Freedom of Art Should not be an insult

#FreedomofArt #should not be an insult.

The controversial image included in the Suvarna Keralam lottery ticket is evidence of the irresponsible approach of the government agencies. It is not possible to escape by saying that releasing an image that resembles religious symbols through the public system when it is clear that the sentiments of believers will be hurt.

If even images prepared by institutions including the Lalitha Kala Akademi are used without any verification, it is a systemic failure. The government's failure to detect hidden agendas that insult beliefs under the guise of "freedom of art" is a serious failure. It is unlikely that the public will accept the argument that this is not deliberate.

There is a strong suspicion that such incidents are repeated because some people are acting secretly and are receiving the tacit consent of the government. An approach that takes blasphemy lightly will only create unrest and polarization in the society.

If today there is an image that is accused of being a Hindu symbol, tomorrow there will be controversies targeting other religions as well.  Therefore, it is imperative to identify the people behind the picture and the officials who approved it and take strict action. Otherwise, the government that claims to be secular will become a mechanism that hurts the minds of believers and will lead to serious political and social consequences.

-K. A. Solaman

(The picture given here is not from the lottery ticket)

#VB-G RAM G #MustSupport

VBG RAM G Scheme is a scheme conceived with the aim of providing practical skills required in the modern job market to job seekers in Kerala, especially the youth.

Its core is to address some of the shortcomings of the Employment Guarantee Scheme and prepare candidates as per the needs of industrial establishments. The main advantages of the scheme are skill development, industry-friendly training, financial security, and increased confidence among the people through employment. This scheme sets a good example of central-state cooperation by increasing the responsibility of the states by 40% financial support.

It should be acknowledged that there are challenges such as limitation of job sectors, need to ensure quality of training, and lack of stability of some jobs. However, they are problems that can be solved and the scheme can be perfected. This scheme, which provides practical training and job opportunities to thousands of unemployed youth, is very beneficial to the public. 

 It is clear that the agitation that the opposition, including the Congress, is going to launch against such a project is politically motivated and against the public interest. The VB G RAM G project needs to be strongly supported in the interest of development and job creation.

-K.A. Solaman

Needless K-card

#Needless #K_Card

The Kerala government’s proposal to introduce a permanent nativity card appears to be a classic case of administrative overreach with little practical value. At a time when Aadhaar already functions as a universally accepted, legally valid identity and residence document across India, creating a parallel State-level card is redundant.

 If the existing nativity certificate is “not legally binding,” the logical solution would be to strengthen its legal framework, not to replace it with an entirely new card. Introducing another identity document neither addresses citizenship concerns effectively nor adds any substantive protection to citizens. Instead, it risks confusing people and multiplying documentation without solving the core problem.

More troubling is the financial imprudence of the move. Even at a modest estimated cost of ₹20 per card, the total expenditure would cross ₹50 crore, an unjustifiable burden on the public exchequer when Kerala is facing serious fiscal stress. This money could be far better spent on healthcare, education, or social security for the  people.

The Kerala-specific nativity card has no utility outside the State, while a large section of Keralites today are migrants, professionals, and global citizens who rely on nationally and internationally recognised documents like Aadhaar and passports. In this context, the nativity card looks less like a welfare measure and more like a needless exercise driven by political optics, especially when the government is nearing the end of its term. 

Kerala would do well to look before it leaps into yet another costly and futile identity project.

-K A Solaman

Brittas' Potas

#Brittas' #Potas

The allegation made by Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas is just a political speculation that is completely devoid of facts. There is no official confirmation yet for the claim that the central government has decided to remove Mahatma Gandhi's image from Indian currency. 

Meanwhile, the sudden appearance of leaders of a party that has long opposed Gandhiji ideologically and politically as Gandhi's friends is naturally suspicious. 

The current Gandhi love of a party that has a history of inviting those who have criticized and insulted Gandhi to platforms, honoring them and giving speeches is nothing but a drama fabricated for political convenience.

This controversy surrounding the Gandhi image on currency notes is also artificial. 

