On Children's Day, Kerala CM calls for collective action to ensure safety of Palestinian children
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday emphasised the government's responsibility to protect the rights of children and called for concerted efforts to address the plight of Palestinian children affected in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
In a Facebook post on the occasion of Children's Day commemorating the birthday of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, the chief minister underscored the dire situation faced by Palestinian children amid the war.
He urged collective action to ensure their safety and facilitate their rehabilitation.
Vijayan said that the availability of nutritious food, healthcare, and quality education are the inherent rights of every child born in the world.
Safeguarding these rights is a fundamental responsibility of governments, he said.
Highlighting the vision of the architects of the Constitution, including Nehru, the chief minister said that they envisioned an India where violence and exploitation against children would be eliminated.
He expressed deep concern about the atrocities against children globally, acknowledging the heart-wrenching impact of such incidents.
Drawing attention to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, the chief minister pointed to the distressing images of victimised children.
"As many as 4,609 children have been killed in Gaza alone in the Israeli attack against Palestine," he said.
The chief minister described the faces of the seriously injured and orphaned children as a scar in human consciousness.
Vijayan asserted that these tragedies will persist until Israel's aggression, supported by imperialist forces, comes to an end.
He called on progressive forces worldwide to unite and raise their voices against this injustice.
Vijayan also urged collective action to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of Palestinian children, making Children's Day a reminder of
this imperative.
The chief minister also took pride in declaring Kerala as a model for the entire country in terms of child rights.
In the Facebook post, he unequivocally stated that his government would not compromise in cases involving violence against children.
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Pune police chief had proactive role in Porsche crash probe: Fadnavis
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday told the legislative assembly that Pune police chief Amitesh Kumar had a proactive role in the investigation into the Porsche crash and there was nothing to suggest that action should be taken against him.
Fadnavis made the assertions during a debate on the high-profile case raised through a calling attention notice. During the debate, Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar demanded the Pune police commissioner's resignation.
Conceding that there are issues of “use of money to buy justice”, Fadnavis said, "This should not be allowed. We have to see how laws can be strengthened further. The issue is serious but there is no need to defame Pune police. They have taken action in the case. Erring police officials have been punished.”
He said Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had a proactive role in the probe into the accident and nothing has come up to suggest that he should face action.
Two software professionals lost their lives after their bike was hit by a speeding Porsche in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area in the early hours of May 19. According to police, a 17-year-old minor was driving the high-end car in a drunken state at the time of the accident.
Two cops attached to the Yerawada police station have been suspended for alleged dereliction of duty in connection with the case.
Police have alleged that the teen’s blood samples were swapped with those of his mother to show that he was not drunk. The minor’s parents and two doctors from state-run Sassoon General Hospital have been arrested over the sample swap.
Fadnavis said the Sassoon doctors changed the blood samples for a bribe of Rs 3 lakh.
“We learn from loopholes in every case. The new criminal laws, which will be in force from July 1, give more importance to legal, forensic and technical evidence,” the deputy CM said.
The juvenile has since been released from an observation home on the directives of Bombay High Court.
