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India Today
22-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
No flexes now: Kerala Congress leader slams state, Centre over highway collapse
Kerala Leader of Opposition and Congress legislator VD Satheesan condemned both the Pinarayi Vijayan-led state government and the Centre following Monday's collapse of an under-construction highway in Malappuram district. 'Nobody wants to install flex boards and take credit now,' Satheesan said, referring to the earlier publicity blitz celebrating the project. 'What the government is promoting the most on the eve of its fourth anniversary is that they fulfilled the national highway project. But who is really responsible for the collapse — the Chief Minister, the state government or the central government?'advertisementSatheesan alleged widespread irregularities in the construction of the highway, calling it 'unscientific' and accusing the state government of rushing the project for electoral gains. 'The state government has no coordination with the National Highways Authority. Drinking water supply lines have been broken. There are not even underpasses in many places. If the rains start, lives will be at risk,' he added, demanding six-lane National Highway-66 which is being built collapsed near Kooriyad in Tirurangadi on Monday, raising serious concerns over construction quality and public safety. The protective wall of the elevated highway crumbled onto a car on the service road near the Kooriyad service station. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The collapse, which occurred along the Kozhikode –Thrissur stretch, prompted a swift diversion of traffic in the area. advertisementHowever, this was not an isolated incident. Cracks have been reported in Chavakkad, Thrissur, while fresh damages surfaced in Kuppam, Kannur — indicating broader structural issues in the ongoing highway construction National Highway 66 project is one of the flagship infrastructure initiatives under the Vijayan government, which has spent nearly Rs 5,000 crore on land acquisition alone, given the high real estate costs in the however, credited the project's land acquisition success to the UPA-era Right to Fair Compensation Act, arguing that the current government is merely 'showing off' due to a lack of real Indian Union Muslim League MP ET Muhammad Basheer stated that Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had assured him that appropriate action would be taken.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Developed Kerala' slogan of BJP in local body, Assembly polls
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to raise the slogan of 'developed Kerala' in the local body elections and the Assembly elections, BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said. Speaking to the media after the BJP State core committee and State office-bearers' meeting here on Wednesday, he said a developed Kerala was not just a slogan but the mission and goal of the BJP. He said the BJP would organise protest programmes in all district centres on May 26, which marks the ninth anniversary of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala. Terming the nine years of Left rule a fiasco, he said the Vikasita Keralam convention organised by the BJP in the State from April 21 to May 12 tried to discuss the BJP's vision of bringing development to the State. The participation of youth in the programme was overwhelming, he said.
United News of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Under-construction NH-66 collapses: Congress alleges corruption
Thiruvananthapurm, May 21 (UNI) Responding to the collapse of under-construction six-lane NH-66 at 3 places in Kerala, AICC Working Committee Member and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the hallmark of the current dispensation has been corruption, nepotism and incompetence. The under construction NH-66 has collapsed at 3 places including Kooriyad, Thalapara and Kanhangad in Malappuram and Kasargod districts. The cave-ins are reported at a time when the Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPI(M) government is celebrating its 4th anniversary, he said. "The CPM-led LDF government is celebrating NH Development as its flagship programme as part of their ongoing 4th anniversary celebrations of the 2nd Pinarayi Vijayan Government," he added. "This becomes even more comical when one considers the flex wars and adverts that both the state and central government did to claim the NH to be their own. Now no one seems to be owning up responsibility," he alleged. "This shows the fallacy and hypocrisy of the Pinarayi Vijayan Government in Kerala. The common man is fed up of the 9-year rule of CPM-led LDF in the State where they have literally no development to show other than usurping old schemes and big talk," he charged. Opposition leader in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan alleged that both the CPM and BJP were fighting for the credit over NH-66. But, when the under-construction six-lane highway collapsed, both the parties shirked their responsibility. "Someone must ensure accountability, and fix such issues swiftly. Public safety must come first," Satheesan added. UNI DS PRS
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As President raises questions on SC order, a look at pending Bills in Opposition states
With the Supreme Court recently setting a three-month deadline for the President and Governors to act on Bills sent by state Assemblies, President Droupadi Murmu has sought the top court's opinion under Article 143(1) on whether their actions are justiciable and if such timelines can be imposed on them in the absence of any such provision in the Constitution. In a judgment on April 8, the Supreme Court set a timeline for Governors to act on Bills, and for the first time, prescribed that the President should decide on the Bills reserved for consideration by the Governor within three months from the date on which such reference is received. Under Article 201 of the Constitution, no timeframe has been set for a presidential decision. Apart from Tamil Nadu, several Opposition-ruled states also approached the top court against their Governors over 'inordinate delay' in giving assent to Bills, many of which seek to 'curb' the role of Governors in state-run universities. Here is a look at which states approached the Supreme Court and the current status of the Bills. Citing the top court's order, Bills in Tamil Nadu that had been stalled were deemed to have become law from the date on which they were originally presented to the Governor for assent. The Bills that became law are Tamil Nadu Fisheries University (Amendment) Bill, 2020; Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Tamil Nadu Dr M G R Medical University, Chennai (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Tamil University (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022; Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022; and Tamil Nadu Fisheries University (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Madras University (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Amendment) Bill, 2023, did not receive the Governor's assent due to technical reasons and are being rewritten or reconsidered. In March 2024, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government approached the Supreme Court against the President for withholding assent to four Bills passed by the Assembly without giving 'any reason whatsoever' and then Governor Arif Mohammad Khan for keeping seven Bills 'pending