India had currency even before Gandhi's image was included in the notes; Gandhiji was held in immense respect in the minds of the people even then. Whether or not his image is on the note is not a factor that determines his greatness. 

 Whatever form of currency the Indian government issues, people will use it for buying and selling. 

The attempt by John Brittas and his team to divide the people and exploit them politically by citing this issue is futile. The move to destroy social harmony through such baseless statements should be strongly condemned.

Brittas' wet potas is likely to not spark.

- K. A. Solaman

Constitutional Violation

#Constitutional #Violation

When elected Panchayat/Municipal/Corporation ward members take oath, it is valid only in the manner prescribed by the Constitution. Article 243O (Panchayat) and 243U (Municipality) of the Constitution of India along with the related laws make it clear that the oath should be taken in the name of God or a solemn oath should be taken. 

Instead, taking oath in the name of religious and superstitious rituals or personal beliefs like Arukola, Chathan, Parampil Amma, Punyalan is an act that violates the spirit and provisions of the Constitution. 

This also challenges the principle of secularism in Articles 25-28 that constitutional positions should function on a scientific and secular basis.

Therefore, it is imperative to cancel the membership of those who have entered office without following the oath-taking methods prescribed by the Constitution and keep them away from administrative proceedings. 

The State Election Commission should urgently intervene in this matter and take a clear decision. To prevent such constitutional violations from recurring, strict warnings and punitive measures should be ensured by citing the relevant legal departments. The only way to protect the democratic system is to send a strong message that there is no tolerance for disregard for the Constitution.

- K. A. Solaman

Globel Malayali Game

Global Malayali Game
If you want to know what public embezzlement is, just watch the Loka Kerala Sabha. It seems that the new art of governance is to organize a feeding competition called “Loka Kerala Sabha” when the state is running out of money.

When even the bus fare is a burden for the common man, the Loka Kerala Sabha has a hall, a muscat hotel, a full course dinner, and high security protection. Everything is five-star. When income decreases at the end of the year, the Loka Kerala Sabha can be called a “comfort money fair” for some.

Don’t the common man have access to this assembly, which brings together all the capitalist Malayalis spread all over the world and discusses the problems of Kerala with “rich resources”? If they want, when the channel shows the footage of the fair, they can watch it and their mouths water, just like they saw in the Nava Kerala Feed Bus.

This is Loka Kerala Sabha 5.0. The achievements of the four previous Lok Sabhas held at a cost of crores of rupees are just a few photos and paper files stored on a pen drive.  The state of Kerala has not received a penny of revenue.

It is not surprising that the assembly itself is being used as a venue during the budget session and spending crores to organize the "Loka Kerala Sabha 5. 0" is the last episode of profligacy. If we remember the foreign travel controversies of previous years, there is a suspicion that this assembly is more useful for mileage than communication. The last cut to those who are preparing to leave the government.

Kerala, which is in crisis of public exchequer, does not need ideological inspiration, but comfort. Without creating conditions for it, continuing the "global Malayali game" by squandering public funds should be seen as a farewell celebration of the government. A festival that wastes money in a land without money is not a festival, but a public profligacy. A public profligacy that breaks the backbone of the people.
K A Solomon

Actor Sreenivasan

#Actor #Sreenivasan

The demise of actor Sreenivasan is a great loss to Malayalam cinema. He was a vibrant presence in the Malayalam film industry for more than four decades as an actor, screenwriter, director and producer. 

A rare artist who brought the lives and thoughts of the common man to the silver screen with the subtlety of humor, his characters were able to make people laugh while also making them think and slowly question the absurdities of society. He presented works of art that were so close to the daily lives of Malayalis.

In an era when it was suspected that goodness was fading, Sreenivasan's presence was a great relief. His artistic work, which was combined with simplicity and humanity, influenced generations. As an artist who conveyed the right values ​​through laughter, he will always live in the hearts of Malayalis. Heartfelt tributes to this great artist.

