Mani's volt-face

 Kerala Congress (M) chairman and finance minister K.M. Mani’s overture for a joint campaign with the Left against Kasturirangan recommendations and  his subsequent appearance for a talk at CPM Plenum  show his desire for a short term Chief Ministerial birth. Nevertheless, this would not materialize as Opposition Leader has out rightly denied any compromise with Kerala Congress or Muslim League.  And even if Mani becomes successful in becoming CM, the already split Kerala Congress will come in open to join  the two fronts. If Mani joins with LDF, Joseph will remain with the UDF and the prospects Mani's son becoming MP from Kottayam for one more session would end up in despair.

Mani's talk at CPM Plenum also indicates the medicrocity of CPM for an unsavoury alliance with communal groups. The CPM ideology has become a pastime story as they seek support from communal fanatics who speaks about a foul ideology known as  "adhwaana varga sidhaantham". The founder father of this ideology doesn't even know what does it signify.

 KC (M)  return to the LDF fold is detrimental for both K M Mani group and the official faction of the CPM. Achuthanandan's ground support will increase with the latest decision and electoral prospects LDF with Pinarayi and Mani at the top, will be very dreary.

K A Solaman

Malicious campaign

Presently for political parties in Kerala, the notorious way to tarnish a leader is by alleging his involvement in a sex racket. The latest target in this direction is   Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation K.C. Venugopal. He, according to Opposition, is a ' Vaanibha Minister'. But actually he is a nightmare to all left leaders searching for berth in Lok Sabha from Alappuzha.  No doubt alleged sleaze video recording of him with Saritha Nair of the the 'solar scam' is a part of this malicious campaign.
Why those who possess  the video are unwilling to  hand over it to the authorities for investigation? When all except a few from both fronts are not 'saints' in sex work why is unwarranted campaign?
What is now going in Kerala is a blackmail politics and this should end.

-K A Solaman
The Deccan Chronicle, Kerala published on 29-11-2013

Anand is great!

It is saddening  for every Indian to see that the Viswanathan Anand has lost his Chess World title.  His vast experience was seen not much effective before Carlsen. Carlsen perhaps experienced  magnificent  Indian hospitality. Possibly  the match at home turf was a little discomfortable for Anand.  Despite his title loss, Anand will  remain the greatest visionary of sports much ahead of any other Indian.  He hit the Indian glory to a star with Chess.  He  deserves the Bharat Ratna award. 

The people of India congratulates Carlsen and at the same time they are all with Anand.

-K A Solaman

Greatest teaching of Christ forgotten.

"Forgive and be kind" is the greatest teaching of Jesus Christ. Seemingly the disciples of Christ viz., the Bishops of Thamarassery and Idukki have forgotten this. They are trying to stir up a revolt in the name of the Kasturirangan committee report and their words such as "blood bath" at western ghat  and growth of Naxalism in the area are highly provocative.

The statement of Thamarassery Bishop itself is against the pastoral letter issued by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference in 2012 which stressed the need for conserving nature.  The Cardinal and the higher Church authorities should interfere immediately to correct these bishops. It is the prime duty of christian clergies to lead laity in peace and never persuade them for any revolt against the Government and the Mother Nature.

K A Solaman 
The New Indian Express published on 23-11-2013 under the title "Pastoral Sins"

Is National Highway for waste dumping?

The highway NH 47 is seen as a place for waste dumping. The sides of this road  are occupied by wayside vendors, especially the fish vendors and they are polluting the entire street. The walkway is also obstructed by vendors and it is tough time for commuters to move through.  Despite the vendors have been warned against dumping of waste along the roadside, nothing appeared to deter them from doing so. The covered lorries which carry iced  fish boxes pour out  filthy water continuously to the  road itself and makes it very difficult for two wheelers and walkers to move along  the road.

The authorities are not caring to keep the road and walkway clean. There are a lot of encroachments  in the NH side but no action is seen to be taken  to clear it.. It is high time for authorities to look into the matter. The immediate requirement is not the  sixty metre wide highway but the available one suitable for free travel of vehicles and walkers.
K A Solaman
The Deccan Chronicle, Kerala Published on 22-11-2013

In extremely poor taste

 

At a recent panel discussion, Ranjit Sinha, while expressing his views on legalizing betting in sports, made a comment for which he was forced to apologize later. His view reflects poorly on the investigative agency which probes several high-profile cases and is held in high esteem in our country. Though he made the remark to drive home the point that it was better to legalize betting in sports if it cannot be fought effectively, using rape as an analogy for the same was in extremely poor taste.

Sinha has apologized for his remark and explained that he was only citing an “inadvertent and unintended” analogy while discussing his views on gambling and betting. The implication was that rape, like betting, was inevitable in any society. However, many leading women’s rights activists in the country remain unconvinced. The National Commission for Women, dissatisfied with Sinha’s tepid apology, has called for his resignation.

