Kochi Metro: Yet Another Betrayal

ONE of the most used points in the anti-Left propaganda is that Left stands against “development”. How untrue this canard is can be gauged from the record of successive Left governments. The Left and Democratic Front rule in Kerala during 2006-2011saw the state marching ahead industrially. Various new projects were started under that government. The prime priority of that government was to reopen the industrial units that were closed down during the previous UDF government. It also focused on new generation sectors like IT apart from  infrastructure development. The initial steps for the Kochi Metro were taken by the LDF. The then chief minister V S Achuthananandan and the then finance minister Dr T M Thomas Isaac held a series of discussions with DMRC managing director E Sreedharan and Planning Board vice chariman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and had the successful Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) associated with the project. 

But the new UDF government is bent on getting rid of the DMRC from the project. The government announced in a casual manner that there would be global tenders for Kochi Metro leading to disdain from DMRC which is already associated with the project. It announced that it will withdraw from Kochi Metro project if the government is going ahead on its own. The hope of the people of Kochi to have a state of the art public transport system in Kochi, the largest and thickly populated city in the state, was shattered by the UDF government’s move to deliberately avoid DMRC from this project.

The opposition saw a huge case of corruption in the UDF government’s move, as recently the bank account of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) was given to a bank managed by a close relative of the chief minister Ommen Chandy.  The opposition leaders alleged that government is planning to award the project to other companies instead of DMRC, a public sector unit which is well known for its transparency and its spectacular track record. CPI(M) leaders P Rajeev, MP, and T  M Thomas Isaac, MLA, said that there was 'a mystery behind the latest moves on the part of the state government to get rid of E Sreedharan and DMRC'. 

KMRL managing director Tom Jose said he had no information about such a decision of the DMRC but added that its withdrawal would in no way affect the timely implementation of the 26 km metro rail project. The KMRL would start the implementation of the project once the necessary clearance came from the centre, he said.

The cold war between the two metro companies reached a flashpoint after Tom Jose wrote to the DMRC to inform that it could participate in the open tender process planned for selecting the implementation agency. The DMRC reportedly felt slighted at this as it had been associated with the Kochi Metro project right from the very beginning.

Warning the UDF government, CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan called upon the people of Kerala to prevent a situation in which Kochi Metro project would be scuttled. “The government is planning to get rid of DMRC from the project and try to invite private players in the name of global tender. This will lead to loss of the expertise of DMRC and experience of E Sreedharan. The project should be taken up as early as possible in the public sector”, said Pinarayi. He wanted the chief minister Chandy to come clean on why the government wants to go for a global tender for this project when the expertise for this has been proved by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. He asserted that the people of Kerala are keen to get an answer from Chandy on this.

Leader of opposition, V S Achuthanandan charged that the move to get rid of DMRC was meant for indulging in huge corruption. “E Sreedharan has proved his excellece by successfully completing projects like Konkan Railway and Delhi Metro and was burning the midnight oil to realise the Rs 5000 crore Kochi Metro. The LDF government had initiated the project by allotting Rs 150 crore and constructed the KMRL office. It had also allotted Rs 50 crore for infrastructure development like constructing bridges”, he said. 

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and former state home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan also charged the UDF government of trying to get rid of DMRC in order to get kickbacks from new private parties. He demanded that at no cost should the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation be removed from the project.

Even the union minister Vayalar Ravi has asked the Chandy government to be cautious in the way the state government went about this project.

Sreedharan said that it was for the state government to take a final decision on the implementation of the Kochi Metro rail project. Refusing to speak on the controversy over the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's role in the implementation of the project, he said that DMRC got involved in the project following repeated appeals made by both the UDF and former LDF governments.

 (Published in Peoples Democracy)

Kerala trembles as tremors in Idukki continues

As the mild tremors in Idukki district continues and Water level of Mullpperiyar Dam touches its maximum of 136 feet, the people of Kerala is facing renewed menace of dam destruction. A long pending demand of the state for constructing a new dam is still pending because Kerala and Tamil Nadu are at loggerheads with conflicting claims about its safety of 116 year old Dam. The fear of the people is justifiable as a mild tremor tremor measuring 3.2 on the Richter scale was felt on 26^th this month in Idukki district. Though no damage to property or injury to people was reported, but the people have thronged to the street and a fear psychosis has been erupted all over the state.

The area had recorded as many as 21 mild quakes since January this year with Kerala citing it as a threat to the dam and insisting on building a new reservoir to replace the existing one which it contends is weak. Water level of Mullapperiyar Dam’s catchment area is raised due to the heavy rain in last 3-4 days.  However, holding a contradictory view, Tamil Nadu has opposed construction of a new dam, asserting that the present reservoir “is as safe and good as new” and accused Kerala of whipping up fear psychosis.

The people voluntarily came out of the homes to the street to demonstrate their protest in most of the centres in the Idukki districts. The experts say that the leak found in various sides of the Dam may cause huge catastrophe which strong enough to submerge five districts in the central Kerala. Hundred sof people, includeing women and children came out of in the streets in different parts of Idukki districts in an attempt to draw the attention of the central and state governments. In some place people blocked the traffic and shouted slogans against Chief Ministers of both states. They too expressed their anger against the central ministers from Kerala. Tamil migrants living in Vandipperiyar also participated in the protests.

Water Resources Minster P J Joseph and Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishanan already started parleys with the central minister. But the legal experts like V R Krishanaiar and have already expressed the view for an out of court settlement between two states.

