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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
V.S. Achuthanandan's death marks the end of an era, says M.V. Govindan
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretary M. V. Govindan stated that an era had come to an end with the passing of veteran party leader, freedom fighter, and former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. In a condolence message, Mr. Govindan said Mr. Achuthanandan, who was known more by the initials 'VS,' was a symbol of the ceaseless fight against injustice and exploitation. 'VS will remain shining as a sun in the minds of the working class,' he said. Mr. Govindan described Mr. Achuthanandan as a humanist who never compromised on proletarian values. 'He was at the frontline of the downtrodden's existential struggles. For Mr. Achuthanandan, resistance to inequality, corruption, tyranny and exploitation was a way of life,' he said. Mr. Govindan remembered Mr. Achuthanandan's trials and tribulations as a freedom fighter, communist party member, trade unionist, and organiser of indentured agricultural labourers against the tyranny of feudal landlords, which culminated in the historic Punnapra-Vayalar agrarian uprising in Alappuzha district in 1946. 'Organisational skills' He said Mr. Achuthanandan displayed unmatched organisational skills as Leader of the Opposition and later Chief Minister. Mr. Achuthanandan took an uncompromising stance against corruption and exploitation of women and children. Environmental causes were close to his heart. Mr. Achuthanandan was a seven-time legislator and also the chairperson of the Kerala Administrative Reforms Commission. He joined the Communist Party of India in 1940 and was one of the founding members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1964. 'The CPI(M) and Kerala have suffered an irredeemable loss in the beloved comrade's passing,' Mr. Govindan stated. Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener T.P. Ramakrishnan said Mr. Achuthanandan had a remarkable history of leading countless struggles and intervening in people's issues. Mr. Ramakrishnan said that he played a key role in the formation of the CPI(M) and the LDF as well as in leading the party and the front through tumultuous periods. 'Even in later years, when he remained unwell, he continued to make his stand clear on important issues of the day. VS's passing away is an irreparable loss to the communist movement,' said Mr. Ramakrishnan. 'A heart so big' Veteran CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat termed Mr. Achuthanandan a living legend, a history-maker, and a warrior. 'The beloved comrade was a warrior for the poor. He had a heart so big that he would intensely feel the pain of the deprived, the exploited and the downtrodden. The history of the communist party is deeply intertwined with the life of the comrade. He understood human suffering and worked for working class upliftment,' she told reporters in New Delhi.
New Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
‘Padapooja' in schools: Practice is part of our culture, says Governor Rajendra Arlekar
However, Sivankutty refuted the governor's claims. 'Kerala doesn't have such a culture, and such practices will not go well here either,' he said, terming the practice cruel. 'It is saddening to see people in key positions like the governor making such remarks,' he said. 'I am not aware of any scripture in Indian culture which asks school students to wash the feet of BJP leaders,' the minister said, adding that such activity can be viewed as 'mental harassment' under Section 17(1) of the Right to Education Act. Condemning the practice, Govindan said that the RSS is trying to implement activities that were part of the old chaturvarnya system. The controversy was kicked off when photos and videos of children washing the feet of senior teachers as part of Guru Purnima celebrations surfaced from schools across the state. Sivankutty has asked the general education director to seek an explanation from the schools. The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also taken a suo motu case on the issue, stating that all incidents in this category will fall under the same case.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Centre using guvs, VCs to derail higher edu: Govindan
T'puram: CPM state secretary M V Govindan accused the Centre of attempting to derail Kerala's progress in the higher education sector by using governors and vice-chancellors to further ideological agendas. Govindan told reporters on Friday that VCs are being chosen based on affiliations with Sangh Parivar activities, marking an unprecedented development in the state's academic sphere. On the state's education achievements, Govindan claimed that the state's institutions are making significant strides, with 16 of India's top-performing colleges located in Kerala, as per recent assessments. He said the NITI Aayog report also specially commended the state's performance in higher education. He said the LDF govt prioritised educational development but its efforts are being subverted by the Centre through unconstitutional actions. "Governors are being used as tools to execute the Sangh Parivar agenda in universities. Many VCs now appointed are regular participants in Sangh-backed conferences. This is a new and alarming trend in Kerala," Govindan said. He defended the ongoing student protests across the state, stating that they are aimed at safeguarding Kerala's academic autonomy and constitutional values. "VCs are now taking positions that go beyond their constitutional mandate. Students, youth and teachers are resisting this undemocratic trend with strong interventions," he said. On the KEAM rank list controversy, Govindan admitted that the govt's intervention to provide more opportunities for students studying under the Kerala syllabus did not yield the intended results. "The move didn't work out in practice, and the delay in policy thinking was a factor. The party advised the govt to make necessary corrections next time," he said. He highlighted concerns that many students were adversely hit when their ranks dropped in the revised list, citing the example of a former top-ranker who fell to the seventh rank. "The govt must ensure that students from the Kerala syllabus are not pushed back in future admission processes. What happened this time should serve as a lesson," Govindan added. He said the corrective changes should have been reflected in the KEAM prospectus itself.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
