Thiruvananthapuram: In a repeat of what happened in 2006, CPM state leadership, under the pressure from PolitBuero decides to field Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan in the upcoming Assembly elections in the Kerala. V.S.Achuthananthan will contest from his sitting seat Malampuzha. The decision was announced by party's state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan at a press conference here.
Today, a strait faced Vijayan while announcing the list of candidates, approved by the Polit Bureau, without betraying any surprise or emotion, read out VS Achuthanandan's name as the party's candidate from Malampuzha. Achuthanandan's name was 39th on the list.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
V.S. Out,Bowled by Pinarayi,Catch by Kodiyeri
Thiruvananthapuram:Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will not contest the
up coming assembly polls .According to party sources,the CPI-M state secretariat which met here did not favour Achuthandan's candidature. The secretariat decision would be presented to the state committe, of which the meeting is being progressing. A formal announcement is expected after the conclusion of the state committee meet.
Emerging from the meeting.
A grim-faced Achuthanandan refused to answer any questions and said 'those responsible for briefing this will let you know'.
The poll potpourri in Kerala witnessed a stunning twist, when the CPM state secretariat decided to drop Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan from the frontlines of the poll campaign, denying him a seat in the forthcoming assembly polls.
Even before the news was officially confirmed, Achuthanandan supporters were out on the streets in different parts of the state, demanding that their leader be allowed to lead the poll campaign.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Radiation levels affecting Singapore not true
An SMS that has been making the rounds warns that radiation from Japan reaching Singapore has turned out to be a hoax.
The text message claims to be a news flash from BBC news, advising people to remain indoors.
It reads:
"A nuclear power plant in Fukumi, Japan exploded at 4:30 AM today. If it rains tomorrow or later, don't go outside. If you are outside, be sure that you have rain protectors. It's acid rain. Don't let it touch you. You may burn your skin, lose your hair or have cancer. Please pass, stay safe and remind everyone you know.
The hoax originated in the Philippines and has been circulating here.
Nuclear experts in the Philippines were quick to debunk the rumour. In a statement, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) also said radiation levels in the Philippine atmosphere were normal as of Monday (Mar 14) and showed “no increase” since the nuclear plants in Fukushima reported sustaining damage in their reactors.
Such hoaxes could cause unnecessary panic and fear. Some who saw the message on Facebook sensed it was a hoax and slammed its senders for causing panic. One Facebook user, Felicia Jieling posted on citizen journalism website STOMP: "Idiots with nothing better to do can consider going to Japan to assist them, instead of stupidly sending such crap SMS to create mass panic."
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that Singapore would not be affected by radioactive rain because Japan's nuclear reactors were located 5,000 kilometres away - a radiation shower would require a complete meltdown of Japan's reactors.
Even in the worst scenario, Singapore would still have official advanced warnings. Dr Benjamin Sovacool, assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, told a local news website that it would take days or weeks for a radioactive cloud to reach Singapore.
Members of the public are advised not to circulate such messages without verifying their accuracy.
Reports: AsiaOne
The text message claims to be a news flash from BBC news, advising people to remain indoors.
It reads:
"A nuclear power plant in Fukumi, Japan exploded at 4:30 AM today. If it rains tomorrow or later, don't go outside. If you are outside, be sure that you have rain protectors. It's acid rain. Don't let it touch you. You may burn your skin, lose your hair or have cancer. Please pass, stay safe and remind everyone you know.
The hoax originated in the Philippines and has been circulating here.
Nuclear experts in the Philippines were quick to debunk the rumour. In a statement, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) also said radiation levels in the Philippine atmosphere were normal as of Monday (Mar 14) and showed “no increase” since the nuclear plants in Fukushima reported sustaining damage in their reactors.
Such hoaxes could cause unnecessary panic and fear. Some who saw the message on Facebook sensed it was a hoax and slammed its senders for causing panic. One Facebook user, Felicia Jieling posted on citizen journalism website STOMP: "Idiots with nothing better to do can consider going to Japan to assist them, instead of stupidly sending such crap SMS to create mass panic."
