Kozhikkodu Icecream Sex Scandal November 13, 2004

Muscat Tycoon's Campaign to Save Kunjalikutty's Face from Ice Cream Sex Scandal

Dr.P.Mohammed Ali, better known as Galfar Mohammed Ali, the pravasi award winning NRK businessman who has been following the state industry minister Kunjalikutty like his shadow, is the most active businessman in Kerala lobbying at various levels to save his political mentor's face from the murky Ice Cream sex racket. Mohammed Ali, a rags to riches businessman in Muscat heading the Galfar group, has been desperately trying to pacify Muslim associations which are aggressively going against immoral leaders like Kunjalikutty. What binds the minister and the NRK Tycoon? Kunjalikutty has many favourite tycoons in the Gulf but this gentleman has a "unique" relationship with him.

Even though the Muslim League leaders have rallied behind the minister who is embroiled in a number of other controversies like sand mining project, Kovalam Palace privatisation, Ice Cream Parlour Sex Scandal and alleged hawala dealing, associations like Jame at Islamia which strictly follow Islamic principles have refused to accept such immoral doings. As the allegation against the minister is serious and dirty, nobody wants to support him. However, for unknown reasons, Galfar Ali has been trying his level best to influence Muslim Associations like Jamae eta Islamia which are highly critical of Kunjalikutty. Even though majority of Muslims in Kerala are poor, institutionalised political parties have come under the influence of big business lobby, especially the Gulf based NRKs, some of who act as benamis for politicians to white wash their black money. It is an open secret that the real brain behind many of the NRI projects in Kerala - whether it is the Five Star Hotel in Kochi or the Kovalam Palace Takeover. "When I met Kunjalikutty last week, Galfar Mohammed Ali was with him. After one week the minister is facing a tough time and the man is trying to save him," said a source in Kochi.

About two years ago, Gulf based NRK leader came out with the idea of a Muslim Ekopana Samithi (Muslim Unity Forum) as a common platform for a dozen Muslim Associations, especially from the Sunni faction. The idea floated about two years was accepted by many associations, and their leadership was attracted towards the fund raising potential from the business tycoons. The forum was floated to unify different Eid and festival celebration timings. However, it was later realized that the idea floated by the NRK business group was to strengthen Muslim League and serve the broad business interests of a handful of people like Galfar Mohammed Ali, who soon found himself embroiled in the Kovalam Hotel controversy. The forum has been a failure as many constituents have lost interest in it. With Maradu communal problem and the formation of NDF, Muslim Ekopana Samithi lost its relevance as most members realized the ulterior motives of the business tycoons who control the League leadership. The recent revelation that Kunjalikutty was the main reason for the arrest and imprisonment of Abdul Madani, the firebrand Muslim Youth leader, who was planning to campaign against Kunjalikutty in the icecream parlour case with Anweshi of Ajitha, former Naxallite leader also affected the Muslim perception about the minister and his cronies. Recently the state chief minister and Kunjalikutty staged another drama to change this perception by going to Madras, demanding the early release of Madani, a popular leader. .

The Galfar group of Muscat was keen to take control of FACT, a viable public sector unit with huge real estate asset worth several hundred crores and the Kovalam Palace Hotel under the ITDC management. Being the second largest political party in the UDF, the coterie of businessmen tried to make maximum benefit by purchasing the Kovalam Hotel at throwaway price. Other UDF constituents, especially the Karunakaran faction came forward with strong objection to FACT privatisation. The controversial statement by A.K.Antony about minority members from the Gulf was infact pointing the accusing finger at the undue advantages being enjoyed by this coterie. The very idea of starting an express highway costing more than Rs.6000 crores also originated from the Galfar headquarters in Muscat. Everything regarding the project starting with the appointment of a consultant to study the feasibility originated from Mr.Ali's read Mr.Kunjalikutty's brain. Same was the fact with the first five star hotel and convention center in Kochi.

P.Muraleedharan who headed the KPCC came out with a strong resolution opposing disinvestment of FACT. Many people were unhappy about selling Kovalam hotel worth Rs.400 crores for just Rs. 43 crores. When the cabinet committee meeting on disinvestment decided to offer 51 per cent equity of Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd. (Fact), the biggest central public sector undertaking in Kerala, to a strategic partner, Galfar group was in the forefront to acquire this stake. Group rivalry and infighting within the UDF have much to do with major projects and deals. Apparently business groups linked to the Karunakaran faction had an eye on the Kovalam project.

The party has lost touch with the mass base as was reflected in Mancheri election debacle. Other Muslim associations were brought together by offering funding and other incentives. The undue favours received by the tycoon generated opposition from within and outside the organization. Some of the tycoons have their political ambitions too. While one NRK businessman "purchased" a Rajya Sabha membership, one NRK businessman is too ambitious to become the state chief minister. The lobby played its due role in changing leadership and the former chief minister. The main force behind V.M.Sudheeran is none other than Antony. K T Jaleel, the Young League leader had also raised the issue - that the League is controlled by a few rich businessman. The wide media coverage that the Kovalam controversy has generated also affected the tycoons legitimacy among some of the Muslim associations.

