LPG tanker disasters cry for better safety measures

By O.J.George

Around 4 am, when most people are fast asleep in December cosiness, an LPG tanker lorry collided against a car, overturned and caught fire, which further caused explosions, on the gas catching fire and continuing the conflagration for over seven hours.

By then over 20 people received burn injuries, at least ten of them 100 suffering critical injuries. At least four of them had suffered 100 per cent injuries. Two of them succumbed to the injuries after a few hours of treatment in the hospital.
There are others with 70 to 80 per cent burns whose lives hang in the balance.
A large number of shops, about 20 motor-cycles, a police van and other things were gutted.

More than all these devastations, think about the trauma of people who have been evacuated in the sleepy hours.

Our of abundant precaution, the electricity supply in the whole area was snapped. Mobile phones were immobilized, people were asked through loud speakers not to light anything, not even cause a spark.

Women, children and old people had to be taken to safe places, leaving everything back, in the unwholesome hours.

Tanker lorries have free access to our roads which are the pathways for people and passenger and transportation vehicles.

There were tanker lorry accidents in Thrissur district and Kollam district and a few other places this year. By sheer luck, the tragedy of today’s magnitude was averted. Every time, that cannot be expected.

There should be scientific way of dealing with transportation of gas and handling of these vehicles.

The fire force personnel were fighting the accident on the strength of will-power and water. Both are not sufficient to meet the challenge.

Let good sense prevail over decision makers and devise ways to ensure safety.

Various acts of terrorism, liquor addiction and sex rackets to flourish in Kerala

By O.J.George

Ink watching ritual is not necessary to know what would be happening in Kerala in matters of acts of terrorism, liquor addiction and sex rackets.
All these are going to be the bane of Kerala society at their height in the years to come.

People of Kerala have got drunk to the tune of nearly Rs 50 crore during the Christmas days. Availability is what counts about having a draught of the inebriating liquor.

Go to any place, liquor is the one item that is available in plenty. One can watch the neighbourhoods. A lot of menfolk are addicted to the drinks. A few years of survival with tremors, if not drunk, they vanish into thin air, leaving the dear ones, some of them heavily dependent, despondent.

Acts of terrorism have only begun. It seems Kerala has been home to many people who planned and helped terrorist acts elsewhere, incidents of extremism many notwithstanding.

Governments cannot haggle over the rights of investigation. Whoever probes should do it meticulously and save the people of the growing menace.

Sex rackets are flourishing in our society one way or other. We hear about raids and investigations into the flesh rackets.

A lot of such rackets are flourishing in all our neighbourhoods. A lot of unwary girls are hooked on into the racket after they fall prey to so-called love indications. They would not be able to come out of the trap, once they fall into it.
Traps apart, nowadays, the old fearsome social situation is no more there. A lot of women are definitely forward looking in sex matters, compared to the past. Exposure to social media is causing the itch.

They cannot be blamed, but they have to control themselves if dangers have to be averted. There cannot be innocuous one-night stands sans danger in our social milieu. Once involved, the protagonists cannot emerge unscathed.

Are we cowards or are we not just scared?

O.J.George

Congress leader M.M.Hassan has observed that people are fearful of hartal, forcing them to remain indoors, resulting in the success of the agitation.

What he said is quite correct, but not in the case of BSP hartal supported by the BJP alone as on Tuesday. Every hartal called by ABCD parties is scary. Shop-keepers down the shutters for fear that their wares would be ransacked. Vehicle owners do not take out the automobiles so that the machines and the man would not be harmed.

Court fiat notwithstanding, party animals can cause havoc to the people, simply because action against them is not easy. For every party is the butt of blame in this regard.

In the case of the ruling party, the people have to be more scared. Just because a person did not buy a door-mat in Alappuzha district, some party workers barged into the house in the dead of night and destroyed house and property and attacked the family members. The head of the family has succumbed to his injuries.

These days, even non-political occurrences are quite unsavoury. Thieves, looters, thugs have their free-for-all. For snatiching a hundred rupee note, they would do anything.

In olden days, a strong gate, thick locks and other protective gears were comfortable for the safety of the house-hold.

Now-a-days attackers come in droves, simply remove the gate per se, take off the door as such, barge in and attack the house-holders at gun or knife-point. Take off everything, no one is bothered.

House-breakers, thugs, looters and killers have their full freedom. Their rights are well protected. Ordinary mortals are a scared lot, Mr Hassan.

Why should our stuff be low-quality?

O.J.George

Now there is a hue and cry about the substandard pitch of the Feroze Shah Kotla which forced Indian and Sri Lanka cricket teams to abandon the fifth match.
As expected, no one takes responsibility and everyone is on the forefront of being in the blame game. Easy it is for that, for BJP’s Arun Jaitley is the Delhi Cricket Association chief and there are worthies of the UDF in the BCCI and other state boards.

Congress has already blamed Jaitley and wanted him to quit. Sports Minister M.S.Gill has found found it a matter of shame. ICCI is questioning the arrangement of amenities.

Money cannot be a problem in cricket matters, therefore, the reason could be only shoddy preparations. Why can’t we be a quality people, when we have the wherewithal to be so?

We are showing off as sub-standard stuff when we take one decision on visa restrictions and then a lot of haggling happens at the ministerial level.

Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has questioned the multiple- entry visa restrictions imposed on foreigners by the Indian Government. Of course, he has expressed his difference of opinion through twitter.

Was it not better on his part to have raised the matter before his own ministry to be taken up with the Home Ministry before coming up with the tweet?

These are episodes of pedestrianism which we are taunting. A little bit of caution would have improved the situation.

There can be no basis, but media speculated on Oommen Chandy being made Governor of AP

By O.J.George

Imagination staggers, for wild speculation could go this far. One portal in the Gulf has speculated the Centre was mulling over posting either Oommen Chandy or Digvijay Sing as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh in place of sex scandal tainted N.D.Tiwari.

Our own Oommen Chandy is deeply enmeshed in the politics of Kerala and there can be no replacement for him in the state, unless of course by any chance A.K.Antony, now Defence Minister, who could be any Minister or even President of India in future, condescends to return to state politics. And his return to Kerala scene being a remote possibility as Antony had asserted earlier that he would not contest from Kerala again.

And so there is a grain of truth in the common allegation that the media can go into wild imagination.

Coming to N.D.Tiwari, the 85-year-old Governor under exit, one wonders if an old man can indulge in all sorts of spooky affairs. Mind you, we are not living in any feudal set-up. Can some women go on sending girls to Tiwari, the Governor, with impunity, offering them jobs?

Tiwari’s case is a warning to other weaklings as well. Frolicking with women at all odd hours and spooky circumstances, particularly to those wielding power, would cost them dearly. Forget about Tiwari, he has reached his political Sun-set. The likes of Rajmohan Unnithan are not.

Ugly goings-on undergoing a churning process? No one knows.

Politician's secret discussions with a woman in secluded place, alone is a mean business

By O.J.George

Rajmohan Unnithan forcing the victory sign as he boarded the police jeep after getting bail for alleged sex offence, pushing aside a police man to do so, was amusing sight.

Whose victory, what victory?Honey trap is one of the common tools among intelligence agencies of rival countries. But this was self-inflicted honey trap.

It is a pity that some political figures find it convenient to hold discussions with women or women colleagues solitary at night in God-forsaken places.

Rajmohan Unnithan may be guilty or not guilty, he may have the support of medical certificate in respect of the woman concerned, no sex done.

But was it essential that he should hold discussions at night with the woman in question all alone?

Sometime ago, a Minister of the V S Achuthanandan ministry, of course, an LDF partner minister, was caught in likewise fashion, a few papers had reported.

The minister could cover up the incident in many of the mainstream newspapers and media.

He had also simplified the issue saying that was a night discussion. But a lot of people had gathered around the house in which the discussion was going on .

The minister had given up his state car while furtively featuring in discussions. When a huge crowd collected at the site, he called for the gun man and the car and escaped in the official car.

Afterwards, nothing is heard about it so far.There were rumours that the minister was trapped by a chota leader of his own party, of course in another group.
Suffice it to say, leaders holding secret discussions with women, alone at hidden places is a mean business.

Where is the distinguishing mark while dealing with deadly wild animals?

By O.J.George

Should we subject ourselves to deadly risk while dealing with intruding wild animals? This issue is haunting a lot of people, especially those living in areas bordering forests.

Scheduled animals like leopard, king cobra should not be touched even if they attack you. Please lie down in front of them like dead, after informing the forest people.
By the time they arrive, either the animals would be off to their havens hauled up somewhere readying for another attack.

Some people of Thodupuzha are facing the music now for catching an intruding leopard. Somehow they caught the deadly animal. It was alive when the forest department men arrived. It died while being in their custody.

The cause of death is assault by the people while it was caught. It should have been left where it was, hiding in the bushes. The people should not have provoked it to come out.

Now those who caught the animal face grave charge of offence inviting a jail term of up to seven years.

