Ramesh Babu
Ramesh Babu is HT’s bureau chief in Kerala, with about three decades of experience in journalism.
Articles by Ramesh Babu
Congress high command summons 3 top Kerala leaders to Delhi
By Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 17, 2021 08:47 PM IST
- There are also reports that some of the slighted leaders like Professor KV Thomas were planning to leave the party.
‘Not the time to lower your guard’
By Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
PUBLISHED ON JAN 17, 2021 03:08 AM IST
“It is a good beginning. But it is not the time to lower our guard,” Dr Jose Chacko Periappuram said. The government has warned recipients of the vaccine to ensure that the virus doesn’t spread before the second dose of the vaccine is given.
1,300 to get Covid-19 vaccination on the first day
By Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 02:55 PM IST
Kerala has received 43,50,00 vials of the vaccine for the first phase of the vaccination.
Kerala earmarks fund for mental health
By Ramesh Babu, Thiruvanathapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 16, 2021 04:23 AM IST
The state has earmarked Rs.64 crore for mental health programmes, usually a neglected sector. According to a survey conducted by the state mental health department last year, at least 15% of the youth between 18 and 25 years suffered from depression and other mental health problems.
Kitchen loans, sops for startups, industrial corridors in Kerala budget
By Ramesh Babu
UPDATED ON JAN 15, 2021 05:14 PM IST
In the budget speech, the Kerala finance minister Thomas Issac also criticised the Centre’s move to put severe restrictions on states for borrowing.
Sabarimala sees subdued ‘Makara Vilakku’, cash-strapped temple seeks govt help
By Ramesh Babu | Edited by Sohini Sarkar
PUBLISHED ON JAN 14, 2021 09:55 PM IST
- The meagre footfall at the temple has drained the plush coffers of the temple and it has asked the government for a bail-out package.
Congress links Kerala chief minister to gold smuggling
By Ramesh Babu
PUBLISHED ON JAN 14, 2021 04:16 PM IST
Congress MLA PT Thomas claimed Vijayan was aware of the activities of his former principal secretary M Sivasankar, who was arrested three months back in connection with the gold recovery at the Thiruvananthapuram airport
Kerala HC rejects govt plea questioning CBI probe into Life Mission project
By Ramesh Babu | Edited by Sohini Sarkar, Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
PUBLISHED ON JAN 12, 2021 02:45 PM IST
- A flagship project of the government, aimed at building free houses for the poor, it ran into rough weather after Congress MLA Anil Akkara filed a complaint with the CBI saying the project violated the Foreign Currency Regulation Act (FCRA).
Kerala art lovers fume after chopper installation near iconic Mermaid sculpture
By Ramesh Babu | Edited by Sabir Hussain
PUBLISHED ON JAN 11, 2021 06:17 PM IST
- Art lovers say tourists line up before the helicopter to take selfies and group photos these days ignoring the sculpture and it was a deliberate move to outshine the art.
Customs officials set to grill Kerala Speaker in gold smuggling case
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 08, 2021 09:03 PM IST
A senior official said that the probe is at a crucial stage.
Opposition in Kerala boycotts Governor’s address, stages protest outside Assembly
By Ramesh Babu | Edited by: Amit Chaturvedi | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 08, 2021 11:40 AM IST
The opposition legislators, who came with banners and posters, raised slogans against chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan saying it is the most corrupt government the state has seen.
Kerala Speaker and customs face off in gold smuggling case
By Ramesh Babu | Edited by Abhinav Sahay | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 07, 2021 03:15 PM IST
The Opposition Congress and legal experts have criticised the Speaker’s move as an attempt to scuttle the on-going probe into the gold smuggling case.
Armed with drone, 19-year-old rescues 4 drowning fishermen off Kerala coast
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 06, 2021 03:56 PM IST
The Kerala Fishing Boat Operator’s Association said it was the first time a drone camera was used to save fishermen from seas in south India.
Kerala High Court sets aside aquittal in Walayar minors’ rape-murder case
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 06, 2021 03:02 PM IST
The bench comprising Justices A Hariprasad and MA Anitha ordered a retrial in the case and directed the special court to hear it.
Kerala gold smuggling case:NIA files charge sheet, names 20
By Ramesh Babu
PUBLISHED ON JAN 06, 2021 12:12 AM IST
Kerala gold smuggling: NIA files chargesheet against 20 accused
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 05, 2021 10:28 PM IST
The NIA filed the first chargesheet since some of the accused were planning to move court for bail citing their 6-month long judicial custody.
