Kerala News

Manorama Online | University of California, Kerala B-school join hands

University of California, Kerala B-school join hands

Story Dated: Thursday, July 29, 2010 9:58 hrs IST

Thiruvananthapuram: University of California Santa Cruz and the Asian School of Business (ASB) in Kerala’s capital Wednesday launched a strategic tie-up that would include a series of exchange programmes.

Announcing this here, G. Vijaya Raghavan, member-secretary of ASB, said: "As the first in the series of programmes planned, a three-day conference would be held Sep 22-24 in Silicon Valley, California."

The conference will be titled "Innovation - A tool for fostering entrepreneurship and Regional Economic Development: Learnings from the Silicon Valley Experience - Focus Kerala."

Oman-based Keralite businessman George M. Thomas was the person behind ASB which was set up five years back at the Technopark campus. In October this year, the ASB will move into a brand new Rs.63 crore campus coming up on the outskirts of the city.

Manorama Online | Maneka takes umbrage at live-stock show

Maneka takes umbrage at live-stock show

Story Dated: Thursday, July 29, 2010 10:2 hrs IST

Thiruvananthapuram: The national livestock exhibition, held here from July 23 to 27, has drawn criticsm from with former Union Minister and animal rights campaigner Maneka Gandhi who alleged the show was conducted in violation of wildlife rules and the animals exhibited were "ill-treated" Maneka Gandhi, in a e-mail to state Home Secretary K Jayakaumar,sought action against officials responsible for the "ill treatment: of animals during the exhibition.

She complained that the animals on display, including cows, dogs, birds and other pets,had to suffer for several hours in a day. She said wildlife laws were violated in the conduct of the exhibition held at the Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds here, drawing huge crowd all the five days.

The animals and birds were exhibited violating rules and without pet shop licence under animal protection rules.

An exhibition like this was a gross violation of rules as it did not have the permission of the national Animal Welfare Board, she said. It also did not have the presence of central Animal Welfare Board officials as required by rules, she said in the letter, official sources said.

Manorama Online | Official team led by CS to probe tribal land scam

Official team led by CS to probe tribal land scam

Story Dated: Thursday, July 29, 2010 9:55 hrs IST

Thiruvananthapuram: A high-level panel headed by Kerala Chief Secretary P Prabhakarn will probe the allegations on the tribal land grab at Attappadi in Palakkad district.

The decision was taken by a meeting of the state cabinet. Secretaries of Home and Forest would be members of the panel, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters after the meeting.

The allegation pertained grabbing of 100 acres of tribal land and 50 acres of forest land in Attappadi area in the pretext of acquiring land for a private windmill farm. Opposition UDF, which raised the issue in the assembly and outside, alleged that a land mafia with the collusion of section of officials was behind the scam.

Manorama Online | Shops closed in Kerala, traders hit streets

Shops closed in Kerala, traders hit streets

Story Dated: Thursday, July 29, 2010 13:19 hrs IST

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Thursday wore a hartal-like look with traders across the state downing shutters to press their demands relating acquisition of land for developing the national high way.

Responding to the protest call by the traders’ council Kerala Vyapari Vyvasayi Samiti, hundreds of traders drawn from all parts of the state converged here to take part in a march to highlight their demands.

Fearing demolition of rows of shops for road widening in many parts of the state, the traders’ body wanted the width of the highway to be limited to 30 feet.

They also wanted the government to ensure sufficient compensation for demolished shops and rehabilitation of the displaced shop owners and workers.

Manorama Online | Assembly session ends on uproarious note

Assembly session ends on uproarious note

Story Dated: Thursday, July 29, 2010 13:25 hrs IST

Thiruvananthapuram: Uproarious scenes marked the last day of the budget session of Kerala assembly, the proceedings of which were disrupted by Congress-led UDF Opposition members demanding action against grabbers of tribal land at Attappadi in Palakkad district.