So far in Kerala this protest never came as a demonstration against the neighboring state. The political maturity of the people prevents the demonstration to turn into an ugly level. The wrath of the people is mainly against the inaction of the incumbent governments in the state and center.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the state would not go back on its demand for a new Dam.

The dam was constructed in 1895 by the British government and currently it is operated by Taminadu based on a 999 year lease agreement, signed by erstwhile British rulers in Madras Presidency and the King of Travancore. The catchment areas and river basin of River Periyar downstream include five Districts of Central Kerala, namely Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Trissur with a total population of around 3.5 million. Water diverted eastwards through a tunnel from the dam joints River Vaigai in Tamilnadu and irrigates Theni, Sivaganga, Madurai and Ramanathapuram Districts of Tamilnadu.

The Mullaperiyar dam is constructed at the confluence of both the rivers Periyar and Mullaiyar to create the Periyar reservoir. From Periyar Thekkady reservoir, water is diverted eastwards to Tamilnadu via a tunnel enabling the water to join the Vaigai River. From Periyar Thekkady Reservoir, the Periyar river flows northwestward into the Idukki reservoir formed by the Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu dams. From Idukki reservoir, Periyar flows northwestwards and then westward to join the Arabian sea.

The agreement was to give 8000 acres of land for the reservoir and another 100 acres to construct the dam. And the tax for each acre was 5 RS per year. When India became independent, the lease got expired. After several failed attempts to renew the agreement in 1958, 1960, and 1969, the agreement was renewed in 1970 when C Achutha Menon was Kerala Chief Minister. According to the renewed agreement, the tax per acre was 30 RS, and for the electricity generated in Lower Camp using Mullaperiyar water, the charge was 12 RS per kiloWatt per hour. This was without the consent of the Legislative Assembly of Kerala. This agreement expired in 2000. However, Tamil Nadu still uses the water and the land, and the Tamil Nadu government has been paying to the Kerala government for the past 50 years 2.5 lakhs Rs as tax per year for the whole land and 7.5 lakhs RS per year as surcharge for the total amount of electricity generated.

(published in Prajashakthi on 27th november)

Shame on you, your honor

N.S.Sajith

The issue of Contempt of Court often comes to the dais where the legal eagles attend and this issue rarely comes to the common people. Those who acquainted with the history of Kerala know the sharpness of the sword of contempt of court as the first Chief Minister of Kerala and legendary Communist E M Sankaran Namboodirippad himself was a victim of the act. The sole crime he had done was, in a press conference held in November, 1967, he said that Indian Judiciary has certain class interests. Citing the Marxian approach on the Judiciary he said that Judiciary is ideological state apparatus to suppress the people. 

Kerala High Court had imposed a fine of Rs. 1000 or one month imprisonment on EMS and further the full bench of Supreme Court upheld that verdict and reduced the fine to Rs. 50 or one week imprisonment. The Supreme Court full bench comprised of Justice M Hidayathulla, Justice Mithal and Justice Ray observed that his statements were clearly “an attack on the judges calculated to raise a sense of disrespect and distrust to judicial decision and it had the tendency to weaken the authority of law and law courts”

After a long 44 years a new verdict passed by the same High Court once again reopened the debates regarding the limits of the Judiciary’s authority to use the sword of Contempt of Court provisions against the citizens who criticize the Honorable Court and its honorable verdicts. The verdict was nothing but to send CPIM Kerala State Committee member and former MLA M V Jayarajan to Jail for his remarks against the High court verdict which banned the street corner meetings. On November 8^th a Division Bench comprising Justice V Ramkumar and Justice P Q Barkat Ali imposed six year imprisonment and charged a fine of Rs. 2000 on M V Jayarajan under the section 12^th of Contempt of Court Law. Court had also rejected Jayarajan’s attempt to file an appeal to freeze the verdict.

This verdict caused a wide ranging protest across the state and severe criticism from various corners. People in large numbers gathered in the National Highway from Kochi to Thiruvananthapuram while police bringing Jayarajan. The entrance of Central jail in Pujappura in Thiruvananthapuram also witnessed an unprecedented context of the June 23, 2010 verdict of a High Court division bench prohibiting meetings and public programs on the waysides, which was definite to infuriate parties in Kerala. Even the BJP opined that there is element of vengeance behind the act of the High Court.   

Reacting to the court order, Jayarajan said in Kannur on June 26, 2010, “Some nincompoops (Shumbhanmar in Malayalam), sitting in adjudicator’s seats, are creating laws instead of doing their actual job of interpreting them…. We are now in a situation where a verdict of two judges is not even given the worth of grass by the people of Kerala.”

The court had taken a suo moto case and completed the trial with a seemingly exceptional haste and prejudiced manner. During a trial the court had asked a witness these questions: “Are you afraid of CPIM? Are you afraid of Jayarajan?”

The interesting aspect of this verdict is that it came in a period of overwhelming demand for a blanket scrap of Contempt of Court provision or limiting its usage to situation of extreme inevitability. Former Supreme Court Judge and Press Council Chairman Justice Markandeya Katju, has the view that there is no need of punishment needed for the criticism against the judges. While delivering a speech in the premises of Supreme Court in the capacity of  Supreme Court Judge on the subject “Is Contempt of Court inevitable” he  strongly argued for a need for a fresh look to the Contempt of Court law. In his speech he said:  

“We may now come back again to the central point in this paper. I submit that the law of contempt of court can be made certain once it is accepted that the purpose of the contempt power is not to vindicate or uphold the majesty and dignity of the court (for it is automatically vindicated and upheld by the proper conduct of the Judge, not by threats of using the contempt power) but only to enable the court to function. The contempt power should only be used in a rare and very exceptional situation where without using it, it becomes impossible or extremely difficult for the court to function. In such rare and exceptional situations, too, the contempt power should not be used if the mere threat to use it suffices.”

Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Ruma Pal also aired similar views. While delivering V M Tarkunde Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on November 11 she said Judiciary is in the clutches of many sins like hypocrisy, secrecy and arrogance.  

Lawyers in Kerala too sharply criticized the act of High court. Many eminent lawyers in the state opined that it is high time the courts – specifically judges – understood the changes that have occurred in the political system and society. They hold that courts are not above criticism like the other pillars of the Indian democratic system. In his appeal in Supreme Court against the High Court Judgment M V Jayarajan, cited the substandard usages like insect and venomous serpent to refer him used by the division bench in the judgment. 

CPIM’s stand vindicated; Jayarajan gets Bail from SC

Thiruvananthapuram, 15 November 2011: CPIM state committee member M V Jayarajan who sentenced by the Kerala High Court for 6 months in a contempt of court case got bail from Supreme Court today. A bench comprising of H L Gokhale and R L Lodha accepted Jayarajan’s appeal and granted bail. Supreme Court has granted bail on a self bond of Rs.10000 and asked him to remit Rs. 2000.

CPIM has welcomed the high court order. State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said that Party’s stand on this case has been vindicated and the Supreme Court order will strengthen the Judiciary.

Supreme Court has snubbed the stand of High Court which denied Jayarajan to file an appeal against the judgment. The court also said that the High Court order that did not allow him to appeal was exceptional.

Jayarajan in his appeal had said that the High Court verdict was prejudiced and that he did not try to defame the judiciary. Supreme Court observed that the act of High Court was vengeful. The language of the Judgment should be fair. Detailed trial of the case will be held in Supreme Court in July 2012.

The division bench of the High Court on November 8^th  had held that by making the speech at Kannur last year, Jayarajan was ridiculing in public, performance of two high court judges and making "scurrilous, offensive, vicious and malicious onslaught on the higher judiciary that too beyond controllable limits."

The bench comprising justices V Ram Kumar and P Q Barkat Ali held Jayarajan, a former MLA from Kannur, guilty under sec 12 of the Contempt of Court Act and noted during the trial, he had gone to the press justifying his act, including using the word 'shumban' (a derogatory term which in local parlance means a useless person) against the judges.
Jayarajan's plea to suspend the sentence to enable him to file appeal in the Supreme Court was turned down by the court.

Jayaraj comes out from Jail amid hurling red flags

Thiruvananthapuram, November 16, 2011: CPIM State committee member M.V. Jayarajan's has been released from Thiruvananthapuram Central Prison following a bail granted him by the Supreme Court. He was imprisoned by High Court in a Contempt of Court case. On Tuesday the Supreme Court granted him bail and criticized the High Court verdict. He was given a warm reception by the party workers in the premises of Prison. He also addressed a massive public meeting organized in Poojappura.

After completing the formalities, Jayarajan came out of the jail on 4.15 in the evening. High Court officials reached in the Central Prison on 3 o’ clock. Central Committee members P K Sreemathi and Vaikom Vishwan visited Jayarajan prior to the release. V Sivankutty MLA and K V Abdul Khader MLA along with party workers entered in to the jail to bring him and garlanded him near the prison gate. Thousands of CPIM workers gathered there raised slogans when Jayarajan came out.

In a public meeting in Poojappura, Jayarajan said that everyone is subject to criticism in a in democratic polity. People’s protest is being strengthened all over the world. Kerala Assembly had passed an act to uphold the right for public gathering in roadside.  Oommen Chandy must show the courage to implement the act, he said.

M V Jayarajan was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for contempt of court by the Kerala High Court was brought to the Central Prison last week

പാകിസ്ഥാനിലെ ഇന്ത്യന്‍ കുട്ടി

എന്‍ എസ് സജിത്
തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തെ വലിയ പകിട്ടൊന്നുമല്ലാത്ത ഹോട്ടലിന്റെ റിസപ്ഷനില്‍നിന്ന് മുഖവുരയൊന്നും കൂടാതെ 206-ാം മുറിയിലേക്ക് വിളിച്ചപ്പോള്‍ വല്ലാത്ത അസ്വസ്ഥതയോടെയായിരുന്നു മറുതലയ്ക്കല്‍നിന്നുള്ള പ്രതികരണം. മുന്‍കൂര്‍ അനുമതി വാങ്ങതെ അഭിമുഖം തേടി ചെന്ന ധിക്കാരത്തോടുള്ള കലമ്പലായിരുന്നില്ല അതെന്ന് പിന്നീടാണ് മനസ്സിലായത്. വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍ക്കുശേഷം ജന്മനാട്ടില്‍ വന്നശേഷം തുടരെത്തുടരെയുള്ള ഇന്റലിജന്‍സുകാരുടെ 'ക്ഷേമാന്വേഷണങ്ങളി'ല്‍ അത്രയേറെ പൊറുതിമുട്ടിയിരുന്നു കുട്ടിസാബ്. ദിവസവും മൂന്നു നേരമെങ്കിലും ഐബിയുടെയും സ്പെഷ്യല്‍ ബ്രാഞ്ചിന്റെയും അന്വേഷണം. നാല് രഹസ്യാന്വേഷണ ഏജന്‍സികളുടെ ആളുകളാണത്രെ ദിവസവും എത്തുന്നത്. പാവം ഹോട്ടല്‍ മാനേജര്‍ കമീഷണര്‍ ഓഫീസും കയറേണ്ടിവന്നു. അതുപോലെ എന്തെങ്കിലുമായിരിക്കും ഫോണിന്റെ മറുതലയ്ക്കലെന്നു കരുതിയെന്ന് പടികയറിച്ചെന്നപ്പോള്‍ ക്ഷമാപണം. 62 വര്‍ഷമായി പാകിസ്ഥാനില്‍ കഴിയുന്ന തിരൂര്‍കാരനായ ഈ മുഹാജിര്‍ (അഭയാര്‍ഥി) ഇതെത്ര കണ്ടിരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന ഭാവം. പാകിസ്ഥാനിലെ ശക്തനായ ഇടതുപക്ഷ രാഷ്ട്രീയനേതാക്കളില്‍ ഒരാളാണിതെന്ന് ഇന്റലിജന്‍സ് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥര്‍ക്കറിയില്ല. പാകിസ്ഥാനിയുടെ മലയാളം കേട്ട് വാപൊളിച്ചുനിന്നുപോയി അന്വേഷകര്‍.

