Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of southern Indian state of Kerala, on Monday (Oct&nbsp;30) convened an all-party meeting a day after blasts hit a prayer meeting of Jehovah's Wintnesses in Kochi district. The all-party meeting was organised in the State Secretariat in state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

The all-party meet adopted a resolution for social unity and also appealed&nbsp;people of Kerala to stand united against attempts to malign image of the state.

The resolution said that Kerala was a peaceful and harmonious state.

“At the same time, we know there are people who are intolerant about Kerala’s social situation and want to eliminate it in one sweep. This meeting wants to make clear that the state will go ahead, overcoming such isolated attempts at disintegration,” the resolution said.

“A situation of spreading hatred against a faith, or of viewing a community or a person with suspicion cannot be allowed. The forces that try to whip up such thoughts of disintegration should be seen as common enemies of our country and our people. All political parties and individuals are committed to take this thought to society,” the resolution said.

It also urged people to not pay heed to rumours.

Among the attendees were Congress leader VT Belram, IUML leader PK Kunjalikutty, NCP leader PC Chacko, Kerala Congress leader Monce Joseph, JDS leader Mathew T Thomas, CPI leader P Sudheer, BJP leader C Krishna Kumar and ministers K Rajan, Roshi Augustin, Antony Raju, A K Sasindran, Kadannapally Ramachandran, CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan and opposition leader V D Satheesan.

"The major concern of all the parties is that Kerala should not be communally divided...Such an incident is unusual in Kerala, and the state government has agreed to strengthen vigilance," said PK Kunhalikutty, leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

The multiple blasts in Kalamassery area of Kochi District have hit national headlines with leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticising CM Pinarayi Vijayan for what they say is failure of the state government.

A man by the name of Dominic Martin has claimed responsibility for the blasts and surrendered to police in Thrissur. The police said that they were still in the process of verifying Martin's claims.

Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was&nbsp;used to trigger the blasts that led to death of 1 woman and injured 56. A 12-year-old girl succumbed to burn injuries on Monday morning. The death toll is now at 3. Four others are in critical condition in hospital.

Kerala chief minister has formed a 20-member probe team to investigate the blasts.

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Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of southern Indian state of Kerala, on Monday (Oct 30) convened an all-party meeting a day after blasts hit a prayer meeting of Jehovah's Wintnesses in Kochi district.

Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of southern Indian state of Kerala, on Monday (Oct 30) convened an all-party meeting a day after blasts hit a prayer meeting of Jehovah's Wintnesses in Kochi district. The all-party meeting was organised in the State Secretariat in state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The all-party meet adopted a resolution for social unity and also appealed people of Kerala to stand united against attempts to malign image of the state. The resolution said that Kerala was a peaceful and harmonious state. “At the same time, we know there are people who are intolerant about Kerala’s social situation and want to eliminate it in one sweep. This meeting wants to make clear that the state will go ahead, overcoming such isolated attempts at disintegration,” the resolution said. “A situation of spreading hatred against a faith, or of viewing a community or a person with suspicion cannot be allowed. The forces that try to whip up such thoughts of disintegration should be seen as common enemies of our country and our people. All political parties and individuals are committed to take this thought to society,” the resolution said. It also urged people to not pay heed to rumours. Among the attendees were Congress leader VT Belram, IUML leader PK Kunjalikutty, NCP leader PC Chacko, Kerala Congress leader Monce Joseph, JDS leader Mathew T Thomas, CPI leader P Sudheer, BJP leader C Krishna Kumar and ministers K Rajan, Roshi Augustin, Antony Raju, A K Sasindran, Kadannapally Ramachandran, CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan and opposition leader V D Satheesan. "The major concern of all the parties is that Kerala should not be communally divided...Such an incident is unusual in Kerala, and the state government has agreed to strengthen vigilance," said PK Kunhalikutty, leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The multiple blasts in Kalamassery area of Kochi District have hit national headlines with leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticising CM Pinarayi Vijayan for what they say is failure of the state government. A man by the name of Dominic Martin has claimed responsibility for the blasts and surrendered to police in Thrissur. The police said that they were still in the process of verifying Martin's claims. Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used to trigger the blasts that led to death of 1 woman and injured 56. A 12-year-old girl succumbed to burn injuries on Monday morning. The death toll is now at 3. Four others are in critical condition in hospital. Kerala chief minister has formed a 20-member probe team to investigate the blasts. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Kerala: All-party meeting, convened after blasts, adopts resolution for social unity 

