Television court

#Television #Court.

Many women in Kerala today prefer to go to television channels instead of approaching the police or legal institutions when a crime happens. Earlier, they would go straight to the police station, but now they seem to believe that the media can give them justice faster, or at least make their issue known to the public. 

This change shows a lack of faith in the police, Women’s Commission, Human Rights Commission, and courts. Some women may also think that even if justice is delayed or denied, at least society will talk about their problem if it is shown on TV. 

But the truth is, media houses are running after sensational news, not justice. By highlighting such cases day and night, they even expose young children to matters that should be dealt with more carefully and privately.

When it comes to sex-related issues, both men and women are responsible, yet in Kerala’s mindset, men are often branded as guilty while women are always seen as innocent. This is an unfair attitude that causes many men to suffer. Media trials worsen this by making one side appear as the victim and the other as the sinner. 

There should be clear regulations that prevent TV channels from repeatedly discussing sex abuse cases for hours and days. Such discussions create more harm than good. A few women with attention-seeking behavior misuse the media for their personal benefit, and society pays the price. 

To protect both men and women, justice must come through proper legal systems, not through the court of television

-K A Solaman

Dirty politics

#Dirty #politics.

Many selfish political workers are misusing the system by giving fake complaints to the election officer to remove genuine voters from the list. They do this without any proof, only to trouble their political opponents.

This is a cruel act because the innocent voter is forced to lose a day’s work and attend a hearing just to prove his right. The complainant faces nothing, but the voter suffers harassment and mental stress. Such tricks are a clear attack on democracy and show the cheap mentality of those who cannot win votes in a fair way.

This injustice must stop immediately. If someone files a false complaint against a genuine voter, strict criminal action should be taken against them. They must be punished so that others will not dare to misuse the system. The election officer should not rely only on complaints but should personally verify the voter at their residence. 

A person’s right to vote is sacred, and nobody should be allowed to play dirty politics with it. Those who try to destroy the democratic rights of citizens through fake complaints are enemies of the people and deserve to be treated as lawbreakers.

-K. A. Solaman

Cool down Brittas

#Cool down Brittas

John Brittas, the ever-excited nominated MP, seems to believe that the sun rises and sets only to listen to his speeches. Without ever winning a single vote from the public, he acts as if the Parliament is his personal theatre stage. 

The latest bill from Amit Shah has made him restless, as though it was written only with him in mind. But one wonders, why such panic, Mr. Brittas? After all, there are no opposition ministers in the Union Cabinet. Is he secretly imagining himself as one? Or perhaps he is simply rehearsing his usual act of crying wolf whenever the government sneezes.

The irony is, Brittas is more alarmed about protecting ministers with criminal baggage than about safeguarding the common man from such politicians. His passionate outbursts would make sense if he was defending democracy, but here he is defending the right of tainted ministers to remain in power! 

For someone who entered Parliament not by the people’s will but by nomination, his over-enthusiasm is amusing. Maybe it is time for Brittas to realise that constant shouting does not make him a people’s leader. It only makes him the Parliament’s loudest background music.

-K A Solaman

a Another Futile Yatra

#Another futile Yatra

Rahul Gandhi’s new “Voter Adhikar Yatra” is nothing but another failed attempt to remain in the news. Instead of strengthening democracy, he constantly attacks the Election Commission, the Supreme Court, and even the people’s mandate. 

By doing so, he shows that he has no faith in the very institutions that safeguard our country. His journey may give him and his party some exercise and temporary energy, but it has no real benefit to the nation. A leader who doubts everything except his own misplaced ideas cannot inspire confidence in the people.

What is most condemnable is his repeated attempts to defame India on foreign soil. In his speeches abroad, he belittles our country, giving strength to those who wish to weaken India’s image globally.

 Misguided by outsiders like George Soros and similar forces, he forgets that politics should never cross the line of national interest. Criticising the Election Commission without reason is an insult to the democratic framework that has given power to different parties over decades.

 Rahul Gandhi should stop playing into the hands of foreign powers and learn to respect India, its institutions, and its people.

