News Analysis India

Tag: Kerala

  • Kerala wild elephant population declines by 58%, only 84 tigers in Wayanad

    By Express News Service

    KOCHI: Amidst the increasing man- animal conflict which has led to wide spread protests in the high ranges, a statewide enumeration conducted by forest department revealed that the wild elephant population has declined by 58.19% in Kerala over the past five years.

    As per the enumeration conducted in 2017, Kerala had 5,706 wild elephants, but the population declined to 2,386 in 2023. 

    Meanwhile, an enumeration of tiger population in Wayanad wildlife sanctuary revealed that the population of the striped big cat has come down to 84. In 2018, Wayanad wildlife sanctuary had 120 tigers.

    Revealing the enumeration figures at a press meet in Thiruvananthapuram, forest minister A K Saseendran said the reason for the drastic decline in elephant population could be migration to Karnataka forests. The enumeration was conductedacross all south Indian states from May 17 to 19, 2023. 

    The elephant census was conducted during the same period in 2017. According to authorities, climate plays a significant role in elephant migration. During the 2017 enumeration, elephants had migrated to Kerala as dry weather prevailed in Karnataka. This time, it was raining in Karnataka and the temperature was high in Kerala.

    “The elephant enumeration was conducted adopting the block count and dung count method. In block count, the state forests were divided into 610 sample blocks of an average area of 5.78 sq km. In block count 1,920 elephants were counted and the population density was 0.20 per sq km. The total forest area with elephant population is 9,622.33 sq km of which 36.46% has been surveyed,” the minister said.

    As part of dung count 2,386 elephants were counted and the population density was 0.25 per sq km. During the 2017 enumeration 3,322 wild elephants were sighted in block count while 5,706 elephants were estimated in dung count. As manyas 251 elephant herds were lcoated during the block count and 700 wild elephants were part of these herds.

    As part of the tiger enumeration 297 camera traps were installed in Wayanad sanctuary, Aralam and Kottiyoor forests. From the 297 ntraps images of 84 tiogers were collected from 160 locations. Of the 84 tigers, 69 were in Wayanad sanctuary while 8 were in North Wayanad division and 7 in South Wayanad division.

    Of the 84 tigers 45 (54%) were enumerated in 2016, 2018 and 2022 and 39 tigers (46%) were sighted for the first time. The analysis identified 29 male tigers and 47 females. The gender of 8 tigers could not be confirmed. . The density of tiger in wayanad landscape is 7.7 per 100 sq km, which is healthy, said Minister Saseendran.

    KOCHI: Amidst the increasing man- animal conflict which has led to wide spread protests in the high ranges, a statewide enumeration conducted by forest department revealed that the wild elephant population has declined by 58.19% in Kerala over the past five years.

    As per the enumeration conducted in 2017, Kerala had 5,706 wild elephants, but the population declined to 2,386 in 2023. 

    Meanwhile, an enumeration of tiger population in Wayanad wildlife sanctuary revealed that the population of the striped big cat has come down to 84. In 2018, Wayanad wildlife sanctuary had 120 tigers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Revealing the enumeration figures at a press meet in Thiruvananthapuram, forest minister A K Saseendran said the reason for the drastic decline in elephant population could be migration to Karnataka forests. The enumeration was conducted
    across all south Indian states from May 17 to 19, 2023. 

    The elephant census was conducted during the same period in 2017. According to authorities, climate plays a significant role in elephant migration. During the 2017 enumeration, elephants had migrated to Kerala as dry weather prevailed in Karnataka. This time, it was raining in Karnataka and the temperature was high in Kerala.

    “The elephant enumeration was conducted adopting the block count and dung count method. In block count, the state forests were divided into 610 sample blocks of an average area of 5.78 sq km. In block count 1,920 elephants were counted and the population density was 0.20 per sq km. The total forest area with elephant population is 9,622.33 sq km of which 36.46% has been surveyed,” the minister said.

    As part of dung count 2,386 elephants were counted and the population density was 0.25 per sq km. During the 2017 enumeration 3,322 wild elephants were sighted in block count while 5,706 elephants were estimated in dung count. As many
    as 251 elephant herds were lcoated during the block count and 700 wild elephants were part of these herds.

    As part of the tiger enumeration 297 camera traps were installed in Wayanad sanctuary, Aralam and Kottiyoor forests. From the 297 ntraps images of 84 tiogers were collected from 160 locations. Of the 84 tigers, 69 were in Wayanad sanctuary while 8 were in North Wayanad division and 7 in South Wayanad division.

    Of the 84 tigers 45 (54%) were enumerated in 2016, 2018 and 2022 and 39 tigers (46%) were sighted for the first time. The analysis identified 29 male tigers and 47 females. The gender of 8 tigers could not be confirmed. . The density of tiger in wayanad landscape is 7.7 per 100 sq km, which is healthy, said Minister Saseendran.

  • Cyclone Biparjoy rapidly intensifies into ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm; dampening monsoon

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’, the first storm brewing in the Arabian Sea this year, rapidly intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm with meteorologists predicting a “mild” monsoon onset over Kerala and “weak” progress beyond the southern peninsula under its influence.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday morning said conditions are favourable for monsoon onset over Kerala within two days.

