Rare move

Arvind Kejriwal's decision not to hold any portfolios as chief minister must have stunned India's greedy politicians. Perhaps Kejriwal is the only chief minister not to have a single portfolio. Usually, ministries are distributed among ministers who act like supreme commanders of the departments they head. Even the chief minister does not dare question them. A chief minister should only monitor other ministries and suggest changes. Kejriwal's act is thus quite remarkable.

- K A Solaman

The Telegraph, Culcutta, published on 21 Feb 2015

Disgraceful comment

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comment that “conversion to Christianity was the main objective behind Mother Teresa's service to the poor” is utterly disgraceful and disgusting.

It is an unquestionable fact that Mother Teresa helped the ailing and the poor. There are numerous pictures, reports, and papers relating her service to the downtrodden. She dedicated her life for the service of the poor in a country that was not her motherland. She founded an organization that worked with lepers, orphans, and destitute. She was absolutely a Christian and the Christian honesty was reflected in her life.  Because of her love and truthful service many poor people found contentment in living with her. And that was not like recent ‘ghar vappassi” experimented by Hindu outfits with money and might.

So, it is of course a shame on those people with the patronage of BJP government to disparage a saint woman after her death. Mother Teresa sacrificed her life to save the poor millions and such a life needs to be celebrated irrespective of one’s religion

K A Solaman

No anti-party activist

The only mass leader V S Achuthanandan who was true to the ideology he preached has been kicked out of the party. The hide and seek played in this connection by the party leadership has been identified by all the people.  It is not unwise on the part of veteran leader not to attend the state meet as secretariat resolution that termed him as an anti-party activist exists.

And with the imprudent decision of the party leadership to remove Achuthanandan from state secretariat the party had fallen in deep chaos. The new State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan would have to face tough time to spot on the blunder that created with Achuthanandan’s ouster.

The newly formed leadership of CPM consists even members, who were facing charges in the murder of rebel CPM leader T P Chandrasekheran. How could the new secretary to lead the party with these people?

K A Solaman

Patricide in CPM

Veteran leader V.S. Achuthanandan’s abrupt leaving of the venue of the CPI(M) State conference is sad. And for this he could not be blamed as such was the humiliation this connoisseur leader faced

In all the fourteen district meets of the CPM, the founder leader of the party was targeted by ill-advised leaders. This patricide continued and culminated at the State Conference. Achuthanandan has been at the receiving end of some intense harassment from the State leadership over the past few days. The low profile leader G Sudhakaran comparing Achuthanandan’s future to former Russian President Khrushchev’s exit is unwarranted. Tainted leaders like P Mohanan and others targeting founder leader is hateful.

One hopes that the comrades dining with ‘karimeen and Ampalappuzha palpayasam’ dishes would take wise decision to pacify the veteran, otherwise this would be their last dinner of the sort.

K A Solaman
The NIE published on 23-2-15

Clueless Congress

After return with duck in the Delhi election the Congress leaders have become a desperate lot. They are clueless about what to do and not do. That is why they protest against the auction of the pinstripe suit of PM Modi and related articles. The auction that received an overwhelming response with one of the textile traders quoting a whopping Rs. 1.21 crore for the suit has infuriated the Congress.  If the fund raised from the auction of Modi's gift items goes to the Clean Ganga Mission, it would be a good gesture.

Seemingly Congress workers do not want to clean Ganga. They just want to take advantage in troubled waters. Their role model is Oommen Chandy Government in Kerala, which is notorious for corruption and wastefulness.  If Modi decides to sell the gift he received   from a friend for a good cause what is wrong in it. The Congress would resort to some meaningful agitations.

K A Solaman

Is there any award for him?

I endorse ADGP TP Sen Kumar’s view on film awards. He said “nothing would happen if awards are not given to cinema or even if there is no cinema. Awards should be given to farmers who work on soil”.

It is a fact that a huge sum is siphoned out from state exchequer by way of film awards. Politicians, film stars and channels hoodwink people in the name of these awards. But in fact most the films give  wrong messages to the viewers. In new gen movies ganga-related violence are glorified and the themes of these movies are not questioned by any one. Mammootty or Mohanlal acting as serial killers in movies is horrifying. Notorious criminal-business man killing a security guard at Sobha city or youths beating to death a bus driver at Cherthala might be misguided by such films. Cinema style operation of quotation gangs are also the end result of bad films. People, of course, need leisure and entertainment after hard work but the sort given by present day cinema is unjustifiable.

So it is time to stop awards to film sorority. Instead awards must be given to farmers who melt their blood into water to feed the starving. Here in my place there is a man curved sharply to the left side because of making innumerable tea. Is there any award for him?

K A Solaman.

Remarkable gesture

It is stunning information to all power greedy ministers in the country that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal would not hold any portfolio in the Delhi Ministry. Probably Kejriwal will be the only chief minister of this sort in the history of India. His record is unbreakable.
What we see in Kerala and elsewhere is, CM is holding charge of one department and all others are distributed or rather sold to other ministers. These ministers then become supreme commanders of those departments and act as they like. They are unquestioned even by the chief minister. If tourism is allocated for one minister he may then demand Forest portfolio too, aiming to cut and sell a few trees at his will.