Why should wlld animals come out in the open, to the town, leaving its forest comfort? They have no food, no amenity in the wild. Will the forest department people be charged with an offence if the wild animal gives up its abode in the forest? Someone should take responsibility for the safe keeping of the animals in the wild. They should not be allowed to poach into human territory.

One can deal with an attacking human being in self-defence, but not an animal. Someone should draw the demarcating line. There should be no deliberate attempt to kill an endangered animal, but there should be a proviso regarding self-defence.

The beauty and paradox of Indian democracy; Ajmal Kasab can say anything

By O.J.George

Sometimes we speak lowly about our nation considering pervasive corruption, political wrong-doings, the rich becoming richer even as the poor were becoming poorer, windfall profits accruing to big MNCs on account of opening up but denying proper welfare measures to the have-nots and the like.

But there is the beauty of our democracy, its jurisprudential sequences and the basic dictum that no innocent should be punished.

Take the case of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist in the Mumbai attack.

He had pleaded guilty to the charges, which was a voluntary confession made on July 20. Now on Friday, he made a volte-face.He does not know anything about the attacks.

He had come to Mumbai in search of finding opportunities for acting in films. He was roaming around Juhu beach 20 days before the 26/11 attack.

He has close similarity to another terrorist who was killed in the encounter and so he was accosted by the police.

Unsolicitedly ,he made a reference to US terror-suspect David Headley as well. No doubt, he wants to mislead the prosecution and possibly delay the processes.

A number of eyewitnesses have identified Kasab and CCTV cameras at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus have captured him blazing away.

But Kasab made seemingly bizarre claims, contradicting his July 20 voluntary confession made before judge M.L. Tahilyani as well as the one recorded before a magistrate in February.

The 22-year-old said he was not a terrorist, had not fired at commuters at CST and had never ever seen an AK-47 before he was put on trial.

He said he travelled from Pakistan to New Delhi by the Samjhauta Express and came to Mumbai 20 days before 26/11 to find a house.

Kasab claimed he was falsely implicated because he resembles another gunman Abu Ali, who was shot dead.

Had he been in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or China, he would not have received so many opportunities to say something before a judge a few times and then retract the same and move in an entirely different direction.

Three cheers for Indian democracy which allows all sorts of viewpoints. Whether such averrments will have any sway in the final analysis is a different issue.

Advani adjudged ancestral head; BJP’s grandchildren take over

By O.J.George

No one can deny the ferocity of the tumultuous A.B.Vajpayee-L.K.Advani era in BJP, which had fetched the party the reins of power at the Centre.


No doubt, it could not nurture the progress made to greater fruition and could not ensure at least alternate governance at the Centre with the Congress Party.


There has been a great shortage of ideas to propel it beyond Rath Yatra and its off-shoots. At best what the party has done seems to be Sonia baiting and Manmohan bashing, bereft of other clear programmes and proclivities.

The BJP has been remaining stuck at some point, and no one knows whether there would be another jump-start.


Perhaps the RSS should suggest to its political outfit to keep off Sonia Gandhi and the family, for too much criticism would only generate a sympathy factor for them in the hearts of the people.

And what is the point in lecturing against a legitimate role for Rahul Gandhi in the political echelons of India? Or for that matter, Priyanka Gandhi in future.

It would be better to concentrate on plans and programmes and not personalities.

The single largest mistake made by the party was its propensity to launch an agitation against Sonia Gandhi, when she was about to take over as Prime Minister.

The people’s mandate was mauled by the defeated political rival, led by Sushma Swaraj at that time.

Naturally, one can expect the same strain of arguments as she takes over the role of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha from L.K.Advani. Which again prompts one to say that the future is not that good in the matter of recapturing power.

All the same, changes are better in the eyes of the people, for another era is opening up, with promises and promptings galore, the grandfathers providing patronage in ample measure.

Let no political party interfere in the investigation process and let there be no high-handedness in quizzing

By O.J.George

At last Soofiya Madani, wife of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, has been arrested following denial of anticipatory bail to her by Kerala High Court.
The court has observed it cannot grant her bail as that would adversely affect the investigation proper.

The court wanted political parties not to interfere but help proper investigation. The court observed that extremist activities have been rampant in Kerala at least since 2005.

There may have been many in various political parties who entertain soft corner towards players of ultra activities on the basis of sheer ignorance or innocuous feeling about extremism. Terrorist activities are acts of treason which work their way to the disintegration of the country.

There may be global parameters for the extremist activities. Ordinary political folks may unknowingly consider these as just incidents which occur during a bandh or agitation. The lawyer of Soofiya Madani pointed out in the High Court that several buses were set ablaze during the Telengana stir.
No it is not like that, for acts of terrorism are anti-national and such incidents should be viewed seriously.

Youth should be motivated against movement towards extremism, everywhere in the country.

Let Kerala be freed of extremism of all sorts, for these acts would not help to achieve any aim.

It seems no one can save Madani, Soofiya et al for out- of- the way activities

By O.J.George

Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan has made it clear the CPM would not have any truck with ultra-acts-suspect PDP led by Adbul Nasser Madani. The party had association with PDP earlier, but that could have been avoided. The CPM would never have links with any organization which has extremist connotations.

CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had also repeated the affirmations of the party’s central leadership, although he cannot completely ignore PDP. There was a rider in his comments about the electoral tactics in future. The tactics would be decided in accordance with the –then prevailing conditions.

Well, there should be a standing understanding that no party would hobnob with extremists, for ultra tactics would only land them in further troubles.
Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer, retired judge of the Supreme Court, has made it clear that he does not know anything about Madani being an extremist or not. He had championed the cause for his release simply on account of his incarceration in jail without findings.

The CPM has alleged that ultra Shafeek is a close relative of Union Minister E.Ahamed. Relationships cannot be undone, but the crucial issue is whether the kinship was misused. That can easily be found out by investigating agencies.

There can be a lot of justifications for the ultras, but even if the reasons for their hatred are addressed, they cannot and will not turn back, in the usual course. Because they are deeply embedded in the Satanic system which will not allow them to wriggle out.

The crown and glory of all creations should not perish on account of wanton acts of terrorism, as these would only worsen problems and not solve any.

Solution is the cause of further trouble with regard to Telengana

By O.J.George

The Telengana people have been outraged as they felt deprived of developments in the region at the cost of growth in the other regions of Andhra Pradesh.

After years of struggle, there has been a silver lining in the horizon, as Home Minister P.Chidambaram announced steps for the formation of the Telengana State, carved out from Andhra Pradesh.

Pat came the reaction, for 120 MLAs have submitted their resignation to the Speaker and as many as 22 Ministers belonging to the Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions have offered to quit, in protest against the formation of Telengana.
Now things are not going to be smooth in AP, for the agitation would go on for some more time. But loss of lives and property is a sorrowful episode and such tragedies should be averted at any cost.

There is a lesson for all the big states like UP, Maharashtra, West Bengal etc, and for the whole nation the entire North-East, for if developments are not distributed equitably, there would be turmoil.

As the nation is progressing at different levels, people of all regions and persuasions should have the feeling that they have been taken on board.
I don’t think Telengana people, ultimately, can have the whole of the developed regions in Hyderabad-Secunderabad, for people who are antagonistic about Telengana formation should also have to be appeased.

Leaders like Dr Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy were able to see that the State remained united. Now his son Jaganmohan Reddy cannot also claim to be a tall leader of the whole of Andhra Pradesh.

Things have gone favourable for division, for splits in other states for formation of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Uttaranchal have turned beneficial for the people.
Let the wishes of the people be fulfilled.

Telengana issue: All will be happy at the end, with Hyderabad going to the Centre

By O.J.George

Andhra Pradesh is on the boil regarding bifurcation of the State into Andhra and Telangana, for which the Centre has given the green signal following the 11-day fast of TRS leader K.Chandrasekhara Rao.

Both ways there would be turmoil, either if it is kept a single entity or divided into two. Telangana has a grouse that the needs of the people in the region are not properly attended to. There is a grain of truth in it.

In Kerala, Pathanamthitta used to be in the erstwhile Quilon district for which at the developmental conferences two issues loomed large, fishermen’s and cashew workers’.

Pathanamthitta areas had neither of the two concerns. After years of neglect, Pathanamthitta district was carved out from major portions of Quilon and a little bit of Alleppey.

When a separate Telengana comes into being, the people of that area may get better attention.

But they cannot insist on retaining the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad with it. Neither can Andhra region people. The best way would be to retain this as a Union Territory like Chandigarh, Delhi etc.

When Haryana was formed, Chandigarh came into being as a Union Territory.

In the end, the problems of Andhra Pradesh would be solved like this only.

Now Telengana formation leaders and those against it are working out their own strategies. Let us hope there may not be blood-shed over this.

All others states accepted UGC norms for pension age and got huge amounts, Kerala is dilly dallying

By O.J.George

I was wondering, what is happening to the thought processes in Kerala with regard to education and improvement of quality?

'Extremists' say life begins at 70. Forget about it. Could the professional life end at 55? That is ridiculous. But that is what is happening in Kerala, God’s Own Country.

This is true of even professional people. For example, college teachers, they mature in proficiency and experience by about 50, but by 55 they have to call it a day.

