Stalin's clock

DMK president M K Stalin vowing to make Congress chief Rahul Gandhi the country's next prime minister, is laughable. The PM of India is not elected by the proposal of a regional party leader on the occasion of unveiling his father's statue. It is not Stalin or Vazhappadi or Kamal Hasan to decide the fate of TN and subsequent elevation of Rahul as PM. It is Rajnikant to decide who would rule TN after next election

Stalin appealing  to other party leaders  like TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu and CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan to strengthen the hands of Rahul, is also interesting. How could it be possible for Pinarayi to strengthen Rahul's hand when his party is the bete noire of Rahul's party in Kerala? Stalin saying government led by Modi has turned India's clock back 15 years, is ridiculous. Where from he got this clock?
K A Solaman

Impose Diesnon for MLAs

For the past few days Kerala assembly witness uproar because of varied reasons. What M K Muneer MLA said about the Women's wall is right. On close analysis it is obvious that people behind women's wall are communal outfits excluding Muslim's, Christians, Nairs and all Lord Ayyappa worshippers.

Members of both fronts, the ruling and the opposition have no consideration  about the decorum of the house. Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan who expressed displeasure over the uproar in the assembly, was once a participant  in creating utter commotion in the house.

The members of house are elected for effective running of the government, Since they are miserably failed to do their duty they are not eligigible for any pay. The speaker should so decide that no member of the house is eligible for cry DA or TA for days for which the assembly was disrupted. The members should should also show the willingness to not accept any remenuration for the days lost.

K A Solaman

KSRTC should have social responsibility

.

Students' concession in private and ksrtc  buses is an age-old practice and the ending of it is unacceptable. A report, therefore, in this direction submitted to  chief minister Pinarayi Vijyan by KSRTC MD Tomin J Thachankary, is out of the ordinary. A bureaucrat has no right to place proposals on policy matters.

It is a part of government committment not to increase concession ticket rates of students even though private bus operators continue demanding for a hike in it. Perhaps the ksrtc MD had a closed door meeting with the private bus operators.

Terminating students' concession is not an option  to save KSRTC from the financial crisis. There should be other tangible  measures to cut short the expenses. The. KSRTC and other government estatishments should not forget their social responsibility.

K A Solaman

More severe storms?

Severe cyclonic storm 'Gaja' has claimed the lives of six persons in Tamil Nadu. Around 82,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas as 'Gaja' crossed TN coast, bringing with in heavy rains in coastal regions. TN has taken utmost care to contain Gaja

Here in Kerala too gusty winds due to the cyclonic storm has resulted in hundreds of trees and electricity poles being uprooted. There were heavy rain also.
But not showing scant regard to Gaja,  the Kerala government has not taken any precaution and  is running after Trupti Desai and Sasikala. Seemingly Trupti and Sasikala are more dangerous storms than Gaja for Pinarayi and company.

It is unwise to rely fully on Kerala weather forecasting: is the lesson we learned during August flood.

K A Solaman

Review on Sabarimala verdict.

The apex court had decided to consider the review petitions on Sabarimala Verdictt in an open court on January 22.
Till then it is the prime
duty of the Government not to do anything harmful to the faith of believers. All forceful  attempts by women below 50 to enter Sabarimala should b e restricted.

A court sentence for execution of a person will not be effected if there is SC sanctioned  review on it.

K A Solaman

Higher Farce

Yet another Tuglak model is on the anvil in Kerala Higher Education sector. It is the move by the Department of Higher Education to appoint teachers in the colleges and universities on tenure-based contract for five years.

The Higher Education sector in Kerala is in a highly delapilated state as majority of the courses are run with the help of guest teacherട. As guest teachers deliver little to the present system of teaching most of the courses are run with low standard. The government saying that  it has no financial capacity to fill the permanent vacancies, is a farce

The conditions that contract validity is for five years and continuation of the post will be decided after assessing the service of contract teachers during the five years etc.,  appear curious. Of course the select committee will be from politicians & union leaders who are capable of doing wonders.

K A Solaman

Injustice by the Government

Hartal in Pathanamthitta district today is the result of thoughtless act of State Government of Kerala. The hartal was declared after an Ayyappa devotee was found dead at Laha. The mystery behind the death of devotee should be probed into.

It is true that SC has permitted woman entry in Sabarimala based on constitutional grounds but certain traditions prohibit women there. It is the women to decide whether to visit or not the holy place. The verdict did not ask the government to give protection to each and every woman in Sabarimala and it is quite unbecoming on the part of government to send police troop along with every woman visitor to Sabarimala. If any untoward incident happens then it is right on the police to interfere. But what happened in Sabarimala is police high-handedness which might have resulted in the death of the devotee. Earlier another devotee ended his life because of sheer despair caused by the action of Govt.

There is, of course,  injustice on the part of government in dealing with Sabarimala issue.
K A Solaman

Totally unnecessary

The new order by Kerala Finance Department relating to salary challenge by excluding no-consent letter of employees and making consent letter mandatory, is a puny attempt to save face from the humiliation that it received from SC. The new order was issued on the basis of supreme court verdict over salary challenge. As per the new order those who are willing to donate one-month salary to Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund  have to give a consent letter to the department.

By this time, those employees who were willing to contribute to CMDRF have already done it  But the callous attitude of Finance Department has made the situation worse. By the new order the government is unlikely to bring any good result.  Donate or not to donate, is a ones' personal matter and no agency has right to compel anyone. Collecting of consent letter from employees will make a divide among them, which is totally unnecessary.
K A Solaman

Do not divert fund

The huge fund collected  to rebuild the state in the aftermath of the worst flood disaster, is likely to go otterwise. The  proposal Rs 80 crore apartment complex for state legislators should be viewed in this direction. The proposed plan is to demolish an old building in the Legislators Complex and build a multi-storeyed housing complex in its place.
It looks like that Legislators Complex was demolished in flood.

The  flood caused severe damage and  brought in untold miseries to people of various districts. Thousands of people went homeless.  Estimates say the floods has caused a destruction of over Rs 40,000 crore. The people from all walks of life have contributed liberally to relief fund. So it is not right right on the part of  government to divert the amount for other purposes

K A Solaman

Fire cracker use

The Supreme Court alloweirg sale and use of firecrackers with specific conditions, is in the right direction. A total ban ot fire crackers is undesirable as many people earn their livilihood by working with fire cracker industry.

