Beware of extremists misleading students: Chief Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan on Monday called for vigilance in families and local communities against students being misled into camps of communalists and terrorists.

Addressing the Independence Day Parade here, the Chief Minister said that extremists were trying to brainwash people by turning spirituality and religious beliefs into false spirituality and communal hatred. Families and the local communities should ensure that students going to schools and place of worship were going nowhere else.

Mr. Vijayan expressed concern whether the country was losing its heritage of reformist moments.  Attacks on minorities were happening for quite some time. Now, the dalits too are coming under attack. Superstitions and communal divide were growing.

The Chief Minister recalled that the government had drawn up plans for investment of Rs. 24000 to Rs. 50000 in five years.  There would be major programmes for revival of villages and use of youth power. Programmes would be taken up to create large scale employment for youth in information technology. The information technology parks would be expanded with addition of ten million square feet of built up area.

He said that the government also proposed higher outlay for welfare fund of non-resident Keralites and their rehabilitation.

Earlier, the Chief Minister unfurled the national flag and inspected the Parade. Chief Minister’s Police Medals and other awards were also presented on the occasion. IPs Officer Merin Joseph led the Parade.