Advocate Sunil C Kurian
[Former Chairman, Red Cross Society Kerala State branch & former Gen Secretary, Kerala State Council for Child Welfare, Email – sunilckurianadv@gmail.com]
(A Case Study on CPI (M) Attempts to Capture Indian Red Cross Society, Kerala State Branch, The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare & The Kerala State Sports Council)
I am sure that each of us is aware of the fact that the CPI (M) in Kerala has a dishonourable history of capturing and institutionalising public organisations in the State. The list includes a vast majority of institutions in the cooperative sector, sports associations, academic Institutions including universities and special purpose organisations working in the social sector. The general philosophy behind the ‘Communistisation’ of public organisations is threefold.
- The established channels of the ‘captured’ organisation can be utilised for spreading party ideology
- The resources of such organisations can be utilised to fund party building.
- Party functionaries can be accommodated in the key posts of such organisations
One of the most used methods to capture organisations is to indict corruption and accuse fraud and nepotism against the office bearers of the ‘targeted’ organisations. For this, they effectively use the party controlled State machinery including the police, other law enforcement agencies and the media which work under their aegis. In many cases, they go to any end and use atrocious ways for this.
The severe intolerance of the CPM-ruled Government of Kerala has led them to capture many organisations which grant humanitarian services to the public community. The Indian Red Cross Society, Kerala State Branch including all 14 district branches has been seized over a night with police force and local CPM goondas. It is shocking to notice that how the democracy of a Nation is put to task by a communist Chief Minister Mr Pinarayi Vijayan who leads the Left Front Government; where, the CPI (M) is the major coalition partner, and the supreme authority.
Redtrocity in Red Cross – A Blatant Violation of the Constitutional Principles and International Laws
Background of the Red Cross movement in India.
The Indian Red Cross Society is a Statutory Voluntary Organisation constituted under an Act of the Parliament (Act XV of 1920 as Amended by Act No. 22 of 1956 and the Adaptation of Laws (No.4) Order of 1957 and the Act No.14 of 1992). The act is administered by a set of rules approved by the President of India (Uniform Rules for State UT Red Cross Branches – made under Sec 5 of the Act). There are State/Union Territory/Regional/District and sub district branches numbering over 700 spread all over the country. The branches of the society are autonomous bodies with control over their own finance, even while they work under the guidance of the National Headquarters.
They abide to the rules relating to general policies and basic principles of the National Red Cross. The National Headquarters is the federal focal point among other things for the purposes of (a) the unity of the organization, (b) guidance and assistance towards promotion and expansion of services, (c) co-ordination of inter-state, national and international efforts; (d) dissemination and application of humanitarian laws and fundamental principles of the Red Cross.
In accordance with the act or the rules framed there under, the State Governments have absolutely no power in the affairs of the Society; though many State Governments in the country try to support the organization through various measures.
The Kerala story
The Kerala Branch of the Red Cross was constituted in the year 1953. Right from its inception, the CPI (M) had attempted to capture the organization. The Hon’ble Kerala High Court had to intervene more than one occasions to prevent injudicious take over; the current episode being the latest one.
The Branch was under the control of Administrators till 2013. The current committee assumed charge after prolonged legal battle in the High Court of Kerala against this. At this juncture, the CPI (M) also contested the elections; but failed miserably, as the vast majority of the members were against them. This had enraged them and since then they had been trying to disturb the Society’s functions. Here also, following their regular practice, they started raising complaints of corruption and accusations of favouritism against the office bearers. Any action which sincerely led the organisations to effective service and independent potential truly annoyed further the bitter-minded CPM leaders.
Further, the action constituted blatant violation of the established Laws and constitutional integrity by exploiting the bureaucracy and its law and order. This action exemplifies their aggression which leads them to intrude the State headquarter of Kerala in Trivandrum over a night, by the District Collector, Biju Prabhakaran, a conferred IAS officer (The confirmation of IAS for this officer is under controversy) along with police force and local CPM goondas who play to the tune of the Government.