Supreme court fixing  8 pm to 10 pm time schedule for bursting of firecrackers on Diwali and other festivals, is also welcome as rest of the day can protected from high dB sound. However, the big handicap is, most users of fire crackers will not follow the time schedule. No police officer is seen to take iterest in checking sound pollution, The permission  for sale and manufacture of "green" crackers which have low emission seems good but a clear demarkation between green crackers and others, is practically difficult.

Interestingly all agencies function with least regard to sound pollution rules.
So the SHOs should come forward with calibrated sound meter equipment to measure the decibel levels. If anyone found violating  the rule regarding time schedule and dB levels of crackers, he must be brought to book regardless of  religious or political backing.

K A Solaman

Last Action Hero.

Tomin Thachankari, the MD,  is seemingly the last action hero of  KSRTC. The lightning strike  by KSRTC employees and the subsequent withdrawal, is the solid example of mismanagement in KSRTC. The misinformed MD will likely to ruin KSRTC.

KSRTC employees in various districts had called for a lightning strike in protest over the decision to assign Kudumbashree to handle the reservation counter. Bus service from these depots was disrupted. Then the question is: who entrusted Thachankari to take a decision that adversely affect the normal functiohing of the Corporation.

Perhaps Thachankari is of opinion that woman entry to Sabarimala is a hot topic of discussion and the government sponsors it. So if a similar woman entry is made in KSRTC through backdoor he will also get acclades. May be this wrong perception put KSRTC in trouble.

Kudumbashree also need discipline to not enter the sectors where there are permanent employees.

K A Solaman

Helmet programme not feasible

Bizarre are the inventions of Kerala police. One such is the issue of  ISI-marked helmets to replace the damaged helmets in accidents. This will be given if the mishap happened within Kozhikode city limits. The helmets are given away under a programme by the Kozhikode city traffic police in co-ordination with Suzuki Motors Pvt Ltd.

The interesting aspect is, in order to avail the new helmet, one just has to reach the police station after the accident along with a complaint and the broken helmet. In fact, this programme is unlikely.to run as there would be no buyers for helmet from police station after a serious helmet broken accident.

If the Kozhikode police so desire to announce their name in public let them come with programmes such as  giving black tea to night drivers etc. Think practically and introduce feasible programmes.

K A Solaman

Setting everything right?

Kerala won’t reduce tax, then what Is the  fun in asking the Centre to reduce tax?

Finance Minister Thomas Issac saying that the state government will not reduce tax on petrol and diesel, is deplorable. The Centre has reduced Rs 2.5 per litre  on petrol and diesel. It is then obligatory for State Government to bring down price proportionately. Instead of doing this, the F M saying that  the Centre first reduce the full amount it hiked and the state government would then think about reducing tax, is ridiculous.

If thirteen states of India could adhere to  the words of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asking the state governments  to reduce Rs 2.5/litre of VAT, the Kerala Government that is determined to set everything right, also should reduce the fuel tax.

K A Solaman

Serious lapse

Adminstration of contaminated  oral polio vaccine to children in Maharashtra, Telengana and  Uttar Pradesh, is a serious lapse. The makers and distributors of this vaccine should be punished. Along with there must be  surveillance to trace any aftereffect due to the use of this vaccine among children.
It is a pity that in many countries disease kills people and its medicine kills more.

K A Solaman

Review petition is imperative.

Sabarimala, the hill abode of Lord Ayyappa, is one of the most important pilgrim centres in the country. It is the most famous and prominent Ayyappa shrine.  At  Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa is worshipped as a Brahmachari.

Devotees are expected to observe a mandatory fast of 41 days, beginning on the first day of Malayalam month Vrishchikam, from mid-November. The fasting highlights the significance of abstinence and austerity. Every devotee visiting Sabarimala temple shall wear a garland made of Tulsi or Rudraksha. Rituals start with the wearing of garland. A devotee who has visited Sabarimala more than 18 times, called as Guruswamy, will give the mala after performing a pooja. The devotee is then called as Swami or Ayyappa.

A swami should take bath twice a day.
As the Lord is considered as a brahmchari, it is a must that devotees visiting him should observe celibacy.
The devotee should subside hunger and control food intake during the period.
An Ayyapa is expected to speak the truth and commit no sin during the 41 day period. He must be fully devoted to Lord.  Swamis usually wear black, saffron or dark blue dress and will walk barefoot.

Then, the significant questions are :
Who will be the guruswami among women to perform pooja before giving mala to devotee? 
Since male devotee is known as Ayyappa, what will be name of woman devotee?
Is the name brahmachari applicable to woman devotee?

Presumably, these and other practical difficulties may not have considered by SC before pronouncing the present verdict.

Seemingly the Left government of Kerala has not placed these issues before the court and that resulted an adverse judgement which strongly affect believers' sentiments. It is, therefore, imperative for the Devaswom Board or State government  to file  a review petition with the SC for reconsideration of the verdict on Sabarimala.

It is to be remembered that strength of
most people lies in their faith
K A Solaman

Thou shalt commit adultery!

"Thou shalt not commit adultery" is one of the Ten Commandments in Christian belief. Adultery is sexual relations in which at least one participant is married to someone else. Sexual relations are designed to unify husband and wife and it is a source of enjoyment and to result in children. This commandment puts a firm basis for all happy familiy relationship in all civilised groups across the globe.

Now, in India five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court  unanimously ruled to scrap Section 497, which deals with adultery, of the Indian Penal Code. Calling the law archaic and saying that it violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution the justices said adultery couldnot be a criminal offence.

In fact the verdict gives license to married couples for adulterous relationships and hence sanctity of marriage ends up in peril. As men are the most offenders in such cases the making of Section  497 gender neutral is, out and out, an anti women decision.

K A Solaman

All should be for truth

The nun, who now lives Kottayam, called Jalandhar bishop a rapist and in return the bishop accused her of unholy relation with a man. The nun alleges
she was assaulted after summoning her on the pretext of discussing an important issue in 2014 and raped her 13 times since then. Bishop, on the other hard  rejected the allegations, calling them a conspiracy against the church. Nun called Bishop Mulakal a predator and alleged at least 20 nuns were forced to leave the congregation due to his sexual advances. The sisters who are in support of nun went on public strike.

On seeing this all become judges and went to support  sisters leaving scant regards to the words of Bishop. Is it right, is a big question before us?