അഭിമുഖത്തിനൊന്നും വയ്യ. ഭക്ഷണം കഴിച്ചിട്ട് രണ്ടരയുടെ ജനശതാബ്ദിക്ക് തിരൂര്‍ക്ക് പോണം. പൊന്‍മുണ്ടത്തും തിരൂരിലുമൊക്കെ സഹോദരിമാരും അവരുടെ മക്കളും മറ്റു ബന്ധുക്കളുമൊക്കെയുണ്ട്. ഇപ്പോള്‍ സമയം ഒന്നേകാല്‍. രണ്ടുമണിവരെ എന്തെങ്കിലും മിണ്ടിയും പറഞ്ഞുമിരിക്കാം. ഭക്ഷണം പതുക്കെയേ കഴിക്കാനാകൂ. കൂടുതല്‍ ചോദ്യവും ഉത്തരവും വേണ്ട. ഒട്ടും മായം കലരാത്ത തിരൂര്‍ ഭാഷയില്‍ തുടങ്ങിയ സംസാരം ഹിന്ദിയിലേക്കും ഉറുദുവിലേക്കും ഇംഗ്ളീഷിലേക്കും പലതവണ മാറിമറിഞ്ഞു. മലയാളത്തിലെ ചില കടുപ്പംകൂടിയ വാക്കുകള്‍ ഉച്ചരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ പെട്ടെന്ന് സംസാരം നിര്‍ത്തി അഭിമാനത്തോടെ കുട്ടി സാബ് പൊട്ടിച്ചിരിക്കും. 'ഹോ, ഞാനെത്ര ഭംഗിയായാണ് മലയാളം പറയുന്നത്' എന്ന അടിക്കുറിപ്പും. തുഞ്ചത്തെഴുത്തച്ഛന്റെയും വള്ളത്തോളിന്റെയും നാട്ടുകാരന് മലയാളം എങ്ങനെ പിഴയ്ക്കാന്‍.

തിരുവനന്തപുരത്ത് നടന്ന ദ്വിദിന പീപ്പിള്‍സ് സാര്‍ക് ഇന്ത്യന്‍ അസംബ്ളിയില്‍ പാകിസ്ഥാനെ പ്രതിനിധാനംചെയ്ത് എത്തിയതാണ് ബിയ്യത്ത് മൊഹിയുദ്ദീന്‍ കുട്ടി എന്ന ഈ പാകിസ്ഥാന്‍ മലയാളി. മുഴുവന്‍ പേരു പറഞ്ഞാല്‍ പാകിസ്ഥാനില്‍ ഒരു കുട്ടിക്കും മനസ്സിലാകില്ല അദ്ദേഹത്തെ. ബി എം കുട്ടി എന്ന പേരിനാണ് അവിടെ വില.
സംസാരം പലപ്പോഴും ഇന്റലിജന്‍സ് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥരുടെ ഇടപെടലുകളിലേക്ക് നീങ്ങി. തൊട്ടപ്പുറത്തെ മുറിയില്‍ ശ്രീലങ്കക്കാരനായ ഡോക്യുമെന്ററി സംവിധായകന്‍ സോമീതരനാണുള്ളത്. ആ മനുഷ്യന് ഇവിടെ ഒരു സ്വൈരവുമില്ല. ഏതു നേരവും പൊലീസ് അന്വേഷണം- കുട്ടി സാബ് വിഷമത്തോടെ പറഞ്ഞു. സോമീതരന്‍ മുമ്പൊരിക്കല്‍ തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തു വന്ന് മുല്ലൈത്തീവ് സാഗ എന്ന ലഘുചിത്രം പ്രദര്‍ശിപ്പിച്ചതിന്റെ പിറ്റേന്ന് ഇതേക്കുറിച്ച് മാതൃഭൂമിയില്‍ പ്രാധാന്യത്തോടെ വന്ന വാര്‍ത്തയുടെ തലക്കെട്ട് 'തമിഴ് ദേശീയതയ്ക്കായി പ്രചാരണം; തലസ്ഥാനത്ത് അന്വേഷണം തുടങ്ങി' എന്നായിരുന്നു എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞപ്പോള്‍ കുട്ടി സാബിന്റെ മുഖം മ്ളാനമായി. "ഭരണകൂടങ്ങള്‍ എപ്പോഴും അങ്ങനെയാണ്. അവര്‍ക്ക് എപ്പോഴും ശത്രുക്കള്‍ വേണം. ഇന്ത്യക്ക് പാകിസ്ഥാനെന്നപോലെ, പാകിസ്ഥാന് ഇന്ത്യയെന്നപോലെ.''

