Amaravati:&nbsp;The Andhra Pradesh Police arrested two senior members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) while five militia members have surrendered, Director General of Police K V Rajendranath Reddy said here on Friday.Addressing a press conference along with Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Ravishankar Ayyanar at the state Police Headquarters, the DGP said Korra Nageswara Rao alias Nagesh, an Area Committee Member of the Maoists who carried a reward of Rs four lakh on his head and Seendri Jagan, a party member with a reward of Rs one lakh, were arrested.Nagesawara Rao, who ran by several aliases and was active in the Maoists for two decades, was involved in over 100 offences, including two double murders and amurder. He twice escaped in exchange of fire incidents with police in 2020 and 2021.Jagan, on the other hand, regularly moved with the Maoist Dalam of the Galikonda area and provided food, besides performing sentry and patrolling duties. In his six-year association with the banned outfit, Jagan attended several meeting of the Maoists.The DGP said of the five who surrendered, three were party members who carried a reward of Rs one lakh each of their heads. The other two were militia commanders.Lack of people's support for the Maoists' activities and the welfare programmes being implemented for the tribals were cited as some of the reasons for the surrender of these activists.They were accused in several cases of murder and landmine blasts.Rajendranath said the Maoist cadre strength in AP had fallen from 100 to 48 in the last one year.Of the 48, 18 were functioning in the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee and rest in other state units.Maoist military formations that were responsible for their guerrilla actions have been reduced from two companies (of 50 members each) to just a platoon (of 10) now, the DGP said."Not only in terms of numbers but also in geographical spread, Left Wing extremism in the state is now confined only to Alluri Sitaramaraju district. By blocking construction of roads and other development activities, and also killing innocent tribals by branding them as police informers, the Maoists have lost people's support," the DGP pointed out.Also, the police outreach and skill development programmes and creation of employment opportunities have helped in distancing the tribals away from the outlaws, he added.In the last year, four exchanges of fire incidents were reported in the (old) Visakhapatnam district in which six important cadres, including two division committee members and two area committee members, of the Maoists were neutralised."We had also arrested a total of 42 Maoist cadres, including two ACMs, while 17 more had surrendered, Rajendranath said—PTI

 The Andhra Pradesh Police arrested two senior members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) while five militia members have surrendered, Director General of Police K V Rajendranath Reddy said here on Friday.

Two CPI (Maoist) members arrested in Andhra

New Delhi: CPI MP Binoy Viswam has requested Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to restore the senior citizen concession in trains which has remained suspended since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in India. In the letter, he said crores of senior citizens across the country have been affected by the railway's decision to withdraw the concessions given to them. While the decision was made in light of Covid, it has not been reviewed despite repeated demands of senior citizens as the country opened up once again after the pandemic, Viswam said.The Left leader pointed out that the Indian Railways was established with the primary purpose of providing the citizens of India with an economical and efficient mode of transport. Over the years, over 50 categories of citizens, including seniors, were afforded concessions to make their travel affordable, he said. ''However, with the onset of the Covid pandemic, these concessions were halted in the name of safety and prevention, with the implicit belief that they would resume after the pandemic abated and the country opened up again. ''Unfortunately, the government has used the Covid pandemic to permanently remove these concessions, much to the detriment of the people of India,'' Viswam said.He also said that with over 7 crore senior citizens using the Railways between March 2020-2022, the impact of the withdrawal of concessions was ''significant.'' ''In light of this, I appeal to you to restore the concession for senior citizens in the Railways. As many senior citizens are not in a position to pay the full ticket fee, the lack of concessions causes them great hardship. ''Having served our country during their working life, it is important that we ensure that these citizens are afforded dignity and respect in their retired life,'' the CPI MP said.—PTI

CPI MP Binoy Viswam has requested Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to restore the senior citizen concession in trains which has remained suspended since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in India.

