Latest news with #Satheeshan
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Arrest of nuns: UDF targets BJP's Christian outreach bid
Kochi: Turning the arrest of two Keralite nurses in Chhattisgarh into a political flashpoint to counter BJP's Christian outreach efforts, Congress and its UDF allies launched strong protests condemning the incident. Opposition leader V D Satheeshan visited the house of Sister Preethy Mary, one of the arrested nuns, in Angamaly and strongly criticised Sangh Parivar. "The nuns were arrested and remanded by police without any substantial reason. Such incidents are occurring across the country. Clergy and nuns are being continuously attacked. Previously, numerous incidents were reported in states like Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, governed by BJP. While these attacks are happening nationwide, hypocrisy is evident in Kerala. People come with cakes for Easter and Christmas like wolves in sheep's clothing," said Satheeshan, hinting at BJP's outreach programme of visiting Christian houses. Demanding the nuns' immediate release, Satheeshan alleged that Sangh Parivar was trying to exploit divisions among people for political gain by turning them into enemies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Private Jet - The Prices May Surprise You! Private Jet I Search Ads Learn More Undo "The nuns' arrest is not an isolated incident; it is repeatedly occurring. The issue was raised in Parliament. Christians are being attacked nationwide. Notices have been issued in Assam demanding the removal of pictures and statues from Christian schools," he said. Meanwhile, MPs from Kerala staged a protest in Parliament on Monday, demanding the nuns' release. "Nuns were targeted by a violent mob despite no wrongdoing. The BJP-RSS ecosystem treats all minorities as criminals. Lumpen elements are unleashed to intimidate fellow citizens practising their faith. This jugalbandi between Bajrang Dal goons and Chhattisgarh police shows BJP's real intent towards religious minorities. We demand their immediate release and justice for the innocent nuns," said K C Venugopal, MP. Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on X that she strongly condemned the shocking incident at Durg railway station. "The detention of two Christian nuns—Sister Vandhana and Sister Preethi—along with others, without legal basis and on false allegations of conversion and trafficking, is a grave attack on minority rights. This is not an isolated case — under BJP rule, minorities are being systematically harassed and vilified. Mob justice and communal targeting have no place in our democracy. The rule of law must prevail," she said. Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the Catholic nuns being jailed in Chhattisgarh was not justice but BJP-RSS mob rule. IUML state president Sadiqali Shihab Thangal said the nuns' arrest is a violation of religious freedom. Congress in Ernakulam has decided to organise block-level protest programmes across the district in the coming days.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Crisis in hospitals, Kerala govt failed to resolve medicine shortage: Satheesan
Kochi: Govt hospitals and medical colleges in state are facing a severe crisis with a lack of medicines and govt has failed to resolve the issue, adversely affecting the functioning of hospitals, said opposition leader V D Satheeshan on Monday. "Reports from various hospitals and medical colleges indicate that there is an acute shortage of medicines in all medical colleges and govt hospitals. After surgery, patients have to bring their own thread for stitching. A person who fell from a building paid Rs 88,000 for treatment," Satheeshan said. "The health minister said yesterday that govt hospitals cannot procure supplies as quickly as private hospitals. The issue has been going on for two or three years. Opposition raised the issue continuously, but govt failed to take any proper steps due to financial crisis. Instead of resolving it, justifications and PR management programmes are going on," he alleged. "UDF will appoint a health commission, including public health experts, to study the collapse of the health sector in state. As part of this, a health conclave will be organised," he said. Demands minister's apology Satheeshan said fisheries minister Saji Cherian should apologise and retract his statement calling fishermen, who protested against the sea erosion issue in Chellanam with black flags, goons. "The people in the area protested when govt failed to protect families residing in the Kammaal region. Instead of criticising them, govt should be ready to resolve the issue," he said.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Couple found dead at house, kin alleges threat from bank
Thiruvananthapuram: A couple, who were reportedly facing a severe financial crisis, were found dead at their house in Karamana, allegedly after receiving a call from a nationalised bank informing them that their house would be attached on Monday as part of revenue recovery. Police identified the deceased as Satheeshan, 55, of Keshava Bhavan near Kochu Kattanvila at Thamalam and Bindu V, 49. Bindu's body was found hanging in the bedroom and Satheeshan's body was lying on the floor. "Only after a postmortem can we confirm whether it was suicide or whether there was any foul play. The cause of Satheeshan's death has also not been confirmed. There was some bleeding from his body," said police. The relatives of the deceased alleged that the bank cheated the deceased by charging an enormous amount as interest on the loan taken. According to relatives, Satheeshan took a loan of Rs 60 lakh about seven years ago. He suffered a stroke in 2021. Following this, he could not repay the loan amount. "Two years ago, the bank offered him some money as a top-up of the existing loan. However, he received no money, and the bank asked him to pay Rs 1.10 crore to avoid revenue recovery. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is USDJPY on the Upward Move? IC Markets Sign Up Undo In April, the bank staff members had reached the house to seal the property, but due to the resistance by local people, they did not proceed with it. The bank later directed him to pay back Rs 2 crore. Following that, he filed a case against the bank demanding a reassessment of the way the repayment amount was calculated and also for threatening him on the phone continuously," said Binu T, brother of Bindu. Binu also said the family was planning to sell the house to repay the loan, but by projecting a huge amount, the bank ruined their plans to clear the dues. Locals recently protested in front of the bank demanding justice by waiving off some part of the interest. But the bank was not willing to do so, alleged Binu.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong unit distances itself from Tharoor delegation row
Kochi: Amid the controversy over the Centre choosing for international delegations formed to explain India's position on , opposition leader VD Satheeshan said on Sunday that the opinion of the party's national leadership will also be the opinion of the state leadership in this matter. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Satheeshan told the media that the party's national leadership should speak about Tharoor. He said Tharoor is a CWC member and it is not the state unit's place to comment on him. He added that the Congress does not work in a way where the state controls the national party. Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan asked Tharoor to focus on his main duty as a Congress MP. He said Tharoor could take up international roles only with the Congress leadership's permission. Speaking to a TV channel, he said Tharoor had two roles—one as an international figure with his own views and the other as a Congress MP. He said Tharoor should act with the party's knowledge and approval. Tharoor can work in the international arena, but it should not weaken the party he represents. He added that Tharoor is not a leader of small stature. Meanwhile, 's ally said the Congress has already accepted Tharoor's inclusion in the delegation and called it an internal matter. IUML state chief Sadikali Shihab Thangal said there was no need to bring politics into it. He said it was India's stand and all parties in the country should support it, which they are doing. IUML national general secretary PK Kunhalikutty said the delegation was sent to explain the reasons behind India's strike against terrorism after Pahalgam attack and there is no need for any controversy. Meanwhile, responding to former KPCC chief K Sudhakaran's remarks about the selection of a new president, Satheeshan said Sudhakaran was not unhappy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He said the media keeps asking Sudhakaran questions every day and should stop following only the Congress. "You still haven't answered how many years Rajeev Chandrasekhar was in the BJP. Have you checked how he became an MP twice? He says he is a Malayali, but has he ever worked as a booth president here? Has he served on any committee before? What did he do for Kerala in his five years as a central minister? The media won't talk about that," he said. He claimed the media is trying to belittle the appointment of someone with over 50 years of political experience as KPCC chief. "Congress will stay strong. You said it would explode like a bomb, but nothing happened," he added.
