kozhikode l tuesday l may 10, 2022 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Demolition drama in delhi’s shaheen bagh Plaint against aap mla for obstruction Bulldozers rolled into the epicentre of the 2019 CAA protests on Monday but protesters forced local body officials to go back Sc refuses to entertain cpm’s plea On Monday morning, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) had sent its officials to carry out an anti-encroachment drive on the main road in Shaheen Bagh but they were stopped by protesters led by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Aamanatullah Khan. SDMC later filed a police complaint against Khan and his supporters for obstructing the civic body’s work ■ ■ Meanwhile, the CPM moved the Supreme Court against the demolition drive but the apex court rejected the plea saying it cannot interfere at the instance of a political party A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai asked the petitioner to approach the Delhi High Court 11 am sdmc TO CARRY OUT Demolition drive in Delhi’s New Friends Colony ON tUESDAY CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Rajapaksas’ house in ancestral village razed Mobs attacked the Rajapaksa museum in the family’s ancestral village and razed it. Two wax statues of the Rajapaksa parents were also flattened, the police said. The offices of former minister Johnston Fernando were attacked by crowds in Kurunegala and Lillie Street here. A taverns owned by him was also set on fire Global outrage After a gap of two years, the state’s largest festival will be held in all its grandeur this year Tusker Ernakulam Sivakumar, carrying the idol of Neythalakkavu Bhagavathy, comes out of the South Tower gate of Sree Vadakkumnathan temple on Monday proclaiming Thrissur Pooram | Express Main rituals will begin with ‘Madathil Varavu’ and percussion ensemble at 11am ‘ Elanjithara melam’, the grand rhythmic assembly of percussion artists, will begin at 1.30pm ‘ Kudamattom’ by Paramekavu and Thiruvambady devaswoms will start around 5pm Fireworks display to be held early on Wednesday morning Special arrangements Thrissur Pooram today In view of Pooram, Railways has arranged more unreserved ticket counters, train stoppages and amenities for passengers at Thrissur and Punkunnam stations 50 women civil defence volunteers to be deployed to ensure safety of women arriving at Thekkinkadu Maidan to witness ceremonies 42 veterinary officers will be on duty to examine the fitness of elephants taking part in the Pooram  P2 180-deg turn, as govt offers to review sedition law on its own E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi In a sudden change of heart, the Central government on Monday filed a fresh affidavit before the Supreme Court saying it has decided to reconsider its position on Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 that deals with sedition law. Monday’s affidavit comes just a couple of days after it defended 124A in its submission in the court, arguing that instances of the abuse of the law cannot justify the reconsideration of a binding judgment of the Constitution bench. Doing a complete U-turn, the government on Monday requested the court to await its internal exercise and not invest time in examining 124A, adding the relook will happen before a constitutionally permitted appropriate forum. The Union home ministry’s affidavit said the government Rupee slips further, on course to touching 78 E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi THE rupee, which touched the lowest level of 77.56 against the US dollar on Monday, may fall further to 78 or even 78.5 in the short term. Unfavourable macroeconomic conditions may continue to weigh on the Indian rupee in the short-term as foreign investors desert India amid hike in US interest rates and India’s trade deficit continues to widen. Experts say the rupee, like many o t h - er emerging market currencies, may be under further downward pressure as there is a high likelihood that the US central bank will hike interest rates again. The impact on global commodity prices due to uncertainties around war could also weaken the rupee further. “The rupee has a tough week ahead. After having broken above 77 levels, there is the possibility of this move extending towards 78 and even 78.50 levels on spot,” says currency expert Anindya Banerjee. “We condemn the violence against the peaceful protestors today and call on the government to conduct a full investigation including the arrest and prosecution of anyone who incited violence,’’ US Ambassador Julie Chung tweeted. She sought the arrest and prosecution of anyone who incited violence is committed to removing outdated colonial laws while protecting the sovereignty of the nation. Over 1,500 outdated laws have been scrapped since 2014-15 when the Modi government first came to power, it said. It also pointed out that over 25,000 compliance burdens that were pain points have already been removed under Narendra Modi’s watch as prime minister. “Various offences which were causing mindless hindrances to people have been de-crimi- Penal provisions The affidavit said there is general agreement about the need for statutory provisions to deal with serious offences of a divisive nature. “Penal provision for such purposes is generally accepted by all in legitimate state interest.” nalised. This is an ongoing process. These were laws and compliances which reeked of a colonial mindset and thus have no place in today’s India,” the Centre said. It added that the government was aware of various views being expressed on the subject of sedition, including concerns of civil liberties and human rights activists. In the Kedar Nath Singh vs State of Bihar in 1962, a Constitution bench had upheld the sedition law. The Centre in its initial affidavit had said the Kedar Nath verdict came after testing the constitutional validity of 124A from angles. A three-member bench led by Chief Justice N V Ramana had last week said it would hear arguments on May 10 (Tuesday) on whether pleas challenging the sedition law should be referred to a larger bench for reconsidering. (Top) Protesters and government supporters clash outside the official residence of the Prime Minister in Colombo; (Left) A Catholic priest runs to safety as a pro-government demonstrator tries to attack | afp Opposition leader Premadasa roughed up Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who visited the GotaGoGama protest site to assess the situation, was also allegedly roughed up by Mahinda loyalists Eldest Rajapaksa goes, one left Protestors among at least five persons dead in spiralling violence