Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) Kerala state Secretary MV Govindan stated in a press conference that the Kerala government did not immediately implement the establishment of foreign university campuses in Kerala. It was following severe controversies regarding Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal’s announcement during the Kerala state budget presentation on February 5 about the Kerala government’s plans to invite foreign universities to start campuses in Kerala, CPI(M) Kerala State Secretary MV Govindan said that CPI(M) has not permitted foreign universities to start campuses in Kerala immediately.
It is reported that Govindan took a dual stand amid severe controversies from CPI leaders. Govindan added that the Left Front and the Kerala government cannot accept all the demands of CPI. “In a parliamentary democracy, the party and government are different,” Govindan said.
Govindan then clarified that KN Balagopal did not state that foreign universities would commence operations immediately. Instead, he intended to convey that the prospects of establishing foreign university campuses in Kerala would be analyzed. He added that, all demands of the CPI party cannot be implement in the Left Front. Govindan also added that such restrictions had been implemented since EMS’s government in 1957 itself. Govindan said that our country is neither a socialist country nor a democratic revolution country. It is based on capitalism, and the Kerala government is also a part of it. He also said in a harsh tone that all government policies should not need to be discussed in the Politburo.
There are several reports that the decision was taken after the party faced criticism for ‘deviating’ from its policy stance. Meanwhile, Govindan also said that CPI(M) was against private and foreign universities then and now.
Following severe protests against the foreign university announcement, Govindan said that the government cannot implement all of the party’s demands, and both are different.
SFI, the Left student wing, strongly opposed Finance Minister Balagopal’s budget announcement to start campuses of foreign universities in Kerala. At the same time, Kerala state Higher Education Department officials said that the Department has not submitted any recommendation to the Chief Minister or the government to start foreign university campuses in Kerala.
Comments