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March 2003
Director Vinayan recommends right way for Mamootty. by Galatta
Monday, March 31, 2003
http://www.galatta.com/entertainment/livewire/malayalam/livewire.asp Director Vinayan appreciates the excellent performance of actor Mamootty in movie 'Valliyettan'. His character in 'Valliyettan' was appropriate for his age and maturity. If Mamootty continues his roles similar to his role in 'Valliyettan', it would be better for his own carrier in the film industry and also he could restore his image in the present competiting field. Vinayan criticises Mamotty's makeup in movie 'Cronic Bachelor' and he urges that director Siddique should have taken steps to shape Mamootty's personality suiting his age and character. Moreover Vinayan bought rights for tamil movie 'Muthal Mariyathai' which was a grand success and planned to set Mamootty in actor Shivaji's role. But Mamootty disagreed in the matter of Dressing and makeup thinking that he may lose his image in the industry. But if Mamootty acts in movies like 'Muthal Mariyathai', possibilities are there only to improve his image unlike his roles in movies like 'Phantom Paily' and 'Chronic Bachelor'. For more movie news: http://www.galatta.com/entertainment/livewire/malayalam/livewire.asp
prolonged war would hit Kerala economy hard: Ex-state minister
Monday, March 31, 2003
DOHA: The Kerala economy, which relies heavily on remittances from the Gulf, would be hit hard if the war situation in the Gulf gets prolonged according to K E Ismail, former revenue minister of Kerala and a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI). Ismail, who was in Doha on a personal visit, left for Kerala last evening. There is no justification for this war, which has been waged in the interest of a world superpower. If the war gets prolonged it would affect life in the the whole region, and consequently the lives of of the expatriate communities here. The low-income groups, who form about 90 per cent of the Keralites in the Gulf, would be among the worst hit, Ismail said. Ismail strongly criticised the decision of Air-India and Indian Airlines to keep their fares to Indian destinations high in the current situation. He urged the Kerala government to take up the issue with the central government on an emergency basis. This is the least the government can do to support the thousands of low-income Keralites here, he said. On the political situation back home, Ismail said the opposition parties, including CPI had welcomed the proposal of the National Human Rights Commission to launch a CBI inquiry into the controversial police action against the Adivasis (tribals) in Muthanga. The Commission has rejected the state government’s report on the incident saying that it was not credible. This is a great set back for the government which has been refusing the opposition demand to launch a judicial inquiry into the incident, Ismail said. He said when he was revenue minister, a bill was introduced by the former LDF government, with the support of all political parties, to distribute forest land to Adivasis. The bill proposed to give a minimum one acre of land to each Adivasi family. Accordingly thousands of acres of land were distributed to Adivasis in Wynad, Kannur and some other districts, he said. He said: Chief Minister A K Antony, who strongly supported the bill at that time, has now unleashed a brutal attack against the poor Adivasis.
Saudia begins direct flight to Kochi
Monday, March 31, 2003
Kochi: The first direct flight from Kerala to the Saudi capital of Riyadh was flagged off today from the Kochi International Airport marking operation of the Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) in the Kerala - Gulf sector. Kochi is the fourth Indian destination of Saudia, the other being Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. The company has been permitted to carry 8,500 passengers per week from India under a reciprocal arrangements between the two countries. Saudia will be operating two flights each a week (Tuesdays and Sundays) in the Kochi-Riyadh sector which will be increased to three from the coming winter schedule. Saudia is the sixth foreign airline company to be operated from the Kochi airport at Nudumbassery. Speaking at an airport function marking commencement of the flight, State Minister for Tourism and Fisheries K.V. Thomas said the Sri Lankan airlines would begin operation from Kochi on April 22. He said talks were on for connecting Kochi with Kuala Lumpur, Jakharta and Bangkok by operating flights via Chennai. Agreement had been reached for operation of flights between Jaipur and Kochi via Goa, he added. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) Mananging Director V.J. Kurian called upon Saudia to make it daily its service in the Kochi-Gulf sector. He said CIAL, which operates the airport, would be making profit from the next fiscal.
MT gets Antharjanam award
Monday, March 31, 2003
Considering the contributions made by MT Vasudevan Nair in the field of literature, he was awarded the Lalithambika Antharjanam award. The Award consists of Rupees 30000, memento and certificate. The award for the upcoming writer was given to AS Priya for her work 'Marangalkku Chuttilum'. The Award consists of Rupees 5001, memento and certificate. ONV Kurup headed the award committee. P Govinda pilla, Parumpadam Sreedharan, Sara Thomas and Johnny Lukkas were the members. The Lalithambika Antharjanam trust is giving the award.
Typhoid in Kochi
Monday, March 31, 2003
KOCHI MARCH 30. Sayeeda Abdul Rehman of Eeraveli is in the Fort Kochi Government Hospital nursing her grandson Amjad who has contracted typhoid. Amjad's mother is also a victim of the disease. Earlier, another grandchild of Sayeeda was hospitalised with typhoid. There is at least one person or the other in the locality who is down with typhoid throughout the year. Typhoid has become endemic to West Kochi. At any particular time of the year, there are a few cases of typhoid in the area. Such has been the situation for the last 6-7 years. With the disease continuing to cause some real problems for the health authorities and an irritant to Kochi Corporation and the Kerala Water Authority, many feel that it is likely that very soon businesses will also get affected. Fish exports from the area and tourism are the major businesses here and both face a threat from the endemic typhoid here. If the authorities do not wake up, there is every possibility that the place may face an embargo on fish exports and tourism to the area be curtailed by international agencies, say observers. In 1995, there were a total of 450 cases, in 1996 there were only 98. But it increased to 275 cases in 1997 and 446 in 1998 taking the form of an epidemic in 1999 with 1,030 cases. The number of cases came down to 795 in 2000 and in 2001 there were 810 cases. After campaigns and a drive against the disease, not just by the District Medical Officer, but by various other organisations in the area like a business chamber and medical professionals' association the cases did come down drastically in 2002 to 142. This year till now a total of 60 cases have been reported with 30 in January, 14 in February and 15 cases in March till today. Water shortage, lack of hygiene and awareness regarding the spread of the bacteria are the basic reasons for this disease becoming endemic to the region. "It is not as if the people do not understand what has to be done, the awareness campaign is simply not being done properly,'' says B. Rajendran, Medical Director of West Side Hospital, where quite a few cases of tyhoid are treated throughout the year. There are instances in which campaigns taken up by `ayalkootams' have become successful, he adds. It is not enough to just distribute notices. "Women who are more practical about daily routines have to be told personally what should be done and what should be avoided,'' explained Dr. Rajendran. Suneeta Jalal and Manaf are neighbours who have a severely blocked drain right behind their house. Nobody cleans up this drain, they say. People come and distribute chlorine tablets here but this place is never cleaned up, they add. Says the District Medical Officer, K.T. Remani, "we make house visits, take awareness classes which have made people more informed.'' Local residents say that there are some activities by Government agencies at times but there is no continuation of any programme. There is no follow up. The disease transmits through the oral-faecal route and one gets its by taking contaminated food or water. Another lacuna lies in the treatment of the disease. Points out the former DMO and paediatrician, K. Sivadas, the disease spreads through food handlers - mostly women at home. The bacteria Salmonella typhi resides in the gall bladder of the carriers. Since the carriers do not show any symptoms of the disease they will continue to transmit the disease even if it is controlled in its epidemic form, said Dr. Sivadas. After a gap of 4-5 years it may again take the form of an epidemic, he added. According to Dr. Sivadas, the vaccine prescribed today is not just expensive costing Rs. 280 but provides only 80 per cent protection. It also cannot be given to children below 2 years.
Internet cafes to remain closed
Monday, March 31, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Internet cafes all over the state would remain closed for 12 hours on Monday in protest against the union budget proposal to impose 8% service tax on internet cafes and the announcement of a hike in telephone tariffs by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. In a statement here, the state president of the Internet Café and DTP owners Association of Kerala S S Manoj said that the TRAI decision to reduce the 3-minute pulse to 2 minute would hit internet users.
Eminent Malayalam movie and stage actor Premachandran is dead
Monday, March 31, 2003
THRISSUR: Malayalam movie and stage actor Premachandran has died after a brief illness in a hospital in Thrissur. He was 55 and is survived by his wife and son. He was a strong, though understated, presence in the Malayalam professional theatre and has thrice been chosen best actor. His performances in 'Ningalenne Communistakki' (new version), 'Soothradharan' and 'Othello' have been particularly acclaimed. Premachandran also acted in some movies including 'Ente Neelakasam'. He was active in Malayalam serials being aired by different television channels. Premachandran is the son of Bharat Award-winning movie and stage actor, Premji, and is the brother of Asianet Associate Editor, Neelan.
"the current war is totally unjust and immoral"-Suresh Gopi
Monday, March 31, 2003
DOHA: Malayalam film superstar Suresh Gopi, while expressing his strong anti-war sentiments to the media yesterday, said the ongoing attacks on Iraq are totally unjustifiable and tantamount to an aggression against the whole humanity. Gopi was in Doha yesterday to open the the new outlet of Super Star Video, a leading video shop in Doha that was destroyed in the Souq Hamad fire late last month. A large crowd gathered in front of the video shop, located near Souq Falah last evening to have a look at their favourite action hero. K E Ismail, the former revenue minister of Kerala, who is currently visiting Qatar, was also present at the inaugural ceremony. Speaking at a press conference after the function, Gopi said the plight of the Keralites affected by the fire had prompted him to come all the way from Kerala to inaugurate the shop. His first-ever stage show in the Gulf was organised in Doha by the Super Star Video, he recalled. Commenting on the war, Gopi said he was among those who had supported the first Gulf War to liberate Kuwait and condemned the September 11 attacks in the US. But the current war is totally unjust and immoral because it is aimed at bringing a whole nation to subjugation and gain control over the wealth of a people and a region. One can not simply remain indifferent over what is happening now. I hope the fury and prayers of thousands of innocent people all over the world would ultimately bring this injustice to an end, Gopi said. Gopi said, his career as a film actor was only a passing phase in his life and he found more satisfaction in social work. Asked whether he had any plans to enter politics, the ace actor said: Even I can’t predict what course my life would take in the future. It may be politics, spirituality or something else. I have been led by a force which is beyond my control. But I had always been in social work and I enjoy living among the people, he added. The actor also solemnly refused to disclose his plans with regard to film acting. I am looking for something extraordinary. But I can’t say what it is, he said. Gopi cited several examples from Indian politics to show that film actors can become successful politicians. He laughed off criticism that Malayalam superstars were responsible for a crisis being faced by the Malayalam film industry. There is no crisis in Malayalam films. If there are good films there will be people to watch them, he said. On the Adivasi issue in Kerala, Gopi said the tribals (Adivasis) should be considered as an integral part of the forest eco-system. He urged the CPI (M) which is currently leading an agitation against the police action in Muthanga, to launch a struggle to recover the large areas of forest land occupied by non-Adivasis in the state. Gopi left for Dubai last evening.
CBI probe: Karunakaran asks if state has approached Centre
Sunday, March 30, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader K Karunakaran on Saturday sought to know whether the UDF Government had formally taken up with the Centre its decision to go in for a CBI inquiry into the police action on the agitating adivasis at Muthanga in Wayanad district last month. "Have you enquired whether the state has asked the Centre to urgently conduct a CBI probe?," Karunakaran, who returned here from Delhi, asked reporters at the airport while replying to questions. About the Chief Minister AK Antony's contention that the Congress high command had endorsed the decision to go for CBI probe, he said "I don't believe that is entirely correct." Expressing doubts whether the Central leadership was in full grasp of the gravity of the Muthanga incident, he said "I do not know. I haven't asked. I don't think that the central leadership is in the grasp of full gravity of the incident." He, however, said a CBI probe would be welcome, if it could help bring out the truth.
