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Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 07, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

Vedi criticises Antony

KOTTAYAM April 6. The Hindu Aikya Vedi general secretary, Kummanam Rajasekharan, has accused the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, of succumbing to pressure from coalition partner Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on the issue of an effective investigation into the Marad incident. Speaking to presspersons here today, Mr. Rajasekharan, who was here as part of the Hindu Rights Week observance, alleged that the IUML was instrumental in rendering the investigation of the Government-appointed commission ineffective by denying access to police reports on the subject. He said the Hindu organisations which had entered into a treaty with the Government on the Marad issue felt cheated on account of the employment of double standard on the part of the Government. The Hindu Rights Week observance would formally conclude in Thiruvananthapuram on April 10. The Viswa Hindu Parishad leader, Praveen Togadia, would inaugurate the valedictory function.

Dravida party merges in SP

KOCHI April 6. The Secular National Dravida Party has merged in the Samajwadi Party (SP). The decision was taken at a meeting of the Dravida Party on March 28, according to the SP State president, P.M. Harris, and the Dravida Party chairman, S. Suvarnakumar. Mr. Suvarnakumar was subsequently appointed general secretary of the SP in the State. The SP State unit would work for the victory of P. Ameer, who is contesting to the Lok Sabha from Lakshwadeep.

Plea to change exam date

The All-Kerala Cathlic Congress Socio-Political Samiti has petitioned the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, and the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Sonia Gandhi, to shift to some other day the medical entrance examination scheduled on Easter. Davis Thomas Ambatt, chairman of the AKCC, said here today that holding the examination on Easter was a `humiliation to the Christian community.'

BJP charge against Edezhath

The BJP district president and Ernakulam constituency election committee general convener, A.D. Divakaran, has said that the party would complain to the Election Commission against the UDF candidate, Edward Edezhath, for violating the model code of conduct. In a statement here on Tuesday, he said Mr. Edezhath's statement describing himself as `the Catholic Church's candidate,' made in an interview given to a Malayalam newspaper and a television channel, had violated the poll rules.

Life term for murder accused

THALASSERY April 6. The accused in the murder case of a Railway pantry car worker was awarded life sentence by the Additional District and Sessions Court Fast Track I here today. The judge, Sundaram Govind, convicted V.P. Ummarkutty (47) of Punnol, near here, in the murder case under IPC Section 302. The convict should undergo life imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs. 1,000. In case of default, he should undergo one month's additional imprisonment. According to the prosecution, Ummarkutty, who had been illegally vending soft drinks on trains, had pushed out the pantry car worker, Irakkum Komathuveetil Kumaran, of a running train bound for Mangalore when it reached near the railway station here at 7-50 p.m. on February 20, 1999, killing him.

Lawyers' forum to back LDF

KOZHIKODE April 6. The Purogamana Abhibhashaka Vedi will work for the success of the LDF candidate, M.P. Veerendrakumar, in the Kozhikode Parliamentary constituency. A meeting of the Vedi held here today expressed the view that only the LDF would be able to conserve the democratic system in the country besides strengthening its secular polity of India.

Teachers to boycott valuation

The Kerala Aided Higher Secondary Teachers Association (KAHSTA) today said its supporters would boycott examination valuation camps from tomorrow to protest against the denial of `Camp DA' to teachers doing valuation work. The Association president, Joshy Antoney, alleged that the protest was against the Education Minister, Nalakath Soopy, freezing a Government order raising Camp DA from Rs.70 to Rs.100, which he claimed was in line with an understanding reached at discussions held with the Secretary for Education.

He said the boycott of valuation work would continue until the demand was met.

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