KANNUR: A Facebook post of an environmentalist from Kannur poses some uncomfortable questions to the Left and especially to the leader of All India Kisan Sabha, Viju Krishnan, who is also a native of Kannur. The post is in connection with the ongoing agitations in the district and the 2018 Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act (amendment) passed in the Kerala assembly on Monday. It has gained attention for its sharp criticism on the left and the double standards of the organisation while dealing with issues where it is not in power.
Nishanth Pariyaram, a social activist and an environmentalist, who is in the forefront of the agitations at Kandankali and Keezhattur, raised some pertinent questions to the young leader of CPM, who was recently inducted to the Central Committee of the party, about the pitfalls of the Bill and the doors of possibilities opened before the land mafia in the state who is ready to pounce on whatever little land is available for sale. Nishanth asked: "You might have noticed the news regarding the passing of Paddyland and Wetland amendment bill in the state which would provide enough chance for the real estate lobby to reclaim whatever little paddyland is remaining in the state. As the National Joint Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha, why do you keep silent about this issue?"
Nishanth also said that even when the law was there, 25000 hectares of paddyland and wetland were reclaimed in 2017 alone. Even at this rate, all the land in the state will be reclaimed within the next two decades. As it is the case, the new amendment bill will only help to aggravate the already worsened scenario. He asked "As a man, who had fought against the neo-liberal policies of Modi government, how could you be silent in your own state, where such an anti-people law was being passed by the LDF government?"
He also told Viju Krishnan that the people of Kannur are eager to know about his stand in connection with the Keezhattur agitation, where people have been agitating against the filling up of paddylands to build a National Highway with the participation of corporate companies. Nishanth reminded Viju about the incident, when the much celebrated Long March of Kisan Sabha was marching towards Mumbai, they were being labelled as Maoists by BJP leaders and ministers. The same was repeated in Keezhattur also when the agitators were called as Maoists by the CPM leaders and ministers. "Why is Kisan Sabha taking different stands in different states?'.
Without stopping at Keezhattur, Nishanth further raised another question regarding Viju's position in the issue at Kandankali, where the local residents are fighting tooth and nail against the government's decision to kill 85 acres of paddy lands. "As a man from Karivellur, the place Kandankali might be familiar to you", said Nishanth. He further said that, once the proposed project comes into existence, all the hills in the area and the Kavvayi backwater will also be destroyed apart from the paddylands. "How can you be silent over an issue where the invisible hands of the corporate lobbies are suspected behind the project?"
The lengthy post also reminds the young firebrand leader of the Left about the responsibilities of the Kisan Sabha when corporate forces are trying to own soil, water and natural resources of the people to reap commercial gains by throwing away the common man out of his land. "Comrades like you have the responsibility to speak about the fate of such people, the dangers of privatisation, the limitations of natural resources and above all the environmental crises which poses threat to the existence of human beings. I wish you could fulfil that commitment."
The post, which had appeared a day before the protest meeting of the local residents at Kandankali, have become a talking point among the environmentalists and social workers in the district. Even if the post has appeared as an open letter to Viju Krishnan, the district leadership of the CPM also will find it tough to deal with as their role in these two issues, Keezhattur and Kandankali, are widely being criticised by the environmentalists and the people of the concerned area.
"Neither Viju Krishnan nor any other CPM leaders have come up with any replies to the post so far, "said Nishanth. "It is not easy for them. The issues here are genuine and most of the real party men know that and confided to us that they are disappointed about the party stand. But, the leadership in the district is hell-bent to implement these projects", said Nishanth.
READ FULL OPEN LETTER HERE