Condemn it

It is a matter of deep concern that there have been several attacks on churches and Christian institutions in the country. The latest is the heinous act of raping an aged nun in Bengal. Whoever did this must be hunted down and punished. No shameful act should be permitted in the name of any religion in any part of the country.

KA Solaman

Alappuzha, Kerala

Published the Hindu Business Line on 28 March

Make George a minister

Similar to ladder-snake game, here in Kerala a game has been developed and is known as Mani-George game. The theme for the game is the spat between party chairman K.M. Mani and vice chairman P.C. George. The game is of worse anecdotes making all other problems in the state silly.

The game was developed on an issue related to bar license controversy which put the Kerala Congress party in utter disgrace. Who got more and who less, created allegations and mistrust among the leaders. Though Mani says the party is neither in deep sea not in the heaven, he admits that Jesus Christ cannot be seen without a cross. Thus Mani has been elevated to the level of a saint and started preaching gospels. As a solution to the present imbroglio, the CM should allow George to reconstitute his Kerala

Congress(secular) and make him a minister. If a single member like Anoop Jacob of Kerala Congress(Jacob), Shibu Baby John of RSP could become ministers, what disqualifies a senior member of the house George to abstain from ministerial berth?

K A Solaman

Serious crime

It is a matter of deep concern that over the past few months, there have been several attacks on churches and Christian institutions in the country. Latest is the heinous act of raping an aged nun In Bengal. The miscreants there vandalized the school, damaged a bust of Jesus Christ, attacked the nuns’ quarters and locked all nuns in one room. They had reportedly stolen about 200,000 rupees from the church. Whoever did this must be hunted down and punished.

No shameful act should be permitted in name of any religion in any part of the country. Hence It is the obligation of the government whether centre or state to protect the decency of all women especially nuns who had dedicated their lives for the uplift of the society. Conferring communal link directly or indirectly to any political party and blaming it is unwarranted when such criminal acts replicate.

K A Solaman

Drinking at workplace

It is good to hear that with immediate effect, all Kerala government employees, including teaching and non-teaching staff in educational institutions, would face disciplinary action if they are found smoking, drunk or using intoxicants during office hours. The order also warns senior officials who are authorized to take action that they too would be penalized if they do not act against erring officials.

The handicap of this order lies in the penalization of senior official. The senior officials are often feared off union might and in almost all cases the union leader is the immediate superior officer. No sensible office authority will question the union-association leaders coming to the office in an inebriated state. This means the circular of the Government will remain as circular itself.

If implemented this order sternly the month of March would become month of punishment as all retirement functions are held in March and all such functions are celebrated with liquors

K A Solaman

Published by the Hindu Business Line on 27 March 2015

Shumban returns

Who said jail food is not nutritious? After one about month term in the central jail for calling a judge ‘Shumban’ M V Jayarajan returns with added vigour and this time he calls the honorable Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly as ‘blind’. Jayarajan said: “Speaker who cannot not see the laddu distribution and kissing protest in the Assembly during the budget presentation is blind. The blind needs no computer”
It is may be true that voters have a fundamental right to criticise the actions of legislators of the Assembly.  They can make fair comments as part of freedom. However, comment of the sort made by Jayarajan against the Speaker is obnoxious and is a contempt towards the legislature. Jayarajan’s comment lowers the authority of the House and hence there is every reason for the Privileges Committee of the Kerala assembly to summon the contemnor and punish him.

K A Solaman

Billy goat of Poonjar

The suburb of Poonjar is full of billy goats and being a native of that place the redundant chief whip of UDF Government is conversant with these animals. That is why on seeing Sivankutty MLA with half folded dhothi on table top in Kerala Assembly, he remembered the animal and commented as under:  
"Governor is acting like a fox who drinks blood when two billy goats are involved in a fight”.