A chief minister need only surveillance He should watch over all ministries and suggest change if needed. Kejriwal’s gesture in this direction is remarkable.

K A Solaman.
The Hindu Business Line Published on 17-2-2015

Belittling Hridayakumari committee.

There is a planned attempt to belittle the recommendations made by the B. Hridayakumari committee on choice-based credit and semester system. The Committee had recommended mark system of evaluation instead of the defective grading system in colleges

The grading system was a farce with which even below average students get good grade without knowing the basics of the subject they study. This has been fully understood by the Hridayakumari committee and hence they favored evaluation by mark system. The mark system has brought good result and that is why those sluggish students lose their semester. A large number of students appearing for the semester improvement examinations is not a big issue. This allows students to take their lessons seriously.  In the grading system very bright students and the idle ones come under the same grade A. This should end. The hard work of bright students should be documented.

In most of the colleges the teaching-learning practice is not undertaken seriously. What the students attain from assignment work is unknown to their teachers too. Extracurricular works like organic farming, goat farming, milk marketing etc took upper hand over curricular activities in colleges.The teachers spend their time without any specific responsibility. They document everything in papers but no relation with the actual work undertaken.  If any institution had suspended the regular classes to accommodate the large number of students who appeared for the improvement examinations, it  is of  no harm. Teachers saying that many bright students got poor marks despite performing well in the examinations, is incomprehensible.  These teachers also say that students who do not expect good marks are in for a surprise after they receive better results. Then the fault is really with the teachers as they are the guides and at the same time evaluators.  

So it is ridiculous to disapprove the wise decisions of Prof Hridayakumari committee, which recommended  the mark system of evaluation instead of faulty grading method.

K A Solaman

Needed social boycott.

The Yogam secretary Vellappally Natesan and his strong adversary Gokulam Gopalan are powerful advocates of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalanam. Though appear publically attacking each other they unite for liquor and for opposing KPCC President V M Sudheeran. Sudheeran’s remark against Gopkulam has hit the target and can be considered as a strong campaign against liquor.

Liquor barons amass money and they are even able to control the government. These devil advocates spoil the life of the uneducated and the poor by the liquor they sell. The only way to escape from the clutches is a social boycott of these liquor barons. And in that direction  Sudheeran’s move is very bold.

K A Solaman

Poor taste

Ordinary Indians wear the humble dhoti but the prime minister, Narendra Modi, certainly has expensive taste when it comes to clothes. The suit he wore during his chat with Obama on the lawns of Hyderabad House reportedly cost Rs 10 lakh. Even though the price of the suit remains unconfirmed, according to a leading manufacturer, a nine-metre-long cloth of the same material would approximately cost 14 lakh. Modi may have a singular sense of style. But a suit with the name of the prime minister sewn over it is surely a mark of extravagance, even though there are no rigid rules dictating the dress code of heads of state on formal occasions. Modi, who speaks a lot about his humble roots, is unlikely to address the plight of India's poor people.

K.A. Solaman,  Kerala

Hartal’s own country

In 2013, the Supreme Court in a letter to the Union government and all State governments sought explanations about the extent to which action had been taken for implementing an order of the court banning all hartals and bandhs in the country. In 2009 the Supreme Court had banned hartals and bandhs and issued concrete directions asking for compensation from parties indulging in hartals. Whatever the clarification by the governments on this issue the hartal observance goes unabated. Today, in Kerala normal life was disrupted by the hartal called by the BJP demanding resignation of State Finance Minister KM Mani in the wake of the graft charges against him. The State government has declared a holiday for educational institutions. Thus Kerala has become ‘Hartal’s own country’ once again. But the more surprising reality is: Justice P Sadasivam, who issued orders against hartal, is the governor of the Sate at present. When will our court orders take a more redolent route?

KA Solaman

Published the Hindu Business Line on 27 Jan 2015

Historic zero for Congress

The people of Delhi have done a wonderful job by awarding a historic victory to the AAP, a stunning failure to the  BJP and a historic zero to the Congress. Whatever may be the interpretation in this respect one thing that is clear is; voters of Delhi want a corruption free government. They want to get rid of hollow speeches like women should give birth to four children or the non-sense campaign 'ghar wapsi'. Modi government doing little to check the price rise of essential commodities has infuriated the public.
No doubt, Delhi election is a turning point of present political situation. It shows mere rhetoric has no importance among general public. It is a wakeup call for BJP and strong warning for the Congress.

K A Solaman

Problem solving

It  is a matter of big dilemma for the Chief Minister and Sports Minister of Kerala what to do with the money that actor Mohanlal returned unclaimed in connection with the National games. The Government is waiting for Lal’s endorsement in this regard. And as a solution to the problem I would like to suggest as under.

Mohanlal has not less than three thousand women associates in and outside the film industry. So it would be better on the part of the Government to distribute the money equally among these women. Lal is unlikely to feel anything wrong in this decision and will be delighted much.

K A Solaman

AAP’s firm posture

The AAP rejecting Delhi Imam’s offer of support is marvellous as no other political party in India would refuse vote offer at election. And this is a lesson to those unprincipled political leaders who always seek votes even from dreaded criminals. Bukhari said “AAP is a secular party and Muslims for their betterment should vote for it."

