Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter IN THE NAME OF DEVELOPMENT MULTI CRORE BBMP SCAM

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

 The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

 IN THE NAME OF DEVELOPMENT! 

 MULTI CRORE BBMP SCAM 

 The Multi Crore works scam in BBMP is not a new phenomenon. It is going on since many decades. But, the present scam is much larger than any previous scams. In the past three years, the unholy nexus between the concerned authorities have defrauded thousands of crores. 

The other day, the BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah was shifted and Shankaralinge Gowda was brought in his place, in a swift operation. Siddaiah who entrusted the Rs. 1500 crore works scam to BMTF for a thorough probe invited the wrath of the ruling BJP. The Mayor and other leaders of the ruling party took serious exception to this and demanded his ouster. They argued that Siddaiah had not consulted the Mayor or Dy. Mayor before ordering the BMTF probe. In fact, the BMTF acted swiftly and seized many important documents and before it started the probe in all earnestness, fire broke out in the BMTF office where records were kept. 

 The fire ignited the suspicion that it was a deliberate attempt to hush up the scams in RR Nagar, Gandhinagar and Malleswaram Zones. Matters turned to worse after BMTF arrested an Executive Engineer. The engineers protested the arrest and Siddaiah wrote a letter to the government for referring the scam to the Lokayukta for thorough investigation. But, he was transferred and even the probe was diverted from BMTF to CID. 

 It all started in 2008 when BJP came to power. The BJP won 18 seats in Bangalore City and the ruling party MLAs opposed elections to the BBMP. The government succumbed to the pressure and went on postponing the BBMP elections on one or the other pretexts. The MLAs to cement their hold on their constituencies made the then CM Yeddyurappa, to earmark hundreds of crores to each MLAs for works in their constituencies. Dr. Subramanya, the then Commissioner, catered to the need of every MLA by releasing unimaginable money to the works. 

 And thus started the day light loot. Bogus works, works on paper and sub standard works became the order of the day. 

 Acting under High Court orders, the government finally held the BBMP elections and the BJP got a comfortable majority. But still, some corporators proved to be a thorn, particularly those who belonged to different parties. 

 Then, in the last two years, the Corporators grew tremendously and MLAs were sidelined in many areas. The Corporators also started demanding their pound of flesh from the works. 

 It is another matter that BBMP has not much finance to execute the multi crore works. It depends on the government for huge grants. As luck would have it, the central government provided financial assistance to the BBMP to the tune of more than 25000 crores over the last four years, under JnNURM. These funds are project specific and cannot be appropriated for other works. But here too, the BBMP engineers have used a major chunk of grants to other works. If the central government conducts a detailed audit on the JnNURM funds and its utilisation, one can be sure of the funds getting stopped. 

 To be precise, the Rs. 1500 crore works scam in RR Nagar, Gandhinagar and Malleswaram are only the tip of the iceberg. In Malleswaram and Gandhinagar, one can say that there is no scope for developmental works worth hundreds of crores as these areas are fully developed. There are good roads, good sanitation and water supply. There are fully developed parks and play grounds and even footpaths are well maintained. When this being the case, where is the scope for spending hundreds of crores in these fully developed areas? The same is the case with the 100 wards of BMP before it became BBMP in 2007 after merger of CMCs and 110 villages with it. It is the newly added CMC and village areas that needed the development projects. 

 If one has to take all these into consideration, the BBMP has spent more than 20000 crores in the last three years towards development projects especially roads. And the hard fact is that there is no much scope for spending such huge amount in the BMP areas and on the contrary, the newly added CMCs and villages have continued to suffer negligence. 

 Siddaiah is being questioned for entrusting the probe to BMTF without consulting the Mayor. Also, his efforts to refer the case to the Lokayukta are being fired. 

 Whatsoever, no one can claim innocence in the scam which may be worth Rs. 10000 crores! As the probe is handed over to CID, one can see a decent burial as everybody is involved, like the old saying goes ‘Hamam me Sab nange hai! 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter CID ON THE GO WILL THE SKELETONS TUMBLE OUT FROM KPSC CUPBOARD?

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

 The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

 CID ON THE GO! 

 WILL THE SKELETONS TUMBLE OUT FROM KPSC CUPBOARD? 

 Aftermath the release of former KPSC Chairman H.N.Krishna from jail on bail, the CID has taken the investigations in all its seriousness. It has further arrested three PA’s and are being grilled. One can not discount the possibilities of few Members getting arrested along with many staff. H N Krishna’s arrest has opened the Pandora’s Box and one can be sure of many more frauds seeing the light of the day before the CID wraps up the investigations.... 