The alleged incident took place 4 years back and it is quite natural that the probe will take its own time. Then who are these people like actor Reema, her husband, Joy Mathew and other activists to denounce the bishop and ask the police to arrest Bishop. These people need publicity and hence hijack all sensational events for their gain. Their act as self proclaimed judge, is condemnable

The police submission  that there are  contradictions in the statements of the victim, witnesses and the bishop should be taken into account by the activists before they leap.

All should be for truth, no matter who, nun or bishop tells it. All should be for justice, no matter who it is for or against.

K A Solaman

Six-six hartal

The Monday six-six hartal, called by the ruling  LDF and  opposition UDF to protest against the rising fuel price, was a big hit. With this the new Kerala mission has been completed successfully as the state is fit to give up one day Income by abandoning all work. Shops and commercial establishments remained closed and vehicles kept off roads. Attendance in offices and educational institutions was not a matter for all would get salary of hartal day without doing any work.

No major untoward incidents was reported except one at Pattanamthitta where State Women Commission member Shahida Kamal was assualted by a few hartal thugs. This congress turned comrade was excepting this for quite long and hartal day was the best opportunity for it. More interesting is: leaders of both fronts making it clear that flood relief works in the state had not been affected due to hartal. The implication is, they were happy with bottles and snacks at home. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President and known hartal hater M M Hassan,  urging the party workers to hold the strike without disrupting normal life and relief works, is very interesting.

How long the ordinary people Kerala do suffer from hartals, is a peritinent question. Any man can make mistakes, but only  idiots persist in their errors.

K A Solaman

Fuel price hike

The fuel price rise is alarming. It is increasing day by day. In Kerala, petrol price is Rs 83.30 per litre in Thiruvananthapuram and diesel price is
Rs77.18. If this trend continues price of all essential commodities shoot up. Once the price of commodities has gone high it will never come back.

However, the Congress party called  Bharat bandh on September 10 will do nothing against fuel price hikie. Instead it will paralyse the normal life of poor  people, especially daily wage owners. All nationwide shutdowns affect not the rich but the poor.

K A Solaman

Viswom's futile exercise

CPI leader Binoy Viswam approaching the Supreme Court against the Centre’s stand of refusing to accept foreign aid for rebuilding flood-hit Kerala, is ridiculous. Accepting or  refusing foreign aid is a policy matter and any amendament regarding this should be discussed in the Parliament. Instead of placing it before the Parliament for discussion, Viswom personally approaching SC is a futile exercise to show that he has done something for the flood victims of Kerala.

The Kerala Government has not yet estimated the property loss in the flood. The govt. doesn't know the exact number of victims staying in rescue shelters. However, the Centre has drafted an aid in tune  with Rs 22000 cr and Viswom's interest should be in getting implemented the package. The state government should be asked to present inmediately the exact loss suffered by the state. Whether the country needs or not theforeign aid, is question to be resolved by the Indian Parliament.

All the MPs individually approaching the Court questioning policy matters is a poor practice.

K A Solaman

Attention medical fraternity

People have started to return to their homes from relief camps. Water at many of the flood hit places are highly contaminated. There are chances for spread of diseases like cholera, jaundice etc.

Kerala Health Department has issued warning  against the spread of jaundice in the wake of cases being reported from several parts. The diseases spread mainly through contaminated water and food. The debris and waste materials after the flood pose a big threat.

So medical teams including doctors, health inspectors and nurses should be deputed by Health Department to help people. Private hospitals also owe responsibility to address the needs of those flood-hit people.

The Military, Navy and the fearless warriors of fishermen community  have saved thousands from downing  and it is now the turn of medical fraternity to avert further causualities.
K A Solaman

Needed more Central fund

In a fine gesture Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated Kerala for fighting against the flood havoc. He complimented the state authorities for their efforts in the adverse condition. NDRF, BSF and RAF are deployed to fight the devastation in the state, stated PM.

Along with, the timely help of people of other areas of Kerala should also be admired. The fishermen of Kerala coastal belt rescued more than 4000 people with their fishing boats.

The financial loss incurred by harvest loss, cattle loss and loss of property is huge. The financial assistance in tune with Rs 760 crore issued by Centre is inadequate. More central fund is immediately needed for bringing flood affected people to normal life. The PM may take quick decision in this regard, it is hoped.

K A Solaman

Free service is no service.

Heavy rains and floods hit normal lives in Kerala. Death toll has crossed 160. The military, police force and many voluntary organizations are rendering possible  help.
Even fishermen from coastal belt have gone to Chengannur, Pathanamthitta  etc. with their boats to help the flood-hit people. The telecom companies including BSNL, Jio, Airtel, Vodafone and Idea have assured to provide free call and data services to the people.

Interestingly, the service of Vodafone and Idea are not available in many parts of Kerala. This is, of course, a sort of cheating by these phone providers. Free service is no service for them. The government must look into the matter.

Arother important point is, the police should be vigilant about thieves in flood affected areas. As most of the houses are abanded by people, thieves will target these places. If not surveilled by police valuable materials would disappear when people return to their homes. It is unwise to think all are good people.

K A Solaman

Anyone sleepless over Mullapperiyar?

Political leadership  in 2011 had hard-pressed common people of Kerala for a protest on the issue of Mullapperiyar dam. But then CM of TN Purachi Thalavi Jayalalithaa ignored all agitations about the death-defying state of Mullapperiyar dam. The scientists of Roorki IIT along with Kerala Congress leader P J Joseph were dead against maintaining  the dam. Joseph was sleepless over the imminent extinction of 30 lakhs of people in nearby districts. Nevertheless, as  known to all, even after seven years of agitation  the dam is wonderfully intact. The solution then accepted was to keep the water level in the dam as low as possible, that is less than 140 feet.

Now, water level in the Mullaperiyar dam has reached 142 feet. The water level continues to rise due to heavy rain in the catchment areas. The 13 spillway shutters have been opened to let out the excess water.

But, thanks to media, none is seen panic about the possible breakdown of the dam. The implication is: consternation is often created by certain unscrupulous politicians assisted by media.

K A Solaman

MK's Burial

The Madras High Court has taken a wise decision by allowing the burial of DMK chief M Karunanidhi on the Marina Beach. Karunanidhi could rest in peace  on the noted Marina beach alongside his mentor and former chief minister C N Annadurai.

