Wednesday, February 29, 2012
P.K.Narayana Panicker passes away
Changnacherry: P.K. Narayana Panicker, considered to be one of the leading lights of the Nair Service Society (NSS), the social organisation of the Kerala's Nair community, passed away here Wednesday afternoon, He was 82.
RSS chief visits Sivagiri Mutt
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 14 (PTI) RSS Sarsanghchalak (chief) Mohan Bhagwat today visited the famed Sivagiri Mutt at Varkala near here, founded by saint-reformer Sree Narayana Guru. Bhagwat was received by the head of the Mutt Swamy Rithambharananda and other sanyasins. He offered floral tribute at the 'samadhi' of the Guru and the nearby Sarada Mutt. A major spiritual centre in Kerala, Sivagiri Mutt was founded by Sree Naryana Guru, the 20th century reformer who profoundly influenced Kerala society through his message of "one caste, one religion and one God for men".
E.Sreedharan visits project area of proposed monorail
Kozhikode: E Sreedharan, former chairman of Delhi metro rail corporation visited the proposed project site for monorail connecting Kozhikode medical college and Karippur Airport. Sreedhraran examined 13 locations from Medical College to Ramanattukara. He denied divulging anything about the inspection. He will hold talks with PWD minister VK Ibrahim Kunju on Monday.
The project will be completed in three phases. The first phase would be from medical college to Ramanattukara, second phase from Meenchantha to Karippur and third phase from Elathoor to Kozhikode. The expected cost if Rs 1500 crore.
The project will be completed in three phases. The first phase would be from medical college to Ramanattukara, second phase from Meenchantha to Karippur and third phase from Elathoor to Kozhikode. The expected cost if Rs 1500 crore.
Court rejects Madhani's plea
Bangalore: The Bangalore First class Metropolitan Magistrate rejected the plea filed by Abdul Nassar Madhani to exclude him from the Bangalore blast case. The court ruled that Madhani will have to face the hearing and the charge sheet will be read out to him on February 27. Madhani had stated in his plea that he had been included as accused in the case wrongly. The court had been hearing the pleas submitted by Madhani and many others in relation to the case. Adv. P Usman is representing Madhani.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Ex-CJI Balakrishnan in a soup over graft
A bench comprising Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justice Swatanter Kumar asked Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati to take instructions in this regard and report back to the court by March 12.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought to know from the government if it had taken any action or proposed to take any action on complaints alleging corruption and other charges against National Human Rights Commission chairperson K.G. Balakrishnan.
A bench comprising Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justice Swatanter Kumar asked Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati to take instructions in this regard and report back to the court by March 12.
The bench sought a status report on complaints against Justice Balakrishnan while hearing a petition by NGO Common Cause, seeking a direction to the Centre to initiate the process for removal of the NHRC head in view of charges of misbehaviour against him.
The NGO had sought an intervention as the government was reportedly ignoring complaints against him. It alleged that Justice Balakrishnan faced charges of amassing benami properties, suppressing the fact that former Union minister A. Raja had been accused of attempting to interfere with the course of justice and approving false RTI replies pertaining to assets of judges during his tenure as the CJI.
Common Cause counsel Prashant Bhushan said there had been no response to complaints sent as early as in April.
He said about 20 properties had been acquired by his brother and two sons-in-law between 2005 and 2009 when Balakrishnan was in the Supreme Court. He had also given a false statement denying any complaint against Raja.
Bhushan said NHRC chairperson could be removed if a reference is made by the government to the Supreme Court and the court, after an inquiry recommends removal. With the government not making a reference, he sought a mandamus to the government for performing its duty.
Justice Kapadia, however, raised questions on another petition by a lawyer seeking removal of Justice Balakrishnan. "How can we do so?'' Justice Kapadia observed, referring to the provisions pertaining to removal in the Human Rights Act.
Bhushan said the court could always intervene when the government fails to perform its duty under law. "The court is not helpless in any situation but we need justification for intervention," Justice Kapadia said. The Supreme Court, had earlier permitted the CBI to take "necessary action" on complaints against Justice Balakrishnan.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought to know from the government if it had taken any action or proposed to take any action on complaints alleging corruption and other charges against National Human Rights Commission chairperson K.G. Balakrishnan.