 After spending more than a month in the Parappana Agrahara Jail, former Chairman of the KPSC H N Krishna was granted bail by the High Court. At the same time, the CID which is probing the KAS selection fraud has speeded up its investigations. With the CID officials camping at the KPSC office, there is a fear psychosis among the KPSC officials and also some former Members who sold selections during Krishna regime from their quota. Obviously, the officials and former members are shivering in their pants with the searching questions by the CID. 

 The other day, the CID arrested three officials - Narasimha and Banakar, both PA to Members and Gopikrishna, the PA to Krishna and now Private Secretary to Chairman Gonal Bheemappa. Among them, Gopikrishna has been working as the PA to the Members for the last 20 years and even after getting three promotions, he has not stirred out of the Personal Sections of the Members. 

 M N Gururaj alias M. N. Gururaja Rao, presently the Asst. Secretary is not to be forgotten. Having worked in the Establishment section from the date of his joining duty, he has not stirred out of the Establishment Section even after getting promotion as Asst. Secretary. He has established his octopus like hold in the KPSC. He has also got his daughter Rashmi selected as Tahsildar! He has held sway over the personnel in the Confidential Branch where much of the important process in selection takes place. It is the officials from Confidential Branch who are privy to most of the secret deals. 

 CID also has an option to deeply grill two officials which consequently will unearth bigger frauds. Te two officials are P. R. Ganapathy, who worked as PA to Secretary for more than two decades was re-appointed after his retirement. Another is Arunachalam, who worked in Confidential Branch was re-appointed and given the same post. 

 More than anything, the CID should probe Gururaj’s real estate business he is doing through Lokseva Housing Society. The Lokseva HCS meant for KPSC officials, has outlived its utility after most of its members were given sites. But Gururaj, who is the Secretary and uses the name of M N Gururaja instead of his official name M N Gururaja Rao, is still forming layouts to sell the sites to public at the market rates. Allegedly, he has converted this Co-op. Society into his personal real estate firm. Why go far, he had gifted a site to his brother M N Nagaraja Rao, who is alleged to have sold it for Rs. 50 lakhs recently to avoid embarrassment with the CID probe. 

 It is to be recalled that M N Gururaj is a highly linked official in the corridors of power and is very close to some senior IAS and IPS officials in the state. It is only after the High Court’s stricture; the CID swung into action and arrested Krishna and the DIG of the CID is personally supervising the investigations. 

 Whatsoever, the CID probe should not be limited to the KAS selection fraud. It can go deeper and bring out skeletons in the cup boards of KPSC. The H N Krishna episode is only the tip of the iceberg. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter CHALLENGING THE HISTORY… SRIRAMULU’S DECISION OF A REGIONAL PARTY MAY SINK HIM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

 The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

CHALLENGING THE HISTORY… 

SRIRAMULU’S DECISION OF A REGIONAL PARTY MAY SINK HIM

 Sriramulu who won the Bellary by-elections recently against heavy odds is planning to form a regional party. He is also talking to JD(U) leaders like Bihar CM Nitesh Kumar. And few self styled OBC leaders and self proclaimed intellectuals are making efforts to form a front of dalit and backward class organisations under his leadership. But, Sriramulu must refresh the history of regional parties before forming one. 

  Now that Sriramulu has won the Bellary by-election decisively, he is surrounded by sycophants who are creating illusions about his ‘national importance’. And Sriramulu, believing them is preparing to form a new political party in the state and assuming the leadership of dalits and OBCs in the state. He also mentioned that he will be holding discussions with Bihar CM Nitesh Kumar about forming an alliance joining with JD(U). He has also stated that he will decide his political move after discussions with his ‘Jailed’ friend Janardhana Reddy. 

  But, Sriramulu must turn the pages of history and study about the regional parties of the state. The hard reality is that many prominent and powerful leaders have floated their own regional parties in the last four decades, which were later liquidated. Men must learn from history. 

The first prominent leader to float a regional party was D. Devaraj Urs, who is known as the great champion of backward classes. He had the experience of being the Chief Minister of the state for long, but, could not win even a double digit seats in the elections. 

Then in the eighties, S. Bangarappa, a well known leader of backward classes tasted some success as his Kranti Rama aligning with Janata Party came to power with R. K. Hegde as the CM. But soon he broke away from the alliance and went hopping from one party to another. His regional parties failed to make an impression on the people. 

H D Deve Gowda who broke away with Janata Dal formed his regional Party and succeeded in splitting the Janata Dal votes ensuring a thumping and massive victory for Congress in 1989. In 1994, Deve Gowda merged his SJP with Janata Dal and became the CM in 1994 and went on to become Prime Minister. 