References to rape should not be made in an insensitive manner. They severely compromise the attempts the country is making to deal with sexual assault.

K.A. Solaman, Kerala

The Telegraph, Calcutta, dated Nov 19, 2013

Give more fund to science

I don't think that Prof.C N R  Rao has out rightly called all the politicians "idots".  He said a fact that money funded to the field of science is below par. At the same time Rao must understand that being a developing nation, India has other priorities such as providing drinking water to all, education to all, shelters to all and many. Spending 453 crore for Mars mission only for knowing the presence of water in it is no so enthusing.
Rao's comment attracted headlines because it wasjust after a day the country honored  him with Bharath Ratna.  It is true that the attitude of bureaucracy is a major handicap in the advancement of science in the country.
The political administrators can now think sanctioning more funds for the development of science.

K A Solaman

Poor man’s fish sardine.

A BPL card holder may get 1kg rice for Re 1, nevertheless he would not get one sardine for the same. The price of poor man’s fish has sky rocketed and its current price is Rs.140 a kg at way side vendors.  The  price spiralling is not only due to the export of sardine but due to the nexus of fish vendors. Fish vendors are now a mobile phone class and they collectively decide the price of sardine as it is done by merchants in the sale and purchase of gold.

Modern medical advances also helped sardine to obtain this high status as it is known to all that it is considered as one of the cheap sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. Unless the Matsyafed or the Civil Supplies Department do something to sell sardine at affordable price, the poor man will die on need of  essential nutrients.

K A Solaman

Indiscreet remark

I was taken aback to read about the remark made by no less a person than the CBI chief. How could he be so insensitive on a burning issue? Did the protests in Delhi have no impact?

K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha

The Hindu dated Nov 15, 2013

Life’s like that!

It is a quirk of fate that Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar Chief Minister, Central cabinet minister, IIM teacher and one-time hero of Indian youngsters, is now a gardener at Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar. He earns Rs 14 a day and is apparently happy tending lawns, flower beds and vegetable patches. The job should help him deal with having eaten away the fodder of cattle.

K. A. Solaman, Alappuzha

The Hindu Business Line, Nov 5, 2013

Illegal gold.

The latest report of raid in connection with the arrest of two women from Karipur airport with 6 kg of gold in their possession reveals that the incident is not an odd one. It is one of the series of attempts to smuggle gold to Kerala. Possibly the gold now sold in many of the jewellery shops are not legitimate. The arrest of Nabeel, the prime accused in the case,  his association with film stars and the stars appearing for gold shop ads, point that the racket is not a diminutive one. And  without the backing of gold merchants all these gold cannot be sold out.
Interestingly the photo of Nabeel along with a super star aired by a channel vanished immediately after the first telecast.  The agency investigating the possible links of  the gold smuggling racket may be forced not to disclose the name of the super star and the gold dealer associated with him.

Gold smuggling has caused huge loss to the state exchequer. And at the same time gold purchased and owned by many clients is not genuine.

K A Solaman

CBI head trivializing rape

Now only one understood the the significance of Guwahati HC ruling to abandon the CBI. The person like director Ranjit Sinha on the top of CBI makes it an unnecessary body and an agency to revert the cultural values of the country.

Sinha, one coming out in support of legalizing betting in sports, said, "If there are lotteries in states, if we can have casinos in tourist resorts and if government can declare schemes for voluntary disclosure of black money, what is the harm if we legalize betting?"

He added, "Above all, do we have the enforcement agencies? If you can't enforce it, it is like you can't prevent rape, enjoy it. It is better to legalize it and earn some revenue rather than throwing up your hands."

The head of country's crime investigating agency  trivializing rape is a bolt on country's psyche.

K A Solaman

Split and grow KC

Split and grow-that is the motto of Kerala Congress party. The singer minister P J Joseph is in no mood for a new song even if Chandralekha invites him for a duet.  A split is likely to arise in the party. This crisis was not created because of the adamant stand of christian clergies but of the loose tongue of party's Vice-Chairman P C George. The Joseph faction needs George to be ousted from chief whip post. With no end to the crisis at the expert panel the Joseph group is going all out with their demands. After the tough job handling Shwetha Menon,  this is yet another major issue in the offing for Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to resolve. Truly as Yogam Secretary said, Oommen Chandy plays role of 'Snake Velayudhan".

Francis George of the Joseph faction openly said he would not continue in the party. He also warned that he would be forced to quit from the party if P C George is not removed from the chief whip post.

As Mangalyaan orbit expanded, Oommen Chandy will soon expand the UDF with more constituent parties, one being the Joseph group Kerala Congress!

K A Solaman

Shocking Haiyan

It is shocking to hear that the super typhoon Haiyan had  destroyed entire towns across the Philippines and  believed to have killed more than 10,000 people. Certainly,  as authorities put, it is that  country's deadliest natural disaster.