Binoy urges rail minister to restore senior citizen concession in trains

Thrikkakara: A little over a year after it retained power in Kerala with a massive victory, the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front suffered a huge setback on Friday in a bypoll held to Thrikkakara assembly constituency, with Congress candidate Uma Thomas winning with a historic margin of 25,016 votes, giving a boost to the morale of the party-led United Democratic Front in the southern state. With the highest ever majority attained in the history of Thrikkakara seat in the fiercely fought electoral battle, Uma, wife of late Congress leader and MLA P T Thomas, became the lone woman legislator of the Congress party in the state assembly. His untimely demise necessitated the bypoll in the urban constituency. While Uma won a total of 72,770 votes and managed to maintain a steady lead in all the 12 rounds of counting since the beginning, her nearest rival and Left candidate Jo Joseph, a reputed cardiologist, could never come anywhere near her tally and had to be satisfied with 47,754 votes.The Bharatiya Janata Party also suffered a blow in the election as its candidate A N Radhakrishnan could garner only 12,957 votes.P T Thomas, Uma's husband and former legislator, had won the constituency with 59,839 votes and secured a margin of 14,329 during the 2021 assembly polls.The defeat also shattered the LDF's dream of concluding the first anniversary celebrations of the second Pinarayi Vijayan-led government by smashing a century in the 140-member Kerala assembly in which the CPM-led alliance has 99 members.It is also seen as a setback for Chief Minister Vijayan who is vigorously pushing the K-Rail project despite massive protests by the affected people. A heartbroken CPI-M, which conducted an unparalleled grassroot-level campaign under the lead of the Chief Minister to wrest the traditional Congress bastion, termed the result as "unexpected" and admitted its failure much before the counting of votes was over and the Election Commission announced the results officially."Unbelievable and unexpected", CPI-M Ernakulam district secretary C N Mohanan said reacting to the bypoll result.Rejecting the claim that the campaign was led by chief minister himself, Mohanan said it was conducted by the district unit of the party and Vijayan joined the campaign considering the request of the district unit of the party.The huge victory, however, turned out to be a real lifeline for the opposition Congress, which desperately needed a poll victory to come out of the rude shock of its massive drubbing in the Assembly polls held last year.State Congress Chief K Sudhakaran even urged Vijayan to quit as chief minister, shouldering responsibility for the party-led front's failure. Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan said the people of Thrikkakara "plucked the horns of arrogance and haughtiness" of the CPI-M by providing a historic victory for the UDF in the bypoll.Claiming that the verdict was against Chief Minister Vijayan's agenda of implementing the K-Rail project, Satheesan said the UDF would not allow the initiative, which is being done undermining the sentiments of the people.The Congress's central leadership also expressed happiness over Uma's victory.Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh termed the victory as a "great tribute" to the life and works of P T Thomas and said the result was a reply to the arrogance of Vijayan.<img src="https://im.rediff.com/news/2022/jun/03congress-celebrates-thrikkakara-bypoll-win.jpg?w=670&amp;h=900"> "The people of Thrikkakara have spoken up resoundingly against Mundu Modi's arrogance and his pet K-Rail project, reflecting the sentiment of lakhs of people across Kerala. The verdict is also a great tribute to the life and work of PT Thomas!" he tweeted.The debacle in Thrikkakara is also expected to give a revived energy and strength to the state-wide protests against the implementation of the K-Rail project.A jubilant Uma dedicated the victory to her late husband Thomas, who was a popular leader of the Congress in Kerala.Her victory is also a setback for former Union minister K V Thomas who declared his support for the LDF candidate. Buoyed by the victory of Uma, hundreds of slogan shouting Congress workers held a march in front of the residence of Thomas, who was expelled from the party after he threw his weight behind Jo Joseph.While the UDF displayed unprecedented organisational efforts right from the beginning of electioneering, including that of choosing Uma as the candidate and meticulously planning and executing the front's campaign, the decision to pick Jo Joseph, who is reportedly close to the Catholic church, as the LDF candidate had created confusion among its rank and file initially as the media had reported that another person, a young DYFI leader, would be the party candidate in the constituency.When the LDF alleged that Uma was picked by the UDF banking on the sympathy wave of her husband's demise, the opposition front gave a tit-for-tat reply charging that Joseph was chosen, eyeing the influence and strong vote bank of the Church in the constituency.The presence of a Catholic priest while presenting Joseph as the candidate before the media was used by the political opponents as a weapon to criticise the CPI-M during the campaign.When Chief Minister Vijayan himself took the leadership of the campaign, after his return from the US post treatment on May 10, and camped there for weeks with his cabinet colleagues, Thrikkakara took the centre stage of state politics.Besides Vijayan, all his cabinet ministers and majority of MLAs and front leaders camped at the constituency for weeks and made a thorough campaign through house visits and political meetings.Making their proposed K-Rail semi high speed rail corridor, which is strongly opposed by the Congress-UDF, as a major campaign topic in the constituency, Vijayan had said it was a battle between the proponents of pro-development and anti-development.Many Left leaders, including CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, had openly said the bypoll result would be a referendum on the Vijayan government.Besides, the government's various development policies and the profile of Jo Joseph as a reputed cardiologist, the LDF also banked on the open support extended by former Union minister K V Thomas to the Vijayan government.Though the AAP-Twenty20 alliance had backed out from the poll race, the nearly 14,000 votes garnered by the industry charity outfit-turned political party in the last assembly polls also seemed to have played a key role in Uma's thumping victory.The bypoll result was a setback to the BJP-led NDA also as it could not retain the total number of votes garnered during the 2021 assembly polls. Even though the party fielded its state vice president A N Radhakrishnan, who claimed that he would be the second BJP legislator in the state assembly after veteran O Rajagopal who had won during 2016 polls, he could manage to win only 12,957 votes against the 15,483 votes secured by the party candidate S Saji last year.&nbsp;The much publicised campaign on the last day led by senior politician P C George, who was recently granted bail by the Kerala high court in connection with a hate speech case, also did not seem to come in favour of the saffron party.—PTI

 A little over a year after it retained power in Kerala with a massive victory, the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front suffered a huge setback on Friday in a bypoll held to Thrikkakara assembly constituency, with Congress candidate Uma Thomas winning with a historic margin of 25,016 votes, giving a boost to the morale of the party-led United Democratic Front in the southern state.