R K Hegde’s Nav Nirman Vedike, a regional party too died within a short span of time. There were some small regional parties which vanished into air even before they took off. To put it bluntly, the regional party experiment has miserably failed in the state. 

 And Sriramulu despite his ‘image’ cannot be compared with the likes of Devaraj Urs, R K Hegde or S. Bangarappa. His antecedents too do not provide much scope for his regional party. He was an unknown figure in politics just five years back and shot into limelight when he landed in Bangalore by a helicopter to tender his resignation from the cabinet during JD(S)-BJP rule. 

Sriramulu was a part and parcel of the BJP government for all these years and cannot fight it by feigning innocence. He may have money and muscle and can damn well form a regional party of his own and even align it with Jagan Mohan’s YSR Congress in AP, but, sustaining a political party is no joke. On the contrary, Jagan Mohan is also struggling hard to keep his party floating. Once he gets entrapped in CBI, he too will be in a lot of trouble. 

 By the way, as Sriramulu is one of the Directors of the OMC and CBI is also probing mining scam in Karnataka under directions of the Supreme Court, he may face trouble in the near future. 

Of course, Sriramulu may receive support from discredited and devalued politicians, but that will become a liability to him. Once Sriramulu gets CBI knocking at his door, it will be the end of the road for his political importance. 

However one may look, Sriramulu will be doomed if he opts for formation of a regional party. It is just like ‘Fools rush in where angels fear to tread’. 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter BELLARY GONE YEDURAPPA’S MAGIC WANES, BJP LOOSES DEPOSITS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

BELLARY GONE! 

YEDURAPPA’S MAGIC WANES, BJP LOOSES DEPOSITS 

The loyalists of former Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa created an impression that without him, the BJP is nothing. But, the Bellary by-election has shown otherwise. Despite Yedurappa’s hectic campaigning, the BJP candidate lost the deposit. Whether it is Yedurappa’s inevitability or the collective leadership, the people simply elected an Independent with huge margin. Even Yedurappa’s hold on his community has proved to be a myth. Whatever reasons or excuses the BJP advances for its total rout in Bellary, the fact remains that Yedurappa and BJP failed. 

Yedurappa received a rousing welcome on his release from jail on bail and to teach his detractors in the party a lesson, he made a solemn statement that he will not campaign in the upcoming Bellary by-elections. The state BJP President K.S.Eswarappa and Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda along with others then started leading the campaign. But, the loyalists of Yedurappa created an aura that without Yedurappa BJP is bound to lose. Eventually, BJP leaders forced rope in Yedurappa in the campaign so that BJP could win the Bellary seat. 

 Yedurappa graciously agreed to camp in Bellary for few days to ensure the victory of BJP candidate, thus sending a clear message that he is indispensible to BJP to win the elections. Along with him, the entire cabinet and BJP MLAs descended on Bellary making it a high voltage campaign. 

The caste equations in Bellary seat also favoured the BJP. Except the Valmiki community which stood behind Sriramulu, Yedurappa aimed at the Lingayat vote bank and was under the impression that around 35000 lingayat voters would vote the BJP candidate as he claims total monopoly over the lingayats in the state. More than anything, the BJP was over confident that with Yedurappa leading the campaign, it will be a walkover for the BJP candidate. 

It is another matter that money and liquor flooded freely in the campaign and all the candidates worked hard and spent a fortune. Yet, with Yedurappa leading the campaign, the BJP was upbeat about the victory notwithstanding the fact that it had lacked loyal party workers. Despite the party cadre walking over to Sriramulu camp, the party was confident of winning the elections by the name of Yedurappa alone. The leaders also thundered firing speeches at the Reddy camp and directly blamed them for all the Bellary mess. 

The by-elections on 30th November, 2011, saw large scale voting at almost 72 percent, an increase of eleven percent over the 2008 elections. Interestingly, no media dared to conduct exit polls or opinion polls. 

On 4th December, the result was declared. Sriramulu, the independent candidate won the seat by a margin of over 46000 votes, over his nearest Congress rival. The BJP came a poor third and lost the deposit. The votes polled in favour of Congress and BJP together were less than the margin of victory. 

The result shocked the BJP leaders and Yedurappa. It proved that the consolidation of caste vote bank is a myth and that Yedurappa does not enjoy hold over the lingayat vote bank. Otherwise, the BJP candidate should have polled at least 26000 lingayat votes! But he got only 17000 votes! 