Interestingly in the last Delhi assembly elections, Bukhari was against AAP and had then appealed people to vote for Congress. The Congress party lost then. Perhaps the AAP leaders remember this too for their repudiation to Bhukhari.

It is a fact that the so called secular parties seek alliance with communal outfits elsewhere in the country. The CPM alliance with Madani PDP or Congress alliance with Muslim League in Kerala  are straight examples of these parties not recalling their secular credentials. The ideology is often kept in safe locker by all political parties and in that case AAP stand is remarkable.  Imam playing communal politics has been well revealed by AAP by their firm posture.

K A Solaman

Writing on the wall

Opinion polls say Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to face his first state election defeat in Delhi. That is why the BJP has ordered scores of its top national and state leaders to campaign for election to the Delhi assembly where the AAP is threatening to stop its drive.

There are many reasons for BJP lacking its force. First, their CM candidate Kiran Bedi bears the tag of an opportunist. Second, many think Modi’s word and deed are not in concurrence. His suit of ₹10 lakh never reflects the true aspirations of the country where ‘a half- naked fakir’ struggled and became a martyr. Despite promises, the Modi government has taken no action to unearth the illegal foreign investment of top politicians and businessmen. So the writing on the wall is very clear.

KA Solaman

The Hindu Business Line on 5-2-15

Mohanlal is our pride, then Mammootty?

Though not concerned about the plight of aged and the ailing stars, the reigning film stars in Malayalam are a class and they stand together for their cause. This is more evident from the actor   Mammootty  requesting all country men to stop the witch-hunt against his colleague and actor Mohanlal over the controversy that erupted following the poor response to his ‘Lalism’ musical show at the inauguration of the 35th National Games. Extending his support to Mohanlal, Mammootty said “Mohanlal is our pride. We accept him for his acting talent. Let’s not put in him in further mental agony”. And of course as a reciprocation Mammootty can also expect such support from Mohanlal when he is in trouble.

Of late, cine stars in Malayalam are making much hue and cry over every aspect. They want to siphon out money from all sources. And when disparagement happens ask the people to stop it. Who are they to ask the people not to share their opinion when they make non-sense performance for looting public money. 

Mammootty’s alliance with CPM and Mohanlal’s association with Congress via NSS are known to all. They being the celebrities of Kerala should take some restraint when dealing with all matters relating  the State. May be Mohanlal and Mommootty are pride of Keralites and “Men of Age” for the Sports Minister. But it doesn't mean that people of Kerala should admit all their ruses.

K A Solaman  

National stability

I am a Christian by birth but I have no hesitation to condemn the attack on Hindu temples and Mosques. Likewise I condemn repeated attacks on various churches in Delhi. So it is very urgent on the part of central government to protect churches, temples and mosques. CCTVs should be installed at all worship places for gathering evidence and the attackers should be immediately booked. The BJP Government should be more vigilant on attacks on Muslims and Christians because such incidents are under-checked or unchecked at their regime.
It is the time now for all political parties not to fish in troubled waters. If everyone wants to break the law on religion the stability of the nation will be in peril. 

K A Solaman
Published  byNIE on7-2-15

Writing on the wall

Opinion polls tell that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to face his first state election defeat in Delhi. That is why  Bharatiya Janata Party has ordered scores of its top national and state leaders to campaign for election to the Delhi assembly where the Aam Aadmi Party is threatening to stop its drive.
There are many reasons for BJP lacking its force.  First one is: their CM candidate Kiren Bedi is ex-police chief whom the people often hate. Moreover she bears the tag of opportunist as she was a strong adversary of BJP for quite long.

 Secondly PM Narendra Modi’s word and deed are not in concurrence. Assurance given by him before election to the Parliament  has been swallowed without water. His suit of Rs. 10 lakh with his name sewed on it never reflects the true aspirations of the country where ‘a half naked fakir’ struggled and become martyr.  Despite its promise the Modi Government has taken no action to unearth the illegal foreign investment of top politicians and business men.
So the writing on wall is very clear.

K A Solaman

The Hindu Business Line published on 5-2-2015

Lalism flop

Cine Actor Mohanlal, who owns musical band Lalism returning the whole amount he received for the show at the inaugural of the 35th National Games.or Minister Thiruvanchoor politely asking Lal to not do so is not the actual issue. The matter is the wrongdoing of the officials in siphoning out the State money. Spending a sum of about Rs 2 crore for a vicious show is a colossal waste.
It is inTN people have the habit of worshiping cine stars. This custom has been now transported to Kerala. Even silly things like organic farming and cow dung disposal are inaugurated by cine stars for attracting crowd. This would end. The Lalism flop is good indicator.
The film stars can be given the respect they deserve. Any undue veneration for looting state revenue is unwarranted. Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan saying that Mohanlal would come up with reply to the criticism over Lalism is ridiculous as he is not the organizer of 35th National Games of India.
K A Solaman

Sheer extravagance.

