This article is not to be in any way construed as a show of support for the Adani Group of Companies, the Narendra Modi government or the Oommen Chandy government. It is one explanation of the author's views on why he thinks the CPM's so called "anti-racist" policies and "egalitarianism" is false and opportunistic. It should be noted that this article is critical of the Communists in Keralam AND NOT in support of the Fascists in New Delhi.
How many of you know that the Nazism of the Third Reich is actually a type of Socialism? Adolf Hitler's Nazi party is actually the short form of The National Socialist German Workers' Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, abbreviated NSDAP), commonly referred to in English as the Nazi Party (/ˈnɑːtsi/), was a political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that practiced Nazism.
Some say it was Socialist only in name, that it was a racist ideology and all about German supremacy. No so fast. Yes, there was the hate for Jews and many other "undesirables". But in essence it was an ideology of envy of a larger group blaming a smaller group (which was not necessarily richer but perceived to be so). The Nazis had many collaborators in Vichy France and Quislings in Norway. Many of the Ukrainians who served as guards in their concentration camps went on to keep the flames of this ideology alive through generations to help cause the present day turmoil in Ukraine and overthrow a democratically elected government in Kiev which was about a year away from elections.
Those who are accustomed to class warfare and blaming 'the other' know no other rhetoric. The CPM has for decades helped many people in Kerala who resent the good fortune or success of others to hide their envy behind a veneer of altruistic social concern and religious tolerance. CPM is the popular shortened form of CPI(Marxist) which broke away from it's parent party the CPI.
V.S. Achuthanadan, the former chief minister of Keralam warns against awarding the contract of the Vizhinjam Port to Adani due to his xenophobic reasons. [ Here is a snapshot of the The Hindu article to protect against url change ].
In the meme I saw on FB yesterday, he says that "If Vizhinjam Port is constructed by Adani, then only Gujaratis will get jobs". The maker of this meme asks him if the "Dubai" port at Vallarpadam is worked by Arabs.
The other words at the bottom of the meme picture are reminders of the luddite blunders said by the leaders of the CPM , especially VS in the past.
- They had opposed using computers in general , especially in government offices as it would result in the loss of jobs.
- They had opposed tractors in farms as it would result in the loss of jobs for farm hands, a primary support base of theirs.
- They had opposed the construction of the new International Kochi Airport.
- But their opposition was not in support of the farmers whose highly productive land was forcibly usurped from them by the State Government but due to many other frivolous reasons.
- Now they oppose Vizhinjam.
- But shy from explicitly saying that it is because of the Adani-Modi cronyism. Saying so would make them mere opposers of their political party's opponents. That would look like they were sulking. It also does not help them take the moral high ground.
I also oppose the last 2 but for different reasons - as those were based on what the US govt might call "eminent domain" - reasons in violation of private property rights and free markets. One should not forget that the meme was most likely made by a right wing sanghi or congress party crony.
First the Utilitarian arguments. (Because people respond to incentives and not Kantian arguments).
- Why would Gujaratis migrate in droves from their far more market friendly state with far more job opportunities to Keralam where the climate and food are very different ?
- Even if a disproportionate(?) number of Gujaratis came, to work here, is it not better for the management to hire people whom they are more comfortable from an ethnic and work culture POV ?
- Won't the arrival of these "immigrants" develope the local economy from ways not fathomed by the "central planners" of all hues of white, yellow, blue, green, red and saffron ?
- Fortunately most Gujjus are not too bothered by such silliness and are very pragmatic businessmen. They are aware of the demagoguery politicians have to resort to. But suppose they were an easily inflammable community? Would this kind of rhetoric not cause Keralites working in Gujarat to experience blowback ? What if the Arabs in the GCC countries thought this way ?
- Isn't it better for the management to utilize their existing labour force who are trained in the ways of the company instead of hiring locals who may not be suitable?
Second the Moral arguments. (Because a satiated parasite will gladly give and take free advice and have no 'stomach' to argue)
- This is a racist and irresponsible statement.
- In an age when people are trying to get past artificial "borders" and visa "paper" requirements why is this person opposing the employment of people who share the same citizenship ?
- What right does he have to tell the Adanis whom they should be and should not be employing ?
The Adanis are no angels and the environmental damage they have wreaked over the natural ecosystems that the local populations in Gujarat depended upon is a study in cronyism practiced by Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister. The below video is statist in many ways and does not have Sveccham's approval but it serves to illustrate the kind of company the Adani company keeps. The inability of the CPM to criticize the Adanis or the Modi government for the right reasons shows their moral poverty as well.
The below video is however more Libertarian in spirit. It is also a case of the tragedy of the commons where if the land had belonged to the communities that lived of it, and the government could not seize it from them, they would have been happier. It is a shame that the people of India, Gujarat, Keralam and Vizhinjam in particular have to be the victims of mis-allocation of capital by the modern day Stalinists and Fascists of India.
