Highly priced Kerala power

The power tariff by the Kerals State Electricity Board Is again on a hike. The proposed hike is ten percent. It was two years back the charge for single phase connection has been increased to Rs 30 from Rs 20. The fixed charge for three phase connection has been hiked to Rs 80 from Rs 60. With that hike, the board has garnered extra revenue of Rs 550 crore. There is no valid reason for the present hike except Chairman N S Pillai's ego.

Interestingly the highly priced Kerala power lacks quality. Though said there is no  cut,  power supply is intermittent. Tree touching removal is the new phrase for the present power cut

This price hike and others are a marked backtrack from the declared stance of  LDF Government during its inception. The manifesto by the LDF published on April 2016 reads: "If LDF forms a government, it will ensure that there will be no rise in prices of essential items". The manifesto also promises corruption-free, and clean governance. And, of course, power tariff hike is not covered by the manifesto.

K A Solaman

Rise in drug abuses

One of the aspects that Excise Department officials find most alarming in Kerala is rise in drug abuses related to schools. School students form a large part of the customer base for narcotic drugs.
Nearly 70 percent  of school children in the state are vulnerable to narcotics abuse. Not only students use narcotics, a few of them act as a supplier to schoolmates.

So in this context Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu saying that the government alone would not be able to tackle the problem of growing drug abuse, is significant. The parents, teachers and the entire society would have to be involved to check the menace.. The State should set up special cells to deal with the problem and honest and sincere  officers are to be posted to deal with the situation.

K A Solaman

Tottappan's fierce fall

It is a tragic end for the acting career of award winner cine actor Vinayakan as he was booked over a sexual harresment complaint from an activist and model.  This I say because of the acting career of Alansiar who was booked over a 'me too' case. Alansiar is nowhere in the cinema world at present.

The woman in her complaint alleged that when she phoned Vinayakan to invite him for a programme, he verbally abused her. He abused her mother also and she has a valid proof in this regard.

The incident shows celebrities, especially male ones, should take caution while dealing with persons of courage and integrity. Vinayakan's misbehaviour ended in a call record which is a valid evidence against the actor. The whole incident tells:
Celebrity was a long time in coming; it will go away. Everything goes away.

K A Solaman

Is it a gold smuggling crime?

The inquiry into the death of violinist Balabhaskar in a car accident goes leaden day by day. Investigators are seemingly cluless  as people associated with Balabraskar have allegedly criminal background. The new track of the CB inquiry targets Prakashan Thampi and Vishnu Somasundaram, both fixtures in Balabhaskar’s music circuit and accused in the smuggling case registered by the DRI. Though Lakshmi, Balabhaskar's wife has denied that they are her husband’s business associates, the whole story  puts Balabhaskar's  dealings shady.

The rift between his friends and relatives prompts one to think that the whole drama is a bit complicated. As one television actor had alleged the accident may be a gold smuggling-related crime.

There is a dark side of everyone- it is the side people do not really get to see. One thinks everyone has that.

K A Solaman

Dams make ecological damage

Possibility for potential floods in future haunts the LDF government in Kerala. So government plans to construct four more major dams in the state. The sites  identified for the  construction are Peringalkuthu, Pooyamkutty, Achankovil and Kuriyarkutty.

The reason for such a decision is two fold. One is: to make people convince  that last August flood was natural and no minister or the KSEB has involvement in making the flood by opening simultaneously all the dams. Second is: an eye on the huge commission it would generate in the purchase of cement and steel rods. Also, there is an eye in the sale of trees in dam sites.

Whatever it may be,  this crafty plan is unlikely to work out in Kerala  in the immediate future because the new generation is not unaware that  the ecological damage that dams make is unfathomably complex and dire.

K A Solaman

Women's Commission should be apolitical

Kerala Women's Commission should function irrespective of political affiliations. This is the opinion of newly elected Alathur MP Ramya Haridas. And it is also the opinion of many other like-minded people. It is true that Women's Commission did not book suo-moto case against LDF convenor for making offensive comments on Remya Haridas. In P. K Sasi's case also they took similar attitude.

The Kerala Women's Commission is a statutary body and it performs on all matters relating to women's problems.The commission is to inquire into the complaints of any unfair practice to women and to  recommend to the government, what action to be taken. Unfortunately the Commission acts are partisan because of obvious reasons.The commission should  ensure equal opportunity for disputes redressal  to all women irrespective of caste, creed and political interest.

K A Solaman

Damage control drill

The blow to the LDF this time is so severe. It has not only lost all its traditional bastions such as Alathur, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasargod, Vadakara and Attingal but also majority in 75 of the 91 Assembly segments it had won in the 2016 elections. The UDF, on the other hand, has gained sizeable majority in 123 Assembly segments. The Pinaryi government has no moral right to continue.

However, the CPM has started with damage control exercise. Theyhave come to the conclusion that Sabarimala is a major reason for the shameful defeat. There was also big leakage of Hindu votes. The question is: are they ready to restrict those thoughtless women who still want to make surprise in Sabarimala?

