CPI(M) holds massive pro-Palestine rally at Kerala's Kozhikode
Kozhikode, Nov 11: The ruling CPI(M) on Saturday held a massive rally here expressing solidarity with the people of war-ravaged Palestine and attacked the BJP-led union government over it's alleged pro-Israel stand.
Kerala Chief Minister and senior CPI(M) leader, Pinarayi Vijayan said the Left parties will not stand neutral during a fight between the right and the wrong and will stand firmly with the people of Palestine.
Vijayan said the BJP took a stand against humanity and the Centre does not reflect the sentiments of the Indian people.
"Those who refused to extend support to our brothers in Manipur, did not waste a second to express solidarity with the Israeli government which is moving forward with the genocidal aggression," Vijayan said, addressing the massive gathering here.
Attacking the Israeli government and the BJP in India, Vijayan said both are "driven by racial fanaticism" like Hitler.
"The people of India are with the people of Palestine who are resisting. But the Indian government is not reflecting the sentiments of the people here," Vijayan said, claiming that BJP was proud of its cooperation with Israel.
The chief minister said the Left party strongly stands with the people of Palestine.
"We are not neutral. The Left politics is not neutral. When there is a fight between the right and the wrong, we cannot stay neutral. We are with Palestine," Vijayan asserted.
The senior Left leader said the BJP government diluted the foreign policy of India to extend support to Israel.
Referring to the invitation extended to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) a major ally of the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), Vijayan said they were invited after they expressed support to the cause.
The IUML, on November 4, however, said that they will not participate in the CPI(M) rally citing technical reasons of being part of the opposition-led UDF.
The CPI(M)'s invitation to IUML had irked the Congress, which alleged that the Left party was trying to destabilise the UDF.
About 1,200 people in Israel were killed after Hamas' surprise attack on October 7. Israel has responded with weeks of attacks in Gaza, which have killed more than 11,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry most of them Palestinian civilians.
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Centre further tightens wheat stock limit for wholesalers, retailers & processors
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday further tightened wheat stock holding norms for wholesalers, small and big chain retailers, and processors to curb hoarding and check price rise.
"As part of continuous efforts to moderate prices of wheat, the central government has decided to revise the wheat stock limit applicable until 31st March 2025," the food ministry said in a statement.
According to the revised norms, wholesalers are now allowed to maintain wheat stock up to 1,000 tonne instead of 2,000 tonne, retailer can hold 5 tonne for each outlet instead of 10 tonne, while big chain retailer can hold 5 tonne for each outlet instead of 10 tonne earlier.
Processors will be allowed to maintain 50 per cent instead of 60 per cent of their monthly installed capacity multiplied by the remaining months till April 2025.
The stock limits on wheat were first imposed on June 24 and later revised to tighten the norms on September 9 in order to manage the overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation.
The ministry said all wheat stocking entities are required to register on the wheat stock limit portal (https://evegoils.Nic.In/wsp/login) and update the stock position every Friday.
If the stocks held by entities are higher than the prescribed limit, they should bring the quantity to the prescribed stock limits within 15 days of the issue of the notification.
Any entity which is found to have not registered on the portal or violates the stock limits will be subject to suitable punitive action under the Essential Commodities Act,1955.
The food ministry is maintaining close watch over the stock position of wheat to control prices and ensure easy availability in the country.
