No relief for the poor

Under the Modi regime, the country is facing the same bad phase as it did during the UPA government’s time. Development has been forgotten and the government is busy addressing the internal disturbances of the party. The finance minister has taken no corrective measures for the relief of the poor. The common people are not able to save even a single rupee due to high inflation and price rise of essential commodities.

KA Solaman

Kerala 

The Hindu Business Line published on June 3, 2015

Pollution check for easy money.

All my observations about police  checking vehicles  went wrong. Today(4th June) they sprang upon all the two wheeler owners near Mathilakm Green Gardens Hospital on NH 66 and fined every one for traffic violations. Even those without a ' no pollution' certificate were fined Rs 200 each. When all the state owned vehicles including KSRTC buses run without this certificate what is the logic in punishing two wheeler owners? Interestingly getting a pollution certificate is a matter of 70 rupees for which  pollution is not actually checked.

I think the local police keep a  grudge towards their newly appointed chief.
If it is the govt intention to get easy money then it is better to resort some meaningful method other than to tax poor two wheeler owners. The govt might have issued a notice for compulsory pollution certificate for all vehicles before asking the police for a rapid action with the blessing of the new police chief. 

The people of Aruvikkara are a lucky lot for they having no such humiliation in the coming month.

K A Solaman

Abuse and praise

The 4 km stretch from 11^th mile to Kanjikkuzhy on NH 66 was a place of frequent confrontation between  police and  vehicle owners as there were usually three police pickets in the stretch checking helmet, seat belt and what else. All of them were suddenly disappeared with the dictate of newly appointed police chief. Thus all the abuses hurled on police minister have now turned into all praises for the police chief.

If police chief and chief secretary are the policy making cream of the crop what is the fun in keeping a ministry by spending heavily from the State exchequer?

K A Solaman

Star campaigner at Aruvikkara.

It is an irony of fate to see that it is R Balakrishna Pillai is the star campaigner for LDF in Aruvikkara  and not the founder leader Achuthanandan. A man undergone jail term for one year for corruption becoming advocate of Marxist candidate is not all advantageous for the candidate. Now only Oommen Chandy feels the heat of giving jail term concession for Pillai for his 'iron disease'. Howeve, Pillai's campaign against UDF is good for them.

KASolaman

Mundane Indian laws.

By Bihar court ordering registration of an FIR against Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta, who have featured in the Maggi advertisements, it has been proved that Indian laws are rather mundane.

India is a place of sub-standard food items. But there is no check on quality of food products by government agencies. The poor people of this country are at the mercy of corrupt politicians, manufacturers, businessmen, traders and celebrities. The prime responsibility goes with the manufacturer and approving authority. The role of Bachchan or Dixit or Zinta in promoting a brand is not a big issue.

Sachin has done advertisements for food products and if anything found wrong with any of them, will Sachin be arrested? Bachchan has done advertisement for pulse polio drop. Will he become guilty if a child dies of reaction? In Kerala, Mammootty, Mohanlal and Manju Warier had featured in the ads of many substandard items like curry powder, apparels, fake finance companies, liquors, ayurvedic products, gold shops etc.. Will they be arrested if curry powder and gold ornaments found adulterated?

Nevertheless, the Bihar court order is an eye-opener for all rapacious celebrities who jump into the ads of low-quality consumer products. And in this respect actors Rajnikanth and Kamal Hasan are role models as they never attempted to hoodwink the gullible public by means of unscrupulous advertisements.

K A Solaman

Acche din kya?

Modi government is seemingly a product of speechifying. If people opening bank account is an indication of ‘ acche din’ it is alright. But for the poor and the daily wagers it is now very bad days. Even in stock market this peril could be seen.
Under Modi regime country is facing the same worse phase as that of UPA government.  Development has been forgotten and the government is  busy in addressing internal disturbances of the party. The present FM is seemingly inefficient as he has taken no corrective measures for the relief of the poor.  The common people are not able to save even a single rupee due to high inflation and price rise of essential commodities.

It is time for Modi Government to take immediate measures to prevent the fast eroding confidence on them by the common man.

K A Solaman

Published by NIE on 4 May 2015

Aiming high

Many are the ways to get into Guinness book of world records. A series of election failure can also be thought as one. This is the first impression one gets when BJP in Kerala fielded senior leader a O Rajagopal, as the party candidate from Aruvikkara.

