It’s the Time to Disco!

I believe in all the good things of life. No! Don’t get me wrong! I’m not talking about a pint or quarter or anything. That’s not my idea of fun. And I don’t smoke either. “Then what do you do?” a bewildered Minister in the LDF Government asked me, when I mentioned this during chit-chat time in the Assembly. His question was accompanied by an unmistakable innuendo. I shook my head in disagreement. And told him I believe in love. He was flabbergasted. I’m pretty sure he didn’t believe me.

Friends, Life has so many beautiful things to offer. Kerala is a dream location with beaches, mountains, forests, trees, flora and fauna, warm climate, rivers, backwaters, fertile land, domesticated elephants, festivals, and places of worship. We have languages, music, poetry, dance, cinema, art and culture and multiple avenues for entertainment. Why should Malayalis hit the bottle? I don’t understand.

I’m not saying “don’t touch alcohol. I’m not that narrow minded. Pakshe, amithamayaal amrithavum visham alle? When you learn to drive, the first lesson is how to apply the brakes. Why do the people of Kerala experience ‘brake failure’ when they start drinking? My father and brothers in law are teetotalers. Perhaps their influence was stronger than the influence of my film industry friends and so I ended up a teetotaler. God bless them!

It is virtually impossible for an actor (whether male or female) to escape the public perception of promiscuity. It is an inhibition-free industry where people work round the clock in close proximity. People think there are more opportunities here and fewer barriers, so everyone leads a Bohemian life. But I think what does not happen in the rest of the society, cannot happen in the film industry alone. Before I entered the political arena I was a prime target for the rumour mills, precisely because my father was a successful politician. All I can say now is that I am not the person I was made out to be.

I did make my share of mistakes. And I did face the consequences – alone. Today, I wish to share my thoughts with the youth of Kerala because they are at the crossroads and may be wondering which way to turn. All I can say is don’t follow the crowd, follow your heart. Don’t be discouraged by failure, because your day is sure to come. Sometimes you have to wait really long for success, love and happiness to come your way. Forget about the mansions and the BMWs and the beauties and the hangers on. They won’t make you happy.

Just go out and enjoy the best that life has to offer. No! Don’t reach for the bottle. Find another way. Plant a tree. Sing and dance. Play with a child. Visit the sick and ailing. Watch a movie. Play indoor and outdoor games. Read books. Reach out to people, not just in the virtual world of the internet, but in the real world. Spend time with friends. Love someone. Connect with your environment. Re-establish your bond with nature. Travel as far as your purse permits. Go swimming. Climb mountains. When you are older and the burdens of life catch up with you, it may not be possible do any of these things.

You are YOUNG and that is what counts. YES, it’s the time to DISCO!

The Class Hypocrisy of the LDF

The Leftists are masters in the art of hypocrisy. Running with the hare and hunting with the hound is one of their pet hobbies. Here are a few examples:

Campaign Against Alcohol - There are 681 valid bar licenses in Kerala today. Of them 150 were issued by the LDF Government under VS Achuthanandan. 8 licenses were issued after the Assembly election was announced, thus violating the Election Code of Conduct. On the one hand the AIDWA and the DYFI (the women’s wing and the youth wing of the CPM) carry on a campaign against alcohol, and on the other hand, the Govt. merrily issues bar licenses to all and sundry. When the question of Arun Kumar’s Golf Club membership arose, VS turned into a liberal overnight and shocked the public conscience by expressing the view that drinking was perfectly fine. AIDWA and DYFI kept mum.

Recruitment through the Backdoor – How many candidates did the LEFT Government appoint to Government posts after the announcement of Elections? There was a virtual stampede at many offices, where letters were being handed out to party faithfuls. A new precedent (not found anywhere in the world) was started when applicants were bundled into a bus and appointment letters were issued in transit. And what did the Ministers have to say? See no evil, hear no evil…..Onnum njan kandilla, Onnum njan kaetilla, ithiri mullakaaru koduthu sarkarintoru….

