SC orders to shift Madhani to Manipal Hospital soon

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Monday ordered to shift PDP chairman Abdul Nazar Madhani, jailed in the Karnataka jail in the Bangalore blasts case, immediately to Manipal Hospital in Bangalore for treatment. The court said his bail plea will be considered once his health condition improves.

If by any chance treatment is denied by Manipal Hospital then he should be admitted to Government owned Victoria Hospital.

Meantime, the court said his bail plea will be considered only after his health condition improves. The court said priority is given to his health.

The court directed to arrange a room for Madhani with tight security. The Karnataka Government should bear the hospital expenses of Madhani. The government will be in charge of the security provided to him. His family members will be permitted to meet him during treatment.  

In the meanwhile, Kerala informed the Supreme Court that they are willing to provide security to Madhani if bail is granted to him.

People have faith in VS, says Aryadan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The people of the state have faith in opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, said Minister Aryadan Muhammed.  He praised the opposition leader during the release of a collection of cartoons by K B Hari Kumar.

VS is one of the staunch communists we have today and the most respectable person. Even if he has done anything wrong in the party, the people have full faith in him, said the minister.

Minister P K Kunhalikutty had the other day said the era of VS in the CPM is over.

Why observing hartal, asks CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government’s stand is to implement the Kasturirangan report keeping apart the Gadgil committee report in connection with the protection of the Western Ghats after holding talks with everybody and remove the anxiety from the minds of the people, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Chandy said the draft notification has not been released yet. The states opinion will also be heard. In this situation, why is the LDF observing this hartal, asked Chandy?  The state has lost Rs 900 crore in this hartal.

Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan had earlier demanded to implement the Madhav Gadgil Report. He was the only one political leader who raised the demand and now the hartal is observed with his support, blamed Chandy.

The CPM had earlier favoured the Kasturirangan report. CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier supported the report at an all-party meeting.

The government’s policy is to protect people’s demands along with the protection of the environment. Any condition which is anti-people will not be allowed to be implemented. The directive to separate ecologically sensitive and non-sensitive in villages will be proposed. The Malayalam version of the notification will be made available in all villages, he said

Mani admits having problems in party

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There are problems in the Kerala Congress (Mani), admitted party chairman and Minister K M Mani. Problems in the party are quite natural. Talking to reporters here, he said all that can be solved through talks. Mani said this when asked about the postponement of the high power panel meeting.

Meantime, Minister P J Joseph said the meeting has been postponed due to his inconvenience. He said the meeting will be convened on the 27th of this month. Differences of opinion will be solved through discussions. Joseph refused to respond when asked whether he has sought the removal of P C George from the post of chief whip.

Mani to partake in CPM plenum

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Congress (M) chairman K M Mani said that he will partake in the CPM plenum to be convened in Palakkad. Talking to reporters here, he said that he is attending the seminar of the plenum as he has been invited.

Mani said there is no need to exaggerate the issue. Is it necessary to look the astrology of a baby who is not yet born, he asked. The party’s socializing is transparent.

Kasturirangan Report: Hartal turns violent

KOZHIKODE: Widespread violent incidents were witnessed during the hartal staged in the hilly sectors of Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in protest against the implementation of the Kasturirangan Report.

Stones were pelted at vehicles in Thamarasseri. Three offices of forest department were attacked. Cameras of media offices were damaged and vehicles were attacked. Newspaper bundles to Wayanad were set ablaze.

The LDF will observe a hartal in Idukki and Kannur districts tomorrow for the same reason.

Saritha revealed names of ministers, says Biju Radhakrishnan

ALUVA: Biju Radhakrishnan, the first accused in the solar case, Friday said Saritha S Nair had revealed the names of two ministers and a former minister. The names mentioned by Saritha were that of Minister of State K C Venugopal, Minister A P Anil Kumar and former minister K B Ganesh Kumar.

Biju told the names to reporters when he was brought to the Aluva Court in connection with a case.

The additional CJM N V Raju had told the high court registrar that Saritha had told him that she was sexually exploited. But Raju’s version was that he neither noticed the names nor recorded her statement.

No question of implementing Kasturirangan report in haste: Chandy

KOZHIKODE: With the Centre's decision to implement key suggestions of the Kasturirangan panel on Western Ghats conservation triggering protests in the state, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Saturday said there was no question of implementing it in haste.

"There is no question of government implementing it in a haste. No one will be evicted or prevented from pursuing their means of livelihood," he said at the inauguration of the District 'Chief Minister's mass Contact programme' here.

Apparently referring to the violence that erupted in various parts of the district over the notification, he said the present notification should not be taken as the final word on the issue. "It is only a 'draft' and there is four months time to give suggestions on the report," he said.

As per the report, 123 villages in various districts have been identified as ecologically sensitive areas, he said, adding "many of us may have differences over villages that have identified under the ecologically sensitive category."

Noting that environment protection was required for all, he said it should be done without affecting people's lives.

Chandy said work on the 'Japan drinking water project' being implemented in Kozhikode, was progressing fast and expected to be completed at the earliest.

He said everyone had the right to protest but it should not be through violent means.

The Centre's decision to implement salient recommendations of the Kasturirangan panel on conservation of Western Ghats has sparked protests across Kerala, which has thousands of people living on the slopes of the biodiversity hot spot.

A police vehicle was Friday torched and government offices targeted in upland areas of Kozhikode district as violence marred protests by local resistance groups against Centre's decision.

Ruling Congress-led UDF and opposition LDF have voiced concern over the 'unilateral' decision to implement the key recommendations of the panel even as the Centre clarified that the direction it issued was not final.

Police is maintaining tight vigil following the protests and a demonstration today by the LDF demanding the resignation of Chandy over the solar scam.

Police has blocked the rally by the LDF to block entry points on two main roads, police said.

Some 2100 police personnel have been deployed for security purpose in and around the venue and in the town.