Who said India is a poor man’s country? When most of the layman in India lives with a dhoti worth Rs 100 the Indian PM Narendra Modi's suit while on 'chai pe charcha' with US President Barack Obama.comes with very expensive price tag. Reports say the suit may have price about Rs 10 lakh or  more. According to the report, the fabric to make the suit reportedly is of Savile Row made by Holland & Sherry, who make the finest cloth in the world. The seven metres of fabric alone has been estimated to be about Rs 2,50,000. The intricate golden colour embroidery could have costed around 10,000 pounds, i.e. Rs 9,30,000!

Everyone in India is now aware that it is the habit of Narendra Modi to exhibit his fashion sense every time he steps out in public. But the suit wearing his own name sewn repeatedly on his bandhgala suit is a mark of extravagance.

There's no fine print in the manuals how government heads of India should dress on formal occasions. Nevertheless Narendra Modi has crossed all limits with his extravagance. Simplicity with swadeshi dress is the accepted life style of Indians. The PM who speaks volumes in this tune has shattered all such concepts. It is unlikely to get anything from Modi for the poor lakhs in India.

K A Solaman

scooter

Hartal’s own country

In 2013 February the Supreme Court of India  in a letter to the Union Government and all the State Governments sought explanations about the extent to which  the action taken for implementing order of the Court banning all hartals and bandhs in the country. And it was in 2009 the SC banned all hartal and bandhs and issued some concrete directions asking compensation from parties indulging in hartals.
Whatever be the clarification by the government on this issue the hartal observance goes unabated. Today in Kerala normal life across was  disrupted by the hartal called by BJP demanding resignation of Finance Minister K M Mani in the wake of graft charges against him

The state government has declared a holiday for educational institutions.  Thus Kerala has become ‘Hartal’s own country’ once again. But the more surprising reality is: Justice P Sadasivam, who issued orders against hartal, is the governor of the Sate at present.
When will our court orders take a more redolent route?

K A Solaman 

Kangaroo Court

‘Technology-a boon or bane’ is a hot subject of debate. In the present day perspective the boon of technology outweighs its curse and hence we say we cannot begin to imagine a world without the benefits of technology. However, for motor vehicle owners in the state the technology would soon become a matter of exasperation.

This I say because the Motor Vehicle Department of Kerala is going to reward anyone who flags traffic rule violations complete with videos and images of them being committed and the number plate of the culprit vehicle. The technology gadgets like Whatsapp and facebook  can be used for this.

The MVD till date has painted a very poor image among public minds with their corrupt officials and this would worsen further by the new invention. The streets would become a battle field for gullible vehicle riders and the moral police deputed by the MVD. The MVD is in fact a Kangaroo court where rules and regulations are made and implemented notwithstanding the Motor Vehicle Act.

K A Solaman

Currency counting machine!

It is not an amazing reality that Kerala Finanace Minister owns a currency counting machine at his residence. But what is surprising is that his machine is error prone. Sometimes it counts one crore, and at other times it counts 3 crores, then 19 crores etc. The Finance Minister of Kerala deals with a huge sum and hence a counting machine is a must! 

The recent disclosure to media by Kerala Bar Owner Association Secretary Biju Ramesh and Mani’s erstwhile colleagues like R Balakrishna  Pillai reveals that Mani has amassed a huge sum paving tax evaders to do their job smoothly. The revenue of the State has been deflated by the shocking act of K M Mani. Mani’s gluttony has taken the State to financial bankruptcy.  

K A Solaman
Published by New Indian Express on 23-1-2015

Don’t be rabbits

Pope Francis has said that good Catholics do not have to breed “like rabbits” defending church’s stance on artificial contraception. Though not a rejoinder to Sakshi Maharaj of VHP it is an answer to Bishop Powathil of Kerala Church who asked Christian couple to procreate profusely. For poor Catholics residing in Kerala or elsewhere what is applicable to them are the words of Pontiff rather than the Bishop. With Pontiff’s comment the prevalence of honouring couples with a dozen children in some places of Kerala would come to an end.

When Government of India speaks about the norm of single child it is impudent on the part of catholic clergies or others to argue against that policy.The Christian concept of sexuality should not be for producing more children but for inculcating good manners and well behaviour among them. The Pontiff has stressed this concept vehemently with his latest comment. 

K A Solaman 

Poonjar Mao!

The Kerala Congress leader  K M Mani is in soup for quite long because of his alleged involvement in one crore bar bribery case. And that is why his close lieutenant P C George came with barb against the ministry in which he is the Chief Whip. George in a statement has openly praised the activities of Maoists and wanted the state to desist from hunting them down. He accused officials of misappropriating crores of rupees in the name of amassing weapons for this witch-hunt. According to him Maoists are fighting on the side of justice for the disadvantaged classes, like the Adivasis.

If George is that much concerned  about the Maoists he should soon resign from the ministry and join hands with them. Nevertheless his attire is not suited for a  job of the Maoists. George is insincere in his word and deed. In fact Maoists are wayward group and they have nothing to do with mainstream politics. George’s intention is something else, even a school boy can understand it. George is highly redundant in UDF Ministry.

K A Solaman

Unfortunate action

“The law takes its own course”.  This is the motto of Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, though, at present, he retracts from questions relating this as it is a  subject for mimicry artists in channels. Now he found himself with egg on his face with his move to withdraw a case against Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) activists for pouring black oil on Keshavendra Kumar IAS in 2012. This move is a matter of surprise for all peace loving citizens of the state.