    Meteorologists, however, said the cyclone has been impacting the intensity of the monsoon and the onset over Kerala would be “mild.”

    The MeT office said the very severe cyclonic storm would intensify further and move northwards during the next three days.

    However, the IMD has not yet predicted any major impact on countries adjoining the Arabian Sea, including India, Oman, Iran and Pakistan.

    Meteorologists say the tentative track of the system will be in the northward direction but storms at times defy the predicted track and the intensity.

    Forecasting agencies said the storm has been undergoing “rapid intensification”, escalating from just a cyclonic circulation to a very severe cyclonic storm in just 48 hours, defying earlier predictions.

    Atmospheric conditions and cloud mass indicate that the system is likely to sustain the strength of a very severe cyclone till June 12.

    Scientists say cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea have been intensifying rapidly and retaining their intensity for a longer duration due to climate change.

    According to a study ‘Changing status of tropical cyclones over the north Indian Ocean’, the frequency, duration, and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea have increased by about 20 per cent in the post-monsoon period and 40 per cent in the pre-monsoon period.

    There has been a 52 per cent increase in the number of cyclones in the Arabian Sea, while very severe cyclones have increased by 150 per cent.

    “The increase in cyclone activity in the Arabian Sea is tightly linked to the rising ocean temperatures and increased availability of moisture under global warming. The Arabian Sea used to be cool, but now it is a warm pool,” Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, said.

    “The oceans have become warmer already on account of climate change. In fact, a recent study shows that the Arabian Sea has warmed up by almost 1.2 degrees Celsius since March, thus conditions are very much favourable for the rapid intensification of the system (Cyclone Bipajoy) so it has potential to sustain the strength for a longer period,” Raghu Murtugudde, Professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland and IIT Bombay, said.

    Mahesh Palawat, vice president (climate and meteorology) Skymet Weather, said the cloud mass is concentrated around this system and enough moisture is not reaching the Kerala coast.

    Though the criteria for monsoon onset can be met in the next two days, it will not be a thumping start. After the onset over Kerala, the monsoon will remain “weak” until the storm degenerates around June 12, he said.

    “The powerful weather system in the Arabian Sea may spoil the advancement of the monsoon deep inland. Under their influence, the monsoon stream may reach coastal parts, but will struggle to penetrate beyond the Western Ghats,” Skymet Weather had said on Tuesday.

    A senior IMD scientist said the southern peninsula will get rain under the influence of the cyclonic storm and a low-pressure system developing in the Bay of Bengal. However, further progress of the monsoon beyond the southern peninsula will happen after the cyclone degenerates.

    “It would not be the case of classic monsoon onset, satisfying all the given criteria. We would have scattered rains along the West Coast strip, but no inland penetration and widespread rains,” Koll said.

    The southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1 with a standard deviation of about seven days. In mid-May, the IMD said monsoon might arrive in Kerala by June 4.

    Skymet had predicted the monsoon onset over Kerala on June 7 with an error margin of three days.

    Over the last 150 years, the date of monsoon onset over Kerala has varied widely, the earliest being May 11, 1918 and the most delayed being June 18, 1972, according to IMD data.

    The southwest monsoon arrived in the southern state on May 29 last year, June 3 in 2021, June 1 in 2020, June 8 in 2019 and May 29 in 2018.

    Research shows a delay in the monsoon onset over Kerala (MOK) does not necessarily mean a delay in the monsoon onset over northwest India.

    However, a delay in the MOK is generally associated with a delay in onset at least over the southern states and Mumbai. Scientists say a delayed MOK also does not impact the total rainfall over the country during the season.

    India is expected to get normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season despite the evolving El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier said.

    Northwest India is expected to see normal to below-normal rainfall. East and northeast, central, and south peninsula are expected to receive normal rainfall at 94-106 per cent of the long-period average of 87 cm.

    Rainfall less than 90 per cent of the long-period average is considered ‘deficient’, between 90 per cent and 95 per cent is ‘below normal’, between 105 per cent and 110 per cent is ‘above normal’ and more than 100 per cent is ‘excess’ precipitation.

    Normal rainfall is critical for India’s agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on it. It is also crucial for replenishing of reservoirs critical for drinking water apart from power generation across the country.

    Rainfed agriculture accounts for about 40 per cent of the country’s total food production, making it a crucial contributor to India’s food security and economic stability.

    NEW DELHI: Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’, the first storm brewing in the Arabian Sea this year, rapidly intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm with meteorologists predicting a “mild” monsoon onset over Kerala and “weak” progress beyond the southern peninsula under its influence.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday morning said conditions are favourable for monsoon onset over Kerala within two days.

    Meteorologists, however, said the cyclone has been impacting the intensity of the monsoon and the onset over Kerala would be “mild.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The MeT office said the very severe cyclonic storm would intensify further and move northwards during the next three days.

    However, the IMD has not yet predicted any major impact on countries adjoining the Arabian Sea, including India, Oman, Iran and Pakistan.