CPI-M to boycott American products
Sunday, March 30, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI-M State Secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said US products should be boycotted as part of the campaign against the US attack on Iraq. Talking to reporters here on Saturday after a two-day state committee meeting, Vijayan said a final shape to the boycott of American product programme would be taken at the anti-war convention to be held at Kochi on March 31. He said party's suggestion was that US products commonly available should be boycotted. Anti-war rallies would be held in all district head quarters on March 31, he said.
CPI-M to demand land for landless tribals
Sunday, March 30, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala unit of the CPI-M has decided to launch an agitation under the banner of 'Adivasi Kshema Samathi' for making land available to the landless tribals in the state, party sources said on Saturday. Talking to reporters after a two-day party state committee meeting, party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the land issue was the main problem encountered by the tribals in the state and that their party would launch the stir by occupying the lands that could be distributed amongst the tribals from April 21. An Adivasi Convention would also be held as part of the stir at Kozhikode on April 16, he said. Vijayan alleged that Congress had always been deceitful towards the cause of tribals, which led to the Muthanga incident in which police had to resort to firing. Demanding a judicial probe into the "atrocities" meted out to LDF workers during the SP office march on March 17, Vijayan said it was the responsibility of the Government to bring out the truth. Criticising Chief Minister AK Antony for justifying police action on LDF leaders, Vijayan alleged that the police acted with the knowledge and consent of the Chief Minister. As part of LDF campaign to expose "police atrocities' and omissions of the UDF Government, three zonal rallies would be held from April 7 to 12, he said.
Jayalalitha to open anti-conversion meet in Kerala
Saturday, March 29, 2003
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa would inaugurate the first meet of the 'Vishala Hindu Sahakarana Munnani' in Kottayam on May 10, according to SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappalli Natesan. The Munnani is still in the conceptual stage, Natesan told an English daily in Kochi on Friday. The Munnani will fight against the hegemony of power lobbies belonging to the 'organised religious groups' in the state. The Munnani would also launch strident campaign in Kerala against religious conversions. Natesan's initiative to from a joint platform of Hindu organisations in the state resulted in the formation of Vishala Hindu Sahakarana Munnani. Jayalalithaa was apparently invited for the meet, as she is the first Chief Minister in South India to pass an anti-conversion Bill. Anti- conversion movement is going to be one of the major planks of the Munnani. Jayalalithaa was expected to make a call for passing an anti-conversion law in Kerala, in her inaugural address, Natesan said. The SNDP Yogam general secretary has been meeting representatives of Various Hindu organisations in the state for forming a broad alliance. He said that as of now the Munnani has representation of 26 backward and forward communities. He said that though the Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary P K Narayana Panickker had refused to cooperate with the Vishala Hindu Munnani, several grass-roots workers of the NSS had been cooperating with the Munnani.
CPM to intensify Adivasi stir
Saturday, March 29, 2003
The CPI [M] State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has demanded a judicial enquiry into the police firing and lathicharge on LDF workers during the agitation over Muthanga issue. Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, the CPM Secretary said that the party state committee has decided to intensify the Adivasi agitation in the state. Pinarayi informed that a statewide convention on April 16 would decide the future course of the agitation. He accused the Chief Minister A K Antony of cheating the tribals. In order to counter the Kerala Raksha Yatra launched by the UDF, the CPM would organise three zonal meetings in the state during April. Senior leaders E K Nayanar, Pinarayi Vijayan and V S Achutanandan would address the rallies. The CPM State committee also deplored the US-UK war on Iraq and decided to launch an anti-war campaign in the state.
Honorary D.Litt for Yesudas
Saturday, March 29, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Renowned singer K J Yesudas was on Friday conferred a D.Litt degree by Kerala University for his contribution to music. The degree was conferred on him at a special convocation ceremony by State Governor Sikhander. A large number of people from all walks of life and students were present during the function.
CBI probe into Muthanga welcomed by all: Antony
Saturday, March 29, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony on Friday indicated that the Congress High Command has endorsed the UHF government's decision to seek a CAI inquiry into last month's police action against agitating tribals at Muthanga in Wayanad district. "Everybody has welcomed the decision to seek a CBI probe as suggested by the National Human Rights Commission," Antony told reporters at the airport here on his return from Delhi. He, however, said he could not air publicly the details of the discussions he had with the AICC president Sonia Gandhi. Even the opposition had welcomed the decision to go for a CBI probe when they withdrew their agitation over the Muthanga incident. About the possibility of BJP using video-tapes of Muthanga incident as a campaign tool in Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, Antony said "I don't think that they will get any benefit out of it." On senior leader K Karunakaran's observation that in the wake of NHRC's rejection of the government's report on Muthanga incident Antony was facing a situation similar to what he faced after a High Court observation in the Rajan case in 1970s, the Chief Minister said "Karunakaran is the seniormost leader in the party and as such he has unlimited freedom to air his views openly."
Traders in Kerala to to observe business hartal on Mar 31 and Apr 1
Saturday, March 29, 2003
Ernakulam Merchants' Union has decided to observe 'business hartal' on March 31 and April 1 demanding amendments in the VAT law by taking into consideration the suggestions of various business organisations. L A Joshy, its President, said the VAT was passed without having any discussions on it. VAT if implemented would adversely affect the business community and the consumers, he said. Taking into consideration the nature of perishable goods, vegetable and fruit merchants have been allowed to observe hartal only on April 1, he said. Though the government had postponed the implementation of VAT in the state, the business community are in a state of fear as the law would be implemented at any time he said and emphasised the need for bringing in amendments to the law for the survival of the business community.
KSRTC to introduce satellite tracking to improve fleet efficiency
Saturday, March 29, 2003
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will employ GSM technology for tracking long distance buses. Transport Minister R Balakrishna Pillai has said the GSM system, developed by the Electronics Research and Development Corporation (ER & DC), would help track speed, direction and position of the buses. This would enable the authorities to rush help in the event of an accident or break down of a vehicle. The Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation will fund the project, he said. Pillai said the KSRTC would augment its fleet by inducting another 1000 buses by March 2004. The Minister appealed to the private bus operators to call off their proposed one-day strike on April 1 demanding fare hike as discussions were scheduled for April 10.
Private bus operators in Kerala will go on indefinite strike from April 1
Saturday, March 29, 2003
Private bus operators will go on an indefinite strike from April 1 to press for various demands submitted to the government. The decision had been taken at the state council meeting of the Associaion on March 22. K A Makkarkunju, general secretary, Ernakulam district Private Bus Operators Association, said despite several representations to the government to help them to run the bus services, the government had not taken any step in this regard. He said the private bus service which caters to the needs of 85 percent of people for transportation are already facing problems and the frequent hike in diesel prices had put the sector in a tight corner. Among their demands includes increasing bus fare, to bring changes in the present student concession system, no new bus permit should be given until routes were formulated and withdrawal of increased taxes, fine and fees. Alleging that despite several representations to the government no action had been taken to help the private bus operators he said adding by introducing new orders the government was harassing the bus operators.
Sensorship is negation of freedom of expression -Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Saturday, March 29, 2003
Well known director Adoor Gopalakrishnan has said film censorship amounts to negation of freedom of expression, but ironically the film industry seems to favour its continuance as an excuse for showing vulgarity. "It is ironic that even if the government is willing to do away with censorship, the industry seems reluctant to dismantle the system. Under the cover of consorship certificate the industry could exhibit whatever they want," Adoor said inaugurating a seminar on freedom of the press at Thiruvananthapuram. It had often been the experience that censor certificates would come in the way of people approaching the court against vulgar and offending things in film, he said inaugurating the seminar organized by the Kesari Memorial Journalists Trust. An unfettered press was an integral component of a healthy democracy. The rulers in a democracy should acknowledge this and create an atmosphere in which the press could function without hitches. The speakers at the seminar expressed deep concern at growing incidents of repression of journalists in the state, especially in the wake of the Muthanga incident. Former Vice-chancellor of Kerala University G B Thampy, senior journalists K G Parameswaran Nair, S R Sakthidharan and John Mundakayam spoke. KUWJ district president K Kunhikannan presided.
SSLC examinations in Kerala conclude; results on May 20
Saturday, March 29, 2003
The student community and parents in Kerala have heaved a sigh of relief as the SSLC examinations have concluded. About 586,000 students attended the examinations held in centres across the state and a few overseas. The examinations began on March 12. The results are expected to be announced on May 20. Two hartals that affected transport in the state had caused concern for the parents and students. In fact, the some students missed the examinations in spite of the assurance of the hartal sponsors that students would not be stopped. The government allowed the students who could not make it to examination centres on the hartal day to give those examinations on another day.
Engineers of Kallada Irrigation Project sentenced to jail term, fine in corruption case
Saturday, March 29, 2003
Special Judge and Enquiry Commissioner N K Balakrishnan has sentenced a former Superintending Engineer to six years' rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 500,000 in a case relating to irregularities in the execution of Kallada Irrigation Project. The Vigilance Judge also sentenced an Executive Engineer in the same case to one year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000. The setenced officials are: K K Philip, Superintending Engineer, and P Ramakrishnan, then Executive Engineer. Out of the three accused in the case, the second accused, contractor M Y Abraham, had died. The prosecution case was that the accused conspired and committed corruption by showing an inflated estimate for the construction of the Left bank canal of the Kottiyam circle forming part of the Kallada Irrigation Project. This is the fourth case connected with the irregularities in the construction of the Kallada irrigation project. Fifty eight more cases of irregularities with regard to the Kallada Irrigation project are pending before the vigilance court for disposal.
KCBC says it will launch a stir against new liquor shops
Saturday, March 29, 2003
The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Conference (KCBC) has said it will not allow the newly permitted liquor and toddy shops to run. The KCBC anti-liquor samithi general secretary Fr Paul Karanchira said in Thrissur the government has licensed 129 more shops in flagrant violation of promises given in the UDF election manifesto. He said that the UDF had made it clear in its election manifesto in 2001 that if it came to power it would implement total prohibition in phases. He alleged that the UDF government led by A K Antony was encouraging a 'liquor-culture' in the state by granting new toddy and liquor shops without any yardstick. He said that a mass 'fast' and 'prayer' would be held in front of the Thrissur Corporation Office under the joint auspices of the district anti-liquor front and KCBC anti-liquor samithi on March 31 to protest against the government's abkari policy for 2003-2004.
Online booking of railway tickets enabled in ten centres in Kerala
Saturday, March 29, 2003
Online reservation of Railway tickets, having proved a huge success with a 33 per cent monthly increase, will now be extended to 35 destinations in the country by the middle of April. Adding up to the list of 16 centres in the country so far, the system was launched in 10 towns in Kerala with Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur going online on Thursday. The system was launched at Thiruvananthapuram by V Sriram, the Group General Manager of (South) of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which is developing and implementing e-commerce for the Railways. Sriram said online reservation, launched in August 2002, has been a huge success with more than 250,000 tickets sold so far at a daily average of about 2000 tickets. About 60 per cent of total business was contributed by the four southern states and in view of the advanced literacy rate and better personal computer density, 10 towns in Kerala were hooked to the facility.
