KANNUR : Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan responded to criticism of his speech at the commemoration of Land Reforms Act Golden Jubilee saying, those blowing up the ocassion like I committed crime, are less aware of our State history.
What was our community once upon a time ? How did we evolve as the proud society we live in today ? One should take time to go thorough the history texts carefully for the answers. That done, nobody would raise blames like they do now, said Pinarayi.
It was out of courtesy, that I omitted certain names in my narration. The function was official. So I thought it best not to bring up problems pertaining to my party. The Land Reforms Act and the Agrarian Relations Act prior to that, were all passed by governments headed by EMS. And, Gowriamma was the Revenue Minister under both theses governments. Their names came up in context. I did what I did, to avoid potentially hurtful speculation on others who occupied their chairs. And, I regret to see some people missing the point and rushing with criticism instead, Pinarayi said.
The Centre had dismissed the EMS government after it enacted the Agrarian Relations law in 1959. The Land Reforms Ordinance was introduced in 1959. However, subsequent governments up to 1967, rewrote all legal provisions that went in favour of the peasants. The efforts were aimed to protect the interest of landlord classes. As a result, 60 percent of land outside the ceiling limit, got transacted by the way of donations.
In 1967, the govt restored the original provisions and introduced the Land Reforms Amendment Bill. The EMS govt which passed the legislation was forced to exit once again. AKG rallied massive protests, calling to implement the Land Reforms Amendment Act.
The new govt however claimed, there was no land left for redistribution, since all had been transacted. AKG’s persisted with the protest, including siege on Mudavanmugal palace, to expose excess land across the state. That to-date, remains a milestone in the history of Kerala. The new generation should understand history for what it really is. This is all that was intended, said Pinarayi.