Lip Service to Press Freedom
P Jayarajan, MLA assaults a media person who was anchoring the Porkalam program of Asianet at Kannur, later he calls him on the phone and threatens him saying, “Ithu Kannur aanu. Ninaku iniyum adi kittum…” Later Jayarajan goes to the police station and gets bail. He refuses to apologize. Says some media persons are bad. The implication that Shahjahan is one of them is abundantly clear. Minister C Divakaran, accused of assaulting an ordinary voter, denies the allegation. Home Minister Kodiyeri says Press must be allowed to do its duty, but Jayarajan has a cut-and-paste hand, and so cannot hit anybody, and moreover Divakaran would not be so foolish as to hit a voter. The media exaggerates. The media is anti-LEFT.

Attitude towards Women
The CPM’s attitude words women is exemplified by the remarks of seniormost comrade VS Achuthandan, who uses the term “oruthi” to describe his political opponents and past women comrades. Though he has a voyeuristic interest in sex offenders, his Government has not be able to book a single offender, leave alone ensure the safety and liberty of women. The word ‘respect’ appears nowhere in the Red Dictionary.

Keep cricket and Kerala clean!

The quantity of biomedical waste generated by hospitals in Trivandrum district is 5224 Kgs per day. Every day 2800 to 3000 tonnes of solid waste are generated by the urban towns and only 50% of this is collected for disposal. (Source: Economic Review 2010) This means around 1500 tons of solid waste are left to decompose by the roadside, in vacant plots of land, in canals, drains and water bodies. This way we end up polluting and contaminating the land, water and air, and creating a suitable environment for the spread of disease. Add to this our inability to tackle the mosquito menace, and what do we get? Chickungunya, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, H1N1…….an endless list of maladies.

Yes, we need to keep not only cricket, but also Kerala clean! I wish I could watch the India-Pak match on TV, “but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep..”

1000 Naavulla Achuthanandan

I hear the Health Minister has ordered a six-member team of doctors to accompany VS on his election tours. I thought he said he is in the pink of health at 87/88/89! One thing I know for sure: VS inte naakinu oru kuzhappavum illa!

Pakshe chilappol VSinte naakirangi pogum. Arun Kumarin ethire aaropanangal varumbol. CPM nethakkal pathrakkare mardhichu varthakku ‘censorship’ adichelipikkaan sramikkumbol. Manthrimar votermare thallumbol. MLAmar sarkar udhyogasthanmare bhishanipeduthumbol.

First P Jayarajan, MLA, manhandles the Asianet Kozhikode bureau chief Shahjahan at Kannur. Then CPI Minister C Divakaran assaults a voter at Karunagapally railway station. And V Sivan Kutty, MLA, threatens government officials who objected to his holding an election meeting without obtaining permission. Police cases have been registered against all the three ‘leaders’. The CM’s vitriolic tongue did not come to his aid this time. It will not help him at Malampuzha either, where he has three powerful women to contend with – Lathika Subhash, Sindhu Joy and the sad little daughter of Shari, the deceased Kiliroor victim. My heart says that where women are determined, no power on earth can stop them. Will God save the godless VS? I doubt.

Corruption and the CPM

KM Shajahan talks about allegations against VS’ son

KM Shajahan talks about allegations against VS’ son!-Part 2

Lavalin case: CBI claims strong evidence against Pinarayi

I prepared the letters for VS regarding SNC Lavalin: Shajahan

Vaaranthyam – Pinarayi Vijayan Case (2009)

As you might have guessed, this is only the tip of the iceberg!

Random Thoughts About Child Rights

If I were a little boy what would I be dreaming of? Toy cars and aeroplanes to play with. A couple of cellphones. And a laptop. Permission to browse the internet whenever it pleased me, and to play video games at will. A king-sized TV in my room with all possible channels. Siblings and friends to play with. Freedom to eat chocolates, pizza, and burgers whenever I want to.

No one should stop me from playing loud music. No! I don’t want to stick that funny thing in my ears – you see I like to dance! No one should laugh at me when I ask silly questions. If they don’t know the answers they should be frank enough to say so.

No need to go to school everyday. No need to carry heavy school bags. (Now that is what I call a ‘donkey’s life’!) No homework. No scolding by father, mother, or teacher. No questions about marks or grades or what I am going to be when I grow up. (Who wants to grow up anyway?)

I wish my parents would stop quarrelling. I wish they would come home early from work. I wish they would take me to the beach or the zoo. I wish we could go together to see a movie and eat popcorn and ice-cream in the interval. I wish they wouldn’t shout at me when I break a precious piece of crystal. I don’t do such things deliberately. Sometimes I just practice bowling like Sreesanth, and I miss my target.

