Kochi, 15 August(HS): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came down strongly on anti-national forces trying to break India into pieces in the name of religion and regionalism

He paid glowing tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi who spent the first independence day among the victims of Muslim carnage in Bengals’ Naokhali.

“Though independent India has turned 78 on Friday, we are yet to realize the targets set in the Constitution of India. We are well behind in sectors like health, education and industrial growth,” said the chief minister without naming the forces inimical to see a developed India.

Though he sis not name any forces, the independence day message by the chief minister was delivered at a time when a Cardinal from Kerala had dared to challenge the government to prevent the religious conversion drive.

Last Saturday saw a Christian girl committing suicide at Kothamangalam following physical and mental tortures inflicted on her hy her Muslim lover and his friends who forced her to convert to Islam.

Vijayan, looking frail and weak, said the health sector too was in a precarious condition. Even as the chief minister was delivering his independence day speech, reports came from across the State that many school children and grown up people breathed their last owing to contagious diseases and lack of medical facilities in Government-run hospitals.

Education minister V Sivankutty, who hoisted the national tri-color, asked those who challenged the Constitution to abide by what is specified in it.

Saji Cherin, minister for culture, who hoisted the tri-color for the last time in his life turned emotional and reminded the audience at Alappuzha that because of his perseverance, the district has a number of civil stations and government offices. “If you want more civil stations, please inform me and Ill see to it that many such buildings are constructed across the district,” said the minister.

The Partition Horror Remembrance Day that was observed in the State on 14 August turned out to be a major success as college students and youth turned up to a part of the event.

The higher education minister R Bindu, who was shocked over the youth ignoring her call to shun the event extended greetings to the SFI cadre who tried to subvert the remembrance day.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti