Divine Comedy waiting

#Divine comedy waiting

The Sabarimala gold robbers seem to have discovered a new form of devotion: stealing from their own deity while chanting “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.”

These are not ordinary thieves; they are VIP devotees who believe that Ayyappa is too busy blessing crores of pilgrims to notice a few kilograms of gold quietly peeling off the idols. They entered the sanctum not with folded hands, but with folded plans. 

And now, as the High Court sits like a modern-day Dharma Sastha, their excuses shine even brighter than the gold they stole. It is the first time in history that Ayyappa devotees needed an SIT more urgently than a Makaravilakku.

As the investigation climbs the 18 holy steps of corruption, even seasoned political climbers of the ruling party are sweating,  not from devotion, but from the fear of handcuffs. The arrested “bhaktas” now claim innocence with the same sincerity they once reserved for their poojas. 

But karma has a sense of humour. Before death, the punishment waiting for them is simple. They will have to stand in the Sabarimala queue during peak season, without VIP access, carrying an empty irumudi, while every pilgrim asks them, “Gold the gold gone?” 

And after death? Ayyappa will send them to a special naraka where they must polish temple bells for eternity, with no gold in sight. The will be only their reflections reminding them of their pious theft. Such is the divine comedy of those who thought they could outsmart their own god.

-K A Solaman

No deemed assent

#No deemed assent

The recent Supreme Court verdict on the President’s Article 143 reference is a very welcome decision. The Court made it clear that neither the President nor the Governor can be forced to act within a judicially fixed time limit while granting assent to Bills.

 It also clarified that the idea of “deemed assent” is completely against the Constitution and violates the separation of powers. This judgement protects the original constitutional balance and prevents the judiciary from taking over functions meant for the executive.

This verdict is a strong reply to the earlier stand taken by the governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Both had repeatedly claimed that the High Court order on “deemed assent” was final and that Governors were bound by it. The Supreme Court has now exposed that stand as unconstitutional. 

It shows how uninformed leaders in power can mislead the public and harm the rule of law. The judgement upholds constitutional discipline and restores clarity in the functioning of our democracy.

-K A Solaman

EPIC Card

#EPIC Card

The EPIC card (Electors Photo Identity Card) is an identity card issued by the Election Commission of India to every registered voter. It helps confirm a voter’s identity during elections and prevents impersonation or bogus voting. 

The card contains the voter’s name, photograph, address, and EPIC number. It is an important document because it ensures smooth, fair, and transparent elections and also serves as a useful identity proof in many official matters.

Though the Election Commission now provides a digital EPIC, downloading it is often difficult for ordinary people due to technical issues, lack of awareness, or limited access to smartphones. Therefore, it would be highly beneficial if the Government and Election Commission supplied the plastic, laminated EPIC cards directly to all voters, just as they used to. This will make the process easy and user-friendly. 

I request the Government to issue the plastic model of the EPIC card to all voters at the earliest for the convenience of the public and to strengthen the election process.

-K A Solaman

Unfair voter's list

#Unfair voter's list

The case of VM Vinu, UDF’s mayoral nominee for the Kozhikode Corporation, not appearing in the 2020 voters list has raised serious questions. The Congress has alleged that his name was purposefully omitted by the local authorities. 

Similar incidents have been reported in many Panchayats and Municipal Corporations, where officials, in support of the ruling front, have knowingly deleted or avoided adding names. The High Court’s intervention in Vaishna’s case is a clear example of how such wrongful omissions can affect citizens’ rights.

This kind of manipulation of the voters list is a serious form of corruption. It destroys trust in the democratic process and misuses official power for political gain. To avoid such corrupt practices in the future, voter list revisions should be monitored by independent agencies or special teams free from local political pressure. 

Strict action must be taken against those  officials who misused their authority. 

Technology-based systems, transparent auditing, and public verification processes should be strengthened so that no eligible citizen is left out of the voters list unfairly.

- K A Solaman

No genuine concern

#No #genuine #concern

The Muslim League approaching the Supreme Court to stop the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) appears to be driven more by political interest than genuine concern. Their claim that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) cannot complete the work in one month is not true. If the officers are willing and allowed to work freely, they can finish it in just two weeks. 

In places like Kannur, BLOs are being blocked by certain political groups from visiting households. The State government is also slow in responding and is not giving enough police support to ensure the BLOs can carry out their duties safely.

Linking the unfortunate suicide of one BLO directly to the SIR process is unfair, as the reasons may be personal. SIR is meant to ensure a clean, accurate, and fair voter list, which is essential for a healthy democracy.

People should support this effort because it strengthens the election process of the country. Those who oppose SIR are standing against a system that aims to protect fairness and transparency in elections.

-K A Solaman

First casualty

#First casualty

Once upon a time, Comrade Arsho, the self-styled revolutionary of SFI fame, had declared with great philosophical depth that slapping a dignitary like T. P. Sreenivasan was no major offence. It is merely a revolutionary pat on the cheek. 

