State Minister M.B. Rajesh said if such an attempt becomes a reality it will weaken the federal structure of India and compromise the country’s diverse parliamentary democracy….reports Asian Lite News
The Kerala Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Central government’s approval of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal recommended by the Ramnath Kovind Committee.
With Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan indisposed, the resolution was introduced on his behalf by the State Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.B. Rajesh under Rule 118 of the Assembly Procedures which said this was “undemocratic” and “unconstitutional”.
In the 140-member Assembly, there is not a single BJP legislator nor any party of the BJP-led NDA alliance and therefore it was a foregone conclusion that the resolution will be unanimously passed.
Minister Rajesh while presenting the resolution said if such an attempt becomes a reality it will weaken the federal structure of India and compromise the country’s diverse parliamentary democracy.
He also said that the Kovind committee report mentions reducing costs, but later said that there are other ways to do so and this is nothing but an attempt to centralise power, which is the agenda of the RSS and BJP.
The Opposition benches also did not doubt that this is impractical for Indian democracy.
Incidentally, both CM Vijayan and Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan had echoed similar opinions last month and it was very clear the passing of the resolution was a mere formality.
Incidentally, the CPI, the second largest party in the ruling CPI-M government, has taken a strong position and they said this was a ploy by the Sangh Parivar forces to impose homogeneity in all spheres of life.
“After one tax, one language, one culture, one religion, they are trying to move in the direction of one election, one party, and one leader has been their repeated statements,” they said.
HC inquires about Central funds for Wayanad
The Kerala High Court on Thursday sought the Central government’s response on funds for disaster relief in the state’s landslide-hit Wayanad.
The court, which had initiated a suo moto case in the wake of the disaster, orally told Additional Solicitor General A.R.L. Sundaresan, appearing for the Centre, to “get some positive action from the Central government because we need to get Wayanad back on rails as soon as possible”.
The division bench of Justice A.K.Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. had previously noted that the National Disaster Management Response Fund and the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund have not released any amounts for disaster relief to Kerala, after the deadly Wayanad landslides. In the court, it was pointed out that states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have received allocations from the State Disaster Management Response Fund (SDRF) and the National Disaster Management Response Fund (NDRF). However, Sundaresan sought time until October 18 (Friday) to obtain instructions from the Centre and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The landslide disaster on July 30 left four villages in Wayanad totally destroyed. As many as 231 people lost their lives while 47 people continue to be missing. As many as 145 homes were fully destroyed, 170 homes were partially destroyed, 240 homes were declared uninhabitable, and 183 homes were washed away.
Meanwhile, the state government filed a statement detailing lands that are suitable for the resettlement of affected people. “The land has been examined by an expert body and was found suitable for settlement,” the bench was told.
Brinda Karat slams Kerala Governor
Senior Leader and Polit Bureau member of Communist Party of India (Marxist) Brinda Karat on Thursday hit back on Kerala Givernor Arif Mohammad Khan for seeking report from CM Pinarayi Vijayan over his recent remark on the “nature of anti-national activities” and actions taken against those involved.
Speaking to ANI, Karat said that, “It’s very unfortunate to make such remark as it seems that Kerala governor is a serial offender for the violation of the Constitution propriety and his constitutional role.”
“Governor Khan has absolutely no right under the constitution of India to comment, or to ask in a written demand from the CM about any remark he may or may not have made. The very fact that he is acting like this is because he is not acting as Ambassador of constitution of India but as the ambassador from Delhi Raj in Kerala repersenting the narrow interest of BJP,” she told ANI.
On October 8, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had issued a letter to the Rajbhavan stating that summoning officials without informing the elected government is beyond the constitutional authority of the governor.
Earlier, Governor Arif Muhammad Khan summoned the Chief Secretary and DGP to Raj Bhavan for direct explanations on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s remarks regarding gold smuggling in Malappuram and those funds being used for anti-State and anti-national activities and on phone tapping allegations by PV Anwar MLA
Kerala Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb and Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan did not appear before Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.
On September 30, a media report attributed remarks to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan concerning gold smuggling in the Malappuram district. The Chief Minister’s office later issued a clarification, stating that the quotes had been wrongly attributed to him. (ANI)