ആന്റണിയുടെ ‘ആദര്‍ശ ധീരത’ ഒരു മുഖം മൂടി

എ കെ ആന്റണി  പറയുന്നു 

·         ഞാന്‍  പാവമാണ്

·         ജനിച്ച നാള്‍ മുതല്‍ പച്ചവെള്ളം ചവച്ചുകുടിക്കുന്നവനാണ്

· ദിവസവും രാവിലെയുംവൈകുന്നേരവും ആദര്‍ശ രാഷ്ട്രീയം അരച്ച് കലക്ക്യത് കുടിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്നവനാണ്.

·         വെളുത്ത ഖദര്‍ സ്ഥിരമായി ധരിക്കുന്നവനാണ്

·         പണ്ടു ഇന്ദിര ഗാന്ധിക്ക് ചിക്ക മംഗലുരില്‍  മത്സരിക്കുവാന്‍  സീറ്റ്‌ കൊടുത്തതില്‍ പ്രതിഷേധിച്ചു മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി പദവി.പുല്ലു പോലെ വലിചെരിഞ്ഞവനാണ്

 

·   കേന്ദ്രത്തില്‍ ഭക്ഷ്യിയ സിവില്‍ മന്തി ആയിരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ പഞ്ചസാര ഇറക്കുമതിയില്‍ അഴിമതി യുന്റെന്നു ആരോപണം ഉയര്‍ന്നപ്പോള്‍ രാജി വച്ച് പോയവനാണ്‌ 

ഈ കഴിഞ്ഞ ദിവസം പാര്‍ലമെന്‍റില്‍ ആന്റണിസംസാരിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോള്‍ വികാര    വിക്ഷോഭം കൊണ്ടു    എന്നാണു മലയാള മനോരമ റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടില്‍ നിന്ന് മനസ്സിലായത്‌. മനോരമപറയുന്ഇത്രയുംപറഞ്ഞു കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോള്‍ പ്രതിപക്ഷ അംഗങ്ങള്‍   ആന്റണി പറഞ്ഞത് അംഗീകരിച്ചു എന്നാണു.    കുറച്ചു കൂടി സംസാരിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില്‍ ഒരു പക്ഷെ ആന്റണി  കരച്ചിലിന്റെ വക്കോളം       എത്തുമായിരുന്നിരിക്കാം. അങ്ങനെ   സംഭവിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില്‍ പ്രതിപക്ഷാംഗങ്ങള്‍  കൂടെ കരഞ്ഞു എന്നും മനോരമ എഴുതുമായിരുന്നിരിക്കാം

പക്ഷെ ഇതിന്റെ മറുവശം ഇതാണ്:

·       രാജീവ്‌ ഗാന്ധി പ്രധാന മന്ത്രിയായിരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ നടന്ന അറുപത്തിനാല് കോടി രൂപയുടെ ബോ-ഫോര്സ് കുംഭാകൊനത്തിലെ മുഖ്യ പ്രതി കട്രോചിയെ കുറ്റ വിമുക്തനാക്കി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു വെറുതെ വിടാന്‍ സോണിയാ ഗാന്ധിയുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തില്‍ നീക്കങ്ങള്‍  നടന്നപ്പോഴും ആന്റണി മൌനം  ഭജിച്ചിരുന്നു 

·                 കാര്‍ഗിലില്‍ യുദ്ധത്തില്‍ മരിച്ച ജവാന്മാരുടെ വിധവകള്‍ക്കു വേണ്ടി നിര്‍മിച്ച ഫ്ലാറ്റുകള്‍             കോണ്‍ഗ്രസിലെ ഉന്നതന്മാരായ നേതാക്കന്മ്മാര്‍ ഉള്‍പ്പെടെയുള്ളവര്‍ തട്ടിയെടുത്തപ്പോള്‍ അതിനു മൂക സാക്ഷ്യം വഹിച്ചു.

