Vision 2031: Cong leader Mani Shankar Aiyar confident Pinarayi Vijayan will continue as Kerala CM
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday expressed confidence that Pinarayi Vijayan will continue as the chief minister of Kerala.
His remarks come as the Congress seeks to return to power in the state, with Assembly elections scheduled in the coming months.
Speaking at the international seminar titled ‘Vision 2031: Development and Democracy’, inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Aiyar said necessary amendments should be introduced to legally secure Kerala’s top position in the Panchayati Raj system and offered suggestions for it.
Aiyar, who had served as Union Cabinet Minister for Panchayat Raj during the Congress-led UPA government, recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of India. He said the father of the nation envisaged a country where even the poorest would feel ownership and believe they had an effective voice in nation-building.
He added that it may appear ironic that the state which has made the most commendable progress toward that goal is Kerala, ruled by the "Marxist-Leninist party of India."
"I don’t know whether this is a compliment or an insult, but I deeply regret the absence of my party colleagues on this occasion, which is a state occasion and therefore a national occasion," he said.
Aiyar said Kerala is, without doubt, India’s leader in Panchayati Raj and has fulfilled the expectations of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi more than any other state.
"But while Kerala is the first state in Panchayati Raj in practice, it ranks only second in law," he noted.
He said Karnataka has exemplary contemporary legislation based on the Ramesh Kumar Committee, to which he had suggested 38 amendments—all of which were accepted.
“So, in the presence of the CM, who I am confident will continue in office, I renew my plea: to reinforce Kerala as the best Panchayati Raj state in the country, state law should be amended based on practical experience, Thomas Isaac’s insights, the five-volume report I chaired, and the note on district planning by V K Ramachandran circulated by the Planning Commission when it truly supported Panchayati Raj," he said.
Aiyar added that there is no champion for Panchayati Raj left in the country.
"Therefore, I must fall at your feet, Chief Minister Vijayan, and request you to pick up the baton that the Congress has dropped. Thank you, and may Kerala prosper," he concluded.
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K'taka minister Priyank Kharge accuses RSS of indulging in money laundering
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Sunday accused the RSS of indulging in "money laundering", and also questioned its source of income.
He said that he wants the law and Constitution that is applicable to everyone in the country, should apply to RSS too.
"RSS did not hoist the national flag in their office for 52 years. They teach us about patriotism," Kharge said.
Addressing a gathering at an event here, he said, "It (RSS) has a network of more than 2,500 organisations, they are from America, England. They take money from them. I am telling -- that these people are into money laundering."
Questioning as to where the RSS is getting money from and how, he said, "they want us to be good citizens, pay income tax, but they want to remain free. How is it possible. We will have to question this."
Later speaking to reporters, while pointing out that RSS is an unregistered organisation, Kharge asked, whether "they are above law or Constitution."
"It is good that all organisations should come under the ambit of law and constitution, whether it is RSS or any other organisations. Are they above law and constitution. Mohan Bhagwat (RSS chief) says it (RSS) is a body of individuals. So is Bangalore Club, have they not registered? Are they not paying taxes?" he further asked.
Stating that his question is why the RSS was unregistered, he said, "Where is their Guru Dakshina (donation) coming from."
"Who is paying it? Why is it (RSS) not paying tax? When every rupee of others is being accounted for, why is there no accountability for their (RSS) money," he asked.