However, the big handicap in choosing Marina beach is, it is near the memorial of former chief minister Jayalalithaa, his bete noire all the time. And when commemoration days come there is all the possibility of one's followers to deface the memorial of other unless there is police protection. Graveyards gaining reputation is the order of the day.

K A Solaman

Insecure security

The leakage of security documents of President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Kerala, is a serious lapse. The 208-page document titled ‘Secret’ prepared by the police is spread through WhatsApp. The police saying that the document has been provided to all officers on duty and it poses no threat to security, is laughable.

The security document should be intact in the hands of those officers in charge. When it is available to WhatsApp groups its privacy is lost. The incident invokes an investigation because leaking of security documents of the President is a serious offence. Posting it in WhatsApp groups is a wrong action.

K A Solaman

Desperate trollers of Kerala

The new-gen district collectors of Kerala are a little ahead in serving , guiding, motivating and advising youngsters. For instance , Thiruvananthapuram collector K Vasuki has asked the young people of Kerala to utilize their skills and efficiency for the preservation of nature instead of wasting precious time by simply making trolls on social media. Vasuki, of course, enjoys  trolls.

Vasuki wrote: interest shown in trolling should be diverted to preservation of nature and requested the support of all trollers for protection of nature. However, the sad plight of trollers In Kerala is that most of them are grilled by police for trolling fish vendor college girl Hanan, the newly adopted daughter of the government, while thousands of other girls are desperately doing similar works to meet their both ends. As grilling of trollers has turned into  an image building exercise for the government most of the trollers are in jail. Hence, they are not able to do anything in special to save the nature Ms Vasuki.

K A Solaman

Ridiculous Opposition

The peoole of Kuttanad are under severe threat of heavy flood and relief operations are going on at its peak. The civil administration has done yeoman service to reduce the miseries caused by flood. Though CM, due to his busy schedule, could not visit the affected area his cabinet colleague and PWD minister G Sudhakaran is at Kuttanadu all the time giving necessary instructions to coordinate the relief work.

However, opposition parties took a different stand not to cooporate with the relief programmes. Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala even boycotted the meeting convened to review the flood-relief operations in Kuttanad. More interestingly, Congress leaders K.C. Venugopal and Kodikunnil Suresh, MPs, too abstained from the meeting. This is quite unfortunate.

Like the ruling political parties, the Opposition has also the responsibility' to lend a helpirg hand to people of flood-ravaged places. Instead of doing this the Opposition parties making political milage out of it, is rather ridiculous.

K A Solaman

Girl missing cases

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows that missing cases of girls belonging to age around 18 is high. According to data, a large number of  girls have gone missing from Kerala this year. The latest is one Shabeena (18) from Anchalummoodu, Kollam.

Like the word rape took a metamorphism as harassment the phrase 'girls running away' with boys has assumed the form 'girls missing'. While government takes all the measures to trace out the girls, none is bothered to find the reason why these girls are absconding.

Though teenage love affair is a reason for girl missing, married women are also found missing abandoning husband and children. If one closely examines the issue it could be evident that Malayalam channel serials play a vital role in misguiding people. The present day cinema is yet another reason but the damage made by social media network is the highest.

Let us be sincere to the cases of girl missing. It is not actually missing but the girls are abandoning their present phase of life dreaming a happy future, but it usually ends up in despair. While a thorough check is done on the contents of cinema and serials, better awareness campaigns in schools and colleges can reduce girl missing cases. Nevertheless, the problem with social media sites is still in anybody's guess.

K A Solaman

Screenshot police.

The Kerala police is on an arrest-spree. More and more persons are getting arrested in connection with the online defaming of one college girl called Hanan. Hanan was on alleged online abuse and social media trolls after it came to light that she was selling fish in college uniform at Thammanam, Kochi. Perhaps the arrest will continue until all the 3.5 crore of Keralites are arrested and put in jail. The number 3.5 crore comes here because Kerala has an estimated population of 3.5 crore on date.

The first arrested was one Shaik from Wynadu and it was widely publicized by media because Shaik is a High Court advocate. Advocates have still some rift with media channels. And for the same reason he was let free by the police. Still  arrest continues as if the police has no good job to do.

It is true that there were  fake messages against girl on social media because she and the news reporter of a daily created wrong notion in the minds of public. It is rather rare a woman fish vendor, even if a college student, appearing in class uniform. The distance of the Thodupuzha college, the cinema producer's tall claim etc prompted people to think in the negative.  This resulted trolls and when the fact is revealed a good many have withdrawn their posts. But pretending  as poormans' saviour the CM asked the police to arrest trollers. This is an indirect way to threaten those who put comments against the government too.
If the government has real intention to help  the poor there are thousands of poor students  but all they not go for fish vending. Identify them first and lend a helping hand instead of runnig after channel publicity.

If government needs the police to do some meaningful work, stop them  to take the screen shots and ask them to arrest robbers, rapists, drug pedallers, smugglers,  tax evaders, hoarders, killers and who else.

K A Solaman

Nightmare for people

The toll in rain-related incidents in Kerala has climbed to 39, with 11 more deaths being reported from various parts of the state yesterday. More than 90,000 persons have been shifted to relief camps. Total loss has been estimated to be a little above 10crore. Among the districts from where deaths have been reported are the worst-affected Alappuzha and Kottayam. It has become a nightmare for people living in low-lying areas, especially in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts, as the water level has not receded. Thanks to the Mullapperiyar dam for its regained strength due to mere rheotoric of politicians of Kerala and TN

Interestingly, the ministers of Kerala are not seen in the affected regions in co-ordinating the relief works. Having handed over all the responsibilities to new-gen collectors of districts the ministers are engaged in tour and sight seeing. Not to blame them, collectors are doing what they can including Facebook and Twitter writing. Nevertheless, the worst affected people like those in the coastal belt are not in the network of Facebook or Twitter. Their hardships are beyond any reckon.

K A Solaman

Needed strong bond with US

India inviting US President Donald Trump to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations next year, is a noble gesture . Trump accepts it or not, the invitation would give a major boost to ties between the two countries in areas of defence, security and trade.

It is better for our country to have association with US as a good number of Indians are working there. No other world country  accommodates so much Indians as US does. And our politicians including those from Left politics prefer US for medical treatment to Russia or China.

