Kerala model Assembly

The Kerala Assembly is no longer a model for the country, according to Defence Minister A.K. Antony. He said : "There was a time when the functioning of the Kerala assembly was a model for the country, but it no longer holds good, as bills are being passed without discussion. This does not augur well for the new generation. Both the treasury and the opposition benches are equally responsible for this.” This he said when he was addressing the valedictory function of the 125 years' celebration of the legislature of Kerala.

Seemingly, these all happened when he left the State after serving as chief minister three times, and was being a legislator in the house five times. Antony’s remark is rather a matter of introspection. And being the Defence Minister of the country he is bound to say which one of the states in the country has a model assembly. The legislature bodies in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and others are crammed with criminals and in that respect Kerala Assembly is a better one with lesser species.

It is not the practice of criticising a dead man at his funeral function. Likewise no one will like to say off-colourly  against an institution at its ceremonial function. It sounds as if, being the three time head of the Kerala Assembly, Antony could decant ill-words on it because he is the only ‘puritan’ among all Congress leaders who are entangled in corruption. Antony should understand that this sort of revelation to save his party will not work as peoples’ trust has been shifted to Aam Aadmi from Congress and other political parties, especially when leaders like Rahul and Karat have started learning lessons.

K A Solaman

Words are for deeds.

Words are not for deeds for most political parties in the country. But Aam Aadmi party has proved it wrong, The words are meant for deeds to them. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) would provide 700 litres of free water per day to each and every household which has a regular water connection. The decision was taken after a meeting between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's  and  members of the DJB. The cost of providing the free water would be borne by the DJB.

The promise of 700 litres of free water to every Delhi household was made in the Aam Aadmi Party's poll manifesto. If the other promises are also met then there will be no look back for AAP. ‘Young’ Rahul Gandhi and the ‘old ‘Prakash Karat will then learn more lessons from Aam Aadmi. Kerjriwal’s magic will turn out as a death blow to all hard-core corrupt politicians.

However, the interesting aspect is: all the abkaris, hoarders, black marketers, communal fanatics etc have expressed their willingness to work with AAP in different states.

K A Solaman

Strategic sessions

Strategy sessions with top leaders and Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states by Rahul Gandhi  to make the party fighting fit for the Lok Sabha polls is of little use. People’s mandate solely depends of the good governance and not on the false promise party leaders place before them at elections.  

Congress failure in the polls in Delhi, Rajasthan and other states is due the corruption of the rulers. The huge price rise of essential commodities, diesel, petrol, cooking gas and what else persuaded people to think against the rulers and such thoughts should not immediately vanish if Rahul Gandhi along with some hard core politicians place a few strategic ideas to hoodwink people. The passing of Lokpal bill is not an attraction to common people and even if it comes as a strategy item, all except Mulayam have claim in it. The Congress alone could not get any benefit at election for passing Lokpal bill.  

K A Solaman

Perform and deliver Mr AK

It is quite interesting to see the gimmicks of Aam Aadmi party leader A Kejriwal. Latest in this direction is his appeal to all honest officers to get directly in touch with him. Possibly there will be a heavy rush from all ‘honest’ officers to serve under him. If an SMS to AK expressing willingness to serve make one honest, who will refrain from doing so.
Nevertheless.  AK forgot something about honesty. Honesty refers to a facet of moral character and connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, and straightforwardness. People can be turned honest by motivation and fear of punishment.

Kejriwal looks for a ready-made solution which will never materialize. He should know that if his ministers are honest, the officers cannot do corruption. Now, it is the time for him to perform and deliver and not to place some Utopian requests.

So, Kejriwal should stop such gimmicks and start ruling. Then he could understand who is honest and who is not? Don’t compel one to say himself that he is honest.

K A Solaman
The Hindu Business line published 27-12-13

Goatee mustache.

