Government's interim joke

#Government's #InterimJoke

When you see a cabinet that has only a life span till mid-May presenting a full budget, it seems like a patient on his deathbed is drawing plans for a new house. Despite knowing the truth that this budget will not be applicable to the new government after the elections, Finance Minister Balagopal has spread “long-term development dreams” in abundance. 

When the treasury is empty and the threat of treasury closure persists, announcing bridges, roads and a golden future is not economics, but political magic. K Rail is gone, and the Rapid Regional Transit System is coming in its place. At least a simple, catchy name could have been given to this permanent railway project.

The claim is that this is a development budget. But it is really a magic show to mesmerize some stupid voters. After the elections, the curtain will fall, the magician will go, and all that is left is a trash can.  If the new government is of the opposite party, it will be thrown into the ditch, including the trash can.

This full budget of the Left government is not a document that faces facts, but a speechbook that runs away from reality. Announcing dreams worth crores from a treasury without money is like building a sand castle from the sea. If a new government comes, all this will have to be written again.

The current budget will become a historical object under the name of “the interim joke of the interim government”. Therefore, this budget is not a road map for development, but a cartoon map of politics. The only consolation is that this budget has not been filled with gibberish like that of its predecessor, the economist.

Writing development dreams where there is no money is not a budget; it is a story that deceives the people.

-K. A. Solaman

Misplaced Activism

#Misplaced #Activism

The petition filed by the Save University Campaign Committee against the Padma Bhushan awarded to Vellappally Natesan is nothing but an unwarranted and ill-conceived overreach. While the committee has earned credibility for exposing corruption within universities, it has no mandate to sit in judgment over a national civilian honour decided by a constitutionally constituted selection process. 

Dragging pending cases and ethical insinuations into a matter of national recognition reflects a prejudiced mindset rather than principled concern. Vellappally Natesan’s lifelong service to the Ezhava community through the SNDP Yogam and the Sree Narayana Trust, which manages numerous educational institutions, is an undeniable social contribution. Reducing his decades of public work to selective allegations is intellectually dishonest and politically motivated.

More disturbingly, the committee’s action amounts to questioning the authority and integrity of the Padma award selection mechanism itself, which is neither its role nor its competence. Natesan’s act of placing the Padma Bhushan at the feet of Sree Narayana Guru symbolised humility and reverence, and was widely appreciated across society. To interpret this honour as controversial is to disrespect both the award and the values of Sree Narayana Guru that Natesan has consistently upheld in public life. 

The Save University Campaign Committee’s move appears less like a principled protest and more like a publicity stunt aimed at staying in the limelight beyond its legitimate sphere of intervention. Such misplaced activism only weakens its moral standing and diverts attention from the genuine issues within higher education that it ought to address.

-K A Solaman

Honouring Vellappally

#Honouring #Vellappally

The Padma Bhushan conferred on Vellappally Natesan is not merely an individual honour but a recognition of decades of public service rooted in social reform and community empowerment inspired by Sree Narayana Guru. As the long-serving General Secretary of the SNDP Yogam, Natesan has worked to modernise and strengthen one of Kerala’s most influential socio-spiritual organisations, ensuring that its activities remained relevant to contemporary social challenges. 

That he chose to place the award at the feet of Sree Narayana Guru symbolically underscores that this honour belongs to the reformist legacy of equality, dignity and self-respect rather than to personal glory. The Ministry of Home Affairs categorising his contribution under “Public Affairs” is therefore apt, since his work has extended far beyond organisational leadership into the broader arena of social justice and public discourse.

Criticism and ridicule on social media ignore the uncomfortable truth that public life in Kerala has always been shaped by strong, outspoken figures who challenged dominant narratives. Natesan’s forthrightness, often labelled controversial, arose from his consistent attempt to safeguard the interests of his community at a time when political fronts increasingly resorted to selective appeasement and communal arithmetic. 

To single him out for polarization while excusing similar or worse conduct by ministers and political leaders reflects double standards rather than principled objection. In this sense, the Padma Bhushan acknowledges a voice that refused to be silent and an organisation that remained socially engaged for decades. 

Honouring Vellappally Natesan is thus not an endorsement of every statement he ever made, but a recognition of sustained service, institutional leadership, and his role in carrying forward the social mission envisioned by Sree Narayana Guru.

-K A Solaman

State microbe

#State #Microbe

Kerala is no longer just “God’s own country”, but also “Bacteria’s own country”. With the list from state bird to state crab complete, here is the state microbe proudly presented; its name is Bacillus subtilis.