When there are very smart leaders in BJP, it is highly unconvincing why this decision was taken by BJP core committee. Possibly they are aiming high to take Rajagopal to world record of consecutive election setbacks. Rajagopal has no single instance of success in elections though he was a union minister for some time.

K A Solaman

On line classes too?

It is ridiculous on the part of Ernakulam Maharaja’s college authority to shift admission process to the online for the reason that SFI activists laid siege to the Principal’s office and administrative wing of the Maharaja’s College. Autonomous status to Maharaja’s college is an unwanted one as it denies admission to many students from poor families. The SFI agitation in this case is in the right path.

Would the college authority also conduct classes on line with the assistance of LBS centre once the admission process is completed?

K A Solaman

Scripted drama

It is interesting to watch Rahul Gandhi enjoying tasty fish lunch served by a fisherman's family at Chavakkad, Kerala. The simplicity of the lunch lies in that it was served on the floor. The less flexible CM, KPCC President and Home Minister might have found it very difficult sit on the floor and eat.

The Congress vice-president was served curry and a variety of fish fry items including 'neymeen’, a very costly dish, along with 'kappa puzhukku'. Possibly the fish curry was indeed prepared in a 5 star hotel.

This kind of drama will not be of any good to the party. They should think why they lost miserably in the last election. Sitting on the floor, dining with poor, wearing ‘adivasi’ clothes are simply scripted dramas which won’t save the Congress.

K A Solaman

The sun set

Made-up achievements

This has reference to the letter put out as a newspaper ad by Prime Minister Narendra Modi . He said in it his government had rejuvenated a languishing economy, brought a corruption-free rule and restored trust. This is rather incongruous as our economy is facing a lot of disgrace because of various factors. The petrol price has been hiked several times and the stock market has nosedived.  The PM has only rhetoric and his government lacks potential to deliver good plans. The sort of corporate approach of the government is dangerous to the poor man

So the government must do something tangible to improve the ground reality faced by the nation. Rs 800 Crore spent on advertisements just to trumpet imaginary achievements of the government, is imprudent.  

K A Solaman

Ensure identity of migrant workers.

Kerala witnesses now a record inflow of workers from other states like West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. Estimates say there are more than two lakh migrant workers in state and crimes related with them are on the rise. Nearly about 50 cold blooded killings by them were reported in the recent past.

As the crime rate of migrant workers is on the rise a methodical vigilance is needed in this direction. Valid identity card should be ensured to all migrant workers to check Bengladesh migrants. These workers should also be provided with free work skills training, improved social welfare system and psychosomatic services.

K A Solaman

Delhi impasse.

The Delhi State governance at present is an unspeakable example demonstrating our immature political system even after 68 years of independence. What there happens is the murder of democracy. The Lieutenant Governor issuing orders defying the advice of Chief Minister is out of the ordinary as it makes fun of well-informed voters of Delhi.

It is to be noted that under democracy no one is above the Electoral College and free to comment on choice of voters.  In India only legislatures are responsible for administration of various states and not the Centre appointed Governors. So it is binding on LG to act on advice of CM and Council of ministers and any action against it would bring unprecedented impasse in administration.

K A Solaman

State is not ruled by church.

VHP leader Pravin Togadia’s effort to open five medical colleges and 10 engineering colleges in the State with the cooperation of various Hindu organisations is a welcome move. The organisation’s aim to launch educational institutions in Alappuzha and Idukki would remove the backwardness of the two districts. Nevertheless, Togadia’s move is doubtful because of his dubious history of hate speak. Togadia was once denied permission to enter into the state.

The SNDP Yogam Secretary Vellapplly Natesan endorsing Togadia saying “ the state is ruled by church” is dubious. It is apparently intended to create communal hatred and hence Togadia’s visit in the next month should be viewed cautiously.

K A Solaman

Ps: I dont know why NIE has not published the second part of this letter today(25May)

What a rip-off!

It has been reported that heart patients in India have to pay 700 per cent more than the import cost for stents — stents imported for ₹25,000 are sold at ₹1.55 lakh. This was revealed by the Food and Drug Administration. The survey has also shown that the MRP itself is exaggerated and depends on the whims and fancies of distributors. This shows how the doctors, hospitals and medical distributors are hand in hand, and cheat the citizens of India.

