Two months ago, when Kerala's Left-ruling government was 'bogged down' by negative reviews by right wing leaders, the state invested in full-page advertisements in major English dailies in New Delhi titled 'What Makes Kerala No. 1.'
The eye-catching advertisements listed the state's achievements on literacy, transparency, governance and communal amity, with quotes from well-known personalities praising Kerala. Additionally, Left-leaning Twitterati all over India also started a Kerala No.1 hashtag campaign to repel the "Right-ist malice".
The advertisements and campaigns by the state government come in the backdrop of continuous attacks by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in and out of the Parliament on Kerala's 'failures'. And in a 15-day-long political rally led by state BJP, which ended last week, also mainly aimed at portraying Kerala as a 'failed' state and an unsafe place.
In fact, in his speeches during the Jana Raksha Yatra, BJP chief Amit Shah also took on Left leaders in the state and the government on the front of development. But President Ram Nath Kovind, BJP's top choice for the post, seems to have a different view.
A file image of President Ram Nath Kovind.
During his visit to Kerala on Friday, Kovind called the state the 'Global face of India'. Terming Kerala a digital power house of the country, Kovind lauded state's achievements in the sectors of health, education, sanitation and Income Tax. Recently, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath attacked Kerala for its "poor healthcare" facilities and Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar stated that Kerala is being ruled by "rogues".
Comparing certain health statistics, Adityanath even said that the Kerala government should learn how to run infirmaries from the Uttar Pradesh government. However, Kovind said that the emphasis on development, health care and education in the state should be an example for the rest of the country.
Kovind also said that the state's tradition and its thinking has been "humanistic, people-oriented and democratic". "In sanitation, your achievements are praiseworthy. In local self-government and panchayati raj, again Kerala has deepened our democracy," he had said.
Kovind lauded the hardworking nature of Keralites, especially in the field of healthcare and hospitality and added that hospitals and medical centres in and outside the country cannot function without the "ever smiling and ever attentive sisters from Kerala". He said that healthcare workers from the state, both men and women, are internationally sought after.
Subhash Chandran, a Left campaigner and an advocate in the Supreme Court, said that the President's praise stands in stark contrast to BJP leaders' attempts to stigmatise Kerala. "This is not the first time, Kovind contradicted the opinion of BJP leaders. "When the Uttar Pradesh government downplayed the importance of Taj Mahal, Kovind said the Mughal-era monument is one of the seven wonders," the advocate added.
The President had said that "they say Shah Jahan dedicated it to his wife but I say he dedicated it to love." On another occasion, while Union Minister Anantakumar Hegde condemned Tipu Sultan as a "brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist", Kovind averred, saying that "Tipu Sultan died a heroic death."
"All these instances prove that it is not very easy for the Sangh Parivar to destroy the history and demolish the monuments for a Hindu Rashtra. Kovind realised that he has to follow the Constitution, not vichardhara (ideology)," the advocate added.
However, Kummanam Rajasekharan, the state BJP president, said Kovind's good words are used politically.
"We welcome the good words from the President. However, it is used politically by people with vested interests. Kerala still is not doing well in job and industry sectors. The progress achieved in the education sector is due to the contribution of the private sector," the BJP state president said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan too thanked Kovind for the support. "The good words said by the President on Kerala and its people is matter of pride for us. We thank you for the support you extended."
An Aam Admi Party leader in Kerala said that Kovind did the right thing. "Whichever political background a President comes from, he has to be constitutionally correct. Kovind also did the same," Shybu Madathil, AAP political affairs committee member, said. "We can say that our President was constitutionally and factually correct while talking about Kerala," Shybu added.
Published Date: Oct 31, 2017 03:28 pm | Updated Date: Oct 31, 2017 03:28 pm
