Latest news with #BinoyViswam
United News of India
5 hours ago
- Business
- United News of India
BrahMos: CPI asks Rajnath Singh not to delink BATL from BAPL
Thiruvananthapuram, June 9 (UNI) CPI Kerala Secretary Binoy Viswam has urged Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to reconsider the decision to delink the BrahMos Aerospace Trivandrum Limited (BATL) from the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), a Joint Venture (JV) of India and Russia. Former Rajya Sabha member Binoy Viswam, who is also President of BrahMos Employees Union (AlTUC), said the BAPL Board has taken a decision to delink BATL from the management control of BAPL as a subsidiary unit. The Communist Party of India (CPI) leader sought the Centre to take appropriate action to retain BATL with BAPL or make BATL an entity under the DRDO. Any other decision in this regard may badly affect the growth of BATL as a prestigious organisation in Kerala, he claimed. He said the Kerala High-Tech Industries (KELTEC), a public sector undertaking of the Kerala state, was handed over to DRDO by the Kerala government in March 2007, envisioning its development. An asset worth 300 crore, including 17.8 acres of land, a modern plant, and machinery, was transferred to the central government for just one rupee (free of cost), he said. Since DRDO is a research and development organisation, it faced difficulties in direct takeover, prompting the then defence minister to take necessary actions for the transfer of KELTEC to BAPL, which operates under DRDO; thus, KELTEC was handed over to the Indo-Russian joint venture BAPL by the state government in November 2007, he explained. On January 1, 2008, the BrahMos Thiruvananthapuram company was restructured into a subsidiary called BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Limited (BATL) by the order of BAPL Headquarters, Delhi. Currently the BATL executes BrahMos, DRDO, ISRO, and BARC works in Thiruvananthapuram. BATL is now executing important and very complicated components of BrahMos missiles like BrahMos metallic air components, the gas generator control panel system (GG-CPS), the B1-BIl booster, F3 CKD-SKD for land and air versions, containers for launching, corset logistics for land and air packed containers, etc. The organisation has been profitable for the last 11 years and made a profit of Rs 24 crore in the financial year 2024-25. It is understood from employees of BATL that on May 20, 2025, the BAPL Board and AGM have taken a decision to delink BATL from the management control of BAPL as a subsidiary unit. "Hence, I request you to investigate this matter and also take appropriate action to retain BATL with BAPL or make BATL an entity under DRDO," the CPI leader said in a letter to Rajnath Singh. UNI DS ARN
The Hindu
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Safeguard values of co-operative sector: Binoy Viswam
The cooperative sector must hold fast to its core values of transparency and credibility, CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam warned, cautioning that any deviation from these principles could push the movement into turbulent waters. He was inaugurating the State conference of the Kerala Cooperative Employees Council (KCEC) at Thrissur Town Hall on Sunday. Mr. Viswam noted that while there are continuous attempts to weaken the cooperative sector in the State, the strength of the movement lies in upholding its foundational ethics. He lashed out at the Union government's promotion of Multi-State Cooperative Societies, calling them a deliberate attack on the cooperative sector in the State. 'These entities are designed to undermine the spirit of cooperative sector,' he said, directly accusing the BJP-led Centre and Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah of politicising cooperative institutions for ideological gain. 'The Multi-State model is a weapon aimed at suffocating Kerala's cooperative sector. Like the sword of Damocles, it dangles above us. If it falls, the lifeline of this sector could be destroyed,' Mr. Viswam cautioned, adding that this threat must not be underestimated. Referring to the central agency Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mr. VIswam remarked: 'Everybody has realised that Modi regime's investigative agencies go after money. But regardless of whether the ED comes or not, we must stay true to our path.' He reminded that those involved in cooperative sector must walk the path of transparency and inspire others to do the same. 'There are some who behave as if they have a license to do anything. That mindset is dangerous and unacceptable. We must remember that this sector is essential for our existence,' he pointed out. KCEC State President B. M. Anil hoisted the flag. KCEC State Secretary P. A. Sanjeev presented the martyr's resolution, while State vice president Bindu K. S. moved the condolence motion. The valedictory session was inaugurated by Revenue Minister K. Rajan, with State vice-president Jayakumar presiding.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bypoll will be an evaluation of LDF rule, says Viswam
Thrissur: state secretary Binoy Viswam on Tuesday said his party did not have any hesitation in saying that the Nilambur bypoll would be an evaluation of the LDF govt as the party was fully confident of an LDF victory there. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "LDF is in an advantageous position in every aspect. The LDF govt is the only hope in the political scenario prevailing across the country,'' the CPI functionary said while addressing a family meet organised as part of CPI's centenary celebrations. He said the CPI had not uttered a word that could weaken the LDF govt. "There can be some shortcomings and there may have been some occasions when we had to speak out. However, all those observations were meant to strengthen the LDF,'' Viswam said. He, however, stuck to the CPI stance that the BJP-led govt at Centre was a fascist regime. Interestingly, the CPM has not yet taken such a stance, so far. Emphasising that P V Anvar will not be a factor at all in Nilambur bypoll, Viswam recalled the stance taken by the departed CPI leader C K Chandrappan that Anvar is such a degenerated politician that the Communist parties should not go anywhere near him. He asserted that the CPI was never happy with the split in the Indian Communist party and called for the parties' unity. The enemy will win if we stand divided and that should not happen, Viswam said.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Full-fledged fascist regime ruling country: CPI Kerala chief
Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Binoy Viswam has said that the country has been under the rule of a full-fledged fascist regime. Speaking at the inauguration of the CPI's birth centenary celebrations and a communist family gathering held at the Thrissur Town Hall on Tuesday, Mr. Viswam accused the ruling Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of embracing foreign fascist ideologies while attempting to label communists with the same brush. 'The RSS and the BJP are rooted in foreign ideologies. Now they are trying to place that label on the head of the communist party,' he said. 'The first RSS Sarsanghchalak, Hedgewar, was a former Congressman who sent his follower Dr. Moonje to Italy to meet Mussolini. Inspired by that meeting, he imported fascist ideas to India. Later, the second Sarsanghchalak, M.S. Golwalkar, drew from Nazi ideology, and came up with a book propagating those views under the name Bunch of Thoughts. So, if any organisation's head fits the fascist hat, that's the RSS's.' Mr. Viswam added that what the country saw today was not just a drift toward fascism, but full-fledged fascism. 'The regime is marked by shameful racial supremacy and unashamed corporate servitude.' Full freedom He reminded the audience that the communist party was the first to unequivocally demand 'Poorna Swaraj' for India, even before the Congress. He referred to the 1921 Ahmedabad Congress session where Maulana Hasrat Mohani presented the Poorna Swaraj resolution, and credited the communist party for being ahead in its call for full freedom. 'The CPI is not a party that can, or should, change to fit the times. We exist only as long as we stay true to our foundational values,' Mr. Viswam said. 'Historical events like the 1964 split were unfortunate, but the split will not change the history. We are not interested in creating any controversy.' He recalled the contribution of CPI leader and former Chief Minister C. Achutha Menon, who tried to create a modern Kerala. Mr. Viswam warned against allowing narrow political interests to erase that transformative period. On current political realities, Mr. Viswam stressed that Left unity was essential and warned against alliances that weakened progressive politics. 'Victory is possible only if we stand together. We must resist and defeat the unholy alliances that undermine leftist strength.' CPI district secretary K.K. Valsaraj presided. Revenue Minister K. Rajan, CPI leaders K.P. Rajendran, C.N. Jayadevan, A.K. Chandran, P. Balachandran, MLA, and V.S. Sunil Kumar addressed the gathering. Fascism thrived where human struggle faded, and it should be countered not just politically, but culturally as well, said poet Alankode Leelakrishnan. He was speaking at a seminar titled 'Progressive Art and Literary Movement: A Legacy of Resistance,' organised in Thrissur as part of the CPI birth centenary celebrations. Cultural vigilance 'Wherever people stop resisting, fascism begins to settle in. In today's India, where fascist shadows are spreading, we cannot afford to overlook this reality,' Mr. Leelakrishnan warned. 'Cultural vigilance is essential to confront and dismantle the filth of fascism.' Reflecting on Kerala's legacy of social reformations, he said that it was the power of progressive cultural interventions—plays, literature, and social narratives—that fuelled the State's renaissance. 'It was the fire lit by art and literature that powered social reformations. The responsibility to keep that fire alive rests with the communists,' he said. Karivellur Murali, secretary of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, said those trying to rewrite India's history today were devoid of any historical grounding. 'They are rewriting a past they were never part of,' he said in his address. The seminar also featured writer Valsalan Vathussery and screenplay writer K.R. Sunil, who spoke on the need to defend and deepen Kerala's progressive cultural legacy.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre must end neglect of BrahMos unit in Thiruvananthapuram: CPI
Thiruvananthapuram : CPI strongly criticised Union govt for its continued neglect of BrahMos Aerospace facility in the district, calling for immediate steps to resume and expedite its development. CPI state secretary and BrahMos employees union (AITUC) president Binoy Viswam said that despite high hopes when the state handed over 15.75 acres near Thiruvananthapuram airport to the defence ministry in Dec 2007 for the BrahMos missile manufacturing facility, no substantial progress has been made since. The land, which belonged to public-sector company Keltech, was transferred for just Re 1 with the sole intention of promoting national defence manufacturing in Kerala, he said. "BrahMos Thiruvananthapuram Ltd started functioning as a subsidiary of BrahMos Aerospace in Jan 2008, but the unit saw no development on the land allocated to it," said Viswam. He criticised central govt's decision to set up full-fledged BrahMos units in Hyderabad, Nagpur and more recently in Lucknow, while Thiruvananthapuram, despite receiving land without any investment, was only made a subsidiary, effectively sidelining its growth. Even for the Thiruvananthapuram unit to receive orders, it must compete with private firms in tenders and provide the lowest quote along with bank guarantees, an unfair hurdle for a public sector subsidiary, Viswam added. BrahMos managing director, during the facility's inauguration in the presence of chief minister and defence minister, had announced a fully operational missile production facility within three years and an investment of over Rs 1,000 crore, he recalled. Viswam urged both central and state govts to act swiftly to revive and develop the BrahMos facility in the state capital.