Several ruling and opposition parties on Sunday made a strong pitch for the passage of the women’s reservation bill during the five-day parliament session beginning Monday.

At an all-party meeting convened by the government on the eve of the session, several leaders said the long-pending bill should be tabled and hoped that it could be passed with consensus.

The bill seeks to reserve one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-santiniketan-home-to-rabindranath-tagore-makes-it-to-unescos-world-heritage-list-636892">India's Santiniketan, home to Rabindranath Tagore, makes it to UNESCO's World Heritage List</a>

However, some regional parties demanded quota for backward classes and Scheduled Castes within the overall reservation for women, sources said. This has been a key sticking point in the passage of the bill earlier.

“All opposition parties demanded the passage of women’s reservation bill in this Parliament session,” Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

BJP ally and NCP leader Praful Patel said, “We appeal to govt to pass the women’s reservation bill in this parliament session.” “We are hopeful that women’s reservation bill will be passed with consensus if tabled in parliament,” he added.

Patel also said that the parliament will shift to the new building on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi on Tuesday.

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BJD leader Pinaki Misra said a new era should begin from the newparliament building and the women’s reservation bill should be passed.

Chowdhury told reporters that the government had informed them it was a regular session of Parliament.

“Only the government knows what its intention is. It may surprise everyone with some new agenda,” he said, adding that issues such as price rise, unemployment, and the situation on the border with China were raised by his party in the meeting.

Several regional parties including the BJD and the BRS also pushed for tabling of the women’s reservation bill.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the deputy leader of the House in Lok Sabha; Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the leader of the House in Rajya Sabha; and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi represented the government in the meeting.

Former prime minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, DMK’s Kanimozhi, TDP’s Ram Mohan Naidu, TMC’s Derek O’Brien, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, BJD’s Sasmit Patra, BRS’ K Keshava Rao, YSR Congress Party’s V Vijayasai Reddy, RJD’s Manoj Jha and JD(U)’s Anil Hegde and SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav were also among those who attended the meeting.&nbsp;

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Several ruling and opposition parties on Sunday made a strong pitch for the passage of the women’s reservation bill during the five-day parliament session beginning Monday.

Several ruling and opposition parties on Sunday made a strong pitch for the passage of the women’s reservation bill during the five-day parliament session beginning Monday. At an all-party meeting convened by the government on the eve of the session, several leaders said the long-pending bill should be tabled and hoped that it could be passed with consensus. The bill seeks to reserve one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Also Read | India's Santiniketan, home to Rabindranath Tagore, makes it to UNESCO's World Heritage List However, some regional parties demanded quota for backward classes and Scheduled Castes within the overall reservation for women, sources said. This has been a key sticking point in the passage of the bill earlier. “All opposition parties demanded the passage of women’s reservation bill in this Parliament session,” Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said. BJP ally and NCP leader Praful Patel said, “We appeal to govt to pass the women’s reservation bill in this parliament session.” “We are hopeful that women’s reservation bill will be passed with consensus if tabled in parliament,” he added. Patel also said that the parliament will shift to the new building on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi on Tuesday. Also Read | Indian bank finds unique way to tackle loan defaulters, it involves chocolates... BJD leader Pinaki Misra said a new era should begin from the newparliament building and the women’s reservation bill should be passed. Chowdhury told reporters that the government had informed them it was a regular session of Parliament. “Only the government knows what its intention is. It may surprise everyone with some new agenda,” he said, adding that issues such as price rise, unemployment, and the situation on the border with China were raised by his party in the meeting. Several regional parties including the BJD and the BRS also pushed for tabling of the women’s reservation bill. Watch | From Afghanistan to India, meet ace singer of Ricky Kej's band- Abi K Safa × Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the deputy leader of the House in Lok Sabha; Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the leader of the House in Rajya Sabha; and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi represented the government in the meeting. Former prime minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, DMK’s Kanimozhi, TDP’s Ram Mohan Naidu, TMC’s Derek O’Brien, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, BJD’s Sasmit Patra, BRS’ K Keshava Rao, YSR Congress Party’s V Vijayasai Reddy, RJD’s Manoj Jha and JD(U)’s Anil Hegde and SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav were also among those who attended the meeting. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