for as long as two years' and then referring them to the President, terming the actions 'manifestly arbitrary'. The government has argued in the top court that the Bills awaiting Presidential assent must be deemed as law in accordance with its judgment in the Tamil Nadu case. The Bills in question include University Laws (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021; University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Kerala Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022; the University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2022; The University Laws (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2022; and The University Laws (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill, 2022. After Khan gave his assent to some of the Bills, the Kerala government on May 6 sought to withdraw the case, saying that the Supreme Court's judgment on Tamil Nadu's petition had settled the matter. However, the Governor's counsel opposed the move. Of the three Bills now with the President, one on the appointment of V-Cs was rejected and the remaining two are pending. Though there was some friction between the government and Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot over some Bills, it is not as intense as in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, according to Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department officials. Last month, 13 Bills were awaiting assent, seven, including the controversial Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill and Mysuru Development Authority Bill were cleared by him. According to government sources, six Bills passed by the legislature are pending with the Governor. These are Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University Bill, 2024, which replaced Governor as the chancellor of the varsity with the CM; Karnataka (Mineral Rights and Mineral Bearing Land) Tax Bill, 2024, which was expected to generate a revenue of Rs 4,700 crore for the state exchequer; Mysuru Development Authority Bill, 2024; Karnataka Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Karnataka Souharda Sahakari (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and Karnataka State Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government moved the Supreme Court in July 2024, accusing Governor C V Ananda Bose of violating Article 200 of the Constitution by blocking seven Bills 'without explanation'. The Bills include the West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, the West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences (Amendment) Bill, the West Bengal Private University Laws (Amendment) Bill, the West Bengal Krishi Viswavidyalaya Laws, the West Bengal University of Health Sciences (Amendment) Bill, the Aliah University (Amendment) Bill, and the West Bengal Town and Country (Planning and Development) (Amendment) Bill. The matter is pending before the top court and none of these Bills have received assent. In April 2023, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government in Telangana approached the Supreme Court, accusing then Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan of withholding assent to 10 Bills. The Bills in question included The Azamabad Industrial Area (Termination and Regulation of Leases) (Amendment) Bill, 2022; The Telangana Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022; The Telangana Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) (Amendment) Bill, 2022; The University of Forestry Telangana Bill, 2022; The Telangana Universities Common Recruitment Board Bill, 2022; The Telangana Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2022; The Telangana State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2022; The Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2023; he Telangana Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Telangana Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The case was closed after the Centre told the Supreme Court in June that year that none of the Bills were pending and the Governor had returned them with her comments. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, moved the top court in October 2023, accusing then Governor Banwarilal Purohit of sitting on key Bills. The Governor had not given his assent to four Bills: Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Punjab University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Amendment Bill, 2023. In a rap to Purohit last November, a Bench of the top court comprising then Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said, 'The Governor cannot be at liberty to keep the Bill pending indefinitely without taking any action whatsoever. Failing to make a decision and keeping a duly passed Bill pending for indeterminate periods is a course of action inconsistent with that expression.' Days ahead of the verdict, Purohit gave his assent to one legislation – Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Amendment Bill, 2023. At present, the other three are pending.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Ente Keralam mega expo, marketing fair to begin in Kannur on May 8
As part of the fourth anniversary celebrations of the second Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, the 'Ente Keralam' mega exhibition and marketing fair will be held at the Kannur Police Maidan from May 8 to 14. Minister for Registration, Museum, Archaeology, and Archives Kadannappally Ramachandran told the media that the event symbolises the development thrust of the 'people's government.' The inaugural ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on May 8, with Minister Kadannappally Ramachandran inaugurating the event and MLA K.K. Shailaja presiding. The concluding session, scheduled for 5 p.m. on May 14, will be inaugurated by MP V. Sivadasan, with MLA K.V. Sumesh presiding. The exhibition, housed in a 52,000 sq ft refrigerated pavilion, will feature 251 stalls, including 151 thematic and 100 commercial ones, showcasing the achievements and services of various government departments. Key infrastructural support is being provided by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), while Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) will also have a platform to market their products. Highlights include a 2,500 sq. ft theme pavilion by the Information and Public Relations department and a 1,500 sq. ft mini theatre by the Kerala Film Corporation. Other attractions include a dog show by the police department, the Forest department's Sarpa app demo, fire department simulations, and a food court managed by Kudumbashree. Topical seminars will be held alongside the exhibition. These include sessions on startups (May 8), senior citizen welfare (May 9), anti-drug campaigns (May 10), gender equality and entrepreneurship (May 11), water safety and civil service guidance (May 13), and livestock self-sufficiency (May 14). Cultural programmes will feature classical music by Pandit Ramesh Narayan on the opening day, performances by University Arts Festival winners, and folk traditions such as Thiruvathira, Margamkali, Kolkali, and Poorakali. Inclusive events will showcase the talents of differently abled artists, women civil service officers, and members of the transgender community. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will hold a face-to-face interaction with over 500 district-level stakeholders on May 9 from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at Dinesh Auditorium. Participants will include beneficiaries, youth expatriates, professionals, and artists.
