The shuttling decisions

The Sonia Gandhi headed AICC decided that Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee would decide the choice of its candidate to Rajya Sabha seat from Kerala and proposed two names-one is K Karaunakaran and other is Remesh Chennithala. What the octogenarian Karaunakaran is going to do other than to sleep all the time on the cushion seats in the house, is yet another question, the Kerala unit of the Congress, unable to take decision returned to the choice to Sonia herself. They authorised madam Sonia to nominate a candidate for the lone seat that the UDF can hope to win on the basis of its combined strength in the Assembly.

The KPCC is nowadays seen a little bigheaded as they have already confirmed that they would be the rulers of the State next time. The present ruling front headed by CPM has done enough harm to the state and they are in a desperate attempt to escape from the present muddle created by its leaders. The Marxist cadres are busy with smearing the posters of top leaders of the party with cow dung paints and almost lost in darkness. The Left Front sees no safe escape in the next election
Seeing this KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala decided to opt out from the Rajya Sabha race.. Last time Oommen Chandy was the CM and now being the President of the KPCC Chennithala sees a better prospect here. It is not always easy to bring back a Rajya Sabha member and ask him to become the CM of the state.

Control Dengue epidemic

Dengue is taking its toll in the district of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Many adjacent places are badly affected with dengue. The government has not made elaborate arrangements to stop its spread.

Many water bodies in the district are polluted and are a big source of mosquitoes. None of the authorities like the City Corporation, or the Health Department has taken any measures to eradicate mosquito menace from the thickly populated area of the town. There are other steps which authorities must take immediately to arrest further spread of dengue in the State. The Health Minister should alert her department and seek the assistance of other departments to control dengue on a war footing.

K A Solaman

To the New Indian Express Daily

Sir,

It was my way to read and respond to the guidelines of the daily horoscope published in TNIE until you reduced the font size. And thereafter, unable to read the words in it I switched over to the horoscope feature of a Malayalam daily. Their ‘better Mondays’ of Scorpio often appeared ‘worse Mondays’, still I was left with no other option as the resolving power of my spectacle is derisory to read yours. Now it is the time for me to read you again as you have enlarged the font size. Yet it will take some more time to regain my lost habit. Thank you for increasing the font size.

K A Solaman

Your culmination is yet to come!

It is inspiring for every diligent Indian citizen to hear that Defence Minister A K Antony will stand in for Prime Minister at the Republic Day function at New Delhi. Antony will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, Monday morning. Nevertheless this news will be a matter of musing for Kerala Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Cherian Philip. He and Antony had once wandered aimlessly many nights in the streets of Thiruvananthapuram eating ‘parippuvada’, drinking ‘kattan kaappy’ and seeing Satyan starred movies at New theatre. So wandering folks, listen, your culmination is yet to come!

K A Solaman

Would it make any significant change?

In America the white and black team Bush-Condoleezza Rice has been replaced by its contrast black and white Obama-Hilary Clinton team. Would this reverse replacement effect any remarkable change in overall policies of that country? I don't think.

K A Solaman

Who will pay the cost of air-ticket?

As CPI(M) Kerala State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has been charge sheeted by CBI in the notorious Lavelin case the Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan has winged to New Delhi simply to handover a draft letter to Karat demanding the expulsion of Pinarayi from party leadership. While the central leadership is trying miserably to phrase the CBI action as politically motivated Achuthanandan’s stipulation has become a blow on to the face of centre leadership. However one’s apprehension is, who would pay the air-ticket charge of Achuthanandan for this personal journey when there was much hue and cry over Antony’s travel cost when he had flown to Kerala once upon a time to assume Chief Ministerial ship.

K A Solaman

Minsters’ hypocrisy.

It seems that infinite horse power turbo engines are working round the clock in Kerala Ministers’ residences. The electricity bills of the ministers give indication in this direction. The ministers with their soaring power bills have proved that their word and deed will not go hand in hand. The words are intended for thoughtless people and for the school children to make petty projects during school science exhibitions. Power Minister offering CFL gifts and superstars appearing in ad films are planned to siphon out money from state exchequer. No one will listen to these ministers who do not honor their own words.

