Marxist ideologue and former Chief Editor of Deshabhimani, P. Govinda Pillai passed away at KIMS Hospital here at around 11 pm on Thursday. He was 86. He was fondly called PG. A lively figure in the social, political, scientific, literary and intellectual fields of Kerala, Govinda Pillai was admitted to the hospital on November 14 following age-related diseases.
He was born on 25 March 1926 at Pulluvazhi village, Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district as the eldest son of M.N. Parameswaran Pillai and K. Parukuttyamma.
By the time PG joined for his pre-graduation course in the Union Christian College, Aluva, he had developed a serious interest in politics and social affairs. He joined Congress as a student worker and was in the forefront of the Quit India movement which rocked the country in 1941. He became formal member of Communist Party of India in 1946. PG actively participated in All India Student Federation’s activities in Mumbai and courted arrest.
G’s father sent him to the elite St Xavier’s College in Mumbai for graduation. His father’s dream was to see his eldest son as a barrister or an ICS officer and he had plans to send PG to London after his graduation. But after arriving in Mumbai he started associating with the CPI even as he had enrolled for BA (Hons) in Politics in the St Xaviers.
The CPI was banned during the time and at the time of university examinations, PG was inside the Arthur Road prison arrested in connection with certain agitations. Later he was moved to Yervada jail in Pune where his prison mates included Balraj Sahni who subsequently became a prominent cinema actor, Y S R Chari, a top lawyer later, S.S. Mirajkar et al. It was his first arrest and on his release after 16 months PG returned as per party instructions to Kerala without the university degree for which his father sent him to Mumbai.
The split in the party occurred in 1964 when PG was in Delhi and he stood with the CPI (M) even though his close relatives like M.N. Govindan Nair and P.K. Vasudevan Nair remained with the CPI.
He was elected as a member of Thiru-Kochi Assembly in 1954 and later as a member of the Kerala Assembly from 1967-69.
As a journalist, PG worked with New Age, CPI organ in New Delhi in 1954-55. He was the Editor of Peoples’ Publishing House, New Delhi during 1963-64. From 1964 to 1983, he served as Chief Editor of Desabhimani daily, a CPI (M) organ. He was the Kerala Press Academy Chairman from 1980 to ’83. He also served as Editorial Board Member at Chintha weekly during the 1990s.
PG was dropped from the CPI (M) State Committee in 1993 for his sensational interview published in Bhashaposhini in which he made some critical remarks on EMS and the party. He was also divested of his post as general editor of the Collected Works of EMS.
PG has written and spoken widely on the subject of fine arts and served as the Chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation and also as the founder Director of Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT).
His major works include Isangalkkappuram, Viplavaprathibha, Keralam: Oru adhakrtha Samsthanam, Sahithyavum Rashtriyavum, Marxist Soundarya Sasthram: Uthbhavavum Valarchayum, Viplavangalute Charitram, Sahityam: Purogathiyum Adhogathiyum, Poonthanam muthal Simon Vare, Charitrasaasthram; Puthiya Manangal, Bhagvad Gita-Bible-Marxism, Mahabharatham Muthal Marxism Vare, Mar Gregoriosinte Mathavum Marxisavum, Svathanthryathinte Sarvadesiyatha, Agolavalkkaranam, Samskaram, Madhyamam, Kerala navothanam: Mathacharyar, mathanishedhikal, Frederich Engels: Snigdhanaya sahakaari, varshtanaya viplavakari, EMSum Malayala Sahityavum, EMS: A Biography, Mulkraj muthal Pavanan vare.
He has won Sahitya Akademi Award, Swadesabhimani Award, Sankaranarayanan Thampi Award and Press Akademi Award.
PG was a major foreign affairs analyst on television as he used to anchor a popular weekly programme called ‘PG and World’ on the Kairali television channel besides being a regular face on other channels.