Congress gets happy tidings from Kerala, with resounding win in Thrikkakara bypoll

Garhwa: A former CPI (Maoist) Sub-Zonal Commander was arrested from a jungle in Jharkhand's Garhwa district, a senior police officer said.Superintendent of Police Anjani Kumar Jha said a special police team was formed following a tip-off about the movement of the former sub zonal commander Bhanu Singh Kharwar.Kharwar and his lover made an abortive attempt to flee on seeing the approaching police team but were caught, the SP said on Sunday.Police recovered one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, 20 rounds of ammunition, one country-made pistol, two live cartridges and seven mobile phones from their possession, Jha said.The SP said that Kharwar had surrendered under Jharkhand Government's surrender and rehabilitation policy in October 2016.After he came out of jail in 2020, he again started terrorising villagers and was re-arrested in 2021.Following his release after one and half months, Kharwar had started recruiting youths to strengthen the organization and engaged in extracting ransom from contractors and terrorizing locals including elected representatives in Ranka, Ramkanda and Chinia, the SP said.Around 10 Naxal-related and criminal cases were pending against him, the police officer said.—PTI

A former CPI (Maoist) Sub-Zonal Commander was arrested from a jungle in Jharkhand's Garhwa district, a senior police officer said.

Former CPI(Maoist) sub-zonal commander arrested

Kolkata: With an eye on the forthcoming Presidential polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has convened a meeting of the leaders of all opposition parties and chief ministers of the opposition ruled states, in New Delhi on June 15. The meeting will be held at the Constitutional Club.She has forwarded a letter to 22 leaders which include the chief ministers of different opposition-ruled states. The recipients of the letter include Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, among others.Even her arch political rivals, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have also been invited to attend the meeting.“The Presidential elections are around the corner, presenting the perfect opportunity for all progressive opposition parties to reconvene and deliberate on the future course of Indian politics. The election is monumental because it gives legislators the opportunity to participate in deciding the Head of our state who is the custodian of democracy. At a time when our democracy is going through troubling times, I believe that a fruitful confluence of opposition voices is the need of the hour, to echo the deprived and unprecedented communities,” the letter read.The fact that Mamata Banerjee will go all out in leading the charge to forge opposition unity on the issue of presidential polls was made clear by her in March this year. Soon after BJP clinched victory in the assembly polls in four out of five states including Uttar Pradesh, Mamata Banerjee said on the floor of the assembly that the game is not over yet since BJP will not be able to get its candidate elected in the presidential polls without support from other parties.West Bengal BJP spokesman, Shamik Bhattacharya said that the Chief Minister should first try to control the law &amp; order situation in the state ruled by her before concentrating on the national issues like Presidential polls. “The state government has miserably failed to check violence in the state for the last two days and the Chief Minister is reluctant about that,” he said. —IANS

With an eye on the forthcoming Presidential polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has convened a meeting of the leaders of all opposition parties and chief ministers of the opposition ruled states, in New Delhi on June 15. The meeting will be held at the Constitutional Club.

Presidential Polls: Mamata Leads Charge, Calls Oppn Meet On June 15

Siliguri (WB) : A group of CPI(M) leaders joined its ally CPI on Sunday in West Bengal's Darjeeling district. Six people, including CPI(M) district committee member Partha Moitra, switched over in presence of CPI's Darjeeling district secretary Animesh Banerjee. Apart from Moitra, the others are Jyoti De Sarkar, Ujjwal Ghosh, Bipul Ghosh, Bijoy Chowdury and Arijit Ganguly. They were known young faces of the district CPI(M). "CPI(M) is being run by some 'yes-men'. So, we left the party. But, we did not join the ruling TMC for power, as we want to continue working in an organisation that believes in the ideals of the Left," Moitra said. Banerjee said that their joining the CPI will give much-needed oxygen to the party's organisation in the district. Ahead of last year's assembly elections, CPI(M) leader Shankar Ghosh joined the BJP, levelling similar allegations against the party's district unit. He is at present BJP's Siliguri MLA. --- (PTI)

A group of CPI(M) leaders joined its ally CPI on Sunday in West Bengal's Darjeeling district.