KA Solaman

Alappuzha, Kerala

Allopathic cheat

It has been reported that heart patients in India have to pay 700 percent more than the import cost for stents. Stents imported for Rs 25000 are sold at a price of Rs 1.55 lakh. This was revealed in the first-ever cost survey by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The survey has also shown that the maximum retail price (MRP) itself is exaggerated and depends on the whims and fancies of distributors. This shows how the doctors, hospitals and medical distributors are hand in hand , and cheat the poor citizens of India. They have no morality. God only can punish these unscrupulous rogues when the government remains as a mute spectator.

There are alternative medical systems, more effective for certain diseases than Allopathy but not given due importance in the lime light of big corporate allopathic hospitals. Most of these hospitals, with their widespread publicity, are doing daylight robbery. A noble profession has turned into a racket through unholy nexus between doctors and medical distributors.

The Government should act immediately and stop this kind of rip off.

K A Solaman
Published by the Hindu Business Lines on 21-5-15

Corruption in Pakistan?

After triggering a political storm in the State with his corruption remark, Congress leader A K Antony retracted from his earlier stand. Now he says his was only a general statement and not intended to target anyone.  

People of the state know well the corrupt practices in the state. A few ministers are involved in corruption and they will have to answer after the next election. Minister K Babu, who is alleged corrupt, says as if he read the mind of Antony that what the senior leader said is about bureaucratic corruption and not of ministers.. If bureaucrats object, no doubt, Antony will soon retract and say what he said about corruption is not related to India but to Pakistan.

By his comment Antony has proved that tumult in the party and its subsequent soothing are so fast in the Congress party unlike the CPM where the available PB often warns the founder leader.

K A Solaman 

Antony’s gimmicks

For the last four years, while in Kerala, it was A K Antony’s way to keep mouth shut to avoid any question relating corruption in the state. And in inescapable occasion, he would say the Kerala leaders are competent of handling any untoward circumstance. Now, at the fag-end of the rule he laments about widespread corruption aiming at  another chance in the next election. However, as usual Antony made a face-off exercise saying that he had made only a general statement.

It is a wonder that this veteran leader still lives in the 80s when people blindly believed such utterances. Now in an age of media exposure Antony’s gimmicks would not work. If he really wants to save the Congress party in the state  he should do something tangible by  supporting firmly good leaders like V M Sudheeran.

K A Solaman 

Thing of beauty?

The state of Kerala is a Kangaroo court where the rules and regulations of Indian Union are no longer binding. The Kerala State Minister for Information and Rural Development K C Joseph’s comment criticising the recent Supreme Court verdict banning photos of political dignitaries in government advertisements, is a pointer in this direction. It is not in tune with federal system, according to him.

Nevertheless, Joseph did not disclose the advantage of adding photos of not so cheerful faces of ministers in government ads. Instead it is a burden to the state exchequer. If the photos on government ads are intended to cheer the people it would be better to publish the photos of Katrina Kaif or Kareena Kapoor as Justice Markkandeya Katju once suggested  for a  beautiful face in PM’s chair.

 The famous English poet John Keats wrote: “A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever “. Does anyone think that the photo of  Kerala Minister is a beautiful thing?

K A Solaman

Demeaning national icons.

Recently in a local seminar on “Mahatma Gandhi s Philosophy”, I witnessed that there were less takers for Gandhiji. Most of the talkers supported Justice Markandeya Katju, A Roy, and Tamil poet Meenakandha Swami, all are supposedly   Gandhi abusers. Of course the name of Marathi poet V D Gurjar, who abused Gandhi, did not figure out as the talkers were unaware of him. In India it is a crime to dishonor National Flag and National Song but not Father of the Nation. This should end and in this regard the Supreme Court order on artistic freedom of expression is a welcome one.

No one should use abusive language against historical icons like Mahatma Gandhi.

K A Solaman

2006 Letter revisited!-The Hindu

Appalling apathy 

Ms. Patkar's fast has entered the seventh day. Yet the Government is unwilling to concede her demand on rehabilitation of the families affected by the Sardar Sarovar dam project. Such indifference is appalling. The Government should realise that her hunger-strike is receiving increasing support from across the country.