That is nothing but big loss to the nation, the student community and the teachers themselves.

UGC wants all teachers to continue till 65. In fact, the UGC has a stipulation with regard to giving aid for salary revision.

Only if the government agrees to the superannuation limit of 65, will it give the aid.

Here in Kerala Education Minister M.A.Baby has been trying to get the huge amount of money from the UGC towards pay revision for teachers by hiking the pension age.

Reports appeared in the media to the effect that CPI initially objected to the proposal. It seems DYFI also has some reservations. Perhaps the Youth Congress and the KSU also may chip in.

There is something called macro economics on the supply side. You get a lot of money for your people in the state from the UGC.

The money is dispersed within Kerala. The money does not go to Switzerland or some God-forsaken Banana Republic in Africa or elsewhere.

There are politicians who stash their money abroad. If the money is splashed around within the country, the supply side would be activated and that would rejuvenate the economy.

Even the US is after dishing out the money stashed elsewhere.

Here our own leaders deny to our professionals the money that the UGC and the Central government are giving.

One knowledgeable person recounted to me once. We must receive all the money for developmental works available from World Ban, IMF, Asian Development Bank or otherwise.Let the work be done, repayment would ensue one way or other.

Like that let the money be received from the UGC, if the pension age has to be hiked, it should be hiked.

The quality of teaching in colleges is coming down, simply because the vacancies are not filled. Thousands of vacancies remain unfilled. There is stop-gap arrangement by engaging guest lecturers who are given Rs 3,000 a month.

In the circumstances, quality improvement can be ensured by enhancing the pension age to 60, 62 or 65.

Enhancement of pension age for other government staff can be considered in phases, if not done outright.

Muthoot murder case charge-sheet rejection a setback to the police

By O.J.George

Now the trial court has returned the charge-sheet filed by the police regarding the murder of Paul M George, scion of the Muthoot family citing various reasons, palpably pointing out that there are several lacunae.

The crucial point is that dreaded goons Om Prakash and Rajesh Puthenpalam were treated with kidgloves. They are charged with merely destruction of evidence without probing into their role in committing the murder.

Narco analysis test was ordered on them by the court, but the police did not do so, simply citing ill health for Om Prakash and language problem for Rajesh Puthenpalam.
The financial deals between Paul M George and Om Prakash and the deals between Om Prakash and Rajesh Puthenpalam were not probed.

The statements of the driver of Paul M George were contradictory.

The court had suggested that narco test be conducted with the help of an interpreter, but that was not attempted.

There were discrepancies in the statements of Manu, the friend of the goons. There was only one stab wound and that was from behind on the body of Paul M George.

Meanwhile, a petition is lying before Kerala High Court by M.G.George, father of Paul M George, seeking a CBI inquiry into the murder.

Things are going from bad to worse for the Kerala Police with regard to their investigation into the Muthoot murder.

It was a classic statement, the Government has not sent Thachankary

By O.J.George

Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan made a classic statement on Tuesday about the assignment given to Inspector General of Police Tomin Thachankary to quiz LeT operatives Thadiyantavida Nazeer and associates in Bangalore.

The Government has not sent Thachankary to Bangalore. Then who sent him? You can investigate, the Chief Minister told the media.

Pat came the reaction from Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan asserting Thachankary went there with his knowledge.

Was it only because Tomin Thachankary was persona non grata for the Chief Minister? Or did it have ominous meanings about differences of opinion about nexus with PDP of Abdul Nazer Madani.

The Chief Minister was against hobnobbing with Madani, but during the Parliament elections, the party had taken on its dais Madani and campaigned with him.

The old issue of undesirable ties with Madani is again cropping up.

And now LeT operatives Thadiyantavida Nazeer and associates are in the custody of the Bangalore police. There are allegations that Nazeer had ties with Madani.

The Congress-led UDF has alleged that Nazeer, who was in the custody of Kerala police earlier, was allowed to slip off at the intervention of a person close to the ruling echelons.

Congress leader Aryadan Mohamed has given the crucial angle. The Chief Minister is not aware of the assignment given to Thachankary, but the party leader knows it.

CPM leader Sivadasa Menon has asserted it was not essential to inform the Chief Minister of all things.

It seems there would be more reactions and repercussions about the goings–on with regard to dealing with LeT operatives.

Terror has been at our door-step in Kerala, lucky to have been spared of a massive disaster so far

By O.J.George

Thadiyantavida Nazeer and Shahaz are hogging the headlines about their terrorist activities in many parts of India and possibly elsewhere.

For quite some time, Keralites were under the blind belief that the most literate State would not foment terror. Neither would it harbour terror.

Reports about the activities of some of its youth speak about heinous terrorist links.

We may have come across names like CAM Basheer, Thadiyantavida Nazeer, Shahaz etc in this connection. Perhaps there may be other players. Who knows?

Now Kerala Police is scrambling to get at Thadiyantavida Nazeer and Shahaz who are under the custody of Bangalore Police as they brought them from Meghalaya.

All these quizzings are possible only because the Bangladesh Government has been kind enough to hand them over to the Indian police. Thanks to Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Mujibur Rahman.

Pehaps some more advantages against terrorism are on the way with regard to ULFA, whose leaders are being handed over to India, albeit one leader fled to China.

Reports say Thadiyantavida Nazeer etc are protégés of PDP leader Abdul Nazer Madani during the ISS days. ISS had a quiet burial, but some of the activists seem to have strayed to worse forms of terrorism.

LeT, al-Qaeda varieties are working against the human race, too much of distaste for human existence, misanthropes.

Bus burning, Kozhikode market blasts, Ernakulam collectorate blast, personal killings, covert terrorism training in the border with Kottayam and Idukki districts and all speak about messy happenings in God’s own country.

One way or other, the deleterious ways have to be dealt with.

Some predict wars over water, in Mumbai protests have drawn blood

By O.J.George

Water demands have drawn blood, for in Mumbai a youngster among the protesters seeking sufficient amount of drinking water, has been killed during baton charge by the police. A few others were injured as well.

The ordinary folks do not understand why there should be a cut in water supply when there were heavy rainfalls and even largescale flooding.

Naturally they make a beeline to the supply authorities protesting against the 15 per cent cut in water supply. That was what happened in Mumbai.

The UN had identified soft threats emanating from environmental degradation, climate change, twist in patterns of rainfall etc to various nations in addition to direct threats like wars and terrorism.

We have seen largescale flooding in Saudi Arabia now, where desert conditions prevailed almost throughout the year.

Rains are pouring in regions transcending seasons, culminating in great devastations. For cultivations, there should be rains and summers, otherwise there can be no growth of shoots and proper harvesting.

Fisheries also demand seasons of rains and summers. Unsolicited bounty of anything would not contribute to proper amenities for fine living.

We have heard about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister saying he would not agree to a new dam at Mullapperiyar even if lakhs of lives are lost in the breach of a 113 year-old gravity masonry dam. People don’t care anything else than water, whatever is the cost.

There are heavy rains in Kerala, but there is not enough water in various dams to generate sufficien amount of hydro power.
Management of water is going to be a crucial aspect of human existence in the years to come.

China’s assertiveness to help Pakistan?

By O.J.George

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has admitted to the fact that China is a little more assertive than in the past about border matters and the intention is not decipherable.

Taking the close links China has with Pakistan into consideration, no doubt, it wants to put pressure on India in its dealings with Pakistan.

And Pakistan, where all forms of the worlds’ known and unknown terrorists find harbour, is in a churning process, particularly as it is coaxed by the US to deal with terrorists sternly. So far Pakistan has been thriving with the help of terrorists who were in turn given a free run.

It is apparent the US will deal a deadly blow to terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan as per the plans disclosed by President Obama.

There seems to be some intriguing things going on in Pakistan in the security set-up. The nuclear button has been handed over to Prime Minister Gilani by President Zardari.
India has already expressed its concern on the possibility of terrorists acquiring nuclear weapons. With the likes of A.Q.Khan and other elements functioning in Pakistan, it would be from that country that terrorists can lay their hands on nukes.

Pakistan appears to be scared that India might attack the country, for there are reasons like not taking action against terrorists who brought about the 26/11 attack in Mumbai.

China, which does not want India gaining an upper hand anyway, is trying to bully India one way or the other to put pressure on us so that we may not act against Pakistan.

China is building a lot of air-strips and strengthening military build-up close to the border with India. It knows that India has grown considerably since 1962 war with it.

Actually, it was in the best interest of Pakistan to keep good-neighbourly relations with India, but that country in receiving help from others mismanaged everything, providing safe haven for worlds’ terrorists. It is precisely this act which will go to its undoing one way or the other.

China’s diversionary tactics should not deflect the attention of India in dealing with Pakistan which lets loose terrorists against India.

Whether it was insider job or otherwise, nuclear mischief at Kaiga is serious

By O.J.George

Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar has said it is an insider job and there is nothing wrong with the working of the Kaiga nuclear plant in North Karnataka, about 450 kms from Bangalore.

