Needn't to protect religion; just follow it: Kemaru seer at K M Shafi library launch

Jan 14: A day after it moved the Supreme Court against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Kerala government on Tuesday said it would continue its fight against the legislation as it "destroys" the secularism and democracy in the country.

The CPI(M)-led government had on Monday moved the apex court challenging the CAA and sought to declare it as 'ultra vires' of the Constitution. State Industries Minister E P Jayarajan told reporters here that the state has moved the apex court and will explore all options to fight the Act.

"The state government will to go to any extent and continue its fight against CAA. This Act destroys democracy in the country. This will only help in implementing the RSS agenda, to drive the nation through a fascist regime, and destroying the secularism and democracy in the country. The RSS and the Sangh Parivar cannot implement this law just by using muscle power," Jayarajan said.

Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran tweeted that the state became the first in the country to approach the top court against the Act. "Kerala government files lawsuit against the unconstitutional CAA. Kerala becomes the first state in the country to go to the Supreme Court against CAA.

"Kerala leads the way," he said in the tweet. In a suit filed in the apex court, the Kerala government has sought to declare that the CAA 2019 was "violative" of Article 14 (Equality before law), 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty) and 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion) of the Constitution.

It also claimed that the law was violative of the basic principle of secularism enshrined in it. The state Assembly had on December 31, 2019, passed a unanimous resolution against the CAA and became the first state to do it.

Mangaluru, May 5: As many as 7,119 labourers, who were stranded in Dakshina Kannada district, were sent to their native places in buses operated by KSRTC’s Mangaluru and Puttur divisions.

After the announcement of lockdown, the stranded labourers were provided shelter in various halls, Town Hall and government hostels in the district.

The stranded labourers from Kuloor, Panjimogaru, Panambur, Baikampady, Yeyyadi, Mulki, Ullal, Bunder, Hoige Bazar and from taluk centres, who wished to take up farming activities in their villages, were sent back in KSRTC and private buses. As many as 266 buses were engaged for ferrying the labourers.

The labourers underwent health check-up prior to their departure to their native villages, Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh said.

Belagavi, Feb 24: Almost a month after a soldier was reported missing following a trip to Gokak's Godchinamalaki falls, his wife and her lover - who was her car driver - were arrested in Belagavi for his murder.

Police said the accused, Prashant Patil, and two friends tried to throw Deepak Pattanadara, 32, off a cliff after slitting his throat. Deepak's wife, Anjali, had registered a missing case with police on February 4, saying her husband had gone on a trip with friends on January 28 and hadn't returned.

In a twist, Deepak's elder brother lodged a complaint at the same police station, alleging that Anjali was behind the disappearance.

Anjali and Prashant, both 26, were arrested on Saturday while Prashant's two friends are absconding. Deepak's decomposed body has been recovered.

Deepak, who was posted in Delhi and was on the verge of retirement after 14 years in the army, had suspected his wife's alleged affair, police said. He'd bought a car for Anjali in 2019, and since he was home only twice a year, he hired Prashant as the driver. Anjali and Prashant grew close but when Deepak asked Anjali about the affair, she denied it outright.

When Deepak came home during vacation, the duo planned to eliminate him, police said.