K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha, Kerala April 5, 2006, The Hindu

History repeats for Amma

History repeats first as a tragedy and then as a comedy. Ms Jayalalithaa’s earlier conviction and present acquittal tell the same story. Crime seen by one judge is not a crime for the other. Obviously our judiciary is blind and mute. The laws applicable to common man is longer hold good for celebrities and high profile politicians. 

In India majority politicians are rotten mangoes. The chance to choose better among them is not easy. Jayalalithaa in one aspect is better than other dirty politicians as she has no family and her asset is State asset. She will not spoil it for her kith and kin like Karunanidhi &Co.

K A Solaman   

Zonal rallies redundant

No rally could save the sinking UDF ship in Kerala as worst is their image. However, they are thinking of zonal rallies to highlight the achievements. . Interestingly, a final decision on rally on May 19 could not be taken by them as the infighting among the front partners goes unabated. Kerala Congress (M) supremo K M Mani, who is supposed to give green signal for the rally, is busy in US with his personal business.

Nevertheless, the UDF leaders can take a sigh of relief because all the splinter groups who are notorious for corruption are leaving UDF. R B Pillai and son had left the UDF. The Veeran faction of the JDU is in a desperate bid to have ministerial berth and hence started discussion with CPM. The RSP leader Chandrachoodan had mouthful against Oommen Chandy government.

Thus the prospects of the UDF go high and high as more splinters leave the front.. So rally of any sort envisaged by the UDF is unwarranted.

K A Solaman

Ridiculous move

This has reference to the government order to cancel the appointment of lecturers in Kerala University. The order is to cancel the appointments that were made after the government amended university rules in September 2013 to give the benefit of reservation to all categories. Accordingly, 11 lecturers will have to be dismissed. The higher education secretary has written to KU vice-chancellor, asking him to inform the government after cancelling the appointments.

This action shows how Thuglakian the proceedings are. The appointments were done according to the rules that existed prior to the September 2013 amendment. Applications for the posts were invited much before September 2013. The appointed teachers have almost completed nearly one-and-a-half years of service. Asking to dismiss them based on an order originated after the start of their recruitment process seems ridiculous.

As the university is a statutory body, the secretary can only suggest reconsideration of appointments. Being the appointing authority, it is up to the university to take action. Any unauthorised external intervention, even from the government, is out of the ordinary.

Besides, the majority of the appointed teachers joined the university departments after relinquishing their posts in government and affiliated colleges. In addition, the action will invite a series of judicial predicaments.

KA Solaman

The Hindu Business  Line published on 6-5-15

Cry my country

In India all celebrity criminals have many fans and these fans often attempt suicide when their hero is convicted. A Salman Khan fan attempting suicide outside high court, Mumbai is the latest example. For thousands of Salman fans now Justice A. M. Thipsay of the High Court is a hero and the Additional Sessions Judge D. W. Deshpande who awarded jail term to the actor is no-good. Cry my country for keeping the vast population uneducated and unrefined.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 8-5-15

Hit-and-run Khan

As the Mumbai session court convicted the Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case, many in the film industry expressed sympathy for the actor. The Bollywood affluent have little concern about homeless poor sleeping in footpaths. They argue for the loss of money in film industry with actor’s jail term and think they are above law. They hope for trouble-free trial in higher court leaving scant regard to poor man’s modesty.

So everyone who demands actor’s acquittal should understand that he is not being prosecuted for participating in any freedom struggle but for drunken driving. He killed an innocent man and injured others. The five year jail term is inadequate for the crime he committed.

Perhaps the real reason for his trial and conviction is woman’s curse, seemingly from a former Ms World..

K A Solaman

Cancellation of K U appointments.

This has reference to the government order to cancel the appointment of lecturers in Kerala University. The order is to cancel the appointments that were made after the government amended university rules in September 2013 to give the benefits of reservation to all categories. As per this order, 11 lecturers will have to be dismissed. It is the higher education secretary, who has written to KU vice-chancellor, asking him to inform the government after cancelling the appointments.

