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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala rises in protest over nuns' arrest in C'garh
Kochi: Anger and shock mounted in the state on Monday over the arrest of two Keralite nuns in Chhattisgarh on charges of religious conversion and human trafficking, with various church organisations condemning it as an attack on minority rights and religious freedom. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It also drew political reactions, with UDF MPs staging a protest in the Parliament House complex, demanding their immediate release. Ministers P Rajeeve and Roshy Augustine visited the home of one of the arrested nuns in Angamaly and expressed solidarity, while BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said a delegation led by the party's general secretary, Anoop Antony, would visit Chhattisgarh to look into the matter. Sisters Preethy Mary and Vandana Francis, belonging to Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, and a third person, Sukaman Mandavi, were arrested at Durg railway station on July 25 on a complaint from a local Bajrang Dal functionary accusing them of forcibly converting three girls from Narayanpur and trafficking them. A railway police official said they had been charged under Section 143 (trafficking of persons) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 4 (religious conversion) of Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act, 1968. Rajeeve told the media after meeting the nun's family that the incident should be seen as an infringement on the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution. He said besides protests, all possible legal remedies would be explored and the CM had tasked them with pursuing them. He said they had spoken to the family and assured them of govt support. Appropriate follow-up action will be initiated through the resident commissionerate in Delhi, he said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A delegation of bishops also visited the nun's family in Angamaly. President of Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath said the development was extremely objectionable and distressing. "There is no doubt that this incident is a blatant violation of the minority rights and religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution. The Durg incident has instilled fear among Christian minorities in the country. It is just one of several ongoing incidents in which even the clergy's right to travel freely in their religious attire is being denied," Thazhath said, adding that PM Narendra Modi and the Union govt should take immediate steps to provide the necessary protection for religious minorities. The archbishop, however, said the Church did not support using the issue as a political weapon. "What is needed are actions that ensure the protection of the Christian minority, not politically motivated accusations. Support from all political groups is essential for this," he said. Meanwhile, in what appeared to be a criticism of the Church leadership's political stance, Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Yuhanon Mar Meletius, made a sarcastic Facebook post. Sharing a newspaper article about the protests over the nuns' arrest, Meletius wrote: "Why protest? Isn't it enough to felicitate them in Delhi during the next festival?" Kuriakose Mor Theophilos Metropolitan, spokesperson of Jacobite Syrian Church, said: "While Christian churches are attempting to view the harassment and attacks against Christians, especially clergy and nuns, in various parts of India as isolated incidents, there is growing concern within the Church and society as to whether these recurring events are part of a specific agenda by disruptive forces, aimed at undermining the mission of Christian churches. " Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) state president Sherry J Thomas said the Union govt should urgently intervene in the matter. He also demanded an investigation of the alleged coercion of the girls to testify against the nuns.
The Hindu
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Infrastructure works under Kuttanad Package launched
Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine here on Sunday inaugurated the construction of infrastructure development works for paddy polder networks in Thalayazham, a village in North Kuttanad. The polder development project in the local body is being initiated as par of the Kuttanad package. The Irrigation Department has allocated ₹6.10 crore for the infrastructure development of padasekharams across several areas within the grama panchayat, including Kannuvallikkari, Moonnam Velikkari, Vattakkari, Enarom, Panachithuruth, Mannathusseri, Mundar 3, Chettikkari, Vanamsouth, and Varambinakam. The scope of work includes the construction and strengthening of outer bunds, building of retaining walls, establishment and maintenance of motor sheds, and other essential infrastructure improvements. The project is expected to benefit approximately 804 acres of paddy fields in the region. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the government would always accord top priority to addressing farmers' concerns. Through initiatives by the Irrigation department and projects under the Kuttanad Package, significant strides have been made in strengthening the infrastructure of polder networks across the region, he said. 'The enhanced infrastructure in paddy fields would directly contribute to growth in food production,' the Minister said Citing the success of the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Minister stated that the number of households with access to drinking water in the state has increased from 17 lakh to 43 lakh. Vaikom legislator C.K. Asha presided over the event.
New Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Work on major drinking water projects in Kochi inaugurated
KOCHI: The work on two 15-lakh litre water tank projects sanctioned under KWA's Amrut 2.0 sheme for Kochi Corporation was inaugurated by Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine at an event held in Pallimukku on Saturday. The project approved last year with an estimated cost of Rs 15.51 crore includes construction of a 15 lakh litre over-head tank and a 15 lakh litre on-ground tank in Ward 60 in Perumanoor. The project aims to ensure smooth water supply to General Hospital and Thevara zones. The project is expected to be completed in a year. Additionally, work on Karumalloor- Kunnukkara drinking water scheme of Kalamassery municipality was also inaugurated on Saturday. The project is aimed at solving the drinking water requirements of residents in Kunnukara-Karumalloor panchayats. The Rs 51.30-crore project that will be implemented using KIIFB funds includes a 20 mld water treatment plant, an over-head tank in Malayikunnu, pumping stations, a 10.50 lakh litre overhead tank in Manjali, and a 250mm DIK9 clear main line to UC College overhead tank. The capacity of the project has been increased to 20mld to include Alangad panchayat as well in the distribution network. 'The project aims to ensure adequate drinking water supply to Kunnukara and Karumalloor areas for the next 50 years,' said Industries Minister P Rajeeve who spoke at the inaugural function of the event.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Minister lays foundation stone for KWA overhead tank in Kochi
Kochi: Water resources minister Roshy Augustine laid foundation stone for a 1.5-lakh litre overhead water tank on Kerala water authority (KWA) premises in Pallimukku on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to KWA officials, construction of the tank will help streamline water supply to many places in the city. Construction of the tank is being done under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) scheme. Cost of the project is Rs 17.5 crore. Many projects to augment water supply in the city are being implemented under Amrut scheme. Kochi corporation and KWA have joined hands under Amrut-II to provide new water connections to around 25,000 families in the city. Although KWA provided water connections to many households under the scheme, several residents complain of lack of adequate water supply. Meanwhile, Youth Congress workers waved a black flag at Augustine during the inaugural function. Police took them into custody.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Central Travancore politics dives into floodwaters as local body polls loom
With local body elections on the doorsteps, political battlelines are being drawn not just on land, but across the rivers and lakes of central Travancore too. Environmental issues have surged to the centre of the political discourse as parties crank up their campaign machinery. The Kerala Congress(M), for instance, has sprung into action with a symposium on the recurring floods in the Meenachil river. Addressing the event, KC(M) Chairman Jose K. Mani called for a complete overhaul in water management strategies, urging the State to adopt long-term flood-control plans. 'River and stream storage capacities must be maximised. Check-dams should follow a seasonal protocol. Desilting and waste removal from waterbodies are crucial, and excess river sand must be auctioned,' he said. The party plans to compile the recommendations that came up in the symposium and present them to the State government. Interestingly, the KC(M) itself holds the State's Water Resources portfolio, with Roshy Augustine at the helm. The rival faction led by P.J. Joseph, on the other hand, is launching a protest campaign anchored on Vembanad Lake, which serves as the lifeline for the flood-prone Kuttanad and upper Kuttanad regions. Charging that neglect and government inaction have brought the lake to the brink, the first phase of its protest kicks off on Saturday, June 28, on the banks of Vembanad near the Vaikom boat jetty . 'Silt, mud, and garbage have choked Vembanad Lake, drastically cutting its storage capacity. Frequent floods and crop destruction have become the norm. The State and Centre have ignored the Swaminathan commission's recommendations. Even the much-hyped Kuttanad Package remains a paper promise,' the party said, in a statement. It is demanding immediate, targeted action: restore the lake, revive dying waterbodies such as the Kariyar and Thottappally, safeguard paddy fields, and rollout special flood-relief projects across Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta.