They broke the office and destroyed every functional gadgets including first aid kits, ambulances, medicines etc. The sudden provocation is the election of the State council for child welfare which was supposed to happen the next day morning, where the major candidates were the office bearers of the Red Cross Society. It is only shameful to intervene into the functions of an Organization which is constituted under an act of the Parliament. Although when there are effective laws and rules which clearly state that any instance of corruption or other malpractices in a Red Cross State Branch,is to be enquired by the head quarters of the Red Cross Society, the CPI (M)-led State Government doesn’t seems to respect such rules and as a habit they think themselves to be above the Constitution.
Furthermore, Internationally the Red Cross Movement is intended to act independently of the respective Governments in all its aspects. This has been designed so deliberately since the Organization is supposed to act solely upon Humanitarian considerations with absolute disregard to Political Opinions, Nationality, Colour or any other such differences. To ensure this setup, an International Treaty called the Geneva Conventions was signed by 189 Countries. India is also a party to the Geneva Conventions. Hence to be precise, through the shameless CPI (M) Redtrocity, India has violated an international treaty.
Redtrocity in the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare
The immediate provocation behind the CPI (M) action in Red Cross was the elections to the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare.
Background
The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare is an non-political organisation constituted to ensure the welfare of children, especially the destitute children. Apparently, the council was functioning under the control of CPI M men, for a long time, even after they lost the authority to do so. After a long legal battle the election was announced to be conducted by the High Court recently. Among other activities, the Council is also engaged in the training of Anganvadi teachers. This Anganvadi teacher training is done through 12 Anganvadi Teacher Training Centres across the State. Apart from other motivations, Anganvadi training is one of the prime motives behind the CPI (M) interests in the Organisation. The Syllabus and Curriculum of the Anganvadi Teacher Training is decided by an Academic Committee fully dominated by CPI (M) theorists and academicians. The CPI (M) carries out the hidden agenda of distributing their teachings effectively in such trainees; who in turn injects CPI M ideology into the Children who join these Anganvadis.This is a simple method of establishing CPI M ideology including athiesm into the new generation brains using a govt machinery.
The proposed election by High Court, Hijacked
The CPI (M) lead Executive Committee of the Council was dissolved by the former Government following allegations of corruption. Since then, the Council was in administered by a Government appointed administrator. Some members questioned this in the Hon’ble High Court and after a prolonged legal battle, the Hon’ble Court directed to conduct elections of the Council under the hon’ble supervision of the High Court. Accordingly a returning officer was appointed by the Hon’ble Court to undertake the election. The CPI (M) fielded a panel to contest the elections, but was not sure whether they get the majority. Some of the Office Bearers of the Red Cross Society including the Chairman; General Secretary, and Palakkad District Secretary,stood against the CPIM panel.
In fact, this panel was a nonpolitical panel and had comprised of members from various political backgrounds including the BJP, the Congress and people with no political affiliation.This infuriated the CPI (M) leadership and they used brute physical force to prevent anyone other than their own members to cast vote. The Red Cross Society was ‘dissolved’ on the previous eve of the elections to the Council; g in the opposing panel. The high Court of Kerala has prevented the counting of the votes till this date.
Redtrocity in the Kerala State Sports Council
The Kerala State Sports Council was being lead by Mrs. Anju Bobby George; the renowned Athlete, as its President. Anju is the only Medal Winner for India in the World Athletic Championships. After the current CPI (M) led Government came to power, Anju went to meet EP Jayarajan, the current Minister for Sports in the State and a CPI (M) leader from Kannur. Jayarajan intentionally insulted Anju in front of all present in the Minister’s office, without even considering that she is a Padma Award Winner. This was reported widely in the press. It was very evident that the Minister wanted Anju out of the post, so that he can place one of his cronies in the chair. Later on Anju along with all members of the Council executive committee resigned their positions and presently the CPI (M) has appointed TP Dasan, a person who is accused of committing big scale corruption in relation with “Sports Lottery”; a failed initiative of the State Government to raise funds for Sports Development in the State.
Redtrocity in public organisations — ongoing transgressions
Attempts to seize and ‘communistise’ organisations are continuing stories in Kerala. More organisations like the Cooperative societies are in line to be captured. State instrumentalities like the police and the revenue authorities are openly misused without any reservations. Propaganda machines led by the party controlled media and paid media are used to tarnish the public image of the opponents. Unless a united opposition is organised, this will continue.