This is an archive article published on August 13, 2014
Thiruvananthapuram
‘Why so many communal incidents after NDA came to power’.
Written by Shaju Philip
Thiruvananthapuram | August 13, 2014 12:35 AM IST
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Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said the incidents of communal violence have increased in many parts of the country within months of the BJP coming to power at the Centre and added that deliberate attempts are being made to divide the society on religious lines.
“Why all these communal incidents suddenly after the BJP came to power?” Sonia said referring to the spurt in the incidents of communal violence in UP and Maharashtra. “What we believe and what is clear in many instances is that these incidents are deliberately created to divide our society on religious lines,’’ she said while addressing a special meeting of office bearers of Kerala Congress Pradesh Committee here.
“We must resist and condemn all such attempts. Also through our own efforts, we should actively promote the idea of secular and plural society,’’ she said.
On India’s stand over the Israeli attacks in Gaza, the Congress president said the Narendra Modi government “has muted the country’s response to the sufferings of people and betrayed its long tradition of solidarity with the people of Palestine and the vision of two states existing side by side in peace and harmony’’.
She lauded the Kerala unit of Congress for the victory in a majority of seats in the recent elections. “It is the people of Kerala, who stood by us (Congress). They have demonstrated their faith in the value, principles and hard work of the Congress,” Sonia said. She also said the organisational activities of the party unit in Kerala are a model for other states.
Later, while addressing the 16th anniversary celebrations of Kudumbasree — a government venture for poverty alleviation of women in BPL families — Sonia said the Congress would continue to work to get Women’s Reservation Bill passed in Lok Sabha. “My only regret is that we could not pass the Bill in Lok Sabha even though it was introduced in Rajya Sabha. We are determined and committed to press the new government to use its majority in Lok Sabha to fulfil this commitment for the women in the country,’’ she said.
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
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