Ommen Chandy claims UDF campaign shows popular opinion against CPM
Saturday, March 29, 2003
UDF Convenor Oommen Chandy has said the people's response against the CPM's cult of political violence was evident during his 'yatra' across the state. Talking to reporters at Pathanamthitta, Chandy said the state-wide campaign launched by the UDF against the "destructive propensities" of the CPM would tantamount to a referendum on the development strategy of the Antony Government. The pro-UDF response of the masses indicated their awareness about the "nefarious designs" of the CPM, he said. On senior Congress leader K Karunakaran's comment on the purpose of the "campaign", Mr Chandy said while the marches which began from Kasaragod were explicity against the UDF government, the present one was supportive of the government. He said the campaign was launched only after discussions with KPCC President K Muraleedharan and all other leaders concerned. Replying to questions about the threat posed by cheaper Sri Lankan spices flooding the Indian market as a fall-out of the WTO regime, he said the State government would take up the issue with the Centre to protect the local farmers' interests. In response to a question on the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department's "failure" to give proper relief to Keralities toiling in the Gulf countries, Mr Chandy said if specific complaints were received, the Government would intervene to take urgent corrective measures. KPCC vice-president M I Shanawaz, General Secretary Rajmohan Unnithan, MLAs Joseph M Puthussery, E T Muhammed Basheer, N A Khader and Kuttan Nair were present at the press meet. Earlier, Transport Minister R Balakrishna Pillai inaugurated the meeting held in connection with the reception accorded to the Oomen Chandy-led campaign, when it entered the district at Ezhamkulam near Adoor.
Kaveri a hit in Telugu
Friday, March 28, 2003
Kaveri does not look like it will flow again in Kerala soon. You may wonder as to when did Kaveri actually flow in Malayalam. We are not talking the actress named Kaveri, and not the river. The pretty actress, known for her roles like in Vasanthiyum, Lakshmiyum Pine Njanaum left Malayalam film world for Tamil and Telugu. She ventured out in search of greener pastures, and the news is that she has come out with flying colours. First she struck it rich in Tamil. But that was as a side-actress in sister and second heroine roles. But in Telugu it has been totally different. She is making a name for herself as a top-of-the-line heroine in Telugu cinema. In Telugu, Kauvery is Kalyani. What is in a name, you may ask. Plenty, she says. "I have had egregious success as Kalyani in Telugu. I intend continuing with that name," she says with typical forthrightness. The films which have featured her as heroine have been major hits. The last one Kabbadi, Kabbadi opposite Jagapathy Babu has been a rage in Andhra Pradesh. And now Kalyani is calling the shots in Telugu. Understandably, she is thrilled about her success. She is also surprised. "Frankly, it has been a bit of surprise. It does not mean I was not hopeful when I came to Tollywood. I am a bit overwhelmed by these turn of events," she says. Where does she go from here? Actually, nowhere. "I intend continuing in Telugu for some more time," she adds. Does that mean that Malayalam cinema would have to miss her? "Yes, for some time. I guess it is inevitable. I am pretty busy in Telugu. So getting back to Malayalam immediately is difficult". But Kavery has a word of hope for Malayalam fans. "I have not turned my back on Malluwood totally. I will surely come back". She also says she misses the earthy Malayalam film industry where she learnt her ropes. "There is nothing to beat that. I like Tollywood. but Malluwood is Malluwood ". Well, you win some. You also lose some.
Ravu Mayunnu
Friday, March 28, 2003
After the movie Valliyettan, director Ranjith and actor Mamootty joins again for another movie 'Ravu Mayunnu'. The shooting of this movie will start after the completion of Prithviraj-Navya starrer 'Ammakkilikkoodinu' directed by Ranjith. The scripting work of 'Ravu Mayunnu' is over. Despite the failure of several Mamootty starrer movies, Ranjith is confident in trying a movie with Mamootty as hero. Ranjith considers this movie to be a successful one and moreover Mamootty is actiong in movies like Cronic Bachelor and Pattalam that may yield very good results. The crew members of 'Ravu Mayunnu' are very confident that this movie wouldn't be a failure since this is a joint venture of superhit director and superhit actor.
Meera Jasmine moving away from the tamil industry
Friday, March 28, 2003
Actress Meera Jasmine who is accomplished in Malayalam and Tamil film industry got held up some where in the film world. Producers and directors urges that now it is a situation that they are not able to fix an appointment with Meera for making her as heroine in their new movies. Now she is acting in movie 'Koodu' directed by Kamal and if she is asked something about her forthcoming movies she don't have answers to those questions. Meera normally gives date for movies based on the story and quality of the movie, but now a days she is moving away from the tamil industry where she gained popularity in the recent days. The opinion in the south indian filmdom is that there are some wicked hands behind all these drama's.
International Video Fest
Friday, March 28, 2003
Venue: Thiruvananthapuram Date: 25-30 March,2003 (Postponed to May 20- 25) Categories: Five Thiruvananthapuram the capital city of Kerala,the southern most state of India, will host the second International Video Film festival (IV Fest’03) from 20-25 May, 2003. IV Fest will screen the best films on society, development and science from around the world. This competitive video festival, which started as a non-fiction video film festival, will from now onwards have a section for fiction films also. This is projected as a good opportunity for filmmakers to exhibit their new and exciting work. IV Fest is designed to have discussion sessions, open forum, seminars and informal gatherings for filmmakers, producers, critics, technicians and film lovers to interact and exchange ideas. International Video Film Festival (IV Fest) is being organized by Center for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT). C-DIT is a premier institution in South Asia working in the field of visual communications, having divisions in video communication, multimedia, educational informatics, web services, holography and a host of other technologies, with focus on media convergence. It is an autonomous center under the Government of Kerala. C-DIT is a major video software production house also. C-DIT has produced hundreds of video films on various subjects like, literacy, health, environment, women’s issues, housing, forestry etc. It has also documented several rare art forms and rituals of Kerala. C-DIT is very active in broadcast television also .A school of Convergence Studies is also coming up soon.
Mathrubhoomi-Medimix Awards
Friday, March 28, 2003
'Nandanam' won the award for the Best Film at the Maathrubhoomi-Medimix Awards this year. The film won the hearts of Malayalam cine audience with its realistic screenplay and portrayal of a girl who had to undergo too many hardships while growing up. DK Rajivkumar won the award for the Best Director for his film 'Shesham' which took the audience into the mind of a mentally ill person. Dileep and Nayva Nair won the Best Actor and Actress awards. Bhavana won the award for the most natural performance in the film 'Nammal'. Jagadi won the award for the most realistic performance among actors. 'Danny', which won the Special Jury Award was different from other DV Chandran films. Winners at a glance: Best film- 'Nandanam' (directed by Ranjith) Best Actor and Actress- Dileep and Navya Nair ('Kunhikoonan' and 'Nandanam') Best Director- DK Rajivkumar ('Shesham') Special Jury Award- 'Danny' Best Screenplay- Ranjith ('Nandanam') Most realistic performance from an actress- Bhavana ('Nammal') Most realistic performance from an actor- Jagadi ('Meeshamadhavan') Best Child Actor- Ashwin Thampi ('Kaakae Kaakae Koodevidae') Best Lyricist- Girish Puththancheri ('Shreelavasantham' and 'Nandanannam' from 'Nandanam') Best Music- M. Jayachandran ('Vaalkannadi') Best Male Singer- MG Shreekumar ('Himagiri' from 'Thaandavam') Best Female Singer- Chitra ('Nandanam') Best Editor- Ranjan Abraham ('Meeshamadhavan') Best Art Direction- Suresh Kollam ('Nammal') Best Dialogues - Selvaraj ('Shesham') Best Make-up- 'Pattinm' Rasheed ('Kunhikoonan')
Jo Mol has adopted Hinduism
Friday, March 28, 2003
Jo Mol has adopted Hinduism. She has now changed her name to Gouri. She did this at a ceremony held in Pune's Arya Samaajam. She got married to an Engineer with the Merchant Navy and is now residing in Mumbai. She made it clear that she wasn't changing religion out of compulsion. Other actresses too have converted before. Lisa had converted to Hinduism through Arya Samaajam when she got married to Priyadarshan and Annie did the same when she got married to Shaji Kailash.
Vani Vishwanath in art movie
Friday, March 28, 2003
Though she is a Malayalee, she made her debut in Tamil and Telugu films. After gaining a foothold in these languages, she entered Malayalam cinema. Her first Malayalam film, 'Maangalyamchaartha' was never released. Her next film, 'Maanaar Maththaayi Speaking' became a super hit. She gained a leading position. She continues for four or five years, then, she disappeared abruptly. She has decided to go back to Telugu where she is doing some action films, a la Vijayashanti. Her only Malayalam film in a long time is going to be Shivachandradas' 'Beri'. It is an art film. Why is commercial cinema shunning her?
Gouthami
Friday, March 28, 2003
Gouthami's comeback Actresses come. They establish themselves very well and some, at the peak of their career, get married and quit the industry. Some wait till their market decline to get married. They then quit. Some stay around till the industry throws them out. But, most of the actresses who do quit end up making a comeback. Gouthami- in Tamil, her only accomplishment was getting French-kissed by Kamal in two films. She came to Malayalam with Mohanlal's 'His Highness Abdullah'. She did some more films in Malayalam and then went back to Tamil and Telugu. She got married and quit the industry. She had campaigned for BJP in the previous Parliamentary elections. Now, she is an Office bearer of BJP's Women Wing of Chennai. And, she is back in the industry. Why did you come back to the industry? When I realized that my political interests wouldn't interfere with my acting career, I decided to resume acting. When director KR Ramdas invited me to act in his film, I refused initially. He then promised me that he would permit me to concentrate on my political duties too. I heard the story ad I liked it. It is about a royal family. My character's name is Samyuktha Verma, who is part of the family. She is a tough woman who could survive anything. It suited my personality. I agreed. Are you acting with the consent of your husband? My husband supports my decisions. It was I who decided to take a break from acting after getting married. He was very happy when I told him of my decision. He is on a business tour right now. Why didn't you bring your daughter to the location? She is happy with her nanny. Her nanny is the one who looks after her because I'm always traveling. So is my husband. It will be difficult to manage her if I bring her to the location
India should step up war on TB: experts
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
New Delhi, Mar 24 Five thousand new cases of tuberculosis (TB) emerge in India every day, each of which can spread the disease to 15 people, health experts have warned. Over 400,000 Indians died of TB last year. India has one-third of the TB burden in the world and almost 80 percent of the cases in the region, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). "In an effort to control TB, India is in the midst of an historic expansion of its revised national TB control programme (RNTCP) and its recent progress has been beyond expectations," said A. Sattar Yoosuf, acting WHO representative to India. He was presenting a report on the progress of India's efforts to combat the killer disease on World TB Day. Under a Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course (DOTS) strategy once a person has been detected to have TB, health workers or trained volunteers help the patient and even his family take full-course of treatment under close supervision and maintain charts till he is fully cured. "DOTS coverage has expanded 43 fold from two percent of the population in mid-1998 to 599 million or 59 percent by mid-March 2003," Yoosuf said. India is targeting to cover the entire country under the DOTS programme by 2005. According to another report card, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Rajasthan received the highest marks for achieving TB control targets set by WHO. The status report of the states presented here by Bobby John of the Massive Effort Campaign, a global initiative to mobile society against AIDS, TB and malaria. "These states are detecting at least six out of ten people estimated to have infectious TB. Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are also to be commended for making good progress," said John. "The progress in other parts of the country is not so encouraging." While the DOTS services have been started in most states in the country, it has not been able to reach substantial number of people with infectious TB. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, which account for 56 percent of the national population, currently enroll and cure less than three out of ten people with infectious TB, the report stated. "The marks on this report card are not academic. They are truly a matter of life and death," remarked John.