The current chief minister Chandy has a tacit understanding with the League. The cabinet reshuffle and removal of some League ministers complicated the issue. The revival of the ice cream sex following the revelation by the main victim Rejina is also part of the infighting and factionalism. Many eyebrows are raised about the tacit support of the League leadership to Kunjalikutty. The average party worker is confused about the whole issue. Even if a League member may be illiterate, the impact of visual media cannot be ruled out. When leaders build up five star hotels and resorts through benami names, life of a man on the street remains the same. There is also a move to take over Indiavision or launch a League channel. The lobby is also working overtime to weaken Muneer-Jaleel elements within the League and retain the lost control over the Muslim Masses.

Many crucial files in the ice cream parlour sex scandal case are mysteriously missing. The same way some of the crucial files about the Kovalam Hotel was missing from the state government. The lobby has to work too hard to settle all the problems. Ice Cream parlour case is a minor one compared to the Kovalam controversy...and many more issues. There are also issues to be settled in Muscat where the local partnership. Regaining the lost or damaged public image is the most serious problem facing a politician like Kunjalikutty...and it is not that easy now. Reputation and public respect is something which cannot be purchased with money.

More About the Community Leaders Kovalam Controversy Road Project - More Palces

Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station Kills Five

A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station at about 2.30 p.m. in the surging crowed on the overbridge between platform No. 2 and platform No. 3 for boarding Patna bound Jan Sadharan Express train at Platform No. 3, resulted in the death of five women passengers and injury of ten others. The injured have been admitted to the Railway Hospital, New Delhi.The Union Minister of Railways, Shri Lalu Prasad visited the hospital to console the injured passengers. Later, talking to the media, he announced ex-gratia payment of rupees one lac to each of the next of kin of those dead and Rs. 15,000/- to each of the grievously injured and rupees 5000/- to each of the simply injured.The Minister announced that those treated at the Railway Hospital and their near and dear ones would be sent to their destination free of cost by the railways. He also ordered a high-level inquiry by the railways.

This year, Diwali, Eid-Ul-Fitr and Chhat having come together within a span of one week time, there has been unusual surge of passengers for East-bound trains, especially for Bihar. To meet the over-rush of passengers, 100 special trains are being run for Bihar and other Eastern India destinations. In addition, one coach each in 300 routine trains has been added to augment passenger services. Besides, 50 more special trains are being run to cope with the unusual rush.

Media Monitor

Tough Time for Editors, TV Channels from Dubai

Editors change at Gulf News, Abud Dhabi TV...who is next?

Gulf News, the number one English daily in the Middle East has witnessed a silent change as Francis Maathew, the long serving British editor has been replaced with a new editor Micheal Stent. Mathew who had been editing Gulf News for many years now is learned to be given some other assignments for Al Nisr Publishing Company, the parent company. The change of guard at the leading regional English paper occured at least two months ago, but the paper still carrys his name in the online edition. "He is no more the Gulf News Editor. We have a new British editor from South Africa," said one Gulf News scribe. Somehow the change of editorship in the leading newspaper remained a low key affair as many in the media circles are not aware of it.

The chief of Abu Dhabi Television has also been removed from the post. According to the Khaleej Times, Ahmed Ali Al Baloushi, who was in charge of Abu Dhabi TV, in his capacity as Director-General of Emirates Media Inc. (EMI), has been asked to ‘stay at home’ and he never showed up at his office at the EMI since then. According to reports, the channel resumed normal programming during the official mourning for the death of the late president Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Abu Dhabi TV has been growing in strength during recent years, and has gained international acclaim for its coverage of global events, including the war in Iraq and the violence in occupied Palestinian territories.

"The channel has carved a niche for itself in Iraq. It has emerged as a frontliner in feeding ‘crucial’ footage on the Iraq war to international networks. Thanks to its professional staff and technical expertise, more than 120 broadcasting networks and media organisations, including APTN, AFP, Reuters, CNN and others were subscribing or ‘picking up’ their exclusive live footage of the war. In occupied territories, the channel has recently embarrassed Israel by giving the best coverage of the atrocities committed by the Israeli army. Reacting to that coverage, the Israeli army has asked ADTV correspondents to leave Israel, claiming that they entered military action areas," reported Khaleej Times. It was only two weeks back that another Dubai based channel Al Arabya witnessed a major blast in which several employees were dead. Seven people were killed when a car bomb exploded in a car park opposite Al-Arabiya television in Baghdad on 30 October, five of them employed by the station. Fourteen staff members were injured, seven of them journalists. Now that George Bush got a new mandate to continue the so called war on terror, the assassination of Yassar Arafat coupled with the other developments in the region, are we witnessing a new onslaught on media freedom? Do u remember Napolian's famous words: "I fear a nib of a pen than thousands of bionets.? More