#SalaryHikeForMLAS

#SalaryHikeForMLAs

The state's financial crisis and the hunger faced by ordinary citizens are of no concern to our MLAs. While the ruling and opposition MLAs may engage in brawls in the Legislative Assembly ostensibly over issues like unemployment or the budget, they are perfectly united when it comes to increasing their own salaries and perks!

It seems that the 70,000 rupees and other benefits currently received by our "hard-working" public representatives who somehow managed to become millionaires while "serving the people", are simply not enough! If they are shedding tears, claiming they lack the funds to even move about their own constituencies, why don't they just resign and take up work under an employment guarantee scheme instead?

At a time when hundreds of thousands of young people, who would be willing to serve the state for even less, are left wandering without jobs, these government representatives have gone ahead and passed a financial package for themselves worth lakhs. And as if that weren't enough, they’ve also allocated 6.71 crore rupees to purchase iPads for MLAs, presumably so they can play games while sitting in the Assembly!

If this kind of behavior continues, the youth of Kerala will stop making the "mistake" of studying to become IAS officers or doctors. Instead, they will simply join a political party, aiming to become an MLA, a minister, a member of the PSC, or the chairman of a corporation.  The sight of young people engaging in political work for a daily wage is nothing new in our land. Kerala long ago transformed into a place with the world’s highest number of 'full-time politicians', people who live off the labor of others without doing any productive work themselves. 

When the public observes this political alliance, a partnership so seamless that its members never squabble over how to carve up the spoil, as they pass bills in the dead of night to distribute funds collected through excessive taxation, the people will simply stare up at the sky, wide-eyed and utterly bewildered, not knowing what to do. Under the guise of the law, those in power will strip the common man of every last penny in his pocket.

- K. A. Solaman

#Governor's #Recommendation

#Governor's #Recommendation #Correct and #Congratulatory

The Public Service Commission is the last hope of lakhs of educated candidates. The PSC Chairman and members have turned such an institution into a center of nepotism and corruption. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar's recommendation to the President for their dismissal is a commendable step. 

This strong stand taken by a Head of State against such corruptions that are gambling with the future of ordinary youth is a protection of democratic values. 

Constitutionally, under Article 317, the power to remove the Chairman and members of a State Public Service Commission is vested in the President on the basis of the investigation report of the Supreme Court. In the event of serious allegations coming to light regarding the PSC, the Governor's action in bringing the matter to the attention of the President for appropriate investigation and action is completely legal and constitutionally valid.

 This firm step against injustice will help restore the trust of the people. . The UDF government should be ready to provide all support to the Governor's recommendation without justifying the irregularities related to the previous government.

-K. A. Solaman

Governor's Kitchen

#What's #AICC's #business in the #Governor's #Kitchen?

It is the head of the household who decides what to cook in his own kitchen, not the local people. Even the cooks were surprised to see a protest break out in Delhi before the mustard was even cooked in the Lok Bhavan's china pot. Under which section does the Governor, who took oath and took charge, decide what to serve on the dinner table in his own house and it becomes a "saffron agenda"? If this continues, people are worried that if sambar is served in any house today, will it have to be sent for the approval of Congress General Secretary KC. 

The fact that a person sitting in the post of AICC General Secretary finds time to interfere in the salt and flour of a kitchen when there are so many big problems in the country is seen as proof of karma, but a rethinking of priorities is very good. Now, if we take the issue of food freedom, no one's freedom may be undermined just because fish and meat are not cooked in Lok Bhavan.  This reform is not a stone edict, but only until the end of the governor's term. If the governor who comes tomorrow is satisfied with only dum biryani, democracy will pave the way for that too.

Employees who are hungry for non-veg food in Lok Bhavan have hot stalls waiting outside the gate. When there are modern food courts serving beef fries and fried fish in every nook and corner of Kerala, it remains to be seen whether the Lok Bhavan kitchen is portrayed as an ideological battlefield due to ignorance or a knowing game. Employees who want to change their lavana because they do not get biryani cannot be denied the facility.

If the food rights of employees are actually being restricted, then we can criticize it based on facts. But we should not criticize the entire menu in a kitchen as a serving vessel for Sangh Parivar politics. Criticism is good in politics; but we should not try to add a hearthstone of divisive politics to every kitchen.

-KA Solaman

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Stock market crash

#StockMarket #Crash

The sustained decline in the Indian stock market has posed a severe threat to the savings of ordinary investors. An investment of one lakh rupees made just a few weeks ago has now shrunk significantly. Small-scale investors are deeply concerned that if this trend continues, they might lose their capital entirely.

This market downturn cannot be dismissed as a mere temporary fluctuation. Those who encourage the public to invest in the market must also reflect on their own accountability when losses occur.

