Madhavan says Sabari pushed state backward

Kochi: The modernity of Kerala has been pushed few notches backward by the Sabarimala controversy, writer N.S. Madhavan. “Kerala’s renaissance was a process which aim-ed to escalate the social position of women and provide education for all. But today there is a politics of denying women entry to everywhere. Rig-ht wing parties are expl-oiting the present situation while the left failed to be vigilant over them,” Madhavan said speaking at a session on Reading, Culture and Politics at the concluding days of the 10-day Krithi Knowledge and Book Festival.

He lambasted the opportunism shown by opposition in supporting the economic reservation bill in parliament. Congress and CPM supported economic reservation legislation lest they upset their vote banks. It shows the political bankruptcy of those parties, Madhvan said.  

The writer also dealt in detail about the appropriation of the media outlets by right wing forces in the country and shrinking of editorial freedom due to the commercial interests taking precedence over the agenda setting role of the media. “Even social media is under government pressure but they still remain a medium for all to express their opinions”, he said.

The second edition of Krithi Festival ended on Sunday. Tourism minister Kadakampally Suren-dran said the next edition will be held from February 6 to 16 in Kochi. “The people of Kerala have developed an emotional connect to Krithi. In these times, when communalism poses threat to social fabric, such a secular union of people is crucial to the rebuilding Kerala post the 2018 floods”, the minister said.