Nearly 25,000 birds die of 2 strains of bird flu, states on alert
By Sachin Saini, Shruti Tomar, Naresh Thakur, Ramesh Babu | Edited by Sparshita Saxena | Hindustan Times, Jaipur/Bhopal/Shimla/Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 05, 2021 09:03 PM IST
Forest department officials said the source of bird flu was migratory birds which probably came from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries and have spread to native species.
6 cases of new Covid-19 strain detected in Kerala
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 04, 2021 10:18 PM IST
According to medical experts, the new UK strain is at least 70 per cent deadlier than the normal one and its contagion rate is also very high.
Youth urge Asaduddin Owaisi to launch party in Kerala, Muslim League cautious
By Ramesh Babu and Srinivasa Rao Apparasu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 04, 2021 05:49 PM IST
In Kerala, the League has been enjoying the support of the Muslim community for more than four decades and political observers often attribute its presence to peaceful communal co-existence in the state.
Alappuzha, Kottayam in Kerala on high alert after bird flu cases detected
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 04, 2021 03:50 PM IST
Bird flu, also known as avian flu, is a variety of influenza caused by a virus in birds. It can spread to humans and can trigger a person to person transmission, experts say.
Kerala passes resolution against farm laws
By Ramesh Babu | Thiruvananthapuram
PUBLISHED ON DEC 31, 2020 11:15 PM IST
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan introduced the resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the new laws and heed the demands of farmers who have massed on Delhi’s borders to protest against the legislation. “The Centre wants to corporatize the farm sector. It must come forward to allay farmers’ fears. The entire country is with them. It should recognise public sentiments and withdraw the new laws,” Vijayan said
Kerala passes resolution against farm laws
By Ramesh Babu | Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON JAN 01, 2021 02:34 AM IST
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan introduced the resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the new laws and heed the demands of farmers who have massed on Delhi’s borders to protest against the legislation. “The Centre wants to corporatize the farm sector. It must come forward to allay farmers’ fears. The entire country is with them. It should recognise public sentiments and withdraw the new laws,” Vijayan said
Kerala’s lone BJP MLA backs assembly resolution against farm laws
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON DEC 31, 2020 09:06 PM IST
The nonagenarian leader, who was minister of state for railways in the Vajpayee government, spoke against the resolution in the house initially but when it was put to voice vote he did not stage a walkout and supported it much to the surprise of the treasury and opposition benches.
Lone BJP MLA backs resolution passed by Kerala Assembly against farm laws
By Ramesh Babu | Edited by: Amit Chaturvedi | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON DEC 31, 2020 01:04 PM IST
The BJP-led central government has said that the “landmark” laws are beneficial for small farmers and will give them choice to sell their produce as per their choice.
Kerala Assembly’s one-day special session begins, CM Pinarayi Vijayan moves resolution against farm laws
By Ramesh Babu | Edited by: Amit Chaturvedi | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON DEC 31, 2020 10:25 AM IST
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had on Monday given his assent for convening the state assembly for a one-day special session on December 31.
Kerala woman who worked as part-time sweeper at panchayat office is now its president
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
PUBLISHED ON DEC 30, 2020 08:49 PM IST
A Anandavalli was elected on a Communist Party of India (Marxist) ticket in the recently concluded local body election and elevated to the post of block president on Wednesday.
Video of teen pleading with cops to let him bury his father sparks outrage
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram:
UPDATED ON DEC 29, 2020 04:28 PM IST
The boy’s parents had ‘accidentally’ immolated themselves on December 22 in Neyyatinkara in Thiruvananthapuram after police came to their house to evict them following a court order.
After poll debacle, revamp talk gets stronger in Kerala Congress
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON DEC 27, 2020 10:24 PM IST
Party insiders said a major surgery is unlikely as the state is set to go for the assembly elections in four months.
Kerala gold smuggling case: Customs to move high court against jail dept
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON DEC 26, 2020 05:13 PM IST
Lodged in a women’s prison in the state capital under Cofeposa (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act), recently, the customs had issued a directive to the jail that it should be informed about anyone visiting her and a customs official will accompany the visitor.
Arya Rajendran, 21, chosen country’s youngest Mayor from Thiruvananthapuram
By Ramesh Babu | Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
UPDATED ON DEC 25, 2020 07:25 PM IST
Basking in the glory of recent local body elections, in which it won the majority of corporations, panchayats and block bodies, the ruling party sprang a surprise by giving the mantle of the prestigious corporation to a first-time councillor.