It was quick reaction on the part of the authorities to mitigate the situation. And to mollify the victims and the people at large, this was indeed plain relief,
As many as 55 workers who drank water were taken ill and hospitalised. Tritium levels in them were high and now they are normal.

The radioactive tritium contaminated in their body has gone out with urine and perspiration. Nature’s provision indeed!

Is it possible to simply wave it off as an act of mischief on the part of some workers to contaminate the water cooler with tritium? Where did they lay their hands on the radio active isotope of hydrogen? Is it that easy to fetch the dangerous substance as one secures stationery from the office?
It is better to identify the mischief monger and his/her accomplice/accomplices and root out the source of trouble.

In the nuclear age, unless the materials are safely kept, these tiny matters put in a reservoir or river or stream can make the lives of millions miserable.
We see workers wearing security gowns, caps and the like in such work places, but the fact that dangerous elements lurk among them is not conducive to maintaining the general health of the people.

No doubt the terrorist angle should also be probed and the authorities seem to have taken serious note of it following the decision to press into service intelligence agencies, local and national.

Terrorists issue warning like this when there is strong action against them. Now there has been an attempt to nab LeT operatives of Indian origin from Bangladesh. The country should be cautious about retaliation on such steps or otherwise like anniversary of attack in Mumbai.

Cows diseased, defy vaccination impact; where are the hi-tech cows from abroad?

By O.J.George

Macrobiotic system of food habits insists on not using animal milk by human beings, but milk consumption has been going up world wide.

In Kerala, the supply is not sufficient to meet the demands, for which we depend on Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The latest is that supplies from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are slow because of heavy intake by Amul company there itself.

The government has been speaking about new breeding policy and introduction of high-yielding variety of cows in Kerala.

In olden days we had Vechoor type of cows which yielded a litre of milk a day, but it was disease resistant and meagre grass consumer.

Later, for some years the Sunandini type ruled the roost and we had a lot of milk during the times. This variety also disappeared following a lot of problems, including low birth rate.

We tried, Jersy, Swiss Brown etc which yielded more milk, but the rearers were not able to take off very well.

Now there has been talk of bringing embryos from Israel, which had pioneered in cross breeding with its varieties with the Dutch Holstein Freisian.

Now these are Israeli Friesian which take on adverse conditions and still yield good amount of milk. This variety, if introduced here would yield 25 litres of milk a day, according to estimates.

But how are we going to manage the upkeep, medical attention and all?

Vechoor and nearby areas and many other places in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Palakkad districts are hit by foot and mouth disease in cows.

Roughly 2,000 cows are affected in Kottayam district alone.

Authorities speak about providing vaccination of the cows against foot and mouth disease. The situation is far from satisfactory.

Either vaccination has not been done properly or the disease has become resistant. In that case, more powerful type of vaccination has to be found.

Introduction of cattle rearing as mere tool for poverty eradication would not provide an impetus for the sector to take off.

Those rearing cows and other cattle heads should be able to improve their standard of living with income from the farming.

The prevailing situation is far below the optimum standards required to popularise cattle rearing and achieve self-sufficiency in milk production.

How safe are we in Kochi and Kerala?

By O.J.George

We have solemnly observed the first anniversary of Mumbai attack by terrorists from Pakistan.

But by way of abundant caution, much needs to be done to ensure safety and security to the people.

Kerala has vast coastline and the latest threat of easy entry for terrorists is from the sea.

Take for example, Kochi. David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, arrested by the FBI in US, had visited Kochi before the Mumbai attack.

There is reason to disbelieve that they had alternative site plans for attack in various places of the country, including Kochi.

And mind you, anyone can barge into Kochi which has easy access to the port from the ocean.

Cochin Shipyard is of strategic importance to the country, for it is where INS Viraat, the air-craft carrier, is under reconstruction at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore.

It is expected to be on active service within two years as per the pace of refittings and renovations going on.

If the work is immobilized through an attack, its induction could be delayed by a decade.

Also Cochin Shipyard may build more aircraft carriers for the Navy, which calls for strengthening the security set-up.

Cochin Refinery stands strategic for our oil needs and an attack on the infrastructure could erupt into unmanageable explosions. Only CISF protection is available as of now.

What about Cochin international airport? It has the security blanket of CISF and private security, but can they take on the most modern weaponry of terrorists?

Kerala High Court is situated flanking the backwaters and the port.

Terrorists could attack Parliament, Mumbai’s institutions and the like. So far they have not been able to strike at any court. Attacking the courts would destabilise judiciary which is the strongest pillar of the constitutional entities.

Terrorist elements have issued a warning, they can burn bus, cause explosion at the collectorate in Kochi, nothing is beyond them. Did we take notice?

Satellite surveillance, commando service, strengthening of intelligence set –up and all are essentials that cannot be dispensed with.

As for terrorists, they lie low for some time, they have strong sleeping cells capable of rejuvenating at the beck of their dreaded masters. Eternal vigilance is the only way to ensure safety.

Dubai debacle would have cascading effect in Kerala, if not India

By O.J.George

Anand Sharma, the Commerce Minister, may be right in making a comment on the macro side of the fall-out of the Dubai debacle. On the whole, Indian economy, which is resilient, may withstand such pressures, but the economic recovery in full could be delayed.

It has been reported that 24 per cent of the remittances from abroad are from the UAE, Dubai being not the least unimportant.

Much of the remittances to Kerala are from the Gulf countries, no doubt, and the chaos in the construction sector in the UAE could have deleterious effect on the worker class of people from Kerala.Consequently, their remittances would come to a halt.

Already, the Dubai's financial health has come under scrutiny after Dubai World, a major, government-owned investment company asked for a six-month delay on repaying its debts.


Dubai World, which has total debts of $59bn (£35bn), is asking creditors for postponement of its forthcoming payments until May next year.

Dubai World has also appointed global accountancy group Deloitte to help with its financial restructuring.

The company has been hit hard by the global credit crunch and recession.
It was due to repay $3.5bn of its debts next month.

At one stroke, trading in the stock exchanges fell by over 500 points in India. Investors are scared of pumping in funds.

Incidentally, inimitable Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan has bluntly commented that Tecom, a Dubai company, which is dilly-dallying on setting up the Smart City project in Kochi, is short of funds and it is finding alibi to delay the work.

Tecom authorities do not agree with this view, but is there a grain of truth in the CM’s averment, now that the Dubai World has turned red?

The situation is not rosy, which makes it obligatory on the part of the government to implement supportive measures for the survival of the affected people.

Another attack like 26/11, India may not sit still

O.J.George

The dastardly attack in Mumbai on 26/11/2008 claiming the lives of 173 innocent people is remembered today on the occasion of the first anniversary.

Solemn and solid columns of Force One, other units, voluntary organizations, the people at large and people’s representatives have pledged to see that there would not be a repeat of 26/11/2008.

Both Houses of Parliament observed silence and commemorated the episode of cowardice.

A woman was seen on television channel espousing the idea as to why the countries in question sit together, ask questions face to face and settle the issues rather than shooting people to death.

She had lost her son and brother in the 26/11/2008.It was apparent she felt helpless.

But mind you, all terrorists everywhere on Planet Earth do not see reason. They don’t care if lives are lost, be these theirs or others'.

Eternal vigilance is the answer to the terrorists infiltrating into the country and wreaking havoc on innocent people just to show off that they would make normal lives miserable.

It is clear and no debate is needed to drive the point home that the country was not equipped to detect and deal with the terrorists at the nick of time.

In spite of all sorts of radars, eaves-dropping gadgets, intelligence units capable of intercepting messages and voices on mobiles, the terrorists, with support from agencies and personnel at an international level, barged into our metro city and just shot dead 173 people.

Thank God, the toll remained only this much, otherwise the cowards, armed with modern weapons and arms, would have gunned down more people.

We just thought people from other countries would not barge into the country like this for an act of attack in a metro city.

Perhaps the enemies were expected only on the borders. The lie has been exposed, terrorists can run riot anywhere.

Let the terrorists and those who fawn them be informed, another attack like this, they would have it whatever the consequences.

Home Minister P.Chidambaram has made it clear already. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh disclosed in Washington the other day that there was tremendous pressure on him to launch an attack in response to 26/11.

Can he withstand pressure next time? Definitely not, for he had said earlier Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for the attack.

If miscreants among neighbours do not see reason, the consequences can be terrible.

Now it is clear there would be no rollback of the civil nuclear co-operation with the US

By O.J.George

US President Barack Obama has done the wonderful thing by declaring India as a nuclear power in his welcome address to Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at the White House.

He has attached great importance to ties with India by hosting Dr Manmohan Singh as his first state guest during his Presidency and that has historical importance.

Critics both in India and the US have been silenced by Obama with the recognition accorded to India as a nuclear power, and now there can be no going back.

Countries like Australia and Canada which were reluctant to do business with India as a nuclear power would now see reason and toe the line set by the US, otherwise they would be the losers.

Recently, there has been criticism that Obama during his visit to China,super rated that country in the Asian region, to the chagrin of India.

Now the records have been made straight and there would be great going in strategic relations between the US and India.