·         ഇസ്രെലുമായി പതിനായിരം കോടി രൂപയുടെ മധ്യ ദൂര ഭൂതല ആകാശ മിസൈല്‍ വാങ്ങുന്നതിന് ഇന്ത്യ ഒപ്പ് വച്ച കരാറില്‍ അറുനൂറു കോടി രൂപയുടെ അഴിമതി നടന്നു  എന്ന വാര്‍ത്ത പുറത്തു വന്നപ്പോള് ഒരു നടപടിയും എടുക്കാതെ മൌനം ഭജിച്ചു

·         യുദ്ധവിമാനങ്ങള്‍നിര്‍മിച്ചിട്ടു ആവശ്യക്കാരില്ലാതതിനാല്‍ അടച്ചുപൂട്ടാനിരുന്ന ഒരു ഫ്രഞ്ച് കമ്പന്യില്‍ നിന്ന് ആന്റണിയുടെ വകുപ്പ് അരലക്ഷം കോടി രൂപ നല്‍കി യുദ്ധ വിമാനങ്ങള്‍ വാങ്ങി. അതിനും കൂട്ട് നിന്ന്  ഈ ആദര്‍ശ  ധീരന്‍.
കരസേന മേധാവി വീ കെ സിംഗ് സൈന്യത്തിന് വേണ്ടി നിലവാരം കുറഞ്ഞ അറുന്നൂറു വാഹനം വാങ്ങാന്‍ കൂട്ട് നിന്നാല്‍ പതിന്നാലുകോടിരൂപ കോഴ നല്‍കാം എന്ന് വാഗ്ദാനം  ഉണ്ടായി

എന്നും  താന്‍  ഇക്കാര്യം ആന്റണിയോട് പറഞ്ഞിട്ടും നടപടിയൊന്നും എടുത്തില്ല എന്നാണു. ഇക്കാര്യത്തിലും ആന്റണി മൌനം ഭജിച്ചു. ഇപ്പോള്‍ പറയുന്നു ഒരു വര്ഷം മുമ്പാണ് വീ കെ സിംഗ് തന്റെ വസതിയില്‍ വന്നു കണ്ടു ഇക്കാര്യം പറഞ്ഞത്. അത് കേട്ടപ്പോള്‍  താന്‍ തലയില്‍ കൈ വച്ചു കുറച്ചു നേരം ഇരുന്നു പോയി. പക്ഷെ തുടര്‍ നടപടിക്കു സിംഗ് താല്പ്പര്യമെടുക്കാതിരുന്നതിനാല്‍ ഇതേക്കുറിച്ച് അന്വേഷണം നടത്താന്‍  മെനക്കെട്ടില്ല എന്നാണു.

പ്രതിരോധ വകുപ്പിലെ അഴിമതി വീ കെ സിംഗിന്റെ വീട്ടു കാര്യം അല്ലല്ലോ? 

ഇതാണോ ആദര്ശ ധീരത? അഴിമതി നടത്തുന്നത് പോലെ കുറ്റമല്ലേ അഴിമതിക്ക് കൂട്ട് നില്‍ക്കുനതും.          അഴിമതി കണ്ടില്ലെന്നു നടിക്കുന്നതും. അഴിമതിക്കെതിരെ വാ തോരാതെ സംസാരിച്ചത് കൊണ്ടു മാത്രം അഴിമതി വിരുദ്ധന്‍ ആയോ? 

ആദര്‍ശ ധീരത കാണിക്കേണ്ടത് ധീരമായ നടപടികളില്‍ കൂടിയായിരിക്കണം. അതല്ലാതെ അഴിമതിക്കെതിരായ അധര സേവ നടത്തിയിട്ട് കാര്യമില്ല. തന്റെ വകുപ്പില്‍ നടക്കുന്ന അഴിമതിക്കെതിരെ പോലും ഒരു ചെറുവിരല്‍ പോലും അനക്കാതെ വികാര വിക്ഷോഭം കൊണ്ടിട്ടു എന്ത് കാര്യം?

ഇതില്‍ നിന്ന് ഈ ആദര്ശ ധീരത വെറും മുഖം മൂടിയാണെന്നു തെളിയുന്നു.