The worst was reserved for BJP, particularly Yedurappa, who had to prove his leadership and capacity of winning elections. During his three plus years of rule, 20 by-elections were held and Yedurappa managed to win 12 seats. However, after his exit from the CM post, he had to prove his undisputed leader status capable of winning the seats to BJP. He had to prove that he enjoys total control over the lingayats which is a majority community in the state. More than anybody, it was Yedurappa to whom it was of utmost importance to prove his leadership once again. 

But the outcome was disappointing to Yedurappa and his loyalists. He was not able to give even an effective fight to Sriramulu, an independent candidate. To sum up, Yedurappa’s leadership qualities and his vote catching ability was put to test in the Bellary by-elections and he failed in both miserably. 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter ERASING CORRUPTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

ERASING CORRUPTION 

Fighting corruption has become the talk of the day especially after the ‘fast unto death’ of Anna Hazare for enforcement of Lokpal Bill. But, at the maximum, the Lokpal can become one of the agencies to probe the corrupt and it is definitely not the end. One has to address the basics before venturing to fight the corruption virus which has seeped into every organ of the society. 

Our democracy stands on three pillars- Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. The Legislature has to formulate laws and visions, the executive has to implement the same and the judiciary has to interpret laws and adjudicate any disputes. 

 But how to fight corruption? 

Firstly, the parliament has to amend the constitution giving fundamental right to the people to fight the corruption at all levels. This will revolutionalise the concept of fighting corruption. Even if one percent of the total population of the country takes this fundamental right to fight corruption seriously, miracles in this regard can be expected. 

To curb corruption at Legislature level, a system has to evolve. Political parties should insist on the declaration of assets and liabilities of all its members. As the membership has to be renewed at regular intervals, the party members/office bearers must file their assets and liabilities statements to the party unit-local, District or State level, as the case may be. The election commission which registers, regularizes and derecognizes political parties should make it mandatory for the parties to keep records of the assets and liabilities of all its active members including office bearers. The party candidates should also declare their assets and liabilities to the EC while filing nominations for elections. Once the candidate is elected, he must declare the assets and liabilities statements to the Speaker-Chairman of legislatures, in addition to the Lokayuktas, every year. If there are steep increased in assets, there should be an agency to immediately probe the same. If the probe finds abnormal increase in assets, the government should attach these excess assets and disqualify the member from the seat along with life time ban on contesting elections. If this is done, politics will be out of reach to businessmen and various lobbies and will instead become a tool for social change. 

As far as executive is concerned, its corruption depends on its political masters. It starts from the top and percolates to the lowest rungs of the executive. There are various checks and balances to prevent corruption in the executive like Lokayukta’s vigilance commissions, CBI, CVC etc. To fight corruption among the bureaucrats, the anti graft bodies should be strengthened at Taluk District and state level with real powers. At the Taluk level Lokayukta unit be headed by a DSP which makes it easy to identify corrupt officials at the Taluk levels. At the district level, the unit should be headed by a SP and IGP level official should head the state unit. At every level, there should be public grievances cell and the public be encouraged to make full use of it. 

 Besides, the unit heads should be made to visit at least one government office a day, to acquire first hand knowledge of the working. Interaction with public will also help change the system. Depending on the public inputs, the unit heads can raid or trap the officials. If the initial probe detects more assets than the declared assets, the units should attach the ‘excess’ immediately and only if the official proves his innocence, the attached assets can be returned. The movable assets like luxury items, vehicles etc. that are attached will lose its value as time passes. By the time, the official gets back after winning the case; these items will be useless and outdated. This will teach a lesson of sorts to the corrupt. 

Once the guilt is established prima facie, the official must be dismissed from service and there should be no middle ground like suspensions, transfers etc. If the dismissed official wins the case on technical grounds, the government can convert his dismissal into voluntary retirement and if the case is won on merits which prove the innocence of the official, the government has to reinstate the official with all honours. Of course, sufficient care should be taken to prevent honest officials getting ‘trapped’. If the raid on trap does not point towards the corruption, the anti graft agency should publish the incident along with a regret which will act as a catalyst for the honest officials. As far as ‘proved’ cases of corruptions are concerned, the jail sentence should be maximum. And here also, the conviction should be given huge publicity. 

 As far as corruption in judiciary is concerned, the system has checks and balances to counter corruption in lower courts. But the judges in High Court and Supreme Court are immune to any actions for their omissions and commissions. Even if the corruption charge is proved, there is no way the judge gets punished as there is no provision to dismiss, let alone suspend a judge. The judges can be removed only through an impeachment by parliament and that is next to impossible. It is therefore required that judiciary is subjected to Accountability Bill. 