    Meteorologists say the tentative track of the system will be in the northward direction but storms at times defy the predicted track and the intensity.

    Forecasting agencies said the storm has been undergoing “rapid intensification”, escalating from just a cyclonic circulation to a very severe cyclonic storm in just 48 hours, defying earlier predictions.

    Atmospheric conditions and cloud mass indicate that the system is likely to sustain the strength of a very severe cyclone till June 12.

    Scientists say cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea have been intensifying rapidly and retaining their intensity for a longer duration due to climate change.

    According to a study ‘Changing status of tropical cyclones over the north Indian Ocean’, the frequency, duration, and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea have increased by about 20 per cent in the post-monsoon period and 40 per cent in the pre-monsoon period.

    There has been a 52 per cent increase in the number of cyclones in the Arabian Sea, while very severe cyclones have increased by 150 per cent.

    “The increase in cyclone activity in the Arabian Sea is tightly linked to the rising ocean temperatures and increased availability of moisture under global warming. The Arabian Sea used to be cool, but now it is a warm pool,” Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, said.

    “The oceans have become warmer already on account of climate change. In fact, a recent study shows that the Arabian Sea has warmed up by almost 1.2 degrees Celsius since March, thus conditions are very much favourable for the rapid intensification of the system (Cyclone Bipajoy) so it has potential to sustain the strength for a longer period,” Raghu Murtugudde, Professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland and IIT Bombay, said.

    Mahesh Palawat, vice president (climate and meteorology) Skymet Weather, said the cloud mass is concentrated around this system and enough moisture is not reaching the Kerala coast.

    Though the criteria for monsoon onset can be met in the next two days, it will not be a thumping start. After the onset over Kerala, the monsoon will remain “weak” until the storm degenerates around June 12, he said.

    “The powerful weather system in the Arabian Sea may spoil the advancement of the monsoon deep inland. Under their influence, the monsoon stream may reach coastal parts, but will struggle to penetrate beyond the Western Ghats,” Skymet Weather had said on Tuesday.

    A senior IMD scientist said the southern peninsula will get rain under the influence of the cyclonic storm and a low-pressure system developing in the Bay of Bengal. However, further progress of the monsoon beyond the southern peninsula will happen after the cyclone degenerates.

    “It would not be the case of classic monsoon onset, satisfying all the given criteria. We would have scattered rains along the West Coast strip, but no inland penetration and widespread rains,” Koll said.

    The southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1 with a standard deviation of about seven days. In mid-May, the IMD said monsoon might arrive in Kerala by June 4.

    Skymet had predicted the monsoon onset over Kerala on June 7 with an error margin of three days.

    Over the last 150 years, the date of monsoon onset over Kerala has varied widely, the earliest being May 11, 1918 and the most delayed being June 18, 1972, according to IMD data.

    The southwest monsoon arrived in the southern state on May 29 last year, June 3 in 2021, June 1 in 2020, June 8 in 2019 and May 29 in 2018.

    Research shows a delay in the monsoon onset over Kerala (MOK) does not necessarily mean a delay in the monsoon onset over northwest India.

    However, a delay in the MOK is generally associated with a delay in onset at least over the southern states and Mumbai. Scientists say a delayed MOK also does not impact the total rainfall over the country during the season.

    India is expected to get normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season despite the evolving El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier said.

    Northwest India is expected to see normal to below-normal rainfall. East and northeast, central, and south peninsula are expected to receive normal rainfall at 94-106 per cent of the long-period average of 87 cm.

    Rainfall less than 90 per cent of the long-period average is considered ‘deficient’, between 90 per cent and 95 per cent is ‘below normal’, between 105 per cent and 110 per cent is ‘above normal’ and more than 100 per cent is ‘excess’ precipitation.

    Normal rainfall is critical for India’s agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on it. It is also crucial for replenishing of reservoirs critical for drinking water apart from power generation across the country.

    Rainfed agriculture accounts for about 40 per cent of the country’s total food production, making it a crucial contributor to India’s food security and economic stability.

  • Waste management: NGT exempts state from paying Rs 2,000 crore fine

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has exempted Kerala from paying an environmental fine of over Rs 2,000 crore that was imposed for failure in implementing waste management programmes. The NGT took the decision after considering that the state has already allocated a significant amount to tackle the waste management issue.

    Dr Venu V, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, submitted that Rs 2343.18 crore was ringfenced for addressing the issue of sewage and sullage management under projects including Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation and Swachh Bharat Gramin.

    The state submitted that it has set aside Rs 84.628 crore to meet the gap in treatment of sewage of 42.314 MLD. “In view of the above submission, it does not appear to be necessary to levy compensation as the purpose is served if the state abides by the above statement,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said in an order.

    The bench comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, also sought six monthly progress reports on the matter.Earlier in July, the green tribunal had come down on the state government for not fixing accountability for the continuing gaps in the management of solid and liquid waste generated daily.

    The tribunal noted that out of 1192 MLD of sewage generated, treatment in common individual and septage plants is only to the extent of about 200 MLD leaving a gap of more than 1000 MLD.It was observed that the mechanism adopted in bigger cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and others for handling sewage and sullage separately is not clear.

