Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter DOUBLE STANDARD POLITICS ASHOK CHAVAN V/S YEDURAPPA

BY. FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA 

THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER

DOUBLE STANDARD POLITICS 

ASHOK CHAVAN V/S YEDURAPPA 

 The Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had to resign following the Adarsh Housing Society scam where flats meant for Kargil widows were cornered by defense personnel and powerful politicians. Much before Ashok Chavan became the CM, his relatives had purchased flats in this housing complex. When the scam broke out, the Congress high command ensured that Ashok Chavan tendered his resignation but waited for disclosure till Obama departed. The BJP stalled the parliament demanding the resignation but Ashok Chavan had already resigned before. The same BJP who stalled the Parliament had to apply same yardstick to their Chief Minister B.S Yeddyurappa who is involved in similar, if not more serious scam. But, the reality is different in South. 

 The opening day of the parliament saw the congress High command ordering capital punishment to two of its senior leaders. It had asked the Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan to resign and stripped CPP general Secretary Suresh Kalmadi from the post. Unaware of these developments the BJP and its allies stalled the house proceedings demanding resignation of Ashok Chavan and ordering CBI enquiry into the Adarsha Housing Society scam. The BJP also demanded the resignation of Suresh Kalmadi the Chairman of Organising Committee of the recently concluded common wealth games. 

 But what they did not bargain for was the swift action by Sonia Gandhi even before the houses met. In the wake of the Adarsh Society scam, Ashok Chavan had tendered his resignation to Sonia Gandhi on 5th November itself. But she kept it pending till the visiting US President Barak Obama left the Country. She directed Ashok Chavan to submit the papers to the Governor. At the same time, she had asked Suresh Kalmadi to resign from the post of Secretary of the Congress parliamentary party. As far as Adarsh Society is concerned, the CBI was told to conduct the probe and the CBI is already probing the CWG scams. In one shot, Sonia Gandhi had taken the winds away from the BJP. Then BJP demanded the sacking of Telecom Minister A Raja for his role in the 2G spectrum scam. But, because Raja belongs to DMK, Sonia Gandhi had to take the consent of Karunanidhi to sack him and it obviously took a couple of days for a decision in this regard. 

 But, now the Congress has turned the tables against BJP daring it to emulate its action in the case of Karnataka Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa, who is neck deep involved in similar if not more serious scams. For reasons best known, the BJP High Command took no action, not even rebuke against Yedurappa. 

 In fact, the BJP in Karnataka has heralded despicable political culture. It came to power by purchasing six independents. It acquired majority by reducing the strength of opposition parties by engineering resignations of their MLAs and making them Ministers and getting them elected in the bye elections. In the recent rebellion of twenty MLAs, the Yedurappa Government saved the day by disqualifying 16 MLAs through the speaker just hours before the vote of confidence. Thus it survived by reducing the strength of the house itself. The political culture sunk to its new low in the history of Indian democracy. 

 More than this despicable political culture, the Yedurappa Government is neck deep in hi-fi corruption. And leading the way is none other than the Chief Minister himself. He is involved in a scam which is worse than Ashok Chavan’s. Yedurappa’s MP Son B.Y Raghvendra, his son-in-law have purchased BDA acquired lands in Arkavathi Layout. S.N Krishnaiah Setty has sold (?) the lands. The Supreme Court has upheld the acquisition of lands for Arkavathi layout. After the lands were registered in the names of Raghavendra and other family members, Yedurappa got the lands denotified despite opposition from the BDA. What more, as a safe bet, the original owner was made to apply for denotification instead of Raghavendra and others. This was a clear plan to keep the entire scam under wraps. The lands are of course worth crores! 

 There are other denotifications by Yedurappa which were all for monetary gains. In one particular case, Yedurappa denotified BDA lands in Nagarabhavi where the BDA had allotted sites and houses were build years ago including that of Law and Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar. How can one imagine the denotification of fully build up lands by Yedurappa? It is simply inhuman and cruel. And when the matter was taken up in the High Court, Yedurappa simply cancelled the denotification. 

 As far as Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan is concerned, his relatives had procured the flat much before he became the CM. Here too, the land on which the Apartments were built was meant for widows of Kargil heroes. But the flats were grabbed by many top defense personnel and powerful politicians. Successive CMs from Sushil Kumar Shindhe, Vilas Rao Deshmukh etc. have contributed their mite in getting clearance to the Housing project. After the scam broke out, the Government has withdrawn occupancy certificates and declared the Housing Complex as illegal as it violated Zonal Regulations and sanctioned plan. Finally, with his relatives’ names in the beneficiaries list, Ashok Chavan met Sonia Gandhi and submitted his resignation as CM. It was accepted but declared officially only after Obama left India. 

 In case of BSY, one can find similarities with Ashok Chavan’s case. Raghavendra purchased some lands in Arkavathi Layout which was acquired by BDA years back. The Supreme Court had held the land acquisition valid. There is also a SC judgement to the effect that once the lands are acquired, they can not be denotified. But Yedurappa overruled all the objections by BDA and Urban Development and ordered the denotification of the land. The reason being simple, the lands were purchased by his Son and son-in-law! 