Phillippines seems to be a most vulnerable island nation in the world which is regularly battered by Cyclones. The people there, though accustomed to such furies of nature, cannot help but to suffer the heavy loss of life and property regularly.   Let us hope all Nations come forward to lend a helping hand to the Philippines. One wonders why there were no meteorological warnings to the people. The underground places could have, of course, saved many lives from typhoon, but no such escape has been reported.

When a  similar catastrophe was experienced recently in India's east coast and south central areas, the loss of lives were minimal with near perfect advance warnings. Thousands of lives of poor fishermen in coastal areas were saved by shifting them to safe camps. Perhaps the small size of the island country prevents an escape from fast running typhoon.  It hoped that Philippines would soon recover from the trauma caused by Haiyan.  

K A Solaman 
The Deccan Chronicle, Kerala, published on 12-11-2013

Aadhaar ruling.

The Supreme Court ruling on Aadhaar is a big blow to the Government. The money used for the project could have been used to provide drinking water in backward and tribal areas.

When people have a voter ID card, PAN card, ration card, what was the need for yet another card? Some people have started getting LPG subsidy via Aadhaar-linked bank account. What about those who have not procured their Aadhaar card?

K.A. Solaman, Kerala

The Hindu Business Line, Sept 24, 2013

Miss Universe 2013

Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler, from Venezuela,
-K A solaman

Ommen Chandy's poser

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy'  question to CPM that who would be held responsible for the huge financial loss to the State in the SNC-Lavalin deal following the discharge of the accused persons in the case, is pertinent. The Malabar Cancer Centre at Thalassery had been promised Rs. 100 crore aid through the deal, but the centre had not received the assistance. The reason for this has to be probed and those responsible for it were answerable to the people.

The CAG, the Vigilance department and the CBI have found corruption in tune with Rs 374 crore in the  Lavalin deal. And the CBI court dismissing the case without proper trial is conspicuous. How can a court exonerate the guilty persons involved in the case when the court itself is not an investigating agency? The court has not done any proper trial.

It is also interesting to see the Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, who accused Pinarayi as the number one involved in the case, backtracking under the assumption that the CBI lower court verdict is final.

K A Solaman   

Quirk of fate for Lalu Prasad Yadav

It is a quirk of fate that  Lalu Prasad Yadav,   the former  Bihar Chief Minister, the  Central cabinet Minister,  the IIM teacher and one time hero of Indian youngsters,  is now a gardener at  Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar.  He earns Rs 14 a day for gardening and is apparently happy with tending lawns, flower beds and vegetable patches at the Jail.

The job of gardener is much suited him as his feeling of guilt for having eaten away the fodder of cattle could be repented by farming fodder. If he was a milkman instead of gardener the cattle would have knocked him away with their back legs. The Harvard Business School Lecturer would no longer be an invitee there.

K A Solaman

Exaggerated incident for two day ‘blah-blah’

In the Swetha Menon-Kurup incident at Kollam word molestation is being freely used.  Molestation is a statutory offense which causes another person to engage in an unwanted sexual act by force or threat. In Swetha Menon’s case what kind of force or threat has been made by Kurup before the public, is unknown. The incident was a matter of two day long ‘blah-blah’ for the channels and it would continue. I think the news reporters and the debaters consider molestation as a different subject. Touching whether intentionally or accidentally are taken up as molestation, what should be the name given to serious sexual offences ?

 Now, coming to the incident, this actor is becoming more and more a social nuisance of late. Having no major project in her kitty she demands all the sort of notoriety.  And that begins from her ‘Kamasuthra’ ad to Kollam incident via  Kalimannu cinema.  I see too much exaggeration in the whole incident.  As a popular politician of Kollam with common man’s attire Mr Kurup is a nightmare to his rivals. And hence  the conspiracy from some corners to blemish him cannot be ruled out.

K A Solaman

Leaders should restrain

It is quite unfortunate to see that some unidentified miscreants had set ablaze the memorial of P. Krishna Pilli, founder-leader of the Communist movement in Kerala, in Alappuzha. It triggered a verbal fight between Left and Congress leaders. The call for a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the district on Friday is a pre-runner to possible agitations in the offing as there are more statues of the leaders elsewhere in the state. Defacing the bust of  Krishna Pillai is a heinous act.  It all happened on the heels of the attack on Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at Kannur.

More interesting is verbal fight of the leaders from both the fronts. While Pinarayi put the Kannur episode as the outcome of mutual fight in the Congress party, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala returned it in the same coin by blaming factionalism within the CPM in the locality for the Kannarkatt incident. What is needed is; more restrain from top brasses of both fronts. 

