2019.
Priyanka Gandhi will make her debut in a Lok Sabha bypoll with her brother Rahul Gandhi deciding to retain the Rae Bareli seat in Uttar Pradesh of the two he contested and won.
Party president Mallikarjun Kharge announced that Priyanka Gandhi will contest from Wayanad at a special press conference on Monday.
Rahul Gandhi, who contested from two seats — Rae Bareli and Wayanad, won from both the constituencies.
For long years, Priyanka had preferred to stay away from the limelight while taking care of the family strongholds of Amethi and Raebareli, represented by Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi respectively.
Since entering active politics, Priyanka Gandhi has canvassed for the party in different parts of the country. There had been speculation from time to time that the party may send Priyanka Gandhi to Rajya Sabha but she has decided to contest a Lok Sabha bypoll for her Parliament debut.
If Priyanka Gandhi wins from Wayanad, three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family will be in Parliament – Sonia Gandhi in Rajya Sabha and Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.
Though Priyanka Gandhi’s efforts in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in 2022 did not yield the party desired results, she has been a popular campaigner for the party. Priyanka Gandhi campaigned extensively in this year’s Lok Sabha polls. Congress put up a far better performance compared to its 2014 and 2019 tally and won 99 Lok Sabha seats.
In her election speeches, Priyanka Gandhi has sought to raise the issues concerning common man, specially those pertaining to women.
Priyanka Gandhi said on Monday that he will contest bypoll from Wayanad but her decades-old association with Amethi and Raebareli will continue.
“I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad and I will not let them feel his (Rahul Gandhi’s) absence. I will work hard and I will try my best to make everyone happy and be a good representative. I have a very old relationship with Raebareli and Amethi and it cannot be broken. I will also help my brother in Rae Bareli. We will both be present in Rae Bareli and Wayanad,” Priyanka Gandhi said at the special press conference in the presence of Kharge and her brother Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi said both Raebareli and Wayanad will get two MPs.
“I have an emotional connection with both Wayanad and Rae Bareli. And for the last five years, being an MP from Wayanad has been a fantastic experience and enjoyable experience. I thanks people who stood with me, I thank the people of Wayanad who gave me love and affection. They gave me the energy to fight in a very difficult time. So I will never forget that. I want everyone in Wayanad to know that Priyanka is going to fight elections in Wayanad but I will be a frequent visitor to Wayanad and I will be available to the people of Wayanad and the commitments we have made will stand up to them and will to deliver all those commitments. I have an old relationship with Rae Bareli, I am happy that I will get to represent them again but it was a tough decision,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“Priyanka Gandhi is going to fight the elections and I am confident that she is going to win the elections. The people of Wayanad can think that they have two members of the Parliament, one is my sister and the other is me. My doors are always open for the people of Wayanad, I love every single person in Wayanad,” he added.
The decision came after top party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, general secretaries KC Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi held a meeting at the residence of Congress Kharge.
Congress is keen that Rahul Gandhi take the role of Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and some discussion is learnt to have taken place in the presence of Kharge.
The Congress fought the Lok Sabha polls as part of India bloc and the parties are expected to coordinate their strategy in Parliament. (ANI)
‘I have an emotional connect with Wayanad’
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that he has an “emotional connection” with both Wayanad and Rae Bareli seats and that leaving Wayanad is a “tough decision.”
Rahul Gandhi will keep his Rae Bareli seat while his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest from Wayanad, the party announced on Monday.
“I have an emotional connection with both Wayanad and Rae Bareli. And for the last five years, being an MP from Wayanad has been a fantastic experience and enjoyable experience. I thanks people who stood with me, I thank the people of Wayanad who gave me love and affection. They gave me the energy to fight in a very difficult time. So I will never forget that. I want everyone in Wayanad to know that Priyanka is going to fight elections in Wayanad but I will be a frequent visitor to Wayanad and I will be available to the people of Wayanad and the commitments we have made will stand up to them and will to deliver all those commitments. I have an old relationship with Rae Bareli, I am happy that I will get to represent them again but it was a tough decision,” Rahul Gandhi said.
He further said that he is confident that her sister Priyanka Gandhi would win the elections from Wayanad.
“Priyanka Gandhi is going to fight the elections and I am confident that she is going to win the elections. The people of Wayanad can think that they have two members of the Parliament, one is my sister and the other is me. My doors are always open for the people of Wayanad, I love every single person in Wayanad,” he added.
Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra vowed that she would not let Wayanad feel Rahul Gandhi’s absence.
