It is a pity that we are allowing unscrupulous people masquerading in the guise of politicians and party workers to run our lives, to rule it and to ruin it in whatever way they please. All these hartals and related inconveniavces that we Malayalees are facing is the result of just that... our magnanimous and tolerant attitude!
Sad to read about the forest office in wynad which was attacked by miscreants yesterday (dont know if I need to call them party workers) and set on fire in protest against the Kasturirangan report. What an ideal way of registering protests!
All this and much more inspite of the fact that the CM has assured people that he is initiating discussions with the Centre in this regard and that he would not let anyone be evicted from their homelands. I guess the only people who need worry is the huge land and mining mafia who are making illegal profits from our protected and eco-sensitive areas. And I particularly dont feel the need to stand up for their selfish causes especially by bringing Kerala to a grinding halt or by tolerating violence of any sort.
Hartals have been so misused in Kerala that I am sure most of us do not even consider it a means of peaceful protest anymore. Instead it is more in the line of violating the democratic rights of citizens by holding their freedom at gun point. Is there any instance in recent years where a hartal has achieved its purpose other than fostering a few egos?
I dont know if the CM will be able to convince the opposition to back out from tomorrows hartal; in case the hartal is on, I dont know just how many unlucky people are going to be stranded on the roads, how many KSRTC buses are going to be destroyed and how many more govt offices are going to be razed, and life and property destroyed.
Dont get me wrong. I am just a peace loving ordinary citizen of this land who still believes in the power of behaving in a civilized manner.
