Kerala CPM-CPI quarrel on self finance!

The fight between the CPM and CPI, the two lead constituents of the ruling LDF in Kerala, over the issue of the agreement the Government signed with the managements of the self-financing medical colleges is aimed at distracting the attention of the general public from burning problems of the State. The CPM Ministers namely M A Baby, PK Sreemathi, and G Sudhakaran on one side and CPI ministers C Divakaran and Benoy Viswam on the other side fighting fitfully is a finicky scene where the Chief Minister Achuthanandan stands voiceless.

It is presumable that that Education Minister M A Baby had done a foul play by ignoring the sentiments of vast section of the poor and meritorious students and that even the students wing of the CPM has come against Baby openly. And in that case the disagreement placed by Benoy Viswom is in the right direction; however Health Minster P K Sreemathi has come for rescue of Baby. The Self-Financing Medical and Engineering College Managements are the craftiest people in the state and they all know the desire of all parents that they all want to make their sons and daughters either doctor or engineer ignoring all other options in one’s life. And that is why till now unheard three-tier fee structure and consequent teamwork between Education Minister and the Managements brought such an imbroglio in the State. M A Baby’s immediate reaction that the question of reviewing the agreement between he and managements did not arise at all is indication that he is not clean as Sreemathi thinks.

Further, the more interesting comment came from the vociferous minister G Sudhakaran that one Minister should not intervene in the matters of another Minister’s department. The audacity of this comment will be revealed when one recollects ministers’ visit to Alappuzha Medical College on several occasions and criticizing the Health Department and its minister. His lambasting of Revenue officials and PWD employees can also considered as his non-interference in other ministers’ departments.

No doubt, the Kerala self financing college managements association is a business group. They spent money and collect money for their business. As the sole aim for all business is making money the term “social justice” is some ting to be locked in cold storages. If they fail to get money they planned they will soon convert all the colleges into bar hotels or tourist destinations.


K A Solaman