India by becoming a responsible nuclear power with achievements in space explorations with much more in the offing cannot be ignored by the world at large. Its human resources could be used for the benefit of the world.

There would be increased co-operation in various areas like education, health, climate change steps, research, energy and so on, but the greater achievement is the enhanced level of perception for strategic relations.

Kerala Water ‘Authority’ should be changed as Water Service

By O.J.George

This may sound non-serious, but a name is a name and it denotes some characteristics.

The people working in the ‘Authority’ may think that there is no authority above them and that if they don’t show mercy, the common mortals would be denied of water that is the essential ingredient of life.

The other day, one ‘Authority’ man simply closed the water connection to the residence of T.J.Chandrachoodan in Thiruvananthapuram.

He is the national general secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party which is a partner of the LDF.

And RSP’s nominee, N.K.Premachandran, is the Water Resources Development Minister.

It was generous on the part of Premachandran, who is a well-meaning and affable person, to have called on the people at the residence of Chandrachoodan and pacified them.

This should be taken as an example to undertake reforms in the water resources service agency.

I was ignorant about the illegal protocol at the Water Authority offices until I had a problem.

Some work was undertaken by the panchayat on the road when the pipeline developed leak there. I promptly informed the ‘Authority’ about the leak and wastage of water. One person came and just closed the water connection to my residence.

I thought he was an employee of the ‘Authority’. After firing verbal expletives he took out a receipt book and ticked one entry. The slip was thrown into my residential compound.

The ticked item read the householder should do the work on the road to the satisfaction of the ‘Authority’.

The receipt has the printed designation of the engineer. The not-so-gentle man put ‘for’ and signed on behalf of the engineer and threw the slip into the compound.

Later it was known that the worker had nothing to do with Water Authority. He is a contractor engaged by the ‘Authority’. It was he who signed the order to the householder by way of the slip.

Areas are allotted to such contractors who go about extracting money from nearby householders if a leak develops on the public road.

A neighbour was forced to give Rs 3,000, a lady, for the work undertaken on the public road.

This is only one instance and there may be untold miseries suffered by the common man for getting water from the water ‘Authority’.

Such illegal practices should be summarily deleted from the service. The very name,’Authority’ is odious.

Convergence of heritage of two great nations as Manmohan Singh, Obama meet on Nov 24

By O.J.George

Whatever the long-past antipathy, the meeting between Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama on November 24 at the White House would reinforce the reckoning achieved by the two countries in the recent past.

India and the US are two great democracies and in spite of cultural differences, there are a lot of meeting points on fundamentals revolving round democratic governance.

The greatest asset of both the countries is that people enjoy democratic freedom, which is not that real in many other countries.

In spite of China making giant strides in development, industry, commerce and the like, that country cannot boast of democratic elections and enjoyment of freedom by the people.

Whatever the bonhomie the US and China have developed, there would always be the rider of absence of total freedom.

The US has the past sin of cosying up to Pakistan at the cost of relations with India. But it seems the US has learnt a lesson from the September 11 terror attack. Whether it admits publicly or not, the hide-out of various elements of terrorists is in Pakistan one way or other.

The governments in Pakistan from time to time failed to rein in the terror elements for fear of their being thrown out and so stability is lacking there. If some elements in Pakistan get hold of the nuclear weapons, they could terrify the world.

It is in the interest of US as well that terrorist elements in Pakistan are rooted out and Indian fears reckoned. The Afghanistan tangle also requires the participation of India.

India and the US by developing strategic relations, through the civil nuclear agreement and afterwards, there could be significant contributions in dealing with terrorism.

The US cannot expect India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty as such, for it was to deal with this issue mostly that the civil nuclear agreement was executed.

Indirectly, it was reckoned as an accepted nuclear power. There can be no going back on it. No amount of pressure will move India sign on the dotted lines.

Mutual acceptance, strategic partnership and development together could mark the outcome of the Manmohan-Obama meeting.

Congress cannot keep off Muralidharan for long

By O.J.George

Now that a section of the Congress and some leaders of the party at the national level are keen to have K.Muralidharan, son of senior leader K.Karunakaran, back into the party-fold, it seems he cannot be kept at bay for a very long time.

Muralidharan has expressed his wish to be part of the Congress again and the party can put a lot of conditions to enable his entry. No one will object to a clear-cut rider being enforced for his entry to the effect that there can never be a return of the sort of mudslinging on leaders.

One should salute Karunakaran for the way he came back to the Congress. He apologized to Sonia Gandhi unconditionally. Muralidharan can also very well do that, simultaneously opening up some back channel communication.

Politics in Kerala is closely enjoined with social, cultural and even religious overtones. Karunakaran and his son had an active political life. Muralidharan cannot join any other party now. By closing the door to him, what is the Congress asking him to do? Should he take up some other profession? No, his life is in politics just as anyone else’s.

People may fear there would be return of the old style harangues. But that is too much of a fear, for politics is never a stagnant pool of activities. It goes on and on and evolves itself in one form or other.

A lot of developments are happening in the BJP, the CPM and other parties in tune with what is happening in their respective spheres.

The leaders of the Congress Party cannot hope to cling on like this, closing the door on Muralidharan, for the people at large would see the signs on the wall and call for inclusion.

And as far as Muralidharan is concerned, he should apologise to Sonia Gandhi for the wrong comments he had made in the past.

Bal Thackeray has become senile; Sachin should not have been touched

By O.J.George

Sachin Tendulkar is an international cricketer with unmistakable records in his kitty. Bal Thackeray, with his parochial views, is a puny figure before personalities like Sachin Tendulkar.

I can understand a lot of people expressing opinion that millions of people waste their time watching cricket on the television for hours together. Remember the Test cricket only days when people were forced to Wait for the Godot of results.

Now, of course, 50-overs ODI, and Twenty20 have come into being, and unending cricket melas have become something of immediate impact regarding results.

Well, a lot of people go head over heels enjoying the imperial game and there can be no objection even if one does not like it.

Does Bal Thackeray doubt the Marathi background of Sachin Tendulkar? Everyone knows that he is a Marathi. There is no doubt about it. But think about the national pride when Sachin said he belongs to 1.1 billion plus people of India. Mumbai, inhabited by all sorts of people, belongs to all of them.

Why should Bal Thackeray feel that Sachin was playing politics, for he was not, he was only projecting the One-Indian concept.

Hail Sachin Tendulkar for this comment.

Ban on private practice, weeding out ordinary patients from medical college would add to people’s woes

By O.J.George

If we think on a one-track dimension, ban on private practice of doctors, and driving out of ordinary patients from medical colleges would sound reformative.

Some may even think that these are revolutionary measures which would bring in an egalitarian society.

No doubt, all the ordinary mortals would be on the same wave length of untold misery. Mind you, this is tinkering with the healthcare sphere. After all, any human being has only one life. He or she would like to fetch the best medical attention from the doctors of their choice.

Availability of service is the most crucial aspect with regard to medicare. Till the other day, the medical prescription of a medical college doctor was available to the ordinary mortal.

Payment of Rs 100, or Rs 250 for a call was not that unaffordable considering the fact that the best possible solution to the life problem was being secured by any common man or woman.

The situation in district/taluk hospitals and primary health centres has been dismal considering the non-availability of specialized amenities.

At one go, all those who were getting treatment in medical colleges are being thrown out and left to the mercy of nothingness in district/taluk hospitals and primary health centres.

No doubt, when people find it impossible to get services in these entities they would be forced to go to private hospitals, risking the prospect of making huge payments.

And the private medical colleges in the state can have their way. There is no restriction on them.

Some so-called ideologues are misguiding the government and distancing the people from the LDF government.

The very same government is not extending salary revision allowed by the UGC to university and college teachers.

The UGC is giving the full additional amount initially, and there would be many avenues to fetch further assistance from it or the Central Government if the same is extended to the teachers.

Of course, the retirement age of teachers has to be extended.

Now the government is not sanctioning posts in colleges. Only guest teachers are appointed by the management. Since payment to them is not given by the government, there is no continuity. Quality of teaching will thus go down further.

Things are going from bad to worse in the health and education sectors.

What has gone wrong with the Left, particularly the CPM?

By O.J.George

It is high time the Left, particularly the Left, found out the real reason behind the debacle everywhere in the ballot battle.

There is no room for justification of the rout the Left has been facing these days. The Left means essentially the CPM and that party, which has a clear role to play in Kerala and West Bengal politics, should not fritter away the goodwill inbuilt in the minds of sizable sections of people.

Perhaps, a little change in the mindset could correct the degeneration, for which there should be the will to do it.

In Kerala, the CPM used to win by-elections, whereas the C ongress was able to win a by-election only rarely and that too in special political situations.
Now it has lost all the three bypolls in Kannur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha. Did the party err by going overboard in campaign tactics?

No party in Kerala can win an election with its own members and immediate kin. Kerala has a peculiar section of the electorate, which is not that vocal but is clear-headed and decisive about what should be done. It is this section that has been distanced by the party.

