BJP criticizes Rahul Gandhi's Rae Bareli nomination, citing 'beta bachao, beta badhao' concerns

BJP criticizes Rahul Gandhi's Rae Bareli nomination, citing 'beta bachao, beta badhao' concerns The BJP on Saturday took a swipe at the Congress over Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli, saying the opposition party seems to believe in ''beta bachao, beta badhao'' (save son, promote son). Speaking to reporters as five former Delhi Congress leaders, including Arvinder Singh Lovely, joined the BJP, the ruling party's national general secretary Vinod Tawde claimed that many Congress workers wanted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest from Rae Bareli but her brother took the plunge instead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan is 'beti bachao, beti padhao' (save daughter, educate daughter) but the Congress' slogan is ''beta bachao, beta badhao'', he said. Tawde said Gandhi had claimed that Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, from where he is seeking re-election, is his family and he will not go anywhere else. ''But he has now gone back on his assertion and filed the nomination from Rae Bareli,'' the BJP leader said. How can the people of the country trust him when there is such a mismatch between his words and actions, Tawde asked. BJP leaders, including Modi, have mocked Gandhi for contesting from Rae Bareli and not Amethi, another Uttar Pradesh seat which he represented in the Lok Sabha for three terms before losing it in 2019. Former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam alleged that the ''Rahul camp'' has long been conspiring to scuttle Priyanka Gandhi's political career and claimed that the party will split after the poll results are announced on June 4. Krishnam, who has been vocal about his support for Priyanka Gandhi, was expelled from the Congress following his incessant criticism of the party leadership over a host of issues, including its recent decision to turn down the invite for the Ram temple consecration ceremony. He has been full of praise for Modi's leadership.

BJP Accuses Karnataka Congress Government of Failing to Protect Women and Girls

BJP Accuses Karnataka Congress Government of Failing to Protect Women and Girls The BJP on Saturday slammed the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government over the law and order situation in Karnataka and alleged that young girls and women had no protection. State BJP President B Y Vijayendra condemned the incident and alleged that peace loving people of Karnataka are worried that ''the Congress government is encouraging criminals with Jihadi mentality.'' Sharing a news report where a minor Dalit girl was allegedly impregnated by a youth in Hubballi, the BJP took to a social media platform to condemn the incident. In a post on 'X', the BJP alleged that the minor girl was ''raped by a fanatic'' and that there is no ''protection for Hindu young women and girls in Hubballi.'' ''Hindu young women are today victims of the mistake of giving power to terrorists, rapists, fanatic Jhihadists called brothers @INCKarnataka like the Kerala files,'' the party alleged in the post. Meanwhile, a youth has been arrested for allegedly impregnating a minor girl in Hubballi, police said. Citing the recent murder of Congress Councillor Niranjan Hiremath's 23-year-old daughter Neha, who was stabbed to death inside her college campus in Hubballi, the BJP attacked the state government over the investigation in the case. The case is being probed by the State's Criminal Investigation Department. ''While Neha's murder case in Hubballi is still pending, another inhumane incident has made Kannadigas to lower their heads. If they @siddaramaiah and @Dr Parameshwara (Home Minister) do not crush the bigots immediately, the Hindus will destroy the government,'' the BJP said in the post. Taking to 'X', Vijayendra alleged in a post that ''Hindu girls are unprotected in the state. Even as the fundamentalist thugs continue to laugh in front of their eyes, the Congress government, which is indulging in politics of appeasement, seems to be purposefully inactive, following a soft attitude against those who are showing demonic tendencies.''

Court Orders 14-Day Judicial Custody for Mother in Kerala Newborn Death Case

Court Orders 14-Day Judicial Custody for Mother in Kerala Newborn Death Case A local court here on Saturday remanded the 23-year-old mother accused of killing her newborn child and throwing it on a street to 14 days judicial custody. Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate went to the hospital where she is undergoing treatment and remanded her to judicial custody till May 18, police said. They added that the custody application will be moved only after considering the medical report from the doctors. Earlier in the day, the police had said that as per the post-mortem report, the newborn, found dead on a street in Kochi after being allegedly thrown there by its mother post delivery, was strangulated. City police Commissioner S Syamsundar said the arrest of the 23-year-old woman was recorded on Friday and police were verifying her statements regarding a Thrissur friend. Quoting the post-mortem report, police said the child's skull had also suffered damage. The woman, suspected to be a victim of sexual assault, concealed her pregnancy and delivered a baby in the early hours of Friday in her apartment bathroom and later allegedly threw the newborn on the street in front of her flat complex in a posh residential area here. The woman had apparently mentioned about her friend from Thrissur prompting the police to suspect a coercion or a rape angle. The City police Commissioner today said they need to verify her claims. Hours after the newborn was found dead in an abandoned parcel cover on Friday, police took the woman into custody after tracing the address mentioned on the packet in which the child was wrapped and thrown. Conservancy workers of Kochi Corporation found the child's body near a street in posh Panampilly Nagar here and had alerted the police. Police had said the woman had confessed that she gave birth to the child in her bathroom at around 5-5.30 AM on Friday and later threw the baby as she panicked when her mother knocked on her bedroom door. It is said that the parents of the woman, with whom she was staying, were unaware of her pregnancy. They were also not aware of the delivery as it happened inside the bathroom which was locked by the woman, police had said.

Kerala Man Dies By Suicide After Bank Refuses To Return His Deposit: Cops

A 52-year-old man who consumed poison recently after a cooperative bank here allegedly refused to return his deposit has died, the police said here on Thursday.

Shooting for Dhyan Sreenivasan-starrer Untitled Film Begins In Keralas Erattupetta

A photo has surfaced of a clapboard and a spiral-bind script kept on flower petals.

Kerala CM Directs Safe and Drug-Free Schools Ahead of Reopening

Kerala CM Directs Safe and Drug-Free Schools Ahead of Reopening With the new academic year scheduled to begin on June 3 in Kerala schools, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday issued a slew of directions, which included anti-drug activities, to ensure educational institutions were safe for students when they reopen. Vijayan at a high-level meeting, also attended by ministers V Sivankutty, R Bindu, M B Rajesh, K Rajan and P Rajeev, ordered that the preparations should be completed in a timely manner, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. Ensuring safety of the schools premises by carrying out requisite repairs, obtaining fitness certificates of the buildings, removing trees, boards, electric posts, power cables and hoardings that may pose a danger to students and cleaning the school campus were some of the directions issued by the CM, according to the statement. The CM further directed that schools need to ensure that use and sale of intoxicating substances does not take place in their premises and the Excise department was ordered to carry out regular inspections of shops around educational institutions, the statement said. Regular district-level public vigilance committee meetings to evaluate the anti-drug activities, strengthening awareness and enforcement measures as well as cooperation of children, parents and teachers should be ensured to make educational institutions free of narcotics, the CM said. The other anti-drug activities that were discussed in the meeting were, holding a children's parliament on June 26 on the occasion of Anti Narcotics Day, delivery of the CM's anti-drug message to homes on November 1, carrying out anti-drug seminars on December 10 and conducting class councils on January 30, 2025, to review all these activities, the CMO statement said. Besides that, all government, semi-government, public sector and co-operative institutions should put up anti-drug posters without any delay, the CM directed, according to the statement.

Kerala: 'Kallakkadal' orange alert revised to yellow warning

Kerala: 'Kallakkadal' orange alert revised to yellow warning The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services on Saturday withdrew a 'red alert' issued for 'Kallakkadal' in the coastal areas of Kerala and the south Tamil Nadu coast and revised it to an 'orange alert'. 'Kallakkadal' is a phenomenon of sudden sea swells causing rough waves in coastal areas. As part of the phenomenon, the low-lying areas of the Kerala coast are likely to experience rough sea and sea surge due to extremely strong waves of 0.5 meters to 1.5 meters till 11.30 pm on Sunday, the INCOIS said. The low-lying coastal areas of south Tamil Nadu are also likely to experience a similar situation and high waves of 0.5 meters to 1.8 metres may cause sea surge there till tomorrow night, the agency warned. INCOIS, the central agency that issues weather warnings for fishermen in the country, advised people to safely moor their fishing vessels in the harbour. Authorities advised people to continue their caution and avoid trips to the beach and completely stay away from activities at sea. The term 'Kallakkadal' literally means a sea that comes suddenly like a thief. INCOIS has earlier said that the swells result from strong winds in the southern part of the Indian Ocean at certain times, and that they occur suddenly without any particular indications or warning which is why it is named 'Kallakkadal'.

Kerala Lottery Result, 4 May: Karunya KR 652 Winners Declared; How To Download

Kerala Lottery Result Today: Download Karunya KR 652 result from keralalotteries.com on 4 May 2024.

Rabies from stray dog bites claimed 47 lives in Kerala in last four years, shows RTI reply

This was in addition to 22 more lives probably lost to rabies, according to response received by RTI activist Raju Vazhakkala

Tanur custodial death case: CBI arrests four Kerala Police officials

Thamir Jiffri was allegedly subjected to custodial torture by members of District Anti Narcotics Special Action Force in 2023

Rahul Gandhis political chess, juggling between Wayanad and Rae Bareli, leaves Congress in a quandary in Kerala

If Rahul Gandhi relinquishes Wayanad seat, many Congress leaders believe that it will impact partys prospects in Kerala Assembly elections in 2026

Hot weather continues in Kerala: IMD issues yellow alert for 12 districts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for 12 out of the 14 districts in Kerala, warning of high temperatures and humidity until May 6. The maximum temperatures are expected to be around 36-39 degrees Celsius in various districts. Hot and humid weather is expected over these districts, except in hilly areas. The state has been experiencing hot weather conditions for several days, leading to the closure of educational institutions. The government has advised people to avoid working under the sun from 11 am to 3 pm, stay hydrated, and avoid exposure to sunlight during these hours.

Kerala: Rape victim kills her newborn baby by throwing from fifth floor in Kochi, caught after police scanned barcode on plastic cover

The young mother suffocated the baby to death and threw the baby to the road from her apartment balcony in Kochi, Kerala.

Kerala's Heatwave Intensifies: Yellow Alert Issued for 12 Districts by IMD

Kerala's Heatwave Intensifies: Yellow Alert Issued for 12 Districts by IMD The India Meteorological Department on Saturday issued a yellow alert for 12 out of the 14 districts in Kerala due to the likelihood of high temperature and humidity there till May 6. IMD said the maximum temperatures were very likely to be around 39 degrees Celsius in Palakkad, around 38 degrees Celsius in Kollam, Thrissur and Kozhikode, around 37 degrees Celsius in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Kannur districts and around 36 degrees Celsius in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kasaragod districts from May 4 to May 6. ''Hot and humid weather is very likely over these districts except in hilly areas during May 4 to May 6 due to high temperature and humidity. (YELLOW WARNING),'' it said. It also issued a yellow alert for Alappuzha and Kozhikode districts for today due to the possibility of warm night conditions there. The southern state has been reeling under hot weather conditions for several days leading to educational institutions being closed in Kerala till May 6. Additionally, the government has also issued a slew of directions which include avoiding working under the sun from 11 am to 3 pm by construction workers, farmers, hawkers, etc. It has also asked everyone to avoid exposure to sunlight during these hours of the day and remain hydrated.

Kerala startup inks MoU with IIT Bombay for surveillance technology

Kerala: CBI arrests four police officers in connection with custodial death of Thamir Jifri

Malappuram: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested four police officers in connection with the alleged custodial murder of Thamir Jifri, a 30-year-old resident of Tanur in Malappuram. Jifri died while in the custody of the Tanur police last year. The post-mortem examination of Jifri's body showed that he sustained injuries as a result of physical assault inflicted by members of the District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) squad operating under the jurisdiction of the Tanur sub-division of the Malappuram police. The DANSAF team allegedly handed over the 30-year-old to the Tanur police after physically assaulting him. The arrested individuals are senior civil police officer Ginesh, 37, of Pallikkal, Malappuram; civil police officer (CPO) Alvin Augustine, 36, of Neendakara, Kollam; CPO Abhimanyu, 35, of Thamarakulam, Malappuram; and CPO Vipin, 38, of Vallikunnu, Malappuram. All of them were part of the DANSAF squad. Earlier, the FIR registered by the CBI accused the four DANSAF members of murder. The arrests were made after a detailed investigation into the matter. The CBI took over the case from the Kerala Crime Branch following a directive from the Kerala High Court. The High Court instructed the Crime Branch to hand over the case diary and other related records to the CBI after considering a petition from Jifri's family. The family members informed the court that they would not receive justice if the police department investigated the case against police involving police officials.

Karnataka BJP alleges lack of protection for girls, women under Congress government

Karnataka BJP alleges lack of protection for girls, women under Congress government The BJP on Saturday slammed the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government over the law and order situation in Karnataka and alleged that young girls and women had no protection. Sharing a newsreport where a minor Dalit girl was allegedly impregnated by a youth in Hubballi, the BJP took to social media platform to condemn the incident. In a post on 'X', the BJP alleged that the minor girl was ''raped by a fanatic'' and that there is no ''protection for Hindu young women and girls in Hubballi.'' ''Hindu young women are today victims of the mistake of giving power to terrorists, rapists, fanatic Jhihadists called brothers @INCKarnataka like the Kerala files,'' the party alleged in the post. Meanwhile, a youth has been arrested for allegedly impregnating minor girl in Hubballi, police said. Citing the recent murder case of Congress Councillor Niranjan Hiremath's 23-year-old daughter Neha, who was stabbed to death inside her college campus in Hubballi, the BJP attacked the state government over the investigation in the case. The case is being probed by the State's Criminal Investigation Department. ''While Neha's murder case in Hubballi is still pending, another inhumane incident has made Kannadigas to lower their heads. If they @siddaramaiah and @Dr Parameshwara (Home Minister) do not crush the bigots immediately, the Hindus will destroy the government,'' the BJP said in the post.

Three, including woman and daughter, killed in accident in Keralas Idukki

Wild elephant wreaks havoc in Aralam farm rehabilitation area in Keralas Kannur; three injured

Irked over power cut, people vandalise electricity board office in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: Amidst complaints of undeclared load-shedding in many parts of the state, a group of persons allegedly vandalised a local unit of the Electricity Board citing power failure in their locality in this district, police said on Saturday. Employees of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) unit in Pantheeramkav lodged a complaint with the police alleging that a group of persons vandalised their office late Friday night. Pantheeramkavu police said they received a complaint in this regard from the KSEB staff and initiated an investigation. We visited the incident site and gathered details. We are trying to collect CCTV visuals. Action would be taken based on the evidence collected and as of now, no case has been registered, said a police officer. Kerala: KSEB to impose restrictions on daily power consumption during peak hours With the state grappling under scorching heat, power consumption has touched new heights in recent times. Enranged over the unexpected power failures, especially during night hours, local residents have staged protests in front of KSEB offices in many parts of the state in recent days. In response, the state government made it clear that power cuts at night was due to technical issues because of increased consumption. The authorities also urged consumers to exercise self-control while consuming electricity.