Court notice to Raveena Tandon
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
The Kollam District and Sessions Judge, K. Chanthamarakshan, today issued orders to send notices to Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon and two others for violation of the Copyright Act 1957 on a plea for restraining Ms. Tandon, as producer of the movie, "Stumped,'' from releasing and exhibiting the movie in India and abroad. The order is on the basis of a petition filed by a student of the Fatima Mata National College here, D. Sajeev. He said that he had written an article under the heading "Njangalodu Kshamikuka'' (Forgive Us) in a vernacular newspaper campus column on July 5, 1999, pertaining to the plight of the family members of the jawans killed in the Kargil war. While this plight goes largely ignored in the media, the ecstasy of the family members of the Indian cricket team is highlighted whenever a match is won. Through the article Mr. Sajeev begs forgiveness from the Kargil martyrs on behalf of the people for worshiping cricket stars by forgetting the soldiers. He contends that the idea has been lifted from his article and they have no right to produce the movie without his consent.
Nayanar's plea to CM on Gulf Malayalis
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MARCH 24 . The former Chief Minister, E. K. Nayanar, has asked the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, to go to Delhi and take up directly with the Centre the question of providing assistance to the Malayalis in the Gulf area who are affected by the war. In a statement here today, he said that the Chief Minister seemed to be satisfied with whatever the three-member ministerial team had done. The NoRKA Minister spoke about the Indian Airlines' willingness to provide a 20 per cent concession in fare to the returnees. But the Chief Minister did not seem to have done anything on an issue which had to be viewed seriously, he said. The LDF Government was instrumental in providing free passage to the Malayalis who were returning during the 1991 war. It had deputed a Minister and IAS officers for organising their return. Free rail journey was made available from Mumbai to Kerala. Half a dozen KSRTC buses were also pressed into service for those who wanted to come by road. The Malayali Associations of Mumbai had also provided assistance to the returnees. The police officers also supervised these activities. The LDF Government had handled the situation with the seriousness which kit deserved. He protested against the "indifference" which the UDF Government was showing towards these sections which were responsible for the strengthening of Kerala's economy.
Medical shops to down shutters today
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
All medical shops an drug supply depots in the state would remain closed on Tuesday in protest against the provisions of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Bill passed by the State Government. Announcing this, the president of the All-Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association, A. N. Mohanan, pointed out that the Bill if will put an unbearable financial burden on chemists and druggists and also on the general public. According to the association, the prices of medicines will go up at least by six per cent, when VAT is implemented. This can be avoided if medicines are moved from schedule five to schedule four of the Bill. The Government has not given medicines the consideration that is being given to liquor, he said. Mohanan also warned that there will be acute shortage of medicines by next month if the government goes ahead with its plan. Meanwhile, Kerala Finance Minister K. Sankaranarayanan has said that the State Government would go ahead with implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) from next month. VAT will be coming into force all over the country from April and Kerala could not remain exempted from it, he told mediapersons at the Nedumbassery airport in Kochi on Monday. Sankaranarayanan described as unwarranted agitation threatened by the traders against implementation of VAT. Replying to a question, he said sales tax on aviation turbine fuel had been brought down from 34 to 25 per cent taking into consideration the request of Air India and other airlines.
Navy inducts advanced light helicopter
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Kochi, March 24: The advanced light helicopter (ALH), indigenously manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore, has been inducted into the Indian Navy, a naval press release said here today. The unique, multi-role and state-of-the-art new generation helicopter has been designed to perform multi-mission roles, including anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue and casualty evacuation, the release said. After successfully completing the basic flight evaluation at HAL, the Indian Navy has accepted two ALHs and was the first service to commence its independent operations outside Bangalore. The first of these was received at INS Garuda, Kochi, it said. The Intensive Flying Trials Unit, formed at INS Garuda, would conduct further trials of the helicopter before using it for operations, the release added. (Agencies)
Antony begins fast against Oppn violence
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Antony begins fast against Oppn violence Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 24 Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony, his Cabinet colleagues and leaders of the ruling Congress-led coalition today began an eight-hour-long fast in the city in protest against the violent agitations by the Marxist-led Left Democratic Front over the Muthanga issue. The fast, which began at 0900 hrs, was part of the State-wide campaign launched by the ruling United Democratic Front to counter the Opposition agitation and the propaganda against the 22-month-old Antony Government over the tribal issue. Besides Mr Antony and 17 of his 19 Cabinet colleagues, those who observed the fast included UDF Convener Oommen Chandy, KPCC President K Muralidharan, MPs and MLAs. Ministers Prof K V Thomas and Dr M K Muneer could not observe the fast as they were away in New Delhi to take up with the Centre the arrangements to be made for evacuating the Malayalees in Kuwait. Inaugurating the fast, Mr Antony said despite the Opposition agitation and violence, the Government was committed to its development agenda, aimed at creating a 'new Kerala.' ''The tide of development will sweep across Kerala within the next one year,'' he claimed and sought the cooperation of the Opposition to complete the ongoing developmental process on time. Criticising the Opposition for organising two hartals over the Muthanga issue and causing damage to public property worth crores of Rupees, the Chief Minister cautioned the Opposition that frequent agitations would only hamper the State's development. Mr Antony reiterated his Government's resolve to distribute land to all the landless tribals before the present term ended. The UDF, the highest policy making body of the ruling coalition, took the decision to observe the fast when the Opposition was going ahead with its indefinite relay hunger strike before the Secretariat, demanding judicial inquiry. Though the Opposition called off its fast on March 21 in the wake of the Government, as per a suggestion from the National Human Rights Commission, ordering a CBI probe into the Muthanga violence, in which a tribal and a policeman were killed on February 19, the ruling coalition decided to go ahead with today's fast.
No need to send team to Gulf, Centre tells Kerala
Monday, March 24, 2003
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 24 - The Centre has assured Kerala that it had taken all steps to ensure safety of Indians in the Gulf in the wake of US-led attack on Iraq and that here was no need to send a high-level team to the region, non-resident Keralites' Affairs Minister M M Hassan said. Hassan, who was part of the three-member delegation from Kerala who met Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussein in Delhi on Saturday, told reporters here that the Centre assured that there was no need for concern over the safety of Indians. The Centre was constantly monitoring the situation in the Gulf and the assessment was that there was no need for panic as things were not bad as the 1991 Gulf war, he said. The External Affairs Ministry had assured that information it collected through the Indian embassies in the Gulf would be passed on to the information cell set up at the Kerala House in Delhi. It also promised that if situation warranted despatching a high level team to the Gulf, a representative of Kerala government would also be included in it in view of large number of Keralites in the Gulf. The Civil Aviation Ministry had been requested to give 20 per cent concession to home-bound Keralities from Gulf, he said.
Kerala will go ahead with VAT
Monday, March 24, 2003
Aluva: Kerala Finance Minister K. Sankaranaryanan said that the State Government would go ahead with implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) from next month. VAT will be coming into force all over the country from April and Kerala could not remain exempted from it, he told mediapersons at the Nedumbassery airport. Sankaranarayanan described as unwarranted agitation threatened by the traders against implementation of VAT. Replying to a question, he said sales tax on aviation turbine fuel had been brought down from 34 to 25 per cent taking into consideration the request of Air India and other airlines. To another query, he said gold trading would not be allowed without bill and necessary steps were being taken to check evasion of sales tax in the trade.
CM, Ministers to go on fast today
Monday, March 24, 2003
The Chief Minister A K Antony, his Cabinet ministers and other UDF leaders would observe an 8-hour fast in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. The Sathyagraha organised at the Gandhi Park maidan is aimed at general public opinion against violent agitation organised by the Opposition in the last few days over the Muthanga incident. Apart from the Chief Minister and Ministers, KPCC President K Muralidharan, UDF Convener Oommen Chandy, leaders of UDF constituent parties and MLAs would take part in the fast. Meanwhile, the Opposition LDF has asked the government to probe into the police action on March 17 during the LDF protest. In an open letter to the Chief Minister, LDF Convener Paloli Mohammad kutty has said that the Opposition would not cooperate with a government that seeks to suppress public opinion using brutal force of government agencies. The LDF would continue to boycott all official programmes of the State government, Paloli said. In a related development Opposition leader V Achutanandan said in Kannur on Saturday that the LDf was planning to bring a no Confidence Motion against the Antony government.
Two stabbed to death after argument
Monday, March 24, 2003
Kozhikode: Two persons were stabbed to death in a clash at Kunnamangalam near here early Sunday morning, police said. The trouble broke out when members of two different communities entered into an argument when they were returning from a temple festival, resulting in a clash, police said. While the two were hacked to death, another person was injured in the related attacks, they said. Police said the trouble apparently started with arguments on playing cards. The deceased were identified as Nooruddin (20) and Habib (20). Top police officers are camping there and maintaining strict vigil in the area. The situation is under control.
Kerala, AP water for Pondy UT areas
Monday, March 24, 2003
Pondicherry, March 23: Chief Minister N Rangasamy handed over the first instalment of Rs 3 crore to the Kerala government through that state’s Water Resources Minister T M Jacob at a function in Mahe yesterday. He said he had held talks with his Kerala and Andhra Pradesh counterparts to tackle the drinking water problems of Mahe and Yanam regions of the Union Territory. Rangasamy, who presented the cheque to the Kerala Minister, said the amount formed part of Rs 10.22 crore mega drinking water project being implemented in collaboration with Kerala for the Mahe region, making use of the Anjarakandy water resources. The Chief Minister laid the foundation of the water project in Mahe and said that the French Canal Scheme relating to Yanam was being pursued to end the water problem there. The Anjarakandy water supply scheme would end the long-drawn-out crisis, he said. The total distance to be covered under the water supply scheme to procure Anjarakandy water would be 28 km. A press release from the office of the Chief Minister said there would be no difficulty for the people of Mahe to get assured water to drink. (Agencies)
AI, IA may suspend flights from Kuwait
Monday, March 24, 2003
Dubai, March 23. : Air India (AI) and Indian Airlines (IA)are considering suspension of flights from Kuwait to India shortly due to high rates of war-risk insurance, sources said. Civil Aviation Secretary K Roy Paul is in Kuwait to review the flight arrangements to meet the increased demand of Indians wanting to come to India due to the ongoing US-led war in Iraq. Sources said there was high traffic to Kerala in flights to India. Air India is flying jumbo aircraft with a capacity of 410 passengers so that more number of passengers can be carried. War-risk insurance was imposed after the LTTE attack on the Colombo airport in 2001 and the September 11 terrorist strikes in New York and Washington in the same year. Kuwait Air suspends night flights In a separate development, Kuwait Airways today announced the suspension of its night flights as part of safety arrangements in view of the ongoing US-led war on Iraq. According to official Iranian news agency IRNA, the Airways had decided to operate flights only during the day so as to ensure the safety of its crew and passengers. Currently all transit flights from west to east have been cancelled until further notice, Kuwait Airways spokesman Adel Buresli was quoted as saying. He confirmed Kuwait Airways will continue to fly to Cairo and the United Arab Emirates but flights to Damascus, Beirut, Amman and Tehran would be temporarily stopped from today.