CPM cadres hit out at health min
Kottayam/T'puram: After the building collapse at Kottayam medical college, a section of CPM local leaders and cadres from health minister Veena George's constituency made harsh criticisms against her in Facebook posts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Many people supported the local leaders' posts. CPM district secretary Raju Abraham said that an investigation would be conducted into the posts. Former CWC district chairman N Rajeev, who was suspended last week from the position, made a sarcastic note on Thursday night. Rajeev is also a member of CPM Eraviperoor area committee. "As a child, I used to stay at home on the day of my class exams, lying about having a stomachache. That's how I escaped from exams. And here, it's from the questions," he wrote. He was allegedly mocking George after she sought treatment at a hospital. Elanthur local committee member P J Johnson, without naming anyone, said in his Facebook post that the person wasn't eligible even to be an MLA, leave alone being a minister. Johnson is former SFI district president. Allegations raised to help private sector: Govindan Meanwhile, CPM state secretary M V Govindan on Friday said opposition and media were unnecessarily holding ministers responsible for the unfortunate death of a woman, who was trapped under the debris when a portion of an unoccupied building collapsed at Kottayam MCH. Govindan said there was no deliberate delay in carrying out the rescue operation, adding that health minister Veena George needn't step down for it. Opposition parties and media are trying to show the public health system in a bad light, Govindan said. Baseless allegations were raised to help the private healthcare sector, he said.
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Congress, BJP aid corporate hospitals by vilifying Kerala's public health sector: CPI(M)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretariat has accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) of launching a vilification campaign against Kerala's robust public health system to aid the corporate medical-care sector. CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan told a news conference here on Friday that the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had sought to politicise the tragic building collapse at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kottayam, to paint a dismal picture of State-funded hospitals to help corporate hospitals corral patients. He said the building collapse occurred when the hospital authorities were moving patients to the newly constructed block. Mr. Govindan said global capital had 'gobbled up' most legacy hospitals in the private sector, which had sacrificed medical ethics at the altar of profit-making. He said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) had sought to protect the working class from predatory medical practices by adding more super-specialty units, including liver and kidney transplant departments, to State-run hospitals. Affordable care He said the Government Medical College Hospitals had successfully conducted organ transplants at minimal rates. The service was provided at no cost to economically disadvantaged individuals. 'In contrast, private corporate hospitals charged not less than ₹40 lakh for the life-saving procedures,' he said. Mr. Govindan said that an almost 50% increase in patient footfall at State-run hospitals had deprived the private sector of business. The Congress and the BJP had come to the aid of the corporate medical industry by seeking to demonise public health care. Mr. Govindan said the private sector was appalled that the LDF had opened outpatient centres at primary health-care centres and created 2,430 new facilities, adding to the existing clinical services to make health care easily accessible and affordable for the public. The private sector had now found a partner in the Congress and the BJP, who were out to malign State-subsidised health care. 'UDF cut allocation' Mr. Govindan said between 2011 and 2016, the Congress government had systematically slashed public health sector allocation from ₹139 crore to ₹116 crore. 'The UDF had planned to privatise State-funded hospitals,' he added. In contrast, since 2021, the second LDF government had increased public health spending to ₹1,600 crore. Kerala's health sector had won at least 21 national and international recognitions. Mr. Govindan said the BJP government at the Centre punished Kerala for its public health achievements by reducing allocations as part of the Centre's 'vengeful politics.' The LDF balanced the books by raising ₹80,000 crore from the global market to modernise State-funded hospitals, which now offered state-of-the-art treatment on a par with developed nations. It also increased the Gross State Domestic Product to catalyse welfare and development, given the Centre's attempt to financially strangulate Kerala.