In my opinion it is not a case to be withdrawn as it would affect the confidence of the bureaucracy. Petty politics should not become a subject for harming and humiliating sincere officers. The Government should stick on the law to take its own course.

K A Solaman

Thuglak state

For many reasons ours is a Thuglak State, one among them is the punishment by police in making offenders write imposition like `I wont ride bike without wearing helmet'. Who permitted the police to make such punishment when their prime duty is to keep law and order intact? They have no right to beat on the back, impose imposition on offenders or put down them before public for not bearing helmet. The nature and quantum of punishment can be decided only by the court.

If earlier in any verdict the court has said there is no mistake in making offenders write imposition, it gives no direction to the police to implement the same. Helmet offence is an easy pick for the police while they deliberately ignore other offences  For instance the use of public address system above permissible decibel level has been banned by several courts but the police take least interest in enforcing the order. There is no single instance the police asking sound pollution offenders to write a single line as imposition.

The police fining people or asking them to write imposition a hundred or thousand times without trial is unacceptable for a civilised country. Instead the police can charge case and send for trail in judicial forum.

K A Solaman

Autonomous certificates

The autonomous colleges in Kochi have announced that from next June onwards they would offer a re-designed curriculum focusing on student attributes and ensuring their holistic development. The colleges would go for an approximate 20 per cent change in the existing curriculum from the academic year 2015-16 for its undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

It seems that what is going in these colleges are superior to that in affiliated colleges. But in fact Board of Studies in these colleges is constituted with lesser experts and their decision in re-structuring syllabus would become disastrous. Teaching in these colleges is only a side business and the main work is clerical. The claim of the governing council chairman of these colleges that re-structured programmes should address the needs of the society besides having relevance to the regional and national developmental needs is mere rhetoric.

Actually nothing of the serious sort would take place in these colleges. The degree certificates issued to students of these colleges lack acceptance in other universities and abroad as these colleges are little known outside.

K A Solaman

Taking students to the bottom.

Is it CBSE or State Higher Secondary Boards that contribute more to degrade the school education system? An exact answer is not possible; nevertheless, both have hand-outs to take the standard of school education to the bottom. The CBSE planning to introduce online evaluation of class X answer sheets from the upcoming board examinations in the State is in this direction. The CBSE has introduced the digital marking system of answer sheets of class X and class XII.

For digital evaluation, answer sheets would be in objective type where the student need only know a, b c, and d. The students blacken the bubble opposite to their choice and these markings are read by the optical mark reader attached to a computer. The whole process is automatic and there is no need for a student to know to write even his name correctly. The writing ability and intellectual capability of students are not tested in such OMR evaluation. A student having skill to do the job of marking OMR sheet often come in the pass list. And there is no need of trained teachers too.

If CBSE or any other agency wishes to have some standard among students they should ask them to write examinations conducted with question papers containing essay, descriptive, and problem solving questions. If everything is in OMR mode, the standard of students will be under threat.

K A Solaman

Kiss against Fascism

The term ‘fascism’ has more acceptance than ‘love’ at least in places like Alappuzha. That is why the Alappuzha edition of the ‘Kiss of love’ event has been rechristened as ‘ Kiss against fascism’. As  CPM Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan abandoned the Kiss of love protest, the DYFI unit of Alappuzha, who supported the protest in the beginning, could not directly enter into action. However their involvement is evident from the term fascism as it is the historical attack against communism, conservatism and parliamentary liberalism. They think an open kiss is a direct action against fascism and sponsors communism.

As  Alappuzha beach would  become the venue of ‘Kiss against Fascism’ the police should take candle vigil to avoid untoward circumstance. The Kiss programme organisers of Alappuzha are less known people who till now have not contributed anything to the society. Their aim is to get notoriety. Of late some people keep the notion that  notoriety is valuable than fame.

K A Solaman

Inorganic farming!

What is now heard a lot in Kerala is the Organic farming, a term that gathered momentum after a Manju Warrier   flick ‘How old are you?’ The government has made Ms Warrier as its brand ambassador and initiated efforts to promote organic farming in  number of  places in Kerala.

In fact term ‘organic farming’ is a misnomer as there is no dearth for pesticides in every nook and corner of the state. The agriculturists use pesticides in profuse and sell their products under the label organic farming. Film star Mammootty and Sreenivasan spending highly for organic farming is obviously a shrewd method to turn black money into white. The initiative taken by film stars to encourage farmers to switch over to organic methods of cultivation, is thus a  method to hoodwink the poor farmers. A local farmer could not spend Rs 25000 just for 250 kg of local vegetable.

If the government is strict with organic farming what should it do first is to stop all pesticide production and sale in the state.

K A Solaman

Happy New Year!

Gone was the tumultuous year blemished by sadness. Terrorist attacks,  Ebola outbreaks and a dreadful series of airline disasters are the dismal footprints of last year. However, there were a few instances of cheerfulness. 

On this New Year eve let us cherish Neil Gaiman. He said: “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something”.