CPI(M) members join CPI in Darjeeling district

New Delhi :&nbsp;Retail inflation dropped marginally to 7.01 per cent in June mainly due to slight easing in food prices, though it still remained above the Reserve Bank's comfort level. The consumer price index (CPI) based inflation stood at 7.04 per cent in May and 6.26 per cent in June 2021. Inflation in the food basket in June 2022 was 7.75 per cent, compared to 7.97 per cent in the preceding month, as per the National Statistical Office (NSO) data. The RBI has been asked to ensure that inflation remains at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side. The retail inflation is ruling above the RBI's upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent since January 2022. (PTI)

Retail inflation dropped marginally to 7.01 per cent in June mainly due to slight easing in food prices, though it still remained above the Reserve Bank's comfort level.

Retail inflation eases marginally to 7.01 pc in June

Thiruvananthapuram :&nbsp;The Communist Party of India, the second-largest constituent of Kerala's ruling dispensation, on Saturday expressed its outrage at the statement of CPI-M legislator M.M. Mani in the Assembly against a woman legislator as the controversy continued to simmer for the third day.Mani, a former state Electricity Minister, had on Thursday slammed opposition MLA K.K. Rema of the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP), stating that it was her fate that she became a widow and the CPI-M or the Left had no role in it.The CPI's Idukki district Secretary K.K. Sivaraman slammed Mani over his frequent usage of expletives in his statements.Sivaraman also was upset after Mani used a colloquial word for their top leader Annie Raja, wife of CPI national Secretary D. Raja, saying that her domain was Delhi and she need not be worried ("undakenda") of what happens in the Kerala Assembly.He hit back at Mani stating if that be the case, then would he say the same of his leader Brinda Karat."Mani should learn to speak properly controlling his tongue and the CPI-M should ensure that they correct him. He just can't get away by saying he is a pure villager who uses village language. Mani should speak properly," an angry Sivaraman said.Ever since Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly defended Mani in the floor of the house, every CPI-M leader has fallen into line and gone on to defend Mani.The latest was State Minister for Culture V.N. Vasavan who on Saturday said Mani has done no wrong.Rema, who won the election with the support of the Congress-led UDF, is the widow of former CPI-M leader Chandrasekheran, who was brutally murdered by a group of attackers near his house in Kozhikode in 2012.He had left the party in 2008 and formed his own party, the Revolutionary Marxist Party.Eleven people, including three local CPI-M leaders, were sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the killing.Even after the brutal murder of her husband with the alleged knowledge of the CPI-M top brass, Vijayan had called him a 'renegade', a remark that had come under huge attack from numerous quarters.On Saturday, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said it's Vijayan who is supporting Mani."Vijayan's continued anger towards Chandrashekeran is becoming more visible and he just cannot tolerate Rema. But we, the Congress-led UDF, will strongly support Rema and will be for her always," he said.Mani on Saturday reiterated that he has done no wrong."It was the Congress led opposition who pointed out that she is a widow. I just said that we have no role in it. So I don't think I have done any wrong for me to apologise," he contended.With the Friday's session of the assembly ending in utter chaos on account of these issues, all eyes are on Monday when the session resumes its sitting.Meanwhile, Vijayan, who arrived in Delhi on Saturday to take part in his party meeting, sidestepped questions on this topic and spoke of rain in the national capital as he got into his car and drove off. --- (IANS)

The Communist Party of India, the second-largest constituent of Kerala's ruling dispensation, on Saturday expressed its outrage at the statement of CPI-M legislator M.M. Mani in the Assembly against a woman legislator as the controversy continued to simmer for the third day.

 Now CPI outraged as row rages over Kerala MLA Mani's remarks

Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate attached to the Kochi office here on Wednesday started simultaneous raids at the residences of five accused in the Rs 312 crore fraud at the CPI-M controlled Trissur-based Karuvannur Cooperative bank.
Incidentally, of the five accused where the raids began, four are out on bail. The ED officials involved in the raids were being guarded by the armed CISF guards as a matter of precaution. The Karuvannur Cooperative bank fraud in Thrissur district came intolimelight a year ago, but not much headway has been made in the probe by the police.
Trouble broke out very recently when a depositor after desperate pleas for getting his money back for treatment passed away. Since then the fraud in the CPI-M controlled bank has made frequent headlines and even saw the Kerala High Court intervening.
Last week the Court directed the scam-tainted coop bank to stop all payments barring the emergency ones and asked the Pinarayi Vijayan government to prepare a roadmap aimed at paying back the depositors. The CPI-M backed bank informed the court that at present they have only Rs 60 lakh in cash, while they have assets which can be sold and depositors can be paid. It also pointed out that of the total deposit of Rs 284 crore, a sum of Rs 142 crore has matured. The Congress-led opposition has demanded a CBI probe into the bank fraud after it came to light that those who had good connections in the CPI-M were able to get back their deposits, while a majority of the hapless depositors were running from pillar to post to get back their money.&nbsp;
—IANS

The Enforcement Directorate attached to the Kochi office here on Wednesday started simultaneous raids at the residences of five accused in the Rs 312 crore fraud at the CPI-M controlled Trissur-based Karuvannur Cooperative bank.

