Latest news with #PartitionHorrorsDay
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Undermining nation's election system a challenge to democracy: Kerala minister K Rajan
Kozhikode: Revenue minister K Rajan said that attempts to undermine the nation's election system and voters' list is a challenge to democracy and the Constitution. Speaking after hoisting the National Flag at MSP Parade Grounds in Malappuram on Independence Day, Rajan said that India stands as a model for other countries because of the strong foundation of its democratic system. "The Constitution mandates that the country's electoral process must be transparent, flawless and fair. Those who attempt to tamper with voter lists or disrupt the electoral process by fabricating fake identity documents are challenging Indian democracy, the Constitution and the sanctity of nationalism. The illusion that the Constitution can be subverted and the electoral system undermined to subvert democracy will be against India's growth and development and cannot be permitted," the minister said. Rajan also criticized the alleged neglect of Kerala by Centre, calling it a sign of the failure of federalism. "Even in times of disaster, Kerala has faced blatant disregard. The demand to waive the debts of Chooralmala landslide victims was not accepted — despite Section 13 of the law passed by the Parliament in 2005 allowing debt waiver for people in disaster-hit areas. The move to amend that law is not in the spirit of democracy," the minister said in his Independence Day message. In a tacit reference to the call by governor to observe the Partition Horrors Day on Aug14, the minister said that the country should dream not of the dark nights of partition, but of the bright dawns of freedom. "On that tragic night of Partition, in the blood- and tear-soaked soil, Mahatma Gandhi walked barefoot through the streets of Noakhali carrying his message of peace, giving out the message not of the horrors of Partition but of unity, tolerance and brotherhood amidst diversity," the minister added. 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. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
ABVP defies govt to hold Partition event; Bindu says universities rejected guv's call
Kasaragod: A clash erupted between the activists of SFI and ABVP at the Kasaragod Govt College, Vidhyanagar, as the RSS's student outfit defied state govt's call and organized Partition Horrors Day observance on the campus on Thursday morning . A BVP members organized the event following governor Rajendra Arlekar's circular for observance of the day in state universities on Aug 14, which Raj Bhavan said was based on Union home ministry's instructions. Posters related to the event were pasted on the college campus following which the SFI workers took out a march in protest and raised slogans. The agitators removed some of the posters, leading to a scuffle. Higher education minister R Bindu, meanwhile, said the academic community 'unconditionally' rejected the governor's call. In the Kasaragod college, the police dispersed SFI activists. They burned Arlekar in effigy while their ABVP counterparts again put up the posters on the college notice board. Members of MSF, IUML's student wing, also demanded the posters pasted by ABVP workers be removed. Though the police blocked the MSF march, an altercation between the two outfits followed. The college principal demanded ABVP remove the posters. Subsequently, they were removed and the situation became normal. ABVP observed Partition Horrors Day also at Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, and IHRD College, Kumbala. ABVP slams disruptions ABVP condemned attempts by Left activists and KSU workers to disrupt Partition Horrors Day remembrance. In a statement, ABVP claimed that despite the state govt's refusal, ABVP was able to organize programmes highlighting the Partition horrors. The fragmentation of Akhand Bharat led to the persecution of millions, the statement said. "The real stories of Partition are being obscured by Congress and communist parties," ABVP state secretary E U Eswaraprasad said. A talk was convened by the Cusat vice-chancellor where ex-CUK vice-chancellor G Gopakumar addressed the attendees. However, the official said Cusat had not sent any official invitations to the university community. As chancellor of universities, the governor had issued the directive to the vice-chancellors to organise seminars to commemorate the day and to forward the action plans regarding this. The LDF govt said such programmes need not be held in universities. Bindu told reporters in Thrissur that there was no tug of war between the state govt and governor. "Everybody must work by giving utmost importance to the interests of the students and of the state. The vice-chancellors also have pivotal roles to play in these efforts," the minister said. Bindu said the state govt would implement various development projects to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore in the higher education sector. The academic community has rejected the efforts to disrupt peace when the sector is poised for growth, she said. 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. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Seek nod to conduct Partition Day events, Kerala University colleges told
