Latest news with #Satheesan
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala's Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan offers condolences on V.S. Achuthanandan's passing
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan strode a path strewn with stones and thorns to fight for public causes. In a condolence message, Mr. Satheesan stated that Mr. Achuthanandan's life was no easy journey. His initials, 'VS', became synonymous with resistance and the fight for justice. As Leader of the Opposition and later Chief Minister, Mr. Achuthanandan was a tall presence in Kerala's public life. 'Mr Achuthanandan added a new and unparalleled socio-political dimension to the role of the Opposition in a parliamentary democracy. No force could rein in him pursuing what he thought right,' Mr. Satheesan added. Mr. Satheesan said Mr. Achuthanandan was in the forefront of the fight for environmental conservation. He remembered the Communist veteran's campaign against Coca-Cola for groundwater conservation in Plachimada in Palakkad. Mr. Satheesan said Mr. Achuthanandan's 'sharp-toungued' criticism of what he perceived as wrong often transcended political boundaries.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Achuthanandan dies at 101; Kerala Guv, CM Vijayan among those who pay tribute
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 21 (PTI) People from various walks of life and across political ideologies condoled the demise of former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan (101), who passed away at a private hospital here on Monday. While Left party leaders and activists reminisced about the influence of 'Comrade VS" in shaping their political lives and ideologies, his political opponents praised his uncompromising stance against corruption, his rare Communist values, and the friendships he maintained beyond politics. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar described Achuthanandan as a 'towering figure" in Indian politics and a stalwart of the Communist movement. His demise marks the end of an era in India's Leftist political history, he said in a condolence message. 'From humble beginnings, he rose to top through hard work, integrity, simplicity, and a lifelong commitment to the marginalised. His contributions to public life and the Left movement will always be remembered with deep respect," Arlekar said. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a detailed condolence message, noted that Achuthanandan was a symbol of a vibrant tradition of struggle, extraordinary determination, and an uncompromising fighting spirit. He said Achuthanandan's century-long life—during which he stood with ordinary people and took up their concerns—is inextricably linked with the modern history of Kerala. 'VS's contributions to leading the Kerala government, the CPI(M), the Left Democratic Front, and the opposition at various stages are unparalleled," he said. The CM added that the demise of VS marks the end of an era and has caused a significant loss to the party, as well as to the revolutionary, democratic, and progressive movements. Senior CPI(M) leaders and ministers, including K N Balagopal, V Sivankutty, and P Rajeeve, along with Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) supremo Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, were among those who offered their condolences soon after Achuthanandan's death was officially confirmed. In a statement, Sivankutty said that the life of Achuthanandan was synonymous with relentless struggles and agitations. 'Achuthanandan fought for the poor, the destitute, and the marginalised," he said. Satheesan stated that while there had been times when he had political clashes with VS, the Marxist veteran never displayed personal animosity or discomfort. 'He became the chief minister of Kerala by earning immense public support. VS had limitations as chief minister, but he never allowed those limitations to hold him back," he said in a statement. Satheesan also recalled how Achuthanandan led various agitations for environmental conservation and stood firmly with protests against water exploitation. Speaking to reporters in Malappuram, Thangal said Achuthanandan was an exceptional Communist who upheld his Leftist ideology and values even after assuming the chief minister's post. 'As both an opposition leader and a chief minister, Achuthanandan always worked closely with ordinary people. We had political differences with him, but as a Communist leader, he was someone who earned universal respect," Thangal said. IUML veteran P K Kunhalikutty also noted that VS had never compromised on the Communist ideology he embraced as a labourer, and that he continued to practise those principles even while serving as chief minister. PTI LGK TGB SSK TGB SSK KH view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 19:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Natesan renews attack on IUML
Kochi: A day after making remarks against the Muslim community that drew sharp criticism from various quarters, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan continued to stir political controversy—showing no signs of backtracking. Speaking at a felicitation event organised by the SNDP Yogam Kochi Union in Palluruthy to mark his 30 years as general secretary, Natesan targeted the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), accusing religious groups and scholars of interfering in the state's governance. Mocking IUML, Natesan said it was ironic that a religious organisation is referred to as a secular party. "Muslim League means a Muslim union; all its members, including MLAs and MPs, are Muslims. Yet they claim to be secular. Jawaharlal Nehru once called the Muslim League a 'dead horse.' Later, Muhammad Koya called it a 'sleeping lion.' He was right. After lying dormant, they united, gained strength and are now an unbeatable force in Kerala," he said. "Today, their announcements can determine who will rule Kerala. Political parties are afraid and trembling. If I say we are living under religious rule rather than in a democracy, what is wrong with that?" Natesan asked. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ACE Nest Yamuna Expressway – Affordable Luxury Awaits Ace Noida Book Now Undo He also claimed he was being unfairly targeted and would continue to speak the truth, even if criticised by religious leaders such as Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar. "Those who speak of caste constantly and work to protect it are calling me casteist. That is the irony," he said. He added that his comments were not against the Muslim community but against religious interference in politics. He also alleged that despite forming a significant part of the population, the Ezhava and Hindu communities are often overlooked by govts and not treated as equal citizens. Opposition leader V D Satheesan strongly condemned Natesan's remarks, urging community leaders to avoid divisive statements. Speaking to the media in Kochi, Satheesan said the SNDP leader's words contradict the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru. "He is promoting ideas the Guru explicitly warned against," Satheesan said, further alleging that Natesan was echoing chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's narrative. "This is a script written by the chief minister himself," he claimed. Speaking at Natesan's a felicitation event. minister V N Vasavan lauded his role in transforming SNDP into a strong organization. BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar also praised Natesan, commending his contributions to both the community and the state.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Satheesan accuses Election Commission of ‘leaking' Kerala voters' list to CPI(M), warns of legal action over poll bias
