The Hindu : Front Page : Equal share only solution: Chandy

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Sunday, Aug 06, 2006

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Equal share only solution: Chandy

Special Correspondent

Says no need for distinction between majority and minority colleges in State

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said here on Saturday that a 50:50 ratio for management and Government seats was the only practical solution to the imbroglio over admissions to self-financing colleges. Addressing a press conference here, he said the United Democratic Front was against curtailment of minority rights. However, in Kerala, there was no need for distinction between minority and majority colleges, as they could develop better without any special status. Mr. Chandy wanted to know what stand the Communist Party of India (Marxist) would take if Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi were to bring legislation similar to the Kerala professional colleges or institutions Act. He said any legislation should stand legal scrutiny and be practical.

Mr. Chandy said though the Government had claimed in the Assembly that the law on professional colleges would be legally tenable, it had started talking of protection under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution immediately after the House had passed the legislation.

It was high time that the Government ended `hide and seek' on the issue. "If its proposals are practical, the self-financing colleges under Government control should be able to function without Government subsidy."

Noting that lock-up and custody deaths had become a frequent occurrence in the State, the Opposition Leader demanded that stringent action be taken against those responsible for nine deaths after the present Government had come to power. Besides, sufficient assistance should be given to the next of kin of the victims. Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan were neglecting action in the matter. Mr. Chandy said the previous Government had never taken the stand that any extent of land could be made available at a concessional rate for the Smart City project. "We took the view that the Kerala needed the project. I do not have the feeling that we should have adopted a tougher stand."

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