Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on Tuesday cast her vote here in Kannur during the single-phase State Assembly polls and said that Left Democratic Front (LDF) will be voted to power for the welfare measures brought by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government and containing COVID-19 spread.&nbsp;

"The COVID-19 mortality rate in Kerala is too low, 0.4 per cent. Kerala is thickly populated...We were able to contain the virus. Now the pace of the spread of the virus has declined,... it is lower than other states... We brought many social welfare measures since the start of the pandemic, such as the supply of food kits for needy people and community kitchens.&nbsp;

We also supplied proper medicines for the non-COVID-19 patients.&nbsp;

People are seeing all this and they will vote for us," Shailaja, who is contesting from Mattanur in Kannur, told ANI.&nbsp;

Targetting the BJP, she said: "I think BJP has no chance in Kerala despite their "propaganda" through the media. A "non-secular party" following the same economic policies of Congress have no chance in secular-minded Kerala," she further said.&nbsp;

The results of the Kerala Assembly polls will be announced on May 2.

&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on Tuesday cast her vote here in Kannur during the single-phase State Assembly polls and said that Left Democratic Front (LDF) will be voted to power for the welfare measures brought by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government and containing COVID-19 spread.

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on Tuesday cast her vote here in Kannur during the single-phase State Assembly polls and said that Left Democratic Front (LDF) will be voted to power for the welfare measures brought by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government and containing COVID-19 spread. "The COVID-19 mortality rate in Kerala is too low, 0.4 per cent. Kerala is thickly populated...We were able to contain the virus. Now the pace of the spread of the virus has declined,... it is lower than other states... We brought many social welfare measures since the start of the pandemic, such as the supply of food kits for needy people and community kitchens. We also supplied proper medicines for the non-COVID-19 patients. People are seeing all this and they will vote for us," Shailaja, who is contesting from Mattanur in Kannur, told ANI. Targetting the BJP, she said: "I think BJP has no chance in Kerala despite their "propaganda" through the media. A "non-secular party" following the same economic policies of Congress have no chance in secular-minded Kerala," she further said. The results of the Kerala Assembly polls will be announced on May 2. (With inputs from agencies)

India polls: LDF will be elected for welfare measures, COVID management,  says Kerala minister Shailaja

The opposition Congress and BJP Friday hit out at the Left government in Kerala for allegedly extending support to bring<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/woman-journalist-begins-climbing-sabarimala-hill-to-fulfill-her-professional-duty-172221"> women activists to Sabarimala temple</a>, hurting the sentiments of devotees.

They also alleged the police gave one of the women, who climbed to the hill shrine amid heavy security, their official uniform and helmet.

The two women, identified as a journalist from Hyderabad and a Kochi-based activist, trekked Sabarimala and reached a few metres away from the holy 18 steps with police escort but had to return due to massive protest by devotees.

Attacking the CPI(M)-led LDF government on the issue, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala asked whether the police gave security to the real devotees.

"Has the government taken to the shrine the real devotees? Is the entry of women into the shrine a commando operation? Is this the supreme court order?" he asked.

"The government has extended support to bring activists to Sabarimala, hurting the sentiments of Lord Ayyappa devotees," Chennithala said.

Earlier in the day, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran admitted that one of the women who trekked to the shrine was an activist and made it clear that holy Sabarimala was not a place to show their strength and activism.

Referring to the massive protest at the temple complex by the devotees and the 'parikarmies', the assistants of the priests, Chennithala said the "illogical" steps taken by the government on the Sabarimala women entry issue had led to this situation.

He also reiterated the UDF stand that the Pinarayi Vijayan government showed "over-enthusiasm" and "hurry" to implement the apex court order permitting women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa temple.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sabarimala-row-centre-asks-kerala-tamil-nadu-karnataka-govts-to-tighten-security-monitor-adverse-online-messages-172332">government</a> unilaterally moved forward on the matter without trying for a consensus among stakeholders, he said.

Chennithala also alleged that the BJP-RSS combine was trying to inflame communal passion over the matter.

Hitting out at the LDF government, BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai said the state authorities were trying to make Sabarimala a "clash zone".

The police escorted two women to the shrine by making one of them wear police uniform and a helmet, without considering the sentiments of the devotees, he alleged.

A large number of devotees blocked the young women and police team escorting them at Valiya Nadappandhal, the queue complex located a few metres away from the holy 'pathinettam padi' (the 18 sacred steps), leading to the sanctum sanctorum.

Tension was defused after the women agreed to return as the state government made it clear it did not want to take them to the Sannidhanam, the temple complex, by using force against the protesting devotees.&nbsp;

The opposition Congress and BJP Friday hit out at the Left government in Kerala for allegedly extending support to bring women activists to Sabarimala temple, hurting the sentiments of devotees.