Tharoor: United Opposition Will Back INDIA Bloc Candidate, No Single Leader

Tharoor: United Opposition Will Back INDIA Bloc Candidate, No Single Leader Opposition parties, campaigning together or against each other, will join hands after the Lok Sabha polls, says Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, asserting that the people will get a prime minister who is first among equals and listens to others with an INDIA bloc coalition government. Including the Trinamool Congress in his argument on opposition parties getting together after the day of reckoning on June 4, Tharoor said in an interaction with PTI editors at the news agency's headquarters that a coalition government is nothing to be afraid of. The growth performance of the Indian economy has been better under such dispensations than under single party governments, he said. In his view, this is an election for ''change'' and as of now the BJP has ''lost its grip'' on the narrative. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) member also defended the party's decision to not attend the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was right to turn down the invitation as it was ''essentially a political platform for the greater glorification of Prime Minister Narendra Modi''. ''It would have been a mistake in my view had we done it. As a purely political decision, it was the right one,'' he said during the freewheeling interaction. Tharoor said it is true a coalition government functions very differently from a monolithic one-party government. ''Given Mr Modi's style, the personality cult built around him, and the way the BJP has been ruling, I think it is fair to say that it (an INDIA bloc government) would be very unlike what we have seen in the last 10 years,'' he said, confident that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will form the next government. The record and experience of the Indian public with coalition governments has been rather good, the former Union minister said. ''So, in many ways the advantage of a coalition is that there won't be any sort of autocratic tendencies whoever becomes prime minister... they will have to take into account the others. Frankly, it is the classic political theory of parliamentary systems of governance. Right now we are seeing a parliamentary system being run presidentially which is the worst of both the worlds,'' Tharoor argued. ''If you have a coalition government of the INDIA bloc, you are going to see, for the first time in a long while, a PM who is first among equals, who has to listen to others, take their point of view into account and who would have to be a good manager,'' he said. ''Mr (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee is considered in many ways an excellent example of that kind of consensus builder. He did not have a majority, far from it he had 26 parties in his coalition but his government was able to deliver effective results and at the same time reassure Indians that they had a functioning government,'' Tharoor said. The author-politician also hailed former prime minister Manmohan Singh's style of governance, saying he was able to pursue ''very relentlessly'' his economic goal and preside over the best growth period India has ever seen. Noting that the coalition of UPA-1 broke and the Left quit the government and was not part of UPA-2, Tharoor said there is always the issue on which a prime minister may have to draw the line for one or more of his coalition partners. ''So my own view is let us be reassured that our history in operating the system in the Constitution we have has by and large safeguarded the interest of the people. There have been many periods when people have been absolutely doomsaying about our country and we have come through all those periods,'' he said. ''I would say... coalition government is nothing to be afraid of and certainly when I speak to most voters they are thinking in terms of who is the candidate 'I am voting for', what values does he or she represent, who do they bring to power in Delhi and how is that power going to be exercised,'' Tharoor said. Asked about contradictions in the INDIA bloc as seen in bitter exchanges between the Congress and the Left in Kerala and whether that would be an impediment in the formation of a cohesive government, Tharoor pointed out that the UPA and the Vajpayee-led NDA before that came together after the elections. ''So the truth is that in our country coalitions come after the polling...This is an unusual case where a serious attempt was made to bring people together before voting even took place. It was very clear to all of us that the coalition will work on a state by state basis,'' he said. Citing the example of Kerala, Tharoor said it was unthinkable that the Congress which leads the UDF and the Communists who lead the LDF would ever be partners in the state. ''We have been fighting each other and at loggerheads for the last 55 years and alternating in power until the last election, so there was no question of that even being feasible. Having said that, right next door in Tamil Nadu, the same party, CPI(M), CPI, the Congress, our ally Muslim League and the DMK are all partners, have been partners and continue to be partners, there is no issue,'' he said. ''Finally when it comes to the day of reckoning on June 4 (when results are declared), I have no doubt that all these parties whether or not they are campaigning together or against each other, including the Trinamool Congress, when we have the numbers to prevent the BJP coming to power, we will come together,'' Tharoor asserted. Tharoor said he has friends in parties that are not allied with the Congress who have been telling him that after June 4 ''we will work together''. According to him, the hubristic narrative before the first phase is over. I don't think we are going to hear people say 'abki baar 400 paar' again for some time to come,'' the Congress leader said.

Kerala Conserves 200 MW Power on May 3, Attributing Savings to Public Discipline

Kerala Conserves 200 MW Power on May 3, Attributing Savings to Public Discipline In the wake of the Kerala government coming out with certain proposals to control power consumption during peak hours, the southern state saved around 200 megawatts of electricity on May 3. The achievement was highlighted by state Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty who on Saturday said the power saving was thanks to the cooperation of the consumers, especially the big industries, in Kerala. ''It is a big change. It happened thanks to the cooperation of the consumers,'' he said. The minister also said that the government was trying to ensure that restrictions proposed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) do not affect the domestic power consumers. ''Everyone has to cooperate and self-impose restrictions on their consumption. You (media) too should take it up as a campaign (to urge people to reduce power consumption). Otherwise, all of us will have to suffer,'' he told reporters. At the same time, he said there was no load shedding or power cuts. ''If a transformer trips due to overload, that is not a power cut. Also, it is only for a few minutes -- the time taken to resume the supply,'' he said. The minister said that a couple of days ago, the peak demand in the state was close to 6,000 MW. ''If it crosses that, we will not get any power supply as the electricity cables will not be able to carry that load,'' he said. As the mercury rose in the state during the last fews days, there were reports of frequent power cuts from various parts of Kerala. Following that, the minister on April 30 said power cuts were occurring more often at night in the state due to technical issues arising in the substations as a result of the increased consumption. He had urged consumers to exercise control when using electricity. He had also said that if people exercise restraint, then there will be no need for the KSEB to go for load shedding. Thereafter, KSEB came out with its proposed restrictions during the 10 pm to 2 am peak hours and it included switching off lights in commercial establishments after 9 pm, setting the air-conditioner temperature at 26 degrees Celsius or more, big industries bringing in curbs on power consumption during this period, etc, according to the minister.

Rebellious Indulekha on Ravi Varmas canvas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rebellious she was and beautifully talented. She was barely a woman, or on the verges of it, as she courted Madhavan, whose persona was progressive yet not as captivating as hers. Indulekha, the heroine of the 1889 classic by Oyyarathu Chandu Menon, was more than just a well-bred woman of the late 19th century Kerala she represented the spirit of women, albeit privileged, who could take on regressive and male-centric feudal social structures. Her portrait by the legendary Raja Ravi Varma, however, reveals a more sober, almost coy form of her, clutching a letter that she has written for her beloved. In it, she seems a playful teenager, slightly built, the child in her yet to give way to the subtly sensual women that Raja Ravi Varma otherwise painted. The painting that was unveiled at the Kilimanoor palace on the occasion of Raja Ravi Varmas 176th birth anniversary on April 29 is, in fact, a replica of the original now in the possession of Sasikala Parackal. Her father was gifted the original by the palace around 80 years ago. It was kept in Sasikalas house in Irinjalakuda as a valuable piece of art, which was handed over to her after her father passed away in 1978. He told me it was a gift from Kilimanoor palace and I should take care of it, says Sasikala. Beyond this, I did not know much till the time historian M G Sasibooshan came to our house as part of a litigation my advocate husband was handling. Sasibooshan sensed the hand of Ravi Varma in the painting, which wore some weary marks of time but not enough to camouflage the poise and elegance of Chandu Menons heroine. I then took the painting to the Archeological department and to experts on Raja Ravi Varma, all of whom corroborated Sasibooshans view. Then we got help from Madhan S of Heritage Conservation and Research Academy who studied the painting and restored it to its current glow. I then visited the Kilimanoor palace and informed them of this prized possession. The whole story became public in 2022, says Sasikala. It was the copy of this painting that now finds space in the palace. It is one of the two Indulekha paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. One was in a reclining pose, which is already in the public sphere. The one recently unveiled has Indulekha as a lovelorn girl sitting with a letter in hand that has the year 1892 written on it that can be read with a microscopic lens, says Rama Varma of Kilimanoor palace. According to him, there is a high likelihood that the heroine is real and belonged to the Kilimanoor palace as said in the novel. The character was inspired by Chandu Menons wife Lakshmikutty Amma. He and Raja Ravi Varma were contemporaries and possibly the writer requested the legend to paint his heroine. Also, the lady in the reclining Indulekha painting and the sitting one are the same. So, in all likelihood, and also considering the social milieu of the late 19th century, Indulekha could be real though by a different name. There are several such Ravi Varma paintings in personal collection of people, which is yet to come to light, Rama Varma says. Ravi Varma had the habit of making prints of his works and gifting them to keen people. This is why there are different versions of some of his paintings such as Damayanti, Jatayu Vadham, the Parsi lady, etc. The unfinished Parsi lady is with us whereas the two finished versions were given out, he says. With the penchant to possess a Ravi Varma on the rise and with love for his aesthetics seeing a surge in recent times, the rare paintings of his in personal possessions must be documented well to avoid fakes. Also, the prints go at exorbitant rates in the auctions held across the country. All these make the rare prints in personal possession susceptible to manipulations and hence proper documentation and carbon dating is a must, Rama Varma says, adding he has been getting calls from across India from people who claim to possess a rare Ravi Varma. We are in the process of procuring such paintings and exhibiting them in Kilimanoor Palace. Phased work has begun for that. Not just Ravi Varma, the works of other proteges such as the legends sister Mangala Bayi Thampuratti and brother Raja Raja Varma also have to be presented and preserved, Rama Varma says. Regarding the original painting, Sasikala says she will hand it over to her next in line. How they take care of it is not my headache, she says, agreeing such artworks require dedicated handling because a thing of beauty needs care to remain a joy for a long time if not forever.

Shehzada has fled Amethi, fears defeat in Wayanad too, says PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday predicted a tally fewer than 2019's for the Congress, citing party leader Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from a second seat Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh, after also contesting Wayanad in Kerala which he represents in the outgoing Lok Sabha. The Congress had won 44 seats in [] The post Shehzada has fled Amethi, fears defeat in Wayanad too, says PM Modi appeared first on Northlines .

Heatline

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Kerala is experiencing one of its worst summers ever with the mercury soaring to unprecedented levels. This has had the India Meteorological Department to sound a heatwave alert in the state. While global warming is indeed cited as the primary reason for daytime temperatures remaining unusually high, one cant discount factors like the urban heat island effect or the coastal states maritime climate where average humidity is relatively higher. These mean that when the temperature increases, the heat you feel is also significantly higher. Women carry cans to collect water from tanker lorries arranged by the municipality in Koyilandy

Mambazhakaalam

KOCHI: As I eyed the golden Alphonso in the market, I was taken back to my home where in the backyard mango trees would start blooming way before the summer holidays set in. Come the holidays, my house would have a daily feast with mango mojitos, curries, pickles, and desserts for every meal. It was only as I grew older did I realise the different names of the variants. The golden mangoes were Alphonso or Aapus as my grandmother would say, and the long raw mangoes, I used to have with salt and chilli powder, were Totapuri or Kilimooku. Sometimes, identifying mangoes is something you can do but not explain, says Ranganathan, a vendor in the market as he explain the history of certain mangoes. This was a common statement I heard during my quest to learn how to identify different mangoes. Baiju S Chittilappilly, who owns a farm in Kerala, explains that mango cultivators can often identify, through experience, the different mango trees based on the shape of their leaves. Alphonsos leaves are longer than a lot of other varieties, he says. Alphonso, especially the one from Maharashtra, holds tightly to its title of King of Mangoes and sustains the publics choice award. With a slight sparkle, it stands out in a cart due to its almost perfect roundness and clean golden-yellow skin. A good Alphonso mango will weigh up to 250 grams and will not have any blemishes or spots on its smooth skin, points out Baiju as he speaks of this variants high demand. With dark yellow flesh almost comparable to turmeric, Alphonso is widely available in nearly every market. And another one known for its hue is Sinshoora. Being one of the firstborns of the mango season, it is Sindhoora that often welcomes the public to a very sweet and fruitful season. While comparatively easier to identify, with its reddish shade, the fruit weighs nearly 250 grams per mango. There are not a lot of distinct reddish mangoes I have seen, and Sindhoora is a combination of red, green, and a bit of yellow, says Sameer, a fruit seller from Bihar. As I walked more into the lanes of markets, I stumbled upon a public favourite Imam Pasand. With its origin in Urdu stories to the possibility of it having been Emperor Humayuns favourite, it is one of the sweetest mangoes available. Very much in competition with Alphonso for the grand title, Imam Pasand has thin, tasty skin and is being bought a lot this season. On the other hand, Banganapalli is the middle child of the season and is a bit more pale than others. Often distinctly larger than many varieties, Banganapalli is one of the most affordable lots in the family. Another variety, Jawaad can be sweeter than Banganapalli sometimes. However, most people cannot afford those, so Banganapalli is bought a lot, Sameer adds. Malgoa, with a smaller seed and more flesh, will be available well into May. With a thick skin, it is seen and described as being more round and curvy with a dip near its stem. With a pale flesh, Malgoa is sweet even before ripening, unlike mangoes like Sindhoora or even Neelam, says Baiju. Neelam, a latecomer to the mango season, mainly comes from Andhra Pradesh. With a particularly small round shape, it can be seen when the monsoon rains start, he adds. While the markets are full of different variants, isnt it a wonder that our states can grow so many of them right in time for the season? Baiju tells me that with various grafting and budding techniques becoming popular among mango cultivators, growing multiple varieties of mangoes together is a cakewalk. Grafting is a practical method. Multi-budding, where you can grow multiple mango types on one tree, is very useful. The only main factor that affects is the climate, and some trees have close to 25 mango types growing together, says Baiju. And thats how our markets get filled with mangoes from all over the country. Though the season of varieties like Moovandan and other umpteen local variants are almost over, the mango season is not close to an end as more and more varieties from other states enter the market. Aam Dal/Toker Dal by Joyadrita Ragavendran Chatterjee Ingredients Red masoor dal: 1.5 cups Raw mango (cut into long, thick strips): 1 Salt and sugar to taste Turmeric powder Mustard oil Mustard seeds for tempering Red chilli: 1 Method Boil the red masoor dal with a couple of pieces of mango, salt, and turmeric powder. Keep the other mango slices aside. Heat mustard oil with the mustard seeds and red chilli in a wok temper. Add the remaining mango slices and let it soften. Next, pour the boiled dal. Adjust salt. Add sugar. The final dal should taste sweet and sour. Prawns Raw Mango Curry by Sheeba La Fleur Ingredients Prawns: half cup Green chillies: 4 nos Ginger paste: 1/4 tsp Garlic paste: 1/4 tsp Salt to taste Raw mango: 1 diced Tomato: 1 small Section 2 Grated coconut: 1cup Shallots: 6 nos Tamarind a small ball Red chilly powder: 2tbsp Corriander powder: 2tsp Fennel powder: 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder: 1/2 tsp Ginger a small piece Garlic: 2 nos Water: 1/4 cup For tadka Coconut oil: 2tbsp Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp Sliced Shallots: 2 nos Curry leaves: few Dried red chilli: 3 Method Add prawns, green chilly, ginger and garlic paste with half a cup of water and cook for two minutes. Now add diced tomatoes and raw mangoes to it and cook for another two minutes. Make a fine paste with ingredients from section two. Add the paste to the prawns and cook for another 3 minutes. Heat oil add mustard and other tadka ingredients and pour it into the curry. You can serve it with rice or puttu. MANGO CHEESECAKE by Arun Vijayan, consultant chef Ingredients Crushed biscuits: 500gm Melted butter : 150gm Cream cheese : 350gm Whipping cream : 250gm Cornflour : 50gm Mango puree : 250gm Condensed milk: 300gm Method In a blender, add biscuits and process them until fully crushed. Now add melted butter and blend again. Transfer the biscuit crumbs into a 7-inch springform pan and press down evenly. Set it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. In another bowl, add cream cheese, heavy cream, condensed milk, mango pureeand cornflour. Mix until the batter is fully combined. Now transfer this on top of the biscuit base. Seal the bottom of the springform pan with two layers of aluminium foil so nothing leaks out. Now add the batter to a cheesecake tin and place it in a preheated oven at 160 Celsius for about 40-45 mins. Once baked fully run a knife around the edges while the cheesecake is still warm. Transfer the cheesecake to the fridge to cool for about 7-8hours. Garnish it with mango puree. Sticky Mango Rice by Sheeba La Fleur Ingredients Uncooked sticky rice: 1 cup Full-fat coconut milk: 1 can (13.5 oz / 400 g) Sugar: 1/4 cup Salt: 1/2 tsp Cornstarch (Optional): 2 tsp Mangoes (peeled and sliced): 3 ripe Toasted sesame seeds for garnish (Optional) Method Rinse the sticky rice with water and gently stir it with your hands. Drain the water to remove the excess starch. Then add cold water. Soak the sticky rice for a minimum of 1 hour, or up to overnight in the fridge. Once soaked, rinse again and drain the water. Transfer the rice to a heatproof bowl, add about 2.5 cups of water to your steamer (not into the rice), place the heatproof rice bowl on the steaming rack placed in the steamer, and cover the steamer. Turn to medium-high heat to bring the water to a boil. When the steam starts to come out of the pot, turn to medium heat. Steam for 20 to 25 minutes, until the rice is cooked through, with no hard raw bits in the middle. Remove the pot from the stove. Let sit, covered, while you prepare the other ingredients. Make the sauce when the rice is cooking. Combine the coconut milk, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat or medium-low heat until the sugar is melted. Do not bring the coconut sauce to a boil. Carefully remove the bowl of sticky rice from the steamer. Pour 1 cup of the sauce into the bowl. Stir to mix well until the sauce is fully absorbed. The mango sticky rice is ready to serve when the rice mixture and the sauce cool to room temperature or lukewarm. For that extra garnish, you can also pour a few spoonfuls of extra coconut sauce on top of the rice or also top with some toasted sesame seeds. Creamy Mango Curry by Arun Vijayan, Consultant chef Ingredients Tender mango wedges: 300gm Finely chopped onions: 30gm Finely chopped garlic : 10gm Finely chopped ginger: 10gm Tomato pure : 20gm Cumin powder: 5gm Salt to taste Turmeric powder: 8gm Fresh cream : 30ml Butter : 10gm Sunflower oil : 50ml Method Heat oil in a pan and add onion, ginger and garlic. Saut it until brown. Add the seasonings and tomato pure. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes in slow heat until the tomato gets mashed. Then add little hot water and mango wedges to it. Reduce the flame and finish with fresh cream and butter. The curry can be served with bread or white rice. Mango margarita by BLND Restobar, Thiruvananthapuram Ingredients Fresh mango: 75 gm Lime juice: 30ml Chilli: 1/2 chilli Ice cube: one big scoop Method Blend all the above ingredients in a blender and serve it in a margarita glass with chilli salt on its rim. Garnish with a chilli. Mango Rasam by Mala Sekar Ingredients Raw mango: 1, medium size Toor dal: 1 small cup Tomato: 1 Pepper: 1 spoon Cumin seeds: 1 spoon Green or red chillies: 2 Crushed ginger: a small piece Coriander leaves Method Pressure cook toor dal and raw mango with a pinch of turmeric on medium flame until two whistles. Once its done, blend it into a smooth paste and add water if its too thick. Add oil to a pan and add mustard, chilies, ginger, a pinch of asafoetida, and turmeric for tadka. Chop the tomato and add it to the tadka along with salt. After this is done, add the toor dal and raw mango paste. Once it comes to a boil, add pepper and cumin powder Garnish with coriander generously.