 The Congress is right when it dared the BJP to emulate the Ashok Chavan incident in case of BSY also. But the BJP is in no mood, even to contemplate issuing a warning to Yedurappa. And the BJP always take up high moral ground over probity in public life. They are adopting double standard now. One cannot expect any meaningful and positive action from the BJP High Command in the case of Yedurappa. And what about Yedurappa? He does not even dream of quitting the CM post and recently made a claim of being in the CM chair for another 20 years? God save Karnataka!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE POLITICS OF SAFEGUARDING CM COMMITS SCAMS AND AVOIDS LOKAYUKATA NET

BY. FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA

THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER 

 THE POLITICS OF SAFEGUARDING 

 CM COMMITS SCAMS AND AVOIDS LOKAYUKATA NET 

 The CM Yedurappa’s multifaceted; multi dimensional and well documented scams have become highly embarrassing for him has tried to buy time to bury the same. He has formed a judicial commission headed by Justice Padmaraj, a retired HC judge to probe the denotifications, allotments of lands for the last 16 years that is from 1995. It is another matter that Justice Padmaraj has his own reputation for fairness and balanced judgements. Most of the judgements of Justice Padmaraja that were challenged were upheld by the Supreme Court. Nobody can have any doubt about the fairness of the commission headed by Justice Padmaraja. 

 But that is no issue here. There was no necessity for having a judicial commission to probe the land denotifications since 1995 in first place. Any common man with ordinary level of sense will say that the probe will go on for years. But, Yedurappa has given only one year time to the commission to finish the probe and submit the report. This is humanly impossible as there are thousands of cases of denotifications of lands since 1995. 

 THE HISTORY 

 It is an open secret that till the year 2000, the denotifications were done on merits of the case and not monetary case. It was only after the year 2000 that the real estate in Bangalore flourished. The denotifications assumed importance particularly after the BDA started denotifying thousands of acres of lands for its layout and KIADB and KHB followed suit. 

 From the year 2006, when Yedurappa became Deputy with Kumaraswamy as the CM, the land prices soar to new heights. The real estate agents turned into developers and even the underworld entered the real estate in a big way. Politicians in power became their God fathers. It may be recalled that denotifications became a very lucrative business during Visweswaraya, Anjanapura, BSK 5th, 6th stage, Arkavathi layout formations. Many officials made hundreds of crores through denotifications. It continued during Dharam Singh regime and Kumaraswamy also provided ample opportunity. 

 From the moment, Yedurappa become Deputy CM, he became possessed with making a fortune. More than the CM, the Deputy Yedurappa made hundreds of deals with developers through his sons Raghavendra and Vijyendra. 

 THE RETURN OF JEWEL THIEF

 It is at this time that Yedurappa started his family enterprise. But before he could firmly establish his companies he lost power in 2007. However, he returned as a CM in 2008. And since then there is no stopping for his family enterprise in making crores and crores through denotifications/ allotments etc. Without investing anything these companies made crores of profit and there only investment is Yedurappa’s CM powers. 

 SAVING SKIN 

 But what prompted Yedurappa to order a judicial probe? The answer is very simple. When the unimaginable scams of Yedurappa in allotting highly valuable lands to his family members, denotifying the lands purchased by his family members etc started to get exposed one after the other, Yedurappa panicked. Even the leaders of his own party were shocked at his scams. To wriggle out of the situation, he got his family members to return the sites to BDA. Further, to stop the opposition from exposing his scams, he talked of a judicial probe on the denotifications of lands affected during the last 15 years. He made tall claims of holding a probe by a retired HC judge to silence the opposition. 

 While his scams issue raked up in Parliament, he had to take some action to insulate himself and also prevent the BJP High Command initiating any actions against him. In fact, the BJP had already decided to take action against him and summoned him to Delhi. But before leaving, he decided to constitute a Judicial commission to probe the land denotifications, allotments etc. And to take the revenge with Deve Gowda, he extended the probe to be conducted from 1995. The rest is history. Yedurappa arm twisted and even threatened the BJP High Command and avoided his sacking. He succeeded and Justice Padmaraj was nominated to the judicial enquiry and is given one year to complete the task. This is simply an impossible task as one cannot expect the commission to probe innumerable cases in just one year. 

 MAMMOTH TASK

 It is a fact that one can expect more than 2000 BDA denotifications from 1995 and about 1000 cases in KIADB. The commission has to probe each case on merits. It cannot club all the cases as each case has a different history. Firstly, the commission has to identify the cases, the beneficiaries and the officials responsible for the denotifications. It also has to identify the political force behind and issue notices to all the identified people and officials. They are also required to be given ample opportunity to defend them and their actions. There is the usual examination and cross examinations of the witnesses etc. There is also the question of availability of records. There may be cases where people concerned may be dead, and the officials have either died, retired or even untraceable. The commission cannot work round the clock. In a matter of one year, even if the commission has a little over 100 sittings, it will be a record. 

 Moreover, the commission needs a separate establishments, offices, courtrooms, staff etc and it would take at least two to three months for the commission to start the preliminary works provided the Government shows promptness and good intentions. As there are few Ministers including Yedurappa himself in such scams, the Government may not show much interest in the follow up actions to provide necessary infrastructure to the commission. 

This being the case, the commission needs at least 10 years to probe thousands of denotification cases. In some cases, the commission also has to conduct spot inspection. It is not that all the denotifications done so far are scandalous. Except few notorious cases, most of the denotification cases till 2006 have justifications. A fully developed revenue pocket cannot be acquired as the same cannot be used for forming a layout or sites. The land is not only unfit but even the acquisitions cost will be too high. Then there are practical difficulties in demolishing the buildings etc. In 2003, the BDA made a policy decision not to demolish residential buildings built on acquiring/acquired lands. In such cases, denotifications are the only way. The commission cannot overlook these practical problems and ground realities. 

In 1995, the Government implemented the regularization of the Government properties in a big way. In 2007, the Government passed a 1 time Akrama-Sakrama regularization scheme for revenue and unauthorized properties in the entire state. But is yet to be implemented. 