National women’s panel meets tribals
Sunday, March 23, 2003
Kozhikode, March 22: A four-member National Women's Commission team, headed by Chairperson Poornima Advani, arrived in Muthanga today to collect first-hand information from tribal women on the incidents concerning them, including their alleged torture, following the recent tribal agitation. The Commission will hold detailed discussions with the women and record their statements before preparing its report to be submitted to the Centre. It is also scheduled to meet tribal representatives in the tribe-dominated Wyanad District later in the day. The team, which arrived here yesterday, met tribal leaders, C K Janu and M Geethanandan, besides three women tribals in the district prison. Janu and others are under judicial remand in connection with last month’s agitation. A police constable and an adivasi were killed when the 45-day-old tribal agitation, spearheaded by the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha, turned violent inside the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary on February 19. The tribals were demanding allotment of land to landless tribal families by the State Government. (Agencies)
Naidu could be part of non-BJP front after polls: Gowda
Sunday, March 23, 2003
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 22 Asserting that no party will be able to come to power on its own strength in the next general elections, former Prime Minister and JD (S) leader H D Deve Gowda today said a post-poll arrangement, including the Congress and other non-BJP parties, could not be ruled out. Addressing a press conference here, Mr Deve Gowda said even the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by Mr N Chandrababu Naidu, could be a part of this non-BJP front. ''Mr Naidu's criticism of the Gujarat events was even more bitter than that by the Congress. (VHP General Secretary Praveen) Togadia was also arrested recently in Andhra Pradesh,'' he observed. Sharing his ''firm and honest assessment of the ground reality in the country'', formed after extensive travelling in recent months, Mr Gowda said the next general elections, held either by the end of this year or next year, would once again throw up a hung Parliament. While a pre-poll arrangement between the Congress and parties such as the Janata Dal (Secular) or the TDP would be ''difficult'' because of ideological and other differences, a post-poll ''working arrangement based on concrete programmes and policies'' could be considered, the former Prime Minister hinted. A revival of the Third Front was also possible. ''Nothing can be ruled out,'' he added. The BJP, which had started talking about getting more than 300 seats in Parliament after its victory in Gujarat, was abject after drubbing in Himachal Pradesh and at loss as to what went wrong, he said. Mr Gowda said his party was opposed to both the BJP and the Congress due to ideological differences and he had advised his allies in the Left Front not to back the Congress. Stating that he had consistently opposed the economic reforms initiated by the Narasimha Rao Government, Mr Gowda said a predominantly agrarian economy like India could not afford to follow economic models prescribed by the West, where only two per cent of the population was dependent on agriculture. ''When I was the Prime Minister, I had clearly told the World Bank that it should be concerned only about its money and the interest and not dictate how the loan amount was spent. It is for us to decide our priorities,'' he added.
Naidu could be part of non-BJP front after polls: Gowda
Sunday, March 23, 2003
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 22 Asserting that no party will be able to come to power on its own strength in the next general elections, former Prime Minister and JD (S) leader H D Deve Gowda today said a post-poll arrangement, including the Congress and other non-BJP parties, could not be ruled out. Addressing a press conference here, Mr Deve Gowda said even the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by Mr N Chandrababu Naidu, could be a part of this non-BJP front. ''Mr Naidu's criticism of the Gujarat events was even more bitter than that by the Congress. (VHP General Secretary Praveen) Togadia was also arrested recently in Andhra Pradesh,'' he observed. Sharing his ''firm and honest assessment of the ground reality in the country'', formed after extensive travelling in recent months, Mr Gowda said the next general elections, held either by the end of this year or next year, would once again throw up a hung Parliament. While a pre-poll arrangement between the Congress and parties such as the Janata Dal (Secular) or the TDP would be ''difficult'' because of ideological and other differences, a post-poll ''working arrangement based on concrete programmes and policies'' could be considered, the former Prime
Panic in Kuwait eases as several missiles are intercepted by anti-missile battery
Sunday, March 23, 2003
The initial panic that gripped Kuwait when the attacks on Iraq began has waned. There has been no more retaliation from Iraq on the third day of the attack. The last missile threat to Kuwait was at 11 p.m. Kuwait time on Friday. The fact that the Patriot anti-missile battery was able intercept most of the missiles has helped ease panic in the city. In all five Scud missiles and five other missiles were used against Kuwait. Though the fires burning in the oil fields in southern Iraq has formed a dark fog over northern Kuwait. The special flights of Air India are continuing to fly to Kochi and Mumbai. The Kuwait-Indian Muslim Cultural Center has said that in case the telecommunication links with Kuwait collapsed, assistance could be sought through the email id: kmcckuwait@yahoo.com.
Panel of Kerala ministers on Iraq developments meets Prime Minister, colleagues
Sunday, March 23, 2003
The sub-committee of ministers from Kerala is meeting Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and other ministers concerned in Delhi. Apart from the Prime Minister, the team is meeting External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Civil Aviation Minister Shahnaz Hussain. They will discuss arrangements to bring back more non-resident Keralites form Kuwait and other Gulf countries if the war prolongs or takes a turn for the worse. The committee has on it NRK Affairs Minister M M Hassan, Tourism Minister K V Thomas and Public Works Minister Dr A K Muneer.
Expats in no hurry to return from Kuwait
Sunday, March 23, 2003
Thiruvananthapuram, Despite the U.S. attack on Iraq, expatriates from Kerala do not seem to be in a hurry to get back home from Kuwait. A Kuwait Airways flight that arrived here Saturday had 30 empty seats. "We were surprised to see almost 30 seats empty in the flight that arrived here this morning. In all there were 140 passengers comprising several children including a 20-day-old infant and a large number of women. Reports that the Kuwait airport is closed appears not to be true", said a Kuwait Airways official. On the return flight there were however only 11 passengers. He said, "One reason for such a few passengers is because we are not taking passengers flying to Europe and America. Instead we are endorsing all these tickets to other airlines." Most of the passengers had at least one child accompanying them each. A couple from Thiruvalla had as many as seven children. The youngest to arrive was a 20-day-year-old girl child who was received by her grandmother. "We are really surprised about the wrong reports that came from Kerala. For the last few days, reports said Kuwait airport has been closed. Nothing of that sort has happened. The airport is closed only when the siren is sounded," said Reji, a passenger who arrived with three children. "Just before we reached the airport to board the flight, the siren was sounded and we all retreated to a nearby camp. The only major difference is that after the war began, by 7 p.m. the streets are all deserted," she said. Another woman said of late prices of essential goods had gone up but all shops were open and everyone went to work as usual. "The only thing is that there is some element of fear in everyone's mind," she said. Thomas Joseph said he arrived with his two-year-old child and two other children of his relations because the children found wearing gas masks difficult when the siren was sounded. "The children find it difficult to wear the mask. The only fear is of use of biological or chemical weapons by Iraq. Otherwise, there would not have been any exodus at all," he said. "We took extra caution because of the children", said Joseph whose wife is a nurse and has not returned. "I am going back in three weeks' time", said a not too worried Joseph. The office of the Kochin Collector told that an Indian Airlines flight from Kuwait via Goa landed Saturday and carried 30 passengers, mostly women and children.
Govt orders probe into Kolencherry, Pushpagiri admissions
Sunday, March 23, 2003
Even as the stand off between the UDF government and the two self financing colleges in the state continued over the merit quota issue, the Antony government on Saturday ordered a probe into the admission procedures adopted by the managements of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical College, Kolencherry, and Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Science and Research Centre, Thiruvalla. An official release on Saturday said that a five-member committee headed by Entrance Examination Commissioner C.K.Viswanathan would probe if there were any violation of the Supreme Court directive on following a transparent procedure for admissions. Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Principal Dr P.C. Kesavankutty Nair, Vice-principal Dr B.Sulekha, Joint Commissioner of Entrance Examination Dr Raju Krishnan and Finance Joint Secretary S.Jerome are the other members of the committee. The inquiry will cover matters such as whether applications were invited from students for admissions, whether the institutions had conducted an entrance examination, the nature of the entrance examination conducted, whether the syllabus and standard was equivalent to that of the State entrance examination. The committee would also inquire whether merit and reservation norms were followed in the admissions. The committee would also look into the fee structure, the fee to be collected in the coming years and the date of commencement of classes. The committee has been asked to submit its report in two weeks, the statement added
4 killed in blast in cracker unit
Sunday, March 23, 2003
Four workers were killed and one person is missing in an explosion in a cracker manufacturing unit near Manimalarkavu Temple, in Veloor near Thrissur, on Saturday afternoon. The thatched shed in which they were engaged in making fireworks for a temple festival caught fire and was blown off at 4.30 pm. The severed limbs of the victims were strewn around the unit located in a cashew farm. police identified bodies of four persons as Nellikkal Thankappan (55), Rameshan (28) both residents of Velur, Mohanan (35) and Anil Kumar (32). Mohanan and Anil Kumar, hailing from Kootanad in Palakkad district, are brothers. Rajan (35), who was in the shed at the time of explosion, is missing. The blast shook the area with its high decibel sound. The owner of the unit, Olakengal Davis, a fireworks contractor, was away at the time of the explosion. The cracker unit run by Davis at the same location had a similar explosion on March 10, 1993, in which five workers including the elder brother of the deceased Thankappan, Nellikkal Vasu, was killed. Following the explosion in 1993, Davies had shifted his unit to a location in Palakkad district before coming back to Velur about 18 months ago. The District Collector V.N. Gopala Menon and top police officials visited the site.. The Revenue Minister, K. M. Mani, who was in the district when the accident occurred, has directed the Collector to take immediate relief measures to the victims. The Collector has granted Rs. 1,000 as interim relief to the relatives of the deceased.
Information cell on Keralites in Gulf
Saturday, March 22, 2003
NEW DELHI. An emergency round-the-clock cell has been opened at Kerala House here to liaison with the Ministry of External Affairs Crisis Cell and the different Indian missions in Gulf countries on the status of non-resident Keralites living in the region. The cell can be contacted on phone at 011-23343304 and 011-23368968. The fax number for the cell is 011-23366527 and 011-23368934. A release issued by the Kerala House Information Office said queries would also be accepted through e-mail at norkacell@ hotmail.com and keralainfodelhi@rediffmail.com.
Opposition exposed on Muthanga issue: UDF
Saturday, March 22, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The United Democratic Front convenor Oommen Chandy on Friday said those who had been indulging in "foul play" over the Muthanga adivasi agitation would be exposed with the Kerala government recommending a CBI probe into the incident. Government had nothing to hide or fear anyone on the issue, Chandy told reporters here, welcoming opposition's decision to withdraw their agitation demanding a judicial probe into the Muthanga firing. UDF would, however, stage a fast focussing on the state's development agenda on March 24 despite the LDF calling off its stir. The Chief Minister, ministers and Front leaders would observe fast at the Gandhi Park here in protest against the opposition's attempt to `sabotage' the development agenda. The State-level UDF campaign march led by Oommen Chandy to make people aware of the opposition's "designs" to mislead people on the Muthanga issue would be inaugurated at Parassala by Chief Minister A K Antony on March 25. The march would end at Kasargod on April 7, he said.