Kerala: Study to make mosquito eradicating peptide begins

MALAPPURAM : Researchers at Calicut University have initiated a study to produce a functionally modified protein, called peptide, in a cost-effective and large-scale manner, aimed at eradicating mosquito larvae in stagnant water. The research is based on a modified peptide produced by Prof Kannan and his PhD scholar, M Deepthi, from the department of zoology. This peptide, which poses no harm to other aquatic organisms, humans, or the environment, can be converted into a liquid form and applied to stagnant water bodies to eradicate mosquito larvae. Currently, chemical agents are employed to eradicate mosquito larvae, but they can be detrimental to other aquatic organisms and the environment. If our research objectives are met, we will have a low-cost and environment-friendly solution for mosquito larvae control. This would be a boon for nations grappling with mosquito-borne diseases, said Kannan. The peptide in question was functionally modified to interact with trypsin present in the gut of mosquito larvae, leading to their destruction. The peptide hampers trypsin synthesis, an enzyme essential for protein digestion, in the gut of mosquito larvae. When protein digestion is inhibited, the larvae perish within 48 hours. We modified the peptide to only be active in the gut of mosquito larvae. Also, this peptide will not cause any issues in the intestines of humans and other vertebrates, explained Kannan, who conducted post-doctoral research in molecular biology in the University of Michigan in the US. The researchers plan to utilise gene cloning techniques to produce this peptide in cost-effective and large-scale manner. A paper elucidating the peptides role and mechanism of action has been published in the International Journal of Mosquito Research. Effective method Peptide poses no harm to other aquatic organisms, humans, or the environment It can be converted into a liquid form and applied to stagnant water bodies to eradicate mosquito larvae

Kerala: Promote local varieties of Islam to resist Arabisation says Egyptian scholar

KOZHIKODE: An Islamic scholar from Egypt has called for the promotion of indigenous varieties of Islam prevailing in non-Arabic countries to resist the process of Arabisation that seeks to impose a monolithic form of the religion, destroying all its pluralities. In an interview to the TNIE , Dr Nasr Muhammad Arif, Professor at Cairo University, Egypt, said the Arabs carried Islam to various communities more than one thousand years ago in a peaceful and non-confrontationist way. But in the last century it was replaced by Saudi Salafism, which was aggressive and disrespectful of local traditions. The scholar believes that the change occurred due to the influence of western or colonial ideology that divided human beings into superiors and inferiors. He said the Salafi creed propagated by Saudi Arabia was completely insensitive to local culture and traditions. Islam only prescribes that the body should be properly covered. But the Saudi Salafis insist that Muslims should wear their dress. People in South East Asia like colourful things but Salafis want black abaya, he said. I am coming from a society which follows the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence. There, women need not cover their breasts when they are feeding babies. This is unimaginable in Saudi Arabia, Arif said. The Saudi Salafis looked down on the Muslims in traditional communities and thought that they should be re-introduced to Islam again. This is equivalent to the process of Westernisation, Arif said. When Muslims came to South East Asia, they adopted an architectural philosophy that was eco-friendly. They constructed the ceiling of mosques like a pyramid taking into consideration the rainy season, but later it was replaced by the Arabian style of flat roof. Thus, the local culture and tradition were completely sidelined and an Arabian culture was imposed, Arif said. The only way out is to de-Arabise society and return to traditional Islam. I am told that there are several Islamic scholars in Kerala whose books are taught in Al Azhar University. I found a book where details of 6,149 Islamic scholars in Central Asia are given. There are places where there is a rich intellectual tradition but people are inclined to look at Arabs as the representatives of Islam, he said. India used to teach the whole world. The Darul Uloom in Lucknow was the publishing house for Muslims all over the world. You are looking down on you with a belief that others are superior, he said. Arif said the practice of seeking fatwas from scholars outside the country is totally wrong because any fatwa is conditional. Fatwa is a personalised one and cannot be generalised. Importing fatwas can be dangerous, he said. Arif was impressed by the interaction among various communities in Kerala. I went to a Muslim educational institution in Malappuram and I was glad to see that seventy per cent of the teachers are non-Muslims. There is a mosque in every half-a-kilometre, which is a rarity even in the Middle East. We need to promote this kind of plural culture, he said.

Biting on arali flower turns fatal for Kerala nurse bound for UK

ALAPPUZHA: The life and dreams of a 24-year-old girl and her family were destroyed by the suspected ingestion of the juice of the flower and leaf of Arali (oleander) at Pallippad near Haripad. Soorya Surendran, daughter of Surendran, Kondurethu house, Neendoor, Pallippad, collapsed at Nedumbassery airport when she reached the airport to travel to the UK to join a nursing job on Sunday. She was later admitted to a private hospital in Angamaly and shifted to a medical college hospital in Parumala near Tiruvalla where she died on Monday. According to Haripad station house officer K Abhilashkumar, the postmortem of the girl was carried out in Alappuzha Medical College Hospital. In the postmortem report, it was found that the cause of death was the consumption of Arali flower and leaf. A statement given by Soorya to her parents and doctors said that on Sunday morning, she informed her journey to relatives and friends over the phone from her house. While walking along the neighbourhood speaking over mobile phone, she bit a leaf and flower unintentionally. Immediately she realised the mistake and spit it out, but a few drops of the leaf juice went inside. The doctors who carried out the postmortem said that some poisonous content was in her blood, but the parts of the flower or leaf could not be found in the food particles inside the stomach. So the exact poisonous content can be identified only after a detailed postmortem report, Abhilashkumar said. The relatives also point to such a reason. She passed SSLC and Plus II with full A plus and secured good score in BSc Nursing. Her father Surendran is a construction labourer. He is suffering from heart ailments and is resting at home. Mother Anitha is running a temporary tea stall at Poyyakkara near Pallippad. It is the only income of the family. The journey to the UK was the dream of the family and Soorya, but everything turned upside down in a matter of hours, said a neighbour. Arali flowers highly toxic, says expert Dr Benil Kottakkal, who has conducted studies on the toxicity of arali flower, said the alkaloids present in the flower come in the category of cardiac glycosides. These alkaloids present in Nerium Oleander act directly on the heart. The presence of alkaloids is very high in the latex found inside the stalk, he said. It is suspected that the new varieties of arali plants developed to bear more flowers contain more of these toxins. However, that has not yet been quantified scientifically, he added. In the opinion of Joseph Job, vice-principal and associate professor, Department of Botany, SB College Changanassery, the toxicity of arali plant varies according to the ingested part, age and health condition of the person who consumes it. All the plants in apocynaceae family have these cardiac stimulatory alkaloids, he said.

Kerala Lottery Result Today LIVE: Karunya KR-652 WINNERS for May 4, 2024; First Prize Rs 80 Lakh!

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Traffic curbs in Kochi on May 4 due to feast in St George church

KOCHI: The city traffic police on Friday said that vehicular movement between Edappally bypass Junction and Palarivattom would be restricted from 4 pm on Saturday in connection with the annual feast at St Georges Forane Church, Edappally. The following directions have been issued:- Believers proceeding to the church to offer prayers and make offering of fowls should park their vehicles at the designated parking facilities arranged by the Church authorities. Under no circumstances should they park the vehicles along the main roads and roads near the church. Strict action will be taken against the violators, including the towing away of their vehicles using police recovery vehicle. The devotees should try to make use of the public transport systems including Kochi Metro. They can utilise the parking facilities including those at metro stations. Vehicles coming from Kalamassery side and proceeding to Palarivattom should take free left at Edappally bypass Junction and proceed to Palarivattom side via NH 66, from 4 pm onward. Similarly, vehicles coming from Palarivattom and proceeding to Kalamassery and Aluva sides should take deviation from Palarivattom SN Junction to reach Palarivattom Bypass junction. They should then take free left to reach Edapally Junction via NH 66 before proceeding to Kalamassery side. Vehicles coming from Paravoor, Cheranalloor and Aluva sides and proceeding to Ernakulam should take the Container Road to enter the city. Vehicles coming from Aluva side and proceeding to Kakkanad and Palarivattom and back should take the Seaport-Airport Road.

Seven children to be adopted from Kerala Child Welfare committee on May 4

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a first, the state welfare committee has decided to entrust seven couples with children they have been taking care of, on the same day. Seven babies will be taken home by these parents on Saturday morning. Kids will be adopted from the committees adoption centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Seven children, all between five and seven months old, are starting off their new journey with their new parents. Six of them will be in Kerala one in Thiruvananthapuram, two in Alappuzha, two in Kottayam, and one in Kozhikode. Meanwhile, one of them will travel to Tamil Nadu with the parents. All parents are professionals such as doctors, assistant directors, university employees, police officers, and entrepreneurs. The new ruling committee has so far given 76 children for adoption to families over a period of 14 months. Twelve of them have gone abroad. According to priority, deserving couples who registered through the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) to various adoptions centres across India got clearance from state children welfare committee. The process of giving up children for adoption was made efficient by providing adequate care and security at various Child Welfare Committee centres,said general Secretary G L Arungopi. Starting a new life The committee has given 76 children for adoption to families over a period of 14 months. Twelve of them have gone abroad Deserving couples who registered through CARA to various adoptions centres across India got clearance from state CWC.

Thiruvananthapuram-based architect wins HUDCO award for flood-relief initiative

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) design award in the category of cost effective rural/urban housing deploying innovative/emerging & disaster resistant technology has been awarded to architect N S Abhayakumar. Abhayakumar won the award for Project Bhoomika, a flood-relief housing initiative, as part of which 10 houses were built for people in Cheruthana village of Alappuzha who lost their houses in the 2018 floods. The design scheme of the project was based on a cost-effective and disaster-resistant technology. The highlight of Project Bhoomika was the partial inclusion of its beneficiaries in the design process. Unlike other housing projects in which a row of cookie-cutter houses is made, Project Bhoomika gave its beneficiaries the option to choose the design without affecting the cost. The project also saw the involvement of young students of architecture and civil engineering in the implementation of a socially relevant human settlement project. Cheruthana is a village that experiences flooding at least three times a year during the monsoons. Project Bhoomika was conceived after the flood relief work was finished. It was found that houses with strong and sustainable construction withstood the flood. So, as an architect, I wanted to do something for the affected to help them resist adversities in the future. Around 100 houses were scouted to find the needy with the help of local youngsters for the project, said Abhayakumar, who is a member of the Trivandrum runners club, a registered charitable organisation that actively worked during the 2018 floods. A mix of precast concrete elements was used for the foundation, and pre-fabricated galvanised pipes and ferro-cement technology for the superstructure to minimise the site work, which is usually the reason for the higher cost of construction in Kerala. The cost for construction of the 400 sqft two-bedroom houses, erected on nine pillars of 1m each, was kept below Rs 6 lakh each. The best part is that beneficiaries were not relocated from their native places for the purpose. Considering the topography of the region, which is surrounded by water with limited road access, the houses were conceived in such a way that different parts such as the well rings, pillars, and wall panels could be pre-fabricated and transported by boat and then erected at site. I hope that local bodies in other flood-prone areas replicate this model, said Abhayakumar. Project Bhoomika The highlight of the project was partial inclusion of its beneficiaries in the design process. They were given the option to choose the design without affecting the cost Also ensured the involvement of young students of architecture and civil engineering in the implementation of the project

Kerala: MLA entered bus, but did not force people out says bus conductor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cantonment police on Thursday recorded the statement of the conductor, who was on duty when the road rage incident involving Mayor Arya Raveendran and the KSRTC driver took place. The police said conductor Subin claimed he had no knowledge of whether driver H L Yadhu had shown lewd gestures at the mayor. He also denied knowing about the chase between the KSRTC bus and the private car in which the mayor and her family were travelling. The conductor said he was sitting in the rear side of the bus and did not know anything about the road race or the drivers lewd gesture, said an officer. The conductor, meanwhile, testified that the mayors husband K M Sachin Dev MLA had entered the bus when it was stopped at Palayam but did not use any bad language or force the passengers out of the bus. His statement was that the MLA did not force anybody to get out of the bus. Neither did he see the MLA shouting at the passengers. He said he had an interaction with the MLA, the officer added. The officer said they have identified some of the passengers, who were travelling in the bus, and their statements would be recorded in the coming days. Its a tedious job, but we will record their statements soon, the officer added. Meanwhile, actress Roshna R Roy has come out against the driver alleging that he had behaved rudely and used loaded language at her when there was a traffic issue at Kunnamkulam a few months ago.