Also, for India to seek waiver from US sanctions on import of oil from Iran, a bond is needed with US. Any border rift with Pakistan or China could be easily resolved with a stronger friendship  between India and US.

K A Solaman

Check jihadi outfits.

The brutal killing of SFI leader Abhimanyu of Maharajas college  by activists of PFI and its student outfit Campus Front, is shocking. It is not the result of students' quarrel on  fixing posters or writing on the campus walls. It is seemingly an  organised killing to disturb peace in the state. The  PFI was carrying out a Taliban model attack. The formidable presence of SFI in Maharajas campus is also a reason for ever escalating tension between rival groups.

Maharajas incident is an eye-opener to
CPM which has been fighting against right wing Hindu outfits for the last several years in association with  Islamic fundamentalists like PFI. Soft approach by CPM towards the activities of PFI and its  outfits in the state, has become costlier to them The  LDF government should be more vigilant about the growing activities of   jihadi outfits in college campuses and in the state.

K A Solaman

AMMA not a big issue

All burning issues of the State has been put aside by the cleverly drafted story of AMMA admitting actor Dileep to it. Though the foul players behind the ugly epsode are Mukesh and Ganesh, the wrath of the public is  on Mohanlal, the newly elected president of AMMA. It is to be doubted that there is petty politics behind the issue to tarnish the image of Mohanlal, who recently expressed his willingness to associate with BJP. Mohanlal is now a speck in the eyes of comrades.

The Youth Congress,  KSU, AIYF activists are all birds of same feather as they have nothing meaningful to do now other than protest against Lal. That is why some  of them marched to  Mohanlal’s house and others burned him in effigy. The police are seemingly mute spectactors to the issue. The protest march  against Mohanlal and AMMA  by various political parties are intended to get media attention.

AMMA is a privately run  agency where no political party has any contribution.
AMMA has its own set of rules and hence the question of asking Mohanlal to vacate from president’s post is unwarranted. It is better for all youth organisations, the KSU ard others to protest against police attrocity, girls missing, ration problems, price rise, placement ban , liquor menace, dengue fever, nurses strike and else what. AMMA is not a big issue for Kerala public.

K A Solaman

New friends

The meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un has been welcomed by many. The summit has raised hopes in certain quarters that a permanent resolution to the Korean crisis is not far away.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that Trump is the first American president to meet a North Korean leader. One may, therefore, ask, why did Trump's predecessors not try to engage with their North Korean counterparts? It is not hard to guess that the former did not want to provide legitimacy to the dictatorial administration in Pyongyang by hobnobbing with North Korean leaders. Sadly, Trump did not gain anything more from the interaction than a vague commitment on the part of North Korea to work towards denuclearization.

K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha, Kerala
(The Telegraph, Kolkata
18 June 2018)

How to compromise insult on womanhood?

Having created much hue and cry a  compromise has been reached in the case registered against MLA KB Ganesh Kumar for allegedly manhandling a youth and abusing his mother. Of late, the main function of Nair Pontiff at Perunna is to bring peace between assualting nairs as
compromise was reached in the talks held at the NSS headquarters. As a result both the parties decided to withdraw the cases.

Then the question is: what is the fate of  secret submission before magistrate by the mother of the youth whose womanhood was insulted by the imprudent MLA,  notorious with series of criminal cases? Are the magistrate and court system are toys to play for the criminal gangs?

K A Solaman

E-bus to Kerala

It is good to hear that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has  rolled out its first electric bus making Kerala the sixth Indian state to run the service. KSRTC will carry out a trial run for 15 days  out of which 8 days will be in Thiruvananthapuram and 7 days in Ernakulam, following which it will conduct services in Kochi and Kozhikode. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan  said that if the services are successful, they will roll out around 300 electric buses for service throughout the state.

However, people have genuine doubts about purchase of electric buses as each bus costs around 2.25 crore ruppees and total costs for 300 buses will be 675 crores. How is it  possible for the cash crunchy KSRTC to spend immediately this much amount? If it is a term loan, would it be possible for KSRTC to repay back loan timely? KSRTC is already in a debt trap and there is no proper repayment. The oil companies are always in war path with for non- payment of cost of fuel that they had supplied to KSRTC.

The insiders of KSRTC keep a view that the very reason for KSRTC loss-making is the uncontrolled purchase of spares such as window panes, tyres to small small buses (now none runs)  etc. which are still kept unused in various garages. The commission to higher-ups is the attraction for those thoughtless purchases.

Here in this case also the commission for  300 electric buses is not small and to whose packets it would go, is a significant question. The tailor-made gentleman MD of KSRTC, of course, knows about  the commission for bus purchase.

The labour unions including persioners are silent as they now get salary and pension regularly. Once this payment breaks they will start enquiring about the purchase of electric buses. So, it is better for union leaders to have look into  the new launch as it may sometimes affect the job security of them.

Is electric bus a mean to  the sustainable development concept of Kerala? Only time could say about it.

K A Solaman

Trump-Kim Summit

The summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Is historic. It can be considered as a welcome development. It is hoped that resolution on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula will bring peace across the globe.

With  Trump and Kim signing the comprehensive document seven decades of hostility between the two countries has become a past story. Nevertheless, why any other president of the last 30 odd years could not have met the dictator of North Korea, is a pertinent question. It is because they did not want to legitimise N Korea without concrete commitments to something beneficial. Trump has legitimised Kim, getting nothing in return, apart from a promise to work toward denuclearisation.

Further one has to look at the agreements Trump makes and breaks often. And in this respect there is no marked difference between Trump and Kim. However, next Nobel Prize for peace will go to Trump - Kim duo.

K A Solaman

Economic super power

It is stunning to hear that Indian coasts, including that in Kochi, are rich in natural gas reserves. The new discovery by American Geological Survey, would help India to meet its energy needs for another 300 years.

Kochi Coast, Krishna-Godavari basin and Cauvery basin were found with almost 130 million cubic feet hydrate gas accumulations. The survey also reports that one-third of this reserve was found on the Kochi Coast. It is believed to be the biggest Natural Gas Reserve till date.

In order to reap the reserve in full potential  India would work on with its own advanced technology and not on with the assistance of private companies as did in the past. India along with ONGC. GAIL, Oil India, Indian Oil Corporation could make wonders in this regard. The presently found hydrate gas reserve would make India an economic super power.

K A Solaman

End Postal strike.

