kannur l saturday l december 28, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Former Suzuki Motor chairman Osamu Suzuki passes away at 94 Osamu Suzuki Revolutionised India’s car market He passed away on December 25 due to malignant lymphoma, according to information shared by Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corporation on Friday. Suzuki is credited for taking a big risk by partnering with the then Indian government in 1981 to form a joint venture, Maruti Udyog Ltd, when India was a closed economy. The move revolutionised India’s car market Suzuki, who grew small-car manufacturer Suzuki Motor into an international brand with huge success in India, passed away on Wednesday 40% Proved small cars can give big business ■ Calling himself an “old man at a small business”, Osamu Suzuki focused on building light-weight ‘kei’ vehicles, many of which became big hits for their fuel efficiency and easy-to-handle quality ■ Under the charismatic businessman’s four-decade leadership through 2021, Suzuki Motor’s sales grew more than 10-fold to 3 trillion yen Current Market share of Maruti Suzuki in India’s car market 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 Cremation today amid party’s Rural, urban push for separate resting place consumption Household survey 2023-24 Funeral at 11.45 am at Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat crematorium, says home ministry Modi among first to pay homage Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was among the first ones to pay homage to Singh and lay a wreath on Friday, said the death was a big loss and the nation lost an able statesman Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays his last respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on Friday | PTI P r ee t h a N a i r @ New Delhi Ahead of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s final rites with full state honours, the Congress on Friday requested the Union government for a resting place for him along the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi, where many former PMs have their memorials. However, sources said that the Centre told the Congress brass to conduct the funeral at the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium on Saturday as scheduled while it will consider the request for a memorial later. Congress sources said they had no option other than to proceed with the plan announced by the Union home ministry . In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge said: “Apropos our telephonic conversation today morning, wherein I made a request to hold Dr Singh’s last rites, which will take place tomorrow at his final resting place that would be a sacrosanct venue for a memorial of the great son of India. This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former Prime Ministers at the very place of their funerals.” However, a communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs said Singh’s last rites will be conducted at 11.45 am on Saturday at the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium with state honours. Significantly it was the UPA , government headed by Singh that decided in 2013 that there He left his imprint on our national life. The nation has lost an eminent statesman, renowned economist and a distinguished leader Union Cabinet resolution would be no separate memorials for VVIPs in Delhi and decided to have a common complex for memorials of departed national leaders like Presidents, Vice Presidents and Prime Ministers. However, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh kept up the pressure, wondering why the government could not find a location for his cremation and memorial befitting his stature. “This is nothing but a deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister,” he alleged. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi described Manmohan Singh’s demise as a “deeply personal loss”. A condolence resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee said he was a towering figure in India’s political and economic landscape whose contributions transformed the country and earned P4 him respect worldwide.  Manmohan singh believed in growth with equity kapil sibal Member of Rajya Sabha D r Manmohan Singh belongs to an era when politicians were respected for allowing institutions to flourish. It is not as if there were no aberrations in the past. By and large, the spirit of the Constitution was honoured by those in power. Even when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister (19992004), he respected and heard the voice of the opposition. Narasimha Rao, on one occasion, requested Vajpayee, who was the Leader of Opposition at the time, to lead a delegation to the UN. It was during those years that Manmohan Singh, from being a bureaucrat, who served the nation in several capacities, became the Prime Minister in 2004. The opening