The term goatee is used to refer solely to a beard formed by a tuft of hair on the chin—like on the chin of a goat, hence the term 'goatee'.  By the 1990s, the term was also used to refer to the style of facial hair that combines a chin beard and a short moustache. When Christianity became the dominant religion Satan was being depicted with a goatee in medieval art. In the media, goatees have often been used to designate an evil or morally questionable character. Villains in cinema and serials often appear with goatees. The students with goatees are often a head-ache to college and school principals. Thus goatees designated evil characters and are used to signify a character's transformation from positive or neutral to evil.

My hitherto perception was also in the direction, that is, men with goatees are inherently sinister and threatening. However this acuity has come to an end after watching the Christmas ceremony of Pope Francis in Vatican. A few cardinals staged along with the Pontiff were goatees!

K A Solaman

New beginning

The lok pal bill was finally passed after more than four decades. It has paved the way for the establishment of an ombudsman to fight corruption in public offices and ensure accountability on the part of public officials. Even the prime minister falls within its ambit, although he enjoys some safeguards. Anna Hazare said that the bill meets most of his demands, and he thanked both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. But his estranged colleague felt that the bill has been compromised, rendering it toothless. 

Arvind Kejriwal must understand that something is better than nothing. Hazare had put pressure on the government to pass the bill through non-violent means, and it was due to the social activist’s efforts that the lok pal bill has become a reality. It is an important step in the fight against corruption. After eight failed attempts to pass the lok pal bill, Parliament finally gave its seal of approval to a powerful ombudsman. The bill has been drafted and redrafted by two parliamentary committees and now enjoys strong bi-partisan support.

The lok pal will be empowered to investigate complaints of graft against the mightiest of political figures and will be able to supervise the Central Bureau of Investigation at every stage of a probe. According to the bill, the lok pal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, half of whom shall be judicial members and the rest from amongst the minorities and underprivileged sections of society. The common people have to fight corruption at every stage. Some more provisions in the bill would have made it more effective.

K.A. Solaman,  Kerala

The Telegraph, Calcutta published on 24-12-2013

Advantageous for BJP

May be  unconditional or conditional, it is an irony of fate that Kejriwal accepted the support of the party of the candidate whom he defeated in the election.  A very tough time is ahead of AAP as it is very difficult for them to achieve the goal what they have promised before election. AAP is starting to lose its credibility and failing somewhere. Congress Party has hidden agenda in supporting AAP.

Possibly the Government will be pulled down for some reason at any moment by the Congress party and it will be advantageous for BJP which still sticks to their earlier stance.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 25-12-2013

Dim-witted Ms Khobragade

It seems that India has ignored the plight of thousands of Indians working in the US in the backdrop of the issue related to Devyani Khobragade.  If one looks at the whole state of affairs the India Government has reacted unnecessarily taking the consular's personal servant issue forgetting that she has signed an affidavit stating she would abide by the US Labour law. She has accepted that she would to pay the required salary.  Servants are no lesser persons and if Ms Khobragade was not able to pay the requisite salary she should not have employed a servant. Today before the whole world India has become a laughing stock because of this dim-witted lady. The two nations are in the verge of confrontation over a silly servant issue.

Actually this consular must have tried to blackmail the servant stating she would make her husband arrested if she tried to act smart.  So the US govt has shrewdly acted and driven out the maid's family from India to US. And as a safe guard to the family they have arrested the consular. In that case what US did is fair. They have acted according to their law.  If Devayani had committed a gaffe she should be prosecuted.

Diplomatic immunity should not be a tool to outsmart a country’s justice system. Instead of raising all the hue and cry over this silly issue  India Government should help Khobragade fight it out in the US courts and get justice done as soon as possible. If Devyani Khobragade is innocent, she is sure to win the legal battle. And as far as US Justice System is concerned it is not that much bad as ours, I mean the snail's pace. An innocent diplomat has all the chances to get freed from the US court. If guilty it  would  be judged and punished without minding the diplomatic status of the guilty

K A Solaman

No benefit for cattle class

After a long wait of 46 years India has finally got a Lokpal, the one without teeth as Arvind Kejriwal put.  It is like keeping fried groundnut before a toothless person. Thanks to Anna Hazare for his continual slimming exercise, Rahul Gandhi for dipping pressure and Sushama Swaraj for a calming gesture.