-K A Solaman

Foolish complaints

#Foolish #complaints

Former MP T. N. Prathapan’s complaint against Suresh Gopi is nothing but a childish political stunt.

In India, the law is very clear that a voter only needs to be an "ordinarily resident" of a constituency, not a resident for any fixed number of days. If Suresh Gopi has shifted his residence, updated his documents, and followed the proper legal process, there is nothing illegal about it. 

Prathapan, instead of respecting the democratic process, is trying to create unnecessary controversy for cheap publicity. This is an insult to the very electoral system that ensures free and fair voting in our country. Such baseless allegations waste the time of law enforcement and distract from real issues.

It is shameful that Rahul Gandhi and his Congress leadership back such silly arguments that show complete ignorance of the law. The Representation of the People Act is a cornerstone of Indian democracy, and questioning it without reason is a direct attack on the fairness of elections. 

Instead of educating the public about their voting rights, the Congress is spreading confusion for political gain. This behaviour is irresponsible and shows the party’s desperation. Leaders should protect the credibility of elections, not undermine them with baseless and foolish complaints.

-K A Solaman

Dedicated aap

#Dedicated #app?

The Kerala Excise Minister's stance on Bevco's alcohol delivery app reflects a strange mix of hypocrisy and illogicality.

On the one hand, he claims that the "Kerala psyche" isn't mature enough for such a service, as if his government's elected members can't be trusted. . But at the same time, alcohol is already being sold online on platforms like Amazon and Flipkart without any moral warning.

If alcohol can reach homes through these channels, why does a dedicated Bevco app suddenly pose a threat to public maturity? This excuse sounds less like a legitimate concern than an attempt to cover up inefficiency or a lack of planning.

The funny thing is, Bevco could easily secure home delivery by adding age verification at the point of delivery. And who will verify the age, the delivery person?  This is a poor idea, because checking identity before handing over the bottle seems stupid..

Instead of using technology wisely, the minister is content to make immature statements about the population's maturity. The whole affair only reveals the incompetence and double standards of Bevco and the Minister of Excise.

-K A Solaman

Draconian priorities

#Draconian #priorities.

The Kerala Government’s new ordinance to remove the Governor from the process of forming the Vice-Chancellor search panel for the Digital University is a blatant violation of UGC regulations and constitutional norms. 

The role of the Governor in university administration is clearly outlined in the law, and bypassing it shows open disrespect for the Constitution.

Instead of working with constitutional authorities, the LDF government is trying to centralise power in its own hands, ignoring the checks and balances that safeguard democracy. This kind of governance sends a dangerous message that rules can be bent or broken whenever it suits the ruling party’s political agenda.

What is even more troubling is the way the government mobilises its student wing, the SFI, to intimidate and attack those who oppose its decisions, including the Governor and Vice-Chancellors. This “rule by strike” approach is a mockery of democratic principles and only deepens the suffering of the common people.

 Not focusing on development, education quality, and public welfare, the government wastes energy on political battles and personal vendettas. Such draconian priorities erode public trust, weaken institutions, and push Kerala further away from the ideals of good governance.

-K A Solaman

Rewarding Loyalists

#Rewarding #loyalists

The Kerala government has decided to recruit vloggers to promote its so-called "development achievements" through social media. This move may appear harmless at first, but many see it as a clever way to misuse public money.

Instead of using official media or public platforms that already exist, the government is choosing selected vloggers, probably supporters or party workers, to make them happy by  paying with public funds.

Unless the list of vloggers is made public, the people will not know how this money is being spent and to whom it is going. 

This is a classic trick often used by those in power to drain public money under the cover of publicity and social media promotion. What exactly are these vloggers going to promote?

 Kerala today is struggling with serious issues like school buildings are in poor condition, the health sector is full of corruption, unemployment and what else. There is nothing to boast about in sports. 

The state mainly survives on the income from liquor and lottery, which are destroying families. So, what positive image can vloggers paint?

Fixing not the real problems, the government is wasting time and money on fake promotion. This is not about development, it is about creating an illusion and rewarding loyalists at the cost of the public.