up of the Indian economy when a radical , 02 kottayam rew nd saturday l  anu kuruvilla case of ‘mAARAyA’ ultimate mic O ne fine evening, a junior reporter, in all earnestness, up a police station. rang And on a very serious there a CPO (civil note, asked, “Is police officer) named curt reply came through: “No, there’s Maaraya there?” A here!” no such person working The reporter’s query checking his copy. was on the directions of a senior There was something that read, “The fishy in the sentence police team (that included CPO Maaraya, arrested Sajumon, Nahas...” the accused) also asked the young The senior reporter to read the police statementthen carefully. The press again, maaraya Sajumon, note, er… in Malayalam, said: “CPO Nahas (CPOs Sajumon, moment, they Nahas)…” For a looked at each other. And a hearty rang around the laughter room. leg over the episode. Well, the senior still pulls the rookie’s  sovi vidyadharan newindianexpress com droP: hAng up! fearless in rain, T his has been a season of discussions, arguments and debates, and counterargumen even Chief Minister ts within the CPM. Pinarayi Vijayan Not no surprise that has been spared. the It was were far from being area committee meetings in Kannur a smooth sailing. postponements Local issues forced in three places even in of Payyanur. While covering one such the party stronghold a leader who happens issue, to be a local body I reached out to He responded, representative. alright. he launched himself But instead of speaking on the issue, into an impromptu party workings. lecture on inner Fine. overtones. He shifted But it quickly took on unexpected ‘intimidating villain’. from being a ‘party professor’ to an Hmm, so things with the area committees. indeed are Finally, I shot back. not so well the ultimate mic And he did drop: hang up. Perhaps, he didn’t he was making a news of himself! realise Journalists often encounter tricky situations and witness unique episodes while hunting for stories. Here, our reporters share their experiences , which otherwise go unnoticed  lakshmi athira ALL bUt on a canoe “W here are we heading to this time,” asked our photographer, T P Sooraj. “Kallu Vachu Kaadu, a secluded island with just eight families, near Tripunithura.” Halfway, the heavens opened. We reached the waterfront with the photographer drenched, protecting his camera but hardly bothered by getting wet. My only contact there, carpenter Murukesan K S, was waiting beside a canoe, with an umbrella in hand. We exchanged pleasantries and waited. Time was at a premium, for I had listed the story for the day. As the rain became lighter, I asked, “Can we make a move?” Murukesan gave me a wry smile and said, “Please get in.” The canoe swayed big time as I stepped on to it. I apologised, confessing it was my experience on such first “They are experts, a small boat. there’s nothing to be worried about. Come on,” I told Sooraj. But Murukesan said he would get me across first. “Quick, let’s go before it pours again,” he said. I thought about the residents with admiration, trying hard not to betray my fear. On the opposite bank, I got ready with my mobile phone camera. To my surprise, the photographer was clinging to the swaying canoe for dear life, hardly bothering about the “expensive” camera. As Sooraj set foot on land again, I was all praise for the rower. “We have no fear whatsoever. I know you guys make these sorties every Murukesan, poker-faced, day.” replied, “I’m the only one here who wo local residents doesn’t own a boat, escorted us to where Pazhangad, near row. I was waiting and I rarely Kochi. Their warnings the 2.5km seawall lay crumbling for someone to the sea. Despite take me across. in were drowned their concerns, But since it was out by the roar photographer T the ‘red zone’, towering raining heavily, P Sooraj and I pressed of no one was waves confronted metre stretch of on. In coming. That’s us. The village flooded land. With why I decided to lay beyond a 300on the sandy path, little knowledge take you one by of swimming, we holding hands one.” We threw feet. Once past as seawater threatened focused a quick glance at the the to sweep us makeshift geobags, waves, we saw the devastation waters. And I dared gushing — broken seawalls, off our water to conduct and flooded homes. In some not look the photographer areas, I had interviews, separated in level. Despite their the eye! from the residents to stand in the pain, when they by the rising water their woes, they saw we had taken offered us tender the face of adversity. coconuts to refresh the trouble to listen to  krishna kumar ourselves. Warmth Humbling. ke in News ‘BIte’ lashing waves, BRAVe LIVeS run, it’s a tIgeR! W ith rogue elephants and the fringes of Wayanad tigers on the prowl, people living on forests are reluctant nightfall. In February, to step out after elephants trampled of a week. While two persons