The  India Post Payments Bank which started with much fanfare has ended in disaster. Those people who opened  accounts with IPPB have abandoned their accounts. As and when the postal strike ends the clients of IPPB will close their.accounts.

The Union government shows scant regards towards the ongoing strike by postal employees. The government takes no steps to resolve the crisis,
The pensioners are deeply concerned about a possible delay in getting their monthly pension through post offices on time owing to the ongoing strike. Those who had Post Office savings accounts are a worried lot as they were unable to withdraw cash. Many unemployed youth, who have been awaiting appointment orders from the State Public Service Commission by registered post, are disappointed. The readers of various publications are denied their legitimate rights by the postal strike. The attitude of the Postal Department and the concerned ministry that they are least bothered about the strike, is condemnable, The government should take initiative to settle the issue immediately.

K A Solaman

To combat honour killings

Time has come  for Kerala police to open a special wing to combat crimes relating love affairs and thereby to prevent honour killings.

When killing over a love marriage is sparking controversy now in Kerala, another couple in love approached the police seeking protection from death threat raised by the girl’s family. A Pathanamthitta man and a Kannur  woman reached the Thrikkakkara police station with a complaint against the girl’s family.

The lovers alleged that the girl’s relatives forcefully possessed her documents of identity proof to stop her from getting married with her lover. Her family also threatened the duo with political influence. They also filed a complaint in the women’s cell. In this case too the man in love story is at the receiving end.

Kerala is a densely populated state. The present estimated population is 3.73 crores of which about one crore people are in between age 15 -30. As the present media culture encourages everyone for free love, chances of love related crimes are high. So it is high time for Kerala  police to avert shame of the sort met in Gandhinagar police station in Kottayam.

K A Solaman

Huge loss.

The demise of Indian theoretical physicist E. C. George Sudarshan is a huge loss to the entire scientific community. His contributions to the field of theoretical physics have no parallelism. He has even augmented certain ideas like  maximum possible speedof Albert Einstein. His concept of tachyons contradicts the maximum possible velocity of light in free space.

He was nominated for Nobel Prize nine times. His contributions include optical coherence, Quantum zero effect, Sudarshan-Glauber representation, V-A theory and others.He was honoured with numerous awards like ICTP Dirac Medal, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Majorana Prize, TWAS Prize, C. V. Raman Award among other awards

For people of Kerala Dr. Sudarshan is particularly a person of pride as he hails from Kottayam.  He was recently in Thiruvananthapuram for a talk on physics. He is inspiring for all students and teachers pursuing in the field quartm field theory.

K A Solaman

Last action hero again

The Iast action hero of KSRTC Tomin J Thachankary is again in headlines with his latest tirade to save the corporation. He asks the government to  declare the corporation as essential service and for an all-party meeting to ensure that it is exempted from hartals.

The history tells that the success of all hartals depends on the attack of corporation buses and the subsequent blockade of all vehicles. In that case no political party is going to listen Thachankary. Moreover, what is the fun in operating KSRTC services on hartal day when all are in holiday mood at home in front of TV with drink and snack.

K A Solaman

Compulsory Malayalam in schools

The Kerala  government drafting rules of the law that makes Malayalam a compulsory subject in all schools in the state from classes 1 to 10, is praiseworthy.. The law directs all schools including CBSE, ICSE, other central syllabus schools,  to make Malayalam a mandatory subject in curriculum.

As and when the law is put in practice, there should be measures to post Malayalam qualified teachers. All and sundry taking Malayalam classes would  turn class rooms into channel shows where manglish is the accepted language.

Formation of Malayalam language law and its implementation are good but it should not become a tool to punish CBSE/ISC schools. It is now the policy of LDF government to put hurdles before CBSE/ISC schools by givirg higher grades for SSLC and Plus 2. Awarding more marks and thereby enabling students to get admission to professional courses should  not be the policy of the government. The people do not know whether the present impetus towardട govt/aided schools last long as after every 5 years the rulers will change and policies differ.

K A Solaman

State expenditure curb

Job seekers of Kerala have a tough time ahead as expenditure curbs have been announced as part of the fiscal consolidation efforts of the State government.

According to a government order, new posts will be created only after conducting a work study and all departments exploring redeployment options. This will take time and it means those who are in PSC rank list can go ahead with protest meets or can visit temple- church-mosque to offer prayer for changing the mindset of atheist ministers. It all goes with the whims and fancies of Finance Minister Thomas Isaac. When Isaac says there is cash, there is it and when says no, there is no cash. And there is no other source to know the actual financial state of the government.

However, the government will go with extravaganza such as spending crores for cyber warriors for promoting govt programmes, hiking salary of ministers and MLAs, buying Crysta cars for ministers, keeping intact the otherwise useless Youth Commission, organising public meets for celebrating anniversary of the govt. etc.

K A Solaman

Needed uniform approach

The protection of identity of rape victims is considered to be a requirement under criminal law. Section 228 A of the IPC prohibits the publication of the identity of rape victims. The prohibition under the section has been worded to prohibit the publication of not only victims’ names but also any matter which could make victims’ identities known. Those who violate the publication prohibition under section 228A, IPC, are liable to be punished with imprisonment for up to two years and are be liable to be fined.

This law has been seemingly protected in the case of Nirbhaya of Delhi and the fifteen year old victim of Jing  district of Haryana. However in the cases of Jisha and 8 year old Katuva girl, this has been outrightly violated. When print media stood with the law by not publishing  photo of victim the social media took a different stand bringing huge damage to victim's family and the country.

Perhaps the publication of the photo may be due to the reason that  victim is dead or a minor. But the way of approach to different cases are different. In some cases identity was disclosed and in some others not. Don't we need a uniform approach in rape and murder cases to prevent social victimisation or ostracism of the victim of a sexual offence and her family?

Be tough towards brute doctors

The government doctors in Kerala are an independable lot. They have no concern about poor patients in the state. They work for their benefit and also for the benefit of private hospitals.

The indefinite strike called by doctors in government hospitals is unwarranted. Their protest against increase in OP timings at family health centres in connection with Ardram Mission, is objectionable. Will the sky fall if they sit   one hour more at OP time during duty hours?

The strike which, most of the public was unaware of, is cruel. It led great difficulty to many. The government should take stern action against this brute force who are in frequent play with poor man's life.