 To be frank, the denotifications assumed gigantic proportions only after 2002. It reached zenith in 2005 and for the last two and a half years assumed gigantic proportions and has even threatened the Government of Yedurappa. There is no denying the fact that from the last 5 to 6 years denotification has become a big business and also one of the means for the politicians to dole out largesse to their loyalists. 

 In all fairness, the commission should restrict it probe to the denotifications from 2005 and not from 1995. If it does start the probe from 2005, it can expose the demon in all its dimensions. Since the basis of set up of commission is to probe the denotifications by Yedurappa, it should at least start the probe from the period of Yedurappa. Probing from the year 2008 first is best suitable simply because all the politicians and officials are available in the same positions and even the records are easily accessible. In addition, most of the denotifications follow similar patterns and all can be clubbed together and probed. Once this is complete, the commission can go back to the past. 

 SIDELINING THE LOKAYUKTA

 Let us come to the practical aspect of the probe by the commission. It is true that Justice Santosh Hegde is already probing the KIADB land scams from the past few months. During the probe, the Lokayukta has already trapped Katta Jagadish, the corporator son of Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu. Further, even the involvement of the Minister and his wife is also established and the Lokayukta may file charge sheet anytime. 

 The Lokayukta has also arrested many officials in KIADB for their involvement in many scams. This sum up that Lokayukta is conducting a full fledged probe in these scams already. Now if the Commission takes up the probe it will be duplicating the futile exercise. 

 Besides, the Lokayukta is also taking up complaint against BSY in respect of denotifications, misuse, abuse of power and nepotism. There are 8 compalints before the Lokayukta against the CM in this regard. If the Judicial Commission takes up these cases, Lokayukta, though unlikely will have to close down the complaints against Yedurappa. 

 The Lokayukta Santosh Hegde is a retired Supreme Court judge and has almost finished the KIADB scam probe. If he continues he will finish up the story in a couple of months compared to the commission which will take years. 

 If Yedurappa was honest, he could have entrusted the probe of denotification to the Lokayukta himself. While Lokayukta is scheduled to retire in few months, it would not have prevented him to take up the probe. The Government also could have given him an extension for the cause of the probe. 

 But who cares? BSY is afraid of Santosh Hegde and wants to save his skin by delay tactics. The best option therefore for him is to opt for a judicial probe and that too order it to be conducted from 1995, which will take years together to finish. God save Karnataka!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE DEFEAT OF THE LAW BBMP REGULARISES REVENUE PROPERTIES IN SACHINDANANDANAGAR LAYOUT

BY. FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA 

THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER

 THE DEFEAT OF THE LAW 

 BBMP REGULARISES REVENUE PROPERTIES IN SACHINDANANDANAGAR LAYOUT 

 The Commissioner of BBMP Mr. Siddaiah has done an unimaginable act by getting the khatas registered to the hundreds of sites in the illegal Sachindanandanagar Layout formed by the notorious Viswa Bharthi Housing Co-op Society. Proving that he can be subdued with media and other pressure, Siddaiah has registered the khatas to the sites in this illegal layout and legalized the highly illegal act. If the same yardstick is applied, Siddaiah will have to register the khatas to lakhs of revenue properties in BBMP areas. To hell with law of the land! 

 In our earlier edition, we had discussed about how B. Krishna Bhat of the Viswa Bharti Housing Society undertook illegalities to form of the Sachindanandanagar layout which thus became illegal in itself. It was clearly explained that the land does not belong to the society and the society has also not obtained layout plan sanctioned from the BDA. It has not even got the lands converted and there are other violations with regard to Co-op. Society’s Act, Land reforms Act, Town planning Acts, etc. 

 In fact, the land has been forfeited by the government in 2001 itself. The final word on this is yet to be said by the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal where the dispute is pending. The BDA had notified the layout as illegal and ordered demolition of the unauthorized constructions in the years 2005 and 2007. The plain fact is that B.Krishna Bhat, had purchased agricultural lands the dispute of which becomes ineligible under Land Revenue Act and Land Reforms Act. He has also used the society’s funds to purchase the lands and again used the society’s name to register sites formed in the illegal layout to the purchasers by treating them as members! 

 On the whole the entire layout is a revenue layout. In the year 1996, the CMCs in the city collected betterment charges from the revenue property owners for having utilized the civic amenities provided by CMCs and issued ‘Holder’ Khatas to them. It should be noted that the khatas effected were only symbolic and not the regular khatas. The holder khatas do not guarantee right, title and ownership, it was only meant for collecting betterment charges and tax towards using the amenities provided by the CMCs. 

 Naturally, few owners of sites in Sachindanandagar layout got the khatas by payment of betterment charges. So taking advantage of the betterment charges scheme, about 100 site owners obtained khatas for their properties in 1996. Later, the Divisional Commissioner directed the CMC, Pattanagere (now RR Nagar) to stop collecting betterment charges. 

 B.Krishna Bhat went to the court and in the year 2005 the civil court directed the CMC to register the khatas after quashing the directions of the Divisional Commissioner. Needless to say that Krishna Bhat managed to get the orders by misleading the court and also ensured that the CMC does not go in appeal. By this time, the Government had confiscated the lands purchased by the B Krishna Bhat violating Lands Reforms Act. He then filed an appeal in KAT but till now, no final word is said about the same. As on now, the land records stands in the name of the Government. In 2007, the Government banned the collection of betterment charges by the CMCs as it became clear that the CMCs had no such powers. 