“I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad and I will not let them feel his (Rahul Gandhi’s) absence. I will work hard and I will try my best to make everyone happy and be a good representative. I have a very old relationship with Raebareli and Amethi and it cannot be broken. I will also help my brother in Rae Bareli. We will both be present in Rae Bareli and Wayanad,” Vadra said.
In a daring bid to escape the flames, he made a split-second decision and jumped onto a nearby water tank.Though the leap to safety left him with broken ribs and injuries, Nalinakshan managed to survive the tragedy...reports Asian Lite News
The Kuwait fire tragedy that claimed the lives of at least 45 Indians, including 23 from Kerala and seven from Tamil Nadu, has left the two states reeling with grief as stories emerge of the affected families struggling to come to terms with their devastating loss.
Based on details shared by the Kuwaiti authorities, the Kerala government officially released the list of the deceased persons on Thursday evening.According to this list, there were also three victims from Andhra Pradesh and one from Karnataka.Earlier, an official from the Department of Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs (NORKA) unofficially said that, according to information provided by its help desk in Kuwait, 24 Malayalees had died in the fire.
Of these, 22 have been identified, he said, and added that 12 others from the state were seriously injured.Previously, quoting information provided by Tamil associations based abroad, Tamil Nadu Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Gingee K S Masthan had told reporters that five persons from the state were killed.Initially, the lack of confirmation from the government and the company where the victims worked had left families in a dilemma. However, they soon came to know about the deaths through officials, friends and family, as well as news reports.Heart-breaking stories of sorrow and shock began emerging from various parts of Kerala as people learned about the death of their loved ones.Among them were that of a father from Kerala identifying the remains of his son in Kuwait by the tattoo on his hand and a man dying before he could fulfill his desire to gift his daughter a phone in appreciation of her excellent plus two exam results.Pradeep, who hails from Kottayam and worked for the same company as his son Sreehari in Kuwait, identified the remains of his son by a tattoo on his hand.“I was called to a mortuary to identify my son’s remains. When I went there, I saw that the face was completely swollen and the nose was covered with soot.
I was unable to identify him. I just could not. Then I told them that he has a tattoo on his hand. Based on that, he was identified,” a sobbing Pradeep told a Malayalam news channel in Kuwait on Thursday.Lukose, a resident of Kollam in Kerala, had bought a mobile phone for his elder daughter, who had scored excellent marks in the plus two (class 12) board exams. He was planning to bring it next month when he intended to come home to arrange her admission in a nursing course in Bengaluru, a relative said.“Initially, his death was not confirmed. Then on Wednesday evening, the friends and church members went to the police to enquire and that is when they confirmed it,” the relative said.In Kottayam district’s Pampady area, grief struck a family living in a rented accommodation as 29-year-old Stephin Abraham Sabu lost his life in the tragedy.Akash S Nair (32), a resident of Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district, died while attempting to escape from the fire when he succumbed to the smoke, close family sources said.Amidst the tales of sorrow of grieving families an account of survival also emerged.It was about how a daring split-second decision by Nalinakshan, who was among those in the burning building, saved his life.The resident of Thrikkaripur in northern Kerala, found himself trapped in a third floor apartment in the building when disaster struck.
In a daring bid to escape the flames, he made a split-second decision and jumped onto a nearby water tank.Though the leap to safety left him with broken ribs and injuries, Nalinakshan managed to survive the tragedy.As those left behind to pick up the pieces of their suddenly devastated lives wondered how to move forward, the Kerala government held an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday to provide some succour to the affected families from the state.The cabinet meeting chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to provide Rs 5 lakh as financial assistance to the families in the state whose kin died in the fire, and Rs 1 lakh to the injured.It also decided to immediately send state Health Minister Veena George to Kuwait to coordinate efforts to provide treatment for the injured persons from the state and to ensure the earliest repatriation of the mortal remains of the deceased to Kerala.
Later in the evening, the Chief Minister’s Office issued a statement saying that Vijayan has directed officials to ensure that when the bodies of the deceased reach Kerala, they are taken to their homes in special ambulances from the airport.Talking to reporters, Minister George said, “We are informed that the bodies will be transported to Kochi. The CM has given all the instructions. Twenty five ambulances have been arranged here.”Earlier in the day, she met the families of victims in Pathanamthitta district.
At least 49 foreign workers were killed and 50 others injured in the fire on Wednesday at the seven-storey building where 196 migrant workers were staying in the southern Kuwait city of Mangaf.Most of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation, Kuwaiti media reported, adding that the fire started in a kitchen.Construction firm NBTC group rented the building for the stay of more than 195 workers, most of them Indians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the northern states, Kuwaiti media said.