Interestingly, the CPM Secretariat has asked district committees to submit reports on reasons for the defeat. The district committees then will ask area committees to report. The area committees, in turn, will ask branch committees about the debacle. This routine drill will continue and finally conclusion will be; people didn't vote, so lost. The UDF, for its victory, owes very much to LDF because it is the folly of the latter that helped the UDF.

K A Solaman

Fire on clothes

Report from Muvattapuzla that clothes inside a house in Valakam caught fire without any reason, is amusing. No matter where the clothes are kept, it caught fire for no reason. The police and fire force are clueless to find the reason for this strange incident.

The answer to question is well explained in the Fazil film Manichithrathazhu, where Ganga, a psychic patient in the house, is naturally programmed to do this job. If the police is still clueless they can think of in this direction. And also ask the members of the family whether anyone among them has seen the Fazil film recently or has the habit of handling metallic sodium.

K A Solaman

Mysterious death of Rohit

The man who said: "There are no illegitimate sons, only illegitimate fathers" is no more. His death is, indeed, shocking.

It was a wonderful tirade by
Rohit Shekhar, son of N D Tiwari and  Ujjwala Sharma  for his quest to not be called a ‘bastard’. As none is born without a father it is highly humiliating to use the word ‘bastard’ against a man. It was not Rohit Shekhar alone in the country who had gone through such a humiliating experience. Rohit was a trailblazer to many who had undergone bitter experience. He once said: “I am not the illegitimate son, he(Tiwari) is my illegitimate father". This was absolutely right. The wishy-washy Tiwari had hoodwinked the entire country with his political poses as minister, governor etc, but finally admitted his fault.  Rohit Shekhar had become successfuel for 'giving birth' to his illegitimate father. There are no illegitimate sons, only illegitimate fathers, according to him.

It was this Rohit Sekhar who met with a mysterious death. Rohit's mother accuses his wife and her family of trying to usurp the property of her son. Delhi Police  investigating the case would reveal the truth, it is hoped.

K A Solaman

Masala for new models

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan along with higher officials, will be on a 10-day foreign tour, after election. They are not to communist countries like China or N Korea but to capitalistic countries like Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Britain. Finance minister Thomas Isaac will also accompany the team to participate in the KIIFB masala bond listing in London.

Masala bond is not for a meagre sum. It is intended to collect a sum in tune with Rs 50000 crore and the present collection of Rs 2150 crore is only a tip of the iceberg, according to Finance Minister Thomas Isaac's lecture class before a less cheerful audience, possibly party cadres, in the party channel. Though the participants of the discussion were not seen impressed, Isaac was pretendedly smiling all time because of the thought of hefty sum likely to come via masala sale.

One pertinent question is: Do the present ministers have the mandate of the people to collect and spend such a huge amount with in a span of 2 years. Is it right on the part of the goverment to make future generation permanent debtors to western countries? Is there any approved modality for repayment of masala bonds? If so who approved it and when?

With available fund the govt. has done little to flood hit people. It is then unwise to think new models will be implemented for  post-flood renovations with borrowed money.
K A Solaman

Vigillance vs Vigilance

The man with yellow  and red cards is now seemingly desperate. His adventure with election politics has ended nowhere. Now  his own  department, the Vigilance, has booked a case against him. The man is Jacob Thomas, the former Vigilance Director of Kerala. He is alleged for corruption when he was the Ports Director.

Jacob was allegedly involved in corruption of more than of Rs 14 crores in the purchase of a dredger. In the investigation the finance department  has found a loss of Rs 14.96 crores. Based on this, vigilance investigation is initiated.

History repeats first as a tragedy then as a comedy

K A Solaman

Odd question

APRIL 08, 2019, The Hindu
Not all public service commission examinations have serious questions. A few of them are quite funny. For example, an objective-type question paper set for assistant professors in the Kerala Health Department had this: “Who were the first women to have entered the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple as per the Supreme Court ruling?” Is this what future assistant professors of psychiatry need to know?

K A Solaman,
Kerala

Opposition not credible

Kerala's Opposition party is a toothless tiger. Instead of agitating over serious matters their targets are always silly stuffs. For instance, a few days back Opposition leader Remesh Chennithala has said that the lions share of the masala bonds of KIIFB was brought by CDPQ, a firm that has connections with the controversial SNC Lavalin. If so what? The aim of the bond issue is to get fund and that has been done successfully. It is not seller's head-ache to check the history of the buyer.

The grave mistake done by the government is the killing of 450 people by an artificially created flood in August, last year. Disregarding the gravity of this crime, Opposition often saves the face of government by switching over to another lapse and the action cascades. In fact the Opposition never sticks to the spot and has become an  agency to support the government.

In the absence of a credible opposition party, the government will go berserk. And that is what happening in Kerala.

K A Solaman

Action needed.

