KOLLAM: Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary Kanam Rajendran said here on Monday that four years of UDF rule had turned out to be a procession of broken promises. According to him, the government had failed to respond to the problems of society and its motto ‘development and care’ has become an absurdity. Kanam said as the government is immersed in corruption it has no right, moral or political, to continue in power.
The CPI leader said this during a face-to-face programme organised by the district committee of KUWJ at the Kollam Press Club.
‘’One of their senior most leaders, A K Antony, says that corruption is increasing in all sectors. Within minutes, scores of leaders rallied behind him and said what he said was true. That line up consists of Sudheeran, Chennithala and Oommen Chandy. If they are against corruption why are they hesitating to initiate action against the tainted faces?’’ Kanam Rajendran asked.
‘’I don’t think that Antony said those words with sincerity. If he is a crusader against corruption, instead of lamenting he should have directed the UDF leadership to oust those who were facing corruption charges,’’ Kanam said and added that the UDF was on the path of collapse as dissent was brewing among the allies.
On PPP Model
Kanam said that the CPI viewed public-private partnership (PPP) model as a business model for ‘’looting’’ public money and handing over public property into private hands. According to him, a mechanism is needed to publicise the detailed project report (DPR) of major developmental projects and a social auditing of the same will have to be put in place.
‘’Presently, there is a controversy over introduction of PPP model in Light Metro and Vizhinjam Port projects. Why is the government so adamant in giving Vizhinjam project to Adani group? They said that he is the lone bidder for the tender. In the case of Light Metro, instead of DMRC, the government is said to be throwing its weight behind an Italian company,’’ Kanam said. Taking a jibe at Chandy, the CPI state secretary asked: ‘’We all know that a Congress honcho has an Italian connection. But when did Chandy develop such a connection?’’
On Integration of Communist Parties
The CPI state secretary said that the strength of the Communist parties had substantially reduced and added that the integration of different groups was a must to stand up and face the testing times. In the current political scenario, the unity of Communist fractions is the need of the hour, he said. While answering a question on the stance of the CPM on the issue, Kanam said ‘’a time will come when CPM will think about unity. My belief is that the integration of groups will become a reality.’’
On RSP, JD(U) and KC(B)
In response to a question on the prospects of re-entry of RSP and JD(U), Kanam said his opinion is that the LDF base has to be broadened and added that the re-entry related issues are yet to be discussed in the Front.
On KC(B) leader Balakrishnan Pillai’s resent presence at an LDF function, the CPI state secretary said that it’s the policy of the LDF to co-operate with those who take a stance against corruption.
On UAPA and Maoists
Kanam reiterated CPI’s stand on Maoists by saying that the issues raised by them should be viewed from a social perspective rather than as a law and order problem. He also criticised the government move to invoke UAPA against them. “My point is that UAPA is undemocratic and is a draconian law. It empowers the government to silence those who dare to raise voice against them. If they use this against Maoists now, in the future it will be used against anyone,’’ said the CPI leader said.