This action shows how Thuglakian the proceedings of the Higher education Secretary is. The appointments were done as per the rules existed prior to September 2013 amendment of rules. The applications for the posts were invited much before September 2013. The appointed teachers have almost completed nearly one and half year of service. And asking to dismiss them based on an order originated after start of their recruitment process seems ridiculous.

Moreover the Government Secretary could not ask VC to dismiss the teachers. As University is a statutory body, the Secretary can only suggest to reconsider the appointment if it will not stand before a legal analysis. Being the appointing authority, it is the University to take action. Any unauthorized external intervention, even from the government, is out of the ordinary.

Besides, the majority of the appointed teachers joined the University departments after relinquishing their posts of assistant professor in government and affiliated colleges. They could not return to their former institutions once they lose the job in the University. In addition the stupid action of the Higher Education Secretary will invite a series of judicial predicaments.

The whole episode shows some sort of political foul play from some corners, may it be Congress-A and Chamakkala led Congress-I rift. It is intended to tarnish the image of the University. And any action affecting the fate of 18 appointed lecturers would certainly harm the credibility of both the Government and the University. The teachers now working will definitely take up the matter to a court of justice if they are hurt. It is the responsibly of the government to reduce troubles than to create more.

K A Solaman

Quest for fake degree

After Bihar to appear in media for mass copying in public examination, it is Kerala’s turn to figure out with such tags. In Bihar the copiers are ordinary people but in Kerala it is an Inspector General of Police. This IG was found allegedly trying to copy during an LLM examination of MG University. He was  trying to copy answers from the papers in his possession during MG University LLM examination.
The reason for such high handedness by top officials is very clear if we examine the plum posts waiting for them after retirement. The posts of Information Commissioners, Human Rights Commissioners, PSC members, Consumer Redrassal Forum members are waiting for retired personnel with law degree. If the aspirant has the habit of making liaison with top politicians, it is very easy to get into the posts.    
IG’s copying indicates the putrid state of flawed examination system by the University. The quest for fake degree would end if the government so decides not to post retired service personnel to coveted posts.

K A Solaman

Market losses

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley now says the central government does not intend to tax retrospectively, and the taxation policy is not against foreign investments.

This is a rather belated statement as the Indian investors have lost several croresin the last two weeks . ‘A’ group shares shed 50 per cent of their market value due to the confusion.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold their stocks at a throwaway price, driving Indian investors to despair. Unlike former finance minister P Chidambaram, Jaitley lacks the skills to protect Indian stock market. Investors were in a lively mood when the Narendra Modi government assumed charge.

The business now seen in the market is only speculative play by some bear operators.

KA Solaman

Alappuzha, Kerala The Hindu Business Line on 29-4-15

Poor websites

The Kerala Government websites are very fragile and their hacking has now become a child’s play. The hacking of 50 government websites allegedly by a Pakistani hacker is an indication in this direction. The websites hacked include those of Kochi Metro, State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Hill Area Development Agency, State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society Limited etc. I can’t imagine the special interest of Pakistani hacker in Kerala sites alone. Thanks to him for not doing his job against Kerala Secondary Education Board website, which is now in total despair due to the software failure and the subsequent debacle.

Though a probe has been launched into the hacking, quite naturally as we have seen earlier, it will end up nowhere. It is high time for the Government to hand over its website management to a more responsible agency other than CDIT.

K A Solaman 

Checking street dogs.

Most places in the state face the stray dog menace. Residents have horrific tales to tell about encounters with violent street dogs. Hundreds of people, including children, fall prey to these dogs in villages too. But no tangible action has been taken by the local body authorities to contain the menace. Though not against the law, culling of these animals is thought as too cruel and hence a wide spread sterilization was planned. But it never materialized As an alternative, a few suggested to transport these animals to dog-eating northern states. This seems rather ridiculous as the parcel charge would exceed the cost of the meat.

The major reason for dog menace is street pollution by the public. Until people stopped feeding the dogs by way of road-side fish-meat stalls and hotel waste dog menace would become very difficult to deal with. Municipal/ Panchayat authorities should show the guts to keep the street clean.

K A Solaman 

Paradox of Medical care

It is known to all now that advances in modern medical care have not contributed in enhancing survival among really sick. What we see in modern hospitals is a mere business where a critically sick is being kept in air cooled ventilators surrounded by untried people with somber faces and denying him a peaceful death before the dear ones.