The situation in West Bengal is worse, for the CPM could not win a single of the five seats it contested. The Left Front was largely routed, except for a single win of a minuscule party. Trinamul-Congress combine won nine seats of the total 10.

Already there is clamour for a snap election in West Bengal by elements within the Left Front. Fisheries Minister Kiranmoy Nanda of the Socialist Party has called for fresh elections without waiting for the schedule in 2011. RSP says there should be discussion about it. Forward Bloc may not want to cling on if the CPM takes the decision for a snap poll.

But Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who betrays courage, says the by-election results are temporary phenomena. People had permanently decided to offer a five-year term for his government which should lead them till 2011. There can be any argument for clinging on.

No doubt, something is drastically wrong with the approach of the party, which should be offered a course correction, if need be.

The CPM has all along been discussing at various fora the need for corrective measures; no doubt it should not lose time in implementing the measures.

UDF registers convincing victory in by-polls, LDF has a long way to go

By O.J.George

The CPM-led LDF wanted to snatch one seat at least from the Congress-led UDF in the three by-elections of Kannur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha. Particularly, Kannur it had wanted badly, for the Congress candidate was former CPM whiz kid A.P.Adbulla Kutty.

The LDF and the CPM did not get what it wanted, for the Congress retained all the three seats. The LDF can have a minor consolation that its votebank has not shrunk compared to its performance in the Lok Sabha elections. True, Lok Sabha elections and Assembly election issues are vetted by the electorate differently.

Nobody expects V.S.Achuthanandan to fold up his business on account of the LDF debacle. Of course, he had contributed significantly to the campaign, badly hoping for a foray into the UDF fold.

Abdulla Kutty got a margin of 12,043 votes in Kannur, Dominic Presentation 8,620 votes in Ernakulam and A.A. Shukur 4,745 votes in Alappuzha.

Whether the margins have come down or not, a win is a win in the democratic set-up.The by-election results would definitely be a pointer to what is in the crucible for the Assembly elections in 2011.
There is nothing to speak against the conventional alternation of a UDF, LDF regime in the state.

CPM’s debacle is more pronounced in West Bengal. Trinamul-Congress combine has fetched eight seats out of 10 by-elections in West Bengal. The CPM has nothing to feel relieved, on the contrary, things appear to be very bad for the party. Mamata magic is working in favour of the Trinamul-Congress combine.

In spite of several constraints, democracy is deep-rooted in the politicalscape and we should be happy about it.

Will L.K.Advani simply fade away?

O J George

Those who want rejuvenation of the flagging BJP want the senior leadership to give way for younger blood to take up the reins to lead the party to greater glory.

BJP president Rajnath Singh and Parliamentary Party Leader L.K.Advani should step down and second rung leadership should come in, according to this argument.
Peeved at the dismal show in the Lok Sabha elections, the RSS is also keen to have new leadership for the BJP.

All this is easier said than done, for Advani is not that a throw-away. Perhaps, Rajnath Singh can be given some role and appeased.

After A.B.Vajpayee, who is keeping ill-health, Advani is the tallest leader, even though he had erred in his judgement to provide a softer side to his fundamentalism.

Sudheendra Kulkarni might have misled him into saying that Mohamed Ali Jinnah was a secularist. Now Jaswant Singh has gone a little beyond that, glorifying Jinnah and blaming leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru for partition.

The rout of the party in the Lok Sabha elections, causing disappointment for not forming a government of its own at the Centre, had spurred sections of the party and the RSS itself to take steps to streamline the party.

There was a call for the immediate replacement of Rajnath Singh, but he refused to cave in. He wanted to live out his tenure as the BJP president which ends in December this year.

Advani said on and off that he would give up the post of Parliamentary Party Leader. But that was not immediately implemented, but Sushma Swaraj was appointed deputy leader.

Now the RSS has made its plea louder, meaning Advani should also go. He may be given time till February to wind up business and fade away into oblivion.

Having said all this, with the second rung leadership at loggerheads with each other, exit of Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha and the immobilization of Arun Shourie, it is a moot question whether people like Arun Jaitely, Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu, could lead the party to greater glory.

Incidentally, RSS chief Mohan Bhagavat has observed the successors would not be from Delhi. That means all these people would be out of the fray. Maybe Nitin Gadkari, leader from Maharashtra or Manohar Parikar from Goa could be RSS’ pick. But then Parikar had called Advani spoiled pickles.

All the same will all the Delhiwallahs line up behind a junior leader? Most of all, will Advani who celebrated his 83rd birthday on Sunday walk into the sunset? Will there be a larger-than-thou image for him afterwards?

How easy it is to bridge gap by removing subsidies and increasing administrative prices!

By O.J.George

Let us be amused by the reports that appeared recently that IMF sold 200 tonnes of gold to RBI at $ 6.7 billion and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee intends to remove subsidies on fertiliser and oil.

On the one hand, the forex reserves are booming and the country can afford to buy about half of the IMF’s gold stocks. It is the same country which had sold its gold to the UK during the regime of Chandrashekhar to make payment of international bills. Surely, we have grown and that too substantially.

On the other hand, we are taking away the subsidy component of farming inputs like fertiliser and everyman’s requirement of oil. Of course, there is no harm in maintaining some sort of a balance, but without unsettling the kitty of poor people.

And the reckoning of poverty line itself is not sacrosanct to distinguish it from non-poor chaps. The purchasing power to have the essential amount of calories to sustain life is the determining factor for distinguishing between poverty and the absence of it. And there is something called rural poverty and urban poverty. The benchmarks for both are a little different. All the same, if the lifeline of calories is removed, such Homo sapiens would breathe their last.

All provisions of welfare are meant for the below the poverty line. And mind you, those above the poverty line are not that cosy. If Rs 100 is required to maintain essential amount of calories and if one has it, he is above the poverty line. We know it for a fact that there is not much difference between a person earning Rs 99 and another with Rs 100.And the 100-wallah is above the poverty line!!

Now we are selling off 10 per cent of profit making public sector units for sourcing funds for the national rural employment guarantee scheme. Fair enough, a lot of people would be benefited by the scheme. But that is not enough. The windfall gains, that too irregular, made by vested interests by the sale of 3 G spectrum amounting to thousands of crores of rupees, the unethical earnings of people like the Jharkhand man, Madhu Koda, crores of crores of money stashed by Indians, particularly politicians, in God-forsaken countries, Oh, what gargantuan amounts would be available for undertaking welfare measures for the ordinary mortals, had they been secured here. These are national assets pilfered by
Ek Din Ka Sultans.

We are going in for absolute capitalism, which has gains and pitfalls. All right let the rulers decide themselves for policies. But let them not turn a Nelson’s eye on the inbuilt welfare measures available in copy book capitalistic countries. We have not made a clarion call for implementing such measures here. NREGP cannot replace such welfare measures like sustenance allowance for the jobless and the jobs-lost, health schemes and the like.

Without implementing these, if the country goes in for removal of subsidies and increase in administrative prices, the situation would be callous for am admi.

No ill-will meant, only the musically-oriented should sing in films

By O.J.George

At the outset, it should be emphasised that there is no ill-will meant in the suggestion that only the musically-minded should sing in films.

Otherwise, the great mass medium would be hijacked by people of other resources with their music numbers, which would be revolting, when talented singers are available in plenty.

The latest info is that Meera Jasmine is going to sing in a film in which she is acting. Maybe, as demanded by situations, the actors can recite like Dr Ayyappa Panikker, Kadammanitta and the like.

A priest, who is a good church singer, made an anecdote about his visit to a church in America. He was visiting his relatives there and grabbed an opportunity to visit the nearby church on a Sunday hoping that he could join the congregation with his melodious singing. The church remained open on the dot. There were only very few members present for the church service. A very old priest presented himself at the altar, looked at the congregation and announced.”Let us start the service by saying Hymn Number…”.

Considering the poor attendance and dearth of people capable of singing a hymn, the priest most deservedly chose to say a song, rather than indulge in the farce of singing.

When people think about songs, their minds are attuned to Jesudas, Latha Mangeshkar, and the like. Replacing their role with others who are best suited to acting would vitiate creativity.

Music, singing and soporific strains are God-given. Others should not transgress their limits and make their foray into sacred space.

Some may say Mohanlal, Mammootty, Jayaram, Jagadish, Siddique, Innocent, Mala Aravindan, KPAC Lalitha, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Manju Warrier, Prithviraj have all made their presence felt as singers in films.

But anyone can say they cannot be compared with those who are blessed with music and singing professionally.

Recitation is okay, but let us not burden the audience with cacophony.

There is a season for everything; and times look bad for the BJP

By O.J.George

The BJP at the national level is not thriving, and the only BJP government in the South, led by B.S.Yeddyurappa, is in the doldrums with infighting.

The party is yet to mollify Vasundhara Raje Scindia, the Opposition Leader in Rajasthan, who had been asked to quit following grievous rout in the Lok Sabha elections, and she demitted office belatedly seeking reinstatement at the Centre. The rapprochement is yet to come into being.