A New Year day is day of fresh start. A new chapter in life is waiting to be written. New questions are to be asked and answer to be discovered. Freshers  would come  and incumbents go. Happy New Year!

K A Solaman

Happy 2015 !

Surrender to liquor lobby

It is absolutely true that the UDF government of Kerala had surrendered to "liquor lobby" and charges  made by KPCC President in this direction is correct.  What CM and his coterie saying about ‘practical changes’ in the liquor policy is incomprehensible. The story, of plight of bar workers who lost jobs due to closure of bars and adverse impact on tourism sector, is fabricated and is intended to hide the bribe they collected from abkari contractors. The ministers and MLAs keeping deep concern over bar workers are out rightly ignoring the innumerable families lost in despair due to liquor hazards.  Permitting bars to function on all days and saying the government would succeed in creating awareness among people on the policy is ridiculous.

It is to be stated that the credit the nine percent fall in recent liquor consumption in Kerala goes to V M Sudheeran alone. The government sponsored practicability is undoubtedly a virtual sabotage of the policy of gradual reduction of liquor sale.

K A Solaman 

Sad Congress party

V M Sudheeran said that the new liquor policy decided by the UDF had been subverted by the government. This statement is absolutely right. The deviation in the liquor policy is shocking. The UDF government has backtracked from their earlier stand. The interests of bar lobbies thus have been protected.

Sudheeran with his ‘Janapaksha yatra' has made an impact in the society and made awareness especially among women about the  evils of liquor. A wide section of people whole heartedly supported him. There was a fall in road accidents, crimes and domestic violence but with the present practical approach government toppled all his efforts. The stand of Oommen Chandy and his faithful K  Babu saying that Kerala tourism sector was affected with partial liquor ban is not standing.

The Congress spokesman M M Hassan saying that Sudheeran’s stand is sorrowful to Congress party, is unwarranted. If Hassan is so sad he can make happy himself by taking 2-3 pegs from the nearby bar.

K A Solaman

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Mani should resign

Corruption case now registered against, Kerala’s Finance Minister K.M. Mani  is a sufficient reason for him to resign  from the Cabinet. The case is registered after an  inquiry into the allegation that Mani had accepted Rs.1 crore as bribe from the Kerala Bar Hotel Owners’ Association. When there are leaders in Kerala Congress other than Mani it would be better for him to abstain from the present position and come clean after the verdict,

In Kerala almost all the politicians are corrupt and Mani is not an exception. The wealth the leaders amassed till now is not by legitimate methods but by hook or crook. In bars there is no governmental  audit regarding the money they collected by selling liquor. It is quite evident that in many bars most of the liquors sold are seconds and for this there are ministerial blessings. The bar owners pay heavily for this help. Mani, the most crafty fellow in the Kerala cabinet saying that he has not accepted bribe is unbelievable.

If Mani is unwilling to resign he should be removed from the post by the Chief Minister. If  UDF is reluctant to keep away Mani for some time it should become detrimental for them in the coming elections.

K A Solaman

Pinarayi speak

I endorse what CPM State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said about Kiss of Love protest. He said” it is quite inappropriate to enact what a husband and wife do inside their bedroom in a public place.” And with this statement the DYFI comrades in Alappuzha are in a perplexed state as they are the sponsors of the next edition of the protest there.

As kiss protest is a public annoyance it is the duty of the police force to control it. The incidence of general public dealing with the protestors is because of the inaction of the police in checking down public nuisance. The act of protestors, equating their kiss event with those of Pope kissing a child or Mata Amritanandamayi hugging a disciple, is of ignorance.

K A Solaman
The Hindu Business Line on 11-12-2014

Public kiss threat

The people of Kerala have been again warned by miscreants that the next edition of the ‘kiss of love’ will be conducted in Alappuzha. It is high time for the police to take preventive measures against such illegal activities. The minister in charge of police Ramesh Chennithala saying that he is least concerned about the incident is unjustifiable.

If public kiss protest is against what is called moral policing, will activist can engage in public liquor consumption? Is it possible for anyone to walk without dress if it is beyond the concern of passersby? The Home Minister should be a little for practical and those public kissers disobeying law or police direction should be severely dealt with.

Presumably the forces behind kiss protesters are drug mafia and prostitute outfits. A group of transgenders, known for their unruly life, are also behind the kiss protest. Immoral activities Kerala streets should not be permitted at any cost.

K A Solaman

Celebrities courting trouble.

The incidents of celebrities courting trouble in Kerala are rampant. Of late, first of its kind came from noted cine singer K J Jesudas coming heavily on women wearing jeans. Then came veteran actor Mammootty asking women folk to not give birth to children if they are unable give them home-made food. Finally it is the turn of another veteran actor Mohanlal asking  pardon for Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who is convicted under TADA for his involvement in Mumbai serial blasts case of 1993. Mohanlal commented that an actor like Sanjay Dutt, who has been a part of the cinema industry from last 2 decades, should be treated with compassion. The implication is: he too be forgiven for mistakes of the sort. The actor, who has been nominated for the civilian award Padma Bhushan, is also facing troubles for the possessing ivory without license. He at present serves the post of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army .A person holding such a position should never come in favour of a person involved in terrorist acts.

