Thiruvananthapuram Nov 26 PTI Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday urged people to protect the egalitarian ideals secular values and democratic spirit which the Constitution upholds In a tweet on the occasion of Constitution Day the Marxist veteran said the Constitution of the country encompasses the lofty ideals upheld by the freedom fighters Our Constitution encompasses the lofty ideals upheld by our freedom fighters and has laid the foundation of the Indian Republic As responsible citizens we should pledge to protect the egalitarian ideals secular values and democratic spirit it upholds Vijayan tweeted Constitution Day is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949 PTI LGK SS SS

Thiruvananthapuram Nov 19 PTI Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday hailed the fighting spirit of the farmers who fought for the repealing of three contentious farm laws saying that their victory was one of the brightest chapters in the history of class struggles The year-long farmers protest has finally triumphed he said adding that they fought tirelessly despite several challenges Indian farmers have scripted one of the brightest chapters in the history of class struggles Salutes to the martyrs farmers and organisations who fought with unmatched resoluteness and undying spirit Vijayan tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning announced that the government would repeal the three farm laws and the legislative process will be completed during the upcoming Winter session of the Parliament Meanwhile Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly V D Satheesan said the BJP government has had to kneel before the mass resistance the country has ever witnessed in the 21st century Terming it as the victory of democracy he said it is the proclamation of the extraordinary willpower of the ordinary people The peasants who had been fighting for a year have defeated those who is not hesitant to do anything in the power of their strength in the Parliament he said in a Facebook post Stating that the Congress party had always stood with the agitating farmers he said there was only one leader in the country who had been constantly demanding the government to withdraw these three contentious farm laws and that was Rahul Gandhi Both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka had visited the agitating farmers again and again and extended them uncompromising support to their struggle he added PTI LGK SS SS

Thiruvananthapuram Nov 18 PTI Kerala Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan who drew flak on social media platforms for allegedly disrespecting the holy water of Sabarimala Temple on Thursday rejected criticism and said those who steal Gods money should be afraid of him and he has no such fear as he does not steal He said there are things which he usually does not consume in life and he wont have it even if anyone asks him to do so in the name of faith The minister was speaking to reporters here when his reaction was sought on the social media criticism against him by a section of people alleging that he did not fold his hands while standing in front of the sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala Temple when it was opened for the annual pilgrimage earlier this week Critics also charged that the minister disrespected the theertham the holy water given by the priest to consume by using it as sanitizer The video of Radhakrishnan not using the holy water and smearing it on both hands went viral on social media recently As per the temple custom devotees used to drink the holy water and sprinkle the rest over their heads in reverence I do not fold hands to pay respect to my mother every day Does it mean that I have no respect towards my mother I have my own style since my young age I do not drink this water theertham I wont have it even if anyone asks me to do so in the name of faith Radhakrishnan said He said though he has his own belief he wont say that others faith is bad The minister also said he would go to any extent to protect others faith and there was proof for that PTI LGK SS SS