K A Solaman

Dalit hartal damage

Dalit sponsored hartal has become a success by the overreaction of the government, KSRTC,  private bus owners and the traders. All these initially coming against the hartal urged dalits to make it a success.

Traffic was disrupted widely across the state as part of the hartal. KSRTC, private bus owners and the traders stepped back from their earlier promise to boycot the hartal.  Dalit organization activists laid siege to road at many places. Violence was reported from some places in the southern districts of Kerala. The hartal supporters  blocked  the KSRTC, private buses ard bikers making immense hardships to even applicants  writing PSC examination.

"Do nothing against hartal" is the ever accepted policy of the government. A marked deviaton during dalit hartal, therefore,  brought huge damage to the state.
K A Solaman

Profesor needs treatment

The Kerala  state government  decision  to initiate legal action against  Botany professor Rajith Kumar who often makes derogatory remarks against womanhood, is in the right direction. Who permitted him to speak all these rubbish in public?

Earlier, at Women's College, Thiruvanankapuram he had made disparaging remarks against girls wearing jeans that they were likely to damage their womb in doing so. The girls pooh-poohed him and walked out in protest. Now he says women wearing jeans and shirts will give birth to transgenders. As transgenders are treated with equal status with men and women Rajith Kumar's remarks is a direct insult to not only women but also transgenders. His say that children of parents who are not of good character turn out to be autistic and suffer from cerebral palsy, is also deprecating.

In fact Rajith  has been propagating superstition and making anti-women remarks continuously. This misinformed  botany professor urgently needs medical treatment for his mental imbalance.

K A Solaman

Fuel price hike!

The price of one litre diesel touching an all-time high of Rs. 70.08 is stunning. The price of diesel and petrol rises day by day. This would sky rocket the price of essential commodities.

In the last four years oil rates have come down in the international market. But the Indian consumer is untouched by the relief. Who is to be blamed for it? The answer involves our complicated taxation system, the governments– both Centre and states – heavy dependence  on fuel as a source of revenue.

The governments should take measures to reduce tax on fuels. The oil marketing companies should be brought under scanner and pricing of fuel should be monitored. It is the prime duty of the goverments  to check the sudden spurt in the price of essential commodities that may happen from fuel price rise.

K A Solaman

Anna exercise

Every time he meets, his doctor suggests a slimming exercise. This time also doctor suggested the  same. That is why noted.social activist Anna Hazare is set to go on an indefinite hunger strike against the central government. It is  nearly seven years after his futile anti-corruption movement he goes for a hunger strike.

His first hunger strike was in 2011 against Manmohan Singh demanding the setting up a Lokpal to investigate corruption in public life.This time the target is Narendra Modi. Presumaely nothing of the serious sort will happen, instead Arna will lose a few kilos and beome physically fit. The prime minister Narendra Modi will go on his own path as Manmohan did seven years back.

K A Solaman

Hand over it to PSC

It is interestirg to hear about the allegation of fraud against the corporate educational agency of the Ernakulam-Aangamaly Archdiocese over the appointment of teachers for Plus Two classes. The allegation is that people who gave bribe were appointed without considering candidates with academic excellence. The complainant was one Ambili Joy, who is a member of the Diocese

Presumably the complainant lives in Utopia where there is no such fraud. In fact, in Kerala, all appointments under Christian, SN, NSS and Muslim managements are done for a price. The one who gives more money gets appointed. Educational qualifications often matters little, Of course, there are certain managements making appointment without demanding any donation

The interview board constituted for school- college.appointment is often a laughing stock.  The government nominee in the interview board is a scarecrow iñterested in the hospitality of the management. Most often  almost all  appointments are done by making the government guidelines a farce. What is needed immediately is recruitment by PSC in those institutions where salary is drawn from state exchequer.

K A Solaman

Playing wrong note by Kerala BJP

It is a wrong note played by Kerala BJP  by  inviting the most corrupt politician K M Mani to the NDA fold. All the tirade enacted  by BJP against Mani in bar bribery issue has turned into a laughing stock by  Kummanam Rajasekharan's statement welcoming KM Mani to the NDA.

More stunning is BJP national executive committee member V Muraleedharan's revelation that there is nothing wrong in seeking the votes of even robbers, murderers and corrupt people during elections. Does he mean that after winning election he may stand for the demands of robbers and murderers? With such a low level utterance BJP leader has stooped to the level of other party politicians.

In Kerala, some BJP leaders have now landed in dreamland. Unless they identify people's sentiments their boat would be always in Tirunakkara.

K A Solaman

Dastardly act

Dastardly act getting Good Mother award

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 6.5 million members and supporters.

PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer most intensely for the longest periods of time: in the food industry, in the clothing trade, in laboratories, and in the entertainment industry. PETA  also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of rodents, birds, and other animals . And in no case human is treated as animal under the jurisdiction of PETA

In that case Good Mother Award 2018 constituted by PETA India to Grihalakshrimi Magazine, is interesting. 
PETA India honoured Grihalakshmi with the award for highlighting the importance of breast milk to infant’s health. An edition of Grihalakshmi featured breastfeeding campaign with the tagline ‘Mothers tell Kerala, don’t stare, we need to breastfeed’.

But, in fact the magazine drew flak for tarnishing the mother- child relation by 
showing an unmarried  woman without any motherly affection  breastfeeding a child by fully exposing her breast, There was a sarcasm that the child in the event drew only air instead of breast milk. The act was more of an animal and   that may be the reason for PETA award. Actually this animal award should be given not to the magazine but to the woman by name Gilu Joseph for her in human.act.

Dastardly act getting Good Mother award is surprising

K A Solaman

Safe play by Principal

Principal's job, especially in government colleges in Kerala, is a risky one. This is mainly because of students union might in these institutions. The incidents of principal's burial ground at Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad and burning of  Principal's chair at Maharaja's college, Ernakulam, are indications. In this backdrop the principal of University College, Thiruvananthapuram had played wisely during Attukal pongala

The initial denial of permission by principal to conduct ‘pongala’ on the college campus due to the pressure from SFI activists and later letting the devotees to perform the ritual there on the campus, was a safe play by the principal. Had not she obeyed the dictat of students union, university college would have witnessed another burial ground for principal.

Countless women seen sitting comfortably in the college campus and offering  pongala despite ban, is an eye-opener to students union leaders and their god fathers.

K A Solaman

On negative publicity .