This microbe, which is present in soil, water and stomach, is now officially Malayali. So, don’t be surprised if the state microbe dances at the school festival from tomorrow. Tourism branding may also come soon. : “Come to Kerala and meet our friend Bacteria” will be the slogan..

Now even when taking a vaccine, the state will have to ask “Is this a native or a guest?” The next concern is whether other states and countries will be jealous of this. What if Tamil Nadu says “Ours is Lactobacillus”, while Karnataka says “This was first grown in our soil” and files a case in the patent court?  Then the Supreme Court verdict may come like this: “Bacteria have no states or borders”

But there is no end to the declarations for Kerala. The ministers have been making fun of saying “Kerala is number one”. However, the goal is to move forward with the microbe along with what is currently there to maintain the number one position. What will be the next step? 

State virus? State amoeba, 5tate worm? In any case, people will say for sure: There is no other country in the world that gives such great honor to even a small one!

- K. A. Solaman

Strong warning

#Strong #Warning

From the moment the BJP-Twenty Twenty alliance was announced just before the assembly elections, the regular alliances in Kerala politics have lost their sleep. It is no coincidence that a party that stands on its own two feet has joined the NDA, amidst those who label development as “corporate” and efficiency as “fascism”. 

When we see the Congress and the Communists, who joined hands to defeat Twenty Twenty in the local body elections under the guise of hiding their symbols, now coming out to take a class in morality, even the word political ethics is laughable. The secular math in Kerala says that anything can be done for power, but if others join hands, that is hypocrisy.

The BJP-Twenty Twenty alliance is not just armchair politics, but development politics whose actions can be measured. This is a strong warning to the fronts that have been threatening and holding back the Christian community for years.  In the face of those who were raised by fearing the vote bank, politics that respects trust and promises development is a new way forward.

Therefore, the cries raised against this alliance are not protests, but voices of fear of losing power. The time is not far when Kerala politics will realize this

- K. A. Solaman

വൈറ്റ് ടീഷർട്ട് പ്രസ്ഥാനം

#വൈറ്റ് #ടീഷർട്ട് #പ്രസ്ഥാനം

രണ്ടുവർഷം മുമ്പ് ആരംഭിച്ച രാഹുൽ ഗാന്ധിയുടെ വൈറ്റ് ടി-ഷർട്ട് പ്രസ്ഥാനം, പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ച നാൾ മുതൽ തന്നെ ഒരു “വൈറ്റ് വൈരുദ്ധ്യം” ആയി മാറിയിരുന്നു. 41,000 രൂപ വിലയുള്ള ബർബെറി ടി-ഷർട്ട് ധരിച്ച് ഇന്ത്യയുടെ തെക്കും വടക്കും കിഴക്കും പടിഞ്ഞാറും  ജോഡോ യാത്ര നടത്തി സാമ്പത്തിക അസമത്വമാണ് രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ പ്രശ്‌നമെന്ന് പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കുമ്പോൾ, ആ വാചകത്തിനൊപ്പം ഒരു ചെറു ചിരി സ്വാഭാവികമായി വിടർന്നിരുന്നു.

ഒരു ശരാശരി സർക്കാർ ജീവനക്കാരന്റെ മാസശമ്പളത്തേക്കാൾ വിലയുള്ള വസ്ത്രം ധരിച്ച് അസമത്വത്തിനെതിരെ പോരാടുന്ന നേതാവിൻ്റെ പ്രകടനം ഗംഭീരമെന്നു പലരും വാഴ്ത്തി, പക്ഷേ പ്രസ്ഥാനം ക്ലച്ച് പിടിക്കാതെ പോയി. ആഗോള അസ്ഥിരതയ്ക്ക് ധനസഹായം ചെയ്യുന്ന കോടീശ്വരന്മാരുടെ കൂട്ടുകാരനായി നിന്ന് അഹിംസയും ഐക്യവും ഉപദേശിക്കുമ്പോൾ, സന്ദേശത്തേക്കാൾ ശ്രദ്ധ പിടിച്ചെടുത്തത് ടാഗിൽ തൂങ്ങിയിരുന്ന ബ്രാൻഡ് നാമം തന്നെയായിരുന്നു.