One is quite surprised to see how could we celebrate the passing of this bill as there is nothing which would help common people. People face corruption in Taluk office, Panchayat-Municipal-City Corporation offices,  Food Supply office, RT office, Police station, Electricty Board office etc., and there is nothing in the bill to contain corruption in these offices. When the existing laws are sufficient to prevent corruption no ruler is concerned to implement them effectively. Even court orders are discarded by persons responsible for executing them.

Cattle class Indians are going to be little benefited from this bill. Gandhian Anna Hazare could repeat his ritual asking for executing the provisions of the bill. 

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published  20-12-2013

Broom, broom, invisible broom

Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal has lost his humility by correcting Anna Hazare, his mentor with his statement against Jan Lokpal bill. Kejriwal’s party won few seats in Delhi not because of his rhetoric but of the misdeeds of  Congress Party. The Congress Party Chiefs Minister Sheila Dixit’s statement that a four member family could live in Delhi for one month with just Rs 600 for their food requirement,  was sufficiently a reason for her  dethrone. The Delhi gang rape and the subsequent face-book postings were advantageous for Kejriwal and the BJP. The people needed a change, but they were not fully confident of Kejriwal and company and that is why people did not give an absolute majority to them.

The letters written by Kejriwal to the presidents of the Congress and BJP putting some utopian conditions show lack of his experience in politics and of course his haughtiness. To check corruption there is no need of challenging the leaders of other parties. If majority parties are unwilling to form ministry it would turn as a direct threat to common people. A subsequent election would turn out detrimental both Aam Admi and the BJP. Don’t punish the voters with another election.

When all the black marketers, hoarders and mafia gang  hail for Aam Admi’s ‘broom, broom, invisible broom’ it is the only available opportunity for Kejriwal inc. to show the mettle by forming a Government. Otherwise they will never get second chance to show their ‘honest venture’. ‘Make hay while the sun shines’ Mr Kejriwal; this is the only chance.

K A Solaman 

Unity run of George.

For quite long levelheadedness Govt chief whip P C George is seen lost. The latest incident in this course is his  flagging off the `run for unity' organised by the BJP in Kottayam. George shared dais too with the BJP Yuva Morcha activists. It is the habit of George to mistreat the Congress leaders and also his own party men.

The Run for Unity has been organised across the country for a colossal waste. One cannot understand the logic behind the construction of world’s longest 'Statue of Unity' of Sardar Patel in Gujarat.  The 182 metre long statue which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore is a huge waste ignoring the predicament of millions of poor people in the country.

George’s love towards Sardal Patel is funny like his pot tummy. P C George's stand is against the UDF, LDF and  himself. And it would be better for BJP not to invite loose-tongued person like George as it would spin as a huge lumber for the party. Casting off principles for a few votes is detrimental for any political party.

K A Solaman 

Grand win

Sunset in Goa

Viswanathan Anand’s rule as the undisputed world chess champion came to an end, much to the dismay of his fans. Anand lost his world title to Magnus Carlsen, the highest-rated player in the history of chess . Anand’s vast experience did not help him much in the 10 games he played against the 22-year-old Norwegian prodigy in Chennai. The former was playing on his home-turf. This might have acted as a disadvantage for him because of the resultant pressure.

 In spite of the loss of his title, Anand will remain one of the most respected chess players in the world. He is one of the few Indian sportspersons who have performed consistently well for several years and competed with the very best in the world. He deserves the Bharat Ratna.

K.A. Solaman, 

The Telegraph, Calcutta , Nov 29, 2013

Fall from grace

Titanic 2

The poll fiasco of the Congress must be humiliating for the party members. But it was bound to happen as they have not done much for the electorate. The Congress leaders did not act in time to punish the culprits who had illegally siphoned off money from the exchequer. They also allegedly tried to tamper with the activities of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The BJP emerged stronger under the leadership of their prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi. So it managed to woo more voters.

K.A. Solaman,

The Telegraph, Calcutta dated 13-12-13

Boby-Maradonna-Messi collections.