    In its latest status report, the state apprised that regarding biomining, 44 dump sites having a capacity of 7.41 lakh tonnes were identified in the state.Regarding sewage, 1,192 MLD is generated from six corporations and 87 municipalities. This sewage is treated through 134.51 MLD common STPs, 73 MLD through individual STPs, 0.21 MLD in septage plants and the remaining in septic tanks/soak pits in individual residences, it was submitted.

    NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has exempted Kerala from paying an environmental fine of over Rs 2,000 crore that was imposed for failure in implementing waste management programmes. The NGT took the decision after considering that the state has already allocated a significant amount to tackle the waste management issue.

    Dr Venu V, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, submitted that Rs 2343.18 crore was ringfenced for addressing the issue of sewage and sullage management under projects including Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation and Swachh Bharat Gramin.

    The state submitted that it has set aside Rs 84.628 crore to meet the gap in treatment of sewage of 42.314 MLD. “In view of the above submission, it does not appear to be necessary to levy compensation as the purpose is served if the state abides by the above statement,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said in an order.

    The bench comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, also sought six monthly progress reports on the matter.Earlier in July, the green tribunal had come down on the state government for not fixing accountability for the continuing gaps in the management of solid and liquid waste generated daily.

    The tribunal noted that out of 1192 MLD of sewage generated, treatment in common individual and septage plants is only to the extent of about 200 MLD leaving a gap of more than 1000 MLD.
    It was observed that the mechanism adopted in bigger cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and others for handling sewage and sullage separately is not clear.

    In its latest status report, the state apprised that regarding biomining, 44 dump sites having a capacity of 7.41 lakh tonnes were identified in the state.Regarding sewage, 1,192 MLD is generated from six corporations and 87 municipalities. This sewage is treated through 134.51 MLD common STPs, 73 MLD through individual STPs, 0.21 MLD in septage plants and the remaining in septic tanks/soak pits in individual residences, it was submitted.

  • Shashi Tharoor style makes waves in Congresss poll drive

    Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Shashi Tharoor launching a parliament election-like campaign in the Congress presidential poll, an interesting situation has evolved in Kerala. The party leadership in the state has rallied behind the Gandhi family nominee, Mallikarjun Kharge, while the common Congress workers have thrown their weight behind the Thiruvanathapuram MP. Over the past few days, Tharoor is all over the social media with scores of people urging him to bring in change and transparency as well as instill young blood in the party.

    Though the top Congress leaders in Kerala are putting up a brave face, they are surpised at the support Tharoor is gaining at the grass-root level, and allege it’s the handiwork of the CPM and the BJP supporters. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said the massive support for Tharoor in social media will not reflect in the presidential polls. “Tharoor is definitely an intellectual par excellence and also an asset to the party. But what’s his Congress background? He may be having a huge fanbase in social media who incidentally are not voters in the election,” Satheesan told TNIE. Satheesan’s predecessor Ramesh Chennithala, who is slated to campaign for Kharge in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has also challenged Tharoor’s claim that he is the “ideal” choice for the Congress president post.

    Tharoor meets Chandy, other seniors

    Chennithala told TNIE that he became a Congress Working Committee leader at a very young age after holding several posts, step by step. “Tharoor is yet to hold any post at the organisational level. So how is it possible to directly contest for the Congress president’s post? We don’t endorse his opinion that he is the ideal candidate for the president post.” he said. Meanwhile, Tharoor met several senior leaders like Vakkom Purushothaman, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai and Oommen Chandy seeking their support.

    He even visited Punalur in Kollam to pay respects to former sate secretary Punalur Madhu, who died on Monday. The Congress leadership in Kerala claims Tharoor will secure only 10% of the total 309 votes in the state. However, Tharoor loyalist Thampanoor Ravi said numbers do not matter.

    “Election to the post of the Congress president is happening after 22 years. Tharoor has shown the guts to contest. There’s nothing wrong as the national leadership has been saying time and again that anyone can contest in the election which is being held democratically,” Ravi, who originally belongs to the Oommen Chandy faction, told TNIE. On Thursday, Tharoor is slated to meet party leaders in Chennai.

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Shashi Tharoor launching a parliament election-like campaign in the Congress presidential poll, an interesting situation has evolved in Kerala. The party leadership in the state has rallied behind the Gandhi family nominee, Mallikarjun Kharge, while the common Congress workers have thrown their weight behind the Thiruvanathapuram MP. Over the past few days, Tharoor is all over the social media with scores of people urging him to bring in change and transparency as well as instill young blood in the party.

    Though the top Congress leaders in Kerala are putting up a brave face, they are surpised at the support Tharoor is gaining at the grass-root level, and allege it’s the handiwork of the CPM and the BJP supporters. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said the massive support for Tharoor in social media will not reflect in the presidential polls. “Tharoor is definitely an intellectual par excellence and also an asset to the party. But what’s his Congress background? He may be having a huge fanbase in social media who incidentally are not voters in the election,” Satheesan told TNIE. Satheesan’s predecessor Ramesh Chennithala, who is slated to campaign for Kharge in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has also challenged Tharoor’s claim that he is the “ideal” choice for the Congress president post.

