CPM decides against former Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja accepting Raman Magsaysay Award
A report published in the New Indian Express has claimed that the CPM leader KK Shailaja was selected for the 64th Magsaysay Award for her commitment and service towards ensuring an accessible health system and effectively leading from the front to manage the Nipah and COVID-19 outbreaks in Kerala but the CPM scuttled the chance.
According to the reports, Shailaja who is the former Health Minister of Kerala and a senior leader of CPM, consulted the party leadership when the Magsaysay Foundation reached out to her through email for confirming her willingness to accept the award. The party leadership, after looking at the different aspects of the award decided against her accepting it.
The report further added that the public announcement of Shailaja’s name as the recipient of the award this year was supposed to be made towards the end of August subject to her acceptance of the award. The party while deciding against her accepting the order, opined that she was only doing the duty entrusted to her by the party. In addition, the state’s efforts in fighting the Nipah outbreak and the Covid pandemic were part of a collective movement and therefore she need not accept the award in her individual capacity.
Following this, Shailaja wrote to the foundation expressing her inability to accept the award. It’s also learnt that the party decided against her receiving the award as it was in the name of Magsaysay who was known for putting down Communist guerillas. The CPM felt that accepting such an award would backfire in the long run, the report added.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