 At the same time, the Government passed a bill for ‘One Time’ Akrama-Sakrama scheme to regularize unauthorised constructions and Revenue Properties. But the enforcement of the Act from 1-1-2008 was deferred under High Court orders. Later, the Government tried to bring some reforms and two months back, passed the modified Akrama-Sakrama Bill. But the Governor had refused to sign the bill and as on now, the Akrama-Sakrama scheme is in cold storage. As such, the regularization of sites in Sachindanandanagar layout must wait till the Akrama-Sakrama scheme is brought into force. 

 But some of the site owners were not prepared to wait. Manjunath alias Quality Manju formed a Resident’s Association and moved the BBMP’s RR Nagar Zonal Joint Commissioner Veda Murthy to get the khatas to about 800 properties. He started collecting amount between 3 to 5 lakhs from the owners depending on the size of the property. Manju also enlisted the support of local MLA M.Srinivas whose word is Law for the BBMP officials. In fact, the entire multi crores deal was to be based on the city court’s order directing the CMC to register the khatas. As the government has banned the collection of betterment charges itself and brought in a special Akrama-Sakrama Scheme to regularize the revenue properties, there was no way the sites could be regularized at this juncture. But that did not deter Manju to clinch a ‘deal’ with BBMP officials to get the Khatas, illegally, albeit for a price. 

 In the meanwhile, another association was formed among the site owners and they had approached the Lokayukta against the BBMP officials and carried a media blitz bringing their woes to the public notice. They also based their case on the city court order concern only with ‘Holder’ or ‘Anubhuvdar’ khatas and not the regular khatas. They made the Lokayukta to come to their rescue. As luck would have it, the BBMP’s Additional Commissioner Veda Murthy in his reply to the Lokayukta complaint gave a wrong reply about the status of the case relating to an appeal to the city civil court order. This was sufficient for the Lokayukta to bang the BBMP officials and within the next of couple of days, Veda Murthy went out of BBMP and K.M Ramachandran took over as the Additional Commissioner of RR Nagar Zone. 

 After assuming the chair, K.M Ramachandran from day one was determined to clinch the deal under the direction of MLA Srinivas and Manju. He was waiting for an excuse to start issuing the khatas. 

 The Lokayukta’s slap was a God sent opportunity to complete the deal. The other group also mounted pressure on the BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah and finally Siddaiah relented and ordered the issue of khatas. 

 The other day, a group of the site owners laid seizes to RR Nagar Zonal office and forced the officials to issue the khatas to 120 of their members. They continued it till midnight and got khatas. Similarly, the Manju group too got the khatas. The BBMP officials particularly K M Ramachandran, the RO, ARO etc. are smiling from ear to ear for having made few millions. The owners are happy for having got the khatas to their properties in the illegal Sachindanandanagar layout. Every body is happy except the law of the land. 

 In fact, Law of the land has become the first casualty. The entire episode throw much light on the machinations, manipulations etc. of the bureaucrats and the astronomical level of corruption. In one go, about 800 revenue properties have been regularized by the BBMP without caring for the law of the land. If the same properties were to be regularized under Akrama-Sakrama Scheme, the BBMP would have netted revenue of not less than 20 crores. 

 The combined force of money, muscle power, media etc. has resulted in BBMP regularizing more than 800 revenue properties in an illegal layout. The question is will the BBMP regularize lakhs of other revenue properties in city and give khatas to them? 

The entire episode needs a serious introspection among all particularly those who respect the law of the land!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter ILLEGALLY LEGAL CM & COMPANY DEFENDS THAT ALL LAND DEALS WERE LEGAL

BY. FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA 

THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER

 ILLEGALLY LEGAL 

 CM & COMPANY DEFENDS THAT ALL LAND DEALS WERE LEGAL 

 In the wake of the disastrous Land scam, the Karnataka State politics has touched the lowest level. In spite of clear and transparent evidences, the Chief Ministers and his other Ministers are defending themselves saying that all the land deals were legal. According to them, the allotment of prime sites in posh localities to CM B.S. Yeddyurappa’s MP son B.Y. Raghavendra, who already owns houses lands in Bangalore is legal. The false affidavit by B.Y. Raghavendra for acquiring the site worth in crores for a paltry sum of Rs. 8 lakhs is also legal. The denotifications of highly valuable lands in highly developed layouts, despite the Supreme Court judgements, are strictly legal, the formation of firms to collect the ‘deal’ money by the kith and kin of B.S.Yedurappa and also a share in the denotified lands are all legal. Similarly, the allotments of lands in a mortal hurry to the kith and kin of ministers are also strictly legal. They insist that every rule has been followed for denotification and allotment of lands and defend their actions by arguing that, the previous regimes did the same, and that they continued the tradition. 

 However, none of them can explain the documentary evidence and records that have surfaced along with the scams. The maximum these defenders say is that there is a malicious propaganda against the BJP by the frustrated opposition and a section of the media. In contrast, the opposition, especially the JD(S) Boss Kumaraswamy is challenging the defenders to prove that the scams are false or the records are fabricated. And nobody has given any reply to this challenge. 

 Let us take few cases of the scam and the ‘legality’ of the same as per B.S.Yedurappa gang and the traditional meaning. 

 INVALID APPLICATION 

 Take the case of allotment of a big BDA site in RMV Extension to B.Y Raghvendra, the MP son of B.S.Yedurappa. The stray sites are allotted to eminent people who have served the state with distinction. The rule also states that people, who are in the social service for long, may also be allotted a site. More than anything, a person who eminence or other wise, who own a site or house in Bangalore either in his/her name or family’s name cannot even apply for the allotment. 

