Leftist leader Simon Britto passes away

Agencies
December 31, 2018

Thrissur, Dec 31: Popular Leftist and former SFI leader Simon BrittoRodrigues, who becameparalysed after a campus clash in Kochi in 1983,passed away due to a heart attack in a private hospital here Monday, CPI(M) sources said.

He was 64.

He is survived by wife and a daughter.

Wheelchair-bound Britto was a writer who had been active in the cultural and political circles in Kerala, they said.

The Kochi-based politician was nominated as the Anglo-Indian representative during the term of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government from 2006 to 2011.

In 1983, he became the vice-president of of the Students Federation of India (Kerala). He suffered paralysis in his lower body during a violent clash between student unions.

Badly wounded in the clash, he was a constant reminder of the violent campus politics of the 1980s.

Even after the attack, Britto was active in mainstream politics.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the demise of Britto.

"Extremely saddened to learn of the passing away of comrade Simon Britto. He was one of the finest political leaders of this generation," the Chief Minister said in his condolence message.

A source of limitless inspiration, Britto's death is an irreparable loss to the political and cultural life of Kerala, he added.

In his condolence message, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "In the loss of Simon Britto, we have lost a leader who people could look up to for inspiration."

Yechury said he had known Britto since their days in the SFI.

Recalling the shock and anguish with which he had received the news of the brutal attack on Britto, Yechury said though given up for dead, Britto, true to his spirit, bounced back to life.

"He (Britto) fought valiantly and after years of treatment was able to lead a life of dignity. Despite his disability owing to the brutal attack, he continued to contribute to the movement in various ways. His commitment was unwavering. His courage and determination are an example that will have to be emulated by the generation of today," he said.

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News Network
January 14,2020

Chennai/New Delhi, Jan 14: India's annual electricity demand in 2019 grew at its slowest pace in six years with December marking a fifth straight month of decline, government data showed, amid a broader economic slowdown that led to a drop in sales of everything from cars to cookies and also to factories cutting jobs.

Electricity demand is seen as an important indicator of industrial output in the country and a sustained decline could mean a further slowdown in the economy.

India's power demand grew at 1.1% in 2019, data from the Central Electricity Authority showed, the slowest pace of growth since a 1% uptick seen in 2013. The power demand growth slowdown in 2013 was preceded by three strong years of consumption growth of 8% or more.

In December, the country's power demand fell 0.5% from the year-earlier period, representing the fifth straight month of decline, compared with a 4.3% fall in November.

But in India's western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, two of India's most industrialised provinces, monthly demand increased.

In October, power demand had fallen 13.2% from a year earlier, its steepest monthly decline in more than 12 years, as a slowdown in Asia's third-largest economy deepened.

Industry accounts for more than two-fifths of India's annual electricity consumption, while homes account for nearly a fourth and agriculture more than a sixth.

The slower demand growth is a blow for many debt-laden power producers, who are facing financial stress and are owed over $11 billion by state-run distribution companies.

India's overall economic growth slowed to 4.5% in the July-September quarter, government data released in November showed, the weakest pace since 2013 as consumer demand and private investment fell.

The government has estimated growth in the current financial year that runs through to March will be the slowest since the 2008 global crisis.

"This reflects overall economic slowdown, because if you look at other high frequency data like diesel consumption, everywhere you are seeing contraction," Rupa Rege Nitsure, chief economist at L&T Financial Holdings.

But India's central bank will not have much scope to cut rates to stimulate the economy because inflation has been rising sharply and reached 7.35% in December compared with 1.97% in January last year.

Economists say India's growth will continue to hover around 4.5% levels in the Oct-Dec quarter.

"In the Oct-Dec quarter as well growth (GDP) will be around the same level as July-September. My estimate for the full year is around 4.7% growth," Nitsure said.

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News Network
January 23,2020

Patna, Jan 23: "They should go wherever they want," Bihar Chief Minister and JDU supremo Nitish Kumar said on Thursday when asked of Prashant Kishor and Pavan Verma's repeated questions about the party's stand's on the newly enacted Citizenship Act.

"It is their personal decision. They should go wherever they want. We don't have an objection. Don't look at JDU in the context of statements by some people. JDU works with determination. We have a clear stand and don't have any confusion," the Chief Minister told reporters here.

"If they have something to tell, they should come and discuss it within the party. They should go wherever they want. They have my good wishes," he said.

JDU spokesperson and national general secretary Pavan Verma has questioned his party's alliance with the BJP in Delhi Assembly polls while Kishor has more than once made his differences with the party known on the issue of the amended Citizenship Act, and National Register of Citizens.

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News Network
April 9,2020

New Delhi, Apr 9: With an increase of 540 positive COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's tally of coronavirus cases has risen to 5,734, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday.

Out of the 5,734 cases; 5,095 are active COVID-19 cases and 472 cases have been recovered/discharged and one case migrated.
The death toll has also risen to 166 after 17 new deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

Maharashtra is the worst-hit state 1,135 positive cases so far and while Tamil Nadu is second with 738 positive cases. Delhi's tally has risen to 669 cases. 

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