Latest news with #M.A.Baby
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) calls for all-party meet on modalities of census
CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby on Friday (June 6, 2025) urged the Union Government to convene an all-party meeting to address the apprehensions of several States on the possibility of losing representation in the Lok Sabha because of the delimitation expected to be held on the basis of the upcoming general Census. The first meeting of the new #CPIM Central Committee was held from June 3-5. It has issued the following communique: — CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) June 6, 2025 Mr. Baby was addressing a press conference in Delhi, at the conclusion of the first meeting of the newly elected Central Committee of the party. 'The Central government, after deliberate and inordinate delay, was finally forced to announce that it will conduct the general Census in 2027 and along with it, the caste census. Various apprehensions are being expressed, especially by the southern States about the intentions of the government, about the modalities it intends to follow and whether they will lose representation. The government should immediately convene an all party meeting and discuss these issues,' Mr. Baby said. Mr. Baby also informed that the CPI(M) would hold a week-long campaign against terrorism in June, besides sending a delegation led by him next week. The other members of the delegation include Lok Sabha members Amra Ram, K. Radhakrishnan and Su Venkatesan, and Rajya Sabha members John Brittas, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya and A.A. Rahim. Mr. Baby criticised the government's assertion that with Operation Sindoor, it had established a 'new normal' where every terror attack against India would be deemed an attack by Pakistan. He said, 'This means that India-Pak relations will now be dictated by terrorists.' This approach, he said, would only fuel jingoism, strengthen extremist forces on both sides of the border and further widen the communal divide. The Left party said it would hold programmes 'in defence of democracy' to mark 50 years of the declaration of Emergency, adding that the occasion would be used to 'expose the dubious role of the RSS during Emergency'. The decisions were taken at a meeting of the central committee of the CPI(M) held in the national capital from June 3-5.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
ED an ‘extended dept.' of BJP, says Baby
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has now become an 'extended department' of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] general secretary M.A. Baby has alleged. He was addressing a reception accorded to him by the CPI(M) Kozhikode district committee here on Tuesday. Mr. Baby's comments come against the backdrop of the Central agency arraigning the CPI(M), and party leaders K. Radhakrishnan, MP, A.C. Moideen, and M.M. Varghese, among others, as the accused in the Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank loan scam. Mr. Baby claimed that the agency was being used by the Union government and the BJP to threaten and antagonise political parties, leaders, and governments that refuse to toe the line of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. 'Those who don't fall in line are heinously suppressed and portrayed as culprits. Fabricated allegations are being levelled against them,' he said. Mr. Baby pointed out that the ED's case filed against the CPI(M) and its leaders was politically motivated and was an attempt to target the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the State. 'Just because the bank is located in Thrissur district and these leaders are from there, they are being implicated. They are not at all responsible or linked with the scam in the bank,' he claimed. Mr. Baby said that the various agencies of the State government had already been investigating the case. Steps were also being taken to return money to the investors, he said. The CPI(M) leader also criticised a section of the media for publishing factually incorrect news reports against the party. He said that a prominent Malayalam newspaper had given a report saying that a private construction company involved in the construction of national highways in the State had donated electoral bonds to the CPI(M) even though the party was among those who filed pleas against such financial transactions in the Supreme Court. Mr. Baby pointed out that the effort was to target the CPI(M) and the LDF government for the recent caving in and developing of cracks on some parts of the national highway. Minister for Public Works P.A. Mohamed Riyas, Kozhikode Mayor Beena Philip, and CPI(M) Kozhikode district secretary M. Mehboob, among others, were present.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Meant to curb corruption, ED now caught up in it, says M.A. Baby