 However, B.Y. Raghavendra, is neither an eminent citizen nor a social worker for long. Nobody had even heard his name till May 2009 when he won the MP election. Even his MPship is just one and a half years old. And his eminence had come from the fact that he is the son of the Chief Minister B.S.Yedurappa. Raghavendra owns big properties in Bengaluru and Yedurappa too owns a big bungalow in Bengaluru. As per the ‘Tradition’ Law, B.Y.Raghavendra is ineligible to apply for stray site allotment in first place, let alone getting the site allotted. But Raghavendra submitted a false affidavit and his CM father wasted no time in allotting him a big site in RMV Extension. And defenders of scams say everything is legal. 

 Now, unable to face the publicity, Raghavendra has returned the site and claimed refund of Rs. 8 lakhs paid as sital cost. The Traditional ‘legal procedure says that BDA has to forfeit the cost as the site was obtained through false affidavit. But the ‘legality’ of B.S.Yedurappa gang makes the criminal offence a virtue and the BDA is all set to refund the site cost. The same is the case with ‘other’ stray sites allotted by B.S.Yedurappa to his sister, sister’s son etc. 

 COLLECTION COMPANIES 

 B.S.Yedurappa denotified hundreds of acres of prime land acquired by BDA for its various projects. However, his style of collecting favours against his illegal acts was unique indeed. He formed many firms in his kith and kin’s names and those who wanted to get denotification/allotment of lands were required to pay non refundable deposit in these firms. Once the ‘deal’ money was paid to one of these companies, Yedurappa would issue the orders. In some cases, the parties even had to part with a share in the land by registering the lands in the name of the companies. This is Yedurappa’s concept of legalizing the corrupt practices. 

 SUPREME COURT SUPPRESSED

 In some of the denotification cases, the Supreme Court had clearly decreed that no land can be denotified after the BDA takes possession of the lands. But the CM team which has its own concept of law cared a damn for the Supreme Court order. Thus, B.S.Yedurappa denotified lands worth hundreds of crores acquired years back by BDA. Needless to say that Yedurappa’s collection companies have been flooded with crores and crores. And the defenders of the scam say that everything has been done legally! 

 Of course, the CM’s collection companies have made at least 100 crores profit in just one year without doing any business. Their only investment was the powers of the Chief Minister! But, there are clear records/ documents that show that Yedurappa and few of his ministers have shown official favour in lieu of heavy bribes both in cash and kind. And there are’ collection’ companies floated by them to receive the ‘deal money’ officially. As per the traditional meaning of law, these activities come under Prevention of Corruption Act punishable with long term jail. But as per Yedurappa gang, everything has been done legally. 

 THE LOKAYUKTA HURDLE

 Yedurappa was the most delighted man when the Lokayukta had resigned as he knew that one day the Lokayukta will knock on his door with full force to nail him. And now his fears have come true. The Lokayukta has already trapped the corporator son of Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu in the multi crore KIADB land scam and may arrest the Minister also. Drenched in corruption, favoritism, nepotism and what not, the CM naturally fears Justice Santosh Hegde as he has earlier already tested the Lokayukta’s heat in mining scam. It is another matter that Yedurappa has decided to conduct judicial enquiry into denotifications in the state since 1994. But this is a game plan meant to buy him time. However, he can not expect the Lokayukta to wait for the judicial enquiry. As per the traditional laws, the Lokayukta will conduct the probe and in all probability Yedurappa and his gang may face the music. 

 Further, Yedurappa is been challenged by the JDS which has filed a complaint with the Lokayukta against him and his scams. 

 All the scams committed by B.S.Yedurappa and his gang are out and out violative of the law of the land. And the Chief Minister and his supporting gang of Ministers say that everything B.S.Yedurappa and his gang have done is legal. God save Karnataka!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE BACK DOOR FORMULA BETTERMENT CHARGES-BBMP’S ALTERNATE TO AKRAMA-SAKRAMA

BY. FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA 

 THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER 

 THE BACK DOOR FORMULA 

 BETTERMENT CHARGES-BBMP’S ALTERNATE TO AKRAMA-SAKRAMA 

 The BBMP in its budget which was placed before the council two months back had estimated revenue of Rs. 800 crores from the Akrama-Sakrama scheme. This estimate was projected despite the fact that the Governor had refused to sign the Bill. Eventually, there seems to be no chance of the Akrama-Sakrama Bill becoming an act in the near future and this has made a hole in the BBMP’s pocket. Whatsoever, the BBMP has nothing to worry at all. So what if the Governor refuses to sign the Akrama-Sakrama Bill? So what if the High Court which had earlier stayed the Akrama-Sakrama scheme in 2008 finally strikes down the same? The BBMP has the answer. Just ignore the Akrama-Sakrama scheme itself and bring in another scheme of Betterment Charges to regularize the revenue properties through a resolution in the BBMP council. 

 AKRAMA-SAKRAMA STORY

 It may be recalled that Akrama-Sakarama Bill was passed in the Special Session of the Legislature at Belgaum in 2007 when H.D KumaraSwamy was the Chief Minister. The Bill was passed without any discussions. The levy of the Akrama-Sakrama charges for violation of Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, Karnataka Land Reforms act, Karnataka Land Revenue Act, etc, was left to the official’s committee. And the bureaucrats as a rule, insensitive towards the real problem, fixed abnormal charges for regularization of unauthorized and revenue properties. This was fiercely protested by the public and also the political parties who approved the bill in the Assembly. Some even challenged it in the High Court as well. 