- K. A. Solaman

Targeting parody

#Targeting #parody

Parody songs have always been a powerful and legitimate form of political expression, especially in Kerala’s rich cultural tradition. Satire, exaggeration and musical parody are tools through which ordinary people question authority, expose hypocrisy and register dissent without violence. To suddenly brand parody as an offence, merely because it unsettles those in power or embarrasses a ruling dispensation, is a dangerous assault on freedom of expression. 

Devotional tunes, folk rhythms and popular songs have historically been adapted to comment on social and political realities, and this has never diminished faith or culture. On the contrary, it has strengthened public awareness. Treating parody as a crime is not moral policing, but political insecurity masquerading as hurt sentiment.

The latest outrage against parody songs appears less about protecting religious feelings and more about silencing criticism. If such complaints are entertained, it would open a slippery slope where legendary artists like Kalabhavan Mani and countless satire performers would be retrospectively branded offenders for doing exactly what society once applauded them for.

Thousands earn their livelihood today through parody content on television and digital platforms, and their work resonates because it reflects public perception. Targeting parody is an abnormal, undemocratic approach that betrays intolerance to humour and dissent. Those demanding police action are not defenders of faith or culture, but haters of criticism who fear the mirror that satire holds up before them.

-K A Solaman

Mincing words

#Mincing #words

The repeated public statements by prominent actors that “the real conspirator is still free,” without naming anyone or producing new evidence, amount to speaking in riddles rather than standing by facts. If Manju Warrier or even the survivor Bhavana truly believe that a particular individual masterminded the 2017 assault and has escaped justice, moral courage demands clarity, not ambiguity. 

Courts decide on evidence, not insinuations. Floating vague accusations while withholding names only fuels speculation, prejudices public opinion, and undermines the very judicial process they claim to respect. Such beating around the bush creates an impression that the legal system is either incompetent or compromised, an allegation far too serious to be made casually.

More importantly, these statements risk dishonouring the court by suggesting that justice is deliberately incomplete while the case is still within the judicial framework. If there is credible material pointing to an unpunished conspirator, the proper place to present it is before the court, not in press conferences or interviews. Public posturing without legal substantiation weakens faith in institutions and reduces a grave crime to a tool for moral signalling. 

Silence should be backed by due process, or speech  should we supported by evidence and accountability. These are the only responsible choices. Anything in between is not bravery; it is evasion.

-K A Solaman

Magical Hiding Place

#Magical hiding Place

For two full weeks, the mighty Kerala Police, armed with modern technology, surveillance systems, and an unmatched talent for conducting intensive press conferences, tirelessly searched for MLA Rahul Mamkootathil. They combed forests, scanned highways, peeped into resorts, and perhaps even checked under a few mattresses. Yet the honourable MLA remained as invisible as a solar eclipse during monsoon.

And then, in a twist befitting a comedy serial, Rahul calmly walked into a polling booth in Palakkad, pressed the button, and walked out. He thus politely reminding us that while the police couldn’t find him for 14 days, he could find the polling station in just a few minutes. A huge police force was deployed after his arrival was anticipated, not while he was missing. The irony sparkles brighter than their star badges.

Since the police spent two weeks returning empty-handed, the MLA should do the public a favour and reveal this magical hiding place, that perfect spot where even the Kerala Police’s famed with  scientific investigation cannot reach. It will be a great public service, especially for those planning anticipatory bail. After all, if our police cannot find a well-known politician within the state, common people might also appreciate knowing where to disappear when life gets complicated.

In the end, the Kerala Police failed to find the man. But the polling booth found him. Perhaps, next time, instead of searching the state, they should simply wait at the nearest election.

-K A Solaman

Striking irony

#Striking #irony

The brutal rape and killing of the two young girls at Valayaar shocked the conscience of society, yet the public outrage and organised agitation that followed were far less intense compared to the protests triggered by the assault on a well-known cinema actress. This discrepancy raises uncomfortable questions about the selective sensitivity of certain activist groups. 