Government has nothing to hide, Oomen Chandy
Saturday, March 22, 2003
Government has nothing to hide, Oomen Chandy 22-March-2003 Thiruvananthapuram: Ordering a CBI probe into the Muthanga incidents, the government has proved that it has nothing to hide, said Oomen Chandy, UDF convenor. He said that truth about allegations of killing and rape at Muthanga will be revealed in the CBI investigation. The Chief Minister has kept his word on an investigation. The Opposition parties only asked for a judicial probe. The National Human Rights Commission directed investigation by an independent agency. But the government asked the CBI to investigate the case, he said. If the LDF was aware of human rights, it would not have launched attacks that were organised in Kerala in the last few days, Chandy said. The LDF, which is demanding release of land for tribals, is secretly trying to sabotage such a move from the government's side, Chandy said. The CITU approached the High Court protesting the government's decision to release the Alakode estate, belonging to the Plantation Corporation, to tribals, he said. MPs of CPM submitted petition to the Union Minister for Agriculture asking not to release Aralam farm to tribals. CPM cultivates a pseudo-tribal love, Chandy said.
M.T. and minister in a row
Saturday, March 22, 2003
Kozhikode: If the minister for cultural affairs wants to expel him from the position of Chairman of the Thunchan Memorial Trust, it would be better to abolish it, said M.T. Vasudevan Nair. The Trust was not formed with donation from the government alone, he said. The Trust grew into a great organisation by donations by many individuals and organisations in India and abroad. The government grant is not enough even to pay salary to the staff. The committee is forced to find about Rs 10,000 every month for that purpose, Nair said. The Trust, comprising of MLAs, Corporation Mayors, district collector and local representatives, is acting as the administrator of Thunchan Memorial. "If the minister wants to expel me, he only has to seize power of the Trust," Nair said.
Brahmachari taken an average opening
Friday, March 21, 2003
Mohanlal’s eagerly awaited Mr Brahmachari has only taken an average opening all over Kerala. The trade blames the World Cup hysteria and examination fever and bout of hartals for the average performance of the film. Though official figures are not forthcoming, Mr Brahmachari is reported to have opened to only 78 percent capacity during the opening weekend which is below average for a Mohanlal film. The fans of the superstar are blaming Aroma Mani, the producer of the film for showing such haste in releasing the film at a time when India is on the verge of winning the World Cup. Added to that no producer would release the film when the opposition CPI (M) in Kerala is carrying out a violent agitation over the Muthanga issue. The students who form a large chunk of the audience are trying their level best to reach the examination halls and not theatres, dodging the Marxist stones! Above all the word of mouth on the film is also not very encouraging. The trade hopes that once World Cup and exams are over, the collections will pick up. After all the students and parents would love to enjoy their summer holidays by going for a Mohanlal comedy.
Swapnam Kondoru Thulabharam
Friday, March 21, 2003
Director Rajasenan Producer Khader Hassan Rajasenan who has directed many family entertainers in the past is ready with his new film titled Swapnam Kondoru Thulabharam, that tells the story of two brothers. The film is shot in and around the beautiful locations of Thodupuzha. Suresh Gopi and Kunchakko Boban play the main characters. Once the script was ready Rajasenan wanted two new faces as the heroines and thus Sruthika from Tamil and Nandana were selected to do the roles opposite the heroes. Sruthika has done two Tamil films and she plays the character of Ammu in the film, a student in love with Vishnu (Suresh Gopi) her professor in college. Aniyankuttan (Kunchakko Boban) is ten years younger to Vishnu and they are the sons of Madhavan Thambi and Prabhavathy. The brothers are opposite in their character, as Vishnu is a soft-spoken mature man and Aniyan is brash and outgoing. He gets into trouble often at college and home and it is his elder brother who bails him out. He is in love with Kalyani (Nandana) and Vishnu supports him. But somewhere along the lane, Aniyan misunderstands Vishnu and he starts hating him. The film has a touching story that is sure to please the family audience, says the director. The cast also has Janardhanan, Srividya, Jagathy Sreekumar, Bindu Panikkar and Babu Swamy. Camera is by Ramachandra Babu and the story is by Ravi Sekhar. Khader Hassan produces the film.
Mr Brahmachari
Friday, March 21, 2003
Director Thulasidas Producer Aroma Mani Cast Mohanlal, Meena, Jagathy, Nedumudi Venu Mohanlal, desperately in need of a hit, has turned to comedy with Mr Brahmachari. In the process he has slipped once again on a banana peel to evoke laughter, but ends up with egg on his face! Poor Mohanlal, he should take a little more care on the selection of his stories and his directors in particular. Thulasidas has churned out another predictable and corny comedy, which has no basic story or even continuity. Puthenpurackkal Ananthan Thampi (Mohanlal) is a middle-aged aristocrat who is into bodybuilding and prefers to be a chronic bachelor. His sister Nirmala (Bindu panikkar) and her husband is V.Venugopalan Thambi (Jagathy Sreekumar) are too happy about the decision, as they want their two daughters to inherit Thampi’s properties. Thampi is a do-gooder who gets things done for the locals. He also owns a cable company. Nirmala rents Thampi’s outhouse to a teacher (K.R.Vijaya) and her three daughters. The eldest Ganga (Meena) soon becomes the favourite of everybody. One day a guy, Aravindan comes and pleads with Thampi for a job in his cable company. Thampi mistakes Aravindan to be Ganga’s lover and promises him to help him marry her. But soon Aravindan goes away to join the army and Thampi and his men sabotage all marriage proposals of Ganga. But soon Thampi is forced by his parents and the teacher to marry Ganga. What happens when Aravindan comes back forms the climax of the film. Mohanlal has nothing much to do, and he looks uncomfortable throughout. His scenes with Jagathy, Jagadhish and others are rehashes of earlier comedies. Meena is there for the song ‘n’ dance numbers. Almost all the scenes look uninteresting and predictable. The songs tuned by Mohan Sitara are just average. Even die-hard fans of Mohanlal will struggle to sit through this banal slapstick comedy. Verdict: Corny Comedy
Passengers arrive by special flight
Friday, March 21, 2003
Relief writ large on their faces, 240 passengers, including 118 children, arrived here today from Kuwait in a special Air India flight, while it was agony and ecstasy for the waiting relatives here. Some relatives, who waited for nearly three hours, had to return home without their near and dear ones. At least 41 infants in the arms of friends and neighbours of their parents were among the passengers, AI sources said. The parents of these infants were unable to get tickets and had packed off their children to Kerala. Tossy Mathew, a teacher in a Kuwait school and hailing from Haripad, was the first passenger to come out of the airport after security clearance. She was carrying a two-month old baby, Afrem, whose parents are working in Kuwait and could not make it in the flight. The waiting grandparents were overjoyed to receive Afrem but were saddened to hear that the parents could not get tickets. Tossy told waiting reporters at the airport that her school had been closed for 15 days in view of the war.
Kerala orders CBI probe into Muthanga incident
Friday, March 21, 2003
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 20 The Kerala Government tonight ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the Februrary 19 Muthanga incident in the context of a suggestion to this effect by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The Government would immediately request the CBI to take over the investigation, Chief Minister A K Antony told reporters after a special Cabinet meeting. The announcement came within hours of the receipt of the NHRC report, which had suggested CBI probe into the incident. It had also asked the Government to submit the action taken report within ten days. He said the Government was ordering the inquiry only in keeping with its well-known stand that it would abide by the NHRC recommendation. The NHRC had not specifically asked the Government to conduct the CBI inquiry. But the Government had decided to accept the suggestion. Stressing that the Government had nothing to hide in the incident, he appealed to the Opposition to withdraw their ongoing indefinite fast in front of the State Secretariat since February 28 and cooperate with the Administration to restore peace. The Government would furnish the details sought by the NHRC on the land allocation to tribals within four weeks. One tribal and a policeman were killed in the police action on February 19 to evict 1000-odd tribals, who had encroached the reserve forests and put up huts in Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Wyanad district for nearly 45 days from January five.
Kerala Govt to take action against cops
Friday, March 21, 2003
The Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony has announced stringent action against police officials who attack scribes who are doing their duty. Mr Antony was forced to make this statement during his routine post-Cabinet brief as there was strong pressure from mediapersons regarding police high-handedness. After the Opposition LDF changed the course of its agitation there were protest marches throughout the State and the police had failed to gather proper information about the size of the crowd and the extent to which the agitators would go. The police had panicked and brutally attacked several MPs and former Finance Minister of Kerala T Sivadasa Menon. What irked the police was the media's projection of this. The police pounced upon the media and there were attacks against the media throughout the State. Mr T Mohandas a photographer of the daily Deepika was admitted to the Medical College Hospital Kozhikode after the police hit him on his head. Several reporters were also injured.The Kerala Press Academy Vice Chairman C Gouridasan Nair of The Hindu resigned in protest against the State Government's highhandedness.
Indian nationals leave Gulf states
Thursday, March 20, 2003
Air India, India's international carrier says it has laid on more flights to carry Indian nationals from Kuwait and neighbouring countries as war in the Gulf looms. The airline says there's and increase in demand from Indians wanting to leave the region. It says it is not an evacuation as the passengers have bought the tickets. However, it will monitor the situation and evacuation will start on government directive when the situation demands. Air India and Indian Airlines, the country's domestic carrier, can move up to 3,500 people from the region each day. Its thought that up to 50,000 Indian nationals will have been flown out by the end of the week.
Joshi hits out at Cong-led UDF govt in Kerala
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
NEW DELHI: Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi on Tuesday used the occasion of completion of five years of the Vajpayee Government to hit out at the Congress-led UDF Government in Kerala saying that the recent attack on tribals at Muthanga was 'shameful'. "It is shameful that in a modern society, such heinous incidents are tolerated.....I have been told of the recent gruesome incident of organised attack on adivasis at Muthunga..... and cases of police atrocities in Kerala," he said. Noting that Kerala has many firsts on the Human Development Index but was lagging behind in industrial growth and employment generation, Joshi said "if the state has to come out of the present mess, it has to have a serious rethink at the political level. It has to discard the burden of Communist ideas standing in the way of progress". The state has an unemployment growth rate of 20.97 per cent as against the national average of 3.45 per cent, he said adding that the state Government was not speedily implementing the restructuring of power, transport and public sector reforms. The Agricultural sector has been stagnating for the last many decades, he said.
Fifty Fifty
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Prithviraj and Indrajit, both brothers are busy shooting for Fifty Fifty directed by Viji Thampy. Prithviraj by sheer talent has become the first choice of the producers for he has the range. With implicit humor coupled with right amount of emotions he carries out what is required of him in a role he plays. The story is yet another campus love story. Johnny (Indrajit) and Vicky (Prithviraj), childhood friends now study in the same engineering college. Vicky is an all rounder and the girl students adore him. Almost all the girls crave to make friends with Vicky. Anu (Geetu Mohandas), daughter of a famous journalist in Delhi is equally bright and talented. Vicky and Anu find each other complimenting in many aspects. But there are many in the college trying to break their relationship. Their family background being the same makes them more comfortable. Vicky's father is an IAS officer. Roy with criminal tendencies also tries to create trouble all along. Some incidents that take place in the campus make Vicky and Anu split and every time he tries to patch up, it deteriorates more. The gap widens even more. Anu gets closer to Johnny for help. Their relationship becomes warmer. All turns out to be unexpected. Vicky, Johnny and Anu's parents were in Delhi, but fate now brings them back to the capital. What happens at the end can be seen at the theatres soon. S T Subramaniyam produces the film under the banner of Evershine Pictures.