    Tharoor meets Chandy, other seniors

    Chennithala told TNIE that he became a Congress Working Committee leader at a very young age after holding several posts, step by step. “Tharoor is yet to hold any post at the organisational level. So how is it possible to directly contest for the Congress president’s post? We don’t endorse his opinion that he is the ideal candidate for the president post.” he said. Meanwhile, Tharoor met several senior leaders like Vakkom Purushothaman, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai and Oommen Chandy seeking their support.

    He even visited Punalur in Kollam to pay respects to former sate secretary Punalur Madhu, who died on Monday. The Congress leadership in Kerala claims Tharoor will secure only 10% of the total 309 votes in the state. However, Tharoor loyalist Thampanoor Ravi said numbers do not matter.

    “Election to the post of the Congress president is happening after 22 years. Tharoor has shown the guts to contest. There’s nothing wrong as the national leadership has been saying time and again that anyone can contest in the election which is being held democratically,” Ravi, who originally belongs to the Oommen Chandy faction, told TNIE. On Thursday, Tharoor is slated to meet party leaders in Chennai.

  • BJP treats women as second-class citizens: Rahul Gandhi

    By Express News Service

    MALAPPURAM: The BJP is treating women as second-class citizens, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said. He was speaking at a public meeting held as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra at Pandikkad in Malappuram on Tuesday. He criticised the BJP citing the murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand. He said the only reason the teen had to die was that she had refused to be a prostitute.

    “A BJP leader runs a hotel. His son asks a receptionist at that hotel to become a prostitute. There are messages on her WhatsApp in which she refuses to become a prostitute. They offered Rs 10,000 to Rs 15000 to become a prostitute. When she refused to become a prostitute, she was found dead in a lake. This is the way the BJP treats women in the country.

    The chief minister of that state destroyed the evidence in the case. They destroyed the hotel so that nobody could ever find out what happened. This is the ideology of the BJP. Women are second-class citizens for them,” Rahul Gandhi said.

    HC DISMISSES PLEA AGAINST BHARAT JODO YATRAKOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking a directive to the state police chief to regulate the Bharat Jodo Yatra by permitting party workers to occupy only half of the road and leave the other portion for the free movement of vehicles and the public. When the petition filed by K Vijayan of Kollam came up before the bench, government pleader submitted that the journey was passing peacefully through the roads in the state.

    MALAPPURAM: The BJP is treating women as second-class citizens, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said. He was speaking at a public meeting held as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra at Pandikkad in Malappuram on Tuesday. He criticised the BJP citing the murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand. He said the only reason the teen had to die was that she had refused to be a prostitute.

    “A BJP leader runs a hotel. His son asks a receptionist at that hotel to become a prostitute. There are messages on her WhatsApp in which she refuses to become a prostitute. They offered Rs 10,000 to Rs 15000 to become a prostitute. When she refused to become a prostitute, she was found dead in a lake. This is the way the BJP treats women in the country.

    The chief minister of that state destroyed the evidence in the case. They destroyed the hotel so that nobody could ever find out what happened. This is the ideology of the BJP. Women are second-class citizens for them,” Rahul Gandhi said.

    HC DISMISSES PLEA AGAINST BHARAT JODO YATRA
    KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking a directive to the state police chief to regulate the Bharat Jodo Yatra by permitting party workers to occupy only half of the road and leave the other portion for the free movement of vehicles and the public. When the petition filed by K Vijayan of Kollam came up before the bench, government pleader submitted that the journey was passing peacefully through the roads in the state.

  • Bharat Jodo Yatra faces task of sustaining tempo after Kerala leg

    Express News Service

    KOCHI: As Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra completed 15 days on the road, with hundreds of people walking 325km from Kanyakumari since September 7,  there is visible momentum on the ground for the Congress and it will attract more people and eyeballs at least for another three days when the yatra is in Kerala. But the big question is whether this yatra, which is termed ‘historic’ by the party leaders, will gather pace and momentum when it enters the BJP terrains of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh as the padayatra progresses. Also, there have been questions on why the yatra, which is aimed to unify the people against the “communal and divisive forces”, is taking full 18 days in Kerala, where BJP has zero representation in the state assembly. “As far as we are concerned, CPM is the ‘B’ team of BJP, and Congress is the Opposition party in Kerala,” Jairam Ramesh, MP and party general secretary in charge of communication.

    Rahul himself addressed the question of CPM’s criticism that the yatra is spending lesser time in Uttar Pradesh. “The reason is that the yatra is from one end of India to another end. So, we are not going to Bihar, we are not going to West Bengal and we are not going to Gujarat. There is a limit to the route that we can take,” he said. As far as countering BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul said Congress has a view on what needs to be done in the state.

    Leaders pointed out that the 3,750km padayatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar is the longest undertaken by the Congress in the history of the country, and the party machinery in Karnataka is pretty strong to ensure that the momentum is maintained. The yatra will tour Karnataka for 21 days, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for 16 days each, and Rajasthan for 21 days, as per the schedule.