There are multispecialty and super specialty hospitals in Kerala when even a dead man is admitted and charged Rs 50000 as fee for declaring him dead. I think all hospitals work as profit making business establishments where care and compassion are forgotten stories.   

K A Solaman 
The New Indian Express published on 30-4-2015

Necropolis of hope

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley now says the central government does not intend to tax retrospectively, and the taxation policy is not against foreign investments. This is rather a belated statement as the Indian investors lost several crores of rupees in the last two weeks of time. Several A group shares had shed out 50 percent of its market value due to the non-clarity of the tax policy. The FIIs sold their stocks at a throwaway price taking Indian investors to despair.

Unlike former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the present minister Jaitley lacks the skill to protect Indian Stock Market. In every down fall Chidambaram interfered effectively and protected investors’ interests. On the other hand Jaitley is busy with other business when the entire market nose-dived to bottom.

The stock investors were in a lively mood when Modi Government assumed charge.. Nevertheless, that dynamism soon perished making Indian stock market a necropolis of hope. Almost all investors deserted the market. The business now seen in the market is only a speculative play by some beer operators. If the Finance Ministry has nothing to do for saving the stock market all the investors who abandoned the market would never return.

K A Solaman
The Hindu Business Line Published on 29 April 2015

Wasting precious time

It is very fascinating to see that former Kerala Government Chief Whip P.C. George had filed a petition at the Kerala High Court against Finance Minister K.M. Mani alleging that the latter held the twin posts of the minister as well as that of the Chairman of Kerala Congress (M), which is against the party constitution. Interestingly, George was holding twin posts of Chief Whip and Vice Chairman of the party till date. Will anyone from Kerala Congress file a petition with retrospective effect against George for holding twin posts?

Of late George has become a redundant one in his party and in the entire Kerala politics. His word and deed are often utter blunders.

The Kerala Congress party is a “split and grow party”. Their constitution, written or unwritten, is what K M Mani proposes and it has no genuineness. It may change time to time. It is high time for judicial forums to take wise decisions to put in the corner these unscrupulous politicians wasting the precious time of the courts.

K A Solaman 

Second edition result.

After many controversies, Kerala SSLC results have been republished but still debate continues. The grace marks of many students are still missing. Some of them have lost all the high grades despite the assurance of the minister. In the updated version of the result, pass percentage has increased to a record figure of 98.57, which is 0.58percent higher than the results published earlier. Thanks to all related to SSLC examination for not permitting the result to exceed 100 percent!

With the improved result an additional 2700 students also got into the pass wagon. It would be then interesting to check whether any of them belongs to 100 percent pass schools declared earlier. Further the education department can take a sigh of relief as newly passed students have not committed any undesirable act after first edition of the result.

K A Solaman

The Last Crusader

Crusaders may come from politicians, philosophers and even from abkaris. The working president of Kerala Hotels & Bar Association, Biju Ramesh is the last crusader. He is all set to campaign against corruption and so he first alleged that minister K M Mani  was paid off Rs 1 crore in 2 installments but did not mention the name of other ministers who were bribed by him then,. Now he discloses the names of other ministers like K Babu. Why he had paid all these money to the ministers is unknown. If abkari business is a legitimate one why he paid all these amount, and wherefrom he got this money and for what?

Accepting bribe and giving it are equally punishable offence. Then, while we target the corrupt ministers why we spare the abkari briber?

K A Solaman
The NIE published on 25-4-15 

SSLC Result Farce

The SSLC result in 2010 was 90.78 percent and in 2015 it went up to 97.99. There is a stead-fast increase of 1.2 percent every year. The credit for this high growth of SSLC result can be claimed by both LDF and UDF ministries. And if this trend continues in 2017 the percentage of result will be 100.4! The school final examination in Kerala has thus become a meaningless gesture.  

The Education Department has declared the SSLC result this year in a record time of 18 days as an attempt to fulfil the UDF motto of “high speed”.  However, the department has drawn criticism from various corners and educationalists have objected to the flawed speedy evaluation. The Kerala Education department should bear in mind that certain assignments should be given its own time and care. A woman could not become expecting and then deliver within 100 days instead of the stipulated 280 days!

