Latest news with #S.Ramachandran


The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Withdraw decision to hike GLR value: CPI (M)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has urged the government to withdraw the decision to increase the Guideline Land Register (GLR) value in Puducherry. CPI(M) secretary S. Ramachandran, in a statement, said the government's decision to increase the GLR value would impact all sections of society. The hike imposed was around five to six times more than the existing value making registration of property a very costly affair. 'The Tamil Nadu government had also effected a hike, but it was very marginal. The Puducherry government, without increasing the GLR value for a long time, has hiked it enormously all of a sudden. The present hike should be withdrawn immediately, and a more rational approach should be adopted,' he said.


The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) wants mechanisms in place to safeguard fishermen livelihood rights while framing coastal policy
The CPI(M) in Puducherry has demanded robust mechanisms to safeguard the rights and livelihood of fishermen communities in ongoing marine resources management initiatives. In a statement, S. Ramachandran, CPI(M) State Secretary said it was imperative that the formulation of a framework for managing marine resources was done in a transparent manner and after holding detailed consultations as it had a direct bearing on the livelihood of the fisherfolk communities. He alleged that the government was opaque about the Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework being evolved under the Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative that has as its objective striking a balance between growth, sustainable management of ocean resources and coastal environment preservation. Pointing out that the Centre had selected Puducherry and Lakshadweep to pilot the initiative, the CPI(M) said the lack of transparency on the part of the government raised concerns that Puducherry's coastline would become a 'test-bed' for anti-people and pro-corporate policies. Meanwhile, critical flaws had been flagged in the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan under formulation, Mr. Ramachandran said. In the draft plan, there were major irregularities in the maps showing the fishing areas and land use spaces of the coastal community, he added. The CPI(M) leader called for suspension of these ongoing projects until consultations were held with all stakeholders, ecological concerns addressed and protection of traditional fishing rights was guaranteed. Moreover, while the much-touted Blue Economy aimed at making India a five trillion dollar economy from tapping ocean resources, there were no concrete measures spelt out to safeguard fishermen rights and their livelihoods, he said. The CPI(M) advocated for promulgating a special protection law for fishermen rights on the lines of the ones in effect for hill-forest dwellers.


The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Left parties stage demonstration in support of Palestine
The Left parties on Thursday held a demonstration near Swadeshi Cotton Mills in the town to express solidarity with the people of Palestine. Led by CPI secretary A. M. Saleem, CPI(M) secretary S. Ramachandran and secretary of CPI( M-L) S. Purushothaman, party workers raised slogans against Israel for 'committing atrocities against the people of Palestine'. They wanted Israel to stop the 'aggression on the people of Palestine and genocide in Gaza'. Mr. Saleem said the Indian government should take a principled stand consistent with the country's historical support to the Palestine cause. The Central government should press for allowing humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and call for immediate end to the war. Left leaders N. Kalainathan, V. Perumal, Dinesh Ponniah, K. Sethu Selvam were among those who participated in the demonstration.


The Hindu
28-05-2025
- The Hindu
CPI(M) complains to NHRC on illegal detention of woman labourer by Puducherry police
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has complained to the National Human Rights Commission on the alleged custodial harassment meted out to a woman staff of a resort in Pudukuppam village in Puducherry. CPI (M) secretary S. Ramachandran in his complaint to NHRC has stated that police officers in Thavalakuppam police station illegally detained and physically assaulted the woman staff after the general manager of the resort preferred a complaint of a missing ring of a guest in the hotel. 'On the night of May 11, the woman staff was summoned to the police station. She was beaten with a lathi compelling her to accept the theft. She was allowed to leave the station only around 1 a.m. the next day. She was again summoned, made to wait in the station till late in the night and was allowed to leave only by mid-night,' he said. The party has appealed to the NHRC to initiate proceedings against the police officers responsible for the misconduct and unlawful activity.


The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Left, VCK leaders stage protest near police station
Leaders of Left parties and VCK on Tuesday held a demonstration near Thavalakuppam Police Station demanding action against police officers responsible for the alleged assault and illegal detention of a woman working in a resort in Pudukuppam. They raised slogans demanding registration of case against police officers for 'torturing the woman while investigating a theft case reported at the resort'. Addressing a press conference, secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) S. Ramachandran said though the police could not find any evidence suggesting the involvement of the staff in the theft, the woman was illegally detained and physically assaulted. 'It is a serious offence. So, the government should order departmental inquiry and register a case,' he said. Leaders of CPI, VCK and CPI (ML) participated in the protest.