K A Solaman

Unpardonable attack

The pre-planned attack by some miscreants on Kerala CM injuring him is unpardonable. The guilty should be given no mercy. Though the some leaders say their party has no connection with the attack, all are of one opinion that the leaders should be spared from attack. It was the followers the suffering lot for quite long. Interestingly tendency has been changed as leaders are also now targeted for assault.

 The CPM has denied their involvement in the attack and they are of the firm belief that no CPM worker was involved in this incident. Nevertheless the 21 arrested are strong CPM cadres

For those who have been arrested it will be a tough time the coming two years. After that they are the heroes and that is why more and more people indulge in political offence.

K A Solaman

Kerala kangaroo court.

On one aspect Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's mass contact programme is a welcome move as the poor and needy people get their requests to Government attended. Nevertheless, the programme is an obvious example of bureaucratic inefficacy in the State.  If officials were not unwilling to hear the complaints of the people the paraphernalia of spending 2-3 crores for conducting mass contact programme can be out rightly avoided.  The success of mass contact program makes officials to keep more and more files ready for the clearance of the CM when he turns out for the programme.

Interestingly the mass contact programme is not seen elsewhere in the world as it would send wrong message regarding bureaucratic failure in that country. So, in other way the Ommen Chandy government tells the world that the rule under him is topsy-turvy.  With mass contact programme the Kerala Government has turned into a Kangaroo court where the government officials are not accountable to any one.

Doing something for the common man should not be by mass contact programme but  by making the officials responsible. Chief Minister of a State need not do all the clerical works.

K A Solaman 

Face the music

A special court has found the former chief minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad, guilty in the notorious fodder scam case. This is a big blow to the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the former politician’s career. It will change the political scenario of Bihar to a great extent (“Verdict that can re-engineer political and social equations”, Oct 1). Prasad was was found guilty of corruption, criminal conspiracy and cheating in the 17-year-old fodder scam case. According to the established norms of a recent judgment delivered by the Supreme Court, he stands disqualified from Parliament and is ineligible for contesting elections for at least six years. The Centre has been lambasted by various critics for allegedly attempting to protect convicted ministers by trying to introduce a controversial ordinance that negated the verdict of the apex court. The fodder scam involved the siphoning of funds from the Chaibasa treasury (which is now in Jharkhand) during Prasad’s tenure as the chief minister of Bihar in the 1990s. The theft spanned several years, and many state government administrators and officials were involved in it. This verdict will send out a strong warning to corrupt politicians of the entire country. K.A. Solaman,  Kerala The Telegraph, Kolkata Oct 4, 2013

Vidyarambam.

'Vidyarambham'  is an auspicious occasion and that is why thousands of children attend this  ceremony to mark the beginning of their learning. A heavy rush is seen at places where this ceremony is held. In  most places the administers of the first letter are little learned and unlearned ‘poojaaris’. A few wicked politicians also have acted as gurus. The fate of these children is beyond one’s imagination.

Interestingly a few parents seek the service of more than one guru as a precautionary measure.

K A Solaman 

Andhra division –a foolish act.

Divide and rule is the policy of Manmohan singh Government and it is evident from the bifurcation of the State of Andhra Pradesh. Division of Andhra Pradesh is a hasty and thoughtless act.  The issue of capital has been pushed to 10 years and the people will still have the problem later. It is not only the case of division that accompanies the expenses of building a capital, but also it involves the salaries and perks of a cabinet.  The cost to the Government exchequer is huge and where does the Congress intend to bring this amount is unknown?

The State of Andhra has already suffered from a long period of strike and the strike will likely to intensify. The loss of revenue due to this strike is huge.  Normal life was paralysed in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. The united Andhra supporters blocked highways and enforced closure of shops and other commercial establishments and educational institutions in the two regions. Sporadic incidents of public and private property being attacked also came in from many districts.

Political parties will now start taking advantage of this situation and there will be a repeated show of militancy. The ultimate losers are the common people. The division has not benefited anybody except a few Congress leaders, nevertheless, they should also feel the heat due to the uncontrollable violence in Andhra.

K A Solaman

Kerala's debt trap

All day lotteries and all time liquor sale have not saved Kerala’s financial scenario. On the completion two and a half year in office the Ommen Chandy Government has not adopted a concrete strategy to combat the debt trap. The Finance Minister Mani is seen more interested in preaching “adhwanavarga sidhantham”(working class ideology) than to take steps to boost tax collection. He was, for quite long, dreaming of becoming the CM in coalition with the other front.  Kerala needs a bail-out package from centre and the CM with his disturbed mind for the whole tenure has not done anything to get assistance from the Centre.  Chandy and Mani are not confident of achieving the targeted tax collection. Instead the latter is targeting the former with his loose-tongued assistant chief whip P C George.

 Measures like introduction of e-filing of return under sales tax act and corruption free check posts are not in the scene. Compliance from the bureaucracy for tax collection is poor as the ministers themselves give protection to tax evaders. However, the Police and the Road Transport Department are doing all the abject things to squeeze vehicle owners but the amount so collected  is inadequate  to meet the ministerial extravagance.

