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Journalism of Courage
This first round goes to the proletariat. The Kerala government has taken the fizz out of Coca-Cola and Pepsi8217;s multinational designs. The state cabinet on Wednesday banned the sale and manufacture of beverages marketed by the two companies. No more shall the people of God8217;s Own Country 8212; aka the Revolutionary Republic of Kerala 8212; be compelled to devour bottles full of pesticide. No more shall their health be so perilously threatened. Presumably, no longer shall precious ground water be consumed by bottling plants in Palakkad district. If ever a ban seemed to settle all concerns 8212; with one of them, against the Palakkad plants, spearheaded by the current CM, V.S. Achuthanandan 8212; this one would be it.
Not quite. The Left Front government in Kerala has got it hopelessly wrong this time. Adulteration and contamination of food and beverages are serious matters that demand the government8217;s immediate attention. But in reaching for a blanket ban instead of instruments of law at its disposable, the cabinet has set itself for a stiff legal challenge. More than that, the ban reflects a disturbing pseudo-revolutionary sentiment that gladdens the hearts of Achuthanandan8217;s comrades. They are particularly given to dwelling on the evils of globalisation. Yet, in this, Kerala8217;s communists prove how they have failed to read the benefits of globalisation that have accrued to their fledgling services sector and the tourism industry. Indian companies are constantly on alert to the West8217;s misplaced 8212; and illogical 8212; habit of extrapolating travel advisories and tirades against outsourcing from stray incidents. With this politically motivated ban, Thiruvananthapuram may be doing Indian companies most harm in the long run.