Making Malayalam feature films is a child's play now. Anyone with a movie/mobile camera along with a few bucks and  thugs could make a film. Teen love, cutting genitals and open defacation etc, are the main scene of such films. No rules and regulations are obeyed and morals are observed in the shooting of such cinemas

Seeking of explanation by the Central government from the state Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Wild Life Department, regarding granting permission to deposit foreign red soil on Parthakochi reserve forest under the Kasargod forest range for shooting a film, is an example in this direction.  Overnight erection of a beverages shop at Pathirapally, Alappuzha, is yet another rule violation by film makers. Who gave permission to them to make an advertisement promoting the use of liquor ?
The act of the forest officials in allowing shooting inside the reserve forest and allowing shooting near NH by obstructing traffic are  gross violations of forest laws and local self government guidelines. Nuisance on thoroughfare is a punishable oftence  under Panchayat Act.

Stringent action , therefore, is needed against the forest officials and panchayat officer  for allowing shooting in public area disturbing people and animals.

K A Solaman

Pay back for the dastardly act

It is time for we all Indians to pay homage to 44 CRPF jawans who were martyred in the terror attack in Pulwama, near Avantipura city  on Thursday. The need of the hour is to express solidarity with the government demanding stringent action against terrorism.

If US could eliminate Osama Bin Laden, Israel could wipe out all miscreants within their territory, India could also eliminate  the mastermind of the attack who was being protected  by Pakistan.

Martyrdom of our brave hearts was indeed  heart-breaking. Time has come for the India government to take stringent action against those who carried out the attack and killed innocent Indian jawans. The real tribute to martyred soldiers would be when India struck back with vengeance against the coward perpetrators of the dastardly act.

K A Solaman

Being good is difficult

The action of Kerala CM against DCP Chaitra Theresa John for raiding the CPM  district committee oftce, Thiruvananthapuram, is unwarranted. Is this office, a place beyond the reach of police?

By taking action against the police officer, the government undermines the gravity of the crime committed by offenders. A gang of party workers pelting stones at the Medical College police station and allowing them to hide in the party office, are serious crimes. The DCP's action, therefore, was in the right direction. The criminal within the police who leaked out the raid news should be booked first.

Being a good police officer is one of the most difficult, dangerous, idealistic jobs in the world. Nevertheless, officers like Chaitra Theresa John place some hope about police in the minds of general public. Her action is a morale boost to the police force.

K A Solaman

Thankless act

Mata Amritanandamayi's statement that the state administration has mishandled the Sabarimala issue, is in the right direction. The advisors of state rule do not know anything about the rituals and customs of temples. Amritanandamayi said the poojas, customs and traditions of each temple are different and this is one major issue which has to be addressed.

Based on her statement CPM Secretary and his cadres coming against her is out of the ordinary. It is an indecent act to undermine her service to humanity.Indiscriminate review about a good person based on petty politics is an exceptionally thankless act.
K A Solaman

Stalin's clock

DMK president M K Stalin vowing to make Congress chief Rahul Gandhi the country's next prime minister, is laughable. The PM of India is not elected by the proposal of a regional party leader on the occasion of unveiling his father's statue. It is not Stalin or Vazhappadi or Kamal Hasan to decide the fate of TN and subsequent elevation of Rahul as PM. It is Rajnikant to decide who would rule TN after next election

Stalin appealing  to other party leaders  like TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu and CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan to strengthen the hands of Rahul, is also interesting. How could it be possible for Pinarayi to strengthen Rahul's hand when his party is the bete noire of Rahul's party in Kerala? Stalin saying government led by Modi has turned India's clock back 15 years, is ridiculous. Where from he got this clock?
K A Solaman

Impose Diesnon for MLAs

For the past few days Kerala assembly witness uproar because of varied reasons. What M K Muneer MLA said about the Women's wall is right. On close analysis it is obvious that people behind women's wall are communal outfits excluding Muslim's, Christians, Nairs and all Lord Ayyappa worshippers.

Members of both fronts, the ruling and the opposition have no consideration  about the decorum of the house. Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan who expressed displeasure over the uproar in the assembly, was once a participant  in creating utter commotion in the house.

The members of house are elected for effective running of the government, Since they are miserably failed to do their duty they are not eligigible for any pay. The speaker should so decide that no member of the house is eligible for cry DA or TA for days for which the assembly was disrupted. The members should should also show the willingness to not accept any remenuration for the days lost.

K A Solaman

KSRTC should have social responsibility

.

Students' concession in private and ksrtc  buses is an age-old practice and the ending of it is unacceptable. A report, therefore, in this direction submitted to  chief minister Pinarayi Vijyan by KSRTC MD Tomin J Thachankary, is out of the ordinary. A bureaucrat has no right to place proposals on policy matters.

It is a part of government committment not to increase concession ticket rates of students even though private bus operators continue demanding for a hike in it. Perhaps the ksrtc MD had a closed door meeting with the private bus operators.

Terminating students' concession is not an option  to save KSRTC from the financial crisis. There should be other tangible  measures to cut short the expenses. The. KSRTC and other government estatishments should not forget their social responsibility.

K A Solaman