Budding engineers from University of Surrey join hands in rebuilding Kerala
Students work with Faisal and Shabana Foundation's relief work in state
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep.10: Kerala is slowly trying to come to normalcy and stand on its feet again after it was hit by worst floods in nearly a century.
Extraordinary efforts of state Government lead by Chief Minister , Ministers , MLAs, bureaucrats, organisations, businessmen, journalists and others has garnered appreciation from all corners. Now its the turn of Kerala based students studying abroad.
Ahmed Zak Faizal studying at University of Surrey, England has come to Kerala along with some of his classmates to take part in relief works. They cleaned a destitute children's home, Anugraha Sadan near Chalakudy recently.
Zak and his friends offered their service to Kerala, through Faizal and Shabana Foundation run by his father , Kerala based prominent NRI business tycoon Faizal Kottikollon and Mother Shabana Faizal.
Clothes, medicines, food items, toys and other items donated by the employees of KEF, an eminent entity owned by Zak's parents were also distributed.
A first year Mechanical engineering student at University of Surrey, Zak is the grandson of P.K. Ahmed of Calicut in Kerala and B.Ahmed Haji Mohiuddin from Thumbay, Mangaluru.
KEF , now known as KEF Katerra is a global construction technology company, considered pioneer of Offsite manufacturing, precast infrastructure & modular construction. The world's first and also the largest offsite manufacturing plant was launched by KEF in Krishnagiri near Bengaluru in December , 2016.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