The Union Finance Minister permitting Kerala government to go for market borrowing also widens Kerala’s debt trap. And if this trend persists even a new born in Kerala would become a debtor for several thousand rupees.

K A Solaman 

Lalu's conviction

The verdict is a major blow to Lalu Prasad. The judgment has great significance at a time when the ruling UPA government and the BJP are locked in a war of words over the ordinance with regard to convicted politicians. It also sends a strong warning to corrupt political leaders.

K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha 

The Hindu published on 1-10-2013

For personal gains.

Enjoying power without any accountability is an added advantage for the future prime minister Rahu Gandhi. His denouncing of the controversial ordinance to negate the Supreme Court verdict on convicted lawmakers as ‘complete nonsense’ is something in that direction. Rahul Gandhi said the ordinance should be ‘torn up and thrown away’. The statement of Rahul has shaken the PM Dr Manmohan Singh and the latter said the issue would be considered by the Cabinet. How easy to swivel the decision of an elected Government without any answerability? The whole episode is an image building exercise of Rahul Gandhi, one which is akin to group weeping of all Congress men before the mother and the son.

It is true that common people do not generally want politicos involved in criminal cases as lawmakers. But the ordinance contains something more than that. Nowadays it is the practice of political parties to trap leaders of rival group by filing false case. And it would take several years to come out from a criminal case due to the snail pace of the judicial system. Rahul Gandhi, in fact, has not studied the ordinance and hence optioned for erratic outburst against the prime minister. The opposition of BJP is explicable as they are the Opposition party while that of Rahul Gandhi, being the Congress Vice-President, is not reasonable. It is aimed at personal gains.

 K A Solaman 

Fodder scam verdict

The judgement is a major blow for Lalu Prasad Yadav,the former Rail Minitster and CM of Bihar not only because of facing immediate disqualification as a Member of Parliament but also of the punishment he likely to get on October 3. The SC verdict has  great significance at a time when the ruling UPA Government and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are locked in a war of words pertaining the ordinance with regard to convicted politicians.

It is known to all political circles that the fodder scam involved the siphoning of funds from the Bihar Government treasury. The alleged theft spanned over several years, and many Bihar state government administrative and elected officials across multiple administrations were allegedly engaged in it. Additionally, there are also allegations that they were involved in the fabrication of "vast herds of fictitious livestock" for which fodder, medicines and animal husbandry equipment was supposedly procured. The land mark verdict sends strong warning to corrupt politicians of the entire country especially to those in  Kerala where culprits of Palmolien and Lavelin scams try to escape by hook or crook.

K A Solaman

Rajan panel report.

Raghuram Rajan too played politics with the panel headed by him ranking Goa and Kerala as the most advanced states. A person who travelled through the length and breadth of Gujarat would see the development in that State. The report is rather intended to belittle BJP as Gujarat is ruled by Narendra Modi. Modi is the Prime Ministerial candidate of BJP.

If truth be told Goa and Kerala, the two states in the top chart, are merely tourism centres, and only the rich foreigners visit these places. If the tourist flow stops the income is only from liquor sale. And  there is acute price rise in Kerala and the power supply is always in doldrums. On the other hand in Gujarat under Modi's regime power production is surplus and neighbouring states are benefitted from it.

The expert committee criteria to find a state whether undeveloped or under developed, is beyond the comprehension of common man.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 28-9-2013

K A Solaman Blog: Futile Aadhar.

K A Solaman Blog: Futile Aadhar.: After spending a huge sum for Aadhar project, now the SC ruling has come as a big blow to the government. Most people have wasted their...

Futile Aadhar.

After spending a huge sum for Aadhar project, now the SC ruling has come as a big blow to the government. Most people have wasted their valuable time by standing in long queues to get the Aadhar. Then, what is the use in getting new one when its purpose itself is uncertain. Crores of Rupees wasted under Aadhar scheme without any valid purpose would have been utilized for providing drinking water in backward and tribal and areas where people and animals drink from the same dirty ponds.

When the citizens of this country are having Voter Identity Card, PAN Card , Ration card etc.,there was no purpose of  having another card . So, despite the expenditure already incurred in the Aadhar Project, the Central Government should scrap it forthwith, as it will not serve any specific purpose at all.  Seemingly Aadhar is nothing but another scam from the UPA. It looks like the SC has read the malafide intention of the government.  Issuing Aadhar to illegal migrants from Bangladesh is aimed at illegal vote bank.

The interesting point is, some have already started getting LPG subsidy via Aadhar linked bank account. What about, then, those who have not procured their Aadhar card? Will they get subsidy without Aadhar card and on what basis? Is it still advisable to get one?