A bench comprising Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justice Swatanter Kumar asked Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati to take instructions in this regard and report back to the court by March 12.
The bench sought a status report on complaints against Justice Balakrishnan while hearing a petition by NGO Common Cause, seeking a direction to the Centre to initiate the process for removal of the NHRC head in view of charges of misbehaviour against him.
The NGO had sought an intervention as the government was reportedly ignoring complaints against him. It alleged that Justice Balakrishnan faced charges of amassing benami properties, suppressing the fact that former Union minister A. Raja had been accused of attempting to interfere with the course of justice and approving false RTI replies pertaining to assets of judges during his tenure as the CJI.
Common Cause counsel Prashant Bhushan said there had been no response to complaints sent as early as in April.
He said about 20 properties had been acquired by his brother and two sons-in-law between 2005 and 2009 when Balakrishnan was in the Supreme Court. He had also given a false statement denying any complaint against Raja.
Bhushan said NHRC chairperson could be removed if a reference is made by the government to the Supreme Court and the court, after an inquiry recommends removal. With the government not making a reference, he sought a mandamus to the government for performing its duty.
Justice Kapadia, however, raised questions on another petition by a lawyer seeking removal of Justice Balakrishnan. "How can we do so?'' Justice Kapadia observed, referring to the provisions pertaining to removal in the Human Rights Act.
Bhushan said the court could always intervene when the government fails to perform its duty under law. "The court is not helpless in any situation but we need justification for intervention," Justice Kapadia said. The Supreme Court, had earlier permitted the CBI to take "necessary action" on complaints against Justice Balakrishnan.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Communists in Kerala squabble like never before
Thiruvananthapuram: Forget Left unity, the two Communist parties in Kerala have been at each other's throats for a while now. It has reached a crescendo with the smaller of the two, the Communist Party of India (CPI) warning 'big brother' Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) to immediately stop abusing it.
'Don't provoke us, we give you an ultimatum that please stop uttering abuses against us. We will not take it anymore. Please stop saying that our state secretary Chandrappan is a 'Dangeist'. Don't forget that you were part Dange too,' said C. Divakaran, senior CPI legislator and minister in the V.S. Achuthanandan cabinet (2006-11).
S.A. Dange was one of the founder leaders of the Communist Party in India. In 1964 the Communist party split with the CPI-M taking shape. One of the main reasons why the split took place was Dange always had a soft corner for the Congress, while the CPI-M was dead against that.
Divakaran hit out against the CPI-M after its newly re-elected state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan attacked Chandrappan and asked him to ensure that he 'stops speaking nonsense that our party conference was done by an event management company'.
'How dare someone say this. We will not accept this irrespective of whoever has said it. We are a party which is very strong at all levels, and there is no point in feeling jealous of us,' was Vijayan's direct diatribe against CPI state secretary C.K. Chandrappan.
The ties between the two 'red parties' went from bad to worse ever since the CPI-M decided to hold its state party conference here at almost the same time as the CPI was to hold its state meeting at Kollam.
While the CPI-M's meeting got over here Friday night, CPI's conference came to a close Saturday night.
Chandrappan, considered one of the most soft spoken Communists, even said that leaders should use decent and respectable language while speaking.
'I apologise to the CPI-M if my statement that their state conference was done by an event management firm hurt them. Everyone knows who is indulging in loose talk. It is best if all speak in a civilised manner because the public is watching everything,' said Chandrappan.
On Sunday, veteran CPI-M legislator E.P. Jayarajan hit out at Chandrappan again.
'Chandrappan speaks nonsense and he does not possess any of the qualities of the previous state secretary Veliyam Bharghavan. Chandrappan's utterance will only help the Congress party and it will be a blow to his own party,' remarked an angry Jayarajan.
With daggers drawn, the coming days will see which way the war of words between the two 'red parties' takes. In the '70s, the CPI and the Congress was in unison and ruled Kerala and it is often referred to as the best ever government the state has seen.