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that Singapore would not be affected by radioactive rain because Japan's nuclear reactors were located 5,000 kilometres away - a radiation shower would require a complete meltdown of Japan's reactors.
Even in the worst scenario, Singapore would still have official advanced warnings. Dr Benjamin Sovacool, assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, told a local news website that it would take days or weeks for a radioactive cloud to reach Singapore.
Members of the public are advised not to circulate such messages without verifying their accuracy.
Reports: AsiaOne
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sushama Swarj to campaign in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram: In a bid to give a tough fight to both ruling LDF and Opposition UDF in the April 13 assembly elections in Kerala, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj would be the key camapigner for the party in the state, BJP National Secretary Muraleedhar Rao said here. BJP would put forward a credible alternative to both LDF and UDF in Kerala and senior BJP leaders would be camping in state for campaigning, Rao, also party in-charge of state, said.
First list of candidates would be released by Party's Central Committee in New Delhi on March 10, he said. The party would fight the polls alone and would put up candidates in all 140 constituencies, he said.
Rao denied the allegation that party was behind distribution of sarees by a prospective party candidate Udaya Bhaskar in Palakkad. How can raise anybody raise sucha an allegation, he asked. The party has not announced the name of any candidates for the polls, he said. Political rivals were panic and so were making wild allegations against BJP, he said. On the perforance of LDF in the state, Rao LDF rule was a complete failure. The LDF did not have any progressive development agenda,he said. Criticising the congress led UDF, Rao said the front was practicing vote bank politics and minority appeasement.
First list of candidates would be released by Party's Central Committee in New Delhi on March 10, he said. The party would fight the polls alone and would put up candidates in all 140 constituencies, he said.
Rao denied the allegation that party was behind distribution of sarees by a prospective party candidate Udaya Bhaskar in Palakkad. How can raise anybody raise sucha an allegation, he asked. The party has not announced the name of any candidates for the polls, he said. Political rivals were panic and so were making wild allegations against BJP, he said. On the perforance of LDF in the state, Rao LDF rule was a complete failure. The LDF did not have any progressive development agenda,he said. Criticising the congress led UDF, Rao said the front was practicing vote bank politics and minority appeasement.
Adv Ramkumar sends legal notice to VS
Kochi: Senior advocate K Ramkumar has sent a legal notice to chief minister V S Achuthanandan seeking apology for making insulting comments in public. Ramkumar had demanded an apology and if it is not tendered, he would be forced to demand a fine of Rs 2 crore and a case filed against him in the criminal court. The notice sent through Advocate Muhammad Niyas stated that VS statement was defaming. VS had stated that Adv Ramkumar is operating a hotel illegally on government land in Munnar and had been looting the government through a receiver.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
SC places CVC above Thomas
In a severe blow to the UPA-2 government, the Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the appointment of central vigilance commissioner, Mr P.J. Thomas, in view of his name figuring in a pending corruption case.
It said the issue of corruption cannot be allowed to remain hidden under technicalities cited by the Union government to defend him. Shortly after the verdict, the Union law minister, Mr M. Veerappa Moily, announced that Mr Thomas had resigned as CVC. However, Mr Thomas’ counsel, Mr Wills Mathews, said Mr Thomas has not yet gone through the judgement and would take a decision only after perusing it.
Reacting to the order, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh said: “I respect the Supreme Court verdict.” Dr Singh is likely to make a statement in Parliament on Friday.
The Congress tried to put up a brave face when asked if the court’s order had come as an embarrassment, saying: “Error is there, that is why the court has intervened in the matter.” It added that at the same time “no malafide has been alleged, and no malafide proved”.
It said the issue of corruption cannot be allowed to remain hidden under technicalities cited by the Union government to defend him. Shortly after the verdict, the Union law minister, Mr M. Veerappa Moily, announced that Mr Thomas had resigned as CVC. However, Mr Thomas’ counsel, Mr Wills Mathews, said Mr Thomas has not yet gone through the judgement and would take a decision only after perusing it.
Reacting to the order, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh said: “I respect the Supreme Court verdict.” Dr Singh is likely to make a statement in Parliament on Friday.