സാമ്പത്തിക അസമത്വം യഥാർത്ഥ വില്ലനാണെങ്കിൽ, എന്തുകൊണ്ടാണ് ആ വില്ലനെ നേരിടാൻ കുറച്ചുപേർക്കു മാത്രം വാങ്ങാൻ കഴിയുന്ന ടി-ഷർട്ട് യൂണിഫോമായി തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്തതെന്ന് ഇന്നും അജ്ഞാതമാണ്. കോൺഗ്രസ് പ്രസ്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി കാൻഡിഡേറ്റായി കേരളത്തിൽ കേൾക്കുന്ന കെ.സി. വേണുഗോപാൽ പോലും ആ ടി-ഷർട്ട് ധരിച്ച് പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടാത്തത് ഈ “വൈറ്റ് വിപ്ലവത്തിന്റെ” നിറം അല്പം മങ്ങിയതാക്കി. 

സാധാരണക്കാരെ വിലകുറഞ്ഞ വസ്ത്രങ്ങളിൽ മാർച്ച് ചെയ്യാൻ വിടാതെ, എല്ലാവർക്കും ബർബെറി ടി-ഷർട്ട് ഏർപ്പാടാക്കിയിരുന്നെങ്കിൽ പ്രസ്ഥാനത്തിന് കുറഞ്ഞത് ഫാഷൻ ലോകത്തെങ്കിലും വലിയ റീച്ച് കിട്ടിയേനേ. പക്ഷേ രാഹുലിന് വിശ്വാസമുള്ളത് കെ.സി. വേണുഗോപാൽ എന്ന ഒരാൾ മാത്രമാണെങ്കിൽ, അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ടി-ഷർട്ട് പ്രസ്ഥാനവും വേണുഗോപാലിന്റെ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി കസേരയും ഒരേപോലെ ആവിയായി പോകാനാണ് സാധ്യത 

വലിയ പ്രതീക്ഷയുമായി നടന്നിരുന്ന വി ഡി സതീശൻ, രമേശ് ചെന്നിത്തല, കെ സുധാകരൻ, സണ്ണി ജോസഫ്, ശശി തരൂർ എന്നിവയുടെ കാര്യമാണ് കഷ്ടം.  ഇവരെല്ലാം മുന്നിലൂടെ തലങ്ങും വിലങ്ങും ജാഡോ കളിച്ചിട്ടു പോലും ആലുവ മണപ്പുറത്ത് കണ്ട പരിചയം പോലും കഴിഞ്ഞ ഒരു യോഗത്തിൽ രാഹുൽ ഗാന്ധി കാണിച്ചില്ല. തദ്ദേശ തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിൽ കിട്ടിയ കുതിപ്പ് കേരളത്തിലെ കോൺഗ്രസ് നേതാക്കളോടുള്ള ടി-ഷർട്ട് പ്രസ്ഥാന നായകൻ്റെ പെരുമാറ്റത്തിൽ അപ്രത്യക്ഷമാകുമോയെന്നു സംശയിക്കേണ്ടിയിരിക്കുന്നു.

— കെ. എ. സോളമൻ

Conflicting interests united

#Conflicting interests united

The sudden friendliness between the NSS and SNDP, especially in an election year, shows an attempt to turn Kerala’s complex society into simple vote calculations based on community. Such temporary alliances, formed for political convenience rather than real agreement, have failed in the past because they underestimate the political awareness of Kerala’s voters. 

The basic differences between the two groups cannot be ignored: most Nairs fall under the general category, while Ezhavas benefit from OBC reservation. These conflicting interests cannot be covered up with public gestures and vague talk of “shared goals”. The earlier Vellappally–Sukumaran Nair experiment clearly proved this. Repeating the same exercise today will only increase public distrust and encourage identity-based politics, weakening Kerala’s tradition of reform-oriented and issue-based political thinking.

More seriously, these moves add to the growing problem of communal polarisation in the State. Communities are being pushed into vote-bank politics in the name of countering other groups. The claim that Muslims support both the UDF and LDF, whether true or exaggerated, is being used to justify a counter-mobilisation among Hindu caste organisations. This benefits political leaders and power brokers, not ordinary people. 

Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan appears to understand this danger, but the Congress leadership’s hesitation to openly support him suggests a double standard. Opposing communalism in words while quietly adjusting to it is a bad  practice. Kerala does not need new caste alliances or communal equations. What it needs is political courage to uphold constitutional values, pursue real social justice beyond vote banks, and reject identity politics that divide society for short-term electoral gains.

- K A Solaman