Making a strong political statement on federalism at a seminar organised by the CPI(M) as part of its 23rd Party Congress in Kannur, the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala jointly demanded a better Centre-state relationship. The seminar also witnessed former Union minister and senior Congress leader K.V. Thomas attending the session defying the diktat of the party leadership.
Inaugurating the seminar, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said plural cultures existing in harmony is the essence of Indian democracy. Any attempt to paint everything in a single shade must be opposed at all coats, he said.
“It's the Sangh Parivar agenda to not accept the federal structures. They want to transform India into a monolithic culture,'' he said. Criticising Home minister Amit Shah's comments on Hindi as an alternative to English, Vijayan said that the attempts to impose Hindi will be resisted. “Our students learn Hindi in schools out of their respect for the language. But if someone tries to impose it, that will be opposed,” he said.
Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin in his speech, which exuded his admiration for his Kerala counterpart, said he decided to attend the seminar despite the ongoing Assembly session in TN, because the invitation came from the Kerala CM whom he considers as a role model. “Also, my name is Stalin. Nothing more is needed to prove my relationship with the CPI(M). I am here not just as TN CM but as one among you,'' Stalin said. “The relation between Tamil Nadu and Kerala hails from the Sangham period,” he added.
Accusing the Union government of tampering with federalism, Stalin said that BJP did not believe in federalism. “They are inflicting worse wounds on Indian ethos which even the British government had not dared to,'' he said. The states must stand together in opposing all dictatorial agenda of the BJP government at the Centre,'' he said.
K.V. Thoams, whose rebellion had attracted much media attention to the seminar, also criticised the BJP government for its “anti-federalism” moves. “The current government does not take the CMs into confidence while taking major decisions like demonetisation. That is a bad precedent,” he said.
Taking a dig at his colleagues in the Congress party who criticised him for attending the CPI(M) seminar, Thomas said that they have to stand together with the government in matters related to the development of the state. “If you accept the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, then you should also participate in these kinds of stages which are against the BJP,'' he said. “I hope my colleagues in the Congress will realise that my participation in this esteemed conclave is a matter of pride for the Congress party, too,” he added.
Thomas also extended his support for the K-Rail project which the Congress party had been steadily opposing.
“We must support all development initiatives that are good for the state. K-Rail is one such and I will support it. All MPs beyond party lines must stand together for the interest of Kerala. Just because the K-Rail is being implemented by Pinarayi Vijayan, some Congress leaders think that they must oppose it,” he alleged.
The CPI(M) Party Congress will come to an end on Sunday.