The Congress tried to put up a brave face when asked if the court’s order had come as an embarrassment, saying: “Error is there, that is why the court has intervened in the matter.” It added that at the same time “no malafide has been alleged, and no malafide proved”.
CVC case: How ignoring Sushma's 'dissent' boomeranged
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who, along with home minister P Chidambaram, insisted on P J Thomas's appointment as CVC, did not care for Sushma Swaraj's disapproval, not even when the Leader of Opposition said that she would put in a note of dissent.
At the eventful meeting on September 3 last year, the PM responded to Swaraj's intent to put her "dissent" in writing by gamely calling Prithviraj Chavan, then MoS in the PMO and in charge of Department of Personnel and Training, to write down that Thomas had been appointed by a majority decision and despite the dissent note. The determination boomeranged on the government on Thursday.
According to Swaraj, at the September 3 meeting, which was held at 24-hour notice, three names were put up before the selection panel. Apart from Thomas, Bijay Chakravarty and S Krishnan were being considered. Swaraj had suggested that since there was a corruption charge against Thomas, any of the other two could be appointed and she would have no objection to it. She disagreed with Chidambaram when he said that the official had been been cleared in the palmolein scam.
Swaraj said that she suggested government could consider expanding the panel and, failing that, put off the decision by a day. But when she was told that Thomas was the choice, she made it clear that she could not be party to the decision and put in her dissent note.
Swaraj, however, chose to be restrained after the Supreme Court verdict, limiting herself to the cryptic remark, "I am happy that the dignity of the office of CVC has been restored."
But the BJP immediately jumped upon the government's embarrassment, invoking the PM's favourite quote of Caesar's wife being above suspicion to demand that he "introspect" over the CVC controversy and inform the nation whether he was "misled or allowed himself to be misled" on Thomas's appointment.
"Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj has vindicated herself by expressing dissent. The responsibility lies with the prime minister and the home minister. The PM should introspect on whether he was misled or he allowed himself to be misled," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said.
In a triumphant mood, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The PM often says Caesar's wife must be above suspicion. Now that Supreme Court has quashed the appointment of CVC on the ground that relevant information relating to his involvement in a corruption case was ignored, the country is certainly entitled to know on what benchmark he is going to judge himself."
At the eventful meeting on September 3 last year, the PM responded to Swaraj's intent to put her "dissent" in writing by gamely calling Prithviraj Chavan, then MoS in the PMO and in charge of Department of Personnel and Training, to write down that Thomas had been appointed by a majority decision and despite the dissent note. The determination boomeranged on the government on Thursday.
According to Swaraj, at the September 3 meeting, which was held at 24-hour notice, three names were put up before the selection panel. Apart from Thomas, Bijay Chakravarty and S Krishnan were being considered. Swaraj had suggested that since there was a corruption charge against Thomas, any of the other two could be appointed and she would have no objection to it. She disagreed with Chidambaram when he said that the official had been been cleared in the palmolein scam.
Swaraj said that she suggested government could consider expanding the panel and, failing that, put off the decision by a day. But when she was told that Thomas was the choice, she made it clear that she could not be party to the decision and put in her dissent note.
Swaraj, however, chose to be restrained after the Supreme Court verdict, limiting herself to the cryptic remark, "I am happy that the dignity of the office of CVC has been restored."
But the BJP immediately jumped upon the government's embarrassment, invoking the PM's favourite quote of Caesar's wife being above suspicion to demand that he "introspect" over the CVC controversy and inform the nation whether he was "misled or allowed himself to be misled" on Thomas's appointment.
"Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj has vindicated herself by expressing dissent. The responsibility lies with the prime minister and the home minister. The PM should introspect on whether he was misled or he allowed himself to be misled," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said.
In a triumphant mood, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The PM often says Caesar's wife must be above suspicion. Now that Supreme Court has quashed the appointment of CVC on the ground that relevant information relating to his involvement in a corruption case was ignored, the country is certainly entitled to know on what benchmark he is going to judge himself."
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