in visiting a victim’s the span recounted how house, we met she Lissy Joseph who Padamala. A few escaped from the clutches of a tiger at metres heard a roar. Glimpsing into her walk to the church, at 6.30am, she a charging tiger, house but tripped Lissy over in panic. Fortunately, ran to her neighbour’s screams and the the neighbours’ honking of a car distracted the tiger. finished her tale, at the very spot, Lissy had just Shocked to the and we heard a core, we stood thud near us. rooted for a few almost taken to seconds and had our frond! We laughed heels when we saw what had fallen – a coconut out, more out of relief than joy. Jacob n hemAchAnDrAn, KrIshnAKUmAr Kh 0 Downing Street, London. The residence and office of the British Prime Minister, the door of which remains shut. With no access to the official residence, reporters wait at the other usually end of the road to get the ‘bite’. The office, PM’s however, has seen press conferences. On the politics beat, this correspondent has found that Thiruvananthap uram too has a ‘10 Downing Street’. Cantonment the residence-cum-o House, ffice of the Leader of Opposition! Many tall leaders including VS Achuthanandan and Oommen Chandy have held press conferences there. V D Satheesan, the incumbent, and his office now appear to be taking a leaf out of the original. For months, Satheesan allowed the press hasn’t in. Instead, he likes to stand on the doorstep with a podium, much like the British PM. Reporters and camera crew must stand in the car porch and look up for Satheesan’s  LAYOut: DevAn thIrUvAzhIyoDe statements. His office explains: “It’s a bite. Mediapersons need comfortably only to sit if a press conference.”there’s As if Kerala politics has shrunk to a ‘bite’. k s sreejith From briefly becoming a CEO to conducting interviews standing in seawater, check out P2 for some unique experiences our reporters had while at work this year (Mar 21 - Apr. 20) The Moon is about to pose one or two interesting questions, such as what is the best thing to do about a family or domestic dilemma. It’s a day to think your problems through rather than resorting to raw emotion or Arien impatience. I mean, you don’t want to upset anyone, do you? TAURUS (Apr. 21 - May 21) GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Money matters The Moon is occupy your mind raising the today. Splash out, by all means, but prospects of also busy, though happy, a get all your papers in order, home-based weekend. whether insurance claims, The choice is yours as investment plans or fancy to whether you spend a profit-making schemes. restful time with family Traditional entertainments members or busy yourself suit the mood best, so on your favourite tasks. resist attempts to persuade The guiding principle you to do something outseems to be that whatever of-character. you do benefits others. CANCER (June 22 - July 23) When Mercury and Venus speak to each other, they create poetic conditions. Such delicate influences obviously appeal strongly to the subtle Cancerian personality, and may lead you to dream of exotic places or future wealth. Partners may not make much sense, though! LEO (July 24 - Aug. 23) There is every opportunity for you to make the most of yourself socially this weekend. The stars are urging you to take the initiative and get out as much as possible. A little play would be a good thing after a hardworking week. After all, you do have to look after yourself occasionally! VIRGO  iLLuS: mAnDAr PArDIKAr (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23) LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Listen carefully (Nov. 23 - Dec. 22) The Sun is to what other There is every soon to form a people say, Mercury and sense in which very delicate and admit they have Venus both the it is right for and inspired relationship best ideas. This is not make significant you to argue your case. to with Neptune, which It say that you are wrong, adjustments in their does seem now as if you means that dreams and only that there are positions over the current have the edge over other thoughts of romance aspects of the current period, the result being are people when it comes prominent this weekend. to situation that you have that your mood should a sound reason for what Yet a money muddle failed to consider. And, become much lighter, it is practical and may intervene along that’s a failure you’ll frivolous and frothy, even. the necessary to do. At least way. And, when it does, have to remedy as soon Certain problems will lunar alignments are soon you’d better take the as possible. be pushed into the still supporting you cautious way out. background, so don’t emotionally, though. waste your time. cross word Solutions to Yesterday’s puzzle across Su do Ku EVIL test your number crunching skill unique Puzzle with our  Fill in the grid with digits that every row, every column in such a manner