CONGRESS’S HYPOCRISY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER IN KERALA

It would have been a strong contender for the best joke of the year award but for the sheer hypocrisy and shamelessness that animated the claims. The reference is to the brazen Congress attempt to claim credit for the Vizhinjam international transshipment port project. The party, which opposed Kerala’s dream project at every level, has now come up with the astounding claim that the project should be named after former chief minister of Kerala, the late Oommen Chandy!

The boot, actually, is on the other leg. If the project has become a reality, it is due simply to the determination, tenacity and strength of will shown by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who headed the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Governments.

A close look into the history of the project is in order to expose the claim of the Congress for what it is: a humungous sham. It was The Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, then in power at the Centre, which refused permission to Zoom Developers, the firm that offered to implement the project. The defence minister in the Narasimha Rao Government was none other than senior Congress leader from Kerala A K Antony. Military clearance for the project was denied on the ground that the firm had a Chinese connection!

The VS Achuthanandan-led Left Democratic Front Government, in power in Kerala during the period 2006-2011, then called an all-party meeting before retendering the project. A firm called Lanco then offered to take up the project, saying that the Kerala Government won’t have to shell out the funds. The firm, instead, would give the Government Rs 110 crore. The tender was consequently given to the company.

But business rival Zoom then moved the court, allegedly with the backing of a section of Congress leaders in Kerala. Lanco withdrew from the project as it did not want to get entangled in a protracted legal battle.

The LDF Government then tried to implement the project through the landlord model, which meant that the port would be built on Government’s initiative. But the Oommen Chandy Government which assumed power 1n 2011, frustrated the LDF’s efforts and opted to implement the project on PPP model. Although five firms
offered to take up the project, it was given to the Adani group.

The Oommen Chandy Government entered into an agreement with the Adani group. But the agreement came in for vehement criticism from all quarters. The crux of the criticism was that the contract was
prejudicial to the interests of Kerala and heavily tilted in favour of the Adanis.

The strongest criticism came from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The CAG report said the contract, which was originally for 30 years, was extended by 10 more years in blatant violation of norms and rules. The extension would benefit the Adani group by Rs 30,000 crore!

It was shocking that the Chandy Government went ahead with the project ignoring even the note of caution from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to be mindful of the State’s interests. The AICC was of the firm view that the people should be taken into confidence and the interests of the State should be
safeguarded before going ahead with the project. But the Chandy Government, in an unseemly hurry, did not pay any heed to the sage advice of the AICC. The contract, which was signed on August 17, 2017, was termed by the LDF as a sell-out to the Adani group and a loot of the State.

There was opposition from within the Congress in Kerala itself, too. For instance, the then Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and senior Congress leader from the State V M Sudheeran vehemently objected to the terms of the contract, and wanted the issue to be discussed in the KPCC.s But to no avail. Another senior Congress leader V D Satheesan was also strongly critical of the contract. He said the CAG report should be discussed in the Political Affairs Committee, the highest policy-making body of the
Congress in the State. Ironically, Satheesan now wants the project to be named after Oommen Chandy!

Now, a look into the details of the contract. As per the contract which was originally for 30 years, Kerala would not get a single paise for 15 years. After 15 years, the profit share of the State would increase by one per cent every year. And, surprisingly, due to reasons which are known only to the Oommen Chandy Government, the contract was extended by 10 more years, which was in flagrant violation of the rules and norms governing the construction of ports. That was not the end of it. If the Adani group fully funded the second and third phases of construction, then the contract could be extended by another 20 years!

The Congress also extended its full support to an agitation demanding that the port project be scrapped. If
needed, the Congress would launch a liberation-struggle type agitation demanding the end of the project,
crowed KPCC chief K. Sudhakaran. He was referring to the liberation struggle which resulted in the ouster of the first communist government in Kerala headed by EMS Namboodiripad.

Incidentally, IAS officer and Managing Director of the Vizhinjam project Divya S Iyer was the victim of a vicious social media campaign from Congressmen. Her crime: Divya, who incidentally is the wife of former Congress MLA, K S Sabarinathan, was effusive in her praise of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The project, she said, would not have become a reality but for the determination and leadership of Pinarayi. This was
anathema to the Congress leadership. Hence the slanderous campaign against Divya.

The LDF government headed by Pinarayi Vijayan, which came into power in 2016, went ahead with the project although it knew that the contract was against the interests of Kerala. The reason? The Government realised that cancellation would have meant giving a hefty compensation to the Adani group. The cancellation would also have led to a protracted legal battle. And while the legal battle was on, the contract could not be given to another company. Withdrawing from the project would also have strengthened the
perception that the Left government is against developmental projects.

Last but not the least, the Union Government would have handed over the project to Tamil Nadu if Kerala had cancelled the contract with the Adanis. After all, the LDF Government was not against the Vizhinjam project as such. It was only opposing the sell-out to the Adani group and the corruption behind the dubious deal effected by the Oommen Chandy Government.

The second, third and fourth phases of the port were to be completed by 2045. But these phases would be completed by 2028, 17 years ahead of the scheduled deadline. This was announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after according a ceremonial reception to the Mothership, San Fernando, which called at the port on July 12. The Chief Minister also said Vizhinjam port is a shining example of the will power of an elected government.

“There were some lobbies, including international and commercial lobbies that worked against the port and tried to prevent the project from becoming a reality. They even received support from here. The agitation spearheaded by a section here stating that the project would not be allowed to be implemented have to be weighed against this background. However, our collective will and dedication were beyond their designs,” he
averred.

Vizhinjam’s natural undredged draft, which is not found elsewhere in India, and its close proximity of 10 nautical miles makes it an ideal location for a deepsea port. When completed, Vizhinjam port would handle 80 per cent of the country’s transshipment. It also boasts South Asia’s most advanced container handling technology. Not even Adani’s own highly advanced Mundra port has these technologies. And once the automation and vessel traffic management system is completed, Vizhinjam will be in a class of its own.

What are Kerala’s advantages? These are: Excellent road and rail connectivity; excellent air connectivity; Kerala is the most literate state with abundant skilled and trained manpower; low startup and operating costs, lower salaries, rentals and power tariffs.