Mohanlal as Balettan
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Balettan is the fiftieth film produced by Aroma Mani and directed by V M Vinu starring Mohanlal as Balettan. This film will surely bring up the image of the superstar as he is seen in an entirely different role. Mohanlal has proved earlier that he can do character as well as comedy roles with ease. Balachandran, a simpleton by nature and a gem of a person is the eldest of the Puthenpurackal family. All loves Balettan, a bank accountant. Devayani is the heroine of this film and Jayasudha also has an important role in this film. Other casts include Jagathy, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Janardhanan, Sudheesh, Indrans, Atul Kulkarni etc. Story, and dialogues are by T A Shahid. M Jayachandran composes music for the songs penned by Girish Puthencherry. The shooting has begun in Ottappalam. Aroma Movies will bring the film to the theatres.
CM, Cabinet colleagues to observe fast against LDF violence
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The stage is set for a high-pitch political battle between the ruling and opposition parties in Kerala over the Muthanga tribal issue with the Congress-led coalition today deciding to launch a State-wide campaign, including a day-long fast by Chief Minister A K Antony, his Cabinet colleagues and others, to counter the ongoing three-week-long agitation by the Marxist-led Opposition. An emergency meeting of the UDF State Committee, which met at the official residence of the Chief Minister here, took stock of the ''violent agitation unleashed by the Left Democratic Front to sabotage development activities being initiated by the Government'' and resolved that such a mode of agitation should be defeated at any cost. Briefing newspersons on the meeting, Front convener Oommen Chandy and leaders of the front constituents said Mr Antony and other ruling coalition leaders would observe a fast from 0900 hrs to 1700 hrs at Gandhi Park Maidan here on March 24 . The UDF would also launch a State-wide campaign march from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod on the same day. Mr Chandy would lead the Jatha, which would cover all the 140 Assembly constituencies. Categorically rejecting the LDF demand for a judicial inquiry into the Muthanga violence in which a tribal and a policeman were killed on February 19, the UDF leaders said there was no question of bowing down to Opposition pressure tactics. They alleged that the hidden agenda of the Marxist party was to scuttle the developmental activities being initiated by the Government. It was ''evident'' from yesterday's incidents all over the State during which the LDF activists ''unleashed an organised and calculated violence.'' As many as 176 police personnel were injured in the incident, besides launching a ''Naxalite-model'' attack on several police stations. Properties worth crores of rupees were damaged in the violence, the leaders pointed out.
State assembly adjourned sine die
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pandemonium prevailed in the state assembly over police action on LDF workers on Monday, forcing Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman to adjourn the house sine-die after completing the constitutional business of the government. As soon as proceedings began, opposition leader V S Achuthanandan stood up and tried to raise the issue of 'police repression' of LDF workers who took out marches to offices of district superintendents, to press their demand for judicial probe into last month's police action on tribals at Muthanga. The speaker repeatedly told Achuthanandan that the matter could be raised after question hour. But an unrelenting opposition trooped into the well of the house and started shouting slogans against the government. They moved menacingly towards the treasury benches but the watch and ward created a 'human wall' in front of the minister's benches. As the din continued, the speaker took up the business of passing the vote on account presented by the Finance Minister K Sankaranarayan and the House passed the vote on account and completed the business in 15 minutes. Following this, the Chief Minister A K Antony requested the speaker to adjourn the house sine-die as the house continued to be disrupted by the opposition and government had no further business to carry out. CPM MLA M V Jayarajan came to the house with 'blood stained clothes', apparently worn by an LDF worker injured in Monday's police lathicharge. Some other opposition members were seen carrying placards denouncing the police action. Opposition members wanted an immediate discussion on the issue by suspending all other business of the House. Later, talking to reporters at the Assembly premises, Achuthanandan said opposition would continue its stir outside the House till a judicial probe was ordered and government started distributing land to landless tribals. He said the police action on Monday was a "calculated one" with an objective to "suppress the agitation" by LDF workers.
LDF hartal hits normal life, police jeep torched in Kannur
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suspected LDF workers set ablaze a police jeep at Panur in Kannur district in the early hours on Tuesday as the opposition-sponsored dawn-to-dusk hartal to protest 'police repression' on LDF marchers on Monday got underway disrupting normal life across the state. Though police fired at those who torched the jeep, they escaped unhurt, police said adding a 'steel' bomb was recovered from nearby Chokli. While bus services have been exempted from the hartal, the second one in seven days, KSRTC and private services kept off the roads in most places for fear of violence. Shops and business establishments remained closed in towns, especially in urban areas. Tuesday's LDF-sponsored march to police superintendent offices across the state to press for a judicial probe into police action on tribal agitators at Muthanga left a trail of violence and destruction leaving over 500 civilians and 171 police personnel injured. According to reports from Kochi, most of the business establishments, barring medical shops, were not functioning on Tuesday. Some hartal supporters who tried to force shopkeepers at nearby Aluva to down shutters were chased away by police. With vehicles exempted from hartal, thousands of children who are appearing for SSLC, CBSE and university examinations did not face any problems in reaching their centres. Normal life was not affected as private vehicles, including buses, cars and two wheelers, plied as usual. No untoward incident has been reported from the district so for, police sources said.
Attack on media will be looked into: Hassan
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Parliamentary Affairs Minister M M Hassan said the Opposition was solely responsible for the sine die of the Assembly. He was talking to newspersons here. " The assembly must be a venue to discuss developmental activities and not show of gimmicks", Hassan said. Minister said that the alleged atrocities of police against the media would be looked into.
IT books exhibition at British Library
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An exhibition of 300 new books on Information Technology, is being organised at the British Library from today. The six day exhibition, which will conclude on March 22, will be opened by the State IT Mission Director M Sivasankar today. The books will be added to the library collection after the exhibition. Library members can reserve these books during the exhibition. Books on VLSI, VHDL, Computer Architecture, networking, JXTA, MAX4, Dreamweaver MX, CAD/CAM, E-commerce, AutoCAD 2002, PHP, ASP.Net, VB.Net and Solaris will be on display. The exhibition will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on all working days.
Cop succumbs to stab wounds
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
KOCHI: A police constable, Gopi (45), attached to the Central Police Station, who had been admitted to the Little Flower Hospital, Ankamaly succumbed to stab wounds. Gopi, who was on a visit to his wife’s house at Kongothara was stabbed in the stomach by one Dhananjayan over a longstanding dispute over the ownership of a tree, said Chengamand police. According to police sources, there was a longstanding dispute between Dhanajayan’s family and the dead policeman’s wife’s family, who are neighbours. On March 11, Dhananjayan alias Dhanayan stabbed Gopi in the stomach. Dhanayan, who is wanted in several other cases by the Chengamand police has been absconding since then. Dhanayan is the son of Kuttappan of Kongothara. Gopi was admitted for emergency surgery yesterday evening. He died around 11.45 p.m, police said. The body was taken to the Alappuzha Medical College for post-mortem and later his body was released to the family. Gopi, a native of Nathiyattukunnam, North Paravur, was one of the survivors of an accident in Tamil Nadu when a vehicle carrying a police team from Kochi collided with a tourist bus near Salem killing one last month. He has 15 years of service in the department. Gopi is survived by wife Geetha and two children.
UDF plans march to make people aware of happenings in Muthanga
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ruling UDF plans a 'Kerala march' from March 24 to April 7 to make people aware of the facts behind Muthanga. UDF convener Oommen Chandy said after a meeting of UDF leaders in Thiruvananthapuram that during the march they will try to counter what they termed the misinformation campaign of the opposition on the Muthanga incidents. He charged that the opposition has violated all democratic norms in unleashing violence in their stir on Muthanga. The march will begin from Thiruvananthapuram on March 24 and conclude in Kasaragod on April 7.
Madhu Warrier makes his debut
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Madhu Warrier makes his debut: Manju Warrier's brother Madhu Warrier is making his debut as the hero in Campus, a big budget film directed by Mohan. Madhu, a hotel management graduate from Chennai was working in Hotel Leela Kempinski in Mumbai before leaving for US. But being bitten by the acting bug and while on a holiday he had told his sister Manju and brother-in-law Dileep about his desire to be launched in Malayalam. When producer David Kachapilly came to know about Madhu, he introduced him to Rajan, the producer of Campus who was on the lookout for a new-face. Rajan and director Mohan took a photo shoot and Madhu was signed immediately for the lead role in the film. Campus, as the title suggests is a campus love story with romance, college politics and action where Madhu plays the role of Rajeev Menon, a young and vibrant college student. The story and dialogues are by Cherian Kalpakavady and the heroine is Eva, who is also a debutant.
Four films for Mammooty
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Four films for Mammooty: 2003 might be a good year for Mammooty as he had got some good offers. 2002 was a thorny year for the actor. N Linguswamy who made Anandam and Run will be doing a film with the actor. Another film will be by A R Murugadas who recently made Deena and Ramana. Ezhil who made Thullathe Manavum Thullum, Pennin Manathai Thotte, Poovellam Unvasam and many other films will have Mammootty in his new film. This film will be shot abroad and Simran has been signed opposite the actor. K S Ravikumar who made Padayappa and Thenali will have Mammooty in his next venture. Pazhani Swamy's maiden film will have Mammotty in the lead role. Mammooty's Satyamurthy with Remya Krishnan will be released soon.
Mammooty in Rafi-Mecartin's film
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Mammooty in Rafi-Mecartin's film: Mammooty has been signed to act in Rafi-Mecartin's new film. After completing Chronic Bachelor, Mammooty will act in Lal Jose's Pattalam. The shooting of Pattalam will start on March 19 at Pollachi. Mamooty has given dates for sixty days and after that he will be joining the sets of Renjith's new film produced under the banner of Ambalakara Films. After that, Mammooty will join Rafi-Mercartin's set.
Kilichundan Mamabazham
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Priyadarshan was the director who presented a humorous Mohanlal to the people of Kerala. Together they made several slapstick comedies. They stopped when filmmakers hopped on the comic bandwagon, making a series of vulgar comedies. It has been years since they made films like Chitram or Kilukkam, but even now, in the mind of a film lover these two are their all time favourites. Now, they are teaming up once again in Kochu Kilichundan Mambazham, in which Mohanlal returns back to comedy. When in doubt play the trump and so goes the saying. And Mohanlal, who is desperately trying to faze out his ‘action image’, which has now become a drag, is exactly doing the same now. The hit-starved superstar has turned to his childhood enemy turned friend, director Priyadarshan, in his hour of distress. Mohanlal's fame came through Priyadarshan movies, which portrayed a new face for comedy. And now the mission of saving Lal’s sagging fortunes rest on the shoulder of Priyan. In an industry where friendship never lasts due to fragile egos, the Priyan-Lal bonding has withstood the test of the times. "Mohanlal had been overexposed in recent times doing silly roles of larger-than-life cardboard characters. What he needs right now is a down-to-earth simple character, which will work at the box-office", says Priyan. Mohanlal’s contribution has lot to do with the success of many Priyadarshan films. In Priyan’s own words, there is a line between buffoonery and humour, but Mohanlal never crosses that eventhough he goes to the edge. Priyan's Kochu Kilichundan Mambazham would help restore the old magic of Mohanlal and Sreenivasan's one-man-upmanship games. Kochu Kilichundan Mambazham set in a Muslim background, revolves round the story of Abdul Khader who walks around with a pickaxe and rope, wearing colourful handkerchief around his neck inside his shirt, and at times a Muslim skullcap. Khader is a honest timber trader who does all the jobs ranging from sorting out good trees, estimating the value and then cutting down the wood, all for himself. One day, by chance he meets Mymoona, the third wife of Moosakutty Haji, a local strongman. Mymoona was young and beautiful that Abdul soon feels obsessed with her and wants to run away with her. This raises a lot of hilarious situations and leads to an emotional twist in the climax. The film is being entirely shot in Malappuram district and has the central characters speaking in the `Moplah` accent. Added to that Vidyasagar's music will be in the Hindustani mould mixed with old Muslim songs of Malabar. Soundarya, the beautiful and seasoned actress, who had currently become the hottest property of Malayalam film industry, plays the role of Mymoona in the film. Soundarya is getting some good breaks in Malayalam films after her charming performance in Sathyan Anthikad's Yathrakkarude Shradakku. Now, if the film clicks, then Soundarya will see her popularity in Kerala go up a few notches. And that would indeed vindicate the choice of Priyadarshan and Mohanlal. Talking of changing trends, Mohanlal, who has been going through a roug patch after his projects are being bombed at the box office one after the other, hopes Kiluchundan Mambhazham will change his fortunes. Though he is not short of offers, Mohanlal desperately needs a big hit. The fans hope that the duo will deliver once again, giving the superstar’s sagging career a much-needed boost. And either it has to be Kiluchundan Mambazham or Mr Brahmachari.