Swell waves: Red alert along Kerala coast

THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a red alert along Kerala and south Tamil Nadu coast owing to swell waves till Sunday night. During the period, the coast will experience strong waves from 2.30 pm on Saturday to 11.30 pm on Sunday. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority had already directed that people should be moved away from beaches from 10 pm on Friday. They have alerted fishermen living in vulnerable locations to shift to safer locations based on the directives of the authorities. They have advised the public to avoid trips to beaches and venturing into the sea. Swell waves cause panic along Kerala coast Fishermen have also been advised to move fishing nets and boats to safer locations, preferably in harbours. Swell waves lashed the Kerala coast causing panic in coastal communities on April 31. The sea attack caused damage to roads and fishing equipment, and also necessitated the rehabilitation of people in some locations. The severity was high in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Thrissur. IMD maintained a yellow alert in Palakkad and Kozhikode considering the heatwave alert on Friday. However, it did not issue any fresh heatwave alerts for any districts for Saturday.

Kerala: 816g MDMA seized in 48 hours; surge in drug haul anticipated after LS poll

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The enforcement agencies have seized a large quantity of synthetic drugs from two locations in the state within a span of 48 hours, indicating that the drug menace is going to intensify further in the state after the Lok Sabha polls. About 616g of MDMA was seized by the excise from Kozhikode rural on Thursday, while 200g were seized from Angamaly by the police on Friday. The seized contraband could fetch more than Rs 25 lakh in the open market, said an excise source. As per the excise sources, the smuggling of narcotics to the state had reduced since March third week due to the heavy deployment of police, excise and other paramilitary forces in the inter-state borders owing to the Lok Sabha polls. Since the poll date was announced on March 16, the state and central agencies had intensified the scrutiny of vehicles on the inter-state borders of Kerala. Apart from the police and excise, officers from the Income Tax department, SGST division, Directorate of Enforcement, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), and the Narcotics Control Bureau were involved in inspections at the state border and within the state. A senior excise officer told TNIE that seizure of commercial quantity of MDMA rarely happened in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls. MDMA weighing more than 10g is considered as a commercial quantity, as per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS). Because of the strict surveillance on border points and multi-layered screening of vehicles done within the state and outside, it was almost impossible to smuggle in contraband during the Lok Sabha poll campaign period. Now, that the polls are over in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, we are expecting a surge in smuggling attempts. More seizures are also expected in the coming days, he said. The synthetic drugs reach Kerala from Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Goa, while cannabis is sourced from plantations located in the hinterlands in Andhra-Odisha border. Since the Lok Sabha poll date was announced, heavy deployment of law enforcement officers made movement of the narcotics a risky affair. Now that the vigilance has been scaled down, the rackets having inter-state connections would be eying to push in the drugs, the excise officer added.

West Bengal Governor denies sexual assault allegations

KOCHI: Denying the sexual harassment allegations levelled against him, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose said he would have the final laugh when the allegation unravels. Speaking to reporters at Nedumbassery here on Friday after arriving from Kolkata, Ananda Bose said as a governor, there is no need to respond to this. But I can reveal with honesty to the Keralites who brought me up. On the day the prime minister stayed at the Raj Bhavan, it was alleged that I had touched an employee of the Raj Bhavan without permission. Everyone knows the truth behind this. There is no issue between me and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said. The Kolkata police on Friday set up a team to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against Bose by a contractual employee of Raj Bhavan. In her written complaint to the Hare Street police station, the woman alleged that the governor sexually harassed her, first on March 24, and later on May 2, after summoning her to his chamber on the pretext of offering her a permanent job.

Kerala: KSEB to impose restrictions on daily power consumption during peak hours

KOCHI: The rising demand for power has forced the KSEB to impose restrictions on power consumption during peak hours. Meanwhile, the states daily power consumption scaled to new heights on Thursday, recording 114.18 million units. The state set another record in peak load at 10.48pm on Thursday as the demand touched 5,854 MW. Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty urged consumers to reduce the use of power between 10pm and 2am and cooperate with the board to manage the crisis. We were forced to overdraw from the national grid due to high demand on Thursday night. We got only 80 MW from the real time market on Thursday due to high demand in the national grid. We are getting 450 MW from the grid under a monthly contract. Around 5.48 million units of power was purchased additionally on Thursday to meet the demand, said a KSEB official. We have touched the maximum import capacity and if the power demand continues to soar, it will be difficult to manage. The present level of consumption is beyond the level we anticipated for 2026. As the regular demand is much below, we cannot improve capacity as it will be a dead investment, the officer said. As part of the restrictions, the KSEB has directed big industries to reschedule power consumption avoiding work between 10pm and 1am. The board has requested the water authority and the irrigation department to reschedule operation of motor pumps and lift irrigation pumps without affecting water distribution. Commercial institutions and shops have been directed to stitch off power connection to hoardings, decorative lights and sign boards. The board also requested families to set temperature of air conditioners at 26 degree Celsius. Instructions have been issued to deputy chief engineers to make field arrangements to reduce consumption. The public should cooperate to tide over the crisis and reduce consumption between 10pm and 2am. Power failures are caused by technical issues and consumers should stop creating ruckus at KSEB offices, Minister K Krishnan Kutty said in a release. On power saving mode : A day after the Kerala government decided against load shedding, the state electricity board (KSEB) has come out with a slew of proposals on Power saving mechanisms Power should be used scarcely, only if required, during 10pm - 2am Avoid using illumination lights in commercial establishments and lamps in advertisement hoardings after 9pm Ideal to set the air-conditioner temperature at 26 degrees and above High Tension establishments should reorganise their schedule during 10pm-2 am Water pumping should be reorganised and pumps for lift irrigation should not be used during peak hours 114.18 million units - Power consumption on May 2 Peak load: 5,854 MW at 10.48pm

Kerala: Barcode on plastic cover helps cops nab accused

KOCHI: Thanks to the barcode on the plastic cover of the online shopping platform Amazon, police managed to zero in on the accused persons within hours after the body of the newborn was found lying on the road in Vidhya Nagar on Friday. Newborn's body found wrapped in cover in Kochi; CCTV footage shows body being thrown out of apartment Police suspect that the victim had made all preparations for giving birth in the bathroom of the house. After the police got information that the body of a newborn was found on the road at Vidhya Nagar, they reached the place around 8.30 am. There were CCTV cameras installed outside the apartment. When we checked the footage, it was found that around 8- 8.15 am, a cover landed on the road from the top floors of the building. Thus we confirmed that someone living in the apartment had thrown out the body, a police officer. However, a breakthrough came when police checked the plastic cover near the body. The plastic cover was that of Amazon and there was an address on it. We managed to find a barcode on the plastic cover. After scanning the bar code, we found the address of the accused who was living in a flat on the fifth floor of the apartment. We interrogated the accused and she confessed to the crime, an officer said.

Case against Kerala man for creating fake video on Rahul Gandhi

KOCHI: A case has been registered against a resident of Muvattupuzha who allegedly circulated a video against Rahul Gandhi claiming that the Congress leader is seeking votes in Wayanad to reinstate the mosque in Ayodhya. Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police registered a case following a complaint filed by Muvattupuzha MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan recently. The case was registered against Rajesh G Nair, Thrikkalathur, Muvattupuzha, who allegedly circulated the video on a WhatsApp group. The video has a duration of 30 seconds starting with a song depicting Ram temple in Ayodhya. Later, it was seen that the temple was destroyed and replaced by a mosque. The video ends with a picture of Rahul Gandhi seeking votes for Congress. A description along with the video claims that it was circulated among the Muslim community and the Hindu community came to know about it only after the poll day. Mathew Kuzhalnadan, in a complaint filed before Ernakulam Rural Police Chief Vaibhav Saxena, stated that it is a hate-mongering video to disrupt communal harmony and peace among the general public aside from the other apparent ulterior motive of gaining undue advantage in election prospects in the ongoing election.

Kerala: 497 cows died of intense heat in past two months

KOCHI: The sweltering heatwave sweeping across Kerala has made life tough for not just humans but animals too. According to the animal husbandry department, 497 cows died due to stress caused by extreme heat and humidity during the past two months. Kollam district tops the list with 105 cow deaths, followed by Palakkad where 67 cows died due to heat stress. An emergency meeting convened by Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying J Chinchurani on Friday directed the department officials to conduct field visits and submit a report on the death of domestic animals due to heat stress within two days. A map of Kerala showing the district-wise deaths of cows in the past two months - 497 Total This is the first time Kerala is witnessing such huge number of cow deaths due to heat stress. We have taken this seriously and directed staff to create awareness among farmers on ensuring proper care to cows. Not just cows, but goats, buffalo, poultry and pigs are also dying due to intense heat, Chinchurani told TNIE . Farmers should not leave cows in open field for grazing, say officials The minister said immediate steps will be taken to provide compensation from the Disaster Management Fund to the farmers who lost their cows. All district officers have been directed to forward reports on cow deaths on a daily basis to the directorate. We have instructed the officers to meet farmers and give them tips on protecting cows. We should ensure the availability of fresh grass and water to the milch cows. Farmers should not leave the cows in open field for grazing. They should fix sprinklers or spread wet sacks on the roof of cow sheds to reduce the heat and provide more water. Sprinkling water on their body will help reduce heat stress. We have provided funds to panchayats for the distribution of water. Shortage of funds will not affect the steps to ensure protection of cows, she added. The minister said steps will be taken to compile report on cow deaths due to heat stress this month itself. Compensation will be provided to farmers in June. According to AHD officials, fresh grass is scarce in the state which has affected dairy farmers. Around 44 panchayats are facing water scarcity. In some areas, cow sheds have asbestos and metal roofing which heat up under scorching sun. The farmers will be told to shift the cows from such sheds to shades of trees. Fixing electric fans in the cow sheds will also help to reduce heat stress. Leaving the cows in open fields for grazing is one reason for heat stress deaths. A cow which gives around 10 litres of milk needs around 100 litres of water a day and if the quantity of water is not sufficient it can add to the stress. The reflected heat in the cow sheds without proper air circulation is also a reason, said a veterinary officer. The department can provide Rs 16,400 as compensation for cow deaths. The minister has directed officials to complete procedures to ensure the release of fund from the finance department. The state government can provide Rs 37,500 as compensation from the disaster management fund. Cow deaths due to heat stress A map of Kerala showing the district-wise deaths of cows in the past two months - 497 Total

Kerala: Post-poll developments likely to alter equations in Congress leadership

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the Lok Sabha election, the A group which has been at loggerheads with the Congress state leadership has cosied up to it indicating a change in power equations within the party. If earlier, Congress state president K Sudhakaran and Opposition Leader V D Satheesan worked as a team, party insiders reveal that fissures have developed in their rapport. The A group which was once led by former CM Oommen Chandy did not share excellent camaraderie with the current leadership. A day after the Lok Sabha poll, rumours were rife that Satheesan is eager to see Congress state president in-charge M M Hassan, who belongs to the A group, continuing in office. This move has antagonised the Sudhakaran camp which led him to advance his duties as party chief from last Monday onward. But he later postponed his trip to Thiruvananthapuram after reports emerged that Hassan, who led the Lok Sabha campaign of the Congress, will chair the meeting on reporting of poll prospects at Indira Bhavan on Saturday. A leader close to Sudhakaran told TNIE that since the tenure of Satheesan has reached the second half, he has been trying to garner maximum support from the A group so as to have a tie-up with it. Satheesans diplomatic move is to garner the support of as many legislators as possible keeping in mind the 2026 assembly elections. Apart from senior A group leaders, youth leaders like Palakkad MLA Shafi Parambil and Rahul Mamkootathil have the backing of Satheesan. Circulation of fake reports that Sudhakaran is likely to be defeated in Kannur has led him to return to the seat of party chief at the earliest before the poll outcome is known, said a leader close to Sudhakaran. Satheesan camp has vehemently denied the allegations that he had tried to derail Sudhakarans return to the KPCC president post. The Leader of Opposition is currently on voice rest and his office informed that there is a standing directive from AICC that Hassan will hold charges until the Lok Sabha poll is over. K C Venugopal, All India general secretary (organisation), in a letter dated March 21 had conveyed to Deepa Das Munshi, AICC general secretary in charge of the state, that Hassan is being given charge of state party chief until the conclusion of Parliament elections, given the current PCC presidents involvement in the ongoing elections.

Rahul Gandhis move to contest in Rae Bareli disappoints Wayanad

KOCHI: The Congress decision to field Rahul Gandhi in the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh has elicited mixed feelings within the partys state unit. There is uncertainty among party leaders regarding whether he will step down from the Wayanad LS seat if he is elected from Rae Bareli, considered a stronghold of the Gandhi family. This has led to heated debates, with the BJP and LDF accusing Rahul of betraying the people of Wayanad. There is a prevailing belief within the Congress party that if he wins both seats, he is likely to vacate the Wayanad seat. However, there is also optimism that his contest in the Hindi heartland will bolster the partys prospects in North India. While party leaders feel it is premature to discuss which seat he would retain, the lingering question is whether he will vacate Wayanad and who will be his successor in Wayanad. The name of AICC general secretary and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, is being reported as a possible successor if Rahul abandons the seat. However, senior party leaders are reluctant to comment on the matter. Congress national general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal stated that the party will decide which seat Rahul Gandhi will retain at the appropriate time. The party requested Rahul Gandhi to contest from Rae Bareli and he agreed. For us, Rae Bareli, Amethi, and Wayanad are all important. Rae Bareli is the seat which was held by Indira Gandhi and till recently by Sonia Gandhi. At the appropriate time, the party will decide which seat he will retain. The decision will not affect anyone, Venugopal told mediapersons. Political observers believe that Rahul Gandhis decision to contest in UP will boost the morale of the party as Left leaders argue that he will focus on fighting the BJP in North India rather than contesting against INDIA bloc allies in Kerala. According to K Baburaj, a senior journalist and political observer, Congress activists in UP and other North Indian states are expecting Rahuls presence, which will boost their morale. However, the decision has left his supporters in Kerala, especially in Wayanad, unhappy as they worked hard for his victory in 2019. They also supported him when his MP post was suspended, he said. If Rahul wins, he is likely to retain Raebareli due to its historical connection with the Gandhi family, it is learned. Feroze Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi: Rae Bareli's tryst with Congress Wayanad is considered a safe seat of UDF. So the front can win if a re-election happens. Abandoning Raebareli would be seen as suicidal to Congress, according to Baburaj. A senior Congress leader told TNIE that there were speculations during the 2019 campaign that Rahul would abandon Wayanad if elected from Amethi. However, he won with a huge margin of more than 4 lakh votes, a record in the states election history. This time, Wayanad recorded a lower voter turnout compared to 2019, which might lead to a slight decline in his majority, but the voters are expected to stand by him. The party will take an appropriate decision at the right time and commenting on the issue at this stage will be too early, he added. Chances of Rahul Gandhi contesting from the second seat was the topic of a heated campaign in Wayanad this time too. Fight against BJP Chances of Rahul contesting from second seat was the topic of a heated campaign in Wayanad. Political observers believe that his decision to contest in UP will boost the morale of the party as Left leaders argue that he will focus on fighting the BJP in North India.