More than anything, people’s attitude towards corruption should change. Tolerating corruption is also a form of corruption. Lokayukta or Lokpal may touch a fraction of the corrupt. But it is the society’s mindset against corrupt, that will do wonders. 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter EMPOWERING THE FIGHTERS FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION MADE EASY, FILE A COMPLAINT IN THE LOKAYUKTA COURT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

EMPOWERING THE FIGHTERS!

FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION MADE EASY, FILE A COMPLAINT IN THE LOKAYUKTA COURT 

 Gone are the days when people had to risk even their lives to fight the politician in power for their scams, frauds and corruption. It is this fear that has prevented corruption fighters in their fight against corruption. Any complaint with the Lokayukta used to be counterproductive. Even if Lokayukta does hold a person guilty, there is no guarantee that action will be taken. But now, one can file a complaint in the Lokayukta Court and one can be sure of the court ordering investigations by the Lokayukta Police. It has become very simple. 

 While the Lokayukta in Karnataka remains the best choice for anti corruption fight, the process in the said office was indeed time consuming. Moreover, the corruption fighters were handicapped by filing criminal cases under Prevention of Corruption Act against politicians in power and officials because they had to get the sanction of the government, which is a cumbersome task. In fact, there are cases where the government has refused Lokayukta’s request for sanction to prosecute the officials! Consequently, fighting corruption even with the help of the Lokayukta had become very difficult. 

But now, fighting corruption has indeed become very simple, thanks to the Lokayukta Court and particularly to the Judge N.K.Sudhindra Rao. Now, all one has to do is to make a complaint with clear documents and file the complaint in the Lokayukta Court. Then, once the complaint is put up for hearing, convince the Judge about the bonafides of the complaint and the complainant. The Lokayukta Judge, if convinced, will refer the complaint to the Lokayukta police for investigations and set a dead line to the Lokayukta police for submission of the investigation report. 

Once the Lokayukta police start the investigations after registering the FIR, the law will take its course. In that event, the guilty cannot escape the long arms of law. It goes without saying that the trial will commence soon after the charge sheet is filed. In the probable event of the corrupt politician or bureaucrat trying to threaten the witnesses or tamper with records, one can be sure of the judge suspending the bail and sending the accused to jail under judicial custody! That is why the accused will have to think many times before venturing to buy the witnesses or tamper with documents. This straightforward system will be a boon to the corruption fighters. Instead of political leaders setting persons to file cases against their adversaries to settle scores, there will be genuine people fighting the corrupt. The system completely eliminates the present inordinate delay in Lokayukta starting the prosecution. 

Earlier the process in Lokayukta was much time consuming. In case of the complaint, the Lokayukta officials had to investigate the complaint after due notice to the officials against whom the complaint was made. The officials could drag the matter for long by getting the deadlines extended often. Only after the investigation, if the Lokayukta feels, it would make a request to the government to sanction the prosecution of the ‘guilty’ official. Even here, there was no time limit set for the government to decide the sanction. 

 Given the ‘corrupt’ system in the bureaucracy, the concerned file used to get stuck at one or the other level depending upon the power of the guilty. Only if the Lokayukta exerted pressure for sanction, the file would move, but more often than sometimes, the sanctions were rejected. All these would take few years and besides, in cases where the officials were raided/ trapped, the process of investigations was painstakingly longer and it would be years before the charge sheets were filed. And by the time the trial started everybody would have forgotten about the case. But, the Lokayukta court is completely a boon now. 

 In the Lokayukta Court, once the case is admitted, the process starts and the Lokayukta police have to work really fast and submit the report after registering the FIR. The court will also hear the story of the other side and once the report makes out a prima facie case, the law starts taking its own course. Charge sheets have to be filed and the trial begins and also has to end in a matter of few months. In this system, the need for ‘sanction’ will be dispensed with. There will be quick decisions and early trials and subsequent convictions/acquittals. However, why it took so long to implement this system is a million dollar question? 

As on now, the Lokayukta court has directed Lokayukta police to investigate and submit report over the corruption charges against former Chief Minister, present Transport Minister, Housing Minister and MLAs and other big politicians in power. What more, almost all these big people fear the Lokayukta judge and therefore are knocking the doors of the High Court to obtain anticipatory bail or stay against their respective case in the Lokayukta Court or to quash the complaints itself! 

 Whatsoever, the Lokayukta Judge N.K. Sudhindra Rao has done a great service towards the fight against corruption. What Anna Hazare could not achieve will all his public stunts and threats, the Lokayukta judge has succeeded in instilling the fear of God among the corrupt people, however high or mighty they may be, within the frame work of law! 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter TIME WILL TELL ILL TIMED SUSPENSION OF REDDY LOYALISTS MAY HIT BACK THE GOVERNMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

TIME WILL TELL!

