Kerala budget: Peace meet and reaching out to Latin America

CPM and its leaders in Kerala have always been known to have an opinion on everything international and have always taken pride in wearing it on their sleeves, although it has often attracted comments from political detractors.
Finance minister KN Balagopal’s budget seems to have made a conscious attempt to wear a cloak of internationalism---the first project, he announced in the budget speech, is to bring together prominent peace activists and thinkers across the world for a Global Peace Conference on nuclear disarmament and world peace when travel restrictions are eased.He said Rs 2 crore has been set aside for it.
That’s not all, the budget has made a bid to take forward the Left’s love affair with Latin America by alloting another Rs 2 crore for study, research and follow up projects of the Centre for Latin American Studies at the University of Kerala, saying that Latin America has a great influence on the sociopolitical cultural and agricultural spheres of Kerala.
Explaining the rationale for pursuing studies on Latin America, the minister said Latin American crops have been cultivated here since the arrival of Portuguese. Due to geographical similarities, crops and farming are also suitable for Kerala. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate plans that will utilize the potential of Kerala and Latin America.
Balagopal also added that the relationship with Latin America needs to be strengthened through projects, including student exchange programmes. In the efforts to promote world peace through seminars and discussions, the minister said that the RussiaUkraine war pushed the world towards a possible third world war.
“Memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki compel us to work towards peace. It is not possible to give an excuse that ‘I am not willing to confront’ and adopt an isolationist attitude. Each one of us has to contribute our small bit,” he said.