A Mathrubhumi Report
'Don't provoke us, we give you an ultimatum that please stop uttering abuses against us. We will not take it anymore. Please stop saying that our state secretary Chandrappan is a 'Dangeist'. Don't forget that you were part Dange too,' said C. Divakaran, senior CPI legislator and minister in the V.S. Achuthanandan cabinet (2006-11).
S.A. Dange was one of the founder leaders of the Communist Party in India. In 1964 the Communist party split with the CPI-M taking shape. One of the main reasons why the split took place was Dange always had a soft corner for the Congress, while the CPI-M was dead against that.
Divakaran hit out against the CPI-M after its newly re-elected state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan attacked Chandrappan and asked him to ensure that he 'stops speaking nonsense that our party conference was done by an event management company'.
'How dare someone say this. We will not accept this irrespective of whoever has said it. We are a party which is very strong at all levels, and there is no point in feeling jealous of us,' was Vijayan's direct diatribe against CPI state secretary C.K. Chandrappan.
The ties between the two 'red parties' went from bad to worse ever since the CPI-M decided to hold its state party conference here at almost the same time as the CPI was to hold its state meeting at Kollam.
While the CPI-M's meeting got over here Friday night, CPI's conference came to a close Saturday night.
Chandrappan, considered one of the most soft spoken Communists, even said that leaders should use decent and respectable language while speaking.
'I apologise to the CPI-M if my statement that their state conference was done by an event management firm hurt them. Everyone knows who is indulging in loose talk. It is best if all speak in a civilised manner because the public is watching everything,' said Chandrappan.
On Sunday, veteran CPI-M legislator E.P. Jayarajan hit out at Chandrappan again.
'Chandrappan speaks nonsense and he does not possess any of the qualities of the previous state secretary Veliyam Bharghavan. Chandrappan's utterance will only help the Congress party and it will be a blow to his own party,' remarked an angry Jayarajan.
With daggers drawn, the coming days will see which way the war of words between the two 'red parties' takes. In the '70s, the CPI and the Congress was in unison and ruled Kerala and it is often referred to as the best ever government the state has seen.
A Mathrubhumi Report
Popular Kerala singer detained, freed by Saudi police
Thiruvananthapuram: Popular Malayalam singer K.G.Markose was first detained and then released by Saudi Islamic police Saturday while on a tour of Saudi Arabia to hold a stage programme celebrating India's Republic Day.
"The incident occured Friday evening at 7.30 p.m when the singer was proceeding to AL-Qatif near Damamm after having performed in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. He was on a visit to stage a programme celebrating India's Republic Day organised by a Kerala group there," said an official from Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy's office to IANS.
He added: "The reason behind his arrest, as being told to us, is that a notice with Markose's picture in Malayalam was being circulated and this is against the kingdom's laws. What we are given to understand is that the organisers of the musical programme also did not take the required sanction."
Markose also spoke to IANS over telephone.
"Right now, I am in a police station in Dammam and they are verifying my papers and so far there has been no arrest. They have found out that I am on a visit visa and am sure that very soon I would be asked to leave the station. The officials are very nice to me and I have no problems here at all. I have been told that this programme did not have the required permission from authorities," said Markose.
After efforts by various non-resident Malayalis in the Gulf and Oomen Chandy's office, Markose was finally released late Saturday evening.
Markose, who has been a professional singer for the past three decades is a very popular devotional singer and has also sung in Malayalam films.
"The incident occured Friday evening at 7.30 p.m when the singer was proceeding to AL-Qatif near Damamm after having performed in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. He was on a visit to stage a programme celebrating India's Republic Day organised by a Kerala group there," said an official from Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy's office to IANS.
He added: "The reason behind his arrest, as being told to us, is that a notice with Markose's picture in Malayalam was being circulated and this is against the kingdom's laws. What we are given to understand is that the organisers of the musical programme also did not take the required sanction."
Markose also spoke to IANS over telephone.
"Right now, I am in a police station in Dammam and they are verifying my papers and so far there has been no arrest. They have found out that I am on a visit visa and am sure that very soon I would be asked to leave the station. The officials are very nice to me and I have no problems here at all. I have been told that this programme did not have the required permission from authorities," said Markose.