This is not for the first time the actor is falling in trouble. He earlier received huge criticisms for appearing in the commercial of a popular jewellery brand in military uniform. His latest blog, in which he criticizes moral policing and advocating man–woman public kiss is also controversial.

The writer-orator late Dr Sukumar Azhikode once called the actor as “Kankalam”( epitome of wickedness). And with the recent comments the actor has not proved it otherwise.

K A Solaman   

Stop the looting

It is welcome to see that the NDA government has started filing charges against individuals with illicit accounts in Swiss banks. The move has set off speculation that some prominent politicians may figure on the list. Politicians, both ruling and opposition, want to block the release of the names. It means our legal system is flawed. Politicians looting the country are more treacherous than underworld dons. If the Modi government, sticking to its election promise, releases the names, it will be doing a great favour. All those blacklisted should be debarred from politics and sent to jail. The loot money should be declared a national treasure. Parliament should propound strict laws so no politician can loot the nation anymore.

KA Solaman

Alappuzha The Hindu business Line on Oct 23, 2014t

Bird flu outbreak

The outbreak of bird flu in Kuttanadu, Kerala is a matter of serious concern. Several thousands of birds are dead. There is also an official work out to cull as many 1.5 lakh birds, including poultry, in the three affected districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. The loss of the farmers is terrific. So in this context quick action should be by the government to avert any untoward situation. The farmers should be given adequate compensation.

Since there is a chance of human beings getting infected with the virus, utmost care should be taken to protect the people and their belongings.

K A Solaman

Mullaperiyar fear.

One hundred and eighteen year old Mullaperiyar dam has undoubtedly become a matter of great havoc to people living on the banks of River Periyar. Not only the heavy water height the dam, heated exchange by the political heads has made the situation highly tense. People on the bank of river Periyar are panic. The permitted maximum water level of the reservoir is 136 feet and but with court order it is now 142 ft. As this was a rare phenomenon for past many years, people realized about the vast amount of water in the dam and that also made them more panic.

 Actually, the new leaks and the escalation of the old leaks could be very risky allowing for the age of the masonry dam built of surki, a technology available at the time of construction of the dam. The flaw of the dam is a matter of unending concern to people of Kerala as any danger to it could affect about 40 lakh people living in five districts of Kerala.

It is to be stressed that normal life time of any dam or atomic power plant is about 50 years. And in that case Mullaperiyar dam is a doubly expired one. So, the concern about safety of this dam is not mislaid. It should be abandoned on war-footing basis and new dam should be constructed. But Tamil Nadu is seen neglecting this aspect and not thinking about the dam safety. They are interested only with water they get from the dam and keeps scant regard to lives of million people of Kerala.

So it is time for Paneerselvam and his colleagues to stand favorably for the construction of new dam as there are all chances for the breaking of existing one causing huge human causality. If dam breaks and that too due to the negligence of the TN leaders no human endeavor could be able to repair the damage. So Paneer Selvam and Ommen Chandy, the two chief ministers of the states come together for an immediate discussion to reach a settlement over the Mullaperiyar imbroglio. TN should abandon its stance of strengthening of the dam. Instead the dam should be decommissioned first. Any disaster in the worst would certainly make political bosses of the states redundant and more worse is the loss of innocent human lives

K A Solaman

Iyer’s revelations.

The city of Kochi has become a pilgrim spot as former Supreme Court judge V.R. Krishna Iyer turned 100. Political leaders, legal luminaries, and well-wishers met Mr. Iyer at his residence to wish him. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Myanmar, wished Mr. Krishna Iyer through Twitter. But, he once again entered into  controversy with the once rejected claim regarding the conception of land reforms in the State. It was Iyer’s claim that it was he who wrote the agriculture land reforms law of 1957 and that Ms. Gouri Amma had no role in the law at all.

What Iyer has repeated now is a matter that veteran politician K.R. Gouri had outrightly rejected..
According to her Iyer’s statement was totally wrong and misleading. Gouri Amma had repeated several times that it was on April 11, 1957,  the government issued an ordinance on integrated land reforms, after which the Communist Party of India and the government began discussions on the same. Mr. Krishna Iyer, who had introduced a similar law when he was earlier a legislator with the Madras Assembly, came up with the same law. However, this was rejected by the government since it was restricted only to tenants in the Malabar region and was not comprehensive. Following this, a committee, comprising Ms. Gouri Amma from the Travancore region, C.H. Kanaran from the Malabar region and Gopalakrishnan from the Cochin region, was constituted. The land reforms draft Bill was shaped by this committee, with references to several other existing laws. Though it was first drafted as three laws, it was later integrated into one. This was released for public opinion. Relevant ones from around 2,500 suggestions that came up were incorporated and the final law was passed by the Assembly on June 30, 1959.

However, the Union government did not approve this Bill and sent it back, recommending more amendments, Ms. Gouri said. Mr. Krishna Iyer, she alleged, was not a member of the committee and had no major role in the conception of the law.

So what now Iyer, at the age of100, is doing is rewriting history and most probably there would be no takers for the same..