It is a common view in most of the government offices lamps and fans are indiscriminately used and none minds to put off them when he goes out from work place. A surprise visit to many government offices will prove wastage of electricity. It is the routine of many of the government and private workplaces to cover windows and doors with curtains preventing sun light to enter. And this in turn results loss is in two ways-one is the cost of curtains and other the cost for lighting the lamps. If one decides to remove curtains behind glass windows the rooms will be well lighted and the work can be done without lighting electric bulbs.

The Ministers and top officials know only to ‘bla, bla’ on power management and they have yet to get awareness of power supervision. The Human Rights Defence forum general secretary DB Binu deserves a clap for exposing the hypocrisy of ministers by asking under the Right to Information Act, the bill for power consumption at the official residences of the ministers.

K A Solaman

Nothing but a gimmick

Kerala Finance Minister TM Thomas Isaac.s offer of prize money to those who can prove corruption in the Treasury Department is nothing but a gimmick. This is because it is difficult for common people to .prove. corruption in the Treasury Department. If his intentions were actually sincere then he should have declare similar rewards for proving bribery in institutions such as the police, transport sector, Devaswom, etc. But in that case Mr Isaac.s own coffers would have become empty.
KA Solaman

The Pioneer 12 Jan 2009

More ‘kappa’ shops will be opened!

Thanks to economic recession, the hot debate on ADB loan to Kerala is not at all a matter of discussion now. The Finance Minister Dr T M Thomas Isaac, the strong proponent of ADB loan, has now shut his mouth. He contemplates on availing a home loan of 2000crore from banks within the country for what is known as ‘EMS Housing programme’. He assured that there should be budgetary allocation for repayment of interest. And who will repay the principal is another big question to be answered.

The state of affairs was not so cordial a few years back. It was then argued that all state budgets were prepared at the behest of the Asian Development Bank and the ruling front, whether it is LDF or UDF, was turning generations to come into an inescapable debt trap. Now it is the turn of ADB to get back their loans issued to those people who supposedly believed that amounts are not for repayment. The stance by extremists of CPM that availing ADB loan was a sin has come into reality. The survival ADB is also in peril.

Interestingly, the economic meltdown has brought some upshot into the food culture of Keralaites too. During the realm of ADB loan it was the culture of ministers and populace to eat pizza and burger at star hotels. Now it is the time to eat ‘Kappa or Kachil’ at ‘Thattukada’. Anticipating this possibility Dr Isaac has inaugurated a Kappa (tapioca) shop at his PDS centre at Kanjikuzhy, Cherthala where people have the chance to eat ‘hot kappa with kanthari’. Soon more shops will be opened where people could get ‘Pinnakku’ (Coconut dung) to quell their hunger. During World War II, when there was utter poverty people ate pinnakku to protract their life!

K A Solaman

Check unlawful collection.

The birth day celebration of Mayawati seems one of the greatest events in India. However, this time it went without much fanfare, may be due to the brutal killing of PWD executive engineer M K Gupta, allegedly by BSP’s thug and legislator Shekhar Tiwari. Though Mayawati’s schemes are not intended to Keralaites, every week in Kerala Malayalam dailies carry full page advertisement illustrating Mayawati’s contraptions in UP. The purpose of advertising the construction of a small bridge in UP is of no use for people of Kerala. So, BSP men should stop these unproductive and hoodwinking acts in Kerala. No BSP men likely to go to Assembly or Parliament from Kerala in the immediate future.

BSP tradition to launch developmental schemes on behenji’s birthday has become a scheme of publishing deceiving ads in Kerala. There should be some regulation from the Parliament to check unlawful collection of funds by BSP henchmen.

