This is an archive article published on October 15, 2017
At Delhi-Kerala fest, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan call for unity against divisive forces
The idea for the three day fest — pegged to be the first-ever cultural event between the two states — was mooted by the Kerala CM after a similar programme between Kerala and Telangana earlier this year
New Delhi | Updated: October 15, 2017 07:49 AM IST
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The idea for the three day fest — pegged to be the first-ever cultural event between the two states — was mooted by the Kerala CM after a similar programme between Kerala and Telangana earlier this year
Inaugurating the Kerala-Delhi Culture Festival at the Connaught Place Central Park on Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan spoke on the urgent need for people to come together against forces that divide the country, learn from the rich history of India and not ignore the contributions of other cultures.
The idea for the three day fest — pegged to be the first-ever cultural event between the two states — was mooted by the Kerala CM after a similar programme between Kerala and Telangana earlier this year. “The initiative was taken by the Kerala Chief Minister. Sir, I salute you for your efforts to unite this country,” Kejriwal said.
Elaborating on several incidents of “forces trying to break this country” and how “Kerala was putting up a fight against these forces”, Kejriwal said, “Sir, we, our government, our people will support you in your fight against such forces.”
Vijayan responded: “We have to be alert during these times. We have a very rich and diverse culture and there is someone who is projecting all of this richness as one sculpture. These people say that one particular culture contributed to the Indian culture; they do so by avoiding the contributions of other cultures,” Vijayan added. Also present were Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, Kerala Minister for Culture, Law, Welfare of SC, ST & backward classes and Parliamentary Affairs A K Balan, Kerala Minister for Port, Archives, Archaeology and Museums Ramachandran Kadannapalli and Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran.
Even as Balan welcomed the Delhi government’s proposal to set up a Malayalam academy to promote the language, Sisodia said, “We have many Malayalis in the crowd; for us they are Delhiites. We may be divided geographically and politically but we are united by our culture. I do not know if ‘one nation, one tax’ may work but ‘one nation, one culture’ will live on.”
Maintaining that there is a need to continue such cultural exchange programmes, Kejriwal added, “I am pleased to announce that next February, the Delhi government will do a cultural exchange programme in Kerala.”
Vijayan also spoke about the contribution of the Sultanate and the Mughals in shaping Delhi’s unique culture. “You cannot erase Mirza Ghalib’s poems, Tansen’s songs , Naushad’s music and M F Hussain’s paintings. If a set of people want to remove this culture from their lives, then they do so at their own peril,” he said.
Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy.
Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free.
Expertise and Reporting Beats
Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors:
National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres.
Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA).
Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking.
Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers.
Professional Background
Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017.
Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh.
Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs.
Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife.
Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance.
Digital & Professional Presence
Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express
Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More