    Former Karnataka minister and Congress leader K J George pointed out that Kerala is a small state “like a corporation” whereas it will be difficult to get such a large number of people throughout the route in Karnataka. “Karnataka is so vast and the yatra is touring rural areas of the state. We had recently conducted massive rallies and another flag march on August 15,” he said.

    Ajay Kumar Lallu, former UP Congress president, who’s a full-time member of the yatra, expressed the confidence that the march will get a warm reception in the BJP-ruled state, where it is touring only for five days.

    Rahul, responding to this query, said, “My expectation is that it will not matter which state we go to. The effect of the yatra will be the same in state after state regardless of who is running that state because there is an underlining problem now in India and the people of India, particularly the youth, are feeling tremendous pain.”

    KOCHI: As Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra completed 15 days on the road, with hundreds of people walking 325km from Kanyakumari since September 7,  there is visible momentum on the ground for the Congress and it will attract more people and eyeballs at least for another three days when the yatra is in Kerala. But the big question is whether this yatra, which is termed ‘historic’ by the party leaders, will gather pace and momentum when it enters the BJP terrains of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh as the padayatra progresses. Also, there have been questions on why the yatra, which is aimed to unify the people against the “communal and divisive forces”, is taking full 18 days in Kerala, where BJP has zero representation in the state assembly. “As far as we are concerned, CPM is the ‘B’ team of BJP, and Congress is the Opposition party in Kerala,” Jairam Ramesh, MP and party general secretary in charge of communication.

    Rahul himself addressed the question of CPM’s criticism that the yatra is spending lesser time in Uttar Pradesh. “The reason is that the yatra is from one end of India to another end. So, we are not going to Bihar, we are not going to West Bengal and we are not going to Gujarat. There is a limit to the route that we can take,” he said. As far as countering BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul said Congress has a view on what needs to be done in the state.

    Leaders pointed out that the 3,750km padayatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar is the longest undertaken by the Congress in the history of the country, and the party machinery in Karnataka is pretty strong to ensure that the momentum is maintained. The yatra will tour Karnataka for 21 days, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for 16 days each, and Rajasthan for 21 days, as per the schedule.

    Former Karnataka minister and Congress leader K J George pointed out that Kerala is a small state “like a corporation” whereas it will be difficult to get such a large number of people throughout the route in Karnataka. “Karnataka is so vast and the yatra is touring rural areas of the state. We had recently conducted massive rallies and another flag march on August 15,” he said.

    Ajay Kumar Lallu, former UP Congress president, who’s a full-time member of the yatra, expressed the confidence that the march will get a warm reception in the BJP-ruled state, where it is touring only for five days.

    Rahul, responding to this query, said, “My expectation is that it will not matter which state we go to. The effect of the yatra will be the same in state after state regardless of who is running that state because there is an underlining problem now in India and the people of India, particularly the youth, are feeling tremendous pain.”

  • KC Venugopal flies to Delhi after Congress prez calls for meet on “organisational matters”

    By ANI

    ALAPPUZHA: Congress leader KC Venugopal, who is participating in the Kerala leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, departed for the national capital on Tuesday upon the call by the party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi.

    According to sources close to Venugopal, he has been asked by Sonia Gandhi to come over to Delhi for a meeting which is “strictly part of organisational matters”.

    He was in the Alappuzha district of Kerala with Rahul Gandhi. This is the first time he has left the Yatra since it began on September 7 from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. The yatra entered its 13th day today.

    This comes a day after Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor on Monday received the nod from Sonia Gandhi to contest in the upcoming poll for the party president’s post, sources said.

    Tharoor received interim-party president Sonia Gandhi’s go-ahead after he met her here.

    According to sources, Tharoor, during the meeting, expressed his wish to contest the elections scheduled to be held on October 17 to “make internal democracy” in the party stronger. Gandhi, in response, giving her nod to the Thiruvananthapuram MP, said that anybody can contest elections.

    “Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor gets a nod from Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi to contest for the post of the party president, after he reached out to her in a meeting today, citing he can make internal democracy stronger. Sonia Gandhi, Congress interim president, replied that he (Shashi Tharoor) can contest (for the post of the party president) if he wants, anybody can contest elections,” said the sources on Monday.

    Ashok Gehlot, who is considered to be close to the Gandhi family, and Shashi Tharoor, who got the nod for the Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, have emerged as top probable contenders for the office of the party chief in case Rahul Gandhi decides not to enter the fray.

    Amid speculation that Ashok Gehlot could be running for the party president, the election for which is set to take place next month, sources close to the Rajasthan Chief Minister said that he is “trying to persuade Rahul Gandhi” to contest rather than his own nomination.

    This comes amid the buzz of Gehlot being a leading choice for the party’s president post in the election scheduled to be held on October 17, the result of which will be declared on October 19.

    ALAPPUZHA: Congress leader KC Venugopal, who is participating in the Kerala leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, departed for the national capital on Tuesday upon the call by the party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi.