 ENCASHING THE BOOK 

 Such was the arrogance of the bureaucrats that the then BBMP Commissioner Mr. Subramanya even issued stern ads “Now or Never” and threatened disconnection of water and electricity connections, if the properties were not regularized by March 2008. The BBMP also made a big killing by selling the Akrama-Sakrama Book at the rate of Rs.100 per Book. More than one lakh booklets were sold and if the High Court had not intervened, the sale would have touched 6 to 7 lakhs as it was compulsory to purchase the booklet which also contained the application forms. 

 SUPPRESSING THE POLITICS

 The High Court which stayed the scheme asked the Government to find out if relief can be given to the poor. At that time, the state was under President’s rule and the Governor was not prepared to take any major decision. Thus, the scheme remained in cold storage. In May 2008, the BJP came to power and it constituted a cabinet Sub Committee under the Chairmanship of R. Ashoka, the Transport Minister. The committee made some recommendations and reduced the regularization charges on small properties and the matter rested there. Thereafter, for the two following years, the BJP Government did nothing in the matter, except on the eve of BBMP election earlier this year. The Government woke up and pushed for the Bill and sent the Akrama-Sakrama Scheme to the Governor for issuing an ordinance. However, the Governor refused to sign it so as to avoid BJP enjoying any political advantage of the same in the then elections. The Governor sent back the same to the Government advising it to introduce the bill in the assembly for threadbare discussions as many serious aspects are involved. 

 GONE WITH THE WIND

 Let us also recollect that the BJP then put forth the Akrama-Sakrama bill in the assembly and hurriedly passed it in a matter of few seconds without any discussions. This was done so while the opposition was on a dharna against the Government in the wake of Mining scam. 

 ESCALATING FIGURES

 Now, let us understand the BBMP’s proposal for collection of betterment charges and registration of Khatas. The BBMP in its 8000 plus crores budget for 2010-2011 had estimated Rs. 800 crores revenue from the Akrama-Sakrama scheme taking for granted the implementation of the act. The officials who prepared the Budget in March for the same year (as the elected body was not constituted by then) had limited the Budget to 4500 crores and there was no estimate of revenue from the Akrama-Sakrama Scheme. However, the BBMP placed the budget in the council in the month of august that is almost after five months and also increased it to Rs. 8000 crore plus. Here, it also showed the receipt of Rs. 800 crore from Akrama-Sakrama scheme, in spite of the fact that the same is not yet approved by the Governor. 

 INDUCING OFFER!

 But the BBMP has to raise funds for its maintenance and must work out an effective alternative. The ‘intelligent’ leaders of BJP thus hit upon a novel idea of collecting Betterment Charges from the revenue properties and issue khatas to the properties? The modus operandi here is very simple. Lakhs of revenue properties in the newly added areas of BBMP are using the amenities provided by the BBMP. The betterment charges can thus be collected from the owners of these properties in lieu of using the amenities like roads, water, parks etc., and offering them khata of their properties is an enough reason to induce them for the same. In short, collect Betterment charges from the owners and give them the khatas for their revenue properties. This is the essence of the betterment charges scheme!

 THE KHATA GAME! 

 Legally, the betterment charges are different from regularization charges under Akrama-Sakrama Scheme. The betterment charges are collected for using the amenities provided by the BBMP while the regularization charges are collected for compounding violations of various acts. At the end of the day, khatas are issued under both the schemes, be it Betterment Charges or Akrama-Sakrama Scheme and the net result is the same. The revenue property gets legal status by receiving the khata from the BBMP. 

 COMPARISON

 In a way, the betterment charges scheme overrides the Akrama-Sakrama Scheme which is yet to become a reality. The betterment charges proposed by BBMP are far less compared to regularization charges under Akrama-Sakrama. The betterment charges fixed for a 30x40 site (never mind the buildings) is Rs 150 per square meter which comes to less than Rs. 15 per sq ft. And the maximum charge is Rs. 400 per sq. meter for properties above 6000 sq ft. However, the stipulated regularization charges under Akrama-Sakrama scheme was a minimum of Rs 200 per sq ft. based on the market value of the property which includes site and the building. 

 In a nutshell, the betterment charge scheme is very cheap and affordable. And the owners get legal status to their revenue properties by getting the khata from BBMP. In the Akrama-Sakrama scheme too, the end result is the registration of khata after paying fines under Karnataka Revenue or lands reforms or Town and Country Planning or Municipality acts, in addition to regularization charges. 

 Once the khata is registered by BBMP after collecting betterment charges, the matter ends there. The BBMP can thereafter collect only property taxes. This is not a new scheme but was earlier already implemented in BMP areas. Even the BDA had regularized many revenue layouts under this scheme. But the same was dropped after it became known that neither the BDA nor the BMP have powers to collect development charges as only the Revenue Department has the powers to levy the charges. It was for this purpose that the Akrama-Sakrama scheme was stipulated by amending all the relevant Acts as a ‘one time’ settlement. 

 As things stands now, the revenue properties can only be regularized under Akrama-Sakrama scheme and that too, as a ‘one time’ scheme. The BBMP’s regularization scheme under the guise of betterment charges will not pass the scrutiny of law. 

 READY ALTERNATIVE

 Arguably, the BBMP is simply bringing the Akrama-Sakrama scheme through the back door camouflaged as Betterment charges. Assuming that the Akrama-Sakrama scheme gets scrapped in the legal or political tussle, the BBMP still has an alternative to regularize the revenue properties and effect receipts through collecting betterment charges.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD THE GREAT GOLD FRAUD REVEALED THE REASON

BY. FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA 

 THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER 

 ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD 

 THE GREAT GOLD FRAUD REVEALED THE REASON

 Come Deepavali and we witness crowds flocking to Jewellery stores like they flock to the sweet and crackers’ shops. Many such festival seasons are a premium season for purchase of Gold and Silver and thus flourish the Jewellery market. 