 Kerala: ED raids residences of 5 accused in CPI-M controlled Cooperative Bank scam

Thiruvananthapuram: With Kerala Excise minister M.V. Govindan replacing Kodiyeri Balakrishnan as new party's secretary owing to the latter's failing health, efforts have begun to fill in at least two vacancies in the second Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet.
Replacements have to be found for Govindan and Saji Cherian, who had to quit over his controversial remarks about the Constitution.
The post of party secretary remains with the Kannur lobby in the party, as the 69-year-old Govindan is reportedly a diehard fan of Vijayan and also hails from Kannur.
Even though he is junior to Left Democratic Front convenor and former state industries Minister E.P.Jayarajan, Vijayan got that brushed aside as Jayarajan is more known for his loose tongue.
Chief Minister Vijayan also ensured that other veterans like politburo members M.A.Baby and A.Vijayaraghavan also are kept out.
Now with Vijayan able to place his close aide Govindan, the discussions now have begun on the two new faces who will become ministers.
Speculation is rife that State Education Minister V.Sivankutty, who can come under duress next month when a lower court reads out his charge sheet for engaging in ruckus inside the state Assembly in 2015, might resign and take up the key post of the district secretary of the CPI-M in the state capital.
Hence there could be definitely two if not three new ministers and hence the top brass of the CPI-M have already started discussing and the only thing one is waiting to see is will there be any inductees like former State Health Minister K.K.Shailaja, who was a surprise exclusion when Vijayan chose his cabinet in 2021 May.
But sources close to Vijayan indicate that he is not keen to get back Shailaja as it might dip his stock.
Performance of Shailaja's successor, journalist-turned-legislator Veena George will also be evaluated during the meeting and it is being said that she might be made the Assembly speaker and M.B.Rajesh made a minister.
A political analyst on condition of anonymity said: "The CPI-M knows how to play the rhetoric and hence Veena becoming the speaker cannot be ruled out as it would be the first time a lady will be taking over the post enabling the party to speak more about gender equality," said the analyst.
V.Joy, P.P.Thilothaman, A.M.Shamseer and K.V.Sumesh figure in the list of probable ministers.
In case of a pressure to include Shailaja, the names of former ministers- T.P.Ramakrishnan and A.C Moideen who were ministers in the first Vijayan government also might come up, as the present cabinet, it's a group of inexperience, which has come under fire.
With Kerala all gearing up to celebrate the Onam festival after a gap of two years, the swearing-in is expected only towards the second or third week of September and until then it would be speculation and wild guesses.&nbsp;
—IANS

With Kerala Excise minister M.V. Govindan replacing Kodiyeri Balakrishnan as new party's secretary owing to the latter's failing health, efforts have begun to fill in at least two vacancies in the second Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet.

 Political parleys get underway in Kerala CPI-M as search for new ministers begins

Thiruvananthapuram (The Hawk): The youthful mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, Arya Rajendran, appears to be in trouble after a letter that was purportedly addressed by her to Anavoor Nagappan, the district secretary of the CPI-M, requesting a list of applicants for 295 temporary positions in the Corporation, went viral on social media.
However, Rajendran denied composing the letter (which was printed on her business letterhead), and Nagappan also denied receiving it, but both promised to look into the situation.
In the meantime, the Mayor will be asked to resign for breaking her oath by the Corporation's opposing parties, the BJP and the Congress.
The ruling CPI-M, which is holding high-level meetings of the state party unit here on Saturday and Sunday, has been greatly impacted by this occurrence.
The letter was leaked by one of the party members, and the party is allegedly furious that it has already gone popular across social media.
The letter from Rajendran to Nagappan begins with the salutation, Comrade, and then states that there are 295 openings for various positions in the upcoming health department linked to the Corporation and that he is looking for a list of potential applicants.
The Mayor was away in Delhi for a CPI-M protest march against the BJP national government at the time that this dispute began, incidentally, using the hashtag "Where is my job."
K.S. Sabarainathan, a leader in the Youth Congress and a former two-term member of Congress, criticised the Mayor for doing this.
Sabarinathan added, "We are informed she is gone in Delhi attending a protest calling for jobs, yet in her own domain, positions are provided to their own party members and these back door appointments have been going on for a while.
The Mayor needs to step down for this serious act of corruption, according to K. Surendran, the state BJP president.
Jobs in the government are increasingly frequently reserved for CPI-M members and their family members. We will organise rallies to force the resignation of the Mayor-led Corporation's current leadership, according to Surendran.
The Mayor has stated that she has not written such a letter, hence she should immediately file a complaint with the Cyber wing and check if the person who did this is held accountable, according to BJP councillor and Thiruvananthapuram district president V.V.Rajesh.
The senior leadership of the CPI-M is infamous for installing its stooges in key positions and running the show, and this is one instance of this, according to Rajesh.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The youthful mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, Arya Rajendran, appears to be in trouble after a letter that was purportedly addressed by her to Anavoor Nagappan, the district secretary of the CPI-M, requesting a list of applicants for 295 temporary positions in the Corporation, went viral on social media.

