Oommen Chandy lauds A P Aboobacker's 'Kerala Yatra'

April 29, 2012

Thiruvananthapuram, April 29: The 'Kerala Yatra' taken up by All-India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar has come with the right message at the right time for the State, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.

Addressing a packed Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium where activists of various Sunni Muslim organisations and fellowships gathered on Saturday to mark the culmination of the Yatra that began from Kasaragod on April 12, Mr. Chandy said the mission that upheld the values of humanity over hatred and advocated a humane approach, peace and communal harmony was aptly timed in a society which was being torn apart by terrorism and strife.

The Yatra, which would undoubtedly be discussed in public domain for several years to come, had called for rejection of weapons and for settling of differences of opinion through exchange of ideas and dialogue themed on humanity. The overwhelming reception accorded to the Yatra was enough indication of the success the mission had achieved, he added.

Delivering the keynote address, the Musaliyar suggested that a comprehensive project on the lines of the Literacy Mission be formulated by the government to shape a 'humanitarian Kerala'. This was necessary because the vast developmental strides the State took were now being offset by unwanted trends. The Yatra, he said, had convinced him and his followers that the notions and beliefs that certain sections within the Muslim community held about the Kerala society were wrong.

Just like Muslims had no hatred towards other religions, people from other religions too harboured no dislike towards them. Emotions and ideologies imported into the State, which did not do justice to the social and economic conditions of the State, were behind the cracks in the secular fabric here, he said.

Pointing out that many had raised doubts that the Yatra was a precursor to the formation of a political party by him, the Sunni leader said there never existed such an objective and moreover, he was against religious organisations converting into political parties.

However, that did not imply that Sunni organisations and activists did not have political awareness. They had a clear stance and even plans to address social issues and on development of the State and the nation and the Muslim community in particular. Those who had similar approaches would be supported as well.

Political interventions need not be construed as precursors to formation of a political party, he said, adding that there were Sunni institutions focusing on keeping activists abreast of religious, political, social and economic situations, which in turn played a major role in formulating the organisation's political stance.

KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, Ministers Aryadan Mohammed and V.S. Sivakumar, former Minister M. Vijayakumar, K.E. Ismail, MP; RSP national general secretary T.J. Chandrachoodan, K. Muraleedharan, V. Surendran Pillai, V. Sivankutty, Palode Ravi, MLAs, and a number of leaders from various religions and organisations were present.

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No cases yet, but vigilance high: Karnataka braces for Nipah threat

News Network

February 3,2026

Bengaluru: Following reports of fresh Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal and heightened vigilance across parts of Southeast Asia, the Karnataka Health Department has placed the state on high alert and activated emergency preparedness protocols.

Health officials said enhanced surveillance measures have been initiated after two healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, tested positive for the virus earlier this month. While no cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, authorities said the state’s past exposure to Nipah outbreaks and high inter-state mobility warranted preventive action.

Officials have directed district health teams to intensify monitoring, particularly at hospitals and points of entry, and to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.

High Mortality Virus with Multiple Transmission Routes

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and has a reported fatality rate ranging between 60 and 75 per cent. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural reservoirs of the virus and can transmit it by contaminating food sources with saliva or urine.

Known modes of transmission include:

•   Contaminated food: Consumption of fruits partially eaten by bats or raw date-palm sap
•   Animal contact: Exposure to infected pigs or other animals
•   Human-to-human transmission: Close contact with body fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings

Symptoms and Disease Progression

The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, though delayed onset has also been reported. Early symptoms often resemble common viral infections, making prompt clinical suspicion critical.

•   Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat
•   Progressive symptoms: Drowsiness, disorientation, altered mental state
•   Severe stage: Seizures, neck stiffness and acute encephalitis, which can rapidly progress to coma

Public Health Advisory

The Health Department has issued precautionary guidelines urging the public to adopt risk-avoidance practices to prevent any local spillover.

Do’s
•   Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption
•   Drink boiled and cooled water
•   Use protective equipment while handling livestock
•   Maintain strict hand hygiene

Don’ts
•   Avoid fruits found on the ground or showing bite marks
•   Do not consume beverages made from raw tree sap, including toddy
•   Avoid areas with dense bat populations
•   Do not handle sick or dead animals

Preparedness Measures

Officials confirmed that isolation wards are being readied in major government hospitals and that medical staff are being sensitised to identify early warning signs.

“There is no cause for panic, but there is a need for heightened vigilance,” a senior health official said, adding that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah, and care remains largely supportive.

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‘Nothing for Karnataka’: DKS slams Union Budget, flags Bengaluru neglect

News Network

February 1,2026

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it offered no tangible benefit to the state.

Though he said he was yet to study the budget in detail, Shivakumar asserted that Karnataka had gained little from it. “There is no benefit for our state from the central budget. I was observing it. They have now named a programme after Mahatma Gandhi, after repealing the MGNREGA Act that was named after him,” he said.

Speaking to reporters here, the Deputy Chief Minister demanded the restoration of MGNREGA, and made it clear that the newly enacted rural employment scheme — VB-G RAM G — which proposes a 60:40 fund-sharing formula between the Centre and the states, would not be implemented in Karnataka.

“I don’t see any major share for our state in this budget,” he added.

Shivakumar, who also holds charge of Bengaluru development, said there were high expectations for the city from the Union Budget. “The Prime Minister calls Bengaluru a ‘global city’, but what has the Centre done for it?” he asked.

He also drew attention to the problems faced by sugar factories, particularly those in the cooperative sector, alleging a lack of timely decisions and support from the central government.

Noting that the Centre has the authority to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, Shivakumar said the Union government must take concrete steps to protect farmers’ interests.

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