India: All-party meeting pushes for passage of women’s reservation bill in parliament's special session

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin,&nbsp;former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and&nbsp;Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal&nbsp;will not attend the meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament today.

''PM Modi has invited the party presidents of all parties to the Parliament on June 19 to interact and exchange views with the government,'' Parliamentary Minister Prahlad Joshi said.

''He will discuss the issue of 'one nation, one election' with them,'' Joshi added.

Prime Minister will also discuss the celebration of 75 years of India's independence in 2022, 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary this year.

Raghav Chadha will&nbsp;represent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Parliament.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-pm-modis-meeting-with-party-chiefs-congress-discusses-strategy-on-key-matters-228215">Ahead of PM Modi's meeting</a>, a meeting of the Congress top brass, including Sonia Gandhi and party chief Rahul Gandhi, was held to decide the strategy on key matters such as Lok Sabha speaker's election and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to discuss the ''one nation, one election'' issue.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday wrote to Joshi saying that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-not-to-attend-tomorrows-all-party-meeting-228338">she will not be able to attend the meeting</a>.

"Response on such a sensitive and serious subject like 'One Country and One Election' in such a short time would not do justice to the subject it deserves," Mamata said.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not attend the meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament today.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not attend the meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament today. ''PM Modi has invited the party presidents of all parties to the Parliament on June 19 to interact and exchange views with the government,'' Parliamentary Minister Prahlad Joshi said. ''He will discuss the issue of 'one nation, one election' with them,'' Joshi added. Prime Minister will also discuss the celebration of 75 years of India's independence in 2022, 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary this year. Raghav Chadha will represent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Parliament. Ahead of PM Modi's meeting, a meeting of the Congress top brass, including Sonia Gandhi and party chief Rahul Gandhi, was held to decide the strategy on key matters such as Lok Sabha speaker's election and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to discuss the ''one nation, one election'' issue. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday wrote to Joshi saying that she will not be able to attend the meeting. "Response on such a sensitive and serious subject like 'One Country and One Election' in such a short time would not do justice to the subject it deserves," Mamata said.

After Mamata, Kejriwal, Stalin and Chandrababu to skip PM Modi's 'one nation, one election' meeting today

BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said that holding simultaneous national and state elections "appears to be an undemocratic and unconstitutional" idea for a vast country like India as she declined to attend an all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

She said that elections in any democracy can never be a problem "nor elections should be weighed from the point of view of expenditure and extravagance".

'One nation, one election' is not an issue before the country, she said. "Elections through ballot papers are actually the national issue and our party will continue its struggle for it."

The BSP president said it was a new drama of the BJP to divert attention from the concerns over "attempts to hijack" democracy through alleged irregularities in the working of electronic voting machine (EVMs).

"Even the idea of one nation, one election for the world's biggest democracy like India, prima facie, appears to be undemocratic and unconstitutional," she said in a party release issued here, asking the BJP to desist from works and mentality that harm constitution and democracy.