ഭാവിയെക്കുറിച്ച് തികച്ചും ശ്ളഥമായ ധാരണകള്‍മാത്രമുള്ള ഒരു കാലത്ത് മുംബൈയില്‍നിന്ന് കറാച്ചിയിലേക്ക് വണ്ടികയറിയതാണ് മൊയ്തീന്‍ കുട്ടി. നാട്ടില്‍ പഠനകാലത്ത് കേരള സ്റുഡന്റ് ഫെഡറേഷന്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തകനായിരുന്നു മൊയ്തീന്‍കുട്ടി. തിരൂരിലും ചെന്നൈയിലും ആദ്യകാല കമ്യൂണിസ്റ് നേതാക്കളുമായി അടുപ്പം പുലര്‍ത്തിയ വിദ്യാര്‍ഥി. വിഭജനം ഇന്ത്യയെ ആഴത്തില്‍ മുറിവേല്‍പ്പിച്ച കാലത്ത് 1949ല്‍ മുംബൈയിലെ വര്‍ളിയില്‍ ഒരു കുടുംബസുഹൃത്തിനെ കാണാനെത്തിയ മൊയ്തീന്‍കുട്ടി മുന്നും പിന്നും നോക്കാതെ കറാച്ചിയിലേക്ക്. സ്വാതന്ത്യ്രത്തിനുമുമ്പുതന്നെ മലബാറില്‍നിന്ന് പോയ ഒരുപാടു പേര്‍ കറാച്ചിയിലുള്ള കാലമാണത്. ഇരു രാജ്യത്തും പാസ്പോര്‍ട്ടുകള്‍ നിലവില്‍ വരാത്ത കാലമായിരുന്നു അത്. മുംബൈയില്‍നിന്ന് ജോധ്പുര്‍വഴിയാണ് കറാച്ചിയിലെത്തിയത്. കറാച്ചിയിലെ തെരുവുകളില്‍ മൊയ്തീന്‍ കുട്ടി കണ്ടത് വിഭജനത്തിന്റെ ഫലമായി അലയുന്ന മുഹാജിറുകളെയാണ്. മൊയ്തീന്‍കുട്ടിയെയും സുഹൃത്തുക്കളെയും മുഹാജിറുകളായി കറാച്ചി ഇരുകൈയും നീട്ടി സ്വീകരിച്ചു. താന്‍ അന്ന് യഥാര്‍ഥത്തില്‍ മുഹാജിറായിരുന്നോ എന്ന് ബി എം കെ ഇപ്പോഴും സംശയിക്കുന്നു. വര്‍ഗീയ കലാപത്തില്‍നിന്ന് രക്ഷതേടിയെത്തിയ മുഹാജിറായിരുന്നില്ല, ഉറപ്പ്. സ്വയം എടുത്തണിഞ്ഞ അഭയാര്‍ഥി വേഷമായിരുന്നില്ലേ അതെന്ന് 82-ാം വയസ്സിലും അദ്ദേഹം സന്ദേഹിക്കുന്നു. മദിരാശിയിലെ അന്തരീക്ഷമാണ് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ മുംബൈവഴി കറാച്ചിയിലെത്തിച്ചത്. കേരളത്തിലായിരുന്നെങ്കില്‍ ബിയ്യത്തില്‍ മൊയ്തീന്‍കുട്ടി മറ്റൊരു കുട്ടിയാകുമായിരുന്നു.
കറാച്ചിയാണ് ബിയ്യത്തില്‍ മൊയ്തീന്‍ കുട്ടിയെ മൊഹിയുദ്ദീന്‍  ആക്കിയത്. പേര് പിന്നെയും കുറുകി ബി എം കെ എന്നായി. കറാച്ചി ബി എം കെയ്ക്ക് ഒരു പ്രിയതമയെ നല്‍കി, പാകിസ്ഥാനിലേക്ക് കുടിയേറിയ ഉത്തര്‍പ്രദേശിലെ അംറോഹക്കാരി ബിര്‍ജിസിനെ. (ബിര്‍ജിസ് 2010 മെയില്‍ 72-ാം വയസ്സില്‍ ബി എം കെയെയും ഈ ലോകത്തെയും വിട്ടുപോയി.) പാകിസ്ഥാന്‍ എന്ന രാജ്യം തൊഴിലാളി പാര്‍ടിയുടെ നേതാവെന്ന നിലയ്ക്ക് ബഹുമാനവും സ്നേഹവും നല്‍കി. പാകിസ്ഥാനിലെ വര്‍ക്കേഴ്സ് പാര്‍ടിയുടെ സ്ഥാപകനേതാവാണ് ബി എം കെ. ഇപ്പോള്‍ വര്‍ക്കേഴ്സ് പാര്‍ടിയുടെ ഇന്‍ഫര്‍മേഷന്‍ സെക്രട്ടറിയും പാകിസ്ഥാന്‍ ഇന്‍സ്റിറ്റ്യൂട്ട് ഓഫ് ലേബര്‍ എഡ്യൂക്കേഷന്‍ ആന്‍ഡ് റിസര്‍ച്ചിന്റെ സെക്രട്ടറിയുമാണ്. പാകിസ്ഥാന്‍ പീസ് അലയന്‍സ് എന്ന സംഘടനയുടെ ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറിയായും അദ്ദേഹം പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. ബി എം കെയ്ക്ക് രണ്ടു മക്കളാണുള്ളത്. മോസ്കോയിലെ ലുമുംബ യൂണിവേഴ്സിറ്റിയില്‍നിന്ന് പഠനം പൂര്‍ത്തിയാക്കി എന്‍ജിനിയറായി ജോലിചെയ്യുന്ന ജാവേദും ഡോക്ടറായ യാസ്മിനും.