The Supreme Court staying all criminal actions against Malayalam actress Priya Prakash Varrier, who shot to fame following her 'wink song' from the film "Oru Addar Love", is welcome. The controversy surfaced in this direction should subside soon. However. it is everyone's wish to know the veracity of the complants originated from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Present day is the day of negative publicity and a publicity of the sort would be profitable to both the song and the film. In all possibility it is  director Omar Lulu's aquaintances may be behind the issue as complaints have been originated from states where people do not know Malayalam.

It is, therefore, good if the Apex court so decides to enquire about the whereabouts of the complainants and their relation with Omar Lulu before  disposing the case finally. No third rate film producer should be permitted to create unnecessary  turbulance in society with nasty products

K A Solaman

PNB fraud.

No one noticing the fraud until the loss targets to 1.8 billion dollar equivalent to Rs 11500 crore from a branch of Punjab National Bank in Mumbai, is surprising. The incident shows our banking system is so fragile that anyone could siphon away bank's money very easily and cunningly.

Because of huge non-performig assets  Indian banking system is already in trouble. Those ordinary investors who put their money in Indian bank stocks are now sitting with crossed fingers for the folly they committed. With this latest fraud bank stocks have nose-dived  and investors lost several thousand crores. Though the matter is now under the enquiry of  law enforcement agencies the investors are doubtful of getting back  the money.

If this is the fraud in a single bank branch the quantum of forgery in all the bank branches in India is beyond one's imagination. Investors, hereafter, instead investing in banks and bank stocks, keep their money under their pillow. Unscrupulous are the banking authorities in India.

K A Solaman

Impression matters

Impression matters

The Union budget for the financial year 2018-19 is uninspiring as it does not address the problem of unemployment. Also, planning a budget becomes meaningful only when the previous year's proposals have been met. However, the latest budget speech hardly made any reference to the projects that were announced in the earlier years. Arun Jaitley's budget promises are nothing but mere rhetoric.

The government had pledged to create one crore jobs every year but has repeatedly failed to reach the target. Further, setting the limit for cash donations to political parties from one source at Rs 2,000 is a meaningless gesture. Jaitley has not reduced the tax rates for individuals, he also made no provisions to arrest the rise in fuel and commodity prices.

K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha, Kerala
The Telegraph, Calcutta, Feb 8, 2018

Diverting attention.

Lauding China has become a habit of Kerala Marxist leaders. Days after CPM state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s pro-China remarks, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also come out with statement praising China  This is undoubtedly antinational and these politicians are trying to divert attention of people from Kodiyeri son's financial fraud.

Pinarayi notes China has made long strides in economic sector and has contributed 30 percent to the global economic growth. Does it mean that this achievement is the result of China practising 'hate exercise' of Kerala Marxist leaders ? In China, Communism is only a term to market their practical capitalism. Their economic growth is mainly from Indian markets. If Govt of India so decides to stop the sale of Chineese products here in India  their economy will suddenly collapse.

Being Indian citizens, Pinarayi and company speaking in favour of China and against India, is ridiculous. It is simply an act intended to divert the attention of common people from burning issues.

K A Solaman

Contorted argument

.
Kerala Government  finding that toddy is
is a very mild alcoholic beverage, full of vitamins and used in traditional dishes, is interesting. This may be true if toddy sold is pure, but in fact, toddy sold by Abkaris in Kerala is diazepam disolved in water, which is injurious to health. Diazepam produces a calming effect and causes memory loss. And what are the traditional dishes used with toddy is unknown to most people in Kerala.

No doubt even pure toddy is a liquor
and shops selling toddy sould be included in the nationwide ban on sale of alcohol within 500 metres of national and state highways. The apex court bench judges deciding on this issue could seek the opinion of Kerala counterparts about toddy damages. Even though a few shops have been closed on highway side a good number has been opened a little away from there and they do good business. Hence toddy shops on  highway sides is not necessary.

Moreover,  there is no difference in the street dancing pattern of toddy boozers and foreign liquor boozers

K A Solaman

Balram's tirade.

Thrithala MLA VT Balram's comment on late communist leader AK Gopalan has triggered controversy. CPM cadres ransacked MLA office and demanded condemnation of the statement by the MLA. Neveretheless,  two aspects remain significant on Balram's comment.

Firstly, for quite long it was CPM cadres' habit to make derogatory remarks in tune with that of Balram, against Gandhiji, Nehru and others. With Balram's statement against AKG this sort of mudslinging will come to an end. Secondly, it has become an advantage for Pinarayi Government as the attention of the general public has been  diverted from Ochki disaster and even Bonakkad lathi-charge.

And more interesting  is: while finding
derogation in Balaram's comment, how Congress leaders like K Muraleedharan and Shanimal Usman of the Congress could not find fault with minister M M Mani who often makes more vulgur comments.

K A Solaman

Closure of Peace School

Chief Minister ordering the closure of the Peace International School in Ernakulam which has been under scanner for objectionable syllabus, is in the right direction. Not only Ernakulam one, all the ten schools operated by Peace Foundation else where in the state should also be shut down.

The complaint against the school was their syllabus encourages Islamic extremist ideology. How can a school run promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, and language? It is a wonder that the school did not follow textbooks of NCERT, CBSE or SCERT.

And in this backdrop,  the syllabus and day activity of all schools run by religious establishments should be monitored and action should be taken against those compelling all students to participate in religious functions organised by them.

K A Solaman

NMC bill & IMA brute force

Make care of patients is the first concern of a doctor. But for Kerala IMA doctors it is the last concern. The medical bandh announced by Indian Medical Association in protest against the National Medical Commission Bill, had affected the functioning of many government and private hospitals in the state. Patients, especially poor ones, were seen running pillar to post to get  attended by a doctor. Some doctors even prevented others from attending patients showing scant regard to
Hippocratic Oath.

Medical education and profession  is a million ruppee business where doctors could not imagine a small erosion in their high income. Their fear about National Medical Commission Bill arises in this light.

The doctors  should not be allowed to continue exploiting patients. The allopathy medical students hunger strike or IMA doctors one day bandh is not a big issue when thousands of nurses  strike elsewhere in the state for the last few months. Let doctors,who have scant regards to UNA struggle, to go with their strike.

The Health Minister J P Nadda should proceed with the NMC Bill to put an end to the arrogance of IMA brute force.

K A Solaman