Kerala, which claims to be number one in everything, should put an end to its self-glorification, former Minister G. Sudhakaran has said.

Inaugurating a health seminar organised by the Indian Medical Association, Health for All Foundation and Indian Red Cross Society in Alappuzha on Monday, Mr. Sudhakaran asked on what basis Kerala claims to be at the forefront? “It is for others to say that. While we claim to be number one in everything, we are also becoming number one in substance abuse. The situation is such that any kind of drug is available here,” he said.

The veteran communist leader said that things were in a state of disarray in the education sector, especially when it comes to examinations. “No one knows when answer sheets might go missing. The teacher who lost the MBA students’ answer sheets was not held accountable,” he said.

Stating that the health sector has become something only the wealthy can afford, Mr. Sudhakaran called for making every service free at Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha.

Commenting on the election of M.A. Baby as Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] general secretary, he said the party had chosen a deserving person to lead it.