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EDUCATION AFTER PLUS-2 -- TO GO BY CHILDREN’S WISH OR NOT

It is but natural that all parents have to undergo a lot of tension and are very much concerned about  the studies of their wards.  It is all the more so when it comes to higher studies  once they pass Plus-2 or Pre-Degree as the case may be.  Generally it is seen that now-a-days majority of parents prefer to send their wards for Engineering or medicine only.  Moreover, unlike earlier  days a lot of facilities for coaching are available now which the students can avail  and prepare for entrance examination.  Hardly 5-6% of students only opt to join courses other than Engineering or Medicine.   

I had to confront this problem 15 years ago when my daughter was studying in Plus-1.   She was interested in joining Hotel Management Course.  Though myself and wife were ready to go by her wish, our  relations were not inclined to agree to it .  This was as a result of the fear that it will pose problem at the time of her getting married.  Consequently, I had got her admitted to a college for Physics Degree Course. She could not pursue the same and she lost one year in the process.  So the following year I had allowed  her to appear for entrance examination in Hotel Management Diploma. She had  passed the test followed by personal interview. Those days there was not much  scope for educational loan and some of my friends had even asked me to think twice before taking a decision as to whether I can afford to send her for that course. . Nevertheless I took the firm decision that come what may I will go ahead with my plan and accordingly she joined Hotel Management Course. 

 Before completion of the course itself she came out with flying colours in the campus interview conducted by a reputed Hotel Group and got appointed as House Keeping Trainee. She  worked there for more than 5 years as Executive-Housekeeping.

Later on, she had  quit hotel job on getting an offer as Asst Adm Officer in a private company..  After working there for 2 years she  got another offer from an American company  as Adm Officer and she is working in the capacity of Sr Manager  right now drawing a handsome salary.

Now looking back I feel satisfied that even though I had dilly-dallied in sending her for Hotel Management course initially resulting in her losing one year,  the decision taken by me to allow her to pursue higher studies in the said course  was 100% correct. Had I not done so paying  heed to  the advice of some of my friends and relations,  she would not have been able to even dream of attaining the status being enjoyed by her at present. The saying that goes thus ‘Better late than Never’ has become quite meaningful in her case.

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TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS-A (JAUNDICE) – THE HEREDITARY WAY

What is the inspiration behind writing this blog? It  is nothing other than a news item appearing in ‘Deshabhimani’ the other day.  That related to hereditary one dose treatment for various ailments.  This treatment is done by one Aliamma Vaidya hailing from Mukkoottuthara in Kanjirapally Taluk, Kottayam District, Kerala.  She has inherited this from her father and has been in this field for the last 29 years.  Main diseases which she treats are Urinal bladder stone, piles, hypertension, tonsillitis, diabetes, sinus and recurring headache.  In addition she treats dandruff, allergy etc.  She grows all the herbs required for making the medicines towards treatment in her courtyard itself.  Hundreds of thousands   of people have already made use of her treatment and received solace so far.  Her mobile numbers are 9496182055/9446665151.

The said report brings to me the memory of my experience with hereditary one dose treatment as far back as 20 years ago.  At that time my son had to be hospitalized  for complaint of stomach ache. On undergoing medical investigation he was found to be having Hepatitis-A which is a disease that can prove fatal if not treated properly.  Within a couple of days of his admission, his condition became worse and he started vomiting  whatever is taken  including water and we had to spend sleepless nights. The doctor attending on him pacified us that his condition will improve gradually. But it was not to be.

Accidentally, at that time   I came to know about the hereditary treatment practised  by one of my colleagues who was a lady for Hepatitis-A. On enquiry  many of my co-employees vouchsafed that her treatment is quite effective. When contacted, she told me  to get my son discharged from the hospital first and then take him to her office for treatment.  I was in a quandary as the doctor who was attending my son  refused to discharge him on the ground that it will prove fatal.  Finally he had to succumb to my persistent demand. That was one of the most trying times in my life.