PG’s son M.G. Radhakrishnan and daughter R. Parvathi Devi are both journalists. M.G. Radhakrishnan is Special Correspondent at India Today in Thiruvananthapuram. R.Parvathy Devi is working as the Public Relations Officer of Kudumbasree Project in Thiruvananthapuram.
His son-in-law V. Sivan Kutty (Parvathy Devi’s husband) is a CPI (M) leader and legislator from Thiruvananthapuram East and daughter-in-law A. Jayshree is a scientist with the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of the Indian Space Research Organization. He has three grandchildren: Govind Sivan, Tejaswini and Mukulika.
PG’s body was brought to his house at Perunthanny at 12.30 am. The body will be kept there till 12 noon and will be brought to VJT Hall at 4 pm on Friday for the public to pay homage. The body will be cremated with full state honours at Shantikavadam, Thycaud in Thiruvananthapuram at 4 pm on Friday.
6,293 Indians are currently languishing in foreign jails with the maximum of 1,691 being lodged in Saudi Arabia. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, said a total of 6,293 Indians are imprisoned in various countries.
He said 1,012 Indians are lodged in jails in United Arab Emirates followed by 441 in the US, 426 people in United Kingdom, 377 in neighbouring Nepal, 279 in Qatar and 225 in Kuwait.
The number of Indians lodged in Pakistani prisons is 224 while 114 people are languishing in jails in Australia, 167 in Bangladesh, 187 in Malaysia, 52 in Iran and 27 in Afghan prisons.
Indians are also lodged in jails in various other countries including Greece, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Myanmar, Oman, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Khurshid said generally the offences for which Indians land in foreign jails include violation of visa rules such as overstay and illegal entry, non-possession of valid travel documents, economic offences and violation of employment contracts.
"However, there are also a few cases of grave offences like drug trafficking, theft, murder etc. committed by Indian nationals," he said.
The Minister said Indian Missions utilise the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) to provide legal assistance in deserving cases.
Five days before the fourth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the lone captured Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab was executed here on Wednesday morning. The news of Kasab’s hanging at Pune’s Yerwada Jail at 7.30 am came as some sort of closure for the kin of the victims of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist Kasab was hanged till death at the Yerwada Central Prison after telling jail officials that he had no last wish. The Pakistani national was buried inside the Yerwada Jail at 9.30 am, informed Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
Confirming the execution, Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil said, “Today morning at 7.30 am terrorist Ajmal Kasab was hanged. At this moment we remember the martyrs.” Patil said that Kasab was hanged after following due legal procedure.
Doctors present in the jail also checked and confirmed that Ajmal Kasab had died.
Kasab's mercy plea was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee on November 5.
Chavan said that Kasab was shifted to Yerwada Jail from Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai two days back.
The government, rightly, maintained utmost secrecy over its plans considering the sensitivity of the issue.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Pakistan has been informed about Kasab’s execution via fax. The Indian High Commission in Islamabad had informed the Pakistani government about Kasab's hanging through letter but Islamabad refused to take the letter, Shinde added.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the obligation of keeping Pakistan informed about the hanging was fulfilled.
Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who appeared for police in the case, said the hanging is a "victory" for the country.
A group of Shiv Sena workers raised slogans 'Vande Mataram' slogans outside the Yerawada Jail hailing the hanging of Kasab and demanded that similar justice be meted out to Parliament attack case death row convict Afzal Guru.
Kasab had been lodged in the Arthur Jail Road in Mumbai ever since he was arrested immediately after the attack in November 2008. He was convicted and given capital punishment by the trial court on May 6, 2010 which was upheld by the Bombay High Court on February 21, 2011.
The Supreme Court subsequently upheld the sentence on August 29 this year.
Kasab and nine other gunmen entered Mumbai by boat on November 26, 2008. Carrying mobile phones, hand grenades and automatic weapons, they fanned out across Mumbai targeting luxury hotels Taj Mahal and Oberoi Trident, a Jewish centre Chabad House and the city's main train station Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST).