TVM Mayor in trouble for letter to party leader seeking 295 job candidates

Thiruvananthapuram (The Hawk): Senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar called this a "recruitment scam" by the CPI-M at the protest by the BJP and Congress outside the Thiruvananthapuram (TVM) Corporation in Kerala demanding the resignation of the Mayor Arya Rajendran for allegedly trying to grant positions for 295 CPI-M activists.
The current political deadlock was sparked by a letter that allegedly was sent by the Mayor to CPI-M district secretary Anavoor Nagappan asking for a "priority list" of applicants for contractual posts in the corporation.
"The ruling CPI-M was clearly involved in a recruitment scheme in this case... Since it is solely for the CPI-M and they are involved in corruption, honest, hardworking youth will not be able to find employment. The former Union Minister and national in-charge of the Kerala BJP unit said, "A real investigation should be conducted, and we would assist you (the state BJP cadres) totally.
Javadekar, a Rajya Sabha member, arrived to greet the irate party members who have been camped out in front of the Corporation office for the previous five days. The BJP leader at the time vehemently denounced the police operations against the BJP cadres who were demonstrating.
The demonstrators, which included Congress-led UDF workers as well, were calling for the resignation of the nation's youngest female mayor over allegations of corruption. The police responded by firing tear gas shells and using water cannons to drive them away.
Rajendran has now told the media that leaving her position is out of the question because she continues to have the support of all of her council members and of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
"The opposition is free to demonstrate, but I won't step down since I have the support of all of my council members. We appreciate the Kerala High Court asking for my version and are prepared for any investigation. Additionally, we will completely assist with the ongoing Crime Branch investigation and are prepared to turn over mobile phones if doing so will enhance the investigation, said Rajendran.
Despite Rajendran's claim that she and the party are "ready to collaborate," CPI-M council members Nagappan and D.R. Anil have yet to appear before the investigation team, citing a busy schedule.
On Friday, the Director of Vigilance also ordered an investigation by the Vigilance department after receiving complaints about the "rampant nepotism prevailing in the Corporation."
(Inputs from Agencies)

Senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar called this a "recruitment scam" by the CPI-M at the protest by the BJP and Congress outside the Thiruvananthapuram (TVM) Corporation in Kerala demanding the resignation of the Mayor Arya Rajendran for allegedly trying to grant positions for 295 CPI-M activists.

CPI-M engaged in a "recruitment scam" with TVM Corporation: Javadekar

Thiruvananthapuram (The Hawk): With the CPI-M preparing to call the state Assembly next month, the conflict between Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the Pinarayi Vijayan administration is likely to get worse.
The CPI(M) will be successful in blocking Khan from delivering the annual Governor's address by calling for a new assembly session in December that will last into January.
When asked if it was a "game plan," Party state secretary M.V. Govindan responded to the media on Saturday that the administration makes all such decisions.
The next anticipated event will occur on Tuesday when the CPI-M and its 100,000 followers occupy Khan's home.
Unfazed, Khan urged them not to postpone the protest till Tuesday.
(Inputs from Agencies)

With the CPI-M preparing to call the state Assembly next month, the conflict between Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the Pinarayi Vijayan administration is likely to get worse.

New assembly session likely in December to escalate conflict between Kerala's governor and CPI-M government

Thiruvananthapuram (The Hawk): On Wednesday, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan demanded a report on the measures taken against state employees who took part in the Raj Bhavan siege by the CPI(M)-led Left supporters last week.
Even though the march was organised by the CPI-newly M's launched Education campaign movement, all of the feeder organisations' members and supporters participated.
The top seven state government employees who were affiliated with the influential staff unions supported by the CPI-M have been identified by BJP members who were actively involved in documenting the protests.
The top district BJP leaders visited Khan early this week and showed him documentary proof that these workers, including women, had participated in the demonstration.
Khan requested a report from the chief secretary on the workers' rule-breaking after being presented with the proof.
Khan and Vijayan have been exchanging verbal blows on a regular basis for the past few months. The next round of insults will be traded once the chief secretary's report is received because a special session of the state Assembly has been scheduled for December 5.
(Inputs from Agencies)

On Wednesday, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan demanded a report on the measures taken against state employees who took part in the Raj Bhavan siege by the CPI(M)-led Left supporters last week.