accommodates the digits and every 3X3 box 1 to 9, without repeating any. E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Kochi down to a  manoj viswanatha EDitED bY: srUthI ARIES P e t e r v i da l 28th December : Aries rises up the celestial agenda today, which means that it’s time to stop prevaricating and start acting. We should tackle all those tasks that we have been leaving until the next day. It’s the tomorrow – and perfect moment to discover the joy of clearing the decks and working to the end of our to-do-lists! Continued on: P7 down By DaviD L. Hoyt anD Jeff KnureK YesterDAY’s sOLUtIONs Across: Down: 1 Tapir, 2 Ago, 3 Free, 5 Hardship, 6 Spindrift, 7 4 Losing, Yielded, 11 Thumbnail, 13 Sheraton, 16 Scores, 19 Piety, 20 Diva, 14 Testate, 23 Aid. CAPRICORN (Dec. 23 - Jan. 20) You are now entering a financial cycle in which partnerships will hold the key. Relationships with women seem to be potentially the most profitable, while luxuries are more desirable than necessities. Actually, it’s a day to indulge your day-dreams. Jumble 1 Sundry charges for amusements (10) 6 Combined nations 1 Time for fruit (4) look 2 Six bringing skill into pre-Christian era to practicality (9) (4) 10 Dog track (5) 3 Gave a straight decision? (5) 11 It’s Mexico intricately 4 Cool headgear as being attractive and unusual seen in pole positions (9) (7) 12 Piece of luck one 5 Old ones like this may encounter in an orchard have little sense (7) (8) 13 On which to write 7 I am taken in by letters a fat about the chaplain Scottish landowner (5) (5) 15 They may lead 8 Pay ace postmen the masses (7) differently (10) 17 Is in hides to see 9 Settlement of birds (7) loss paid 19 The personification 14 Uncast replacements? out (8) of cunning (7) (5,5) 21 Dashing fellow 16 Picture taken by whose cheek has an exotic a sniper perhaps (8) tan 22 Courses for non-drivers?(7) 18 Not heard about the (5) 24 A downhill slide Nile flowing around (8) Dubai (9) 27 Arguing - so earning 20 Trouble with fog correction (9) in 28 Balance between the vessel obtaining shark (7) 21 Continuous railing? September and October (5,2) (5) 29 Told to go north 23 Queue for transport in a group (4) (5) 30 Eternal state of 25 Possibly loves to one find only having high notes? the right answer (5) (10) 26 Go by permission (4) 1 Tearful, 5 Hasty, 9 Ire, 10 Ruth, 12 One-sided, 8 Processor, 14 15 Tidied, 17 Subtract, 18 Stop, Touchy, 22 Terminate, 24 Ellen, 25 21 Ada, Stand by. singh’s final procession at 9.30 am On Saturday, his mortal remains will be taken to AICC HQ at 8 am, where party cadre and the public can offer tributes. The final procession to the cremation ground will depart at 9.30 am Champion of Indo-u.s. ties: Blinken US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Singh was one of the greatest champions of US-India strategic partnership who brought the two countries closer A Statesman like no other: Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin described former prime minister Manmohan Singh as an outstanding statesman who elevated IndiaRussia ties to greater heights THE gap between urban and rural consumption narrowed as the average monthly per capita consumption expenditure grew 9% in nominal terms in rural areas and 8% in urban areas in 2023-24, the latest household consumption data released by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed. The gap between urban and rural consumption declined to 70% in 2023-24 from 71% in the previous year. The household consumption survey was conducted from August 2023 to July 2024. According to the new data, monthly consumption expenditure in current prices was `4,122 in rural areas and `6,996 in urban areas in 2023-24. In the previous year, the average monthly consumption expenditure was `3,773 in rural areas and `6,549 in urban. In real terms (2011-12 price), the increase in both rural and urban consumption is only 3.5% to `2,079 and `3,632, respectively . This paper had on December 3 reported the household consumption expenditure survey report of 2023-24 would be released soon. The government was awaiting the consumption data as it has to decide the new base year for calculating economic data such as GDP and inflation. The new base year could be either 2022-23 or 2023-24. The Consumer Price Index basket would also be changed accordingly. It is likely that the weightage of food in CPI basket will be aligned based on the consumption survey report. Currently food has a weightage of 44.6% in the com, bined CPI, which tracks the retail inflation. Average MPCE for major states State Rural Urban Kerala 6,611 7,783 Tamil Nadu 5,701 8,165 Telangana 5,435 8,978 Andhra 5,327 7,182 Karnataka 4,903 8,076 Odisha 3,357 5,825 Uttar Pradesh 3,481 5,395 Maharashtra 4,145 7,363 ( MPCE: Monthly per-capita consumption expenditure) HC clears takeover of Wayanad estates’ land E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @Kochi