While nine of the terrorists were shot dead, Kasab was captured alive. The November 26-29, 2008 terror siege had claimed 166 lives.
Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the central government for being 'casual' in handling 2G spectrum case before it. Justice Singhvi said that the top most priority of the apex court is to ensure compliance of its February 2012 order by the Department of Telecommunication (DoT).
The Supreme Court slammed the government for not auctioning 32% of the spectrum vacated as a result of 122 licenses being cancelled in February. The court's question assumes significance, given that the 2G spectrum auction last week was a damp squib.
Justice Singhvi went on to say that when government was seeking time; it should have informed the Supreme Court that only a part of the spectrum will be auctioned. Singhvi said that it is unfair on the part of the government to not represent facts correctly.
Refusing to accept the government's affidavit filed by an undersecretary-level officer in the 2G case, SC directed centre to submit one within two days. The submission must happen by the DoT secretary, the court said.
Ticking off the Government for being "very casual" in handling the 2G case, the Supreme Court today said withholding of even 0.1 per cent of spectrum, licenses for which were cancelled, will not be acceptable.
A bench of justices G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishanan also directed the Centre to file a fresh affidavit within two days explaining why all the 2G spectrum was not put on auction on November 12.
Government is very casual in dealing with the matter," the bench said while turning down an affidavit filed by an Under Secretary-level officer on the matter and directed that it must be filed by Secretary of Department of Telecom.
"This affidavit cannot be accepted. It has been filed by Under Secretary officer. Our earlier order clearly said that affidavit must be filed by Secretary-level officer. This is a deliberate action on the part of DoT," the bench said.
"On earlier occasion the court had unequivocally rejected affidavit filed by an Under Secretary. It is unfortunate that the same mistake has been done again. Needful should be done within two days," it said.
The court said that it would hear Centre's stand on auction on Monday but made it clear that withholding of spectrum from being auctioned would not be acceptable.
"Keep in mind that withholding of spectrum, even 0.1 per cent would not be acceptable," the bench said adding that it was never told earlier that the entire 2G spectrum would not be put on auction.
"At no point of time this court was informed that the auction was only for 800 and 1800 MHz band," the bench observed.
It was contended before the court that government has not complied with the apex court's direction and it has withheld 136 MHz spectrum out of 431 MHz in 1800 band.
The apex court had on February 2 cancelled 122 licenses for 2G spectrum and directed the government to allocate the natural resource by auction.
The government had received on November 12 bids worth Rs 9,224.75 crore on the opening day of auction for 2G mobile phone spectrum that drew scant interest due to high base price. The government was hoping to net a minimum revenue of Rs 28,000 crore in the auction.
There was no bidder for pan-India airwaves for which the government had set a base or bid start price of Rs 14,000 crore. Demand was concentrated in select circles like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh (East) and Uttar Pradesh (West).
Government have revised the Dearness Allowance 45% ( 7 % ) to State Government Employees,Teachers etc and Dearness Relief to Pensioners at central rates with effect from 01/07/2012.The D.A at the revised rates will be paid in cash with the salary due for the month of December, 2012 onwards.The arrear for the period from Ol.O7.2Ol2 to 30.11.2012 will be drawn and credited to the PF account of the employee along with the
salary bill for any of the months from December 2Ol2 to June 2013.
For details please click the side link DA 45 % G.O.(PlNo. 614/2o12lFin dt 08.11.2012
R Balakrishna Pillai, Kerala Congress (B) leader staged a dharna in front of the Pathanapuram police station here Sunday alleging that one of his party's workers here was trapped in a police case. He said party local leader Aziz was arrested in connection with fixing of party flex boards and collection of party funds in connection with the inauguration of the party's local office here. He also alleged that his son and state minister K B Ganesh Kumar was acting against the party workers due to various political reasons.
Police registered false cases against many party workers recently following instruction from Ganesh Kumar, and this issue was brought into the notice of Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, he said. A written complaint in this regard was also given to the Home Minister, he added. Following the protest, Aziz was released from the police custody. Tension also prevailed in front of the police station when the supporters of both Balakrishna Pillai and Ganesh Kumar staged protest marches.
Union Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday joined those gunning for Oommen Chandy over the “lack of performance’’ of the UDF Govt.
He has also surprised political circles by heaping praise on the previous Achuthanandan Govt for its role in setting up defence industries in the state.
He said that he does not know who has to be blamed for the state of affairs of the defence projects in the state. “Ministership can go at any time. During the time of the LDF Government, I had only decided on a few projects. The rest of it was taken care of by the then government. I received unstinted support during the tenure of the government from 2007-2011. Whenever I see Oommen Chandy and Kunhalikutty I remind them about the need for new projects,” he said.
He said he had derived wholehearted support from the then Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and the then Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem in bringing defence projects to the state but the scenario was different now. “The situation in the state for the past one-and-a- half years has not been so productive,” he stated.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Missile Integration Complex at BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd.
Expressing his strong displeasure in the presence of Oommen Chandy, Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty and others, including Elamaram Kareem, Antony also said he lacks the courage to bring in new projects to the state now.
“Till 2011, six defence establishments were set up in the state during the tenure of the LDF Govt. But for the past two years, I’ve not done any home work for a new project. In fact, I now lack the courage to do anything owing to the existing scenario,’’ Antony said.
“Oommen Chandy is a good friend of mine. But I don’t have the courage to think about new projects in the state,” he said.
“There are many blocks. They have to be removed. If there is none to argue for me, why should I take the pain,’’ he asked in an apparent reference to trade unions, including the INTUC, turning their ire on him on various issues related to the ambitious Brahmos Aerospace.
“Without your guarantee, on what basis I should try for central projects in the state,” he asked.
Patting the former V S Achuthanadan government for its support for defence projects, Antony said in a lighter vein that had he been a language wizard, he would have hailed that government much more.
Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor, state ministers Shibu Baby John and V S Sivakumar and Mayor K Chandrika were also present.
Soon after Antony’s barrage, George Mercier, ex-MLA and president of the INTUC unit in BrahMos Aerospace, which was in the forefront of a united agitation with leftist TUs against the management and which boycotted the function, resigned from the post.
The management had drawn flak for barring the media from covering the function.
Seizing on the sharp criticism by Defence Minister A K Antony of Congress-led UDF government in Kerala, CPM stalwart V S Achuthanandan Thursday taunted Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, asking him to introspect whether he should remain in office after getting such a "certificate" from his senior colleague.
Targeting the Chandy government at a function at the BrahMos unit here Wednesday, Antony had regretted the atmosphere in the state was not conducive for bringing defence sector projects.
Causing deep embarrassment to Chandy and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty, who were present, Antony went on to say the situation was much better during previous LDF government, headed by Achuthanandan, and he had received total support from it in his endeavour to bring several projects to Kerala.
UDF Convener P P Thankachan, however, sought to play down Antony's comments arguing what the senior leader had in mind was concern about trade union activities in defence production units.
In his usual acerbic tongue, Achuthanandan asked Chandy whether he would remain in office after the critical comments from his party senior.
"This certificate has come from a person who is occupying the second slot in the Union Cabinet. Would Chandy display that around his neck and continue in office? Let him decide," the former state chief minister told reporters here.
Antony's remarks were interpreted by political circles and the local media as a clear expression of displeasure at the way ruling UDF had been conducting the state's affairs in the last one and half years.
Thankachan, however, said much politics need not be read into Antony's remarks as he could be referring to the trade union troubles at the BrahMos unit in Kerala capital.
The unions at BrahMos, including those affilated to pro-Congress INTUC, had been at loggerheads with the management of BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd.
The Indo-Russion missile production unit was set up here in 1998 after the central take over of a loss-making state enterprise.
