By P. Sreekumaran
THIRUVANTHAPURAM: The abject surrender of the VD Satheesan-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Government to the Sangh Parivar which began the day the Government was sworn in, is complete.
That is the conclusion inevitable from the manner in which the UDF Government is facilitating the growth of the Hindutva forces in the State. The latest capitulation to the saffron brigade is clear from the statement made by Minister for Local Self-Governments (LSG) K. M. Shaji that the State Government is not opposed to the Union Government’s insistence on an emblem in front of the houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMJY)! Till very recently, the firebrand leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a powerful partner in the UDF, was breathing fire and brimstone against the Sangh Parivar. If we come to power, we shall dump the PM SHRI scheme in Arabian Sea, thundered Shaji, who now meos like a frightened cat. The change in attitude is utterly indefensible and shameful.
This is in glaring contrast to the firm stand taken by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government, which had opposed the same tooth and nail saying that the dignity of the beneficiaries will be offended if the emblem is allowed to be flaunted in their houses. Even after his shocking remark kicked up a big controversy, Shaji continues to defend it. More than 1.2 lakh poor families will get houses under the scheme. Houses meant for the poor should not be blocked by creating unnecessary controversies in the name of an emblem. That is the lame excuse trotted out by Shaji, whose political somersault will shame even the chameleon!
And he has not stopped at that. The IUML leader has sought to blame the LDF Government for his shifting stand. The LDF Government, he claimed, withdrew from the PMJY agreement not because of any ideological reasons but due to its inability to provide the State’s financial share owing to the worsening financial crisis.
Promptly came the reply from the Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, who said that his Government is against displaying any logo or photograph in front of the houses of beneficiaries of various schemes. His contention: when you put up a logo or an emblem in front of a house, it conveys the message that the house does not belong to them. “Our stand is that no display board which offends the self-respect of the beneficiaries should be put up in front of the houses”. If the Union Government’s stand is that it will not provide its share of the housing scheme, then the LDF will give up that aid.
Incidentally, the LDF Government which built 5.78 lakh houses under the LIFE project with a beneficiary share of Rs four lakh each from the State Government, never insisted on putting up any LIFE logo on any of the houses. But the Union Government, which is providing only Rs 2.5 lakh for houses under the PMJY scheme – it is the State government which is adding an extra Rs 2.5 lakh to make it on par with the LIFE scheme – is adamant on the logo.
It is the Constitutional duty of Governments to provide aid to the homeless to construct houses. The Modi Government is conveniently turning a blind eye to this fact while making the display of the PMJY logo mandatory. The UDF Government should be opposing it instead of following the Centre’s directive obediently. The LDF wants Chief Minister V D Satheesan to explain whether he agrees with the Shaji’s opinion on the issue.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has decided to include in the Finance Bill the lowering of sales tax on low alcohol ignoring opposition to the move not only from the Opposition but also from within the Congress and its allies. The rates have been pegged at 120% and 175 % respectively for alcoholic beverages with alcoholic strength ranging from 0.5 % v/v(volume by volume) to 10 % v/v, and those with a strength above 10% v/v and up to 20% v/v. Incidentally, these were the rates announced by the Chief Minister in the revised Budget.
However, the specific amendment will not come into force immediately even if the bill is passed! It will come into force only when the Government notifies in the official Gazette! That is the latest explanation from the Government.
The announcement had created a major controversy with the Opposition criticizing it as a recipe for addiction to alcohol. The CM was forced to announce in the Assembly following vehement opposition to the move from the LDF. A final decision will be taken only after a discussion within the UDF! This nothing but political dishonesty of the first order. For, if the Budget is passed, then the beneficiary of the move, Bacardi company based in Karnataka can move the court and get a favourable reply. The discussion in the UDF will be nothing but an exercise in fooling the people. If the CM was really against the lowering of the tax, he should have withdrawn the move by not including it in the Finance Bill. This was the demand made by Congress leaders themselves led by former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee(KPCC) president V. M. Sudheeran. Excise Minister M. Liju has been a helpless spectator to the shady goings on.
Now that Satheesan has decided to go ahead – the Finance bill will be passed on July 1 – there is a distinct possibility of the move running into opposition. The IUML will be in a dilemma. The party will be accused of changing its stand on liquor policy if it sides with the CM. And if it opposes it – highly unlikely given the coalition compulsions – then the differences in the UDF could come out in the open. It is a Hobson’s choice for the party. In the meantime, the LDF is waiting in the wings ready to pulverize the government if it goes ahead with tax cut move. (IPA Service)