The Kerala High Court on Friday allowed the state government to proceed with the takeover of land to set up a model township for Wayanad landslide victims. Dismissing the petitions by Harrisons Malayalam Ltd and Elstone Tea Estates Ltd challenging the government’s decision to acquire their land under the Disaster Management Act for the township, the single bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath directed the state to compensate them. The July 30 landslides at Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Punchirimattam villages in Wayanad claimed 251 lives and damaged 1,555 houses completely and rendered around 1,210 families home, less. The government decided to build a model township, as part of its permanent rehabilitation plan, on 65.41 hectares of Nedumbala estate of Harrisons Malayalam and 78.73 hectares of Elstone land in Kottappadi village in Wayanad’s Vythiri taluk. The petitioners challenged the government order saying it was issued beyond the remit of the Disaster Management Act and violated the provision in Article 300 A of the Constitution on right to property. They said the government could take over land from a private entity only under the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act. ● More on P4 BJP liberal on tenure, Surendran hopeful M a n o j V i s w a n at h a n @Kochi The liberal approach adopted by the BJP national leadership in granting its mandalam presidents a second term has ignited hopes for state president K Surendran. During an online meeting on Thursday central observer and Ma, hila Morcha president Vanathi Srinivasan favoured allowing a second term for mandalam presidents who have not crossed the age bar. She reasoned that leaders elected in 2020 were unable to function for two years due to Covid restrictions. So, the period they served after expiry of term could not be seen as a second term. The Surendran group feels the relaxation is applicable to the state president too. However, dissenting factions have approached the central unit alleging that Surendran’s leadership has weakened the party at the grassroots. They say the decision to split district committees and forming 30 organisational districts was not dis- cussed in the party and will adverse, ly affect its functioning. A senior leader said the decision was not discussed with Suresh Gopi, V Muraleedharan, Rajiv Chandrasekhar and Sobha Surendran who significantly raised the party’s vote share in the Lok Sabha election this May . During the 2020 organisational elections, the BJP had split the 140 Mandalam committees into 280 units. This helped Surendran expand his support base as he managed to appoint his supporters to the newly-created posts. Factions opposing Surendran fear a similar intention behind the latest decision to increase the number of district units to 30. “After the bifurcation, the BJP faced a 4% decline in vote share in the 2021 assembly election. The division of district units will add to confusion and weaken the party. The leader said at a time when Hindu and Christian communities are cozying up to the BJP this strategy can , prove counter productive.,” said a ● More on P4 veteran BJP leader.  E X P RE S S READ Arlekar to be sworn in as Kerala guv on Jan 2 T’Puram: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar is set to assume office as Kerala governor on January 2. He’s expected to reach the state capital on Wednesday and the swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday. Outgoing Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, set to replace Arlekar as Bihar governor, is expected to take charge the same day. He will leave for Delhi from Kochi on December 29. The next day, he will leave for Patna | P5 IAS officer seeks clarification from govt T’Puram: The war within the IAS ranks in Kerala has intensified with suspended officer Prasanth N demanding a clarification from the chief secretary in response to the charge memo issued against him. The unprecedented move came after Prasanth was suspended as special secretary, agriculture department, last month for his social media posts against additional chief secretary A Jayathilak and former industries director K Gopalakrishnan | P5 HC sets stage for 2 major Pappanji torching events in Fort Kochi 1 T  mahima anna  Terming his death a “personal loss”, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday said Singh was her friend, philosopher and guide. She said Singh leaves a void in the national life that can’t be filled DIPAK M ONDA L @ New Delhi Club Petition Cleared l the curious o glean information that forthcoming, reporters otherwise wouldn’t be at times have to blend in with the anything but. Recently, crowd and pretend to be things so turned stumbled into a out that I new identity while international IT conclave in Kochi covering an that biggies like Google Cloud, Adobe and