as ruling party uses force to end agitation; one lawmaker commits suicide; curfew imposed across Sri Lanka E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ new Delhi At least five persons, including a member of parliament of the Sri Lankan ruling party died in , escalating political violence across the country on Monday , forcing embattled Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to put in his papers after hanging on to power for weeks. The protests that began on April 9 against the misrule of the Rajapaksas for plunging the country into its worst economic mess in decades, were peaceful till the ruling family apparently decided to teach the agitators a lesson. In the morming, Mahinda’s supporters attacked protesters outside younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office, leaving at least 200 people injured. A nationwide curfew had to be imposed and the army deployed to control the situation. Sensing the attack on peaceful protestors had boomeranged, Mahinda, 76, sent his resignation letter to Gotabaya. “Effective immediately I have tendered my resignation as Prime Minister to the Presi- Mahinda Rajapaksa Taking pride in its renaissance traditions, Kerala claims it had eradicated the practice of ‘untouchability’ long ago. But a government school in Kozhikode had to wait for 63 years to get rid of the ‘SC students only’ tag, as parents belonging to other communities refused to send their wards to the school due to the ‘fear of mixing up’. Three years after ending the ‘apartheid’, the school produced its first Lower Secondary Scholarship (LSS) winner this year, a common fete for normal schools. The Government Welfare LP cide using his own revolver. Later, the bodies of Athukorala and his personal security officer were found. As many as 181 people were hospitalised Colombo. Eight were injured elsewhere. The mass violence triggered by his party’s musclemen has made Gotabaya’s position more difficult. He is the last Rajapaksa laft in power. Others in the clan, including Basil and Namal, have already resigned. Mahinda’s son and his chief of staff, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, left for Singapore with his wife early on Monday morning. Former Lankan cricket great Sanath Jayasuriya said, “this is the end of the Rajapaksas. I never thought that this type of thuggery will be unleashed on innocent protestors at Galle P9 Face in broad daylight.”  HC upholDs COnviction of 10 in terror case E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kochi The Kerala High Court on Monday upheld the conviction and life imprisonment awarded to Thadiyantavida Nazeer, self-styled south Indian commander of LeT, and nine others in the Kashmir terror recruitment case of 2006. The court observed that there was a clear conspiracy to radicalise and recruit Muslim youths to wage war against India. It, however, acquitted three persons — M H Faisal (second accused), Muhammed  Navas (14th) and Ummer Farooq (22nd) — who were among the 13 convicted by the School breaks ‘apartheid’ shackles, gets first scholarship winner after 66 years A m i ya Mee t h a l @ Kozhikode dent,” he tweeted. Mahinda’s goons attacked demonstrators at MynaGoGama and GotaGoGama protest sites. The tents opposite Temple Trees, the official residence of the prime minister, were also pulled down by the mob. The violence against protesters triggered widespread anger, with people turning their wrath on Rajapaksa loyalists. Vehicles carrying supporters of Mahinda were stopped and attacked across the country . The car of the ruling party’s lawmaker Amarakeerthi Athukorala was surrounded by protestors at the north western town of Nittambuwa. Athukorala allegedly opened fire killing one of the protesters. When the angry mob toppled the car, he took refuge in a nearby building and committed sui- ‘SC students only’ tag Govt Welfare LP School in Perambra was established in 1956 Only students from the SC Sambava (Paraya) community used to get enrolled here In 2019, members of Kerala School Teachers’ Movement deliberately sent their wards to the school to end the ‘apartheid’ School in Perambra was established in 1956. Though the school was well-equipped with state-ofthe-art facilities, only students from the Scheduled Caste Sambava (Paraya) community enrolled here. No student from other communities took admission as their parents didn’t want their kids to sit side-by-side with Scheduled Castes children. In 2019, members of Kerala School Teachers’ Movement (KSTM) deliberately sent their wards to the school to end the ‘apartheid’. KSTM is a newly formed organization which enjoys the backing of Welfare Party of India. The students came from 15-km far off Kavunthara and shared benches with the SC kids. And within three years, Yaseen Sajid, a fourth standard student, bagged the LSS schol● More on P4 arship. express read Railway Board nod for 27 new ROBs in state Kavya quizzed for over 4 hours in Aluva house Don’t criticise to demoralise, Sonia at CWC T’Puram: In a decision that could help address traffic snarl-ups in small towns, 27 railway overbridges will soon come up across the state. The Railway Board has given K-Rail the nod to construct 22 ROBs. The overbridges will be a major development initiative undertaken by K-Rail. In the initial phase, permission was given for five ROBs last September. P4 Kochi: Actor Kavya Madhavan was interrogated for nearly five hours at her house in Aluva on Monday in connection with the 2017 actor assault case in which her husband and actor Dileep is one of the accused. The police team reached the residence around noon after Kavya insisted that the questioning be held at her house. The questioning continued till 4.40pm. P4 New Delhi: With the differences within the party leadership out in the open, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday sought unity and cooperation in the party. Gandhi said self-criticism is fine but it should not be done to the extent of eroding self-confidence and morale. She was addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. NIA Special Court, Ernakulam, in 2013. The case pertains to recruitment of youths from Kerala for terror training in Kashmir. A division bench comprising Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice C Jayachandran observed that Nazeer had played the pivotal role in the conspiracy , describing him as the commander who recruited 180 youths and kept them ready to be sent for training to terror camps. “The venom he spewed in Thareeqath classes on the assumed harassment perpetrated on Muslims makes him the prime mover in the conspira● More on P5 cy it said. ,”