Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 17: As protests continued against the amended Citizenship Act, top Malayalam actor Mammootty on Tuesday said the country can forge ahead as a nation only when one rises above caste, creed and religious considerations.

"We can forge ahead as a nation only when we rise above caste, creed, religion and other considerations.

Anything against such a spirit of togetherness is to be discouraged," Mammootty wrote in his official Facebook Page though he did not explicitly mention the controversial Act.

Kerala had made headlines on Monday when the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front and the opposition United Democratic Front, spearheaded by the Congress, came together against the CAA and the Centre.

Echoing similar views, Mammootty's son and actor Dulquer Salman in a post said: "Secularism, democracy and equality are our birthright and we must resist any attempt to destroy it.

However, do remember that our tradition is that of Ahimsa and non-violence. Protest peacefully and stand up for a better India. #longlivesecularism #unitedwestand," the 'Zoya Factor' actor posted.

Many Malayalam actors, including Prithviraj, Parvathy, Tovino, Kunchacko Boban and Amala Paul have taken to social media to express their views against the CAA and the police action on students of Jamia Millia Islamia university in Delhi.

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Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu has emerged as India's top state in textile exports, recording shipments worth USD 7,997.17 million for the fiscal year 2024-25, which is an increase of 29.12 per cent over the last four years, the government said.

The state has witnessed a 29 per cent increase in export value in the last four years, an official release said.

In 2020-21, Tamil Nadu's textile exports stood at USD 6,193 million.

Chief Minister M K Stalin said Tamil Nadu has successfully outpaced competitors like Gujarat and Maharashtra to secure the first position.

"Tamil Nadu's export volume of textiles, which was USD 6,193.39 million in 2020-21 due to the planned actions of the Dravidian Model government, rose to USD 7,997.17 million in the next four years. Overall, in India's exports, Tamil Nadu accounts for 21.84 per cent," he wrote in a social media post.

As per the National-Import-Export Record for Yearly Analysis of Trade data, the value of textile goods shipped from India was USD 36,610 million, of which Tamil Nadu accounted for USD 7,997.17 million.

The National Import-Export Record for Yearly Analysis of Trade is a dedicated platform launched by the Centre to provide real-time comprehensive data on foreign trade.

"Tamil Nadu is in first place in India in textile export," the release said.

The state has emerged at the top with higher exports among all other states, the release said, adding that schemes implemented by every government department led to a multifaceted growth of the State.

Gujarat bagged the second rank with exports of USD 5,646.01 million followed by Maharashtra at USD 3,831.29 million, it added.