K A Solaman

True comrade at the helm

Sitaram Yechury’s elevation as CPM General Secretary is an elixir to the party as many youngsters who left the party will return to it. Unlike other leaders Yechuri is one with high level of education and concern towards party’s founding leaders. He is able to lead the CPM to the main stream of reason and can make meaningful dialogues with other party leaders.  He has no past history of sharing fortune derived from Lavalin and others.

Like V S Achuthanandan, Yechury  is quite different from "professional" communists like, Karat or Pinarayi.

K A Solaman

The NIE published on 21 March 2015

Big mouth

 Defaming iconic figures often helps put people under the spotlight of the media. People like Arundhati Roy and the former judge, Markandey Katju, seem to bask in such negative glory. In 2014, Roy had stated that Mahatma Gandhi had "casteist tendencies". In his blog, Katju has now called Gandhi a "British agent", who did great harm to India. Katju has ignored reality and proved himself to be a shallow thinker. The blog post has no mention of the reason Gandhi lost his life. Gandhi has been a source of inspiration for leaders like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr, to name a few. He has inspired and influenced liberation struggles the world over. He was revered not only by the masses but also by the British. Katju had once suggested that Katrina Kaif should be made president on account of her "beautiful face". He has crossed all limits by defaming Gandhi.

Yours faithfully,

K.A. Solaman, Kerala

The Telegraph, Calcutta, published on 20 March 2015

Yechury is better

By the time this letter sees light the CPM would have its new general secretary.  May be Yechury or SRP, it makes no difference for the common people of India. It is only a matter of importance for the party cadres.
However, for the survival of the party Yechury is a better candidate than SRP as the latter is unlikely to win in a Panchayath ward if contested. He lacks the support of mass leader and party founder VS Achuthanandan. Moreover, SRP’s erstwhile stand endorses that he would become an orderly of Pinarayi Vijayan if elected. The general secretary becoming the deputy of a PB member is detrimental to the party. What is good for the party is Yechury's secretary-ship because if SRP comes, there would be further ruin for CPM. 
By Yechuri taking up of the Job of general secretary many youngsters who left the party would return.

K A Solaman

Non-sense comment by Raut

There are many misinformed persons in this country. Wonderfully they often get media coverage. For instance look at the comment by Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut. He asks the voting rights of Indian Muslims should be revoked to stop vote-bank politics. Raut ‘s comment is an absolute non-sense..

Making communal hatred is way of appeasing another community. Actually in India all communal outfits incuding Shiv Sena are playing vote bank politics in this manner. Shiv Sena is doing it for quite long.. Interestingly there is no dearth for the pouring in of communal comments despite of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance.

K A Solaman

Non-sense by CS

The Malayalam term “vivarakkedu” may be deciphered as non-sense or misinformation in English. The Kerala Chief Secretary’s comment about Opposition leader Achuthanandan’s observation of the extravagance behind the house construction of Chief secretary as ‘non-sense’ is absolutely a non-sense. In all possibility the CS may correct his word ‘non-sense’ to ‘misinformation’.

And what the Opposition leader said about CS is correct. Education and top post would not necessarily make a person sensible. The Chief Secretry’s comment is condemnable.

The Chief Secretary would have revered Achuthanandan’s age and experience.

K A Solaman 

Abandon Meera Kumari Commission report

The Meera Kumari Commission report permits foreign fishing vehicles in our sea and hence it justifies the looting of our marine resources by foreign companies. It welcomes foreign crews in Indian waters The Central government should morsel the Commission report as the implementation of the commission's recommendations would adversely affect fishing community and it would lead to their displacement
There should be no action to affect the livelihood of the traditional fishing communities and the government should try to protect the fish resources on which thousands of fishermen are dependent.

K A Solaman
Published by NIE on 14-4-15

Rare breed

Though the Kerala Congress(M) is all set to expel P C George from the vice-chairman's post of the party, George is still in the party. However, his colleagues have revived his outfit Kerala Congress(secular) with TS John as chairman, M T Joseph as working chairman and George Kuruvila the treasurer. Is there anyone else remains is a point to ponder.