Kerala Governor Khan wants a report on the actions taken against protestors

Agartala (The Hawk): Following the political violence on Wednesday that resulted in the death of a member of the Left party, the opposition CPI-M, Trinamool Congress, Congress, and other parties individually organised a series of protests across Tripura on Thursday. They demanded the restoration of law and order.
The body of Sahid Mia was "kidnapped" from the Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital, according to CPI-M state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury, on Thursday night after some police officers and a sizable security team forcibly scattered the family of the killed Left party cadre.
Mia, 65, was slain and at least 30 members of the Left party and leaders of the governing BJP were hurt in a violent conflict between the workers of the two organisations on Wednesday in Charilam, Tripura's Sepahijala district.
In a statement, the CPI-M asserted that when party members attempted to reopen one of its offices at Charilam, BJP supporters attacked them.
In a meeting with DGP Amitabh Ranjan on Thursday, Chaudhury, a member of the CPI-M central committee, was in charge of a delegation of party officials and demanded the quick arrest of all of the criminals guilty for the deaths of numerous opposition members and workers.
"Total anarchy and "jungle raj" have been formed in Tripura since the BJP has been in power there since 2018. When an incident occurs in Tripura, the cops stay mute bystanders "told the media, the Left's leader.
The CPI-M started statewide protest marches on Wednesday when Mia passed away, and they continued on Thursday.
In the meantime, the police stopped the Trinamool Congress on Thursday from gheraoing the home of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha.
Later, Trinamool's representative for Tripura, Rajib Banerjee, said that despite several incidents of political violence, rape, and murder, no one has been apprehended by the police since those responsible are BJP members who control the state.
Additionally, the Congress organised protest gatherings in Agartala and other regions of Tripura.
The violence in Charilam, according to the CPI-M politburo, is representative of the way things have been going in Tripura since since the BJP took office there in February 2018.
The Left party claimed that the BJP, working in collusion with the government and police, continues to terrorise political opponents with just over two months till the Assembly elections.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Following the political violence on Wednesday that resulted in the death of a member of the Left party, the opposition CPI-M, Trinamool Congress, Congress, and other parties individually organised a series of protests across Tripura on Thursday. They demanded the restoration of law and order.

Opposition parties demonstrate in Tripura calling for the return of law and order

New Delhi (The Hawk): Shaka alias Tivari Bankira has been detained, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in connection with the attack on former Jharkhand MLA Gurucharan Nayak and his three bodyguards by a group of CPI members (Maoist).
One bodyguard was critically hurt during the raid, while Shankar Nayak and Thakur Hembram both died from wounds they received while engaging in combat with the Maoists.
The Maoists also took their personal guns.
Before being re-registered by the NIA, the case was initially opened at the Goilkera police station in the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.
"Investigations showed that Tivari was an armed cadre of the CPI (Maoist), who collaborated with other co-accused individuals and paid Pradhan Korah Rs 8,000 to purchase logistics supplies for the Maoists. In the Lowabeda forest, he found these artefacts at the home of Korah and gave them to Sushant, a CPI (Maoist) SAC member. Additionally, he performed reconnaissance at the attack site and monitored the security personnel's movements until the Maoist attack was carried out "NIA stated.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Shaka alias Tivari Bankira has been detained, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in connection with the attack on former Jharkhand MLA Gurucharan Nayak and his three bodyguards by a group of CPI members (Maoist).

NIA detains Maoists for assaulting an ex-MLA and his bodyguards in Jharkhand

Hyderabad (The Hawk): K Sambasiva Rao, the state secretary of the CPI, and a number of other leaders were detained on Wednesday during the "Chalo Raj Bhavan" march.
The party organised the march to seek an end to the "governor system."
When the march was stopped at Khairatabad junction due to the arrest of the CPI leaders, arguments between them and the police ensued.
Sambasiva Rao previously claimed that governors were attempting to topple non-BJP governments and said that the governor system urgently needed to be eliminated.
The CPI secretary allegedly asserted that the governor's system has become a threat to democracy in the nation and that there is no proof or documentation to support its role in upholding democratic ideals in the nation.
The governor's position was abused even under the Congress' tenure, he said, but it has now evolved into a menace to democratically elected non-BJP governments.
He demanded the "governor system" be eliminated, contending that it had evolved into a tool for the central government.
(Inputs from Agencies)

K Sambasiva Rao, the state secretary of the CPI, and a number of other leaders were detained on Wednesday during the "Chalo Raj Bhavan" march.