K A Solaman

Heinous crime

The attack on All Saints church in the northwestern city of Peshawar killing eight one innocent people and  injuring many is a heinous crime. The Pakistani Taliban which is believed to be behind the crime is a  deadliest group to be wiped out from the globe. The whole episode indicates that minorities are not protected in a country like Pakistan. The Jihadis behind bomb blast are not actual Islamists and they choosing to enact their heinous carnage inside a Christian church, is really appalling.

 According to Islam, women and children should not be attacked at any cost. Islamism never recommends killings of innocent people and hence these Jihadis are real  threat to true Muslims. It is the testing time for Nawaz Sharif.  He should immediately deploy the Pakistan Army to wipe out terrorism within his country.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 24-9-2013

K A Solaman Blog: Dam fear

K A Solaman Blog: Dam fear: Dam fear is a hot topic of discussion in Kerala for quite long. The hallucinated Water Resorce Minister of Kerala added enough havoc in...

Dam fear

Dam fear is a hot topic of discussion in Kerala for quite long. The hallucinated Water Resorce Minister of Kerala added enough havoc in the matter of dam safety. The sudden fall of Mullapperiyar dam was the subject matter then. However, despite the heavy down fall the ‘dilapidated’ Mullapperiyar dam is still intact and  none even like to remember the issue now.

And  the focus is shifted to Idukki dam.   The officials of KSEB in connivance with the minister threaten the local people for an immediate evacuation. ‘Evacuate or die’ -that is the only message the officials could give.

It is a cruel feat for the Kerala ministers and officials to keep people to live  in fear and despair. What they gain from this drama is unknown They are doing little to relieve the pressure of the dam such as sandbagging the area and pumping water over the dam into the surrounding agricultural areas.

All people know the calamity if a dam collapses or water is released. But creating panic on this issue is unfounded. Let the people die happily and  peacefully and not feared.

K A Solaman
The Deccan Chronicle, Kerala published on 23-9-2013

Cherthala gas mess.

Lakshmi  gas  agency is a  Bharat Gas  distributor of Cherthala, Alappuzha district and their service is in utter doldrums. This I say because due to their poor service consumers have to spend more money and time to meet their gas requirement.

The previous gas agency of Cherthala was Prasanth gas agency and when they put their shutters down Lakshmi agency was started. Due to the meager service of the new agency, all the 35000 consumers now have to book their cylinder at the agency office by paying whole amount and have to collect the cylinder from a distant godown at Varanadu. The consumers have to travel all the distance to Varanadu  by spending another 200-300 rupees by way of auto-rickshaw charge. This along with two days job loss, one day for booking another day for collection of cylinder, brings immense hardships to consumers.  And hose who are aged and ailing are the most affected. The agency entertains no home service as there is some dispute between the new agency and the workers of the old agency.

Sadly the Labour officer, the local M L A, the Oil Company, the Supply officer and the District Administration remain as mute spectators. They simply watch and enjoy the plight of all the 35000 consumers under the agency. Interestingly, the rich and the influential also feel the heat of the pitiable service of the gas agency for the last month. Is there no solution for this gas imbroglio?

Declining to deliver cylinder to ones premise is a consumer rights violation and hence the gas agency and the oil company should be punished for their negligence. The workers who disrupt  home service should be prosecuted.


K A Solaman

Teachers retired from St Michael's College, Cherthala

NATIONAL TEACHERS' DAY

These are all  teachers retired from St Michael's College, Cherthala

 From top L to R I Row 1 P O Thomas, 2 Catherine Morris, 3 T C Koshy, 4 P J Paul 5 A C Joseph 6 K G Sudhakaran Nair, 7 S Peaceamma, 8 V R Haridas, 9 N Vasundara Kamath 

II Row 10 Glory Joseph Mathan 11 P A Jochan 12 P N Vishnu radhan Nampoothiri 13 A P Mathew 14 George Thomas 15 Thresiamma Eapen 16 K V Stella 17 K A Sen, 18 Gricy Peter 

III Row 19 Francis Zelma Queenie 20 K V Ummachan 21 M Shyla Medonna,22 W F Jayamohanan 23 Jose P kalloopparambil 24 R Narayana Pillai 25 P J Jose 26 V K George 27 V A Marykutty

 IV Row 28 K A Solaman 29 M A Mathew 30 Susheela Marshal 31 Angela Jean Thomas 32 M K Kurian, 33 K J John 34 K C Joseph Mathan 35 Margret Isaac 36 Pius Mathai. 

V Row 37 P V Nirmala, 38 Paul Prasadu 39 Anna Jose 40 V Sankaran Unni 41 V A Francis 42 A S Jacob 43 V K Rajani 44 A T Sen Pillai 45 P R Sreekumara Kurup.

