Former Supreme Court judge Justice V R Krishna Iyer, also member of the first ministry in Kerala led by E M S Nampoothiripad, has said the “absence of a strong socialist press in Kerala has stifled the spread of progressive ideals in the society”.
Justice Iyer said this when G Karthikeyan, Speaker of the Kerala Assembly, paid a visit to his house on Thursday as part of the 125th celebrations of the beginning of legislative activities in the state. Karthikeyan presented Justice Iyer with a memento on the occasion. Speaking to Karthikeyan, Justice Iyer recalled his vibrant past of political activities. The fiery socialist judge, who was an independent member of the first Communist ministry, said he is pained at the decline of socialist influence in the country and the state.
“It is believed that socialist and secular forces are hegemonic in Kerala. But I have some apprehensions. Recently, I wrote a article with socialist leanings but could not find a suitable place to publish it,” he said.
He asked Karthikeyan “whether the journal being published by the Kerala Assembly could accommodate his article” and the Speaker replied to the veteran in affirmative.