A special investigation team re-probing the political murders in Idukki has issued a notice to CPM leader M M Mani to present himself for a polygraph test at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram within 10 days.
The notice was issued on Sunday in connection with the Anchery Baby murder case. Besides Mani, notices were also issued to three others, O G Madanan, M K Damodaran and Kuttan.
Head of the investigation team and inspector-general of police (Kochi range) K Padmakumar said the polygraph test was necessary for gathering vital information in the case.
The SIT decided to go for polygraph tests after the accused had denied role in Baby's murder. Baby, then a 28-year-old INTUC worker, was murdered on November 13, 1982.
"They need to undergo the tests. If they refuse, police will opt for all legally available means to get the tests done," police sources said.
Cases were registered against former secretary of CPM's Idukki unit Mani and others for allegedly abetting political murders in that district during the 1980.
Mani, in a sensational speech in Thodupuzha on May 26, had listed out the murders, saying one was shot dead, another beaten to death, and a third person fatally stabbed. All three deceased were CPM's political opponents.
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M M Mani said that he will accept investigating officials notice to appear for the polygraph test in connection with Ancheri Baby murder case, tomorrow. He said that a decision on further proceedings will be taken after discussing with legal experts.
Apart from Mani, notice will be sent to Udumbanchola native Kainakari Kuttan, O G Madanan and A K Damodaran.
The Kerala High Court today issued notices to the Union and state governments on a plea seeking a direction to them to take necessary steps to facilitate completion of Kochi Metro Rail project by DMRC within a stipulated time.
The petitioner, Balachandran, who had filed a plea earlier, had withdrawn it after the court observed that unnecessary statements in the petition should be avoided.
When the fresh petition came up before a division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A M Shaffique, they admitted it and ordered issue of notices.
According to the petitioner, DMRC Chairman Sudhir Krishna is also the KMRL chairman. Officials who are holding important posts in DMRC are directors of KMRL as well.
Virtually both the organisations are one and under the central government, he contended.
During the consideration of the earlier petition, Advocate General K P Dandapani had said there were 'unfounded' allegations which should be removed, following which the petition was withdrawn.
The first-ever National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to MBBS and BDS courses across the country which is intended to be held on May 5 next year is at risk. The self-financing managements in Kerala have started to organize themselves and sabotage the first single entrance test.
The move is to propagate rumour that there is error in NEET for PG courses which is to be carried out by the National Board of Examinations, thereby trying to earn benefits for Kerala.
One of the rumours is that candidates from Kerala who have registered for appearing NEET for PG courses will be made ineligible and that about 1500 candidates will not get examination centres.
Other rumour is that candidates will have to go to other states like Jammu Kashmir, Assam, Gujarat and UP to write the exams.
Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadia has compared chief minister Narendra Modi to a monkey, prompting the ruling BJP to file a complaint against him with the Election Commission.
Modhwadia also went on to equate Manmohan Singh with a lion and said that a monkey sitting on the top of a tree is trying to challenge the lion, hinting at the chief minister without taking his name.
"Modi doesn't have anything to say about what he had done for Gujarat in the past so many years, but every now and then he will blame Soniaji and Manmohan Singh and even challenge the PM to fight elections against him from Gujarat," Modhwadia said at a poll rally in Junagadh yesterday.
"He is like a monkey who is challenging the king of jungle to a duel from the top of a tree. He should know where he stands. King of jungle will not climb the tree but the monkey will have to come down to the land some time," he added.
BJP today filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Modhwadia for breach of model code of conduct over the remark.
"On the basis of media reports we have filed a complaint against Arjun Modhwadia and submitted the video footage too," BJP leader Parendu Bhagat said here.
BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad described Modhwadia's jibe at Modi as "very unfortunate".
"I donnt to give importance to such-substandard statement by commenting on it. It is for Congress to anwser if such comments about a popular chief minister like Narendra Modi suits a senior Congress leader," Prasad added.