K A Solaman

Uncooperative Pakistan

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is indulging in semantics. His latest statement about the ‘file’ received from India on the Mumbai attack being only ‘information’ and not ‘evidence’ is deplorable. In the wake of such uncooperative attitude, Pakistan’s call for a joint investigation into the November 26, 2008, fidayeen attack on Mumbai should be rejected without any hesitation. The role of the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba in the 26/11 terror strike has been comprehensively proved by India and now it is the Pakistani Government’s duty to see to it that the terrorist organisation operating from Pakistani soil is shut down for good. If it fails to do so, Pakistan should be declared a terror state.

KA Solaman
The Pioneer, New Delhi,Thursday, January 15, 2009

Gilani’s game of words.

Sir,
Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani plays the game of words by saying that file received from India on the Mumbai attacks is only“information” and not“evidence”. Evidently Gilani tries to wrap Pakistani links of the attackers. The distinction between the words information and evidence is therefore became a matter of discussion. Such a callous attitude from neighboring country's head may often prompt Indian counter-part to think about the adverse. Gilani’s proposals for conducting a joint investigation with India are unwarranted. However, one strongly feels that India should never enter into a war with Pakistan. The Samajwadi leader Amar Singh is seen immature in tackling a crucial situation.

The involvement of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, an extremist outfit, rooted in Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks has been internationally proved and accepted. The US and Britain emphasize it and hence it is now Pakistan’s job to act judiciously to avert a conflict between two countries.

K A Solaman

Mammootty is our new saviour!

Marxists were, until recently, of opinion that the TN model cinema politics will not run here in Kerala as most people are literate. Now the Marxist identified that all the people abandoned their sensibility in consequence of their rule and of their predecessors. And that is why they started thinking of fielding megastar (or gigastar?) Mammootty as an independent candidate of the Left in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The CPI(M) wants Mammootty to contest in Ernakulam constituency but they are ready to leave the choice of the seat to the star. The implication is the incumbent Latin Catholic MP Sebastian Paul will be a whole time contributor to Madyma Vijaram and channel interviews. To earn one’s livelihood a person need not be always an MP. Then, what will be the fate of the other Latin Catholic blue-eyed boy MP from Alappuzha? Reservation for Latin Catholics is only in rule books and not for practice!

The cinema viewers of Kerala have dejected seeing Mammootty running as lover after cute girls of such a tender age of his grand daughter. So it is good for him and his congregation to see him as an MP working for the uplift of entire people.
Nevertheless, before jumping into election fray Mammootty should contemplate on the prospects CPM in the next election as undercurrents not so enthusiastic for the ruling front.
Let Mammootty, the new Messiah, save the people and the party.

K A Solaman

Flawed practice of Kerala University

Sir — The Union ministry of education has various schemes offering scholarships to needy students. But if they are not dispensed on time, what is the use of these scholarships? The postgraduate scholarship for rank-holders of all Indian universities for the academic session 2007-08 has been sanctioned by the University Grants Commission. The fund has been issued to the universities, and the awardees have been asked to contact the registrars of their respective institutions. However, the registrar of the University of Kerala seems reluctant to confirm when and how the students will receive the funds. As a guardian of one of the awardees, I got in touch with the registrar over this several times, but to no avail. I even submitted an RTI application enquiring about the process. In his reply to the RTI query, the registrar admitted that he has received the funds from the UGC but not the list of awardees. This is difficult to believe because the UGC is unlikely to send the funds without the list of the names of awardees. Moreover, the registrar has admitted that he knew that eight students would receive the scholarship for the given year from his university.

In fact, the registrar can easily find out who the awardees are by looking up the results of the concerned departments for the particular academic session. It is unfortunate that the toppers of a university recognized by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council are being mistreated by the institution that should have been proud of them.

K.A. Solaman

Stock markets offer nonstop shocks

Ever new scam in the Indian corporate sector becomes the highest one. The scams at the time of late Harshad Mehta and Ketan Parekh seem rather trivial when it comes to Satyam Computers. Satyam Computer Services Chairman B. Ramalinga Raju has shocked the nation with what is called the biggest scam in Indian corporate history. He has manipulated the accounts of the company. The company’s balance sheet as on September 30, 2008, showed an inflated sum of Rs.5,040 crore. The name Satyam computers hereinafter will be known as Asatyam(lies) Computers.

