Social activist K. M. Salimkumar passes away
He was closely affiliated with the Naxalite movement in the State and was imprisoned during the Emergency. Salimkumar later focused on Dalit rights campaigns. He led Athasthitha Navodhana Munnani and Kerala Dalit Maha Sabha in the State. A campaign in 1989 where a copy of Manusmrithi was publicly burned had caught wide attention. He had published a few books on Dalits as well as on social issues.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled his death.
Marxist-Leninist Party of India (Red Flag) condoled the passing away of the writer, said a statement issued by its district secretary Charles George.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Kerala to Kunar: CNN-News18 Exposes ISIS-K Recruitment Trail Targeting Dalit Youth
CNN-News18 exclusive investigation uncovers a chilling jihadi network operating out of Kerala, silently recruiting vulnerable Indian youth—particularly Dalit minors—into the deadly ranks of ISIS-Khorasan (ISKP) in Afghanistan. Top intelligence sources reveal how radicalisation begins in Gulf-funded institutions like Peace International School and is followed by indoctrination in covert safehouses run by banned outfits like PFI and are smuggled via Kochi and Trivandrum airports using forged documents, often travelling through Dubai, Istanbul, Sri Lanka or Iran before reaching ISKP strongholds in Nangarhar and Kunar expert Maj Gen (R) Rajan Kochar and activist Rahul Easwar weigh in on this dangerous development. Why are Indian youth being targeted? Who is funding this pipeline of terror? Don't miss this deep dive into one of India's most critical national security threats. News18 Mobile App -
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
P.V.N. Madhav takes charge as BJP A.P. unit president, promises to strengthen NDA
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has declared former MLC P.V.N. Madhav as the new president of its Andhra Pradesh unit, with Karnataka MP and BJP National Council member P.C. Mohan announcing his unanimous election. Mr. Madhav received the certificate of appointment from State Election Officer Paka Satyanarayana at a function in Vijayawada on Tuesday (July 1, 2025). Mr. Mohan emphasised the democratic process within the BJP, noting that leadership at all levels—from State to national—is chosen based on consensus and cadre input. 'Unlike the Congress, where leadership is a one-man show with selections based on favouritism, the BJP values the voice of its workers and leaders,' he said. Outgoing State president and MP Daggubati Purandeswari handed over the responsibilities to Mr. Madhav. BJP national and State leaders congratulated Mr. Madhav. In his address, Mr. Madhav thanked the party leadership for the trust placed in him and reaffirmed his commitment to building the BJP into a dominant political force in the State. He noted that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with the support of grassroots workers, the party would work to ensure development and represent the aspirations of Andhra Pradesh people. Addressing the media, Mr. Madhav vowed to resolve internal differences among the alliance partners and secure a stronger role for the BJP within the coalition government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. 'I will take any alliance concerns to the notice of the Chief Minister and ensure BJP's rightful representation,' he said, emphasising that the BJP would play a key role in the State's development, particularly in ensuring the release of Central funds and accelerating projects such as Polavaram Left Canal. Mr. Madhav recalled his family's deep association with the BJP and RSS. 'Our family and the party are inseparable. I was born during the Emergency and spent time in a police station as an infant with my mother,' he said. He pledged to build the BJP into an 'unshakable force' in Andhra Pradesh. Expressing gratitude to former president, under whose leadership the party gained eight MLAs and three MPs in the last elections, Mr. Madhav thanked senior leaders such as Somu Veerraju and promised to carry forward their legacy with dedication. 'This position is not a privilege but a responsibility,' he said, adding that the party would work to double its legislative strength. Union Minister Bhupatiraju Srinivasa Varma, Rajya Sabha member Paka Satyanarayana, BJP leaders N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, MLA Sujana Chowdary, Somu Veerraju and others spoke.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
SC takes 30 years to implement its own judgment on SC/ST quota
NEW DELHI: More than 30 years after it mandated a 200-point-roster system for earmarking posts for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates in direct recruitments, the Supreme Court has now identified staff posts reserved for SC and ST candidates but provided no quota for OBC candidates. The judgment in R K Sabharwal case was delivered by a five-judge bench on Feb 10, 1995, during the tenure of 26th CJI A M Ahmadi, but it will be implemented now during the tenure of 52nd CJI in Justice B R Gavai, the second Dalit to head judiciary after Justice K G Balakrishnan. CJI Gavai told TOI, 'The judgement in Sabharwal case recommended implementation of 200-point roster system for identification of posts for the SC and ST candidates in each category of posts. The identification process is completed and from now onwards vacancies against each reserved post would be filled from the candidates belonging to that category of backward class candidates.' Asked about non-inclusion of OBC quota in direct recruitments, the CJI said, "I have asked the SC Registry to initiate steps for amendment of the relevant Rules for inclusion of reservation for OBC candidates." After the Indra Sawhney judgment of 1992, a 27% quota in government jobs was introduced for candidates belonging to OBC communities, but the SC had capped the cumulative reservations at 50% of vacancies. For the 200-point roster system, the SC has enumerated 1280 posts, majority of which comprise junior court attendants (600 posts) and junior court assistants (437). Of the total 1,280 posts, 191 has been earmarked for SC candidates and 93 for STs while the rest 996 posts would be for general category. Since the judgment is of Feb 1995, and the central government circular is of July 1997, it is but natural that there would have been a huge backlog in filling the posts as per the roster system that intends to effectuate 15% and 7.5% quota for SCs and STs respectively. CJI Gavai said, 'The backlogs will be gradually filled. This would mean sometimes the reservations in direct recruitments would cross the cumulative 22.5% mark.' In the Sabharwal judgment, a five-judge SC bench led by Justice Kuldip Singh had said, 'The only way to assure equality of opportunity to the Backward Classes and the general category is to permit the roster to operate till the time the respective appointees/ promotees occupy the posts meant for them in the roster... As and when there is a vacancy whether permanent or temporary in a particular post the same must be filled from amongst the category to which the post belonged in the roster. ' 'The cadre-strength is always measured by the number of posts comprising the cadre… Once the total cadre has full representation of the SCs/STs and Backward Classes in accordance with the reservation policy then the vacancies arising thereafter in the cadre are to be filled from amongst the category of persons to whom the respective vacancies belong,' it had said.