After efforts by various non-resident Malayalis in the Gulf and Oomen Chandy's office, Markose was finally released late Saturday evening.
Markose, who has been a professional singer for the past three decades is a very popular devotional singer and has also sung in Malayalam films.
Friday, February 10, 2012
CPI-M denies attack on Achuthanandan at party meet
Thiruvananthapuram: Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Thursday denied media reports that party delegates launched an attack on veteran comrade and former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan at the ongoing state party conference here.
On the sidelines of the conference, Balakrishnan, home minister in the Achuthanandan government (2006-11), told the media persons that the CPI-M was not a party 'where we target others in the party'.
'The media has got it all wrong, and the reports that appear in the media that a particular leader has been attacked are wrong. It is baseless,' said Balakrishnan.
For the past two days, there has been a flurry of media reports that Achuthanandan was attacked mercilessly by many of the party delegates.
The organisational report, a portion of which was telecast on TV news channels, showed Achuthanandan in poor light.
Party general secretary Prakash Karat told the conference that a portion of the report which has reference to Achuthanandan will be 'frozen' and the politburo and the central committee will look into it before the upcoming party Congress scheduled to be held at Kozhikode.
On the sidelines of the conference, Balakrishnan, home minister in the Achuthanandan government (2006-11), told the media persons that the CPI-M was not a party 'where we target others in the party'.
'The media has got it all wrong, and the reports that appear in the media that a particular leader has been attacked are wrong. It is baseless,' said Balakrishnan.
For the past two days, there has been a flurry of media reports that Achuthanandan was attacked mercilessly by many of the party delegates.
The organisational report, a portion of which was telecast on TV news channels, showed Achuthanandan in poor light.
Party general secretary Prakash Karat told the conference that a portion of the report which has reference to Achuthanandan will be 'frozen' and the politburo and the central committee will look into it before the upcoming party Congress scheduled to be held at Kozhikode.
Balakrishna Pillai Vs Ganesh Kumar
Thiruvananthapuram: R Balakrishna Pillai said the party decisions against minister K B Ganesh Kumar would be intimated to the UDF. He was speaking after the meeting of Kerala Congress Pillai group here on Friday. Pillai has entrusted two persons from state committee to deal with the issue. He also blamed the media for taking side with Ganesh Kumar.
Chief minister Oommen Chandy had told on Thursday that the UDF would intervene in the Balakrishna Pillai-Ganesh Kumar issue as Kerala Congress is an ally of the UDF. Balakrishn pillai is a veteran leader and his party lends support to UDF. Nobody has apprised him about the ongoing issue but the UDF would intervene as it is our ally, Chandy said.
Though the tiff between father and son may split Kerala Congress Pillai group, there is a strong feeling that the Congress may support Ganesh Kumar. The govt is on a slender majority of just 2 MLAs and there are no options left before the UDF. This had been duly convened to Pillai, Chandy said.
Chief minister Oommen Chandy had told on Thursday that the UDF would intervene in the Balakrishna Pillai-Ganesh Kumar issue as Kerala Congress is an ally of the UDF. Balakrishn pillai is a veteran leader and his party lends support to UDF. Nobody has apprised him about the ongoing issue but the UDF would intervene as it is our ally, Chandy said.
Though the tiff between father and son may split Kerala Congress Pillai group, there is a strong feeling that the Congress may support Ganesh Kumar. The govt is on a slender majority of just 2 MLAs and there are no options left before the UDF. This had been duly convened to Pillai, Chandy said.
Nine websites, including Kerala Govt’s defaced:
New Delhi: Nine official websites including that of the Power Ministry, Maharashtra, Kerala and Uttarakhand Governments were defaced in the recent past, forcing the authorities to strengthen cyber security safeguards.
The websites www.kumbh2010haridwar.gov.in, www.ueppcb.uk.gov.in, www.gov.ua.nic.in/ujn, www.cdodoon.gov.in, www.arunachal.nic.in,www.bee-india.nic.in, www.civilsupplieskerala.gov.in, www.mpcb.gov.in and www.informatics.nic.in were defaced, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology said in an RTI reply.