Taking up the issue of alienation of tribal land and illegal possession of such lands by private windmill companies at Sholayar and Kottaraka villages, UDF Opposition wanted immediate action against the windmill companies and restore the land to tribals.

UDF Opposition sought a debate on the alleged corruption and irregularities involved in land grab by through an adjournment motion. Assurance of government that a high-level committee headed Chief Secretary has been constituted to probe all issues concerning the Attappadi tribal land and action would be initiated based on Committee report failed to calm the opposition.

The committee has been asked to submit the report within one month both State Revenue Minister K P Rajendran and State Minister for Power and Welfare of Backward and Scheduled Communities A K Balan, said while intervening on the matter. Balan said that windmill companies were functioning as per power purchase agreement and government could not take action against them without establishing that purchased tribal land violating Tribal rules.

Opposition insisted for immediate action based on a report of the District Collector which indicated that land in question was tribal land and moved to the well of the house shouting slogans against the government. Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy alleged that government was helping the land grabbers by giving them one month time to allow them to get necessary court orders.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said government would take action against the persons responsible for the alienation of tribal land. There were allegations that private windmill companies had illegally possessed 100 acres of tribal land and 50 acres of forest land over the years. When Opposition protest continued, Speaker K Radhakrishnan took up other scheduled business of the day. The house quickly passed the Kerala Appropriation Bill-2010 and The Kerala Inland Fishery Bill, 2010 before, speaker adjourned the house sine die.

During 24-day long session,the house took up 226 submissions and 44 calling attentions and passed two bills including the The Munnar Special Tribunal Bill 2010 which aims to set up a tribunal to expedite the settlement of various cases related to land in Munnar pending in civil courts.

Manorama Online | No request from Kerala to ban PFI: Chidambaram

No request from Kerala to ban PFI: Chidambaram

Story Dated: Thursday, July 29, 2010 13:15 hrs IST

New Delhi: The central government has not received any request from Kerala on banning radical Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), Home Minister P. Chidambaram said here Thursday.

"I’ve not got anything," Chidambaram told IANS outside parliament, when asked whether the state government had requested the central government to ban the PFI.

Suspected activists of the outfit chopped the hand of a Kerala lecturer earlier this month for preparing an "inflammatory" question paper with references to Prophet Mohammed.

On July 13, the Kerala High Court directed both the central and state governments to give their views on banning the PFI.

Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said last week that the state government would take a decision on banning the Muslim group after getting a report from the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

"As the NIA is investigating Kerala’s terror-related cases, it is expected that vital information about the PFI, including its link with other international extremist organisations, would also be revealed," Balakrishnan said.

He also said that the Kerala government would ask the central government to investigate the source of alleged foreign funding of the PFI.

However, a highly-placed union home ministry source said the state government has not so far requested the central government to probe the funding source of the PFI.

"We have read some statements by Kerala government authorities on this issue. How can we take a decision without getting a formal request from the state government," the source told IANS.

Manorama Online | Madhani's bail plea hearing adjourned to Tuesday

Madhani’s bail plea hearing adjourned to Tuesday

Story Dated: Thursday, July 29, 2010 12:25 hrs IST

Bangalore The Karnataka High Court Wednesday adjourned to Tuesday the hearing of anticipatory bail plea by People’s Democratic Party leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the 2008 Bangalore blasts case.

The hearing was postponed following the prosecution request demanding more time in registering its protest against allowing bail to Madhani in the Bangalore blasts case.

The court, however, criticised the Karnataka government on seeking more time on the issue. The court directed the government to present its stand on Tuesday.

Madhani approached the High Court after a fast track court had dismissed Madhani’s plea on the grounds that there was no prima facie case to grant him anticipatory bail.

Madhani and 31 others were chargesheeted for their alleged involvement in the blasts on July 25, 2008 here that left a woman dead and 20 others injured.

The term of the non bailable warrant issued against Madhani expires on August 3.

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Thursday, July 29, 2010