Next day morning with a heavy heart I took my son to my colleague lady   who gave the  herbal medicine to him. She told me that he should not  vomit it out atleast for one hour.  Thus myself and wife  kept vigil to see that he does not  vomit it out. After an hour my colleague  confirmed that there is nothing to be afraid of and he will totally recover in a couple of days and asked me to give any  food as he likes.  She had only taken Rs.50/- towards fees that too on my insistence. From the time he was discharged from the hospital we had  undergone a lot of tension  the depth of which cannot be  fathomed.  This was  owing to the  fear as to whether what the doctor had warned us will come true or not? However, my son’s condition started improving gradually and he could recoup his  health in a few days time. He had since got his blood tested twice after elapsing of a few years to see whether the virus is active or not but the tests proved to be negative.

 That colleague who had treated my son is a native of Fort Kochi who still continues to treat Hepatitis-A patients  as before. From my experience I can say for certain that hereditary one dose treatment is quite effective for treatment of Hepatits-A

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KERALA CHIEF MINISTER OOMMEN CHANDY AND COMPANY’S HORSE TRADING

People of Kerala came to know about the horse trading indulged in by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and company on 9^th March when a CPM MLA R Selvaraj had tendered resignation from the Kerala assembly as well as from the party.  To say the least, it was totally unexpected and came as a bolt from the blue.  With this act at horse-trading, Oommen Chandy and company are trying to introduce a malady in our political arena which was completely absent in our state.

The reasons for resignation cited by him are the divisiveness in the party and the fact that CPM had been discussing the reasons for its defeat at Parassala at various forums. He has stated that he has got suffocated due to these factors prompting him to resign his MLA-ship as also membership of CPM. Moreover, during the press conference held to explain his resignation, he had leveled many unfounded allegations which he had never made earlier in any forum of the party.  When CPM and other parties in the LDF had alleged that Selvaraj had resigned after he was given  many lucrative offers including crores of rupees by UDF and its leaders, UDF leaders including Oommen Chandy had pooh-poohed such an allegation. Moreover, when it had come to light that he had met the Chief Minister alongwith Sri PC George, Chief Whip, prior to tendering resignation,  both Chief Minister as well as PC George were quick to term those allegationsn also as baseless.  The stand taken by UDF leaders including Chief Minister on the issue has been that Selvaraj resigned as MLA and CPM member owing to his getting disillusioned about divisiveness in the party and UDF has nothing to do with it.

Even though Selvaraj  had contested from Parassala and won earlier, during the last assembly elections, CPM thought it would be in the fitness of things if he contests from Neyyattinkara insead of Parassala while considering Anavoor Nagappan for Parassala seat.  CPM was of the view that in this manner it would be possible to annex both the seats.  Accordingly, Selvaraj contested from Neyyattinkara and won while Anavoor Nagappan who contested from Parassala could not make it to the assembly. Following the defeat of the latter, certain complaints regarding non-co-operation of some party workers and members of Parassala were received by CPM who discussed the same in threadbare in the relevant forums and corrective actions were taken.  At that time Selvaraj did not express any disagreement at any of the party forums and subsequently he was elected as district committee member of the party.

It was in the above backdrop that the call list of mobile calls made by Selvaraj and Chief Whip PC George was out the other day.  According to this, Selvaraj and PC George had talked on mobile phone prior to meeting Chief Minsiter Oommen Chandy in the wee hours of 9^th March.  They had also talked on the previous day.  As per the records, a call had gone from Selvaraj’s PA TR Raghunath to PC George on 9^th March lasting for 15 seconds.  This was just before Selvaraj had gone to meet Oommen Chandy in the Innova car owned by Mr.Sunny who is in the personal staff of PC George, Chief Whip.  Again Selvaraj had talked to PC George after returning from Chief Minister’s residence  in the innova car.  On that day Selvaraj’s PA had called PC George at 06.06 hrs and 06.24 hrs.  Once again at 07.33 hrs a call was made to PC George from Selvaraj’s PA which lasted for 28 seconds.  All these indicate that prior to meeting the Speaker at his residence as well as after meeting him, Selvaraj and PC George had talked over mobile phone.  Similarly, at 23.12 hrs on 8^th March PC George had called Selvaraj’s PA and talked for 1.15 minutes.  These proofs make it amply clear that the ring leaders behind the  whole episode of horse-trading are none other than PC George and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.  Even though PC George had flatly denied his accompanying Selvaraj to Oommen Chandy’s residence, after the proof regarding his contacting Selvaraj and his PA had come out, he has taken the stand that he will call anybody as he deemed fit and media has no business to question that.