"A number of hacking attempts are made on daily basis on governments websites hosted on NICNET servers. It is not possible to accurately quantify these. The attempts are usually effectively blocked by security controls put in place," it said.
The Ministry was asked to give details of hacking attempts being made on the governments websites in the last ten years (2001-11) along with the names of Uniform Resource Locater (URL) of the portals and source of such attacks.
However, the NIC said that "no such compilation is available" on the URL or name of the portals which were victims of cyber attacks.
"Source of an attempt is mostly traced through Internet protocol (IP) numbers making these attacks. However, the IP number may not be correct country since usually attacker attempt to masquerade their origin," the NIC said in reply to an RTI query filed by PTI
The websites www.kumbh2010haridwar.gov.in, www.ueppcb.uk.gov.in, www.gov.ua.nic.in/ujn, www.cdodoon.gov.in, www.arunachal.nic.in,www.bee-india.nic.in, www.civilsupplieskerala.gov.in, www.mpcb.gov.in and www.informatics.nic.in were defaced, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology said in an RTI reply.
"A number of hacking attempts are made on daily basis on governments websites hosted on NICNET servers. It is not possible to accurately quantify these. The attempts are usually effectively blocked by security controls put in place," it said.
The Ministry was asked to give details of hacking attempts being made on the governments websites in the last ten years (2001-11) along with the names of Uniform Resource Locater (URL) of the portals and source of such attacks.
However, the NIC said that "no such compilation is available" on the URL or name of the portals which were victims of cyber attacks.
"Source of an attempt is mostly traced through Internet protocol (IP) numbers making these attacks. However, the IP number may not be correct country since usually attacker attempt to masquerade their origin," the NIC said in reply to an RTI query filed by PTI
Sunday, February 5, 2012
A look alike picture of Jesus Christ's "The Last Supper" Puts C.P.M in Trouble
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's Marxists are in trouble again -- this time over a look alike picture of Jesus Christ's The Last Supper.
The Congress has hit out at the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) after the CPM's labour wing put up the controversial picture.
It showed US President Barack Obama in the centre of a supposed Last Supper flanked by "disciples" Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, L.K. Advani and Oommen Chandy.
"They (CPM) say they have the highest regards for Christ. But they do all sorts of things which belittle Christ and Christianity," Chandy said in Kottayam.
"The CPM should immediately apologise for the poster," he said.
Spokesperson of the Synod of Catholic Bishops, Paul Thelekkat, said using The Last Supper to make a political point was wrong.
"The CPM has hurt the sentiments of believers," he told reporters.
CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the party had no role in preparing the posters.
"This was not done by our party. When our party leaders came to know of this, they went to the place and removed them. It is not our policy to belittle Jesus or Christianity," Vijayan said here.
Only last week the Congress condemned the CPI-M for using a Jesus Christ portrait at an exhibition as part of its state conference.'
The painting of Christ was placed along with Communist icons including Che Guevera at an exhibition titled "Marx is Correct".
M.M Report
The Congress has hit out at the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) after the CPM's labour wing put up the controversial picture.
It showed US President Barack Obama in the centre of a supposed Last Supper flanked by "disciples" Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, L.K. Advani and Oommen Chandy.
"They (CPM) say they have the highest regards for Christ. But they do all sorts of things which belittle Christ and Christianity," Chandy said in Kottayam.
"The CPM should immediately apologise for the poster," he said.
Spokesperson of the Synod of Catholic Bishops, Paul Thelekkat, said using The Last Supper to make a political point was wrong.
"The CPM has hurt the sentiments of believers," he told reporters.
CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the party had no role in preparing the posters.
"This was not done by our party. When our party leaders came to know of this, they went to the place and removed them. It is not our policy to belittle Jesus or Christianity," Vijayan said here.
Only last week the Congress condemned the CPI-M for using a Jesus Christ portrait at an exhibition as part of its state conference.'
The painting of Christ was placed along with Communist icons including Che Guevera at an exhibition titled "Marx is Correct".
M.M Report
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