Malappuram remarks: IUML accuses SNDP leader of trying to please BJP
Kozhikode (Kerala) (PTI): Criticising SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan for his remarks on Malappuram district, the IUML on Sunday accused him of attempting to please BJP and gain national attention.
SNDP represents the numerically strong Ezhava community in Kerala.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) sought to know under what circumstances the prominent Ezhava leader made certain remarks "against" the Muslim-dominated district and asked him to explain the difficulties being faced by the other communities there.
How are the Muslims of Malappuram posing a threat to the Hindus living there, senior IUML leader M K Muneer asked while talking to a TV channel.
"There is an agenda to please the BJP. People have become too narrow-minded to think that they would get national attention if they spoke something against Malappuram," he said.
Describing Malappuram as a land of communal harmony, the leader wondered why the district has been targeted by certain people for some time now.
The IUML leader accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of launching negative propaganda against Malappuram and recalled a few recent statements of the left veteran that turned controversial.
When asked whether the party would initiate legal action against Natesan, Muneer said not just IUML but every community should stand united and check such propaganda against the district.
"It is a matter to be dealt with legally," he added.
While addressing a convention of Ezhava community members at Chungathara on Friday, Natesan said, "I think, you (community members) cannot live here speaking your independent opinion. Malappuram is a separate nation or a separate state of certain people."
He said that people of this backward community are living in constant fear in Malappuram and they could not even breathe freely here and are treated just as "voting machines".
He further said that was the reason for the continued backwardness of the Ezhava people in Malappuram.
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Kurla bus tragedy: Court denies bail to accused driver again
Mumbai (PTI): A court here on Friday denied bail to the driver of the BEST bus, which was involved in an accident that killed nine persons and left 42 others injured four months back, saying the offence was serious in nature.
This was the second time the court denied bail to accused driver Sanjay More.
His fresh bail application was rejected by additional sessions judge V G Raghuwanshi.
The bus, operated by the civic-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, hit several vehicles and pedestrians after the driver lost control over the wheels on the S G Barve Marg in Kurla (West) around 9.30 pm on December 10.
Following the incident, the driver was arrested for offences committed under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
More made a fresh application for bail after the police filed the fresh chargesheet, stating the investigation was complete.
The bail plea said his further incarceration was unwarranted and that he had been "falsely implicated" in the case.
The accused claimed that Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) is not attracted in this case as there was "no intention to cause harm".
His plea termed the accident as "unfortunate".
The driver was given only three days of training to operate an electric bus, in spite of the mandatory requirement of 15 days, it said.
The prosecution, however, contended that there was no mechanical fault in the bus.
More had driven an electric bus for 728 kilometres. Therefore, he cannot say that proper training was not imparted to him, the prosecution submitted.
It said the informant, who is a police officer, witnessed the incident and according to him the bus was "being driven in a rash and reckless manner". The prosecution further submitted that the applicant had no psychological problem nor was he intoxicated at the time of incident.
After hearing both sides, the court noted that the previous bail order recorded "reasons in details" and there was "no change in circumstances".
"The offence is very serious, in which nine persons were killed, several persons were injured and several vehicles were damaged. This is not a fit case to exercise discretion in favour of the applicant," it added.
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