There are strong views within certain quarters of the party opposing continuance of L.K.Advani as Opposition Leader in the Lok Sabha as well as Rajnath Singh as BJP president. The present situation, appearing to be a solution, is that they will live out their respective terms and then burn themselves out.

RSS sarsanghchalak (supremo) Mohan Bhagawat has been of the firm view that there should be change of guard and younger blood should take over. However, he has not been game for imposing a leader for the BJP by the RSS. That stance is, in fact, noble, something not usually prevalent in outfits which have deep roots in the national social milieu.

Fair enough, but the party has not been able to revive itself by any means. Lately, Sushma Swaraj, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who had sworn to shave off her head as a widow if Sonia Gandhi became Prime Minister even as she had secured people’s mandate, has now caved in and admitted to the fact that it is bad times for her party.

Elevation of Arun Jaitley as BJP parliamentary party leader in the Rajya Sabha has shattered some others like Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and the like. Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha are out of the party and Shourie is on the brink of falling off, unless he is offered something plum.

It is a sorry state of affairs that a party which had not any grips of governance in the South all these years, is letting go the opportunity provided by the people to govern them in Karnataka. Of course, B.S.Yeddyurappa had won the hearts of the people because he was let down by Deve Gowda by not supporting him as promised earlier for the second stint of governance last time. Gowda’s party enjoyed powers for the first half and then shunted him. The people did not forgive him for that and governance was offered on a platter to Yeddyurappa.

Now infighting has bedevilled the party and there is a clarion call for replacement of Yeddyurappa at the behest of Bellary brothers- Janardhana Reddy and Karunakara Reddy, who are mining magnates. Many of Yeddy’s rivals want Speaker Jagadish Shettar to be made the Chief Minister.

Talks by Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj, Anantkumar with various sections of the party leaders in Karnataka have not borne fruit. It seems the Bellary Brothers want the scalpel of Yeddy.

Curbs on the media would not work out

By O.J.George

Kerala, iconising Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai, cannot have Pravda (Truth-Russian), Izvestiya (News-Russian), Granma (Cuban) type newspapers and their way of reporting, controlled by the Big Brother.

Kerala is a place where anyone can talk and walk for any number of hours on all conceivable subjects. The writers know the extent of liberalism available to them, and they don’t cross the borderline. A few Smart Alecs break the golden rule once in a while, and they are outrightly condemned.

The latest missive from the government is to its own departments to size up the dimensions of divulging information to the media. The persons responsible for the respective departments should secure prior approval for divulging information. Perhaps the departmental heads and information officers can give out the programme details of ministers and party functionaries!

In actual practice, curbs on the media would only boomerang on the authorities, for diktats are double-edged weapons.

When official sources refuse to divulge pure information, there would be speculation bordering on hearsay and untruths.

Would it be enough if the newspapers and media report information supplied by so-called worthies like N.Madhavankutty? He had said on television channel something like this. ‘Neither me nor the party was convinced by the explanation of Sebastian Paul regarding media syndicate’. His professional background and practices are not worthy of emulation, and if someone follows the advice, coming from them galore, the atmosphere would be vitiated.

There is something more than meets the eye with regard to their motives. A party or the government, guided by similar elements would be hollow.

The world would be a poor place to live in, if people have to savour only the information supplied by such elements with vested interests. They have a mind-block, limited by the me-only attitude. Nobody worth the salt can be made an obedient servant in the media echelons.

The people enjoy uncontrolled dissemination of information. Deviations from moral, ethical, legal issues in reporting should be dealt with in the regular way of the society.

Various authorities in India have tried to gag the Press one way or other, but they have on and off backed off in the face of public outcry.

And when there are officials like K.Sureshkumar who could take on the office of the Chief Minister, there would be no shortage of views opposed to the stymied information being given out by censored sources.

Of course, government sources who divulge information in an official way should be responsible for the take.

To gag them in toto would be meaningless and the offshoot would be chaotic.

DMK putting pressure, Congress not willing to toe the line

O.J.George

For the benefit of local politics or otherwise, the DMK has been driving the Congress to the wall after the UPA II government took over. It is common knowledge that the Congress Party, particularly Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, has not been happy with the performance of many DMK Ministers during the UPA I regime. But the political expediency enmeshed in front regimes had helped the DMK go scot-free.

However, after the last Lok Sabha elections, when the Congress Party rejuvenated itself by good performance at the hustings, the DMK could not claim many things on a platter.

The Lok Sabha election results had proved that many of the partners of the UPA I are not that indispensable. In fact, the Congress Party has a better reckoning indirectly as many parties, now outside the UPA bandwagon, would be only too willing to associate themselves with governance. DMK is not that powerful now. But some of the leaders arrogate to themselves the thinking that they can have their way about every thing.

A.Raja was not a minister held dearly by the Prime Minister during UPA I regime. He would have jettisoned Raja in the UPA II ministry. But Karunanidhi had insisted on Raja being sworn in . That does not mean that Raja can have his way about everything.
The Central Vigilance Commission has found several irregularities in the Telecom department headed by Raja. The CBI had launched widespread raids in many of the offices of Telecom, regarding irregularities and corruption in the allotment of spectrum.

There were reports that a Madras High Court judge was asked by a Union Minister to save a person involved in the marks scam.

Union Minister Azhagiri, Karunanidhi’s eldest son, has not been ruling well at the Centre, which the Congress leaders know it very well.
Under the circumstances, it is clear that all is not well with the DMK-Congress tie-up.


By this time, the DMK has been zeroing in on Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh for his sanctioning a survey for a new dam in place of the 114-year-old mud and lime Mullapperiyar dam.

Karunanidhi wrote to Jairam Ramesh and Prime Minister to cancel the sanction, which no sensible administrator can do. Now DM has called for a special convention of the party to denounce Jairam Ramesh.

It seems DMK is taking Congress Party for granted, but the Congress leaders seem to be not amused. Earlier Rahul Gandhi visited Tamil Nadu, but he did not care to call on Karunanidhi. Now Kanimozhi wanted to call on Sonia Gandhi, who has not been willing to receive her , it seems in the vitiated circumstances.

Old fashioned Opposition is no more relevant, Congress on a winning streak

By O.J.George

Assembly election results in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh have proved the point that old fashioned functioning of the Opposition is no more relevant to fight the Congress Party, which is definitely on a winning streak.

In Arunachal Pradesh, Congress is the only party of reckoning, in Maharashtra Congress-NCP combine has no rival claimants for a government and in Haryana, Congress is the largest single party, although it has not secured simple majority on its own. Still, it can form a government with the help of independents or Kuldip Singh Bishnoi’s Haryana Janhit Congress.

The BJP-Shiv Sena combine has not proved to be the roaring lions as breakaway MNS of nephew Raj Thackeray has put a spanner into the hopes of the Bal-Udhav Thackeray father-son duo to be in the saddle of governance in Maharashtra.

As for the Congress, Ashok Chavan in Maharashtra, B S Hooda in Haryana and Dorjee Khandu in Arunachal are likely to be renominated by the party leadership as Chief Ministers in the respective states.

Congress can enjoy a hassle-free polity in several ways as irritants like BSP, NCP etc have been made to sit on the backfoot, apart from dealing a deathly blow to BJP in electoral politics. The BJP has already been driven back to fourth or fifth position in UP and the continued decline of the BJP-Shiv Sena combine in Maharashtra should teach them political lessons to give up old fashioned rhetorics and gain the confidence of the people by positive ideas and action.

The best bet for the Congress has been its cohesion at the highest levels, for party president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are able to pull together without irritants. Earlier, on several occasions, the dichotomy betweent the party and its government had weakened both, hitting the overall functioning.

The main opposition should convince itself that throwing gaffes at Sonia Gandhi and Rahul and deprecating Manmohan Singh as being weak, without itself projecting cogent alternatives, would not gel well with the electorate.

All the same, it should be the duty of the opposition to regain some relevance as democracy calls for multi tasking at political levels.

Salutation, intonation rude, the very language is impolite

By O.J.George

At least at times one has to ponder over the peremptory manner in which we articulate messages, convey ideas and interact with each other or the public.

A lot of people do not show poise when they disseminate information, address issues and react to situations, even when they are happy.

Some linguists had observed that Malayalam is probably the rudest language in terms of intonation, saluation and addressing.

People who have travelled to other parts of the country where different tongues stand out would come to notice the humble languages of Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and the like. Even Hindiwalahs add “Sirji”, “Bhai Sab”, “Behenji” etc when they address others.When it comes to Telugu, it is “Emandi”, Prabhakara Garu” etc and that “Garu” is an affectionate form of addressing.

Even when Malayalis address people like “Sahodaree Sahodaranmare” (Sisters and Brothers), it is not like Swami Vivekananda addressed the same words in the US at the parliament of religions. His address had captivated the hardest cynics among the audience.

However, our “Sahodaree Sahodaranmare”in its ambience of pronunciation, salutation, and intonation does not smack of any amount of humility. It is commanded like “Parade, Saavadhaan” ( I was in the NCC during college days).