The motive behind enticing Selvaraj with lucrative offers was with a view to have ‘two birds with one shot’ i.e, to win Piravom seat by creating confusion in the minds of LDF supporters  as also to gain support of Selvaraj  to get a candidate acceptable to UDF elected from Neyyattinkara with UDF support which can even be Selvaraj himself.  

The press reports indicate that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has already fulfilled two of the promises made to Selvaraj.  The first one was to help Selvaraj’s son-in-law’s father who is an accused in a criminal case to leave for abroad. The second promise was fulfilled  by appointing Selvaraj’s son-in-law David Samuel as Capacity Co-ordinator of Rajeev Awas Yojana Scheme under Kudumbasree at a hefty salary of Rs.40,000/- p.m. flouting all extant rules of appointment concerning this post.  Moreover, many concessions were given to him in regard to many conditions of appointment by effecting suitable amendments wherever needed. Originally Kudumbasree advertisement was issued for appointment in Trissur Corporation where 1^st rank holder Tony Thomas was appointed.  However, David Samuel, son-in-law of Selvaraj who was 3^rd in the rank was appointed in the above capacity at Cochin Corporation unauthorizedly.  That is to say, Cochin Corporation has so far not advertised for the vacancy of this post.  It was stipulated that for the said post an experience of 5 years is required whereas this condition was relaxed to 3 years in the subsequent notice with a view to helping David Samuel.  He was at 10^th position in the list of applicants.  But after the interview he has become 3^rd rank holder.  This is the second  reward bestowed by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Selvaraj.

What explanation Oommen Chandy has got to offer for this currying favour to Selvaraj by—

(a)   allowing Selvaraj’s son-in-law’s father who is an accused in a criminal case to go abroad; and

(b)  appointing his son-in-law at a hefty salary of Rs.40,000/- p.m. as Capacity Co-ordinator of Kudumbasree at Cochin Corporation in flagrant violation of all extant rules as also terms and conditions in respect of  appointment of the said post.

Whatever it may be, these shameless acts will remain as  dark chapters  of parliamentary democracy of our country and speak volumes of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s stooping so low in order to remain in power.

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INCIDENCE OF MORAL POLICING IN KERALA ON THE INCREASE – WHY THIS KOLAVERI?

Solitary cases of moral policing have been occurring in many parts of Kerala for the past couple of  years.  Recently there is a spurt in these incidents which  in one case resulted  in the murder of a person in Kozhikkode district.  This incident which was in a corollary of moral policing cases, has shaken the  conscience  of people of Kerala. The deceased was Shaheed Bawa, a resident of Kodiyathur in Kozhikkode District.  He used to pay visit to a house known to him where there were many ladies.  While he was returning after visiting that house on that fateful day, he was accosted by a mob of moral police consisting of 15 persons who started questioning him.  The questions asked by them were why he is going to that house quite often , whether he is related to them etc.  Inspite of replying that that house is known to him, they tied him to a pole and resorted to continued beating on him which continued till next morning.  On hospitalization,he  died instantaneously and police have registered case against  15 persons involved.  

In another incident involving moral police that had taken place in Thodupuzha, Kerala,  an army personnel who was going in his car with his sister and mother was waylaid by a gang of moral police who  had started questioning about who are the ladies accompanying him.  Inspite of his replying that it is his sister and mother, they did not relent and was about to manhandle him when the passers-by intervened which led to the withdrawal of that gang from the scene. 

