Let me provide some criteria to test the democratic credentials of one year old Kerala ministry.
1. How they behaved with struggling people at Plachimada, Aralamfarm, Prisoners' rights' movement etc. Did they enter into discussions or negotiations with any of these groups? 2.Did they made any document on SMART city available for discussion before 'the historical drama' at Muscat hotel? It is alarming to see people 'representing' New Social Movement progressively falling to the manthra Development=Politics. Media idealogues like CRNeelakantan are victims of Neoliberal discourse. So, I feel Cherian's vibhakthi is more sincere and dialogic than Neelakantan's bhakti!! Those who ascribed all values of new politics to VS in the first instance now find themeselves as Statista and develpment mongers. There is nothing surprising in this if we could see beyond the virtual reality created by self congratulating Malayalam media. I don't think they have any critical function other than entertaining us with 'stories'. Just like the state they always deliberately silence all civil society voices if it has nothing to do with group rivalry in CPIM. I hope this google group is the only place where 'citizens' are discussing a major issue like SMART city. Can we hope to listen to more 'confessions' from other media friends? -- Dileep Raj Tel: 09447316701 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ greenyouth mailinglist is the activist support mailinglist for kerala run by Global Alternate Information Applications (GAIA) To post to this group, send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
