At CPI(M) event in TN, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan slams Centre's language policy
Nagercoil (TN) (PTI): Sharing a dais with his Tamil Nadu counterpart and DMK supremo M K Stalin here, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has alleged that the Union government was misusing central agencies for persecuting the BJP's political rivals.
Vijayan called for a joint fight by CPI(M) and the Dravidian party against the BJP on many issues, including protection of regional languages.
"We have long talked about the political misuse of central investigative agencies and the agencies like ED and CBI were being misused for political persecution," the Kerala Chief Minister said.
"Many of the ED cases go unpunished. There is no big difference in CBI cases also. It means that their credibility has been eroded by political abuse," Vijayan said, while addressing a function organised by the CPI(M) Tamil Nadu unit here on Monday to mark the 200th anniversary of the 'Thol Sheelai Porattam' (Channar revolt).
Vijayan made the allegations against the central agencies weeks after his former principal secretary M Sivasankar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged Life Mission housing project bribe case.
Raking up the anti-Hindi sentiments of Dravidian parties, Vijayan said: "We know that the slogan of one language, one country, one culture is that of fascism and will destroy India's diversity."
"I remember DMK fighting for language protection. Today, we see the imposition of Hindi becoming a reality in the country and those who rule the Centre have become its advocates and practitioners," Vijayan said.
The veteran Left leader said there were many factors that can bring the Left party and the DMK together in their fight against the Centre.
This includes protection of language and preservation of the federal structure of the country and also the protection of the states' needs and the fierce struggle for rights, he added.
The Kerala Chief Minister also claimed that there are parties in every state to stand with the DMK and the CPI(M) in all these issues.
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T'gana RTC strike: Talks between govt, employees successful
Hyderabad (PTI): Talks between employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) who were on strike and the state government concluded successfully on Friday as the government agreed to the key demands of the workmen.
Following a day-long marathon of talks between the leaders of the employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the cabinet sub-committee, the government announced after midnight that it acceded to the demands, including a merger of RTC with the government, 11 per cent pay revision and elections to the employees' unions.
A committee comprising officials and employee leaders would be appointed over the merger of RTC with the government, it said.
The RTC management has also agreed to address the remaining issues as well, an official release said.
The employees would call off their strike and the RTC buses would hit the roads shortly, it said.
The employees had been on an indefinite strike since April 22 over a series of demands, including the merger of RTC with the government.
Earlier in the day, a driver of the RTC, who attempted suicide on April 23 during the strike, died at a hospital here in the early hours of Friday.
Shankar Goud, a 55-year-old driver, set himself ablaze by pouring petrol at Narsampet in Warangal district when the employees were staging a protest on Thursday in support of their demands.
Goud suffered serious burns, was initially admitted to a state-run hospital in Warangal, and later shifted to a super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad for advanced treatment.
"He succumbed (to injuries) at about 1.30 am on Friday," a senior official said.
The driver’s body was taken to his relative’s village, Muttojipet in Warangal district, for funeral rites.
Tension prevailed in Muttojipet as his family members and RTC employees attempted to take the body to the Narsampet bus station, where he worked, to enable his colleagues to pay their last respects. However, police did not permit this, citing law-and-order concerns.
This led to a deadlock before the funeral could proceed.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the Telangana government for not allowing the body to be taken to the Narsampet bus station.
Kumar, Minister of State (Home), visited Muttojipet village in Warangal district, where the funeral was held, and paid homage to Goud.
“They (family members) want to take the body to the bus depot for five minutes. Is the RTC bus depot in Pakistan or Bangladesh? They are emotionally attached to taking the body there. The government is hurting sentiments and creating fear among RTC employees,” Kumar told reporters.
He also expressed anger at the police for not allowing the body to be taken to the bus station and staged a protest, according to a release from his office.
RTC employees and BJP workers attempted to take the mortal remains in an ambulance to Narsampet, but were stopped by the police.
Later, after discussions with the police, the family members and RTC employees agreed to conduct the funeral in the village.
Sanjay Kumar, stating he would abide by the family’s decision, left the village after the funeral was conducted there.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh, a house, and a government job would be provided to the kin of Goud.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the employee’s death and conveyed deep condolences to the grieving family, according to the release.
The RTC employees’ JAC had earlier announced an agitation programme from April 24 to 29, including silent marches and submission of memorandums to MLAs and other leaders.