When I run a fever I wish they wouldn’t give me those horrible medicines. And I hate going to the doctor because she always gives me an injection. If they ask me I would tell them the fever will subside in a few days even without treatment. But no one listens to me. They think they know everything.

When my parents ask me to run errands or do odd jobs around the house, I don’t call it child labour, or ask for wages. I don’t even know what Child Rights are. When they spank me in a moment of anger, I don’t call it child abuse or call the police. And I don’t even hit back.

Mafia’s Own Country

V S describes every interest group as a ‘mafia’ – land mafia, sand mafia, sandalwood mafia, liquor mafia, lottery mafia, forest mafia, and so on. There is a single distinguished exception, though. And that is the Media ‘Syndicate’. The CPM does not dare to call the media a ‘mafia’ for fear of instant retribution.

VS has Sex on his Mind?

Achuthanandan in his old age appears to be obsessed with sex. Just listen to his election speeches: He mentions only sex and sex offenders, as if he can’t stop thinking about the subject. He wants us to believe that the best way to ‘regulate and control’ sexual expression is to use handcuffs and jail sentences!

When VS talks of the use-and-throw policy adopted by men vis a vis women, he is in fact insulting the entire male population of Kerala. When the majority of men simply don’t follow this policy, why is the CM repeating these crude allegations everywhere? The common man is a good man. We should respect him and acknowledge his commitment to his family.

Leaders and legislators ought to be more concerned about violent crimes like rape and murder. Has the VS Government done anything to prevent these from occurring? Recently a young girl was pushed out of a running train, raped and murdered. Why is the CM not mentioning this?

Yes, there are sex rackets and they need to be busted. But what did the LEFT Government do in 5 years? Is Kerala now safer for women? Has anything changed? In 2009 there were 8049 crimes against women, including 20 dowry deaths, 568 rapes, 2540 cases of molestation, 172 abductions and 4007 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives. (Source: Economic Review, Page 407). Were all these crimes committed by the Opposition leaders?

In 2009, the men and women who committed suicide numbered 8755. In 2008 there were 8569 suicides. Is the CM so busy thinking of sex that he has no time to consider these things? What about economic development, agriculture, fisheries, industry, infrastructure, trade, food supply, and power supply? Who is supposed to take the initiative to make progress in these areas?

And why does VS have nothing to say about WikiLeaks and Prakash Karat? What is his opinion on US diplomat Robert Blake’s statement that Karat welcomed closer ties with the US, welcomed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and approved of Air India’s decision to buy Boeing aircraft?

The LDF’s Development Strategies

Minister Vijayakumar’s solution for potholes

VS, Smart City and political announcements

MM Mani on Munnar encroachment

Thomas Isaac comes up with a solution for potholes

Exodus from the CPM

Decades earlier, two former Ministers, both known for their dynamic leadership and administrative capabilities, had quit the CPM : M V Raghavan and K R Gowriamma. But today people are leaving the Party in hordes. The exodus, in fact, started as early as 2009. Dr. K S Manoj, A P Abdulla Kutty, K Sivaraman, M R Murali, Alphons Kannanthanam, Sindhu Joy….. I wonder who will be the next.

What do the new CPM- leavers have in common? They are highly educated, accomplished and charismatic individuals. They have proved their worth in the tricky minefield of politics. They were all sidelined by the Party in order to favour lesser individuals, probably sychophants and free-riders.

Why did they take so long to realize that the CPM was ideologically and morally bankrupt? Perhaps it was the ‘Path Dependency’ factor: When you have travelled too far along a chosen path, it becomes impossible to retrace your steps and proceed along a new route (because your time, energy and resources are limited, and because you have developed emotional bonds to the path as well as your fellow travellers). So you decide to carry on, though you are no longer sure you are doing the right thing.

Only a few have the courage to take the extreme step. As their numbers increase, a critical mass will be reached, and then an avalanche of resignations will begin. This change is imminent. When it comes it will be unstoppable. And irreversible. After all, a pack of lions cannot be led by a stag for very long. Good people need good leaders.

The CPM is a Party that repudiates God. It is a Party that suppresses dissent and silences its opponents. It is a Party that believes in intimidation and violence. It is led by an aged man of doubtful calibre, whose focus and vision are distorted by arrogance and hatred. How can any good human being be happy in the CPM?