പാകിസ്ഥാനും ഇന്ത്യയും തമ്മില്‍ ശത്രുത ഇല്ലാതാക്കാന്‍ എന്താണൊരു പോംവഴിയെന്ന ചോദ്യത്തിന് അന്നാട്ടിലെ ശക്തനായ ഇടതുപക്ഷ രാഷ്ട്രീയക്കാരന്‍ എന്ന നിലയ്ക്ക് ബി എം കുട്ടിക്ക് വ്യക്തമായ മറുപടിയുണ്ട്. ഭരണാധികാരികള്‍ തമ്മിലുള്ള അടുപ്പത്തേക്കാള്‍ പ്രധാനം ജനങ്ങള്‍ തമ്മിലുള്ള സ്നേഹമാണ്. അതാണ് വളരേണ്ടത്. എല്ലാ ഇന്ത്യക്കാരും ആര്‍എസ്എസുകാരാണെന്നാണ് പാകിസ്ഥാന്‍ ഭരണകൂടങ്ങള്‍ ജനങ്ങളെ പഠിപ്പിച്ചുവച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. എല്ലാ പാകിസ്ഥാനികളും തീവ്രവാദികളാണെന്ന് ഇന്ത്യയില്‍ പൊതുധാരണയുള്ളതുപോലെതന്നെ. ഇന്ത്യക്കാരെ ശത്രുക്കളായി കാണാനാണ് പാകിസ്ഥാന്‍കാരെ പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. പാകിസ്ഥാനില്‍ ചാനലുകള്‍ നൂറ്റൊന്നാണ്. എന്നാല്‍, ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ചാനല്‍ ഒന്നുപോലുമില്ല. പക്ഷേ, ഹോളിവുഡ് നടികളുടെ നഗ്നശരീരം കാണിക്കാന്‍ ഈ ചാനലുകള്‍ക്ക് ഒരു മടിയുമില്ല. പുലരുംവരെ ഇന്ത്യന്‍ സിനിമകള്‍ കാണിക്കും. എന്നാല്‍, വാര്‍ത്തകള്‍ക്ക് പ്രവേശനമില്ല.
പത്രങ്ങള്‍ നേരെ മറിച്ചാണ്. ഡോണ്‍ ഉള്‍പ്പെടെയുള്ള പത്രങ്ങള്‍ പാക് സര്‍ക്കാരിന്റെ ഇന്ത്യാ വിരുദ്ധ നിലപാടുകളെ അതിരൂക്ഷമായി വിമര്‍ശിക്കുന്നു. ഇരു രാജ്യവും തമ്മിലും ഭിന്നതലത്തിലുള്ള സൌഹൃദം വളരണമെന്നാണ് പാകിസ്ഥാനിലെ എല്ലാ പത്രങ്ങളും ശക്തമായി വാദിക്കുന്നത്. ഇന്ത്യന്‍ പത്രങ്ങള്‍ അത് കണ്ടുപഠിക്കണം. ഇന്ത്യന്‍ പത്രങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ഗൌരവമേറിയ വിഷയങ്ങളിലല്ല, ഐശ്വര്യറായിയുടെ ഗര്‍ഭംപോലുള്ള ഗോസിപ്പുകളിലാണ് കമ്പം.
സിവിലിയന്‍ സര്‍ക്കാരിന് ഇന്ത്യയുമായുള്ള ബന്ധത്തില്‍ കാര്യമായ മാറ്റം വേണമെന്നാണ് താല്‍പര്യം. അങ്ങേയറ്റം അഴിമതി നിറഞ്ഞ സര്‍ക്കാരാണെങ്കിലും ഇന്ത്യയുമായി സൌഹൃദം ഊട്ടിഉറപ്പിക്കണമെന്ന താല്‍പര്യമാണുള്ളത്. ഭരണത്തില്‍ പട്ടാളമേധാവികളുടെ നിയന്ത്രണം ഇപ്പോഴും ശക്തം. ഇരുരാജ്യങ്ങളും തമ്മില്‍ സൌഹൃദസാധ്യതകള്‍ രൂപപ്പെടുമ്പോള്‍ പട്ടാളം കുത്തിത്തിരിപ്പുണ്ടാക്കും. എന്നാല്‍, പട്ടാളത്തിനുള്ളിലും മനോഭാവം മാറിവരുന്നുണ്ട്. പൊതുസമൂഹത്തിലെന്നപോലെ ഇന്ത്യ-പാക് സൌഹൃദം കാംക്ഷിക്കുന്ന വലിയൊരു വിഭാഗം പട്ടാളത്തിലും വളരുന്നുണ്ട്. തീവ്രവാദത്തെ എതിര്‍ക്കുന്ന ചെറുപ്പക്കാരുടെ സംഘങ്ങള്‍ വിപുലമാകുന്നത് ആശാവഹമാണെന്ന് ബി എം കെ സാക്ഷ്യപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു. തീവ്രവാദ സ്വഭാവമുള്ള മൌലവിമാരുടെ ഫത്വകള്‍ക്ക് പരിഗണിക്കാന്‍ പല ചെറുപ്പക്കാരും തയ്യാറല്ല.

