Kerala Government Will Allow Dissenting Opinions, Not Suppress Them: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday released the first edition of Rajahamsa, the official quarterly magazine of the Kerala Raj Bhavan, at a function held in the Raj Bhavan. The Chief Minister inaugurated the event by presenting the first copy to Shashi Tharoor MP.

He noted that the very first issue contains an article titled Article 200 and a Constitutional Conundrum, which discusses Article 200 of the Constitution, the powers of the Governor, and the powers of the Legislature. The Chief Minister clarified that the opinions expressed in the article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the government. “The mere fact that such views appear in the Raj Bhavan’s journal does not mean the government endorses them,” he said.

“The real question is whether dissenting opinions should be permitted or strangled. The government of Kerala believes they must be permitted. Our renaissance tradition has given us a democratic public sphere that accommodates differences. That is why dissent does not unsettle the government,” he added.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister said the publication carries details of events held at the Raj Bhavan along with articles of contemporary relevance. He said it is the outcome of an initiative taken by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who has expressed admiration for Kerala since his student days.

Commenting on the Governor’s message in the inaugural issue, Pinarayi Vijayan said that Arlekar had praised Kerala for the co-existential attitude of its people and the coexistence of diametrically opposite ideologies at different levels. The Chief Minister added that this reflects Kerala’s long-standing tradition of nurturing a public sphere that accommodates conflicting views, one of the noble inheritances of the state’s renaissance movement.

The Chief Minister observed that he was not aware of any other state Raj Bhavan bringing out a similar publication. But in a state like Kerala, recognised for its achievements in literacy and enlightenment, such a magazine has particular relevance.

He expressed confidence that Rajahamsa would grow into a chronicle of the meetings, discussions, and events held at the Raj Bhavan. Kerala’s society, he said, is enriched by discourses, and it is natural that diverse and even opposing opinions may find place in the magazine.