The opposition Congress and BJP Friday hit out at the Left government in Kerala for allegedly extending support to bring women activists to Sabarimala temple, hurting the sentiments of devotees. They also alleged the police gave one of the women, who climbed to the hill shrine amid heavy security, their official uniform and helmet. The two women, identified as a journalist from Hyderabad and a Kochi-based activist, trekked Sabarimala and reached a few metres away from the holy 18 steps with police escort but had to return due to massive protest by devotees. Attacking the CPI(M)-led LDF government on the issue, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala asked whether the police gave security to the real devotees. "Has the government taken to the shrine the real devotees? Is the entry of women into the shrine a commando operation? Is this the supreme court order?" he asked. "The government has extended support to bring activists to Sabarimala, hurting the sentiments of Lord Ayyappa devotees," Chennithala said. Earlier in the day, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran admitted that one of the women who trekked to the shrine was an activist and made it clear that holy Sabarimala was not a place to show their strength and activism. Referring to the massive protest at the temple complex by the devotees and the 'parikarmies', the assistants of the priests, Chennithala said the "illogical" steps taken by the government on the Sabarimala women entry issue had led to this situation. He also reiterated the UDF stand that the Pinarayi Vijayan government showed "over-enthusiasm" and "hurry" to implement the apex court order permitting women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa temple. The government unilaterally moved forward on the matter without trying for a consensus among stakeholders, he said. Chennithala also alleged that the BJP-RSS combine was trying to inflame communal passion over the matter. Hitting out at the LDF government, BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai said the state authorities were trying to make Sabarimala a "clash zone". The police escorted two women to the shrine by making one of them wear police uniform and a helmet, without considering the sentiments of the devotees, he alleged. A large number of devotees blocked the young women and police team escorting them at Valiya Nadappandhal, the queue complex located a few metres away from the holy 'pathinettam padi' (the 18 sacred steps), leading to the sanctum sanctorum. Tension was defused after the women agreed to return as the state government made it clear it did not want to take them to the Sannidhanam, the temple complex, by using force against the protesting devotees.

Congress, BJP flay Kerala government for bringing activists to Sabarimala

The CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala on Tuesday suspended DGP Jacob Thomas, the senior-most IPS officer in the state cadre, for alleged anti-government remarks.

Thomas allegedly made the remarks during a function at Thiruvananthapuram on December 9.&nbsp;

A week-long investigation into the suspended DGP&#39;s remarks on Cyclone Ockhi by the state government concluded that they were &ldquo;prejudicial to the security of the State&rdquo;.

The suspension order was issued following the direction of the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan under the relevant sections of All India Service Rules as some of his recent remarks had shown the state government in poor light.

In its order ((G.O (RT) no: 8044/17/GAD, dated 19/12/2017), the government said that it found that Thomas&#39;s statements at a public meeting at the Press Club on December 9 were &quot;certainly inflammatory in nature&quot;. They were &quot;prima facie aimed to exacerbate such feelings, which could have had serious repercussions on the law and order and peace along the coast&rdquo;.

Thomas &ldquo;had made some blatant and provocative comments against various activities, policy decisions, and functioning of the State Government in power&quot;.&nbsp;

He also accused the government of not &quot;properly handling&quot; the cyclone Ockhi situation.

Stating that all &quot;corrupt forces&quot; were united in the state and were in positions of power, the official said that there was a conscious attempt to silence those who stood against corruption.

&nbsp;However, reacting on his suspension order, Thomas said he had only talked about corruption on the Anti-Corruption Day and that he cannot be silenced with this action.

&nbsp;&quot;There has been a general trend worldwide to silence people when they talk about corruption. But, I am not prepared to remain silent,&quot; he told reporters here.

&quot;I am still swimming with big sharks. In this context, it is normal to face such action. But I will continue to swim,&quot; he added. 
&nbsp; 
Thomas was already facing disciplinary action for penning his bare-all autobiography &quot;Sravukalkkoppam Neenthumpol&quot; (Swimming Along With Sharks), which he wrote without seeking any permission from the prior government.

On International Anti-Corruption Day, DGP Jacob Thomas lashed out at the state government saying there had been a total breakdown of law and order situation in the state

The CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala on Tuesday suspended DGP Jacob Thomas, the senior-most IPS officer in the state cadre, for alleged anti-government remarks. Thomas allegedly made the remarks during a function at Thiruvananthapuram on December 9. A week-long investigation into the suspended DGP's remarks on Cyclone Ockhi by the state government concluded that they were “prejudicial to the security of the State”. The suspension order was issued following the direction of the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan under the relevant sections of All India Service Rules as some of his recent remarks had shown the state government in poor light. In its order ((G.O (RT) no: 8044/17/GAD, dated 19/12/2017), the government said that it found that Thomas's statements at a public meeting at the Press Club on December 9 were "certainly inflammatory in nature". They were "prima facie aimed to exacerbate such feelings, which could have had serious repercussions on the law and order and peace along the coast”. Thomas “had made some blatant and provocative comments against various activities, policy decisions, and functioning of the State Government in power". He also accused the government of not "properly handling" the cyclone Ockhi situation. Stating that all "corrupt forces" were united in the state and were in positions of power, the official said that there was a conscious attempt to silence those who stood against corruption. However, reacting on his suspension order, Thomas said he had only talked about corruption on the Anti-Corruption Day and that he cannot be silenced with this action. "There has been a general trend worldwide to silence people when they talk about corruption. But, I am not prepared to remain silent," he told reporters here. "I am still swimming with big sharks. In this context, it is normal to face such action. But I will continue to swim," he added. Thomas was already facing disciplinary action for penning his bare-all autobiography "Sravukalkkoppam Neenthumpol" (Swimming Along With Sharks), which he wrote without seeking any permission from the prior government.

Kerala suspends top cop for anti-government remarks

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India polls: LDF will be elected for welfare measures, COVID management, says Kerala minister Shailaja

Congress, BJP flay Kerala government for bringing activists to Sabarimala

Kerala suspends top cop for anti-government remarks