പാകിസ്ഥാനിലെ കമ്യൂണിസ്റ് ഗ്രൂപ്പുകള്‍ ചിതറിപ്പോയതിലുള്ള വിഷമവും ബി എം കെ മറച്ചുവയ്ക്കുന്നില്ല. ആറു വര്‍ഷംമുമ്പ് ഹര്‍കിഷന്‍സിങ് സുര്‍ജിത്തും ബര്‍ദനും പാകിസ്ഥാന്‍ സന്ദര്‍ശിച്ചപ്പോള്‍ വിവിധ കമ്യൂണിസ്റ് ഗ്രൂപ്പുകള്‍ ഒരുമിച്ചാണ് സ്വീകരണങ്ങള്‍ സംഘടിപ്പിച്ചത്. പട്ടാള അട്ടിമറികളാണ് കമ്യൂണിസ്റ് പാര്‍ടിയുടെ പ്രവര്‍ത്തനത്തിന് തിരിച്ചടിയായത്. പക്ഷേ, കമ്യൂണിസ്റ് പാര്‍ടിയുടെ നിലപാടുകള്‍ക്ക് ഇപ്പോഴും നിര്‍ണായകമായ പ്രസക്തിയുണ്ട്- ബി എം കെ പറഞ്ഞു.
യാത്രപറഞ്ഞ് മടങ്ങുമ്പോള്‍ ബി എം കെ തടഞ്ഞു. പെട്ടി തുറന്ന് ഒരു പുസ്തകമെടുത്തു. ആദ്യപേജില്‍ പേരെഴുതി ഒപ്പിട്ട ആത്മകഥയാണത്. അമ്പതുകള്‍വരെയുള്ള കേരളത്തിന്റെയും അതിനുശേഷമുള്ള പാകിസ്ഥാന്റെയും ചരിത്രംകൂടി പ്രതിപാദിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ബി എം കെയുടെ ആത്മകഥയുടെ പേര് 'സിക്സ്റ്റി ഇയേഴ്സ് ഇന്‍ സെല്‍ഫ് എക്സൈല്‍- എ പൊളിറ്റിക്കല്‍ ഓട്ടോബയോഗ്രഫി'. സ്വയം നാടുകടത്തപ്പെട്ടവന്റെ 60 വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍. പുസ്തകം സമ്മാനിച്ച് പെട്ടി പൂട്ടുമ്പോള്‍ കീ ചെയ്ന്‍ കൈവെള്ളയില്‍വച്ച് അഭിമാനത്തോടെ കാണിച്ചുതന്നു. തൊഴിലാളികളുടെ ചിത്രവും യുഎസ്എസ്ആര്‍ എന്ന് നാലക്ഷരവും  ആലേഖനംചെയ്ത ശില്‍പ്പഭംഗിയുള്ള ആ കീ ചെയ്ന്‍ മുമ്പെങ്ങോ നടത്തിയ സോവിയറ്റ് യൂണിയന്‍ യാത്രയുടെ ഓര്‍മയാണ്.

Two more farmers kill themselves; Toll goes up to 5

N.S.Sajith

Thiruvananthapuram, 12 November 12, 2011: Total death toll goes up to five as two more farmers from Thirssur and Wayanad committed suicide in Kerala in last two days. A women farmer Rama (39) in Varvur in Thrissur committed suicide by consuming poison on Friday. Her body was found in her aunt’s residence. 

Suicide of 63 year old farmer Paily from Ambalavayal in Wayanad district on Saturday made the toll in this district up to five. He was hanged himself in a tree in his courtyard.

Rama was cultivating vegetables in large scale by taking Rs. 2 lakh from Thali branch of State Bank of Travanacore. But the crop failure made her first ever women victim of farm distress in Kerala. Rama resorted to death as she failed to repay the loan. The total debt amount she had to pay was Rs. 1.84 lakh. She is survived by husband Krishankutty and sons Vaishakh, Sneha and Ajith.

Vadakkumthuruthel Paily had a debt of Rs. 2.5 lakh in various banks. He is survived by wife Mary and children Siby, Binoy, Bindu and Beena.

Reacting to a spree of suicide in the State, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said that the deaths should not be labeled as farmer’s suicide. All suicides could not be considered as the farmer’s suicide. He was reacting to a question in a press conference in Eranakulam.

Wayanad Weeps as Suicide Revisits

N.S.Sajith 

Wayanad was just like Vidarbha till recently. A beautiful hilly district in the lap of Western Ghats in North Kerala was known for its  torrent of news of Farmers’ suicide. The tragic suicide of around 1300 farmers in the state was the focal point of discourse in the early years of last decade. The agriculture distress in Wayanad district had added to the worry of the state.

Wayanad was extremly vulnerable to the post globalisation reforms as majority of the popualation based on agriculture. In the period of 2001-2006 when UDF government was in the power, 532 farmers committed suicide in Wayanad district only. The drastic fall of the price of agriculture products resulted the mass suicide in the district.  The callous attitude of the UDF Governments led firstly A K Antony and Oommen Chandy was widely criticised. The national media too criticised the animosity of the authorities. The demands for writing off agriculture debt were fallen in to deaf ears. No action has been taken by the then government to protect the distressed farmers. The callousness of UDF was paid heavily on them. UDF leaders were argued that no suicide took place because of Agriculture distress. Elections in 2006 showed a clean sweep by LDF in this Congress dominated district. It was the first time in the state’s history, all three seats, Kalpetta, North Wayanad and Sulthan Batheri were won by LDF with massive majority.  The trust of the people of Wayanad was well addressed by the LDF Govrnment which came in to power in 2006 elections.