 GOLDEN ENTRY 

 Never was anyone bothered about the functioning and practices of the Gold market, until the entry of Shubh jewelers into the segment. The entry of ‘shubh’ a unit of Rajesh Exporters, into the retail market of jewellery changed the entire scene in the gold market. The Shubh chain started its business with a bang by exposing the unfair trade practices of gold merchants and their continuous cheating of millions of customers who as a rule, had showed unadulterated faith in these gold merchants. It revealed out statistics, facts and figures highlighting the continuous cheating of the established and prestigious gold merchants and further to prove their sincerity and integrity, Shubh started offering jewelleries at the original cost of gold, without collecting wastage, making charges etc. 

 Shubh’s advertisements, has indeed in a way provided some insight into the trade and fact of the gold merchants charging more than the due, from the consumers. 

 “Todays price of Rs. ---- per gram, we don’t charge profit, No making charges, only 9.9 percent wastage” and many such misleading advertisements feature in Media almost everyday. People simply do not believe their eyes and make a beeline to the jewellery shops. But, only after they purchase and get the bill, a few among them would realise that they have been taken for a ride and that they have paid more price than the prevailing rates. Nobody can understand the arithmetic of jewellary business. No jeweller will sell the raw gold at the rates advertised by them. 

 THE MYSTERY

 Nobody and absolutely nobody can understand the inside out of the gold business particularly the jewellery market. Nobody can say whether the gold they purchase is of the required quality or quantity. Nobody can comprehend why the jewelers who manufacture gold ornaments (silver included) in their factories or workshops collect wastage and making charges which will be a minimum of 10 to 15 percent of the total weight. Nobody can understand the collection of charges for a binding agent at a rate which is ten times more than its original cost. 

 Besides, the purity of the gold also always remains in question. Till today, nobody has taken on the gold merchants who have become a law unto themselves. Neither the government nor the consumer activists have taken the trouble to fight this perpetual cheating for the simple reason that nobody could understand the business in all its complexities. 

 GOLDEN QUESTIONS

 The basic questions that are unanswered are, 

 1) Why should the gold merchants levy wastage ranging from 10 to 20% on the total weight of the jewellery? 

2) When the items are sold straight from the shelf, why should they levy making charges? 

3) Why the gold merchants levy charges for bonding agent (like KDM) on per gram basis? 

 These basic questions are for all the big jewellery merchants. However, in order to understand the fraud we must first understand the functioning of a traditional small time goldsmith or agents who make the jewelleries through such goldsmiths. 

 THE ORDINARY GOLDSMITH 

 Take for example, an agent, (there are in thousands eking out their living by taking orders from their acquaintances to make gold ornaments) takes an order for a jewellery of 100grams. The fact is that he has to go to a goldsmith and provide him at least 130 grams of gold simply because no goldsmith can make 100 grams articles with 100 grams gold. The goldsmith makes the items and returns the excess gold to the agent. The goldsmith charges around one percent as wastage because it is natural that some gold or gold dust will become wastage in the process of grinding or chiseling the gold while making the item. However, this quantity will not be more than 0.25%. Further, the gold dust collected in the shop again will be retrieved by the goldsmiths after some time. Even then, if we must calculate the wastage, it simply cannot be more than 0.5%. The goldsmith however calculates the wastage at a minimum of one percent of the total weight of the item. In addition to this there are making charges. The goldsmith of course has to be paid labour in the form of making charges depending on the design and the labour involved. For some intricate or delicate designs, the making charges will naturally be more. 

 Whatsoever, the wastage at goldsmith shop cannot exceed one percent. The agent who took the order for 100 grams item had to invest for 130 grams and also bore the interest on his investment. Then there is the cost of his running to the goldsmiths often and often as no goldsmith will deliver the items on the promised date. In many cases, the agents also have to bear the fluctuation in gold market. 

 For all this trouble, they charge another 4 to 5% as wastages and also make money by charging heavily to the cost of the binding agent. So, in a way, the agents charging 4 to 5% wastage can be justified in the face of price fluctuations, risks and their livelihood. Here too there are agents who cheat people by giving ornaments of less purity with high wastage, but, this is an exception rather than a rule. Moreover, many people prefer their trusted agents to get their ornaments made because of the faith and no amount of enticements or inducements can make them to change their jewelers. 

 THE EXTRA ORDINARY GOLDSMITHS

 However, this can not be applied to leading and big jewelers and the basic question we asked apply to them. 

 THE WASTAGE STORY 

 Let us take the first question- why charge wastage between 10 to 20%? It is the open secret that these “Big” merchants prepare the ornaments in their factories or workshops. As the ornaments are manufactured in bulk and as they do not depend on the local goldsmiths, they will not suffer any loss in gold. Besides, the items are made in large quantities and therefore the wastage is either nil or minimal. Even if one assumes loss of gold dusts while grinding, it will remain in the premises itself and they are aware of many processes to retrieve the gold. As such there can not be any question of wastage. Even to conclude if we assume that there still was wastage; it can not be more than 0.25% by any stretch of imagination. Also sometimes, these ‘big’ merchants import fancy items like chains, bracelets etc. and charge huge wastage up to 20% in spite of the fact that they buy such products as per the weight and purity of the ornaments. Even the making charges are paid by the importers. By any stretch of imagination, the big merchants can not collect wastage charges which will be 10 to 20% of the rate of the ornaments itself. 