CPI march to Hyderabad's Raj Bhavan demanding the removal of the governor's seat

New Delhi (The Hawk): In a case involving the radicalization and recruitment of innocent girls into the CPI (Maoist), an outlawed organisation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet before a special NIA court in Vijayawada against five accused, officials said on Tuesday.
The NIA re-registered the case in June 2022 after the Peddabayalu Police Station in Visakhapatnam had initially registered it.
The complaint on the inclusion of one Radha into the party fold, according to the officials, is what prompted the case to be opened. The complaint claimed that the defendants—Dongari Devendra, Dubasi Swapna, and Chukka Shilpa—had encouraged Radha to join the Chaitanya Mahila Sangham (CMS), radicalised her, and then recruited her to the banned CPI (Maoist), which was run by underground Maoists RK (since deceased) Uday, Aruna, and others.
Investigations have shown that the suspects Dongari Devendra, Dubasi Swapna, and Chukka Shilpa enticed impressionable young girls into the organisation CMS under the pretence of social work, with the understanding that, depending on the girls' commitment to the organisation, they would be identified and sent to the CPI, a prohibited organisation (Maoist).
According to information obtained, the accused attempted to influence numerous people and recruited a small number of additional ladies into the CPI (Maoist).
Under the guise of providing medical assistance to someone, the accused Devendra had brought Radha to the jungle, where Uday and Aruna had forced her to join the outlawed group.
It is being investigated how the CMS, a group, and its leaders fit into the overall plot.
Investigations into the situation are still ongoing.
(Inputs from Agencies)

In a case involving the radicalization and recruitment of innocent girls into the CPI (Maoist), an outlawed organisation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet before a special NIA court in Vijayawada against five accused, officials said on Tuesday.

Five CPI (Maoist) cadres are charged by NIA for luring girls

New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday asked Central Government to convene an all-party meeting to assess the situation in Joshimath and Karnaprayag and to plan for rehabilitation of people.
CPI in a statement expressed deep concern about reports of heavy damage to houses in Joshimath and Karnaprayag.
Himalayas are comparatively new mountains without solid rocks and hence all development projects in the area need to be planned carefully taking into consideration fragile mountains and the sustainability of the environment.
"The present state and central government approach in this area of development does not take into consideration the environmental concerns and sustainability and hence needs an immediate course correction. Compensation given to citizens is not adequate and rehabilitation plans must be made taking people in confidence," CPI said in a statement
CPI further said in a statement that happenings in Joshimath and Karnaprayag are a warning to the development projects pushed ahead without sustainability of environmental consideration.
"The CPI appeals to keep the sustainability of the environment while undertaking development projects. All party meeting should be called to discuss the situation and plan for the future" CPI added. Several houses collapsed at Singhdhar in the Joshimath town of Uttarakhand in the midnight hours of January 2 and 3, sources said.
However, no lives were lost in these incidents, they added.
According to sources, cracks at several houses and a nearby temple started widening, to the point where they eventually collapsed.
Speaking to ANI, Harish, a local, said, "It happened on January 2. It was around 2.30 am when we were sleeping. We heard a noise as the cracks on the walls opened up and big chunks of concrete started falling off."
"We were scared and spent the night under an open sky. We were shifted to a government school nearby the day after," he said. "Many important documents and household items were destroyed. But thankfully, no lives were lost. Some hotels in Manohar Bagh, too, have developed big cracks," Harish added.
Another local resident, Rishi Devi, said while his residence and many others had developed cracks for some time, the municipality refused to act saying it had no order from the higher authorities.
"Our house had developed cracks for some time. We had requested the municipality for help. But over a span of two days, on January 2 and 3, our house as well as others collapsed. A nearby temple, too, collapsed and we even lost our cattle. Both my sons are jobless now," Rishi Devi told ANI. —ANI

The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday asked Central Government to convene an all-party meeting to assess the situation in Joshimath and Karnaprayag and to plan for rehabilitation of people.

Convene All-Party Meet To Assess Joshimath, Karnaprayag Situation, Plan Rehabilitation: CPI To Centre

Radhakishorepur/Ambassa (Tripura): The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, took aim at the Congress-CPI(M) partnership in Tripura on Saturday, saying that while the two parties "fight kushti" (wrestling) in Kerala, they have "done dosti" (friendship) in the northeastern state of Tripura.
Modi, in an apparent reference to Tipra Motha, said that other parties were helping the opposition alliance from the shadows, but that supporting them would set Tripura back several years.
"The usual suspects in bad government have banded together to form chanda" (donation). The Prime Minister made this statement at an election rally in Radhakishorepur, Gomati district, about people who had fought "kushti" (wrestling) in Kerala but had made "dosti" (friendship) in Tripura.—Inputs from Agencies

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, took aim at the Congress-CPI(M) partnership in Tripura on Saturday, saying that while the two parties "fight kushti" (wrestling) in Kerala, they have "done dosti" (friendship) in the northeastern state of Tripura.

The Hawk

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