Kerala: Organ donation unfolds a tale of human bonding and hope

KOZHIKODE: In Kannur, a touching tale of gratitude and deep human bonding unfolded, highlighting the transformative power of organ donation. The story serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact that organ donation can have, not just on the lives of recipients but on an entire community. Ashok V Nair, a 44-year-old resident of Kurungazha Chalungal house in Pathanamthitta, owes his life to the generosity of a family in Kannur. Six months ago, Ashok received the heart of Vishnu, a young man from Kannur who lost his life in a motorcycle accident in Kozhikode. Despite their deep sorrow, Vishnus parents, Shaji and Sajana, along with their daughter Nandana, decided to donate Vishnus organs. The decision was facilitated under the governments Mritha Sanjeevani scheme, which promotes organ donations at no cost with the stipulation that the donors and recipients have the opportunity to meet. The relationship between Ashok and Vishnus family deepened over the years, marked by regular visits and shared memories of Vishnu. Sajana, who was battling cancer, found in Ashok a surrogate son. Their bond was strengthened through their shared connection to Vishnu and the heart that now beats in Ashoks body. When Sajana succumbed to cancer, it was Ashok who stepped forward to perform her last rites. This profound act of respect and gratitude took place in the presence of grieving family members and neighbours, deeply moved by the symbolic gesture of life continuing to give even after passing. For my wife, Ashok was no less than our son, said Shaji. There is no one in the world to replace his position in our lives right now. Both of us call him Vishnu and not Ashok. Even during her last stage of life battling cancer, Ashoks presence was a great relief for Sajana. She always kept her hands close to Ashoks heart to feel Vishnu. Not just Ashok, Vishnus kidneys, heart, and liver were given to three people in Kerala. Vishnu Sajana and I had realised that nothing could bring our son back to life, but the only way we could get him back was through giving life to other people through our sons organ, he added. The only demand we had while giving consent for organ donation was to know the details about the organ recipients because they wanted to see their son again and again through them, Shaji added. I considered performing the last rites for Vishnus mother as my responsibility and I was mentally and physically ready to perform any duties for the family, said Ashok. Every conversation I had with her after the transplant is a great memory for me. Every time I called her amma (mother), she looked back at me profoundly. Every month when I visited Kannur for a routine health check-up after the transplantation, I made sure to visit her and spend some quality time with the family, Ashok added. The scene at the funeral was emotionally charged, as onlookers witnessed the cycle of life, loss, and continuing legacy. Ashok, with Vishnus heart beating within him, lit Sajanas pyre as a reminder for everyone to understand the importance of the selfless act of organ donation.

Red alert for south TN, swell waves may hit coast on May 4

CHENNAI: The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an arm of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, issued a red alert for South Tamil Nadu coastal districts as high energy swell waves are likely to hit the coast from the wee hours of Saturday, causing severe inundation, especially in the low-lying areas. The alert said the near shore region and the low lying areas may experience surges intermittently during 5.30 am on Saturday to 11.30 pm on Sunday. TM Balakrishnan Nair, senior scientist at INCOIS, told TNIE these are not usual swell waves experienced during April-May. These are high period (16-23 seconds) swell waves reaching a height of two metres, especially during high tides. The sea water can gush deep inland. The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority has been notified. He asked fishermen and the coastal population to be cautious of possible surges of waves and small vessels to not ply nearshore. Boats may be anchored at a fair distance from each other, to avoid collision and damage. Total suspension of operational/recreational activities at beach/nearshore regions is advised, he added. Swell surge warning was issued to Kerala, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well. Nair said the swell started at around 10,000 km away from Indian coast on April 26 in the southern Atlantic Ocean and slowly moved towards southern Indian Ocean around April 28. This caused the high energy swell propagation towards the Indian coastal regions which is expected to hit the southern tip of India in the early hours of Saturday. The phenomenon is called kallakadal, he said. Meanwhile, it was another hot day for north interior districts, where the heatwave is likely to prevail till May 6. Erode recorded the highest maximum temperature of 43.40C, which is 5.3 0C above normal. Meenambakkam weather station in Chennai breached 400C for the second time.

Controversy brews over mysterious crack on Akkulam glass bridge in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The tourism department has landed in a tight spot with the police nearly ruling out vandalism as the cause of the mysterious cracks at the recently constructed glass bridge at Akkulam, Thiruvananthapuram. It has also raised serious concerns regarding the bridges construction and safety measures taken by the agencies involved including the tourism department, District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Council (KATPC) and the Vattiyoorkavu Youth Brigade Entrepreneur Cooperative Society (VYBECOS) the agency roped in by the tourism department to execute the project. On Friday, the forensic team carried out an investigation on the bridge to probe the cause of the crack. VYBECOS had filed a complaint with the Sreekaryam police alleging vandalism being the cause of damage. A police officer investigating the case said that vandalism was highly unlikely. The cracks occurred on the surface under the bridge, not on the top. Its humanly impossible to reach out beneath the bridge and inflict such damage. More scientific investigation is required to find out other potential causes, said the officer. The Sreekaryam police have registered a case under IPC Sections 447 and 427, indicating possible trespassing and damage of property. We have summoned the manufacturer of the glass to conduct another round of inspection in their presence, the officer added. Meanwhile, Vattiyoorkavu MLA V K Prasanth had a different take on the issue, claiming that it could be a gunshot that caused the damage on the bridge. He alleged that the damage was done intentionally to sabotage the operations of VYBECOS. We are not happy with the security at Akkulam Tourist Village and we suspect that the damage was inflicted intentionally to sabotage the project. It could be a gunshot but there are not enough CCTVs installed at the village to confirm this. Since the introduction of adventure tourism at the village, the staff here have been upset as they were forced to work more efficiently. The revenue generation has multiplied at the village because of our involvement. We have pointed out these things to the government and the police, said the MLA. Recently, the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT-C) had inspected the glass bridge. Prof T M Madhavan Pillai of the Department of Civil Engineering, who led the safety inspection of the glass bridge, told TNIE that they found nothing wrong with the bridge. We assessed the safety and structural stability of the glass bridge and found it to be intact. The glass used for the construction of the bridge already had the safety clearance and is of good grades. Hence, we didnt check the quality of the glass, said Madhavan. Sanjeev S J of Environment Protection Research Council, who filed several RTIs regarding the glass bridge, said that he has not received any reply from the DTPC regarding the agency that constructed the bridge. Its a high security zone because of the presence of the Southern Air Command. Hence, there is no possibility of vandalism. It is shady as the construction and the execution of the project has not been done in a transparent manner, he alleged. Built at a cost of Rs 12 crore The glass used for the glass bridge was bought from Saint-Gobain a global glass manufacturing company. Each glass panel weighs around 1 tonne and is constituted of three layers with a total thickness of 36 mm. The 52-metre-long bridge with a height of 75 feet was constructed at a cost of Rs 1.2 crore using private investment.

Chennai man without hands gets licence to drive car with legs

CHENNAI: In a possible first in Tamil Nadu, a 31-year-old Chennai man who had lost both his arms from below the elbow in an electric accident during childhood, has been given a special driving licence by the North Chennai regional transport office. K Thansean of Vyasarpadi was given the licence based on a fitness certificate issued by government doctors. A visibly happy Thansean, who is pursuing Master of Laws at Dr Ambedkar Government Law College, said disabled people like him who love driving should be encouraged and given licence without much hassle. Immediately after getting the licence last week, I drove my family in a car to a temple in Perambur. Of course, people on the road were surprised. Many came and appreciated me for driving the car with legs without any difficulty, Thansean said. His longest drive so far was to a temple in Tiruttani. The vehicles are modified to my convenience. Horn, indicator, wiper, and light switches are placed near the hand brake, he said. My next goal is to ride a bike: Thansean Since I drive a fully automatic car, I dont have any difficulty. I handle steering with one leg and operate accelerator and brake with the other leg. Occasionally, I use my upper limbs as well, Thansean said. Thansean says driving a car was his dream for a long time. He finally joined a driving school and learned to drive with legs. My next target is bike. I am currently practising to ride a bike. Yet to get the licence, Thansean said. Thansean says he wanted to be independent, have his own vehicle, and drive with his family without depending on public and private transport, and even to work. Many who saw me practising car driving discouraged me, but I didnt give up, he said. Thansean further added that he carried the paper clipping of a woman without hands driving a car in Kerala and showed it to RTO officers and doctors. He then went to the Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, K K Nagar, where the doctors team led by Dr P Thirunavukkarasu, director of the institute, Dr A Rajakumar, associate professor, and Dr Kris Chitrarasu, assistant professor, assessed him and gave the fitness certificate. We assessed him. First we saw if he was physically fit and whether he could operate all keys. We then assessed his ability to respond to a situation while driving. We checked if he could apply the brakes immediately. He performed all the functions well, Dr Thirunavukkarasu said. An official in the North Chennai RTO office said as per the Motor Vehicle Act and state and central motor vehicles rules, persons with disability (PwDs) can be given driving licence. The medical board will give a medical fitness certificate, and suggest modifications in the vehicle. The RTO will see if the candidate has modified the vehicle as per the suggestions and is able to operate the vehicles like a normal person and issue a licence.

Time for course correction in Kerala

KOCHI: Romal S grimaces as he recalls uncertain times he and his 300-odd college-mates encountered when the management of the Cochin Institute of Science and Technology (CISAT), a private engineering institute in Muvattupuzha, suddenly decided to close the campus down one fine day in 2019. The teachers had launched a strike as their salaries were not paid, says the youngster in his mind-20s, who was then pursuing a mechanical engineering course at CISAT. And then came the bolt from the blue the college was shut down. Aromal later joined a private engineering college under Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation, a private deemed-to-be-university, in Salem. Meanwhile, CISATs second campus at Valanchery in Malappuram was also shut down due to financial issues. The private engineering college sector in Kerala seems to have come full circle more than two decades after the A K Antonty government opened it up for the private players amid much brouhaha in 2001. Over the years, the sector has been on a decline. So much so that today the number of institutions that have managed to survive the onslaught of time, lack of finances, and the stranglehold of outdated regulations has been reduced from 167 in the heydays to about 90. Many of the institutions are struggling to pay back the bank loans. In the academic year 2015-16, Ernakulam topped the list with 33 self-financing colleges (as per the economic review of 2017). However, by 202324, the number dropped to 21. In Thiruvananthapuram, the number came down from 28 to 17. The numbers are likely to drop further, says A N Kareem, general secretary of the All-Kerala Self-Financing Engineering College Management Association (AKSFECMA). About 10 to 15 colleges are on the verge of closure in the coming academic year. The future of the sector, he adds, hinges on the outcome of the Kerala Engineering, Architecture, Medical Entrance Examination (KEAM). Last year, there were about 96,000 applications for KEAM. This year, only 62,000 applications have been received, Kareem explains. Only about 70% of the applicants eventually sit for the examinations. From that, only about 50% clear the test. A majority of the eligible students make a beeline for the government and aided colleges. Thus, last year, we could fill only 40 per cent of our approved intake. This year, things look bleaker. Ravi Kumar (name changed on request), an AKSFECMA member who had to shut his engineering college down owing to financial struggles, echoes the sentiment. There is no future for this sector, he sighs. He adds that the drastic drop in the student intake at his college forced him to liquidate property worth Rs 18 crore over the past six years for paying salaries and day-to-day running of the college. I waited till the final batch of students graduated; I did not want to be the villain who spoiled their futures, says Kumar, adding that the government policies are to blame for the mess. The rigid rules make it impossible for us to improvise. Sources in the sector say fear of financial loss has made many people shelve their plans to start colleges despite receiving necessary approvals. Govt the sole villain? There are other factors in play, says D Dhanuraj, chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research. One is the high cost. I narrowed on this reason while doing some studies related to the sector. Education cost is very high in Kerala when compared with the other states. So when they can get quality education at a lower cost in another state or even in foreign countries, and an opportunity to experience different cultures and places, the children will surely opt to go out. Another reason is that, unlike in the past, the youth today are not obsessed with engineering, Dhanuraj highlights. Engineering has lost its glow. Also, it should be noted that the children today are very well-informed. So, when it comes to their higher education prospects, they do thorough research before arriving at a decision, he says. So, in an era that has opened up a wide array of new-gen courses and opportunities, why would the children settle for the traditional streams? Dhanuraj also points out the relatively poor STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) capacity of the students in the state. Why would students struggling with subjects such as physics, chemistry and mathematics take up a course that is based purely on these three? he asks. An increasing number of students are taking up the humanities stream, as new job opportunities are opening up. Why slog it out at something that they are not cut out for? P R Shamshudeen, owner of CISAT that shut down in 2019, concurs, but has not lost all hope. I had to close my colleges due to dismal fee revenue. The number of admissions for mechanical, electronics and civil engineering was very poor. I had no other choice, he says. However, in 2022, I reopened CISAT. The realisation that the new-gen courses in AI, machine learning and data science is the in-thing made me get approval for the same from the All India Council for Technical Education. To survive in this sector, self-financing colleges need to upgrade their courses and standards. Kareem agrees, insisting that the state government should frame policies that are more congenial with current times. The rigidity has to go. There should be more freedom to start new-gen, innovative courses. It is high time the government stepped in to stem the flow of students to outside states and foreign countries, he says.

Kerala: Sacrificed centuries ago, Perumparayan gets an abode in Pulinkunnu

ALAPPUZHA: The stone idol of Perumparayan a lower-caste labourer who is said to have been killed by feudal landlords over 300 years ago as part of human sacrifice finally got a permanent mandapam (abode) in Pulinkunnu panchayat in Kuttanad on Thursday. The abode was set up by local residents of Thoppilchira in Kuttanad. It is said that after killing Perumparayan, the landlords constructed and installed his stone idol on a ground in Thoppilchira to cast away bad omens. Perumparayan is still being worshipped by many. V K Venugopal, a native of Kuttanad, said the idol was set up on a ground on the outer bund of the Ayyanad paddy field. Before cultivating crops, we used to perform special poojas in front of the idol. Now the poojas will be performed in front of the mandapam on all Thursdays, Venugopal said. According to myth, the stone idol of Perumparayan stands as a testimony to the suppression of tenants by landlords during the kingly rule. The incident related to Perumparayans murder happened around 300 years ago. Ayyanad paddy polder is a 1,100-acre paddy field bordering Vembanad Lake. The cultivation here is carried out after constructing strong outer bunds and de-watering polders. When the incident happened, Kuttanad was under the rule of Thekkumkoor and Vadakkumkoor kings. Kuttupuram Kaimal and his brother Elamkuttu Kaimal of a landlord family used to carry out the administration in the region. Kuttupuram Kaimal managed agriculture matters, while Elamkuttu Kaimal looked after administration. When breaching of the bund on the north side of the polder, destroying the paddy cultivation, became a regular incident, Kaimal, who was fascinated by superstitious beliefs, brought an astrologer to find a solution. The astrologer suggested human sacrifice for the strengthening of the bund and Perumparayan became the scapegoat, said Venugopal. The statue of Perumparayan On the fateful day, Perumparayan along with other workers were ready to construct the outerbund and Kaimal supervised the work, says Venugopal. According to myth, Kaimal ordered other labourers to fill the bund by putting a large quantity of clay on Perumparayan, burying him alive inside the bund. Later, Kaimals family started facing problems. He again sought the help of an astrologer, who then said that the curse of Perumparayan was the reason for the sad plight of his family. The astrologer said that constructing an idol for Perumparayan and performing poojas in front of it were the only way to solve the issue. This led to the construction of the idol, he said.

Kerala down Gujarat - The Times of India

Kerala down Gujarat The Times of India

Cong will struggle to cross 50 seats; Rahul fighting from Rae Bareli sensing Wayanad defeat: PM

AHAMADPUR, May 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that Congress tally in the Lok Sabha polls will be an all-time low, as the grand old party would struggle to cross even the half-century mark in the hustings. Modi also mocked Rahul Gandhis decision to contest from Uttar Pradeshs Rae Bareli seat, and said the Congress leader did so after sensing defeat in Keralas Wayanad, where he is a sitting MP. Addressing back-to-back rallies in the Bardhaman-Durgapur, Krishnanagar [] The post Cong will struggle to cross 50 seats; Rahul fighting from Rae Bareli sensing Wayanad defeat: PM appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

DNA TV Show: Why Rahul Gandhi chose Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat over Amethi

Rahul Gandhi had lost from Amethi constituency to BJP's Smriti Irani in 2019 but won Wayanad in Kerala.