“Gruhani pidicha payyan”( boy with worm infection) reference about Rahul Gandhi was a little too much. No doubt, I have heard some political leaders speaking about Mahatma Gandhi as which Kaanthi What Kaanthi like that when they waxed eloquent on the futility of his peaceful means, through the public address system, erupting goose pimples for the rugged.

These days, when the by-elections are round the corner, the people of Kerala should be prepared to listen to unhygienic verbiage, foul and filthy.

The question is, would there be any necessity for such onslaughts when the people, even the lowest of the lowly, are aware of the melody of salubrious salutations, except drunkards, drug addicts and the deviants?

Address the issues, argue out the points, vet the goings-on, but remain poised.

I believe the national capital is full of political leaders who are aware of blemishless conduct in addressing rivals. Vajpayee, Advani( he faltered once when he called Manmohan Singh a weak PM), Sonia Gandhi, Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechuri and the like remain towering personalities because of their poise. Nobody can prick Manmohan Singh, who is low profile while speaking(once he had crossed the lines when he spoke his mind out to Asif Ali Zardari in the presence of the Press).Mind you, Advani and Manmohan Singh had apologised on both instances.

Let our Malayali leaders also learn to be humble even when they “speak daggers but use none”.

It is a shame on Kerala that by-election in Kannur cannot be held smoothly

By O.J.George

The Election Commission of India is a phenomenally gigantic apparatus which can conduct elections for the people of over 110 crore people smoothly.

On several occasions, the commission was able to find solution to vexing problems popping up in electoral times.

Alas, there are reports appearing daily that the by-election to Kerala Asssembly from Kannur constituency cannot be held in a free and fair manner. At least rival parties hurl abuses and indulge in machinations.

Are the officials free and can they discharge their functions fearlessly to uphold democratic principles?

If not, the election commission should take appropriate steps to dispense justice to all. There is no room for partisanship for an umpire who oversees the political match. And this should be convincing to the people.

The beauty of Indian democracy is that there is space for every kind of political opinion.

Sometimes, the space is overabundant that extremist elements also thrive. That is what we witness in about half of the areas of the Indian nation in the form of Naxalites or Maoists.

When there is no ideology for physical extermination of human beings, any outfit is okay. But the Maoists are on a killing spree, which cannot be justified on any count. Like that, undesirable tendencies in the election arena should be nipped in the bud.

Kannur is the most politically volatile district in the state, where the by-election would be, naturally, on a high voltage transmission of emotions. But venting of emotions should not be aimed at achieving ambitions at the cost of justice and fair play.

The CPM and the Congress are the major players there and they should cease activities to outwit the other at the cost of democratic exercise.

The district collector gives in writing that worksheets of electoral rolls should be given. The tahsildar provides in black and white that this cannot be done. Something is wrong somewhere.

The point is the CPM, Congress and BJP should have a feeling that good governance prevails in the electoral exercise.

If there is any breach, the election commission should plop down and save the murky situation from going out of hand.

The war cries will be shrill this time for the by-election seats

By O.J.George

The three by-elections to Kerala Assembly, which should have been a low-key affair, are turning out to be fiery. For sure, by-election to Kannur Assembly constituency, will see more fire works than anywhere else in the state.

Assembly seats of Kannur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha have been the sitting bastions of the Congress Party. K.Sudhakaran in Kannur, K.V.Thomas in Ernakulam and K.C.Venugopal in Alappuzha were elected to the Lok Sabh and hence the by-elections to the Assembly seats. The new incumbents would not have even two years to go in the Assembly. Still it is a question of prestige.

For the CPM the most prestigious seat is Kannur where the Congress Party has drafted its ex-whiz kid A.P.Abdulla Kutty as its own candidate.
In the normal circumstances, the CPM would not tolerate someone who had left its fold. That way Abdulla Kutty is persona non grata. By hooks or crooks he has to be taught a lesson. All the three Jayarajans, E.P, P. and M.V, are collectively mopping up their tactics to beat Abdulla Kutty. M.V.Jayarajan himself is the candidate taking on Abdulla Kutty.
Now a tussle is going on regarding alleged hanky-panky in inclusion of additional voters. Kannur’s stormy petrel K.Sudhakaran has demanded worksheets from the officials regarding addition of new voters. The deputy tahsildar is not amenable to giving away the details.
Union Minister Vayalar Ravi has advised the District Collector to give up election duties himself in the wake of allegations of irregularities.

In Ernakulam the CPM candidate appears to be a low-key person compared to M.V.Jayarajan in Kannur. CPI has its candidate in Alappuzha who is the owner of three elephants. These are all only players in the democratic exercise.

The CPM has some solace these days that it could successfully muster enough people to stage a human chain across the state. That has proved to be a morale-booster for the party which has been a victim of groupism. Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan is also contributing to the success of the LDF candidates.

In fact, the CPM has nothing to lose even if it loses all the three seats, for these were held by the Congress Party. Conversely, if it wins one seat, it will be a world of victory for it.

And if that winning seat happens to be Kannur, the CPM would have a hell of a celebration.

That does not mean, the Congress Party will leave its seats to anyone. The Congress and the UDF are doing everything possible to retain the seats. The war cries will be shrill this time.

Terrorist attacks in India or Pakistan is a grave threat to the world

By O.J.George

Repeated terrorist attacks in Pakistan should be an eye-opener to that country and peace lovers all over the world about the futility of either supporting blood thirsty groups or ignoring their tentacles.

No doubt, terrorist attack in Mumbai was done with the blessings of Pakistan. Now terrorists, be they Laskhar-e-Toyiba, Pak Taliban or other entities, are turning against Pakistan itself.

I firmly believe that The US should have tackled the terrorist elements camping in Pakistan first before it had turned its attention on Iraq, Afghanistan etc.
US attitude is crucial to the decimation of terrorist elements. One evident example is the extermination of LTTE, which earlier had the tacit approval of agencies in the US. After September 11, 2001, the US reformulated its priorities and declared many organizations as terrorist. LTTE also formed part of the list of terrorist organizations. Gradually, the influence of LTTE waned and that is a thing of the past for now.

Likewise, whether Pakistan was in the bosom of US in the past or not, the Americans should understand that almost all the terrorist elements in the world are deeply enmeshed in Pakistan whose rulers from time to time co-operated with it or ignored their evil activities.

Now the very same elements are turning against the nation, like the Frankinstein monster.
The US should come to understand that its intentions in Afghanistan cannot be achieved in toto with the co-operation of Pakistan, for it is not totally loyal to the commitments made to the US regarding action against terrorists.
Or one can say that the Pak administration had deep-rooted role in the continuance of terrorist activities there that it cannot whole-heartedly turn against the evil forces.


Sooner or later, the US would be forced to deal with the terrorists in Pakistan in other ways. But by then the terrorists would be able to deal deathly blows to peace-loving people, even in the US.

God knows what would happen to the nuclear arsenal in Pakistan, for terrorist organizations have already accessed means of procuring nukes or are capable of getting their hands at it.

Nukes in Pakistan, Iran, North Korea etc could be diverted indirectly to evil minds determined to decimate the world.


China may be thinking that they would be safe as it has close association with Pakistan. Facts would speak otherwise, for terrorists are heartless and would not acquiesce to sentimentalities. If they can attack Pakistani establishments, they can go against others as well.

It is in the interest of the US and others to bridle Pakistan at any cost so that terrorist elements do not find safe haven in that country.

Do we not need leaders in various political persuasions, why this intolerance?

By O.J.George

These days we have been witnessing episodes, maybe minor in nature but have deeper meaning, which speak of the degeneration in political conduct and co-existence.

Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the Gandhi family, and one of the strongest contenders for power in the country, made a visit to a few colleges in the state where students accorded him a warm welcome.

No doubt, the general public also appreciated his tour as well as his remarks. Of course, there may be political differences and rivals may not have taken kindly to his making inroads into their bastions.

All the same, those who launched vitriolics against Rahul Gandhi’s visit, forget for a moment that the country needs leaders who should have a feel of the pulse of the people. The more they get acquainted with people of all sorts, the better for the society as these would have an impact in their minds when laws, schemes and missions are thought of.

Not only Rahul Gandhi, but also all leaders should be let in so that they would get richer experience and the people would come to know them in close quarters.

But people like A.K.Balan made remarks of intolerance about the visit of Rahul Gandhi. Not to lose time, the CPM activists acted against a hotel owner for his feeding Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi enjoyed the good coffee served to him by Abdul Azeez, owner of the Olive Hotel at Palazhi junction in Olavanna panchayat in Kozhikode district. The hotel people were taken aback when Rahul Gandhi’s entourage stopped at the joint and had coffee and bites. He also gave them an autograph, writing ‘good coffee’.

Sadly someone broke the glass in which coffee was served to Rahul. Now the hotel owner is charged by the CPM-ruled panchayat and the health centre facility for using muddled water in the hotel, which is denied by the owner.

It seems some people have been flabbergasted by the affection bestowed on a leader. The attitude that no one else should come in is nothing but intolerance. Even RSS has made it clear that there is nothing wrong in Rahul Gandhi visiting rural areas.

Let charistmatic leaders of all political parties visit our state and learn about its rich culture, traditions and way of life.