Thiruvananthapuram: Close on the heels of widespread protests against governor-chancellor Rajendra Arlekar 's directive to observe 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' in higher education institutions on Aug 14, Kerala University college development committee director in-charge sent a circular to affiliated colleges against organising programmes without the consent of 'appropriate authorities'. Committee director in-charge Biju V had on Monday shared with affiliated colleges a communication he received from the office of vice-chancellor regarding chancellor's directive to observe Aug 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. In the new communique to affiliated colleges on Tuesday, reportedly at govt's behest, Biju pointed out that chief minister openly declared Kerala govt's policy regarding the commemoration of Partition Horrors Day. "In this context, steps in this regard may be taken with the consent of appropriate authorities," Biju said. Later, the committee director expressed his wish to relinquish his charge and informed VC in-charge Mohanan Kunnummal about it. CPM and Congress functionaries came out against governor's efforts to observe Partition Horrors Day, an idea first mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few years ago. Student organisations and youth organisations of both CPM and Congress registered strong protests against the proposal and said they wouldn't let such observance be forced upon students on campuses. According to sources, Raj Bhavan sent a letter to all universities a month ago regarding the Aug 14 programme. However, universities acted upon the same only after Raj Bhavan reminded them. The college development committee director in-charge's decision to send a circular nullifying the directive he shared with affiliated colleges, on VC's instructions, underscores the depth of the anarchy prevailing in the university. While Kerala, Kannur and KTU vice-chancellors asked officials concerned to share the chancellor's directive with principals of affiliated colleges, other ad hoc VCs instructed registrars concerned to take further steps. Cusat VC issued a directive to organise a seminar on the subject. The chancellor asked VCs to organise seminars or theatre performances to observe Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. 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.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala governor stirs storm with ‘Partition Horrors Day' directive to university vice-chancellors
Thiruvananthapuram: A directive from governor and chancellor Rajendra Arlekar to university vice-chancellors to organise programmes as part of observing Aug 14 as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' has kicked up a political row in the state, with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and opposition leader V D Satheesan questioning his authority to give such an instruction. Raj Bhavan had, in a circular, asked universities to organise seminars and theatre performances on campus to remember the horrors of Partition. The idea was first mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021, and since then, the Union govt has been observing the day. The Raj Bhavan circular also directed vice-chancellors to chalk out action plans for observing the day in a befitting manner. The CM said the actions emanating from Raj Bhavan, aligned with the divisive political agendas of the Sangh Parivar, are unconstitutional. "The governor's circular to vice-chancellors is objectionable... We cannot allow our universities to become platforms for implementing such an agenda," he said. Meanwhile, the opposition leader said: "What authority does the governor have to instruct vice-chancellors to observe 'Partition Horrors Day', sidelining the state govt? It is unconstitutional for the governor to make decisions and act parallel to the state govt." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15+ Food That Clean Arteries (Most People Ignore) Undo By doing so, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who holds a constitutional position, has essentially declared himself a spokesperson for the divisive politics of RSS, Satheesan said. General education minister V Sivankutty said in Kannur that the governor had acted as though operating a "parallel governance system", without the approval of the council of ministers elected by the people. "I do not understand under what authority he has issued such an invitation. He does not have such powers. The governor's powers are limited and this is not something connected to day-to-day administration, as courts and experts in the field have already made clear," he said. The chief minister said India's Independence Day served as a reminder of the anti-imperialist struggle and the brutalities unleashed by the British. "As we mark 78 years of independence, the idea of celebrating another day besides Aug 15 originates from the minds of Sangh Parivar... Those who had no role in the freedom struggle and served the British Raj seek to undermine Independence Day. During the freedom struggle, those who expended energy fighting 'internal enemies' rather than foreign powers now call for a day of remembrance for the horrors of Partition, thereby diminishing the significance of Independence Day," Vijayan said. The Sangh Parivar continues to operate with the same mindset as those who met the British Viceroy to express their support and clarify that they were not against the British Raj. Those who turned away from the united national freedom struggle of India's diverse communities are the ones now discussing the fear of Partition. The Partition of India and the ensuing violence were also results of the British policy of divide and rule, something the former British loyalists seem to have forgotten. The Sangh Parivar mocked leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, who tried to quell the violence during the Partition, Vijayan added. 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.