Kerala LDFS EP Jayarajandismisses fiasco as malicious propaganda

After BJP leader Shobha Surendran and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran had alleged that Left Democratic Front (LDF) convenor E.P. Jayarajan had discussions with Prakash Javadekar regarding joining the saffron party, the Left cadres have shown their strange reactions mix with shock. Meanwhile, a political middleman, TG Nandakumar has claimed that Javadekar [] The post Kerala LDFS EP Jayarajandismisses fiasco as malicious propaganda appeared first on Northlines .

Muslims, Christians, Hindus moving forward with feeling of brotherhood: BRS's Nama Nageswara Rao on Owaisi's remark

Muslims, Christians, Hindus moving forward with feeling of brotherhood: BRS's Nama Nageswara Rao on Owaisi's remark In reaction to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi's remarks to ANI comparing the situation of Muslims in today's India to that of Jews in Germany during dictator Adolf Hitler's era, Bharat Rashta Samithi (BRS) candidate from Khammam, Nama Nageswara Rao said that all religious communities in the country are moving forward with the feeling of brotherhood. The BRS leader however said that some people are trying to create a divide between people in the society which should not happen. In India, Muslims, Christians and Hindus are moving forward with the feeling of brotherhood. Some people try to create rivalry between Hindus and Muslims, Hindus and Christians. This is not good for the country. We governed Hyderabad very peacefully. The way some people are dividing the society is not right, Rao said speaking to ANI on Friday. Objecting to the recent practice of raising Jai Shree Ram slogans in Parliament, Rao said, Even in Parliament Jai Shree Ram slogans are raised. This was not the culture earlier. This should not happen. Everyone should protect democracy. Speaking about the developmental works undertaken by the BRS government when it was in power in Telangana and comparing that to the Congress government in the state, Rao said, KCR used to give gifts to Muslims in Ramzan. Congress used Muslims for vote bank. KCR has protected Muslims and undertook development works for them when the BRS was in power. They (Congress) did not give Ramzan gifts to Muslims this time. The BRS leader said that Muslims are ready to support his party even today. I went to some mosques recently. Till today they are ready to help me and our party. The BRS takes all Hindus, Christians and Muslims together, Rao said. On Rahul Gandhi filing his nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, besides contesting from Kerala's Wayanad, Rao quipped saying that he must have thought Wayanad to be a safe seat in case he loses from Raebareli. If he does not contest from there, people might criticize saying that he has run away and gone south. If he loses, they will say that he has lost. Since he thought that it (Wayanad) is a safe seat, he is contested from the south, Rao said. Speaking on some reports in the past that Rahul Gandhi would be contesting from Khammam, the BRS leader said, For one month, all papers and TVs reported that he will be contesting from here. It would have been nice. I wanted to fight against him. Polling for all 17 seats in Telangana will take place on May 13, in the fourth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The BRS, which was then the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), claimed the lion's share of the electoral spoils in the 2019 polls, winning 9 seats while the BJP secured 4 seats. The Congress and the AIMIM brought up the rear, winning 3 and 1 seats respectively. (ANI)

Kerala down Gujarat 3-1 in U-20 national football - The Times of India

Kerala down Gujarat 3-1 in U-20 national football The Times of India

West Bengal Governor Maintains Innocence Amid Molestation Allegations

West Bengal Governor Maintains Innocence Amid Molestation Allegations West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, who is facing allegations of molesting an employee of the Raj Bhavan, said on Friday that the truth will come out in the case and he will have the last laugh. Describing the allegations against him as a storm in a teacup, Bose, who was in Kerala on Friday, said there was no issue between him and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and they have a very friendly relationship. However, he indicated that all the issues are created by a senior leader in her party but added that he had not tried to find out who that is. ''I am telling the people of Kerala with my head held high and boldly that I will have the last laugh,'' he told news channels. He said, ''This is just a storm in a teacup. When I took charge in Bengal, I knew it was not a bed of flowers. I went there determined to face everything.'' ''It's not a 100-metre dash but mountaineering. Truth will come out. I will not bow down before anyone because Kerala nurtured me, and I have the confidence and honesty imparted from here. I will face everything in Bengal and come out victorious,'' Bose said. Bose had on Thursday said in Kolkata that he would not be cowed down by ''engineered narratives'' and the ''truth shall triumph'' after TMC leaders claimed that a woman working at Raj Bhavan levelled allegations of molestation against him. His statement came after senior TMC leaders claimed in a series of social media posts that the woman, who had levelled the allegations, has been taken to a police station to complain against Bose. Police officials said they received a complaint and are looking into it. Senior TMC leader and Industry Minister Shashi Panja on Friday said that the party has no agenda and no role behind this.

Kharge: We convinced Rahul Gandhi to run from Raebareli, a constituency his family has long represented

Kharge: We convinced Rahul Gandhi to run from Raebareli, a constituency his family has long represented Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said Rahul Gandhi was persuaded to contest Lok Sabha polls from Raebareli as several members of his family had represented the seat in the past. Gandhi filed his papers from Raebareli barely an hour before nominations closed for the Lok Sabha seat on Friday. It has been held by his mother Sonia Gandhi for the past two decades. Gandhi is contesting from Kerala's Wayanad as well, from where he is sitting MP. ''Our leader Sonia Gandhi has been elected to the Rajya Sabha, so we requested Rahul Gandhi that Raebareli has been an old constituency which served as the seat of Rajiv Gandhi, Firoz Gandhi and several of his family members,'' Kharge told reporters. ''He was at Shivamogga (for election campaign). So last night we held a discussion and finally we filed the nomination. I also went there. There is no question of fear,'' the Congress president added. Kharge's comments came after PM Modi took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi saying he decided to contest from Raebareli because he knew he would lose in Wayanad. When asked about Modi's statement over Gandhi's nomination from Raebareli, Kharge said that such a statement does not suit a prime minister. ''By making such cheap statements he reduces the dignity of a prime minister. Even Indira Gandhi contested from another seat like Chikmagalur and Medak...Ask him (Modi) why he went there (Varanasi) after leaving Gandhinagar,'' Kharge added. On Modi's accusation that people of Pakistan want to make Rahul Gandhi the prime minister, Kharge said it does not happen like this. ''It is our country, where our people will cast their vote. We did not fly to Pakistan for a hug without an invitation. He (Modi) does such a thing and then accuses Congress of taking help from Pakistan. Congress has given leaders who have sacrificed their lives for the unity of the country,'' he said. Despite this, Modi asks what the Congress has done for the country, Kharge said. ''I give them (BJP) an account of what the Congress did but he refuses to take it,'' Kharge added. Queried about the Congress claiming the BJP would change the Constitution after coming to power, Kharge said such claims were being made from open platforms by BJP and RSS leaders. ''We are not the ones who are saying we will change the Constitution. Their Member of Parliament Anant Kumar Hegde said give us two-third majority and we will change the Constitution. Mohan Bhagwat also said the same, even after the 2019 election. Should we trust these leaders,'' Kharge asked. The BJP has destroyed autonomous bodies formed under the Constitution, adding that the Congress was fighting to save democracy and the Constitution. He also expressed surprise over Modi's interpretation of Congress' manifesto as having an imprint of Muslim League. ''How can a Congress manifesto be a Muslim League manifesto? Our manifesto talks about five 'nyay','' he said. Addressing a public meeting in Ahmedabad later, Kharge said Modi was the chieftain of liars since he had not fulfilled promises like giving Rs 15 lakh in the accounts of the people, and doubling farmers' income. ''We are only saying what you yourself promised, we did not add a word. He talked about bringing a bullet train in two years. Have you taken a ride on the bullet train coming up at a cost of Rs 1 lakh crore? It is meant for the rich and not the poor because of the high fares,'' Kharge claimed. He also said the BJP government got MPs from the opposition thrown out when they talk about issues of the poor, like inflation and unemployment. ''The BJP tries to suppress our voice. Remember, we will not bow even when we have to sacrifice our lives. We are fighting for values which are for the good of the country,'' he asserted.

Amid simmering Christian-Muslim rivalry, BJP tries to gain a toehold in Kerala

While the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF has benefited from widening its social coalition at the expense of Congress-led UDF, the BJPs calculations are premised on a shared demographic threat perception among Hindus and Christians

Seven children adopted from child welfare council in Kerala on a single day

Six babies have been adopted by couples from the State itself, while one will grow up in Tamil Nadu

Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Rae Bareli; BJP takes a dig at his 'escape' from Amethi

Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Rae Bareli; BJP takes a dig at his 'escape' from Amethi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi filed his papers from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli constituency on Friday, barely an hour before nominations closed for the Lok Sabha seat. Earlier, in the morning, the Congress ended the suspense over Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies, announcing his candidature from the seat held by his mother Sonia Gandhi for the last two decades. She recently moved to the Rajya Sabha. Gandhi had lost from the adjoining Amethi constituency to BJPs Smriti Irani in 2019, but won from ''safe'' Wayanad in Kerala a seat he is contesting this time as well. On X, the former Congress president posted that filing his nomination papers from Rae Bareli was an emotional moment for him. Amethi and Rae Bareli are no different for me, both are family, he wrote in Hindi, seeking their love and blessings in what he called a fight against injustice. The BJP, however, mocked him for running away from Amethi. ''Bhag Rahul bhag (run Rahul, run),'' one leader said. In a rally in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had predicted that the prince would look for another seat after polling in Wayanad is over as he feared being defeated there. Now, he had to run away from Amethi and choose the Rae Bareli seat, Modi said. Gandhi was accompanied by party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as he handed over his papers to district election officer Harshita Mathur around 2 pm on the last day for filing nominations. Gandhis brother-in-law Robert Vadra too was with him. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot accompanied the family. Also on Friday, Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, filed his papers from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency. Priyanka Gandhi took part in roadshow there to support him. Polling in both parliamentary constituencies is on May 20. The party leaders arrived at the Fursatganj airport in Amethi, and then headed for Rae Bareli. A large number of Congress workers, and those from INDIA bloc partner Samajwadi Party, turned up at the district collectorate to cheer Gandhi. The SP workers, carrying flags and banners, included the partys district chief Virendra Yadav. After filing his nomination, Gandhi and other family members went to the district Congress office where family priest Radhe Shyam Dixit performed a puja. Rae Bareli Congress spokesperson Vinay Dwivedi said people in the party and local residents were demanding that only the Gandhi family should contest from the constituency, and the top leadership has lived up to their trust. Earlier Friday, BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh also filed his papers from Rae Bareli. He had lost to Sonia Gandhi in 2019. Singh had switched sides from the Congress in 2018, after being sent to the state legislative council twice by that party. Bahujan Samaj Partys Thakur Prasad Yadav filed his nomination from Rae Bareli on Thursday. ''Bhag Rahul bhag, Rahul bhag, Rahul bhag (run Rahul, run) -- this is what will go on now,'' BJP general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam told reporters in Delhi. Union minister and Amethi MP Smriti Irani, who is contesting again from that traditionally Congress constituency, too took a dig. ''The Gandhi family not being present in the election fray in Amethi indicates that the Congress has accepted its defeat in Amethi even before the polling on the seat,'' she told reporters. Gandhi is now contesting from a seat that has been held by his mother Sonia Gandhi, his grandmother Indira Gandhi and his grandfather Feroze Gandhi in the past. Feroze Gandhi won from Rae Bareli in the first two elections after Independence. His wife Indira Gandhi won in 1967, 1971 and 1980, followed by friends and family members of the Gandhis. Arun Nehru won the 1980 bypoll and subsequently in 1984. Indira Gandhis aunt Sheila Kaul represented the seat in 1989 and 1991. The only time the Congress did not represent Rae Bareli was in the wake of the Emergency in 1977 when Janata Party's Raj Narain defeated Indira Gandhi, who was then the prime minister. And the BJP's Ashoke Singh won in 1996 and 1998. Sonia Gandhi won from Rae Bareli four times between 2004 and 2019, though her winning margins had begun dwindling now. The party appeared to have concluded that Rae Bareli was the safer seat for Rahul Gandhi, who lost Amethi to Irani last time by nearly 50,000 votes. When Sonia Gandhi decided to leave Rae Bareli and switch to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, she addressed an emotional message to people of the constituency. ''After this decision, I will not have the opportunity to serve you directly but my heart and soul will always remain with you. I know that you will stand by me and my family in future, just as you have in the past,'' she said in the February 15 message.

Toddlers body found abandoned in Keralas Kochi

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Sweltering heat takes it toll on agriculture, animal husbandry sectors in Kerala

Pilot: Modi government's grip loosening, signs of change in the air

Pilot: Modi government's grip loosening, signs of change in the air Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Friday said a wave of change was prevalent across the nation and the days of the Narendra Modi government were numbered. Addressing polls rallies in Rajgarh district in Madhya Pradesh, he said the Union government was resorting to vendetta politics against the opposition. ''The days of the BJP are numbered as a wave of change is prevailing across the country from Kerala to Udhampur. Earlier, the BJP was speaking of crossing 400 seats but now has gone silent since it knows it is on a sticky wicket,'' said Pilot, who was here to campaign for veteran Congressman Digvijaya Singh. The Union government did not fulfil its promises in the past 10 years and had failed to address issues like price rise, unemployment, farm distress, black money and corruption, the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister said. ''They are pursuing vendetta politics. Two chief ministers are in jail (referring to Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren) and the Congress' bank accounts have been frozen. They have created an atmosphere of fear in the country. To quell the voice of the people, 147 MPs were suspended in a day and thereafter bills were passed (in Parliament),'' he claimed. He said the Modi government promised to double the income of farmers and drive out infiltrators but apart from giving advertisements, nothing concrete had been done on the ground, he claimed. The previous UPA government brought Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act to generate massive employment in rural areas, Right to Information (RTI) and Right to Education (RTE) for all round progress of the country, while now the Congress has promised Rs 1 lakh to poor women annually, he said. ''A frightened BJP is spreading lies that the Congress, if it is voted to power, would snatch away people's mangalsutra, buffaloes and give it to others,'' Pilot added. Digvijaya Singh is up against two-time sitting MP Rodmal Nagar of the BJP in Rajgarh.

We were politically correct in asking Rahul not to fight Left in Wayanad, says Kerala CPI state secretary

Thiruvnanthapuram: Rahul Gandhis candidature from Raebareli has evoked strong reactions in the Left camp in Kerala particularly from the CPI. Kerala state secretary of CPI Binoy Viswam said what his party had stated earlier has been proved correct. It was a political blunder on the part of the Congress in fielding Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad against the Left, he added. The CPI leader said the Left had taken a position right from the beginning that Rahul Gandhi should contest against the BJP in north India where the Congress is in direct contest with the NDA. Such a decision would have sent a correct message across the country that the India Alliance, particularly the Congress, was serious about taking on the communal forces led by the BJP head-on. Binoy Viswam said since it has now been proved that the CPI was politically correct, the party would support Rahul Gandhi in Raebareli to strengthen the India Alliance. However, CPI candidate from Wayanad Annie Raja said Rahul Gandhi should have informed the voters of Wayanad that he would be contesting from another seat as well before the polls. In a parliamentary democracy, a candidate has the right to contest from two constituencies. But if the candidate won from two constituencies, he will have to resign from one. It will be an injustice to the people of the constituency from where he will resign, he said. BJP state president K Surendran who also contested against Rahul Gandhi said the Congress leader had betrayed the people of Wayanad by deciding to enter the electoral fray from Rae Bareli. He has deceived the people yet again. More than the Congress, Rahul has taken the Muslim League workers for a ride, he said. Meanwhile, the Congress leadership in the state was guarded about reacting to Rahul Gandhis nomination from Raebareli. Even though top leaders of the Congress in Kerala were aware of the partys plan to field Rahul from another constituency as well, they campaigned aggressively saying that Wayanad is Gandhis second home. For the Congress-led UDF, Rahuls presence in Wayanad was crucial for ensuring better electoral prospects once again. Last time Rahuls entry from the electoral fray in Kerala was one of the major reasons for UDFs stupendous victory which won 19 of the 20 seats.