-K A Solaman

Heartless men

 Hundreds of Indian cormorants, which had been nestling in a tree in front of the Alappuzha south police station, were left without a shelter when municipal workers chopped off branches of the tree two weeks ago. The chicks were thrown out of the nests and died as a result. Any act of cruelty to animals, birds or trees is akin to cruelty to our kith and kin. The municipal authority, which issued the order to prune the tree, must be an association of heartless men. The officials and the workers deserve no pardon.

K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha, Kerala

The Telegraph, Calcutta, dated 15-9-2013

NaMo as PM

Not only Advaniji, the Americans too do not think Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister of the country. That is why the US still keep pending Namo’s request for visa to visit that US. However in India, discussions are on the line that Narendra Modi would be the next PM. Does it mean that people’s mandate is not needed for the same? And when the incumbent PM is willing to serve under the new PM Rahul Gandhi how is it unchallenging for Namo to become the next PM?

So it would be better for the BJP and Congress not to name the future PM. Let these parties fight in the election and then decide the PM. When Advaniji expresses disappointment over BJP President’s style of functioning and Congress party is charged with numerous corruptions there is no possibility for Narendra Modi or Rahul Gandhi to become the PM.

And this does not mean that one from the Third Front, if exists one, would come as PM. The Left and other splinter parties are insignificant in the making of PM.

K A Solaman 

Published by the New Indian Express on 16-9-2013

Spirited move

Tamil Nadu and Kerala joining hands to ensure there is no flow of liquor across the border is a welcome step.

More officers should be posted to inspect toddy shops and bars to prevent liquor tragedies, especially during the festival season.

K. A. Solaman, e-mail 

The Hindu Business Line, dated 11-9-2013

Happy Onam Greetings !

Poor Indian health care system.

It would be profitable for Indian medical fraternity to shut up their ‘shops’ and better start more profit making business  like making curry powder or chappathi with chicken  as there are more takers for these bits and pieces than their medical care. From Kerala Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, all prefer US to India for medical assistance. Achuthanandan once said he was not ready for a lucky draw with Indian doctors and hence went to US. Likewise, the Indian doctors were not even disclosed of the ailment that Sonia Gandhi had.

The right to good health is of supreme importance but in fact, the world’s most populous democracy, cannot  guarantee that to our citizens. Our country is fast becoming the hub for medical tourism where people from other countries flock to get good quality treatment  nevertheless our nethas prefer US. A confidence building measure  is, therefore, imperative in Indian health care system.


K A Solaman

K A Solaman Blog: Multi-faceted Delhi Nair

K A Solaman Blog: Multi-faceted Delhi Nair:  Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor is a multi-faceted personality according to Vice President Hamid Ansari....

Multi-faceted Delhi Nair

 Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor is a multi-faceted personality according to Vice President Hamid Ansari. Presenting the first Sree Narayana Guru Global Secular and Peace Award to Tharoor, Ansari said: “Tharoor is a cerebral scholar, prolific writer, a brilliant orator and an international civil servant of repute”.

Perhaps Ansari may not be aware of Tharoor’s habit of recurrent marriage, his reluctance not to travel in cattle class, his preference to Taj International Hotel instead of Minister’s official residence and his share in the sweat equity in T20.  And of the most Tharoor is a not a true Kerala Nair according to NSS General Secretary Sukumaran Nair.

It is true that at a commemorative function no one will speak out frankly.

K A Solaman

Ridiculous survey result.

As a part of a UN study on men a British medical journal published a survey result  that in Asia Pacific region  over 1 in 10 men had raped a woman who was not their partner. The finding is ridiculous as it is  intended to lower the standing of  people of the area. If this non-sense study is extended to European countries the figure will be more astounding. There in those countries women are raped at gun point  and if  this survey was made in Britain the result would be that 100 percent men would have raped at least one woman and 100 percent women would had been raped at least once in life. In Asian countries the availability of gun is not that much high

In India the population is about 125 crores. If one accepts the published survey ratio of 1:10 for India, it means that more than 6 crore men are rapists in India alone.  This unbelievable rubbish has been occurred in the minds of some European fools especially the British as the survey result has been published by a London study team. Idiotic people could say anything, anywhere, nevertheless it is short of people’s acceptance.

K A Solaman

Against killer spirit

Tamil Nadu and Kerala joining hands to ensure no flow of spirit across the border is a welcome step.

 It is known to all that a huge quantity of spirit flows Kerala from TN through deceitful agents who supply it illegally to toddy shops and other outlets. The toddy mixed with spirit is a lethal liquor and is fatal to people who consume it.

At Onam days  legally functioning toddy shops too will sell adulterated toddy for making high profit and hence Excise-Police surveillance is needed to contain the illicit liquor sale.   More just officers should be posted to inspect the toddy shops and bars to avoid any liquor tragedy during Onam season. Measures should be taken to see that there is no illegal transport of spirit into Kerala from TN and Karanataka. The vehicles moving between Kerala and other states should be regularly checked and if found guilty stringent action should be taken against vehicle owners. Utmost care should be taken to see that smuggling of spirit should be story of  times of yore in this Onam days.

