Congress asks Goa Governor to let it form government
Panaji, May 18: Congress leaders met Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, urging her to follow the precedent set in Karnataka and invite the Congress in Goa to form a government as it was the single largest party with 16 MLAs in the Assembly.
Emerging from the Raj Bhavan, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar told reporters that a representation had been submitted to the Governor, requesting her to "right the past wrong" of inviting the BJP to form the government in Goa in March 2017 and now invite the 16-member Congress legislative party to form the government instead.
"We have asked her to do what the Karnataka Governor has done and invite the Congress as the single largest party to form the government in Goa. This current government has to be dismissed," Kavlekar told reporters.
Kavlekar said that the Congress in Goa was capable of forming a government and prove its majority in the 40-member Assembly if it was invited to do so by Sinha.
"She has told us that she will respond to our letter in two days," Kavlekar said.
The BJP won 13 seats in the 2017 election compared to the 17 won by the Congress, which emerged as the single largest party.
But after swift political maneuvering, the BJP staked claimed to power with two regional parties and independent MLAs and formed a coalition government after getting a swift nod from Governor Mridula Sinha.
A Congress legislator, Vishwajit Rane, subsequently quit the party and joined the BJP -- eventually to become a cabinet minister -- taking the saffron party's strength to 14 in the Assembly.
Currently, the Bharatiya Janata Party and its coalition allies have a strength of 23 legislators, with 14 from the BJP, three each from Goa Forward and Maharashtrwadi Gomantak Party and three independent MLAs.
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Kerala government to create microsite on ‘Islam in Kerala’ to boost tourism
Thiruvananthapuram: In a bid to showcase Kerala’s rich Islamic heritage and attract a diverse range of tourists, the Kerala government will create a microsite on ‘Islam in Kerala’. The initiative, supported by Kerala Tourism, will feature a comprehensive digital presentation tracing the historical and cultural roots of Islam in the state. Kerala Tourism has sanctioned a sum of Rs 93.8 lakh for the development of the microsite, which aims to highlight the socio-cultural evolution of Islam in Kerala over centuries.
Islam has a deep-rooted history in Kerala, dating back to the 7th century. The microsite will serve as a digital platform to explore the role of Islam in shaping Kerala’s history, architecture, lifestyle, arts, and cultural practices.
The microsite will be divided into six chapters, each highlighting a distinct aspect of Islamic heritage in Kerala, aimed at both domestic and international travellers. According to an RTI filed recently, the content for the microsite is currently under development, with active research being carried out. Field shoots are being conducted at various historic mosques across the state to visually document it.
The first chapter, ‘History of Islam in Kerala’ will focus on the early introduction of Islam in the region, particularly through traders and their first settlement along the Malabar coast, as reported by The Hindu.
Chapter two will be on the Islamic pilgrim centres in Kerala such as Beemapally in Thiruvananthapuram and Juma Masjid in Kasaragod. A host of ancient mosques which are pilgrim centres, including the Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kodungallur, Jama-at Mosque in Malappuram, Mishkal Mosque in Kozhikode, Odathil Palli in Thalassery, Palayam Mosque in Thiruvananthapuram, Ponnani Juma Masjid, Pazhayangadi Mosque in Kondotty and Vavar Mosque in Erumely, will be featured, the publication added.
A third chapter will delve into the rich culinary skills of Muslims — Mappila cuisine, the distinct culinary tradition that blends traditional Kerala, Persian, Yemeni, and Arab influences. This segment will highlight the vibrant costumes of the community, including weddings, pre-wedding, and post-wedding ceremonies, which are expected to be an attraction for tourists.
Another chapter will focus on architecture, particularly the fusion of Arabic and indigenous construction techniques seen in the state.
The final chapter will cover art forms and festivals celebrated by Muslims in Kerala, including the influence of Mappila songs, a form of folklore that emerged in the 16th century.
“There is a need to bring together all the information on Islam, which played an important role in shaping Kerala, under one roof, as part of tourism promotion. This will help tourists and play a major role in bringing religious scholars, historians, students, and pilgrims to Kerala,” a senior officer with Kerala Tourism told the news outlet.
The launch date of the ‘Islam in Kerala’ microsite has not been decided yet. Earlier, Kerala Tourism had created similar microsites on Christianity, Judaism, and temples in Kerala.
