CPI demands disbanding of NTA, reforms in wildlife law
A resolution passed at the four-day conference being held at Irinjalakuda condemned repeated irregularities and alleged large-scale corruption in exams conducted by the NTA, claiming that the agency operates with no transparency or accountability.
The CPI alleged that the NTA had become a breeding ground for question paper leaks and mafia gangs, transforming examination malpractice into a billion-rupee racket. Students who studied day and night for these tests were being thrown into despair, with cases of student suicides reported.
The party, in a resolution, called for decentralising exam responsibilities and restoring the authority of UGC and universities to ensure transparency and fairness.
The conference also raised strong opposition to the Central government's increasing interference in Kerala's cooperative sector, which has long been considered a model for the country. The CPI criticised the move to permit multi-State cooperative societies to establish branches across Kerala without the consent of the State.
These societies operated without regulation or oversight, creating ambiguity around their financial dealings. Their unchecked expansion posed a threat to the functioning of traditional cooperative credit societies in the State. The CPI resolution also accused the Centre of using investigative agencies to destabilise democratic practices within State-run cooperative societies.
The CPI called upon the State government to enact a comprehensive law to prevent superstition and exploitative rituals. It also demanded urgent amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 in light of increasing human-wildlife conflicts in Kerala.
According to CPI, Kerala — due to its extensive forest cover and population density — witnessed rising incidents of wildlife attacks, resulting in over 40 human deaths annually. The party blamed the rigid provisions of the Central law for obstructing efforts to protect human lives and property.
While the Centre relaxed norms for industrial use of protected forests in favour of corporates, it refused to amend the same law for the protection of forest-dwelling communities, the party noted.
The conference called for wider implementation of food and water provisioning schemes within forests to reduce animal intrusion into human habitats and demanded urgent reforms to prioritise the safety and livelihood of the hill and forest-dwelling populations.
The four-day meet will conclude on Sunday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
IPS officer BK Singh elevated to DG rank
1 2 Lucknow: Binod Kumar Singh, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been promoted to the rank of director general. The promotion came after senior IPS officer Anand Swaroop was sent to the Centre on deputation. Singh, currently serving as additional director general (ADG), cyber crime , is known for reform-driven approach and operational acumen. Having an illustrious career spanning nearly three decades, he commanded some of UP's most communally sensitive, politically volatile, and crime-prone districts. He is credited with reforming the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), strengthening the state's cyber policing apparatus, and holding critical assignments at state, national, and federal levels. His career highlights include a tenure with the National Security Guard (NSG), where he contributed to operational preparedness and administration. Singh also led operations in Naxal-affected and dacoit-infested regions and managed security for high-profile events like Kumbh Mela. Singh was awarded the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Police Medal for Gallantry, and several DGP Uttar Pradesh Commendation Discs, including gold and platinum. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Modi should strongly oppose U.S. imposing 50% tariff, says Chief Minister Stalin
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said in Chennai on Tuesday that the BJP-led Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should strongly oppose the U.S. imposing 50% tariff on Indian imports and both should be open about their position. He was speaking at an event organised jointly by the National Committee of Solidarity with Cuba in India and the CPI(M). When five rounds of trade negotiations between India and the U.S. were completed and a date was being finalised for the sixth round, 'Why should U.S. President [Donald] Trump arbitrarily announce the imposing of additional tariff?', Mr. Stalin asked. Referring to the repeated claims of Mr. Trump that he was behind the ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Mr. Stalin said: 'When the Opposition parties raised queries over that in both Houses of Parliament, Prime Minister Modi did not answer at all. It symbolises his weakness.' Observing that there was a crisis across the world, where there is a need to crush imperialism, Mr. Stalin said imperialist conspiracies did not mean only wars. 'The U.S. imposing 50% tariff on imports from India is also one such conspiracy,' he asserted. 'The BJP-led Union government should strongly oppose this. The Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should provide a transparent reply to this,' Mr. Stalin said. Takes a dig at EPS Talking about the politics in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Stalin said AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had developed a new found love for the Communists in recent days. Contending that people spoke about random topics, Mr. Stalin asked whether Mr. Palaniswami could speak about 'slavery'. 