Cong apprehensive of defeat in upcoming polls, fearing change in Amethi representation: Thakur on Rahul Gandhi's Rae Bareli switch

Cong apprehensive of defeat in upcoming polls, fearing change in Amethi representation: Thakur on Rahul Gandhi's Rae Bareli switch Congress has fielded Rahul Gandhi from the Rae Bareli constituency instead of Amethi as everyone in the party, right from top to bottom, is afraid of defeat, senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur said on Friday. Addressing a gathering of 'Panna Pramukhs' in Sujanpur tehsil of Hamirpur, the Union minister said, ''Congress party is looking completely hopeless and disappointed in these elections.'' He added that Rahul Gandhi had started out with the slogan of 'Daro Mat' but is now himself fearing defeat and therefore, switched from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat to Wayanad but was afraid of failing even there, so he decided to contest from Rae Bareli as well. Thakur's statement against the former Congress chief comes amid Rahul Gandhi contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Rae Bareli seat vacated by his mother. Rahul Gandhi's defeat from both the places is certain and it seems that everything is not well at the top of the Congress, the Union minister said. ''We (BJP) contest elections on the basis of our development track record, resolve to address issues and ideology. Like 2014 and 2019, the people of Himachal Pradesh will again make the Bharatiya Janata Party win all the four seats here,'' he added. Gandhi had lost from the Amethi constituency to BJP's Smriti Irani in 2019, but won from Wayanad in Kerala, a seat he is contesting this time as well.

Where is the final curriculum framework, ask teachers

SCERT says it is ready for reference and can be made available if required; teachers say fair copy of Kerala Curriculum Framework reflecting the amendments has not been received

Siddaramaiah wishes Rahul Gandhi success in Raebareli contest, says seat nurtured by Sonia Gandhi with dedication

Siddaramaiah wishes Rahul Gandhi success in Raebareli contest, says seat nurtured by Sonia Gandhi with dedication Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wished success to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he filed his nomination from Raebareli, saying the seat has been nurtured former party chief Sonia Gandhi with her dedication and her enduring legacy in the constituency has been a beacon of progress and hope. After a lot of speculation, Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers from Raebareli on Friday. Siddaramaiah said Rahul Gandhi is continuing the noble journey with the decision to contest from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. It's a touching moment as @RahulGandhi prepares to contest from Rae Bareli, a seat Sonia Gandhi has nurtured with her dedication and leadership for many years. Her enduring legacy in the constituency has been a beacon of progress and hope, Siddaramaiah posted on X. Wishing Rahul Gandhi immense success as he continues this noble journey, carrying forward the torch of service and commitment passed down by Sonia Gandhi. Together, may they inspire countless hearts across our nation he added. Sonia Gandhi, who represented Rae Bareli since 2004, is now a Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan. Rae Bareli is considered a traditional stronghold of the Gandhi family. There was anticipation earlier that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest from either Amethi or Raebareli, two seats in Uttar Pradesh which are prestige battles for the party. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders offered prayers after he filed his nomination papers from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli seat. Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband Robert Vadra were among those who offered prayers during the puja held at the house of late party leader Gaya Prasad Shukla in Raebareli. The house has been associated with the party for decades. Locals said the puja was held after filing the nomination due to paucity of time earlier. It started with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1967. It has become a norm that whenever a member of the Gandhi family files nomination, they first offer prayers here, KC Shukla, grandson of Gyan Prasad Shukla, told ANI. Rahul Gandhi, who is MP from Wayanad in Kerala and is re-contesting from the seat, lost from Amethi in 2019 Lok Sabha polls to Union Minister Smriti Irani. Rahul Gandhi had won the seat, also a Gandhi family stronghold, three times in a row till 2019. Congress has fielded KL Sharma, a loyalist of the Gandhi family, from Amethi against Smriti Irani. Rahul is pitted against BJP candidate and three-time MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh in Raebareli. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a dig at the Rahul Gandhi, saying that Sonia Gandhi has tried to launch Rahulyaan nearly 20 times and he will lose election from the Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh. We launched Chandrayaan-3 and it was successful. On the other hand, Sonia Gandhiji has tried to launch Rahulyaan nearly 20 times and has failed every time. Now he has run from Amethi and is contesting from Raebareli. I want to tell you (Rahul Gandhi) the result from here, 'Rahul Baba' will lose to the BJP candidate, Dinesh Pratap Singh with a huge margin in Raebareli, Amit Shah said at an election rally in Belgavi's Hukkeri town. Voting in Amethi and Raebareli seats will be held on May 20. (ANI)

Kerala horror: Woman delivers, throws infant on street

The police said the woman has been taken into custody after being traced using the address on the Amazon delivery packet in which the child was wrapped and thrown.

Rahul will win in Pakistan, it's 'balle balle' Modi in India, claims Himanta Sarma

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will win in Pakistan if elections are held there but in India, victory will be of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sarma had lashed out at Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday as well, calling them irrelevant in Assam and past the expiry date. Rahul Gandhi is very popular in Pakistan and if elections are held there and he contests those, he will win by a huge margin, there is no doubt about it, Sarma said on the sidelines of a rally in Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency, when asked for his reaction on a former Pakistani minister praising the Congress leader. We lift our hands in surrender that we cannot match Rahul Gandhi in Pakistan and he will definitely win there, the CM said, sarcastically. Rahul fighting from Rae Bareli sensing Wayanad defeat: PM Modi A former minister in Imran Khan's cabinet in Pakistan, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, had shared a video featuring Gandhi on his social media handle on Thursday and praised him, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sarma maintained that nothing will happen in India as desired by Pakistan, and rather, he opposite will happen in Bharat. In Bharat, it's 'balle balle' Narendra Modi, Sarma said, in reply to a question on Gandhi's winning chances in the two Lok Sabha seats he is contesting. Gandhi, who is already seeking to retain the Wayanad constituency in Kerala, on Friday also filed his nomination papers from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli, a traditional Congress bastion held by his mother Sonia Gandhi in the outgoing Lok Sabha. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat Earlier on Thursday, Sarma had hit out at the Gandhi siblings and said, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi are irrelevant in Assam. They are past the expiry date. He had also dismissed allegations made by Vadra that 'mafia raj' prevailed in Assam. Priyanka Gandhi has not seen Congress-ruled period in Assam. Now, there are no blasts, firing incidents, ULFA or NDFB which prevailed at that time, he said. The CM asserted that if getting jobs without paying bribes or bringing 30 lakh people under 'Orunodoi' scheme define 'mafia raj', then people will want such a 'mafia raj'. The CM also hit back at the Congress' washing machine jibe at the BJP, alleging that the grand old party has a ig, high voltage washing machine which was used to cleanse Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. They (Congress) have a big washing machine, which was used to wash Arvind Kejriwal. Four months ago, Priyanka Gandhi (Vadra) had said Kejriwal had looted money through liquor scam, and now all of a sudden, he becomes a good person? Which high-voltage washing machine does she have? Sarma added. I am extremist in protecting Indian, Assamese culture: Himanta Biswa Sharma

Rahul can win elections from Pakistan, Assam CMs swipe at Gandhi scion

New Delhi, May 3: Amid the political hullabaloo over Congress leader Rahul Gandhis nomination from Uttar Pradeshs Raebareli, his second after Keralas Wayanad constituency for 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took a dig at the Gandhi scion, saying he can easily win elections from Pakistan. The Assam Chief Minister, while [] The post Rahul can win elections from Pakistan, Assam CMs swipe at Gandhi scion appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Rahul Gandhi coming back here from Kerala out of fear: MP CM Mohan Yadav jibes at Congress leader on contesting from Raebareli

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INCOIS issues red alert along Kerala, south Tamil Nadu coasts for swell surge phenomenon

The News Mill

Red Alert: Kallakadal Warning for Kerala, Tamil Nadu Coasts

Entry to beaches restricted, High waves up to 1.5 metres likely to hit Kerala coast

Modi Government's Stance on SC/ST Reservations Praised by Dalit Leader

Kochi: Advocate K A Balan, a prominent Dalit leader and Union Government Counsel at the Kerala High Court, praised the Modi Government's role in protecting the interests of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stance, which he believes accurately addresses the issue. Balan highlighted the Modi Government's opposition to the Congress Party's policy of appeasing minorities, particularly in extending SC/ST reservations to individuals who converted to Christianity and Islam. He pointed out that successive governments, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi, resisted extending SC/ST reservations to converted Christians and Muslims. However, during Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao's tenure, a bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha to address this issue. Unfortunately, it was not presented due to technical reasons. Despite this, the issue persisted until the Modi Government came into power in 2014. The Modi Government rejected the recommendations of the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission, which suggested extending reservations to individuals from minority religions. Instead, it established a new three-member judicial commission led by Justice K G Balakrishnan to reevaluate the matter. Balan highlighted ongoing legal proceedings, with various religious organizations moving the Supreme Court to implement the Ranganath Mishra Commission report. Expressing his concern, Balan warned that if the Modi Government did not return to power in 2024, SC/ST reservations might be extended to Christians and Muslims. He called on SC/ST communities to support the BJP and NDA to prevent this outcome. He also emphasized the need for Hindu unity, transcending political affiliations, to safeguard the future of SC/ST reservations. BJP's Post-Election Strategy: Focus Shifts to West Bengal Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mega Campaigning in Ayodhya: All You Need to Know Triple Talaq Incident on Moving Train Shocks Jhansi Passengers: Man Flees After Divorcing Wife

Red Alert Issued as Rough Waves Hit Coastal Areas of Kerala and South Tamil Nadu

Coastal regions of Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu are bracing for rough waves as central agencies issue a red alert. Officials are advising fishermen and residents along the coast to take necessary precautions. The Kerala Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) confirmed the red alert, warning of a swell surge known as the 'Kallakkadal' phenomenon. This event is expected to occur from 2:30 am on Saturday until 11:30 pm on Sunday, bringing the potential for extremely strong waves and rough seas, along with the risk of sea incursion. This marks the first time that the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have issued a red alert for the 'Kallakkadal' phenomenon in this region. Residents are urged to stay vigilant and take necessary safety measures during this period of heightened risk. Local authorities are working closely with coastal communities to ensure readiness and response plans are in place. Fishermen are advised to refrain from venturing out to sea during this period to avoid the dangerous conditions. The red alert underscores the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing the potential threat posed by the rough waves and sea incursion. Efforts are underway to disseminate information and raise awareness among residents about the precautions to be taken. The cooperation of the public is crucial in mitigating the risks associated with the 'Kallakkadal' phenomenon. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of all those living in the affected areas. Read More:- Heatwave Survival Tips: How to Stay Cool and Prevent Heatstroke Delhi Schools Prepared for Heatwave: Here's How Education Dept Issues Guidelines

Kerala's SilverLine Project: State Government Spent Rs 9.27 Crore Last Fiscal Despite Lack Of Approvals

Kerala on red alert for likely swell waves over the weekend

State Disaster Management Authority asks public to avoid visits to beaches

Heat wave conditions likely in TN during next 3 days; Nandyal recorded highest maximum temperature of 46.2C on May 2

Heat wave conditions are likely to continue over East India till May 5 and over south Peninsular India till May 6 and abate thereafter. Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rainfall spell accompanied with thunderstorms and gusty winds very likely over Northeast India on May 5 and 6, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. On Thursday, the highest maximum temperature of 46.2C was reported at Nandyal (Rayalaseema) over the country. On the same day, maximum temperatures were in the range of 43-46C in some parts of Odisha and Rayalaseema, in isolated pockets of Telangana, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; in the range of 40-43C over many parts of Gangetic West Bengal; in some parts of Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Gujarat; in isolated pockets of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Madhya Pradesh and North Interior Karnataka. These are above normal by 4-7C in some parts of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu; in isolated pockets of Assam & Meghalaya, north Odisha, east Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema and South Interior Karnataka. According to the IMD, maximum temperatures in the range of 44-47C likely to continue over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Telangana and Rayalaseema till May 3 and decrease thereafter. Heat wave conditions very likely in some pockets over Gangetic West Bengal; at isolated pockets over Telangana, Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu during next 3 days; over Kerala, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim on May 3; Odisha, Bihar on May 3 and 4; Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada on May 4 and 5 and over West Rajasthan on May 7. Hot and humid weather very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Coastal Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and Kerala and Mahe during next 4-5 days; Assam & Meghalaya, Tripura, Saurashtra and Kutch on May 3 and 4 and Konkan during May 3 to 5, 2024. According to Skymet, the first pre-monsoon spell of May is expected between May 9 and 11. The intensity and spread of activity will be large to cover parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan. The southern parts, the private weather forecaster added, will have a large spread of pre-monsoon thunderstorms, simultaneously covering different pockets. Heat-struck regions of Rayalaseema, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu will be relieved of oppressive conditions. Severe thunderstorm activity is likely over South Interior Karnataka, Southern parts of Andhra Pradesh and farther parts of Kerala bordering Tamil Nadu.

Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Rae Bareli; BJP accuses him of 'abandoning' Amethi

Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Rae Bareli; BJP accuses him of 'abandoning' Amethi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi filed his papers from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli constituency on Friday, barely an hour before nominations closed for the Lok Sabha seat. Earlier, in the morning, the Congress ended the suspense over Amethi and Rae Bareli, announcing his candidature from the seat held by his mother Sonia Gandhi for the last two decades. She recently moved to the Rajya Sabha. Gandhi had lost from the adjoining Amethi constituency to BJPs Smriti Irani in 2019, but won from Wayanad in Kerala a seat he is contesting this time as well. The former Congress president was accompanied by party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as he handed over his papers to district election officer Harshita Mathur around 2 pm on the last day for filing nominations. Gandhis brother-in-law Robert Vadra too was with him. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot accompanied the family. Also on Friday, Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, filed his papers from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency. Polling in both parliamentary constituencies is on May 20. The party leaders arrived at the Fursatganj airport in Amethi, and then headed for Rae Bareli. A large number of Congress workers, and those from INDIA bloc partner Samajwadi Party, turned up at the district collectorate to cheer Gandhi. The SP workers, carrying flags and banners, included the partys district chief Virendra Yadav. After filing his nomination, Rahul Gandhi and other family members went to the district Congress office where family priest Radhe Shyam Dixit performed a puja. Rae Bareli Congress spokesperson Vinay Dwivedi said people in the party and local residents were demanding that only the Gandhi family should contest from the constituency, and the top leadership has lived up to their trust. The BJP mocked the Congress decision to field Gandhi from Rae Bareli rather than Amethi. ''Bhag Rahul bhag, Rahul bhag, Rahul bhag (run Rahul, run) -- this is what will go on now,'' BJP general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam told reporters in Delhi. At a rally in West Bengal Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress shehzada (prince) who went to Wayanad after losing Amethi is contesting from Rae Bareli. Union minister and Amethi MP Smriti Irani had earlleir filed her nomination papers from that constituency. ''The Gandhi family not being present in the election fray in Amethi indicates that the Congress has accepted its defeat in Amethi even before the polling on the seat,'' she told reporters. Earlier Friday, BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh also filed his papers from Rae Bareli. He had lost to Sonia Gandhi in 2019. Singh had switched sides from the Congress in 2018, after being sent to the state legislative council twice by that party. Bahujan Samaj Partys Thakur Prasad Yadav filed his nomination from Rae Bareli on Thursday. Rahul Gandhi is now contesting from a seat that has been held by his mother Sonia Gandhi, his grandmother Indira Gandhi and his grandfather Feroze Gandhi in the past. Feroze Gandhi held the seat in the first two elections after Independence. His wife Indira Gandhi won in 1967, 1971 and 1980, followed by friends and family members of the Gandhis. Arun Nehru won the 1980 bypoll and subsequently in 1984. Sheila Kaul, Indira Gandhis aunt, represented the seat in 1989 and 1991. The only time the Congress did not represent Rae Bareli was in the wake of the Emergency in 1977 when Janata Party's Raj Narain defeated Indira Gandhi, who was then the prime minister. And the BJP's Ashoke Singh won in 1996 and 1998. Sonia Gandhi won from Rae Bareli four times between 2004 and 2019, although of late, her winning margins have dwindled. The party appeared to have concluded that Rae Bareli is the safer seat for the former Congress president, who lost Amethi to Irani last time by nearly 50,000 votes. When Sonia Gandhi decided to leave Rae Bareli and switch to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, she addressed an emotional message to people of the constituency. ''After this decision, I will not have the opportunity to serve you directly but my heart and soul will always remain with you. I know that you will stand by me and my family in future, just as you have in the past,'' she said in the February 15 message.