    According to sources close to Venugopal, he has been asked by Sonia Gandhi to come over to Delhi for a meeting which is “strictly part of organisational matters”.

    He was in the Alappuzha district of Kerala with Rahul Gandhi. This is the first time he has left the Yatra since it began on September 7 from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. The yatra entered its 13th day today.

    This comes a day after Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor on Monday received the nod from Sonia Gandhi to contest in the upcoming poll for the party president’s post, sources said.

    Tharoor received interim-party president Sonia Gandhi’s go-ahead after he met her here.

    According to sources, Tharoor, during the meeting, expressed his wish to contest the elections scheduled to be held on October 17 to “make internal democracy” in the party stronger. Gandhi, in response, giving her nod to the Thiruvananthapuram MP, said that anybody can contest elections.

    “Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor gets a nod from Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi to contest for the post of the party president, after he reached out to her in a meeting today, citing he can make internal democracy stronger. Sonia Gandhi, Congress interim president, replied that he (Shashi Tharoor) can contest (for the post of the party president) if he wants, anybody can contest elections,” said the sources on Monday.

    Ashok Gehlot, who is considered to be close to the Gandhi family, and Shashi Tharoor, who got the nod for the Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, have emerged as top probable contenders for the office of the party chief in case Rahul Gandhi decides not to enter the fray.

    Amid speculation that Ashok Gehlot could be running for the party president, the election for which is set to take place next month, sources close to the Rajasthan Chief Minister said that he is “trying to persuade Rahul Gandhi” to contest rather than his own nomination.

    This comes amid the buzz of Gehlot being a leading choice for the party’s president post in the election scheduled to be held on October 17, the result of which will be declared on October 19.

  • No inputs from Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Bengal on school curriculum: Centre 

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and West Bengal are yet to send feedback on revising the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), the Centre said.

    The NCF will be the bedrock of the new NCERT syllabus, and the textbook authority has sought input from the states to include changes. 

    The Ministry of Education in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said all states had sent inputs, barring three southern governments and West Bengal. 

    This is the fifth revision of NCF, incorporating suggestions from a large number of expert groups nationally and smaller panels at the state level.

    The process is controversial as some BJP-ruled states have been charged with promoting saffronisation. The Karnataka government stands out as it was claimed that passages on Bhagat Singh were removed from the Kannada books. 

    The Centre claimed that the Karnataka government has clarified the chapter on the revolutionary freedom fighter has not been dropped.

    NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and West Bengal are yet to send feedback on revising the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), the Centre said.

    The NCF will be the bedrock of the new NCERT syllabus, and the textbook authority has sought input from the states to include changes. 

    The Ministry of Education in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said all states had sent inputs, barring three southern governments and West Bengal. 

    This is the fifth revision of NCF, incorporating suggestions from a large number of expert groups nationally and smaller panels at the state level.

    The process is controversial as some BJP-ruled states have been charged with promoting saffronisation. The Karnataka government stands out as it was claimed that passages on Bhagat Singh were removed from the Kannada books. 

    The Centre claimed that the Karnataka government has clarified the chapter on the revolutionary freedom fighter has not been dropped.

  • Mahindra Thar rams into taxi killing passenger while racing with BMW in Kerala

    By PTI

    THRISSUR: A race between a Mahindra Thar and a BMW in Kottekkad area of the central Kerala district of Thrissur led to the death of one person after the SUV rammed into the taxi the victim was travelling in, police said.

    The incident occurred between 8.30 and 9 PM on Wednesday night when the victim and his family were returning from Guruvayur, police said.

    An officer of Viyyur police station said the victim’s wife, daughter and grand-daughter as well as the taxi driver also suffered injuries and are presently undergoing treatment.

    The officer also said that the drivers of the Thar and the BMW have been taken into custody and alcohol was detected in the blood alcohol test of the former.

    Police said two separate FIRs — one for causing death and another for causing injuries — would be registered after inquest proceedings are completed.

    Meanwhile, the victim’s wife told a TV channel that the accident happened suddenly. She said that as she was pulled out from the taxi, her husband — who was sitting in the front seat — was not moving and locals were saying that the jeep was travelling at a very high speed.

    The taxi driver told the TV channel that after the BMW went past them at high speed, he heard another vehicle approaching fast and therefore, he stopped the car and moved it to a side of the road.

    Despite that, the speeding Thar rammed into the taxi, he claimed. Visuals aired on TV channels showed locals detaining the Thar driver after the accident.

    Police said that the BMW had sped away from the area, but was later identified based on CCTV footage of the area.

    THRISSUR: A race between a Mahindra Thar and a BMW in Kottekkad area of the central Kerala district of Thrissur led to the death of one person after the SUV rammed into the taxi the victim was travelling in, police said.

    The incident occurred between 8.30 and 9 PM on Wednesday night when the victim and his family were returning from Guruvayur, police said.

    An officer of Viyyur police station said the victim’s wife, daughter and grand-daughter as well as the taxi driver also suffered injuries and are presently undergoing treatment.

    The officer also said that the drivers of the Thar and the BMW have been taken into custody and alcohol was detected in the blood alcohol test of the former.

