Veteran CPI(M) leader Anathalavattom Anandan dies
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Veteran CPI(M) leader and former legislator Anathalavattom Anandan, who played a key role in building the trade union base for the party in Kerala, died at a hospital here on Thursday, his colleagues said.
He was 86. He is survived by his wife and two children.
The veteran leader's end came while undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College hospital here for a prolonged illness, party sources said.
Anandan was the state president of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU).
Born in Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district in 1937, Anandan began his political career in 1954 by participating in an agitation seeking more wages for coir workers in his village.
He became a member of the undivided Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1956, and stood with it after the split in the party in 1964.
Fighting for the cause of the working class in the state, Anandan played a key role in building the trade union base of the party in the state.
As the leader of the CITU, he led several agitations for the workers in both organised and unorganised sectors.
The veteran leader was elected to the state assembly from the Attingal constituency three times--in 1987, 1996 and 2007.
Anandan was also a prominent face of the CPI(M) in the TV debates.
His body will be kept at the CPI(M) headquarters here on Friday for the public to pay homage.
His cremation will be held at Santhikavadam here at 5 pm on Friday, the party said.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Finance Minister K N Balagopal, and leaders of various political parties including, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, V D Satheesan, and BJP state chief K Surendran condoled the demise of Anandan.
In his message, Khan said Anandan's contributions to public service and workers' causes will be long remembered.
Vijayan said Anandan was a leader who dedicated his life to the working-class movement.
Recalling his long association with the departed leader, the chief minister said he was a strong organiser of the Communist movement in the state.
Whenever the Communist movement came under attack, Anandan actively intervened to convey the correct position of the party to the people and convinced them.
"The general society of Kerala as a whole and the Left movement and the trade union movement in particular have suffered a heavy loss due to the demise of Comrade," Vijayan said, paying tribute to Anandan.
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Unruly scenes witnessed in Punjab Assembly
Chandigarh (PTI): The Punjab Assembly on Friday witnessed high drama on Friday after Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira made an allegedly objectionable remark against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during an intense argument over the alleged use of mobile phone in the house by the legislator.
During the one-day special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Mann accused Khaira of using a mobile phone when Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was reading out an official resolution on the revision of wages.
After rising from his seat, the chief minister pointed to the speaker, claiming that Khaira is busy on his mobile phone and urged him to ask the Congress MLA what Sandhwan had said about the resolution.
The speaker then asked Khaira to maintain order in the house and listen to the resolution carefully.
Mann then asked Khaira, "Why don't you go out and then use it (mobile phone)," which led to a strong verbal altercation during which the opposition MLA hurled an accusation against the chief minister. Meanwhile, the speaker appealed for order and insisted that the chair be addressed.
However, both Mann and Khaira continued arguing and could be seen pointing fingers at each other as the proceedings of the house were disrupted.
The AAP MLAs also rose from their seats with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema condemning Khaira for his conduct and demanded action against him.
Cheema further alleged that Khaira "always tries to disturb the house" as he spoke about his conduct in the assembly.
The incident occurred as an official resolution on the revision of wages was presented at the special session by Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond who said it paid homage to labourers on the International Workers' Day.
"Workers are the axis of construction of the nation, the community, the state and society. Every construction project succeeds only through their blood and sweat," the resolution read.
As per the resolution, "The base rate of minimum wages for the working class in Punjab was last revised in the year 2012. Although the dearness allowance has continued to increase since 2012, there has been no increase in the base rate of minimum wages.
On this sacred occasion of May Day, in this special session of the legislative assembly, this house proposes to revise and increase the minimum wages of labourers and strongly recommends to the government to take a decision regarding the increase of minimum wages for workers, so that the contributions of the workers can be acknowledged." PRK