featured Exploring the stalls, Lenovo. I found myself of an Indian company, standing near that representatives stepped out for of which had lunch. Just then, a group of sharply dressed gentlemen flustered, was I? approached me. I wasn’t to be I stood my ground, started asking and they promptly me about ‘my’ company’s product. took me a while It to realise they were indeed addressing me. When I finally explained that I was supposed to be asking the questions, among those burst into laughter. they Well, I was a CEO minutes. for a few consensus. He did not have the luxury of a brute majority in the Lok Sabha and therefore, had to navigate his policies through dialogue both with his coalition partners and the opposition. The dialogues, with his coalition partners, allowed him to make some monumental decisions. The Right to Information Act, 2005, brought about enormous transparency in the process of decision making. With information available to citizens, government could be held accountable, making transparency a policy prescription. The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, allowed 25% of children belonging to the poor and marginalised communities to be admitted to private schools where their education was subsidised from Class I to Class VIII. These changes in many senses recognised that unless people at the bottom of the pyramid have opportunities, India will continue to be an iniquitous society . 4 DAys to go 28 12 2024 ceo for a moment T shift was made in 1991, by Singh as Finance Minister with India’s balance of payments in deep crisis. His economic liberalisation policy paved the way for what India is today Every sector of the . economy moved away from the license quota raj and from a 3.3% growth rate prior to 1991, we in the 1990s witnessing India’s GDP growing at 6%. Between 2004 and 2014, GDP growth averaged 7.7% with 8.1% average growth between 2004 and 2009. Those were golden years, when India’s growth story was lauded internationally and 271 million people moved above the poverty line. Economic growth during these years was tempered with equity. Singh believed that growth without equity is not , the path India should tread. His commitment to Parliament and Parliamentary institutions was unmatched. He sat through the debates, listening to the opposition and attempted, to the extent possible, to move forward with Personal loss, says Sonia gap narrows yesterday’s AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) The weekend is here at last, bringing all its abundant opportunities for peace and relaxation. With the Moon determined to bring out the lighter side of your character, there is plenty of scope for putting pain and problems to one side. And take advantage of an offer of help. PISCES (Feb. 20 - Mar 20) Mercury adjusts its position, inaugurating a period during which your mind will be on peak form. You will have no trouble persuading other people that your plans, arrangements and ideas are by far and away the best. But, next week it may look very different! UnscrAmble these JUmbles, one letter eAch sqUAre, to form to foUr orDInAry WorDs. In a first, Fort Kochi will witness two large effigies of Pappanji being torched as part of this year’s New Year celebrations. The Kerala High Court on Friday permitted Fort Kochi-based club Gala de Fort Kochi to burn a 35ft-tall Pappanji at Veli ground by issuing an interim stay on an order issued by police denying permission for the event. The burning of Pappanji is an annual New Year’s event that has its roots in Portuguese tradition. Attracting tourists from across the world, the burning of the effigy at Fort Kochi Parade Ground has been organised by Kochi Carnival. This year, however, matters took a turn with Gala de Fort Kochi also install- ing a Pappanji at Veli ground. As installation work was progressing, police ordered the dismantling of the effigy over security concerns. Two similar events in Kochi would place officers under intense stress, the force maintained. Last week, Gala de Fort Kochi approached the court with a writ petition. When the petition was considered by the bench of Justice Gala de Fort Kochi’s 35ft-tall Pappanji at Veli ground in Fort Kochi | Express Justice Harisankar V Menon, Gala de Fort Kochi filed three affidavits of residents aged around 80. They claimed that for the past several years Pappanji had been burnt at Veli ground. Police and Kochi corporation, however, held that this was never the practice at Veli ground, which was used to park the vehicles of attendees to the event at Parade Ground. The court also questioned the permission granted by the corporation for the event at Veli ground. The special government pleader maintained there was no reference to Pappanji in the application filed by organisers with the corporation. The court went through the application and found a mention of the term ● More on P4 ‘Pappani.’