Kerala's Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan has accused the State Election Commission of acting as 'a tool' of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in connection with the upcoming local body elections. He has warned that if the commission fails to ensure a free and fair election, the United Democratic Front will resort to legal action. Addressing the media in Kannur after inaugurating the handing-over ceremony of documents to 83 landless people in the Kannur Corporation limits on Monday (July 21, 2025), Mr. Satheesan alleged that the draft voters' list was 'leaked' to the CPI(M) ahead of its official publication on July 23 and claimed that the list was tampered with to remove numerous names. 'The time provided, just five days from July 23 to August 7, for the voters to verify and add their names is grossly inadequate,' he said, demanding an extension of at least 30 days. He also criticised the commission for failing to implement a cap of 1,100 voters per booth as was enforced during the General Elections. 'In rural areas, the number has gone up to 1,300, making it impossible to complete voting even by 10 p.m.,' he said, alleging that the move was intended to 'aid the CPI(M) in disrupting the polls.' Mr. Satheesan further claimed that the Election Commission's actions indicated 'clear support for attempts to sabotage the election process.' 'The commission must act independently, without bowing to government pressure,' he said. Mr. Satheesan also questioned the CPI(M)'s 'ambiguous response' to recent remarks by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan. 'Their vague statement confirms our allegations that the Chief Minister is using Vellappally to spread communal narratives. A leader associated with the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru should not utter words that go against his philosophy,' he said. 'Govt-Governor tussle a staged drama' He also criticised the recent stand-off between the State government and the Governor, terming it 'a staged drama' to divert attention from mounting public discontent. 'Both the Governor and the government escalated a trivial issue for days, only to settle it after tarnishing students and universities. These theatrics emerge every time the government face a crisis,' he said. Mr. Satheesan raised questions about the earlier appointment of Mohanan Kunnummal as the Vice Chancellor of the Kerala University of Health University (KUHS) by the same LDF government. 'If he is RSS, why did the government appoint him? Was there a prior understanding with the Sangh Parivar?' he asked. On the controversy surrounding the death of former Kannur ADM Naveen Babu, Mr. Satheesan demanded that the Revenue Minister respond to the latest revelations. Mr. Satheesan dismissed that claims that Youth Congress workers blocked an ambulance at Vithura in Thiruvananthapuram as a 'manufactured lie', citing statements by the deceased's family reportedly asserting that protesters 'had in fact helped the patient into the ambulance.'
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Kerala CM refutes Opposition Leader's charges on Digital University Kerala, defends graphene project and audit procedures
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday (July 25, 2025) issued a strong rebuttal to allegations of financial irregularities and illegal activities at Digital University Kerala (DUK), raised by Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan. In a detailed response, the Chief Minister termed the claims as 'factually incorrect' and defended the State's handling of the university's operations and its flagship Graphene Aurora project. Mr. Satheesan had earlier written to the Chief Minister demanding a Vigilance investigation into alleged corruption. He alleged that the university violated statutory norms and had made unauthorised advance payments to a private company, India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (I-GEIC), which is involved in the Graphene Aurora programme. He also accused faculty members of misusing university infrastructure to float multiple private companies for project implementation, and that the university has not undergone any audit since its inception. Rejecting these claims, Mr. Vijayan termed the allegation that no audits were conducted at DUK as baseless. 'A statutory audit has been carried out. The audit for the financial year 2023–24 has been completed. The university has formally requested the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to undertake further audits. Further steps are awaited from the CAG,' the Chief Minister stated. 'In line with policy, regulations' Addressing the accusations regarding I-GEIC, he elaborated that the formation of the company was in line with the university's declared policy and regulations. 'The claim that advance payments were made illegally is false. The company was formed in compliance with the university's statutes and with prior approval from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology,' he said. Mr. Vijayan also defended the integrity of those involved in the management of I-GEIC. 'The chairman of the company is M. Madhavan Nambiar, a former Secretary of Civil Aviation of the Government of India. Other key members include senior industry professionals formerly associated with Tata Group, such as M.A. Pathan and Kamesh Gupta, as well as Prof. Alex Thomas from the university.' The Chief Minister went on to clarify that the university's regulations encourage faculty entrepreneurial initiatives and support R&D through non-profit entities. Moreover, as a modern university, DUK is expected to generate funding for faculty and research projects independently. Misrepresenting these legitimate activities as corruption is a deliberate distortion, he added. He also accused the Opposition of attempting to tarnish the reputation of transformative projects for 'political gain.'