In the very first day the Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan announced that the debts of distressed farmers to be written off. In the first time of history the LDF goverment formed debt relief commission to ascertain the loss faced by the farmers. As per the recommendations of the commission, the goverment written of the debt. 42113 farmers benefited by this decision. Total 1,67,002 application were addressed positively. During 2006 to February 2011, debt amount Rs. 69.45 crores written off.  But the whole measures taken by the LDF government were not followed up by the incumbent UDF government.


Tragic suicide of two farmers in Wayand in last week really startled the conscience of the Kerala. The shocking news came from Vellamunda and pulpally. C P Shashi from Vellamunda and Ashokan from Pulpally ended their lives on November 3rd  and 5th respectively.   These debtridden farmers committed suicide duo to the drastic fall of price of ginger and banana. Recent hike of fertiliser also deteriorated their distress.  The rays of hope generated by the LDF government were shattered by the UDF. The sheild of protection given by the LDF government is taken away by the new government. 

Suicide trend extends its wing; Two more farmers end their life  

Suicide trend which spreads it wings from Wayanad to Kottayam claims two more lives of distressed farmers. On Tuesday one more farmer killed himself in Wayanad by consuming poison. The suicide of Vargheese(48) makes the death toll in Wayanad in to three within one week in this northern hilly district.

   Today Kottayam, a Central Kerala district has shivered by hearing news of tragic suicide of paddy farmer P K Sreedharan (73) from Kaippuzha. Thus the distressed farmers’ death toll four month long UDF regime rose to four. The fourth Suicide death occurred in the district of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. (Earlier this week two farmers, Shashidharan and Ashokan both from Wayanad committed suicide.)  Both farmers resorted to death as they failed to repay the agriculture loan. SBI and from Co-operative Bank in his locality had given Rs. 4 lakh loan to Sreedharan. But the crop failure made him a defaulter. He consumed rat poison to end his life.   Varghese cultivated ginger and Banana in his 1.25 acres of land in Meppadi in Wayanad. The sudden rise of fertilizer and drastic fall of price made him defaulter, his close relatives said.

Wayanad Weeps as Suicide Revisits

 N.S.Sajith

Wayanad was just like Vidarbha till recently. A beautiful hilly
district in the lap of Western Ghats in North Kerala was known for its
 torrent of news of Farmers’ suicide. The tragic suicide of around
1300 farmers in the state was the focal point of discourse in the
early years of last decade. The agriculture distress in Wayanad
district had added to the worry of the state. Wayanad was extremly
vulnerable to the post globalisation reforms as majority of the
popualation based on agriculture. In the period of 2001-2006 when UDF
government was in the power, 532 farmers committed suicide in Wayanad
district only. The drastic fall of the price of  agriculture products
resulted the mass suicide in the district.

The callous attitude of the UDF Governments led firstly A K Antony and
Oommen Chandy was widely criticised. The national media too criticised
the animosity of the authorities. The demands for writing off
agriculture debt were fallen in to deaf ears. No action has been taken
by the then government to protect the distressed farmers.
The callousness of UDF was paid heavily on them. UDF leaders were
argued that no suicide took place because of Agriculture distress.
Elections in 2006 shown a clean sweep by LDF in this Congress
dominated district. It was the first time in the state’s history, all
three seats, Kalpetta, North Wayanad and Sulthan Batheri were won by
LDF with massive majority.

The trust of the people of Wayanad was well addressed by the LDF
Govrnment which came in to power in 2006 elections. In the very first
day the Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan announced that the debts of
distressed farmers to be written off. In the first time of history the
LDF goverment formed debt relief commission to ascertain the loss
faced by the farmers. As per the recommendations of the commission,
the goverment written of the debt. 42113 farmers benefited by this
decision. Total 1,67,002 application were addressed positively. During
2006 to February 2011, debt amount Rs. 69.45 crores written off.
But the whole measures taken by the LDF government were not followed up
by the incumbent UDF government. Tragic suicide of two farmers in
Wayand in last week really startled the conscience of the Kerala. The
shocking news came from Vellamunda and pulpally. C P Shashi from
Vellamunda and Ashokan from Pulpally ended their lives on November 3rd
 and 5th respectively. These debtridden farmers committed suicide duo
to the drastic fall of price of ginger and banana. Recent hike of
fertiliser also deteriorated their distress.
 The rays of hope generated by the LDF government were shattered by the
UDF. The sheild of protection given by the LDF government is taken away by the new government.

Suicide trend extend its wing

Two more farmers end their life

Suicide trend which spreads it wings from Wayanad to Kottayam claims two more lives of distressed farmers. On Tuesday one more farmer killed himself in Wayanad by consuming poison. The suicide of Vargheese(48) makes the death toll in Wayanad in to three within one week in this northern hilly district.

Today Kottayam, a Central Kerala district has shivered by hearing news of tragic suicide of paddy farmer P K Sreedharan (73) from Kaippuzha. Thus the distressed farmers’ death toll four month long UDF regime rose to four. The fourth Suicide death occurred in the district of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. (Earlier this week two farmers, Shashidharan and Ashokan both from Wayanad committed suicide.)

Both farmers resorted to death as they failed to repay the agriculture loan. SBI and from Co-operative Bank in his locality had given Rs. 4 lakh loan to Sreedharan. But the crop failure made him a defaulter. He consumed rat poison to end his life.

Varghese cultivated ginger and Banana in his 1.25 acres of land in Meppadi in Wayanad. The sudden rise of fertilizer and drastic fall of price made him defaulter, his close relatives said.