Mayawati said she would have attended the all-party meeting called by the prime minister if it was to address a "national concern" over EVMs. She described the idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls as a ploy to divert attention from issues like poverty.

Mayawati's comments come on the day an all-party meeting has been convened by Modi to discuss several issues, including the idea of "one nation, one election", the celebration of 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary this year and 75 years of Independence in 2022.

The BSP chief alleged that the people's faith in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) had dwindled to a "worrisome level". 
 
"The stubbornness of conducting elections through electronic voting machines instead of the ballot paper is the real threat to the democracy and Constitution of the country.

"The 'one nation, one election' is, in fact, an attempt to divert the attention from burning national issues such as poverty, inflation, unemployment and increase in violence, and is simply an illusion."

The "one nation, one election", a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha election manifesto, has made the Opposition wary of the prospects.

In August last year, the Law Commission had recommended holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to save public money.&nbsp;

In its draft recommendations, the commission had said simultaneous polls, with an exception of Jammu and Kashmir, would help the government of the day focus on "developmental activities rather than electioneering".

It, however, cautioned that holding simultaneous elections was not possible within the existing framework of the Constitution. 
 
After Modi addressed a NITI Aayog meeting last week, an official release said, "The Prime Minister called for widespread debate and consultations on simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, keeping in view various aspects such as the resulting financial savings and consequent better utilisation of resources."

The Niti Aayog had last year suggested synchronised two-phase Lok Sabha and Assembly polls from 2024 to ensure minimum campaign-mode disruption to governance.&nbsp;

BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said that holding simultaneous national and state elections "appears to be an undemocratic and unconstitutional" idea for a vast country like India as she declined to attend an all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said that holding simultaneous national and state elections "appears to be an undemocratic and unconstitutional" idea for a vast country like India as she declined to attend an all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue. She said that elections in any democracy can never be a problem "nor elections should be weighed from the point of view of expenditure and extravagance". 'One nation, one election' is not an issue before the country, she said. "Elections through ballot papers are actually the national issue and our party will continue its struggle for it." The BSP president said it was a new drama of the BJP to divert attention from the concerns over "attempts to hijack" democracy through alleged irregularities in the working of electronic voting machine (EVMs). "Even the idea of one nation, one election for the world's biggest democracy like India, prima facie, appears to be undemocratic and unconstitutional," she said in a party release issued here, asking the BJP to desist from works and mentality that harm constitution and democracy. Mayawati said she would have attended the all-party meeting called by the prime minister if it was to address a "national concern" over EVMs. She described the idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls as a ploy to divert attention from issues like poverty. Mayawati's comments come on the day an all-party meeting has been convened by Modi to discuss several issues, including the idea of "one nation, one election", the celebration of 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary this year and 75 years of Independence in 2022. The BSP chief alleged that the people's faith in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) had dwindled to a "worrisome level". "The stubbornness of conducting elections through electronic voting machines instead of the ballot paper is the real threat to the democracy and Constitution of the country. "The 'one nation, one election' is, in fact, an attempt to divert the attention from burning national issues such as poverty, inflation, unemployment and increase in violence, and is simply an illusion." The "one nation, one election", a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha election manifesto, has made the Opposition wary of the prospects. In August last year, the Law Commission had recommended holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to save public money. In its draft recommendations, the commission had said simultaneous polls, with an exception of Jammu and Kashmir, would help the government of the day focus on "developmental activities rather than electioneering". It, however, cautioned that holding simultaneous elections was not possible within the existing framework of the Constitution. After Modi addressed a NITI Aayog meeting last week, an official release said, "The Prime Minister called for widespread debate and consultations on simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, keeping in view various aspects such as the resulting financial savings and consequent better utilisation of resources." The Niti Aayog had last year suggested synchronised two-phase Lok Sabha and Assembly polls from 2024 to ensure minimum campaign-mode disruption to governance.

'Would've attended all-party meet if it was about EVMs,' says Mayawati