The socialist economic policies have restricted entrepreneurs from pursuing their passion for decades. The subjugation of entrepreneurs by the state has been prevalent in the states ruled by Communist parties. The Communist parties could not change the political economy of the country to socialism but the ‘crony capitalistic’ practices in the name of socialism continued.
The red-tapism of the Communist government has claimed the life of an entrepreneur in Kerala. A 49-year-old Non-Resident Indian ended his life in Kerala’s Kannur district because he was unable to obtain permission for a convention centre.
Sajen Parayil, an NRI from Nigeria invested 18 crore rupees to build a convention centre in Anthoor municipal area. However, he was not given the certificate to open it even after 19 visits to the municipal authority. Minor reasons like the wall of the centre is 1.5 cm distant from the sight or some other regulatory issues were given as reason behind non-issue of certificate.
Certification to the convention centre of Sajen Parayil became a matter contention between two top Communist leaders of the district. He sought the help of P Jayarajan, CPM’s Kannur unit secretary in construction of convention centre. Jayarajan has differences with MV Govindan, husband of Anthoor municipality’s chairman PK Shyamala.
According to Beena (wife of Sajen Parayil ), “She (PK Shyamala) threatened him that he would not be able to operate the convention centre, as long as she holds the chair.”
The Communist parties and governments claim to be equal to everyone and not show vengeance towards anyone. But it is very clear from the above example that these principles exist only in theory. “Ever since P Jayarajan intervened in the issue, municipal chairperson P K Shyamala acted with vengeance. Sajen had taken part in the wedding of P Jayarajan’s son on June 2. Sajen doubted if this too would be used against him. He told me that a person known to Shyamala had spoken to him after the wedding, and he feared the worst. When the certificate was delayed further, Sajen considered seeking Jayarajan’s help again, but decided against it. He feared that it would only increase her vengeance,” said Beena.
Congress-led opposition staged a protest and walked out of the state assembly. Mullappally Ramachandran, PCC chief of Kerala offered his sympathies and said, “The tragic incident reveals how CPI-M is dealing with the people in misery. The absolute power has degenerated the party in power. We will resist the designs of CPI-M in Kerala and support the victim’s family. I feel pity for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who is appealing NRIs to invest in Kerala.”
CPM is losing ground in the state and lost 19 out of 20 seats in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The party performed poorly across the country in the previous general election and no longer remains a national party. The red tapism or license quota permit raj has kept the country poor and malnourished for decades. So, the economic policies of Communist parties and socialism followed by Congress party were indirectly responsible for infant mortality, poverty, maternal mortality and poor performance on socio-economic indicators. The utopia of socialism claimed millions of lives in India and across the globe (directly and indirectly).