Kerala Congress(S) has thus become a party within a party, a rare breed among all political parties. I wonder why the Christian clergies, the so-called god fathers of Kerala Congress, take an inert attitude in the present embarrassing situation.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 13-4-15

Laughing stock

JSS state-committee entrusting its party leader Gouri Amma to hold talks with the CPM leadership regarding posts to be offered to the party after the merger is interesting. This is similar to sub-committees of Kerala Congress(B) entrusting R Balakrishna Pillai, RSP(B) entrusting Shibu Baby John or Kerala Congress(Secular) entrusting P C George to take decisions. JSS state committee now consist only one member of the 34 founding members of the party.

In politics everything happening now is very much laughable

K A Solaman

Hartal tentacles

Whether  it is ruled by UDF or LDF the hartal drill continues and undoubtedly a day is reserved for  hartal in every month in Kerala. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy or Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan have  justification to hartal calls. For ordinary people “hartal” is the synonym of bandh. Varoius courts in  India had issued orders against hartals and in effect all these court drills had reached nowhere. Many precious court hours could have been saved if the hartal issue was not taken for discussion by the court.

When the court banned the bandh as undemocratic and unconstitutional, the word has been transformed conveniently in to hartal by the political parties. The parties consider there is no existence for them if occasional hartals are not being observed in the state. Many criticize hartals because of the damages done by it such as loss of man power, paralysis of industrial sectors , educational institutions, banking organizations etc. However, the hartal brings many advantages too!.

The present financial position of the State Government is very bleak; whatever may be the gesture of the Finance Minister. The major source of income for the government is from the sale of Indian made foreign liquor.The revenue from liquor will be high on hartal day as most people enjoy hartal as a holiday. They keep a bottle of their brand at home and spend the day enjoying liquor along with TV. TV channels have all the spices relating politics and sex and they make a huge profit from it.

All hartals are a kind of unkindness and ways to show the muscle power of political parties. Kerala has become a hartal’s own state and even a two member party could paralyze the state by a hartal call. Rule and ruin is the watchword of the present UDF government and they do nothing to protect common man from hartal tentacles.

K A Solaman

Need HIV test

What is common among the politicians in Kerala viz. Jose K Mani, A P Abdullakutty, K B Ganesh Kumar, K C Venugopal etc is anybody’s guess. Nevertheless, all these need an immediate HIV test if con woman Saritha Nair and her political- channel sponsors can be believed. It is alleged that Saritha had relationship with all these guys and if carrying out of innumerable tests is not feasible it can be restricted to Saritha nair alone. And in doing so the wives of aforesaid politicians can take a sigh of relief and thereby they can sleep peacefully.

The hard-core politicians R B Pillai and P C George and some malicious T V Channels have their own hand-outs to make Kerala politics murky and sexy. The voters of Kerala should dump these political pimps in the next election.

K A Solaman

Winning Skill of Kodiyeri

It is a noble gesture on the part of CPM state Secretary Kodiyeri to visit Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan at his official residence to invite him for the party meeting. This will certainly slacken the tense relationship between the veteran leader and the party. May be because of Sitaram Yechury’s liking of VS, the whole gesture of Kodiyeri would bring new light into the party.

All corrupt UDF government still surviving the state is because of the flaws in CPM under Pinarayi’s leadership. With VS in front the party could gain added vigour to fight against the corrupt rule. Moreover a party cannot preach good abusing its founding father as some young comrades had done in the state meet. And with Kodiyeri’s present signal further public mortification against VS from some corners of the party would come to a halt.

K A Solaman

Channel filth

As KPCC President V M Sudheeran said  the Kerala High Court verdict to approve state government's decision to close down bars in the state is historic. Drinking and drug abuse are not the fundamental rights of the citizens.
For the past one year the bar owners and drunkards are making all the hue cry over liquor and bar bribe. Almost all ministers are allegedly involved in bar scam and they find little time to attend problems relating common man. All their interest is concentrated in answering the questions of bar owners and media men over channels.

Meanwhile some channel owners, instead of abusing V M Sudheeran and like-minded people directly, make interviews with hard-core drunkards and telecast horrific abuses making all households an ugly market place. This attempt should be seriously viewed and the channel owners should be warned. They should not be permitted to deliver nonstop filth by way of drunkard interviews for protecting the interest of bar owners. Inquiry must be conducted against channel owners also for their hide and seek with bar owners.

K A Solaman