Targeting Modi further, Modhwadia also said "If our Prime Minister goes to the US, (US President) Obama will come to receive him at the airport. But our man (Modi) is not even given visa to enter that country". The US had denied Modi visa in the aftermath of 2002 Gujarat riots.
Public transport in Kerala is set to get dearer with the cabinet on Tuesday giving green signal to hike in fares of state-run and private buses, autos and taxis following increased diesel prices.
The passengers travelling on buses will now have to pay Rs 6 as minimum fare. The concessional charges for students have also been raised. The minimum fare for students has increased by 1 Re. Commuters will have to shell out more for travelling in taxi and auto-rickshaw.Autos from Rs 12 to Rs 15 and that of taxi from Rs 60 to 100. The bus fare was last hiked on August 8, 2011.Fast Passenger increased from 7 to 8, Super Fast 10 to 12 ,Super Express 15 to 17.
The report submitted by amicus curiae Gopal Subramanyam appointed by the Supreme Court said all eyes are on the assets of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The report judging the present situation of the temple has been handed over to the court.
All vaults of the temple should be strengthened and security should be tightened. ‘A’ vault should be strengthened with immediate effect and Rs 81 lakhs has been earmarked for it by the amicus curiae. Two-thirds of the expenses should be borne by the government and the remaining by the temple authorities.
The report said the purity of the temple is not being maintained. A member of the royal family should be in charge of the day to day affairs of the temple. The condition of the temple kitchen and the Padmatheerthakkulam is deplorable. Steps should be taken to clean the two.
The report said the panel to execute the functioning of the temple is not up to the mark.
The Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction following the report of the amicus curiae. The case will be considered again on December 12.
The apex court-appointed expert committee, meanwhile, said that the whole process of unearthing the assets and its valuation would be completed by June 1 next year.
The temple has six vaults, most of which are underground and are filled with priceless articles. During preparation of its inventory recently by the apex court-appointed panel, five of these vaults were opened, leaving out one chamber, called 'vault B'.
The apex court had appointed expert committee for scientifically documenting the priceless temple's treasure. The panel comprises experts from ISRO, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), the Centre for Earth Sciences Studies and top officials of the Kerala police. The sprawling temple, an architectural splendour in granite, was rebuilt in its present form in the 18th century by the Travancore Royal House, which ruled southern Kerala and some adjoining parts of Tamil Nadu before integration of the princely state with Indian Union in 1947. Even after independence, the temple continued to be governed by a trust controlled by the erstwhile royal family, to whom Lord Padmanabha (Vishnu in reclining posture) is their family deity.
Congress-led ruling UDF Monday asked the government to remove a controversial clause in the recent State Devaswom Board Ordinance which made it mandatory for Hindu MLAs to declare 'they are believers in god' for participating in the election of a nominee to temple boards from their electoral college.
CPM leaders and MLAs of opposition LDF had staged a sit-in before the Raj Bhavan recently urging the Governor to reject the ordinance holding that the move was "unconstitutional'.
Addressing a press conference after a day-long meeting of UDF liaison committee at nearby Kovalam, Front Convener P K Thankachan said even some Front leaders also opposed the clause and wanted it to be dropped.
However, he said LDF which has more Hindu MLAs than the ruling coalition should also reciprocate in a just manner for selecting a god-fearing person.
The Cabinet can nominate two persons to the three-member boards in Travancore, Cochin and Malabar Devaswom Boards and so, the decision would not lead to any problem in the Boards functioning, he said.
The amendment in its original form would mean that even CPM and CPI MLAs would have to declare that they "believed in God" in case they want to force a contest for choosing one nominee each for boards which manage most of the temples across the state.
The Government has been under pressure to re-constitute three Deveswom Boards next month, especially the Travancore Devaswom Board, as the annual pilgrimage season of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple is to begin in mid-November.