Is Nandhanam A Theft.
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
It is a known fact in the malayalam film industry that Ranjith's Nandhanam is still running in theaters and the concerned enterprise is reaping a good harvest. Above all Nandhanam was the movie to receive awards for Best movie, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and so on. The deliberate fact of wonder so far was that there was no criticism about the movie in any aspect. But to the frustration, director Ranjith is facing some kind of criticism about the movie Nandhanam in course of these days and complaints are notpersuasive. The compliants points out that Nandhanam is the imitation of scenes from movies like Sargam, Naghashathangal and Ennu Swantham Janakikutty, moreover showing imitated stories and scenes to the audience is like misleading the cinema world and the audience. The course of action that solves the family problems through a song in Nandhanam is very similar to how actor Vineeth solves a family problem through a song in movie Sargam. Some criticism points out that role of Navya Nair in Nandhanam just the recreation of Monisha's role in Naghashitham. But director Ranjith says that all these complaints are raised by the contestants and it is common about coincidence of scenes from different movies and it cannot be considered as stealing of scenes from other movies.
LDF calls for hartal in Kerala on Tuesday
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front Opposition in Kerala has called for a state wide dawn-to-dusk hartal on Tuesday to protest against police action on LDF workers who took out a march to the office of superintendent of police in many parts of the state on Monday, demanding judicial probe into Muthanga issue. Announcing the decision, Opposition Leader VS Achuthanandan and other leaders said KSRTC, private vehicles, auto rickshaws and taxis have been exempted from the hartal in view of the ongoing school examinations. Conduct of SSLC and Plus two examinations would not be disturbed in any manner, he said. Achuthanandan said government vehicles would not be allowed to operate and urged business and other trading communities to cooperate by closing their establishments. As part of LDF campaign for judicial probe into the police firing on tribals at Muthanga, LDF would organise Taluk office march on March 25. Panchayat level campaign on the issue would be held on March 22 and 23. Achuthanandan said many senior LDF leaders were injured in Monday's police lathicharge and alleged that the action was pre-planned. This is the second hartal in the state by LDF in the last one week. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation sources said the corporation would operate its services on Tuesday.
Clashes in Kerala over firing probe
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Several hundred people, including policemen, were hurt in incidents across the state as Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) activists clashed with police on Monday. The protestors were demanding a judicial probe into the Muthanga incident. The Assembly had to be adjourned after the Opposition blocked all proceedings as the issue could not be discussed. The worst clash was in Kozhikode were some 100 people were injured. According to reports, the protesters damaged vehicles parked on the streets. The march turned violent as the police tried to prevent the marchers from entering the police commissionerate. In Kannur, the police fired 16 rubber bullets in the air and cane-charged the "unruly marchers". Protestors here blocked all the government offices here though the march was specifically against the offices of Superintendent of Police in the state. Twenty-five people, including three policemen, were injured. In Palakkad, 50 LDF leaders and rank sustained injuries in the police lathicharge and stone-throwing. Senior CPM leaders including former finance minister T Sivadasa Menon, N N Krishna Das (MP) were among those hurt. In Malappuram and Eranakulam, protestors were injured and traffic chocked for hours after the clashe. In Kollam district, mediapersons were among those attacked. In Thiruvananthapuram, trouble started when police stopped the marchers at Vellayambalam near the Raj Bhavan. Stones were thrown at government offices and traffic was affected. The march passed off peacefully in Karagode. The LDF leaders alleged that chief minister A K Antony had lost his sense of justice and demanded that he give up the home portfolio. The CPM state secretary Pinarai Vijayan blamed the "boorish" police for the violence. He said the agitation would continue till the government ordered a judicial probe into the Muthanga police firing. While condemning the violence, Antony regretted the fact that the protestors were not detered by the fact that six lakh students who would be taking their public examinations would be affected. Meanwhile, the LDF members in the Kerala Assembly boycotted the House in protest after their unsuccessful bid to get the Assembly discuss the clashes. After the symbolic walk out, however, they came in and stalled the procedings with slogan-shouting. The House had to be adjourned. The Union tribal welfare minister Juel Oram had insisted on a judicial inquiry into the Muthanga forest firing on tribals last month. Oram has also demanded the implementation of the 1975 tribal land restoration legislation instead of the tribal rehabilitation law the state had adopted in 1998. He expressed regret that successive state governments, the Left Front and the Congress-led United Front, had scuttled the Central legislation promulgated for the adivasis across the land and ignored even rehabilitation part. Oram was speaking to the media at Kozhikode after he visited Muthanga and Sultan Battery on Monday. He said the state government blaming the Centre for shortage of land was baseless as the Union government had nothing to do with tribal land issue of Kerala.
Violence marks LDF march, call for hartal tomorrow
Monday, March 17, 2003
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 17 : Nearly 500 people, including 171 police personnel, were injured today when a Left Democratic Front (LDF) march to the offices of Superintendents of Police across Kerala turned violent, leading to police firing rubber bullets in two places, besides using tear gas and lathicharge to disperse the protestors. Besides 17 vehicles being torched, the violence also left 17 other vehicles, including three KSRTC buses, damaged. The LDF had organised the march to demand a judicial probe into last month's police action on agitating tribals of Muthanga. The LDF, meanwhile, has called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal tomorrow in protest against what they termed "police brutality" on marchers. Police said large-scale violence was reported from Thiruvananthapuram, Pallakad, Kannur and Kozhikode, while marchers stoned police teams and vehicles in most other districts. In Kannur, the protesters hurled country-made bombs at the police and torched six four wheelers and two motorbikes besides damaging 22 vehicles, including three KSRTC buses. Files and furniture in the town Circle Inspector's office were set afire. The nearly 350 injured, included Lok Sabha members T Govindan and A P Abdullakutty and MLA M V Govindan Master. In Palakkad, the mob set on fire a van belonging to Malayala Manorama daily, threw stones at the district collector's residence and damaged a police aid post. Police lobbed teargas shells and fired plastic bullets to disperse them. The injured police personnel included two District Superintendents, three DYSPs, one Assistant commissioner, one woman circle inspector and five sub-inspectors, police said. In the state capital, marchers set ablaze two government vehicles, while they were on their way to the DGP's office. In Kozhikode, about 100 people were injured in clashes with police which led to a lathicharge. Kerala Film Development Corporation Chairman P V Gangadharan was injured when the car in which he was travelling was attacked by the agitators. Police said in Kochi, the protesters pelted stones at the city police commissioner's office and heavily stoned the police party. The marchers also resorted to stone-pelting at police and vehicles in Wayanad, Malappuram, Idukki, Alapuzha, Kottayam. In several places mediapersons covering the march also came under attack. While CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan blamed the UDF government for today's violence, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M M Hassan accused the LDF of unleashing violence as part of its 'hidden agenda' to sabotage the development programmes of the government.
Saudia to fly bi-weekly to Kochi
Monday, March 17, 2003
Jeddah: Saudi Arabian airline Saudia will begin bi-weekly flights to Kochi from March 30. Khaled Bin Bakr, director general of Saudia, said the Jeddah-Riyadh-Kochi flights would be operated on Sundays and Mondays. Bakr said India and Egypt were the airline's biggest markets in Asia and Africa respectively. The airline will also start flights to the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh from June 25. This brings the total number of domestic and international destinations covered by the airline to 80 -- 54 international and 26 domestic. In December, India and Saudi Arabia agreed to increase the number of flights between the countries by 25 percent -- from 24 to 30 per week. As of now, Saudia operates flights to Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai. Authorities also agreed to increase the number of airline seats on the route in order to cope with the increasing volume of traffic. Saudia will ferry an estimated 900 more passengers a week once the flights to Kochi begin. Air-India is also increasing its flights to Riyadh by 50 percent, from six to nine per week, resulting in an increase in capacity by 900 passengers. Earlier this month Qatar Airways began flights to Kochi. The flights will leave on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Qatar Airways operates 19 flights a week to the Indian cities of Kochi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram.
Kerala House adjourned over Muthanga issue
Monday, March 17, 2003
Thiruvananthapuram, March 17. Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Kerala House over Muthanga issue leading to early adjournment of the House today. Trouble started after slogan shouting LDF Opposition members disrupted the discussion on supplementary demands for grants for 2002-03 over the alleged police lathicharge on LDF activists who took out State-wide processions demanding a judicial inquiry into police firing on tribals at Muthanga. Opposition members except floor leaders of the LDF constituent barged into the well and staged a sit-in dharna till the House was adjourned.
Centre to issue guidelines on minority educational institutions
Monday, March 17, 2003
Centre to issue guidelines on minority educational institutions in view of Supreme Court order The Centre will soon issue guidelines with regard to unaided minority institutions in the context of a recent Supreme Court judgement on the issue, Union Human Resources Development Murli Manohar Joshi has said. Talking to newspersons at Thiruvananthapuram, he said the apex court's judgment was interpreted differently by different States, resulting in a lack of unformity regarding admission procedures, quota of merit and management seats and fee structure. Joshi said his Ministry had recently constituted a committee in the wake of the meeting of state secretaries of education and technical education, to look into the issue. The committee, headed by Subash Kayshap, would submit its report this month. "Once the report is received, the Government will study all aspects and seek legal advice and issue guidelines based on sound legal substance," he added.
Karunakran flays new labour laws
Monday, March 17, 2003
Congress leader K Karunakran flays new labour laws for their anti-labour bias Senior Congress leader K Karunakaran has come down heavily on the new labour laws that the UDF has touted to usher in an era of industrial development in the State. He said the anti-labour provisions in the law should be re-examined. Mr Karunakaran was also critical of labour minister Babu Divakaran for being instrumental in pushing the law changes through. The Congress leader said it is detrimental to the interests of the labour if partymen assume trade union leadership. This would result in a very pliant leadership which would not move agianst the government. He was addressing a labour seminar in Thiruvananthapuram.
Man arrested with Rs 240-million drugs
Monday, March 17, 2003
The police have taken Nazir who was nabbed with brown sugar worth Rs 240 million, to Surat via Mumbai for further investigation. Nasir was arrested in Kollam with a consignment that is believed to have been brought from Ajmir of Rajasthan through Madhya Pradesh. The police s |