It is incorrect to gauge the overall health of the market solely by the success of a specific share issue such as that of Jio Platforms. The response to a single offering is distinct from the performance of the market as a whole. If investor enthusiasm is touted as proof of the market's inherent strength, it is only fair to ask why a similar level of concern is not shown when that same capital is placed at risk.

In the past, during major market downturns, one could expect interventions from the Finance Minister or announcements aimed at reassuring the public. The market interventions during P. Chidambaram’s tenure as Finance Minister serve as an example. Today, however, amidst this market crash, the public expects greater clarity regarding the Finance Ministry’s response and the potential interventions of public sector financial institutions, such as the LIC.  It is not the government's duty to artificially prop up the stock market; rather, its role is to ensure transparency and investor protection, and to clarify the reasons behind any undue market volatility.

Those who celebrate the gains during periods of market growth must also address the concerns of investors when the market declines. Otherwise, the ordinary person—who enters the stock market with the hope of building long-term savings will come to view it not as a platform for investment, but as a gambling den where one ends up losing their hard-earned money.

The current state of the Indian stock market can be summed up as: "If you have money to lose, go ahead and enter the Indian stock market."

— K. A. Solaman

KIIFB-Debt under the guiss of development

#KIIFB: Debt under the guise of development!

KIIFB, which was formed with the aim of finding money for Kerala's infrastructure development, is today raising serious questions about the state's financial liabilities. The loans collected through this system, implemented as part of the financial planning of former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, must ultimately be repaid from the state's income. The reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General also make it clear that KIIFB's loans cannot be separated from the state's actual debt. 

Borrowing without ensuring clear repayment planning and financial transparency will affect the financial security of future generations. The public should be clearly aware of the interest and repayment figures on loans, including the Rs 2,150 crore masala bond. If there has been any irregularity or corruption in the masala bond deal, those responsible should be found through investigation and evidence.

 The discrepancy between Thomas Isaac's claim that KIIFB has Rs 30,000 crore and the figures put forward by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has now led to a new controversy. Chief Minister Satheesan pointed out that as of March 31, 2026, KIIFB's total balance was Rs 10,633 crore, of which Rs 4,128 crore was the government treasury corpus fund and the remaining investment was Rs 6,521 crore. Following this, the media reported that Isaac had corrected the figures in his Facebook post. 

In this situation, Isaac has the responsibility to clarify through detailed figures the basis for the claim of Rs 30,000 crore and the actual financial position of KIIFB.

The KIIFB model implemented under the leadership of Pinarayi Vijayan and Isaac's financial decisions should be subject to independent and transparent scrutiny beyond political arguments. Loans can be taken in the name of development;  But the amount of that loan and the responsibility for repayment cannot be hidden from the people. To find the 30,000 crores in KIIFB,  it is foolish to look in the torn pocket of  kurta.

-K. A. Solaman

Deserve condemnation

#Action should be condemned 

The reported actions of CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde, who allegedly scaled police barricades and entered Jantar Mantar in defiance of police restrictions, deserve strong condemnation. In a constitutional democracy like India, the right to peaceful protest is fundamental, but it does not place anyone above the law. 

Disregarding police orders, crossing barricades and entering a restricted protest zone cannot be justified merely in the name of activism. If the authorities have designated alternative venues such as Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground for authorized demonstrations, protest organizers should follow the prescribed procedures and challenge restrictions through lawful means. 

The rule of law must apply equally to activists, political leaders and ordinary citizens. No organization should be allowed to treat public spaces as its private territory or assume that its political convictions give it immunity from legal consequences. What is particularly disturbing is the tendency of some activists to make confrontation with the authorities and to violate  regulations. Such conduct risks undermining the credibility of legitimate protest movements and needlessly escalating tensions. 

Activists who claim to defend constitutional values must demonstrate the same respect for constitutional procedures that they demand from the government. 

K A Solaman

Inflammatory name calling

#inflammatory name calling

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar “cowards” is hardly an example of responsible political leadership. Rahul Gandhi, as a senior opposition leader should show the  responsibility to uphold the dignity of public discourse. 

Political disagreement is an essential feature of democracy, but personal insults and provocative language cannot substitute for reasoned arguments, evidence and constructive criticism. Rahul Gandhi's confrontational rhetoric risks reducing serious political debates to exchanges of insults and theatrical gestures. 

An opposition leader earns public respect not merely by attacking those in power but by presenting credible alternatives, questioning government policies with evidence and demonstrating consistency between words and actions.

 Personal attacks may generate headlines and energise misinformed political supporters, but they can also alienate undecided voters and weaken the substance of legitimate criticism. If Rahul Gandhi wishes to establish himself as a credible national leader, restraint, clarity of argument and respect for constitutional institutions would serve him better than inflammatory name-calling. 

The strength of a leader lies not in the harshness of his insults, but in the quality of his arguments, the dignity of his conduct and the credibility of his alternative vision.

K A Solaman