One more hartal, horrifying for people

By O J George

Thursday witnessed one more hartal, or stoppage of activities, in Kerala for political reasons.

It threw normal life out of gear. There were no transports. KSRTC buses were stoned at many places in the State.

Some of the activists who blocked traffic were arrested by the police.Shops and commercial establishments remained shut.

An activist was taken into custody from the district office of the Congress Party in Kochi.

Private buses were off the road, two-wheelers and stray cars were seen plying.

Mercifully, other tragedies did not occur as of now.

Powerful people can escape the dragnet of the law. They cannot be proceeded against in accordance with the law. For, they can plug the loop-holes anywhere.

CPM state secretary and former Power Minister Pinarayi Vijayan may not be guilty. But that has to be proved in a court of law, according to Congress leaders.

CBI has found charges against him, but it can charge-sheet him only if the Governor accords sanction. The Governor has sent the CBI’s letter to the government, which sent it to the advocate-general. The AG has said there is no need for prosecution. Not only that, he has totally absolved Pinarayi Vijayan.

The cabinet has approved the line of the AG and sent it to the Governor, who is not bound by the advice of the government. But will he take the risk of overshooting the advice of the cabinet? That is a million-dollar question, an answer for which is due on any day now.

This much of action has precipitated Thursday’s hartal. It seems there is no other avenue to register political parties’ protest. Anyway people are the sufferers.