-K A Solaman

Chain Snatching

#Chain #Snatching

Chain snatching has become a big problem in Kerala, and one reason is the very high price of gold. Many people still choose to wear real gold when going out, which makes them easy targets for thieves. Instead, they could wear imitation gold to stay safe. 

Police inaction in some areas also encourages such crimes, as snatchers feel they can escape without punishment. To control this issue, police patrolling should be increased in public places, and strict action must be taken against offenders.

Public awareness campaigns can also help people understand the risks of wearing gold in public. Only by people, working together with police, can reduce this crime.

- K A Solaman

Education needs practical leadership

Education needs practical leadership.

Kerala’s General Education Minister V. Sivankutty seems to be pushing strange and impractical ideas without proper thought or consultation. His latest plan to remove the concept of "backbenchers" in classrooms appears to be inspired by a Malayalam movie rather than real educational needs. 

In many government and aided schools, only two or three students are enrolled per class due to low admissions, making the idea of eliminating backbenches meaningless.Policies based on cinema themes only show how disconnected the minister is from ground realities in education.

This is not the first time the minister has come up with questionable suggestions. His earlier proposal to shift the summer vacation to June and July during Kerala's peak monsoon season, was met with strong public criticism. It shows poor understanding of the state's weather and school schedules. 

Meanwhile, his idea of introducing a five-star menu in schools, though it may sound appealing, has left school heads worried about budget, logistics, and practicality. Instead of chasing fancy ideas, the minister should focus on improving student enrollment, ensuring teacher availability, and upgrading facilities. 

Education needs practical leadership, not gimmicks.

-K A Solaman

Open Tata Hospital

#Open #Tata #Hospital

On September 10, the Tata Group handed over the keys of its newly built hospital in Kasaragod district, proposed to be used for COVID-19 care, to the Kerala government. But government has taken no action to open Hospital till date. This is a clear indication of negligence of Health department towards Covid patients.

Tata has kept its promise, and completed the construction in five months. It has been 19 days since this development, but the hospital is yet to open its doors to the COVID-19 patients. 

Though the hospital, which was built at approximately Rs 60 crore, provides 540 beds, patients are in desperate bid to get treatment at District hospital. The Health department, therefore, should stop testing the patience of the people of that area.

-K A Solaman

Sir and Madam are still intact?

Sir and Madam are still intact?

After Mathur, Muttar and Ambalapuzha panchayats,  Angamaly and Paravur block panchayats in Ernakulam district also decided to ban the use of greetings like "Sir" and "Madam".

Greetings like Sir and Madam are vestiges of colonial rule, according to these LSG institutions and they have no suggestion for a suitable greeting. They all asked the State Language Institute to suggest alternatives.

However, so far, the State  Language ​​Institute has not offered any alternative terms for Sir and Madam. This is completely reprehensible and if the Language Institute considers this matter to be stupid, it should disclose it. Do not let the people of the aforementioned local institutions suffer more because of the wicked approach of the  local politicians.

K A Solaman

Pricing Liquor bottle

#Foul #Liquor #policy

The decision by the Kerala government to charge an extra ₹20 per liquor bottle, after already raising prices by 10% months ago, is a harsh and foolish move. It will hit ordinary people the most especially daily wage workers and the poor who seek small pleasures in life.

 Liquor is already heavily taxed, and this additional charge, without any improvement in service or product, is nothing but exploitation. When someone buys a product, the price includes everything, we don't pay separately for the bottle, cap, or label. Why should it be any different for liquor?

Kerala is slowly turning into a state where the government survives on liquor and lottery money taken from poor people. Instead of reforming the system or promoting better habits, the government is squeezing every drop out of the common man. 

It is shameful that BEVCO shows huge losses despite selling liquor worth crores every day. This actually points to corruption and mismanagement. 

Making drinkers pay for a bottle in parts is a cheap trick. If this continues, the government will soon ask people to pay separately for the cork, the paper seal, and even the barcode. This foolish policy reduces people to donkeys carrying the burden of the state’s failure.

-K A Solaman