Unnecessary hullabaloo over condolence

By O.J.George

A little bit of caution, consideration and grace would have saved the situation arising from the controversy over the condolence expressed by Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan at the residence of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the NSG commando who laid down his life in the Mumbai encounter against terrorists.

First of all a situation should not have been created for people to say that the state government did not condole the major’s death. I will not say that the Chief Minister was responsible. Someone in his office made a faux pas in not alerting him about what should be done. The Chief Minister was away in Delhi attending the politburo meeting. So was the Home Minister. Someone could have been sent to Bangalore to attend the solemn rituals. The district collector of a North Kerala district should have been entrusted with the task of taking necessary steps.

The furious retort of Sandeep’s father also should not be taken seriously. In Maharashtra, the wife of slain ATS chief flatly refused to receive any solatum from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Emotional outbursts should be avoided, but if things fly out of hand, others should not add fuel to fire.

Even now, all parties should strive to settle the dust.