Highly interesting to see that jeweller Boby Chemmanur is now in talks with Argentine footballer Lionel Messi to invite him to open gold shop Boby-Messi collection.  Mr Chemmanur had brought in Argentine football legend Diego Maradona as the brand ambassador of his jewellery in October 2012 in Kerala. Maradona inaugurated his Kannur showroom and a helicopter service, attracting huge crowd and stirring up the curiosity of football-lovers across the country. Chemmanur is now offering a Boby - Maradona collection at its jewelleries, airing an image that Mardonna is the son of an Argentine goldsmith.

Boby  with his ‘simple ancient’ attire ‘ chatta and mundu’ plays ‘marvellous’ football against Mardonna in his channel ads. One would be stunned to see when Boby outshines Mardonna in the play. Is this wickedness made on hand in his gold ornaments too?

How could a self acclaimed gentleman ‘ caring the poor and the disabled’ spend profligately to hoodwink the  buyers of  Boby-Maradonna-Messi collections?

-K A Solaman

Gold and football.

Interesting to see that jeweller Boby Chemmanur is now in talks with Argentine footballer Lionel Messi to invite him to open gold shop Boby-Messi collection.  Mr Chemmanur had brought in Argentine football legend Diego Maradona as the brand ambassador of his jewellery in October 2012 in Kerala. Maradona inaugurated his Kannur showroom and a helicopter service, attracting huge crowd and stirring up the curiosity of football-lovers across the country. Chemmanur is now offering a Boby - Maradona collection at its jewelleries, airing an image that Mardonna is the son of an Argentine goldsmith.

Boby  with his ‘simple ancient’ attire ‘ chatta and mundu’ plays ‘marvellous’ football against Mardonna in his channel ads. One would be stunned to see when Boby outshines Mardonna in the play. Is this wickedness made on hand in his gold ornaments too?  A self acclaimed gentleman ‘ caring the poor and the disabled’ should not spend profligately to hoodwink the  buyers of Chemmanur collections.

-K A Solaman

Aiyer, the joker.

,

Congress leader  Mani Shankar Aiyar ‘s statement  that  time has come for the Congress to sit in opposition is out of context. Where were this Aiyer for the last eight years when Manmohan Singh sat on the chair of PM? Mr Aiyer should be suspended from the Congress party for asking  to revert  Dr Manmohan Singh from the post of PM

Mani Shankar Aiyar lives in the past and his loyalties are totally misplaced.  He is insignificant in the Congress and the Indian politics. Aiyer’s words are absurd in the situation of a setback to Congress and no one in Indian politics takes him seriously.  He is indeed a joker in the Congress party.

-K A Solaman

Lesson for Congress.

The poor Indians could now take sigh of relief as there would be no immediate petrol price hike and a subsequent price spiral of essential commodities. The debacle of Congress is humiliating and it is due to their unconcern about millions of poor people. The major factors for the debacle of Congress party are non-transparency and corruption. The Congress leaders have done nothing to uncover the black money deposited in foreign banks by corrupt politicians from diverse parties. They misused even the CBI.

BJP and Modi are also factors for the debacle of the Congress. BJP leaders have  succeeded in exposing the corruption of  congress party. If wonders were not happen the next Parliament election would be a walk over for the BJP.

And the most interesting thing is the plight Left parties who rummage around for a third front. Their traces  are not seen in Delhi, Rajasthan, MP or elsewhere.

K A Solaman 

No action against FB?

Stories coming out in connection with   District Jail, Kozhikode are very interesting. A casual visitor outside the  jail compound could easily pick up one or two  hi-fi mobile phones as 21 of these accessories were found outside the Jail compound wall.  The indication is that  comrades are not akin to multinational company products.The Facebook accounts of the undertrials also made no secret of their pro-communist political leanings.

The jail authorities have transferred several of the jail officers and sought permission from court to transfer a few of the undertrials to other jails as a part of the cleansing action. Does it mean that FB is not available at other jails?
Possibly  the next action  from Home Deparrtment of Kerala will be against Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of FB and M D of Nokia company producing hi-tech mobile gadgets!

K A Solaman