K A Solaman
Published by the Deccan Chronicle, Kerala on 11-9-2013 

K A Solaman Blog: Raghuram effect

K A Solaman Blog: Raghuram effect: How fragile is the Indian Economy?  With the appointment of Raghuram Rajan as Reserve Bank Governor the stock market has shown a recovery...

Raghuram effect

How fragile is the Indian Economy?  With the appointment of Raghuram Rajan as Reserve Bank Governor the stock market has shown a recovery sign. The rupee now  strengthened by hefty 138 paise to trade at 65.69 against the dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market after fresh measures by the RBI. It is said that dollar selling by exporters and banks and fresh measures announced by new RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan to curb the rupee's slide helped domestic currency recover.

Where were these exporters and banks when rupee had nose-dived to bottom? Are the lessons of economics learned by former governor Subha Rao and present governor Raghuram Rajan different? And in a country where a single person viz., the Reserve Bank Governor could alone  control the country’s financial stability, what is the need for  former Reserve Bank Governor Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister of the country  and P Chidambaram as Finance Minister?

K A Solaman
Published by  Deccan Chronicle on 7 Sept 2013

Happy Teacher's day

On this teacher’s day.

September 5 is celebrated as Teacher's Day as it is Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's birthday and he is regarded as one of the finest teachers.

Teacher is the quintessence of life and it is only through a teacher that we are what we are today. The first teacher in our life is our mother, and then comes the father. They teach us, take care of us and raise us to be good human beings prepared to face the world. The hands that raise the child a thousand times and the hands that rock the cradle  a thousand rules the world. Our parents teach us to follow discipline and to learn the importance of values and respect in life. Each parent has his or her role to play and ideas to contribute. We are students in every step of life. As children, we learn from parents and the parents are our very first teachers.

Then we go to school and there we  learn from our teachers. We learn the basics of every language from our teachers. They teach us science, mathematics, social studies and what else. In colleges too we are supplemented with our beloved teachers.   It is indeed a pleasure and privilege to be with such learned people who selflessly teach us the art of science, the beauty of the surroundings and the history of the world. Teachers are gems and we cherish them forever.

Our next stage is the world where we start a career. Our team manager is our teacher. There we realize the importance of all the values, and rules set down by our parents at that young age. Suddenly, the discipline of putting things back in place, of going to bed on time, of praying when we wake up, all begins to make sense. We realize that time is money and we stop wasting time.

As we move further on in life, we settle down to a happy family life. Our spouse becomes our teacher. We learn a lot from him or her. She or he comes from a different background and we learn the art of adjustment and compromise. We share, care and begin to learn to share our personality with another person gradually we become parents. Our learning does not end here. We begin to learn from children. Child is the father of man- this Wordsworth statement perhaps means that the qualities exhibited by a child will deepen and appear in a marked form when the child grows up into a man. By observing and studying the behaviour, the inclinations, the preferences, the prejudices and the tendencies of child we can form an idea as to what sort of man he will develop into. We begin to behave ourself, we stop swearing and we do not indulge in bad habits. We learn from children. They are our best teachers.

As we grow old, we look back rocking our experiences back and forth. We realize that Teachers are Gems, they are important and they are here to make us what we are today. We are all students of one common teacher – LIFE. Life is the biggest teacher.

So on this teacher’s day let us all salute our loved, respected and amazing teachers!

K A Solaman

K A Solaman Blog: FSB for corruption

K A Solaman Blog: FSB for corruption: The National Food Security Bill, which seeks to provide heavily-subsidized food to two-thirds of India's 1.23 billion people, was pas...

FSB for corruption

The National Food Security Bill, which seeks to provide heavily-subsidized food to two-thirds of India's 1.23 billion people, was passed by the Rajya Sabha. With this bill, the Congress party is all set to face the 2014 elections. However, it is apprehended that the bill would have adverse impact as the Centre neither have the finance nor the availability of food grains to meet the promise. The existing poverty-alleviation schemes like MGNREGA are in shambles and hence the food security scheme would also well end up hare-brained. The Food Security bill is a game that Congress party had planned for getting a political mileage.  Other parties are also trying to take credit of the same. .Nevertheless, the rupee will go down further and there would be inflation of the type never witnessed before.

 Food Security actually means the boosting of production and increase of purchase capacity of food consumers. But the UPA government think it as the selling of food grains at a subsidized rate. Could any nation supply food grains at low price to all its citizens forever? 

Food Security Bill, in fact, is a  worst piece of legislation and it is certain  to take the nation to the brink of economic crisis. It will also generate corruption at an unprecedented level.

K A Solaman

K A Solaman Blog: A new phenomenon

K A Solaman Blog: A new phenomenon:  May be the price rise is not a  new phenomenon as Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said but inaction on the par...