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The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nuns' arrest in Chhattisgarh State-sponsored terrorism, says Hibi Eden
Terming the recent arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala in Chhattisgarh on charges of alleged religious conversion and human trafficking as an incident of State-sponsored terrorism, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden said he would raise the matter in the Lok Sabha, along with the increasing number of attacks on members of minority communities in northern India. Uniformed forces like the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the respective Government Railway Police (GRP) are behaving like affiliates of the RSS, he alleged. Nuns and other members of minority communities are increasingly being denied the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution across the country. In this situation, the Lok Sabha must adjourn its sitting until the government makes a statement on the recent 'terror attack' targeting nuns—forcing them to hide their attire—and on the measures being taken to ensure the safety and security of religious minorities. Such incidents are a threat to the rule of law, he said. Sunday's arrest of the nuns raises serious questions about the safety and security of religious minorities in our country. Given the gravity of the situation and its potential implications for communal harmony and national security, it is imperative that the House discusses this matter at the earliest opportunity. The government's response to this incident, and the measures it proposes to prevent such events in the future, are of utmost importance, Mr. Eden added. Terming the arrest of the nuns as part of the 'Sangh Parivar agenda', the Kochi-based Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency (AMT) of the Syro Malabar Church said most Christians in northern India are living in fear of attacks. This is especially true in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Nuns and others from the community have been doing voluntary service in such remote areas, where the government machinery has little presence, said Riju Kanjookaran, spokesperson of the movement. 'CBCI inaction' Sadly, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) is weak and unable to find solutions to such issues or initiate legal action. Their role ends with issuing a statement in the wake of such attacks. The CBCI has failed to initiate policy measures or bring international pressure to end such well-planned and coordinated attacks, he added.
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre seeks environmental impact assessment on MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck
The Centre has requested the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Tamil Nadu, to undertake a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the sinking of the container ship MSC Elsa 3 off the Alappuzha coast on May 25. The Centre's decision was conveyed by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 21, 2025). He was replying to a question raised by Hibi Eden, MP, on whether the government had conducted or initiated a detailed EIA into the back-to-back ship accidents off the Kerala coast, including the sinking of MSC Elsa 3 and the explosion on the Singapore-flagged vessel Wan Hai 503 off the Beypore coast on June 9. 'The EIA on the MSC Elsa 3 incident will be carried out in coordination with the State government. A total of 66 containers had washed ashore and have since been recovered by the agency appointed by the owners of MSC Elsa 3. None of the containers contained hazardous cargo, and no damage or hazard has been reported. Around 540 metric tonnes of plastic nurdles have been collected from the Kerala coast and the southern coast of Tamil Nadu,' Mr. Singh said. In the case of Wan Hai 503, the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Directorate General of Shipping, and other authorities concerned took proactive measures to contain and mitigate any potential environmental risks, according to the Minister.
New Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Cusat to launch anti-drug campaign REVIVE 2025 on July 15
KOCHI: As part of observing World Youth Skills Day on Tuesday, the Department of Youth Welfare, National Service Scheme (NSS), and University Union of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) are jointly organising a large-scale anti-drug campaign, REVIVE 2025, under the theme 'Drug Kills, Develop Skills'. The initiative is supported by youth enterprises such as Alcor Cyberspace and IMAT Global, and focuses on skill development as a positive alternative to substance abuse among students and youth. According to Dr M Junaid Bushiri, Vice Chancellor, CUSAT, the university has already taken effective steps to prevent drug use, especially in university campuses and hostels. 'Anti-drug committees have been formed in all departments, hostels, and at the university level. Measures are in place to ensure these committees function actively and consistently,' he said. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has emphasised the need for developing diverse skills to prevent drug abuse. The US National Institutes of Health has also published several studies highlighting the issue. Drawing inspiration from such global initiatives, CUSAT is hosting this extensive awareness programme. The campaign will be officially inaugurated on Tuesday at 10 am at the CUSAT Seminar Complex by Hibi Eden, MP. Actors Shane Nigam, Vishnu Unnikrishnan, and Lalu Alex will engage in interactive sessions with students. A panel discussion will be held on the impact of drug use on youth, featuring Dr Alisha Sulaiman, Dr Priyanka, entrepreneurs Noorin Ayesha and Tasni Rafiq, among others. Dr Ananthu S and Akhil Marar will also deliver anti-drug messages. The event will also feature a stand-up comedy show by Sabarish and a mentalism show by Arjun Satheesh. As part of skill development workshops, sessions will be led by Babu Pallassery, Utpal Nayanar, and Vijay Chandrabose, covering topics such as cinema, digital marketing, information technology, and investment.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala fisheries committee to protest demanding investigation and compensation for ship accident losses
Kochi: Kerala Fisheries Coordination Committee will organise a protest in front of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) at 10am on July 7. The protestors are demanding a comprehensive investigation into ship accidents under court responsibility, compensation for losses to the fisheries sector and workers based on international standards and the appointment of an expert committee to examine the losses to fisheries and the environment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The protest will be inaugurated by Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, with committee chairman T N Prathapan presiding. The committee is also demanding the abandonment of plans to bring large corporate ships into the deep-sea sector. Former MLA V Dinakaran will deliver the keynote address. Other speakers include MLA P P Chitharanjan, Jackson Pollayil, Joseph Xavier Kalappurackal and Kerala Fishworkers Aikyavedi Forum president Charles George, among others. The fishers have been alleging that their fishing nets are getting damaged due to the debris of the shipwreck. They alleged that nets of 10 boats that went fishing from Kochi on Monday were torn, nine parts southwest of the estuary, hitting debris or containers from a ship. "The repair, installation of new nets and a week's work will result in losses worth Rs 10 lakh per boat. Since the sinking of the ship ELSA-3, accidents in the fishing area have been increasing. Last week, the nets of nine boats were similarly torn west of Thottappally," George said.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
No great work has ever been created under influence of drugs, says Prithviraj Sukumaran
Actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran has debunked the perception in society that creativity in the film industry is fuelled by substance, stating that no great work has ever been created under the influence of any substance. He was talking after inaugurating 'No Entry,' an anti-drugs campaign to mark the launch of a five-year long project, Substance Abuse Free Environment Village (SAFE), in the Ernakulam Parliament constituency at the Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology on Thursday (June 26, 2025) on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The project initiated by Hibi Eden, MP, will be implemented in a phased manner under Project Venda of Fourth Wave Foundation with the support of the Jain (Deemed-to-be-University) and the Kochi-based Future Kerala Mission. Mr. Sukumaran said that the fight against drugs can be won only if an older generation, which showed how to enjoy life through their lifestyle, and a new discerning generation capable of making the right choices join hands. He wrapped up his speech with the popular film dialogue 'narcotics is a dirty business.' He then administered the anti-drug speech to students. In his presidential address, Mr. Eden said that the idea behind the project is to ensure the coordination of people's representatives, educational institutions, and social organisations for the serious cause of protecting students and youngsters from drug menace. The project will be implemented in association with the Kochi Corporation, 6 municipalities, and 24 panchayats. Memorandum of Understanding kits were handed over to the representatives from these local bodies. Around 3,000 school and college students attended the function. The 'No Entry' campaign proposes a strong declaration by the individual and society in general in a collective resistance against drugs. Preventing the entry of drugs into one's body, life and household remains the core of the campaign. SAFE project is an acclaimed programme against drugs being implemented by the Fourth Wave Foundation under Project Venda for the past 10 years. Uma Thomas, MLA, district panchayat president, Manoj Moothedan, Thrikkakara municipal chairperson Radhamani Pillai, District Police Chief (Kochi City) Putta Vimaladitya, Fourth Wave Foundation director C.C. Joseph, Jain University, Director (New Initiatives) Tom Joseph, and Rajagiri School of Engineering Fr. Jose Kuriyedath attended.
