Kerala, known for its natural beauty, education, spirituality and friendly atmosphere is now well known for over-consumption of alcohol, dirty politics and ‘quotation gangs’—gangs that qoute a fee for killing or maiming someone. It seems that Kerala always likes to give something new to India. People who were tired of the word ‘supari’ in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkatta, Bihar, etc., will now be glad to have a new phrase - ‘quotation gangs’ - from Kerala. The broad-minded inhabitants of Kerala have given a pet name to merceneries.

I am astonished to see the incredible rise in the consumption of liquor and in crime in my state of Kerala - ‘God’s own country.’ In my childhood no one locked their houses from outside; there was no need for that. I never saw a communal riot in my village or district. Though there were minor altercations and clashes, the elders used to sit together and sort these out immediately. Those were the days when the wicked were despised. No one feared to roam around even in the midnight. If they were scared, the exaggerated tales of demons and evil spirits were to be blamed. A strange traveller was accommodated for the night without any hesitation. The peaceful and beautiful Kerala in my memories!

The recent murder of Paul M George is quite a revelation of the real Kerala. Underworld activities allegedly have links to top level politicians. We talk of the poverty and caste system in Bihar. We blame communal tension, slum clusters and glamour of the mega city in Mumbai for raising criminals and gangs. What went wrong with Kerala? Kerala has plenty of food and facilities, educational institutions, and most people are spiritually oriented. Have the standard of decency and dignity have changed? The wicked are esteemed and gangsters win a following! The young generation takes pride in saying they are members of a criminal gang. Gang leaders enjoy celebrity status! I am more scared to visit Kerala than Bihar, Jharkhand and UP.

I feel that both extreme poverty and extreme riches have corrupted our youngsters. On one hand, young people who are unemployed join gangs to make a quick buck. On the other, children of NRIs are looking for ways to spend the excess money their parents send for their education. They turn to booze, drugs, immorality and crime. Young women are increasingly turning to prostitution so that they can make quick money. A number of poor girls are cheated and enslaved in this trade.

Businessmen and politicians have always felt the need for muscle power. They are probably responsible for the rise of “quotation gangs” in Kerala. These gangs are used by the rich and powerful to settle accounts with their rivals. Every thing seems to depend on demand and supply. Those who created the demand are the ones who created these gangsters. We know the buck is not going to stop anywhere. History teaches us that the creators of such gangsters always ended up paying a heavy price, let it be Bindranwale or Osama Bin Ladan.

The painful incident of the murder of Paul Muthoot has become a political tool in the hands of those who are supposed to be caretakers of the society. The Congress party thinks that they can use this to topple the government and come back to power. Make hay while sun shines! The ruling party wants to wash their hands and divert people’s attention from their unholy nexus with the underworld. The media seems to be fishing in troubled waters. Within two months, the public will forget everything and the ‘quotation gang’ will reign again with the help of the powerful and greedy politicians who are there in every party.

Many families lost their dear ones to ‘quotation gangs’. There are many such grieving parents in Kerala. Paul George belonged to the Muthoot family as a result of which the murder caught the attention of the whole world. The Muthoot family lost their beloved son of 32 years. I condemn the murder and offer my condolensces to the grieving family. At the same time, I pray that their loss will be like a ransom paid for the eradication of ‘quotation gangs’ in Kerala. Let no parent again lose a son or daughter to such violence. May the police succeed in finding the real culprits. Let us hope that the judiciary will convict and punish them. Let the law take its own course. Beyond that, let us realize our dream of Kerala as a state of peace and communal harmony. God save our country!