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] General Secretary M.A. Baby has slammed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over emerging allegations of corruption within its own ranks, calling it a case of the fence eating the crop. He said the agency, long accused of political misuse now faces damning evidence proving its own involvement in corrupt practices. 'The ED, which is supposed to prevent corruption, has itself turned corrupt. Everyone had earlier pointed to its political misuse and now concrete evidence has come out. Let the investigation continue and the facts come to light,' Mr. Baby told media in Kannur. His statement comes as the Vigilance department intensifies its probe into bribery case involving ED officials from the Kochi unit. Investigators are probing whether retired and transferred officers were part of a ₹2 crore bribe demand made to cashew businessman Aneesh Babu from Kottarakkara. ED assistant director Shekhar Kumar, the investigating officer in the high profile Kodakara hawala case, is among those under the scanner. Vigilance sources say that bank details and digital evidence point to the involvement of other senior officials at the Kochi ED office. Following this, notices will be issued to Mr. Shekhar Kumar and other for questioning. Recently, ED agents Wilson Varghese, Rajasthan native Murali Mukesh and chartered accountant Ranjith Warrier in connection with the case. The CPI(M) has consistently alleged that the ED is being weaponised to target political opponents. The latest revelations appear to bolster those claims, putting the spotlight back on institutional accountability within Central agencies.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI (M) demands special session of Parliament to discuss Pahalgam terror attack and aftermath
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central Government convene a special session of the Parliament to explain to the people about the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the aftermath including Operation Sindoor. CPI (M) general secretary M.A. Baby said 26 innocents were murdered point blank at Pahalgam on April 22 but the Government could not catch hold of of any of the terrorists involved in the gruesome incident in spite of claims that several steps were initiated. The Government convened an all party meeting post Operation Sindoor with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claiming that the purpose of the operation was accomplished. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too addressed the nation and appreciated the armed forces for their achievements. 'But, he (Mr. Modi) did not explain many issues. May be Mr. Modi has reserved them,' he said at a press conference in Hyderabad on Wednesday (May 14, 2025). He wondered how the U.S. president Donald Trump informed about the decision of ceasefire ahead of the announcement by the Government. The announcement came in the wake of the country's stand against third party intervention in matters pertaining to India's relations with neighbours like Pakistan and other countries. 'The US vice-president J.D. Vance said that the US will not interfere in the geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan a day before. What paved the way for the US president to make the statement?' Mr. Baby asked. He asserted that the Government owed an explanation and it should be done through the floor of the Parliament for the people to know. 'Mr. Modi can discuss with his Cabinet colleagues and fix a date for the special session. Many questions need to be answered on the floor of the House and the Opposition can seek clarifications if a statement is made in the Parliament,' he said. He advised that the Centre should intensify diplomatic efforts in the light of the ceasefire to convince Pakistan against supporting terrorist activities. Pressure should be mounted on the neighbouring country through various sources in this direction. The CPI (M) general secretary cautioned people against certain forces that were trying to seek communal polarisation through the unfortunate . He expressed concern that Mr. Modi did not attend the all party meetings convened by the Centre post Pahalgam . 'He preferred to address a political rally in Bihar rather than attending the first all party meeting. He did not attend the second one in spite of being in the national capital,' he said. Asked about the INDIA bloc, he said the parties constituting the INDIA Bloc would hold discussions as and when there was a need. 'Several States are heading for elections in the coming days. We will hold discussions depending on the State specific situation in the respective States,' he said.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
India-Pakistan ceasefire understanding: Left parties slam government for allowing U.S. to broker peace
The Left parties criticised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government for allowing U.S. mediation in the recent India-Pakistan tensions that erupted in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack. 'It is an avowedly accepted policy of our country that we settle our disputes bilaterally, without allowing any third party intervention. Therefore, this situation requires clear and authoritative clarification from the highest levels of our government,' Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M.A. Baby said. He also reiterated the CPI(M)'s demand for a Special Session of Parliament, saying that several pressing concerns continue to remain unaddressed. CPI general secretary D. Raja also criticised the government, claiming that by agreeing to the United States's initiative to broker peace, the Indian government effectively violated the essence of the Simla Agreement and provided scope to internationalise the Kashmir issue. 'This opens the door for the U.S. to play its typical hegemonic and destabilising role in South Asia, further entrenching itself in the subcontinent's internal matters,' he said.