The learned Ex-Justice V R Krishna Iyer  had taken many  unacceptable stands like this. Another one was  the dragging in the name of Pope by referring to  incident of fishermen’s killing by Italian marines and saying Italy is the land of Pope.  Iyer had forgotten  the fact  that Pope is the legal head of Vatican and not of Italy. Yet another incident  is the  draconian bill drafted by the 12-member committee headed by him recommending provisions for imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 for fathering a third child by Indian nationals.

K A Solaman

Mullaperiyar level

The tussle over the age-old Mullaperiyar dam row has again reignited . Tamil Nadu has been operating the dam. Apart from providing drinking water to a number of districts, the dam is also the lifeline of irrigation. The question now is about dam safety and not about water sharing. In a quake-prone area, an old dam is a potential threat. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister must immediately start talks with his counterpart in Kerala and allay fears.

K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha

The Hindu published on 18 Nov, 2014

Dam fire again.

The fire over the age-old Mullaperiyar dam row has once again ignited. This time the Government of Kerala is approaching the court for relief to its people living near dam-river site.

The Tamil Nadu government has been operating the dam, produces hydro-electric power and distributes it in state. Apart from providing drinking water to the people of Madurai, Theni, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram, the diverted water is used to irrigate about 80,000 hectares of dry land in these districts.

Originated in Kerala and fully flowing through Kerala, Periyar is a rich source of water. For more than 100 years Tamil Nadu is irrigating and making power. Now the question is not water sharing but safety of the Dam. In an earth quake area, a 120 year old dam constructed without cement is a potential threat to 40 lakhs of people in Kerala. All reliable studies suggest a possible Mullapperiyar-dam collapse would collapse Idukki dam and eight others. And then the damage would be colossal.

As such it is the responsibility of TN Chief Minister to have a talk with his Kerala counterpart to alleviate the fear of several lakhs people living in the shores of Periyar.

K A Solaman

State honour for segregation

Educationist, critic, writer and orator professor B Hridayakumari has been cremated with full state honour, on the other hand bureaucrat and ace writer P C Sanal Kumar IAS has been denied it at his burial. This is seemingly obnoxious and needs a satisfactory explanation from those in charges of the affair.

If Hridayakumari was known for her proficiency in and understanding of both English and Malayalam intelligent Sanal Kumar was not below her in any aspect. He was a popular figure in literature and bureaucracy and deserves all state respects. State honour should not become a tool to segregate the dead based on influence and communal facet.

In fact the life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living and it has no tie up with state honour.

K A Solaman

Hats off the Principal

The Principal of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam should be congratulated for suspending 10 students for organizing a Hug of Love to express solidarity with the recently held Kiss of Love non-sense campaign. It is the duty of the principal to teach the students of his College that there are some lessons pertaining discipline. Ignoring warnings from authorities and teachers the Hug of Love students have openly stood against the code of conduct. And it is laughable to see that the students, who were suspended for 10 days, are planning to approach the court challenging the principal's decision. Most possibly the huggers will be awarded another reprimand from the court for wasting its precious time. The action of section of comrades endorsing the kiss-hug events is interesting as they have become insolvent of ideas.

Inter-caste marriage is not a big-event in this country. Nevertheless dragging girls in love and later tormenting them would result in more cases relating sexual abuse. The state, of late, is witnessing a lot of cases where girls have been fraught and have undergone mental stress due to this undesired independence. Let the colleges remain disciplined and be a place for learning rather than ruin.

It is questioning on the part of channels to promote kiss-hug events for attracting more edgy viewers who once found pleasure in the gimmicks of solar con-woman.  

K A Solaman  

Mani should resign

In the backdrop of the allegation by liquor bar owners that a bribe of Rs 1-crore has been given to Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani, he should resign immediately from the post. At the same time penal action must be taken against Kerala Bar Hotels president Biju Ramesh for bribing the minister. CPM State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan’s call for a court-supervised investigation into the accusation that Mani had taken the bribe, is pointless as the court could not interfere in this matter without any petition before it.

It is a matter pity on the minister who speaks volumes for the working class, to take bribe for exhilarating them and thereby ruining thousands of poor families. Mani’s channel plea asking Keralites to take a Karunya lottery seems ironical when most people are diseased by Government sponsored public intoxication

K A Solaman  

Kiss of chaos.

Mark Twain said: “Everything human is pathetic. The secret source of humour itself is not joy but sorrow. There is no humour in heaven”. Yes it is true in the case “kiss of love” protest in Kochi. The agitators have turned city into a hell of chaos with sorrow and humour. Some faces seen in kissing are not that much good for the act. In fact the kiss-chaos guys need some crude publicity. Next these people would argue that they would engage in more public nonsense. Their public kiss would move from cheek to lip to neck to where else and they tint that everyone opposing them as cavemen.

The kiss of love sponsors have close parallelism with Hippies of the 60s.  Hippies, by their dress, and lifestyle had seriously offended and outraged the society. They were dispensed with boring middle class customs such as bathing, neat dressing, and family discipline and outraged the conservative members of society. Nevertheless, the Hippism was finally wiped out from the globe.

If a person and his friend are in love and kissing, why should passersby is forced to witness personal act? The kiss-of-lovers are holding their rally without permission. It means they do believe in societal anarchy for negative publicity.

K A Solaman