Latest news with #Viswam
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala Governor fuelled Bharat Mata row, he must defuse it: Binoy Viswam
The Kerala society 'will not accept' Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who 'studied in a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-run school and became an ideological propagator of the organisation', Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Binoy Viswam has said. Speaking to mediapersons in Alappuzha on Monday, Mr. Viswam said that it was the Governor himself who had ignited the Bharat Mata controversy, and it was his responsibility to defuse it. 'India does not recognise Bharat Mata as a woman draped in saffron, holding a flag and riding a lion. Only those who attend RSS shakhas are familiar with that image. The RSS does not have the authority to impose its version of Bharat Mata. Attempts are being made to display that image not only inside Raj Bhavan but also in universities. Kerala will not accept it,' he said. The CPI leader said the Governor seemed to have forgotten that universities should not be held hostage to any political ideology. 'Bharat Mata is, in fact, the countless men and women who make up India,' Mr. Viswam said. Stating that the Tricolour national flag is 'the true symbol of India', he said that neither the BJP, the RSS, nor the Governor had the right to 'monopolise the slogan Bharat Mata Ki Jai.' Mr. Viswam also warned that filling wetlands and paddy fields at Aranmula would lead to disaster. 'The Left Democratic Front will never implement any project in Kerala that undermines nature and the environment,' he said.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI terms BJP a fascist force, blames Cong. for INDIA bloc's setback
Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Binoy Viswam on Saturday (July 5) said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was a fascist force that drew ideological inspiration from Mussolini and Hitler. Inaugurating the delegates' meeting of the CPI district conference here, he said the party did not doubt the BJP's fascist nature, saying that both the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) openly followed fascist ideals. 'Those who think that the BJP is semi-fascist or neo-fascist are mistaken. The RSS and the BJP follow the fascist path carved out by Hitler and Mussolini,' Mr. Viswam said. Citing the RSS publication Vichara Dhara, Mr. Viswam claimed that the organisation identified Muslims, Christians, and Communists as its primary enemies. 'The central task before Indian political parties today is to resist fascism, and the CPI will lead efforts to unite all democratic forces against it,' he said. He came down on Congress for its 'failure' to uphold the objectives of the INDIA alliance. 'The Congress remains preoccupied with internal matters and lacks the political vision necessary to defeat the BJP. This shortcoming stalled the progress of the alliance,' he said. Mr. Viswam dismissed the Centre's Atmanirbhar Bharat programme as hollow rhetoric, alleging that the call for self-reliance was undermined by a push for foreign direct investment. 'They [the Centre] are handing over the country's economic sovereignty to foreign players while diverting public attention through religious polarisation,' he observed. Warning against rising religious fanaticism, Mr. Viswam said, 'Though religion is a reality in India, fanaticism is unacceptable. When combined with fascist politics, even justice and faith are destroyed.' On internal party discipline, Mr. Viswam stressed that criticism should be confined within the party and not aired on social media. Senior CPI leader K.V. Gangadharan hoisted the party flag. C.P. Shaijan, P. Santhosh Kumar, MP, K.P. Rajendran, and E. Chandrasekharan were present.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Alleged move to ‘delink' BrahMos Thiruvananthapuram unit from parent organisation kicks up row
An alleged move to 'delink' the Thiruvananthapuram unit of BrahMos from the parent BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL), the Indo-Russian missile JV, has cast a pall of uncertainty over an enterprise that was once hailed as a model of Centre-State collaboration. Over the past few weeks, employees at the BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (BATL), situated at Chakka in the State capital, have been concerned over a reported move to separate BATL from BAPL, of which it is a wholly-owned subsidiary. They have sought the urgent intervention of the Kerala government to discourage any move that adversely impacts the future of the unit and jobs. When contacted by The Hindu, BATL managing director A. Joseph said the Thiruvananthapuram unit has not been delinked thus far, but he also did not fully rule out the possibility of such an eventuality. Mr. Joseph went on to add that he was not privy to the discussions taking place at the BAPL headquarters. Employees' unions argue that the Kerala government cannot be kept in the dark about such decisions with respect to BATL as the unit was established in 2007 by transferring the State government-run company Kerala Hi-Tech Industries Ltd (KELTEC) for a token ₹1. Unions allege that the BrahMos management have show utter disregard to the Thiruvananthapuram unit even at a time when Operation Sindoor has demonstrated the might of the BrahMos missile and the demand for its production is on the rise. They also note that BATL has run on a profit over the past 11 years, including a ₹24 crore profit in 2024-25. With the INTUC-led BrahMos Staff Association and the AITUC-backed BrahMos Employees Union conveying their apprehensions over the reported delinking move, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor and CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam, who is also president of the AITUC-led union, have separately appealed to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to urgently intervene to protect the unit. Mr. Tharoor noted in a June 27 letter that 'Employees were recently alarmed to learn - through proceedings at a Board of Directors meeting and the Annual General Meeting of BAPL - that a resolution had been passed to delink BATL from BAPL. This decision was taken without the prior knowledge or consultation of the State government, the employees, or the trade unions, and has been widely perceived as a disregard for the significance of this vital defence manufacturing unit in Kerala.' Mr. Viswam, in a June 4 letter expressed similar sentiment, and urged Mr. Singh to 'investigate this matter.' Both Mr. Tharoor and Mr. Viswam have urged the Defence Minister to allay fears by either retaining BATL under BAPL's structure or reconstituting it as a direct production entity under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). KELTEC, situated on 15.80 acres near the Thiruvananthapuram airport, was transferred to BAPL, a JV of the DRDO and Russian company NPOM, on December 5, 2007. A.K. Antony was Defence Minister at the time in the Congress-led UPA government while Elamaram Kareem was Industries Minister in the LDF government led by V.S. Achuthanandan in Kerala. In connection with the transfer, a March 22, 2007, State Industries Department order observed that the Centre-State collaboration would provide Kerala with its 'first defence production unit.' It would also 'result in additional investments between at least ₹100 crore to ₹200 crore initially and may go up many fold.' Ends
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nilambur bypoll: Binoy Viswam accuses Congress of joining hands with communal parties
Accusing the Congress party of joining hands with parties associated with 'both majority communalism and minority communalism', Communist Party of India (CPI) Kerala State secretary Binoy Viswam has said the results of the upcoming Nilambur byelection will reflect the people's backlash against such tendencies. Speaking to presspersons here on Tuesday (June 17, 2025), Mr. Viswam said the political winds in Nilambur are favourable to the Left Democratic Front and its candidate M. Swaraj. 'The Congress' politics in Kerala revolves around blind hatred for the Left. This leads them to ally with anyone who stands for such anti-Left politics. Kerala has not forgotten the Vadakara-Beypore model that the Congress pioneered years ago, when a party which claims Mahatma Gandhi as its own joined hands with the party of Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Gandhi. The same party is now nurturing minority communalism in Nilambur. History has rejected this brand of politics. The results of this election will be a jolt to the Congress' political base,' said Mr. Viswam. Peace rallies He also said the CPI will be organising peace rallies across Kerala in protest against 'the war-mongering Zionist and imperialist forces who have unleashed death and destruction in West Asia.' The first rally will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening. 'The Communist party has consistently taken a stand against war. The Zionist-imperialist forces have become a threat to world peace. It is the time for the world to unite against the destruction being unleashed in Palestine and Iran,' he said.
The Hindu
08-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Safeguard values of co-operative sector: Binoy Viswam
The cooperative sector must hold fast to its core values of transparency and credibility, CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam warned, cautioning that any deviation from these principles could push the movement into turbulent waters. He was inaugurating the State conference of the Kerala Cooperative Employees Council (KCEC) at Thrissur Town Hall on Sunday. Mr. Viswam noted that while there are continuous attempts to weaken the cooperative sector in the State, the strength of the movement lies in upholding its foundational ethics. He lashed out at the Union government's promotion of Multi-State Cooperative Societies, calling them a deliberate attack on the cooperative sector in the State. 'These entities are designed to undermine the spirit of cooperative sector,' he said, directly accusing the BJP-led Centre and Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah of politicising cooperative institutions for ideological gain. 'The Multi-State model is a weapon aimed at suffocating Kerala's cooperative sector. Like the sword of Damocles, it dangles above us. If it falls, the lifeline of this sector could be destroyed,' Mr. Viswam cautioned, adding that this threat must not be underestimated. Referring to the central agency Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mr. VIswam remarked: 'Everybody has realised that Modi regime's investigative agencies go after money. But regardless of whether the ED comes or not, we must stay true to our path.' He reminded that those involved in cooperative sector must walk the path of transparency and inspire others to do the same. 'There are some who behave as if they have a license to do anything. That mindset is dangerous and unacceptable. We must remember that this sector is essential for our existence,' he pointed out. KCEC State President B. M. Anil hoisted the flag. KCEC State Secretary P. A. Sanjeev presented the martyr's resolution, while State vice president Bindu K. S. moved the condolence motion. The valedictory session was inaugurated by Revenue Minister K. Rajan, with State vice-president Jayakumar presiding.