    Police said two separate FIRs — one for causing death and another for causing injuries — would be registered after inquest proceedings are completed.

    Meanwhile, the victim’s wife told a TV channel that the accident happened suddenly. She said that as she was pulled out from the taxi, her husband — who was sitting in the front seat — was not moving and locals were saying that the jeep was travelling at a very high speed.

    The taxi driver told the TV channel that after the BMW went past them at high speed, he heard another vehicle approaching fast and therefore, he stopped the car and moved it to a side of the road.

    Despite that, the speeding Thar rammed into the taxi, he claimed. Visuals aired on TV channels showed locals detaining the Thar driver after the accident.

    Police said that the BMW had sped away from the area, but was later identified based on CCTV footage of the area.

  • ESZ: Kerala ready for fight, counts on Central support

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI/T’PURAM: In a major reprieve to the state government, the Centre has offered support in getting an exemption for Kerala from the Supreme Court order making one-km eco-sensitive zone mandatory. When the matter comes up before the apex court, the Centre will take a stand favouring the concerns raised by various state governments, including Kerala. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, has promised support for the state’s concerns regarding ESZ, said Forest Minister A K Saseendran after meeting him in New Delhi on Thursday.

    Speaking after the meeting, he said that the state will soon move SC seeking to exempt it from 1 km rule restriction and to exclude human settled areas, agricultural lands and public institutions.  Saseendran said the Union Minister promised that the Centre will look into the concerns raised by Kerala and other states. “The union minister has taken a positive approach towards our demands. Apart from Kerala many other states, especially the north eastern states, have raised similar concerns. The Centre will take a favourable approach before the Supreme Court,” Saseendran said. 

    Meanwhile the Union minister will visit the state on August 12 in connection with the World Elephant Day celebration. In a memorandum to the Union minister, Kerala requested that a final notification should be issued as per the revised proposals submitted by the state government. 

    Considering the special circumstances and population density of Kerala, steps should be taken to exempt the state from SC directions. The state also demanded that necessary legal and legislative steps may be taken to amend the 2011 guidelines of the Forest Ministry declaration on ESZ to protect the interests of the public and farmers. It has also pointed out that the state is taking necessary measures to prevent human-wildlife conflict. “The Union minister said that issues raised by all states will be addressed before implementing the SC order. He said that states can approach the SC on this,” said Saseendran. Kerala is the first state to hold a meeting with the Union minister in this regard. 

    The state government has already decided to approach the Supreme Court with a petition on the ESZ issue. However a decision on whether to file a modification petition or a review petition will be taken after the Advocate General holds talks with the forest principal secretary, principal chief conservator of forests and the state counsel before the apex court. The Supreme Court had on June 3, pronounced a verdict that a one-km eco-sensitive zone is mandatory around wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. 

    The order has invited major political debate and public protests in Kerala. Recently the assembly passed a unanimous resolution in this regard. It’s in this backdrop that the state forest minister took up the issue with the Union Government.

    NEW DELHI/T’PURAM: In a major reprieve to the state government, the Centre has offered support in getting an exemption for Kerala from the Supreme Court order making one-km eco-sensitive zone mandatory. When the matter comes up before the apex court, the Centre will take a stand favouring the concerns raised by various state governments, including Kerala. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, has promised support for the state’s concerns regarding ESZ, said Forest Minister A K Saseendran after meeting him in New Delhi on Thursday.

    Speaking after the meeting, he said that the state will soon move SC seeking to exempt it from 1 km rule restriction and to exclude human settled areas, agricultural lands and public institutions.  Saseendran said the Union Minister promised that the Centre will look into the concerns raised by Kerala and other states. “The union minister has taken a positive approach towards our demands. Apart from Kerala many other states, especially the north eastern states, have raised similar concerns. The Centre will take a favourable approach before the Supreme Court,” Saseendran said. 

    Meanwhile the Union minister will visit the state on August 12 in connection with the World Elephant Day celebration. In a memorandum to the Union minister, Kerala requested that a final notification should be issued as per the revised proposals submitted by the state government. 

    Considering the special circumstances and population density of Kerala, steps should be taken to exempt the state from SC directions. The state also demanded that necessary legal and legislative steps may be taken to amend the 2011 guidelines of the Forest Ministry declaration on ESZ to protect the interests of the public and farmers. It has also pointed out that the state is taking necessary measures to prevent human-wildlife conflict. “The Union minister said that issues raised by all states will be addressed before implementing the SC order. He said that states can approach the SC on this,” said Saseendran. Kerala is the first state to hold a meeting with the Union minister in this regard. 

    The state government has already decided to approach the Supreme Court with a petition on the ESZ issue. However a decision on whether to file a modification petition or a review petition will be taken after the Advocate General holds talks with the forest principal secretary, principal chief conservator of forests and the state counsel before the apex court. The Supreme Court had on June 3, pronounced a verdict that a one-km eco-sensitive zone is mandatory around wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. 

    The order has invited major political debate and public protests in Kerala. Recently the assembly passed a unanimous resolution in this regard. It’s in this backdrop that the state forest minister took up the issue with the Union Government.