Kochi in the Indian Premier League

News of inclusion of Kochi in the Indian Premier League is matter of great joy and pride for many. And for them cricket is thrill and money. It is Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor who holds pivotal role in taking Kochi to the IPL. Truly Tharoor is not a cattle class minister, he is a minister suited for five star hotels. The Kochi IPL franchisee was for Rs 1,533.32 crore and money will be spent by Rendezvous Sports Kerala Consortium. On hearing this few may think that these people are so generous to the people of Kerala. Spending money for cricket is only a business, a business for profit making. And when this business is done in March the losers are lakhs of families from where the students write their annual examination. The IPL has made every household a war room where the parents miserably fail in holding back their children from TV screen. Tharoor’s effort is limited not only in promoting cricket but also in spoiling the future of younger ones by encouraging them to abandon studies. Of course, IPL will create new opportunities for a few cricketers from Kerala but spoil the future of many students as it is held in the month of March. JW

S D College Seminar on mental health

The Sanathana Dharma College, Alappuzha, is to organize a State level seminar on “Women and Mental health”. The coordinator of the programme is Jubilee Navaprabha, none other than the wife of Kerala Cooperation Minister G Sudhakaran. In all probability she is the most appropriate person for the same as she is the one who smoothly sailed over with Sudhakaran for the last 25 plus years. Sudhakaran holds valid certificates from dignitaries like V M Sudheeran, Bharat Bhushan IAS, NSS Assistant Secretary Sukumaran Nair, UDF Convener P P Thamkachan and others, regarding good mental health.
JW

NREGP for CPM renovation

The CPM in Kerala has understood well the return from the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP). All persons who assemble before the BSNL offices for the sit-in-strike against the Central Government, paralyzing all work and blocking road traffic, despite court orders, will be adequately paid from NREGP. The days for which strikers get NREGP payment, however, may not exactly coincide with the days of strike. The strike will end with in five days and strikers’ duty will be accounted for an equivalent number of days in a later occasion. How wise the CPM managers in Kerala to use Centre’s money against Centre!


Seemingly, NREGP is poorly drafted programme with reduced surveillance. The work allotment, quantum of work and the payment are done on party basis. The Party leaders get their courtyard cleaned free of cost when public places are filled with garbage and filth. Instead of sending NREGP workers to public places like bus stations, hospitals and roadsides for cleaning, they are deputed for house cleaning of party bigwigs. Diverting NREGP fund to invigorate CPM organization and feeder outfits is apparently obnoxious. The CPM misuses NREGP to revitalize the already sluggish cadres.

The Central Government, therefore, should enquire the matter and do the needful immediately. The current agitation by CPM against Centre has nothing to do with price rise. The hollowness of their strike is evident when they hiked bus fare ignoring people’s sentiment. The current five-day blockade before the Central Government offices is apoorly crafted drama to hoodwink the people and thereby to siphon out NREGP money for party’s growth.

JW

Mercury level rises

Rebutting the statements against the State Budget minister G Sudhakaran has come heavily on Opposition leaders and said the skin of these dupes should be removed and red chilly paste must be smeared on them. Did Isaac lower the price of red chilly in his budget? However, Sudhakaran did not mention the exact part of the body where chilly paste must be smeared as everyone knows it. Sudhakaran was remaining mouth shut a bit long and now started opening it wide. Who said the mercury has not risen? In case of any doubt, ask Mr P P Thankachan, the UDF convener.
JW
The New Indian Express, dated 10 Mar 2010

Fight will be continued

Kerala Cooperation Minister G Sudhakaran has congratulated Finance Thomas Isaac for all welfare and industrial development allocations in the state budget to the district of Alappuzha. The next turn is of Issac to congratulate Sudhakaran for his all-time success in the co-operative sector. However, the mutual fight of their supporters in Alappuzha will continue unabated.
JW

Isaac’s designer beard is intact!

I was terrified by the report of the fire in the chamber of Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac on Wednesday, just two days before the State budget. I thought it was the hand work his rival in the party G Sudhakaran but later understood that Sudhakran’s men have no link in it. The fire is due to a short circuit in the AC when Isaac was out from the chamber. Thanks to the Almighty for having us his suitcase containing the State budget, his blanket transformed jubbah and his specially designer beard-all intact!

JW