GOD'S OWN CHAOS

Kerala or rather its politicians have an insatiable appetite for bandhs and hartals. But the latest hartal announcement takes the disease to ridiculous levels. The opposition UDF has called for a bandh tomorrow (Tuesday), to raise its voice against the LDF government's failure in containing the mass outbreak of chikungunya and viral fever across the state.

Here is a state where even though health facilities are better off, the infrastructure is struggling to cope with the sheer scale of the diseases. Consider the statistics, around 25000-30000 cases reported every day and around two lakh people affected since January. Not to forget a battered economy, with major money-spinners like rubber cultivation suffering because the tappers are too sick.

At a time when people need their basics and infrastructure functioning properly, all the opposition can come up with is a hartal. Denying them the very access they badly need. The UDF could easily have been more pro-active in the state assembly. But then everybody was busy with Munnar and whether Tata's board should be removed. Talk about missing the wood for the trees.

The ruling LDF is predictably crying foul and mocking the UDF, but the fact remains that if the UDF had been in power, the Left would have made life miserable with their cadre gleefully going on a hartal trip. And the Left has always been far more vocal.

And what have VS Achuthanandan and company been up to? A demolition drive which looked more like a one-upmanship bid within the CPI-M. While Munnar and the Deshabhimani bribe scandal dominated the headlines, fever got pushed down. The LDF was too busy attending to its internal troubles to wake up to the mess.

Even with the chikungunya threat such a potent one, Kerala's commercial capital Kochi was struggling to find a place to dispose off its garbage. The perfect recipe for mosquitos to breath (breed) easier.

God's Own Country has turned into God's Own Chaos.