'I want to tell him that none is a slave to nobody. Everyone is wondering if Mr. Palaniswami reads newspapers. Even so, you would surely not read Theekkathir [considered a mouthpiece of the CPI(M)]. If you had read it, you would not be speaking like this. I read Theekkathir every day,' he said. Mr. Stalin said he listened to what Communist leaders spoke whenever he had time. 'They have not stopped flagging issues just because we are in an alliance, and I have not ignored the issues that they have highlighted. Because, half of us are communists. After all, my name is Stalin,' he asserted. Mr. Stalin added: 'We know how to distinguish pointing out with a friendly demeanour from deliberate defamation with ulterior motives. Even this stage symbolises our ideological clarity and friendship.' Minister P.K. Sekarbabu, Cuban Ambassador to India Juan Carlos Marsán Aguilera, CPI(M) leaders M.A. Baby, K. Balakrishnan, U. Vasuki, and P. Shanmugam, CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan, Director of The Hindu Publishing Group N. Ram, former MP T.K. Rangarajan, National Committee of Solidarity with Cuba's State secretary A. Arumuga Nainar were present.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
See you in court! Trump targets Fed Chair Jerome Powell with massive lawsuit threat
Donald Trump lawsuit Jerome Powell: Donald Trump is threatening a lawsuit against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over a $3 billion renovation project he deems "horrible and grossly incompetent." Trump claims the project should have cost only $50 million. He also reiterated his demand for Powell to cut interest rates immediately, despite concerns about rising core inflation. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Donald Trump Threatens Lawsuit Against Jerome Powell Over Fed's $3 Billion Renovation Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Trump Repeats Call for Powell to Slash Interest Rates Immediately Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs US president Donald Trump is once again turning up the heat on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, this time threatening a major lawsuit over what he calls a "horrible and grossly incompetent" handling of a costly renovation project at the Fed's Washington headquarters, as per a wrote on his social media site Truth Social, saying that he is "considering allowing a major lawsuit against Powell to proceed because of the horrible, and grossly incompetent, job he has done in managing the construction of the Fed Buildings," as quoted by pointed out that, "Three Billion Dollars for a job that should have been a $50 Million Dollar fix up. Not good!," but he did not give any details about the lawsuit to which he was referring, as per the Newsweek READ: AI upstart Perplexity shocks tech world with $34.5 billion bid to snatch Google Chrome The Federal Reserve, however, has pointed to a range of unforeseen issues as reasons for the ballooning costs, including the discovery of more asbestos than initially known, toxic soil contamination, and redesigns that were necessary as the project evolved, according to the report. The Fed also highlighted that the modernisation project will ultimately save money by consolidating most of its operations, as per the Newsweek Fed chair and US president have previously clashed over this during Trump's visit to the Fed construction project in July, when Powell disputed his characterisation of the costs involved, as reported by READ: Is it AI or Trump's policies? US sees brutal 140% layoff spike in July, worst surge since early COVID chaos Trump also repeated his demand for Powell to cut interest rates in his Truth Social post after the publication of the most recent inflation data, according to the headline rate of CPI inflation held steady at 2.7% in July, while the underlying rate of core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, rose to 3.1% in the month, increasing from 2.9% in June, as per the Newsweek the US central bank has held off cutting rates due to concerns that Trump's tariffs may fuel an increase in inflation, and has been waiting for more data before making a move, according to the report. But markets now expect a September rate cut, as inflation is fairly stable and jobs data is weakening, reported wrote that "Jerome 'Too Late' Powell must NOW lower the rate," and also called the Fed chair a "loser," as per the US president highlighted that "The damage he has done by always being Too Late is incalculable. Fortunately, the economy is sooo good that we've blown through Powell and the complacent Board," as quoted im the Newsweek some experts have warned that the rising core inflation data is a red flag, like Kathy Jones, chief fixed income strategist at the Schwab Center for Financial Research, wrote on X that "CPI was in line with expectations, but the trend is heading in the wrong direction," adding, "It may not prevent a rate cut by the Fed in September, because policy is 'restrictive' but progress toward 2% inflation appears to have stalled," as quoted in the believes the Federal Reserve's $3 billion renovation project has been mismanaged and cost far more than expect a rate cut in September, but it depends on inflation and job market data, as per the Newsweek report.