When the victims are poor, voiceless children from marginalised backgrounds, the response seems muted. But when the survivor is a public figure with visibility and media reach, the same organisations suddenly become hyperactive. This unequal response suggests a partisan approach where the identity of the victim, rather than the severity of the crime, becomes the yardstick for concern.

It is undeniable that publicity plays a major role in shaping modern-day agitations. Some activists appear more eager to engage when a case offers media coverage, public attention, and political mileage. The tragedy of Valayaar did not receive the sustained spotlight that a celebrity-related case naturally attracts, and thus failed to energise the same voices that otherwise claim to fight for women’s rights universally.

The irony is striking. Activism itself seems influenced by visibility, and not by the magnitude of suffering. This selective outrage exposes a troubling truth. that in the arena of public protest, even human rights issues can be overshadowed by the lure of attention and relevance.

K. A Solaman

Needed unbase policing

#Needed.unbiased policing.

Sir,

Former State Police Chief T.P. Senkumar’s criticism strikes at the core of what an impartial criminal investigation must be. His contention that actor Dileep was arraigned without proper or admissible evidence, based on what he saw during his brief return as State Police Chief, highlights serious concerns about the “arrest-first-find-evidence-later” approach. 

When a former DGP states that investigators worked with a predisposed condition rather than an open mind, it reflects the danger of letting public pressure, political noise, or emotional  colour to a criminal probe. Senkumar’s warning that no investigation team should ever fabricate evidence is a reminder that rule of law collapses the moment investigators begin shaping facts to suit predetermined conclusions. The recent verdict naturally invites scrutiny of earlier assumptions, and his remarks have become all the more relevant today.

Equally significant is how parts of the media conducted themselves over the last eight years. Kerala’s news channels repeatedly aired speculative, sensationalised stories in the name of supporting the survivor, but often ended up fishing in troubled waters. The channels amplifying unverified theories and prejudging the accused. The present verdict is undeniably a setback to that style of trial-by-media, and their current reactions reflect that discomfort. It's fun to watch the media cry now.

Emotional responses, like the comment by MLA Uma Thomas invoking her late husband’s “unsatisfied soul,” have no place in judicial processes. The courts work on evidence, and not on metaphysics. Moreover, the selective outrage over issues such as publication of the survivor’s image is glaring. The legal yardstick used against Rahul Easwar should logically apply to others who violated the same law. 

Senkumar’s views, read in this broader context, underline the urgent need for unbiased policing and responsible journalism, free from prejudice, theatrics, and double standards.

K A Solaman

The police must intervene

#The #Police Must Intervene

A report on a Malayalam television channel shows people fighting in the street and states that the police are not intervening due to the lack of a formal complaint. This approach is unacceptable.

When people are fighting in public and disturbing public order, the police cannot remain mere spectators.  According to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), fighting in public is considered a breach of public order, an offense punishable by law. 

These laws authorize and obligate the police and the magistrate to intervene immediately, disperse the crowd, stop the fight, and take action against the troublemakers. The police do not need a written complaint to act; they can intervene on their own initiative as soon as public peace is threatened.

As soon as public peace is threatened, even by a simple altercation between two people, the police have a legal obligation to intervene without delay. It is essential that these provisions be strictly enforced to maintain public order and prevent citizens from being forced to witness scenes of chaos in the streets.

- K A Solaman

SIR effective

#SIR #effective

The recent reports from the Bengal border show how the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) helps keep the voters’ list clean and accurate. When verification becomes strict, people without proper documents hesitate to remain on the rolls. 

This protects the rights of genuine citizens and ensures that elections are conducted fairly. The return of undocumented migrants across the border clearly shows that SIR is an effective tool to prevent misuse of our democratic system.

Opposition from groups like the INDI Front often arises because strict verification exposes long-standing irregularities in the electoral rolls. Some parties fear losing vote banks built on doubtful entries, so they question the SIR process. But SIR is essential for maintaining trust in elections. It gives confidence to ordinary voters that only eligible citizens will decide the future of the country. 

A clean and transparent voter list is the foundation of a healthy democracy, and SIR plays a key role in achieving that.

-K A Solaman