History, however, has a curious sense of humour. Years later, when the universe decided to return the gesture it was on Arsho’s nose. The comrade’s revolution suddenly transformed into righteous indignation. 

The same crowd that once hailed “protest slaps” as political expression now mourned a “fascist attack. Truly, consistency is the first casualty in the world of revolutions.

The aftermath, too, had all the flavour of a tragicomedy. Arsho, who once mocked complaints as bourgeois weakness, now ran from police station to press conference demanding justice. 

Social media, ever eager to replay irony in slow motion, dug up the old video of him thrashing a CPI woman activist and hurling caste slurs  The CPM leadership, masters of selective amnesia, merely adjusted their spectacles and declared the matter "under examination ".

The moral stands clear: when one sows blows, one must be ready to reap them, sometimes right on the nose.

-K A Solaman

Political fearmongering

#Political #fearmongering

Binoy Viswam’s remarks are full of hypocrisy and political double standards. He calls the PM SHRI project an RSS-BJP agenda meant to “smuggle in NEP,” but conveniently forgets that his own daughter studied in a foreign university that follows far more liberal versions of the same reforms he now condemns. 

It is easy for leaders like him to preach nationalism and anti-centre rhetoric while enjoying the fruits of global education for their own families. His attempt to paint every central project as communal or anti-Kerala only exposes a narrow political mindset that places party ideology above the welfare of students.

Education Minister V. Sivankutty’s stand is equally inconsistent and opportunistic. When the Centre released ₹92 crore under the PM SHRI scheme, he welcomed it with open arms; now, under party pressure, he suddenly questions the same project. This U-turn shows that his concern is not for Kerala’s schools, but for appeasing party bosses and protecting his political image. 

If Sivankutty now believes PM SHRI is harmful, he should have the courage to return the money. Otherwise, his change of stance only proves that both he and Binoy Viswam are playing political games with Kerala’s education, misleading the people instead of leading them.

Kerala’s education system deserves progressive support, not political fearmongering.

- K A Solaman

Award Heroes of society and not film stars

#Award heroes of society and not film stars 

The decision to give a state award to Vedan,  while serious allegations against him are still before the court, has caused big public anger. Many people feel it sends a wrong message to society, especially when children’s films and deserving artists were ignored.. 

Even though some say “no one is guilty until proven,” it is argued that honoring a person facing such complaints damages the credibility of the government and award committee. People feel this is unfair to the next generation and hurts public trust in the award system. A rapist rapper is unfit for any award

There is also a strong opinion that film awards are not really needed. Movie stars and film personalities are already rich and famous, so public money need not be spent on giving them cash prizes. Instead, this money could support farmers, fishermen, and soldiers who serve the nation with dedication and often struggle financially.

 Films will continue without government-funded awards, but supporting real heroes of society would bring more respect and value to public funds.

-K A Solaman

Waiting for whistle scam

#Waiting for Final Whistle Scam.

 Possibly our Sports Minister has now become Kerala’s official Messi travel agent. First he declared Messi is coming in November, then suddenly, “Oh sorry, stadium not FIFA-approved, Messi busy, calendar full, dog ate the permission letter”. 

Now he promises March next year. Meanwhile, a mysterious sponsor with more controversies than football goals keeps popping up like a surprise substitute player. 

And the ticket drama? People booked seats faster than fans clicking IPL tickets. This is only to end up watching breaking news instead of football. Now the Minister says “don’t blame us, only dates changed!   Yes, just a small change.. Argentina went to Angola, tickets vanished, but don’t worry, Messi will come next March. 

By the time he arrives, the Minister might be sitting at home watching highlights of the scam enquiry. And if the dates shift again, the next minister can handle the “Messi arrival mission,” while this sponsor runs a masterclass on how to dribble money better than Messi dribbles footballs. 

Kerala is waiting with snacks and popcorn for the Final Whistle Scam.

-K A Solaman

Toxic film award

#Taxic film award.

The decision of the jury for the 55th Kerala State Film Awards to confer the Best Lyricist award to Vedan  is a gross abdication of moral responsibility. Vedan is one who is facing multiple serious rape and sexual-assault allegations.

By endorsing his work while his case remains sub judice, the state‐awarded honour transforms what should be a celebration of artistic merit into a toxic signal. The government machinery of cultural recognition is seemingly  detached from any sense of ethical accountability.

The jury, and by extension the government is here to legitimize one who is under credible legal scrutiny. And this erodes public trust in the integrity of the award and demeans the very idea of merit‐based recognition.

The implications for society are gravely disturbing when a person accused of violating the fundamental dignity of others is publicly lauded by a state institution, 

Such a move encourages cynicism. It undermines victims’ faith in justice and sends the subtle yet pervasive message that talent can offset or even excuse alleged predation. The government’s complicity in this tarnishes the credibility of the award. Award to a so called rapist is a political favoritism or  failure of oversight for the part of government monitored jury.

The message conveyed is absolutely wrong. The Government  should not normalise an unacceptable standard.in State awards.

- K A Solaman