In another incident that had taken place as far back as March,2010 those acted as moral police were Muslim League workers. When Rajesh Joseph, Proprietor of Popular Service Station was going in a car with his mother he was accosted by a gang.  They  questioned him as to who is the lady with him.  Even when he replied that it is his mother they did not withdraw  but tried to manhandle him.  When public came to his rescue, the moral police had to retreat from the scene.  But since they were exposed before the public, they took revenge on Rajesh by attacking his house in the night causing heavy damage to it.  Even though police had registered case against the culprits recently due to the pressure exerted by Muslim League, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has ordered withdrawal of the case against them. Now Rajesh  has decided to move the court for justice. The list of cases of moral policing is not complete with this.

If such a situation develops wherein one cannot travel either with his wife, sister, daughter or mother as the case may be and if he has to satisfy moral police regarding their relationship to him, it amounts to taking law into one’s hand which, if allowed to go on unchecked,    will only lead to anarchy and chaos. Thus it only stands to reason that such tendencies should be firmly dealt with by an iron hand to see that it will not re-occur.

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ENCROACHMENT OF TEMPLE LAND BY MALAYALA MANORAMA FAMILY

A fortnight or so ago it was reported in the press that Oommen Chandy Government is delaying  submission of report on the encroachment of  land owned by Panthalur temple of Malappuram District by a family belonging to Malayala Manorama.   

Let us  trace the genesis of the issue and developments that had taken place on the issue in a chronological order hereunder.

·   One Cherian, son of Mamman of Kadapramuriyil Thayyil, Kottayam belonging to Malayala Manorama family takes 131 hectares of land of Panthalur temple on lease for 60 years in 1943.

·    The lessor stops paying lease charges on completion of 30 years i.e., from 1974 onwards violating the lease agreement leading to  Mr.K.P.Manikantan, President, PanthalurTemple Protection Samithi filing  a public interest petition in the court for return of the land during 2002.

·      VS Achuthanandan, Opposition leader visits the temple on 30^th October, 2002 which attracts  media attention.

·       Mr.Manikandan given Power of Attorney by Samoothiri Raja on expiry of lease  during 2003 for handling the case in the court.

·        Temple authorities takes up matter with the then Collector Smt.Sumanna Menon  to take over the land under Kerala Land Conservancy Act(KLCA), Collector rejects the plea saying that KLCA is applicable only to temples owned by Travancore and Kochi Devaswoms.

·     Temple authorities draws the attention of VS Achuthanandan, Chief Minister to the issue, resulting in Government bringing Malabar Devasom under the purview of KLCA through an amendment. Issuance of  notices to 8 persons including Estate Manager to return the temple land  follows.  Revenue Department also follows suit.

·        Manorama family files a suit in the court challenging Collector’s action. High Court asks them to file an appeal with the Government and directs the Government to submit the report to the Court within 60 days.

·     Revenue Minister of Kerala holds a meeting on 1.2.2012 wherein Revenue Secretary Niveditha P.Haran assures the temple authorities that report would be submitted to the High Court within a couple of days. 

·     Temple authorities learn that report has not been submitted  to the High Court by the promised date.  Mr.Manikantan telephones the Minister who confirms his having signed the file.

·     Mr.Manikandan contacts the office of the Minister to know the exact position and comes to know that  Government has asked for more time to submit the report to the High Court.

Evidently, UDF Government is dilly-dallying  the submission of the report due to the pressure exerted on them by Malayala Manorama. The attempts by Manorama family in not returning the land occupied illegally is reprehensible.  No sane person can expect that UDF Government will wake up to the situation and restore the land to Panthalur Temple. 

Sensing the UDF Government’s stand on  the issue,   Mr.Manikandan, who is the Power Attorney Holder of Samoothiri Raja has started an indefinite fast today the 7^th March,2012 which was inaugurated by opposition leader V.S.Achuthanandan.

Malayala Manorama grandma, you are giving sermons regarding ethics every now and then to others; are you not ashamed of resorting to unethical means to retain the encroached temple land?

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