The dishonest episode of Satyam Computers reveals how the auditors collude with fake companies to artificially project its assets. It is mystifying to see such a huge puncture could not be marked by the various investment analysts and merchant bankers. It is time to dismantle the market watcher SEBI for its inefficacy to check fake companies. The Satyam disaster is only a tip of the ice-berg and there are big sharks still in the glare of publicity, robbing people by way of keeping a few old computers without any other solid asset. Many IT and Real Estate companies fall in the group of Satyam.

The Prime Minister who deals the Finance Portfolio is left with nothing to cheer. If any one remains adamant, to admit still saying that India is not affected by financial meltdown could change his attitude. Stock markets are becoming a nonstop shock for average investors and they need to identify other investment area. The chartered accountant certification of the auditors of Satyam will be immediately withdrawn.

K A Solaman

Highways as bazars

I would like to bring to your kind attention a grave offence that needs to be immediately remedied: The selling of fish and meat on National Highway 47. The highway from Aroor to Kayamkulam in Kerala has literally been occupied by these vendors. This is causing immense hardship to to the commuters. The high-way side is now crowded with people as the fish vendors have abandoned their usual markets.

It was once the practice of local bodies to spot out market places where fish, meat, vegetables and other easily perishable items could be sold. The waste accumulated in such places was also disposed of properly. Seemingly, the present administrators in the local civic bodies are not too keen about keeping the highway clean. They have no worries about the filth being generated by these highway dwellers. The Government must find a way to evict these meat and fish vendors. They should be forced to go to their usual designated markets instead of clogging up the highway.

Roosters’ own country.

Sometimes it seems rather curious the terming of certain people friendly schemes of the State Government of Kerala. Latest scheme of the Government named 'Villages full of chicken’ looks very funny. Chicken meaning rooster or cock is an apt title for the scheme as already Kerala villages are full of roosters. The episodes of Kiliroor, Kaviyur, Vithura, Thoppumpady, Kozhikkode tell what else? Who said the cohort of the witty bureaucrats has perished? They are still in the secretariat.

Let the CM and ministers play 'theif and police' and the people eat chicken. What a wonderful land, this God’s own country!

Payback from Mumbai blast

Payback from Mumbai blast


About 200 civilians and about 20 police and army officials lost their lives in the Mumbai blast. Loss of several crores of rupees was incurred to the country’s exchequer. The Taj hotel restarted their functioning and others are about to reopen. The blast is considered as the one of the greatest failures of India’s intelligence agency. Still then “Everything happens for the good”

This I say because as the major payback of the incident the government has contemplated to strengthen its security measures. The leader of the Opposition has called for stringent anti terror laws. Thus all came to understand the need of high security in the country and this is overall benefit to the nation from the Mumbai explosion. All feel in the aftermath of Mumbai terror attacks, a new terror law is imminent as a patriotic act. And a more important verity is Indians should start to think beyond religions. Those killed in Mumbai explosion were not alone Hindus or Christians. There were Muslims and Jews. The concept of treating Muslims as terrorists will go. The Muslims must be more stable and protected in the country. The communal division in the country will diminish and the fanatics of all religions will be viewed as insurgents. The blast will weaken political parties playing communal cards.

K A Solaman

For Mammootty with love

It is interesting to see that Malayalam cine actor Mammootty has launched his blog with much fanfare.. The blog is titled as 'Mammootty with love'. Even if it is titled as “Mammootty with hate”, it will not make much impact as it is one of the innumerable blogs available for Internet users.

It has been reported that Mammootty will be discussing his views on all the socio-political activities in which he is interested, through this blog. This is seemingly new from Mammootty because he often absconds when news relating him is in air. For instance, when the suspended IPS officer Suresh Kumar told media about Mammootty’s illegal possession of forest land at Munnar, he conspicuously remained tight-lipped. The Kairali Channel where he is the Chairman, when telecasted contemptuous interview telling off Achuthanandan he kept mum. As Mammootty’s choice is for the official faction of the CPM in the state his opinion through blog will not be unbiased.

K A Solaman