 ILL TIMED SUSPENSION OF REDDY LOYALISTS MAY HIT BACK THE GOVERNMENT 

The BJP has suspended MLAs - MLC and MPs supporting Sriramulu. Not that the suspension was unexpected, it is the timing of the action that has surprised many. The suspensions may be a warning signal to many more legislatures from the region not to venture supporting Sriramulu in the by-elections. The BJP President K.S.Eswarappa had earlier stated that the action will be initiated against BJP legislators after the elections. And all of a sudden, he has suspended three MLAs, one MLC and two MPs for supporting Sriramulu. The suspension is ill timed and may lead to a fall. 

All the State BJP leaders including former CM Yedurappa are in Bellary with the sole aim of defeating Sriramulu, who is contesting as an Independent. Yedurappa who first refused to campaign was cajoled and he finally agreed. More than a dozen ministers are camping in Bellary to get Sriramulu defeated. The BJP leadership won’t mind if the Congress wins the seat instead, but Sriramulu’s defeat is their main aim and it is giving them nightmares. It is to be recalled that it was Sriramulu with Janardhana Reddy, who were mainly responsible for installing the first ever BJP government in South. It is another matter that Reddy Brothers have high influence in in Bellary region and consequently have more than two dozen loyalists who have become MLAs. Reddy Brothers candidates Shantha and Sanna Fakirappa also won the Loksabha seat from Bellary and Raichur. The Reddy Brothers have considerable hold and clout in adjoining districts as well. 

So, when Sriramulu resigned from his Bellary seat and contested as independent, the BJP till the last minute tried to convince him to contest on BJP ticket. But when Sriramulu remained unmoved, BJP had to search for a suitable candidate. From then on started carrot and dagger policy towards legislators backing him. 

The entire state BJP leadership has taken it as a prestige issue to defeat Sriramulu. The reluctant Yedurappa was also forced in to campaign for BJP candidate. In a way, the entire government is leaving no stone unturned to see that Sriramulu is defeated. The Congress on its part, have pressed an army of senior leaders to campaign for its candidate. KPSC President G.Parameshwar, opposition leader Siddaramaiah etc. are camping in Bellary. Their aim too is to defeat Sriramulu. 

 Compared to high velocity campaign of BJP and Congress, Sriramulu’s campaign is both hi-tech and down to earth. Along with Sriramulu, four BJP legislators and two MPs are also campaigning for him. They have cared two hoots for the warnings by their state leaders and continue to campaign for Sriramulu. 

Of course, Sriramulu had time and again warned the BJP leaders not to condemn the Reddy Brothers who are now in difficulties. Had Janardhana Reddy got the bail, the entire scene would have been different, yet, Sriramulu is going ahead with his campaign. The legislators and MPs are sticking with him from day one. 

And now for the interesting climax. After trying to belittle Sriramulu, the Reddy Brothers and their loyalists, the BJP has suspended three MLAs, one MLC and two MPs from the party as a warning to other Reddy Brother loyalists who were expected to make last minute entry to campaign for Sriramulu. None of the suspended legislators have showed any sign of shock. It seems that they were expecting the action. In fact they were suspended without even waiting for their reply to the show cause notice. 

Now the stage is set for a final countdown. It is to be recalled that Janardhana Reddy who is in Hyderabad Jail has worked out a strategy to pull down the BJP government. It is no secret that the Reddy Brothers command not less than two dozen MLAs as their loyalists who are prepared to sink or swim with them. Sriramulu has established himself as a powerful leader. In fact Sriramulu’s resignation was a prelude to formation of a new regional party by the Reddy Brothers. 

As on now, Sriramulu’s victory will hasten the process of the collapse of the BJP government in the state. If Janardhana Reddy gets bail, he will lead the revolt from the front. Already the Reddy Brothers and their camp is feeling betrayed by the BJP. Sriramulu’s victory will provide them with a shot in the arm. In Addition to the four legislators who have already distanced from BJP, one can expect more than a dozen MLAs bidding goodbye to BJP immediately after the by-election results or during the winter session of the Assembly. 

As on now, BJP has 120 members including the speaker and one independent. With the suspension of three MLAs, the strength now is 117. If a dozen MLAs withdraw support, the government is bound to fall. 

Whatsoever, the suspension of the Reddy Brothers’ loyalists should have been enforced post election, but the hurry has become the last nail in the coffin of the BJP government. 

And that is all!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE LOKAYUKTA, WHERE IS TEAM ANNA?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!

 ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE LOKAYUKTA, WHERE IS TEAM ANNA? 

Anna Hazare, the messiah of anti corruption is fighting hard for the implementation of his Jan Lokpal Bill. And back home in Karnataka, leading politicians are publicly targeting the retired Lokayukta, Santosh Hegde and accusing him of conspiracy. They have gone to the extent of speaking about the very abolition of the revered chair. And surprisingly, Anna Hazare and his team is least bothered to defend or comment on this dangerous state of affairs in Karnataka. 

When Arvind Kejrival of Team Anna was exposed for his omissions and commissions, Team Anna, thundered that the government is trying to discredit them and Kejrival had done no wrong. Later, Kejrival also had to cough out 7 lakhs to the Income Tax. This he did and made a sweeping charge that the government is out to get him to weaken his fight and Team Anna. 

Similarly, when Prashanth Bhushan another prominent member of Team Anna, was assaulted by few Kashmiri Youths for his anti national statement with regard to Kashmir, Team Anna registered strong protest. Likewise, when Kiran Bedi was charged with misappropriation, Anna Hazare himself first gave a clean chit to Kiran Bedi by stating that what she did was not wrong! 

But interestingly, the same Team Anna has not bothered to utter a single word against the attempts in the state by the leaders who are day in and day out denigrating former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde. Mind it, Santosh Hegde is also a prominent member of the Team Anna who led the Jan Lokpal movement in the state when Anna was fasting at Ramlila grounds. 

In fact, when Anna Hazare visited the state to create public opinion over the Jan Lokpal Bill, the state was literally at the mercy of highly corrupt politicians headed by the then Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa, but, he never criticised the all pervading corruption in the state. In fact, the Mining scam probe by Lokayukta Santosh Hegde was almost ready then. The media was full of colourful stories of Yedurappa’s multi crore scams, yet Anna kept silent on the corruption scenario in the state. 

After Santosh Hegde submitted the Mining scam report, the BJP High Command was forced to ask Yedurappa to resign. This was a national sensation and here again; Team Anna kept a studied silence. They also did not appreciate Santosh Hegde’s Herculean efforts in digging out the truth, which to be fair, acts as a Bible to learn about the Mining and the scams, in all its dimensions. They acted as if the Lokayukta report on the Mining scam and the subsequent sacking of Yedurappa was not a matter of concern. Not even a press statement from Team Anna applauding the efforts of Santosh Hegde was issued. 

Now, the state BJP and the BJP government headed by the CM D.V.Sadananda Gowda, is leaving no stone unturned to attack Santosh Hegde who had since retired from the Lokayukta post. None of the leaders dared to criticise Hegde when he was the Lokayukta for fear of inviting the wrath of the general public and contempt. But, post his retirement, they are reveling in using abusive language against him. 

The other day, Yedurappa publicly charged Santosh Hegde of conspiracy to send him to Jail. He had also leveled serious charges against Santosh Hegde acting at the behest of Congress and JDS to unseat him from power. The DVS government on its part has sent back the Mining scam report to the Lokayukta seeking clarifications. 

Besides Yedurappa, many other leaders including State BJP President K.S.Eswarappa are hurling abuses some of which cross the border of decency and decorum. KSE had talked loudly about the need to reconsider the continuation of the Lokayukta itself. 

All these developments are anti thesis of the fight against corruption. And Team Anna who has vowed to fight and root out corruption through their version of Jan Lokpal Bill is keeping quite as if the Karnataka issues are not their concern. 

To put in bluntly, the Team Anna is not prepared to take a look at the assault on the Lokayukta in Karnataka which is also an attack on the fight against corruption. But what has prevented Team Anna to support Karnataka‘s fight against corruption? What prevents them to defend the Lokayukta and their team member Santosh Hegde? Is it because Santosh Hegde, has refused to toe the political line by the Team Anna? It is another matter that Santosh Hegde does not praise Anna Hazare to the skies. He also does not compare him to Mahatma Gandhi or other great people. Time and again Santosh Hegde had made it clear that his association with Team Anna is limited to Jan Lokpal and not other aspects including the political campaign. 

True, Santosh Hegde is capable of defending himself from the attack by the state BJP and its government. But, it is Team Anna which has suffered loss of face in the whole episode by keeping quite. May be they apply different standards to our Karnataka state and that explains their deafening silence! 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE BATTLE OF BELLARY BELLARY BY-ELECTIONS BHARTIYA JANATA PARTY V/S BELLARY JANATA PARTY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE BATTLE OF BELLARY!

