VIZHINJAM PORT PROJECT – SIGN OF TRANSFORMATION OF COMMUNIST MOVEMENT IN INDIA – By N.S.Venkataraman
The Vizhinjam port project in Kerala constructed by Adani group, a private sector undertaking, in partnership with the Marxist ruled Kerala government , is a refreshing event of far reaching and significant importance in economic and social terms ,particularly for Kerala state. While this project would certainly transform Kerala state into a significant economic hub, equally significant is the transformation in the approach and philosophy of the Marxist communist party in India , which is now ruling the Kerala state, with regard to its approach towards private sector and investors.
Principle of communist philosophy :
The cardinal principles of communist philosophy , as I understand , is that opportunities should be equally distributed in economic and social terms for every segment of society. Certainly, communist philosophy is not based on blind hate and animosity against what is known as private investors ( so called corporate group)
What communist philosophy expects from private sector is that management should not be operating with undue profit as the only motive , which amount to exploitation . Nowhere it has been said in communist philosophy that profit motive is bad, since the government owned units and public sector units also need to operate in a economically viable manner, making profit. Certainly not undue profit.
Unfortunately , an impression has gained ground over the years in India, with communist parties being identified with sort of hate and violent outlook towards the employers in private sector. The leaders of the communist movement in India in the past have been responsible for such impression gaining ground , where violent trade union movement was considered as genuine working class movement.
Violent approach :
I worked for several years in a state government owned public sector undertaking in Kerala ( a chemical industry )at senior level , when I was gheraoed and spat upon in the midnight by the so called trade union members belonging to CITU during agitation. I underwent torture for more than an hour and all the time wondering as to what wrong I have done and why I was targeted.
Later on, I was working in a private sector industry in West Bengal at a senior level, when Mr. Jyoti Basu was the Chief Minister.
At that time, I developed a feeling that Mr. Jyoti Basu never wanted violence to be part of communist movement and recognised the need for cooperation from private as well as public sector for rapid progress of the state.
With Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya taking over as the Chief Minister of West Bengal , he followed the views of Mr. Jyoti Basu and took active interest in promoting automobile project by Tata group. Unfortunately, this project was throttled and those who throttled the project are known. Now, those who throttled the project are in power in West Bengal and want private sector to play increasing role in economic development. However, private sector is hesitating due to the past bitter experience.
Pragmatic Kerala Chief Minister
In this context, the present Chief Minister of Kerala needs to be admired and complimented for his courage of conviction and cooperating with private sector Adani group to set up the massive Vizhinjam port project , which will go a long way in ensuring betterment of life in economic and social terms for people living in several layers. In other words, the Kerala Chief Minister has convincingly and effectively transformed the approach of the future communist movement in India.
Earlier, when a massive LNG terminal project of annual capacity
5 million tonne was built in Kerala at Kochi by private sector Petronet group, there was protest about laying of the pipeline for the distribution of gas in the state. Some trade unions opposed. The present Chief Minister of Kerala sorted out the issue by his proactive approach and now LNG terminal is functioning , taking the gas to Kerala and Karnataka.
This is in sharp contrast to the situation in Tamil Nadu , when the gas pipeline from Kochi LNG terminal in Kerala was not allowed to be laid in Tamil Nadu by agitators. The Tamil Nadu government did not effectively intervene and the state has lost huge investment possibilities that could have happened , if gas from LNG terminal in Kerala were to be brought to Tamil Nadu.
Viewing such pragmatic approach of the Kerala Chief Minister, I feel that the massive Sterlite Copper project in Tamil Nadu would not have been closed due to some doubtful allegations, in case this project were to be in Kerala with the present Chief Minister of Kerala being in office.
Turn round :
All said and done, the communist movement in India now has made a step forward in progressive direction , keeping the basic principles of communist philosophy intact, with the commissioning of the public private sector Vizhinjam port project
Can we say that Vizhinjam port project is a sign for turn round of communist movement in India.