Creating controversy is the habit of George and thinks he is above all Indian constitutional offices. He spares none- the police chief, the Judge or the Governor. The state does not need a Governor according to him. He slammed Governor P. Sathasivam for demanding action against the MLAs who created scenes of unparalleled brawl in the Assembly on the budget day.

The comment of George is quite unwarranted and there should be action to expel this guy from his present posts.

K A Solaman

Budget blah-blah

According to Opposition leader V S Acuthanandan of the Kerala Assembly the State budget was not presented by Finance Minister K M Mani as the Assembly proceedings were not followed. Mani blabbered something from some corner of the Assembly. Former CPM State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said that Mani had failed to present the Budget as the Speaker never announced the start of the Assembly proceedings.

Nevertheless the CPM Central Committee leader Dr T M Thomas, after his free fall in the Assembly floor, was  a hurry  for a channel discussion with designer beard man C P john and BJP leader Krishnadas  about the pros and cons of the budget. How could the former FM talk on a budget that was not actually tabled in the Assembly? Is the panel discussion a mere blah-blah?

K A Solaman

Impose Governor’s rule

With unprecedented pandemonium the Kerala Assembly has become the topper in India in this category. Unsightly scenes in the Assembly when Finance Minister K M Mani presented the Kerala budget are never heard in the history of any Indian Legislative assembly.

The Opposition members of the LDF staged repulsive protests damaging computers, chairs, and electronic gadgets. They laid siege at the entrance of the Assembly hall and Speaker’s dais. The lawmakers threw chairs and mikes showing scant regards to any law. One MLA fainted, one embraced, one shied, one climbed on table, one torn away shirt, one cried, one wept, one scratched and another one bitten off. There was even a death reported when a worker of CPM succumbed to heart attack during the protest outside the Kerala Assembly. The police used water cannon, hurled grenade, and resorted to lathi charge to disperse the stone-pelting crowd outside the assembly complex. The whole state of affairs was very scruffy and it proved the irresponsibility of the state legislators.

So, by taking stake of the situation the Governor should advice the President of India for an immediate imposing of Advisers’ rule in the state.

K A Solaman

Shame on Justice Katju

Controversy by defaming India’s iconic leaders brings notoriety and people like Arunthathi Roy and Justice Markandey Katju are interested in this negative media hype. Katju in his disgusting comment has called Mahatma Gandhi a British agent who did great harm to India. Justice Katju has proved himself a shallow thinker who ignored the core reality. He didn’t even mention why Gandhiji lost his life.

Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, has been an immense source of inspiration for world leaders ranging from Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Martin Luther King Jr. of USA and many others. He is the only personality who has inspired and influenced liberation struggle world over. And it is not only the oppressed, but also the ruling side has revered this man. He is the symbol of India’s glory and a perfect example of principle, spirituality and politics.

One could not expect anything sensible from Katju who once said eighty percent Indian voters are fools and asked to vote Katrina Kaif to see a beautiful face in Indian PM’s chair. Justice Katju has crossed all limits by defaming the father of the nation.  

K A Solaman

Cow worshipers

Beef lovers in Maharashtra will now have to do without the red meat as Maharashtra Government bans beef and corroborates 5 years jail and Rs 10,000 fine for possession or sale. This means a cow stands higher than a man as when he is killed there is only imprisonment, no fine. The decision of Maharashtra Government is ridiculous.

It is good if we all stand for the fair treatment of animals but this is something that relates to religion. Or they would have banned meat products other than beef too. Hindus of some parts of country worship cow and hence oppose cow slaughter. And if this logic is applied to rat they should ban rat poison also. There are many who worship rat, the vehicle of Lord Ganesh and hence anyone in possession of rat poison should be jailed for 5 years and fined Rs10,000.

It is to be remembered India is a multiracial country and its people have different needs. Hence it is imprudent to follow the orders so called go-matha worshipers. By banning beef and beef products, those poor millions suffering from malnutrition are denied inexpensive food supplements. Worship of cow is in fact a hate practice towards beef-eaters.

K A Solaman

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