High Tide Alert: Kerala and South Tamil Nadu Coasts Brace for Sudden Sea Swells

High Tide Alert: Kerala and South Tamil Nadu Coasts Brace for Sudden Sea Swells Red alert sounded for sudden sea swells in coastal parts of Kerala, south Tamil Nadu, say officials in Kerala.

Tamil Nadu man arrested for murdering Assam native at Kottayam in Kerala

According to the police, the accused allegedly killed the victim by harming him inside a concrete mixing machine, then dragging him into a waste pit

Tamil Nadu man arrested for murdering Assam native at Kottayam in Kerala - The Hindu

Tamil Nadu man arrested for murdering Assam native at Kottayam in Kerala The Hindu

INCOIS seeks halt in beach activities on May 4 and 5, issues alert to coastal States on rough seas

The alert was issued to Goa, Maharastra West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Lakshwadeep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Rough waves hit coastal areas of Kerala and south Tamil Nadu; Central agencies issues Red alert - The Economic Times

Rough waves hit coastal areas of Kerala and south Tamil Nadu; Central agencies issues Red alert The Economic Times

Rough waves hit coastal areas of Kerala and south Tamil Nadu; Central agencies issues Red alert, urging fishermen to take necessary precautions

Officials have urged fishermen and coastal residents to take necessary precautions in response to the alert. A Kerala Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) official stated, Red alert for swell surge warning has been received from NDMA-INCOIS. The 'Kallakkadal' phenomenon is expected to occur from 2:30 am on Saturday to 11:30 pm on Sunday, with the possibility of extremely strong waves, rough seas, and sea incursion during this period.

Newborn hurled to death in Kerala: A premium residential colony in Kochi is in shock

It emerged that newborn baby boy was flung from one of the apartment units. Police trace the family by scanning barcode from packet used to wrap baby

Travel tips: More domestic tourists come to see the beaches than foreigners, the calm and noisy sea creates turmoil in the mind.

India is a rich country culturally and geographically. The culture and civilization here make it an ideal country but the geographical position of India makes it richer than other countries. India is a geographically rich country. It has huge ancient hills and mountains and there is also a desert there. There are lush green forests and animals here and there is the beauty of rivers and lakes. But along with this, India is also a peninsula which is surrounded by huge, beautiful seas on all three sides. Adding to the beauty of India, these beaches have the power to fascinate anyone. Witness the beauty and vastness of India, these beaches provide a unique view with the waves crashing on the golden shining sand in front of the blue sea. The amazing view of the rising and setting sun from the beaches is seen only in India. The beaches of India are also the pride of India where lakhs of tourists come every year and get lost in the beauty of these beaches. These beaches of India present a dignified presentation of India. Top beaches of India India has a stunning coastline stretching over 7,000 km from south to west, bounded by the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea in the east. This amazing coastline boasts some spectacular natural beauty. These beaches give you a wonderful trip to explore the exhilarating sea world with its unique and beautiful flowers and creatures. Among the beaches in India, there are some that you must visit at least once in your life. Golden sand, crashing waves, lush green trees, and vast sea are waiting for you, so let us know about these beautiful beaches of India- Arambol Beach There are many beautiful and spectacular beaches in Goa and thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit these beaches every day, but if you want to explore the offbeat beach in August, then you should reach Arambol Beach. Present in North Goa, it attracts a lot of tourists. Many programs also take place from time to time on the banks of this beautiful beach. Many people also come here to enjoy water sports. Nightlife here is also very colorful. Gokarna Every day thousands of domestic and foreign tourists come to visit South India. In such a situation, if you want to explore the South Indian offbeat coastline in August, then you should reach Gokarna. Gokarna of Karnataka is considered a famous destination for its beautiful and beautiful beaches. In Gokarna, you can explore Om Beach, Kudle Beach, Gokarna Beach, and Paradise Beach. You can also visit here with family, friends, and partners. Bangaram Beach Lakshadweep is a very beautiful and beautiful tourist center of the country. Lakshadweep is also considered very popular all over the world for its beautiful beaches. In such a situation, if you want to explore any offbeat beach of Lakshadweep, then you should reach Bangaram Beach. There is a crowd of tourists on the banks of Bangaram Beach during the day and it remains lively till night. It is said that as the evening approaches, the seawater appears blue. Here you can also enjoy water activities. Apart from Lakshadweep Bangaram Beach, you can also explore Agatti Island. Kovalam Beach Kovalam beach, located in Kerala, 40 kilometers away from Chennai, on the way to Mahabalipuram, is a village known as Kovelong. Kovalam Beach, running along the Malabar Coast, has a long stretch of white sandy beaches and is one of the most popular sea beaches in Kerala. Kovalam, located at a distance of 16 km from Thiruvananthapuram, actually has 3 beaches separated by a rocky landscape. Lighthouse Beach, Hawa Beach, and beaches make Kovalam the center of the sea coast. Ayurvedic massage centers, wooden raft rides, and shopping shops have also been built on this beach. The calm water here is considered ideal for swimming. The best time to visit here is considered to be from September to March. Varkala Located off the coast of Alleppey and Kovalam, Varkala is one of the premier beaches in India. An ideal spot for photography, the curved stretch of rock and the beauty of the sun will take your breath away. It is at a distance of 50 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram and 37 kilometers from Kollam. Varkala is fast becoming a popular wellness center with its many Ayurvedic massage and therapy centers. With its help, you can also remove your fatigue of many days. Palolem beach If you are looking for dolphins, then the Palolem Beach of Goa is one of the best places in India where your dolphin-watching wish can be fulfilled. This beach is located in South Goa. It is 76 kilometers away from the capital Panaji. There are coconut trees on the banks of this beach which attract tourists from all over the world. Palolem Beach is located at a distance of 37 kilometers from Marama Goa. It is called a beach like heaven and it is about 1 mile long. At this place, white sand is spread in the shape of half half-moon. This most beautiful and picturesque beach of Goa, Palolem Beach is covered with a thick forest of coconut palms. Baga Beach Baga Beach is the most popular and usually crowded beach. Baga Beach is located in North Goa. It is 16 kilometers away from Panaji, the capital of Goa. People enjoy all kinds of water sports here parasailing and windsurfing, scuba diving, etc. Baga Beach attracts tourists with its brown sand and palm trees that come very close to the water's edge. Along with this, it is also a place for many people to enjoy the sun rays lying on the sand bed under the sun, this beach is considered to be an ideal beach for fishing, lying in the sun, and paddle boating. Not only this, Baga Beach is known for parties, nightlife, and seafood. It has good restaurants and hotels near it. This beach attracts tourists with its brown sand and palm trees. Alleppey Beach The shining sand and clear waters of Alleppey Beach make it one of the most prominent places to visit in Kerala. Alleppey Beach is very popular among nature lovers and tourists. The beautiful view of sunrise and sunset from here makes your journey memorable. You can spend memorable moments with your family and friends along the banks of Alleppey Beach. Many special places around Alleppey Beach make your travel experience even more pleasant. Marari Beach Marari Beach is counted among the most prominent beaches of Kerala. If you are fond of spending time amidst nature then Marari Beach is the ideal tourist destination for you. There is also a small village in between which attracts a lot of tourists coming here. Here you can understand the art, culture, and lifestyle of South India very well. The experience of watching sunrise and sunset from Marari Beach is very pleasant. Marari Beach Travelers and Nature Lovers. Here by the beach you can spend a memorable time with your family and friends. (PC: Lifeberrys)

NIA Chargesheets 4, Including 2 Absconders, in Thalapuzha CPI (Maoist) Firing Case

Kerala: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday charge-sheeted four cadres of CPI (Maoist) in a case relating to firing at the commandos of the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Thalapuzha area of Wayanad district in Kerala. The incident had occurred on November 7, 2023, when the SOG team of Kerala police was on a combing operation in Perya, Wayanad, to track and nab armed cadres of the banned Naxal outfit, the CPI (Maoist). The team came under attack as it zoomed in on the cadres present in a house. In the ensuing operation, two CPI (Maoist) members, identified as Thiruvenkidam alias Chandru alias Chandu and Shreemathi alias Unnimaya alias Unni, were apprehended. Three others, including Latha alias Meera and Sundari alias Jenny, however, fled the scene of the encounter. The NIA, which took over the investigation from Kerala police on February 10, 2024, today filed its charge-sheet against Thiruvenkidam, Shreemathi, Latha and Sundari in the case RC-01/2024/NIA/KOC under relevant Sections of IPC, UA(P) A and Arms Act. The agency is carrying on with its investigation and has launched a manhunt for the absconding accused Sundari alias Jenny, who is carrying a reward of Rs. 10 lakhs, and Latha alias Meera, along with another accused person.

Newborn Baby Found Abandoned in Kochi After Concealed Pregnancy

Newborn Baby Found Abandoned in Kochi After Concealed Pregnancy A 23-year-old woman, suspected to be a victim of sexual assault, concealed her pregnancy, delivered a baby in the early hours of Friday in her apartment bathroom, and allegedly threw the newborn on the street in front of her flat complex situated in a posh residential area in this port city of Kerala. Police said the woman has been taken into custody after being traced using the address on the Amazon delivery packet in which the child was wrapped and thrown. The newborn was found dead in the abandoned parcel. Conservancy workers of Kochi Corporation found the body of the child along a street in posh Panampilly Nagar here around 8 AM and alerted the police. According to City Police Commissioner S Syamsundar, the woman has confessed that she gave birth to the child in her bathroom at around 5 - 5.30 AM today (Friday) and later threw the baby as she panicked. It is said that the parents of the woman, with whom she was staying, were unaware of her pregnancy. They were also not aware of the delivery, as it happened inside the bathroom, which was locked by the woman, he said. ''The parents did not know about the pregnancy until the police came to the flat and questioned them,'' the commissioner said after the police interrogated the parents and the woman in connection with the incident. However, in this matter, the police suspect coercion or a rape element. ''It is suspected that the girl was subjected to rape. In this matter also investigation will be done,'' Syamsunder said. ''We have shifted the survivor to the hospital to provide her proper medical attention. The girl will be arrested on charges of murder,'' the police official said. The commissioner said that whether the baby was stillborn or it was a live birth can only be ascertained after the post-mortem. She allegedly threw the baby onto the street three hours after the delivery, he added. The city police chief also stated that the woman is unmarried, and she is in a state of shock. The entire matter can be clarified only after detailed interrogation, the official added.

Rahul's Strategic Chess Move: Amethi to Rae Bareli Shift in Lok Sabha Election

Rahul's Strategic Chess Move: Amethi to Rae Bareli Shift in Lok Sabha Election Rahul Gandhi describes himself as the best chess player among Indian politicians, and his latest gambit appears to be his decision to contest from Rae Bareli instead of his home ground Amethi. Gandhi obviously hopes that the move will checkmate opponents but the BJP sees it as a cowardly retreat from the battleground. ''He is an experienced player of politics and chess. The party leadership takes its decisions after much discussion, and as part of a larger strategy. This single decision has befuddled the BJP, its supporters, and its sycophants,'' Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on the much-anticipated decision. ''The BJP's self-proclaimed Chanakya, who used to talk about 'paramparagat seat' is now not sure how to respond,'' he said. The chess reference by Ramesh comes days after the Congress put out a video of Gandhi talking about his interest in the board game and its similarities with politics. In the video, when Gandhi is asked who is the best chess player among Indian politicians, he said, ''Me''. Gandhi filed his papers from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli constituency in the afternoon, barely an hour before nominations closed for the Lok Sabha seat on Friday. He was accompanied by Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as he filed his papers around 2 pm. Gandhi had made his poll debut from Amethi in 2004 and saw relative smooth sailing in the first 10 years with the UPA being in power, while the last 10 years have been challenging. He won the 2014 polls against the BJP's Smriti Irani by over a lakh votes but she had run a spirited campaign and made inroads into the Congress citadel of Amethi. She finally breached the fortress in 2019, beating the Gandhi family scion by over 55,000 votes. However, Gandhi's 'Plan B' seemed to have worked as he contested the polls from two constituencies and won from Kerala's Wayanad, ensuring that his stint in Parliament continued. Some of the earlier electoral gambles of Gandhi such as pitching the 2019 polls campaign of the Congress on the Rafale issue have not paid off but Gandhi has always stuck to his convictions and maintained his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including on the Adani issue. He has been at the receiving end of criticism from various quarters and often been dubbed a ''reluctant politician'' or ''part-time politician'', but he has remained unfazed by such criticism. At a press briefing in Ghaziabad a couple of weeks ago, Gandhi had taken a swipe at the media for dubbing him a ''non-serious'' politician. He had cited his involvement with the MGNREGA scheme, the Land Acquisition Bill, the Bhatta Parsaul movement, Niyamgiri Hills matter, and had said for the media all this was ''non-serious while talking about Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Virat Kohli was serious''. In 2004, Gandhi announced his entry into Indian politics, contesting his first election from Amethi, the same seat that was represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi (1999-2004) and his late father Rajiv Gandhi between 1981-91. Rahul Gandhi won by an overwhelming margin of almost three lakh votes. He again won in 2009 but his margin was reduced in 2014 and was defeated by Irani in 2019. He had been criticised for not spending enough time in the constituency, allowing the BJP to make inroads into the Congress fortress. Gandhi was appointed vice president of the Congress in 2013 and took over the reins of the party on December 16, 2017. He stepped down as its president in May 2019 after the drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls. Since then, he has taken out to yatras -- a cross country Kanyakumari to Kashmir march on foot and a hybrid Manipur to Mumbai yatra, initiatives which were hailed by Congress leaders for galvanising cadres and enthusing supporters. Gandhi had recently said it is now his life mission to ensure justice for the SCs, STs, OBCs and the deprived people. He has pitched the Congress campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha on five Nyays -- Yuva Nyay, Nari Nyay, Kisan Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedari Nyay. Born on June 19, 1970 to Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi, he is the elder of the two siblings and spent his formative years in New Delhi, studying at St. Columba's School and then went on to study at the Doon School in Dehradun. His father Rajiv Gandhi then entered politics and became prime minister after the assassination of Rahul's grandmother and then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Due to constant security threats, Rahul and his sister Priyanka were home-schooled. A year after attending St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, for his undergraduate studies, he moved to the US to attend Harvard University. Following the assassination of his father and the security concerns that surfaced, Rahul Gandhi shifted to Rollins College in Florida. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1994. Thereafter, he went on to pursue and complete his M.Phil. in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge (Trinity College) in 1995. Upon graduation, Rahul started his professional journey at the Monitor Group, a management consulting firm in London. He later returned to India and eventually joined politics. Gandhi is a certified scuba diver and is known for his fitness. He also holds a black belt in Aikido, a Japanese martial art.