 BELLARY BY-ELECTIONS BHARTIYA JANATA PARTY V/S BELLARY JANATA PARTY 

The Bellary Rural byelection has become a no-holds-barred fight between two BJPs - Bharatiya Janata Party and Bellary Janata Party. With Sriramulu of the Reddy’s camp resigning his Assembly seat and contesting this time as Independent supported by the BJP MPs and MLAs of the region, the fight has become a prestige issue for the D.V.Sadananda Gowda led BJP and the Reddy Brothers. The election results will have an impact on the DVS government itself. While the Congress has fielded Ramprasad, who fought Sriramulu in 2008 elections, the JDS had cleverly kept aloof from the elections. The entry of Yedurappa has further added colours to the event. 

The Bellary by-election has assumed a lot of importance as it will redefine the political groups in Karnataka. Further, the release of former CM B.S.Yeddyurappa from jail on bail, has added colour to it. In a way, the fight is between the official Bharatiya Janata Party and the Reddy Brothers’ Bellary Janata Party. 

 It all started with the arrest of Janardhana Reddy by the CBI, who is in Hyderabad Jail for the last two months. The Reddy Brothers have completely monoplised Bellary, Raichur, Gadag and Chitradurga districts to such extent that BJP in Bellary region was known as Bellary Janata Party. 

 In fact, the Reddy Brothers have spread the BJP in every nook and corner of the Bellary region. They have won Taluk Panchayats, Zilla Panchayats, Municipal Councils, Bellary Corporation, Lokasabha and Assembly seats to the BJP. 

Like Yedurappa who consolidated his lingayat base, the Reddys through Sriramulu consolidated the Valmiki Community which is a major community in Bellary region. The Reddy camp at one point of time, commanded the loyalty of more than 40 MLAs in Yedurappa Government. And Yedurappa on the contrary enjoys the support of about 50 MLAs including ministers and the majority of the loyalists are from lingayat community. 

However, the Mining Scam report by the Lokayukta changed the political scenario. Yedurappa, Janardhana Reddy, Karunakara Reddy and Sriramulu were all axed from their respective posts. So, both the feuding factions that of Yedurappa and Reddy camp became powerless. 

Interestingly, while Janardhana Reddy was arrested by the CBI and camped in Hyderabad jail, only his own loyalist MPs and MLA’s from Bellary and Andhra Pradesh region visited him. However, when Yedurappa was jailed by the Lokayukta court, in connection with a criminal case against him under PC Act, the whole cabinet and party leaders were on a ‘jail yatra’ to meet and pledge their support to him. 

Reddys disgusted with the shabby treatment meted out to them planned to float a regional party and Sriramulu was made the hatchet man. Sriramulu submitted his resignation and while BJP leaders tried to convince him to withdraw it, he remained adamant. His resignation was finally accepted by the Speaker after a delay of more than one and half months and that too after severe criticisms from the opposition. 

While the Election Commission announced the holding of the by-elections to Bellary Rural on November 30th, Sriramulu declared that he will contest it as an independent rather than on the BJP ticket. Interestingly, the entire BJP leadership from MPs to Panchayat members from the Bellary region has backed Sriramulu. 

Battle lines are drawn and for BJP, it is a question of survival to prove the point that it can survive without the Reddy camp. For the Reddys, it is a question of their survival and they have to prove that they still enjoy the support of Bellary people. However, since their main leader is behind bars, it is indeed challenging for them too. 

It is another matter that considering the dominance of Valmikis in Bellary rural, it seems like a cake walk for Sriramulu. As such, the Bellary Janata Party has an edge over the others. It is said that JD(S) is also backing Sriramulu by not fielding its candidate. 

But, one cannot ignore the predominant lingayat votes and here, the BJP can match Sriramulu. With Yedurappa out and agreeing to lead the BJP campaign in Bellary, he can win away a majority of lingayats to BJP. 

On the other hand the Congress camp is upbeat. It has fielded Ramprasad who polled more than 35000 votes in 2008 elections against Sriramulu. The Congress has fought the Reddys tooth and nail in the last two years. In fact, Bellary was the strong hold of Congress till the advent of Reddys and the absence of JD(S) candidate has enhanced its chances. 

True, the Congress has its own vote bank. From the 2008 debacle, it has improved its share. In the 2009 Loksabha elections, the Congress candidate N.Y.Hanumanthappa was defeated by Sriramulu’s sister J.Shantha by a mere 2000 margin! The Congress Padayatra from Bangalore to Bellary against the Mining loot by Reddys has also improved its image. 

Whatsoever, the original fight in Bellary by-election is between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bellary Janata Party. And for the result, we shall wait for the time.