 To put it plainly, if a person wants a 100 grams item, he will have to pay for 110 to 120 grams depending on merchants. Even if the wastage charges have to be levied, it must be actual and not on his whims and fancies. Further, this too is applicable to the ‘Made to order’, items and not the bulk manufactured ornaments. 

 Interestingly, the ‘Big Merchants ‘do not charge profit Margin! All they charge is the wastage, making charge etc. They pose as if they do not need profit and theirs is a service based business. This is simply unthinkable. How could a big merchant who invests hundreds of crores to start the business, forego his profits? If you look at the interiors of these jewellery stores, one can establish the fact that crores are spent for interior decoration. In addition, these shops are in posh roads and areas where they shell out skyrocketing rent prices. In Bangalore alone, there are dozens of ‘Big’ shops who have invested hundreds of crores into the business. Obviously, these merchants are in gold business not for charity but for profits and that too huge profit proportional to their investment. But they still do not charge any profits simply because their wastage and making charges etc are exorbitant. They are assured of a minimum profit of atleast 20% on the business 

 THE MAKING CHARGES

 Apart from the wastage, they make big money from the making charge business. The making charges really do not subscribe to any standard yardsticks. It depends on the whims and fancies of the merchants. Sometimes, they charge the making charges on per gram basis and sometimes, the charges are in lumpsum. When they charge ‘wastage’ for making ornaments, where is the question of making charges again? One can understand the making charge in respect of ‘Made to Order’ items as it may consume more labour because of a specified designs etc. But this can not be said in cases of mass produced ornaments in factories or workshops. Making charges in addition to wastage beats any known levels of logic or reason. 

 THE BONDING FRAUD

 Further, the bonding element charges which vary between Rs. 50 to 100/- per gram are shocking. Earlier the ornaments were soldered with lead, but now, everybody uses cadmium, for bonding. Cadmium, popularly known as KDM does not harm the gold and as such, when the ornaments have to be sold by the consumers, the ‘normal’ wastage will not be applied. The cost of KDM is around Rs. 10,000/- per Kilo Gram, where as, the merchants who use for soldering charge between Rs. 50/- to 100/- per gram of ornament towards KDM charges. In a way the KDM charges are bonus over the profits to the merchants. 

 STONES ARE NOT GOLD

 In most ornaments precious stones are used which have its own rate depending on the quantity and quality. While a few stones like diamond, Topaz, Pache etc. command high rates, other stones like pearls, American diamonds etc. have much lesser value. The merchants charge separately for the stones and also weigh the finished items which include even the stones fixed to it. This means, they calculate the weight of the ornament including the stones. Thus, they get the cost of the stones and also per gram gold rate for the stones since they are included in the final weight of the ornament. It would also fetch them additional wastage and making charges which they charge per gram of the ornament. By any means, the merchants make money more than the fair margin of 20% in any business. This is why they do not ‘bill’ profit majority as they are making more profits in other heads like wastage, making charge etc.

 PURE EYEWASH

 And what about the purity, the less said the better. Only recently, the Central Government made the BIS Hall mark that is 22 carat implying 91.6 purity as mandatory. Thereafter, these big merchants bang around that they are giving pure gold of BIS Hall mark quality. But the facts are to the contrary. 

 It is the ‘purity’ of gold that leads to multibillion frauds. Seldom, the purity of gold sold; adhere to the BIS Hall mark made mandatory by the Government after realizing the frauds on the people. It is an open secret that pure gold of 999 purity is very soft and ornaments can only be made of it by adding copper. The quantity of copper used in ornaments decides the purity of gold. Normally 8.4% of copper is added with pure gold that is 24 carat, and that implies usage of balance 91.6% of pure gold for making ornaments and this is the standard ornament gold purity. As the purity of gold is described in carats, this ornament gold will be 22 carat. And this is the Hallmark specification. There are also 20 carat, 18 carat and even 16 carat ornaments available depending on the copper used. 

 FOOLING THE INSTRUMENTS

 Coming back to the purity, there are instruments which test the purity of gold. Many big merchants proclaim that consumers can test their purity of gold purchased through these equipments. For a nominal rate, the purity test can be done and the report obtained. The merchants also issue certificate for the jewellery purchased indicating the weight and purity. In most of the cases people do not care about the certificate and all they want is the purity and they are satisfied as they have personally seen the purity test. 

 But people by and large do not know that the procedure of purity test. The purity of the gold can be accurately ascertained only by melting and by no other means can it be ascertained. In the case of purity test done at the merchant’s stores, the instrument runs rays over the surface of the ornament and gives the result. The rays do not pierce through the inner body of the ornament and this is a fact. Therefore the purity of the gold cannot be true and accurate. However, no individual consumer opts for a melting test but only those who purchase gold from the people insist and perform the melting test. 

 Of course, merchants can also fool consumers in purity test also. Presently the gold is mixed with some other powder/metals in addition to the usual copper. Erodium powder is a common element that is added to ornamental gold and it can still pass the purity test. As stated earlier about 8.4% copper needs to be added to pure gold and here the merchants also add about 4 to 5% of Erodium powder bringing down the gold content to almost 86.5% equivalent to 20 carat gold. Yet, this powder added ornament can easily pass the purity test of 22 carat and the genuine purity test of gold mixed with Erodium powder can be obtained only by melting. 

 THE LATEST MIX 

 Of late another metal called Boss metal is also used for mixing with gold to make the ornaments. Unlike the powder, the Boss metal provides softness to gold and there will be no change in the colour. The quantity of Boss metal mixing is usually very high that is up to 20% and interestingly the ornaments made by mixing this metal in addition to the copper also pass the 91.6% (22 Carat) purity test. And here too, it can be ascertained only through melting. Eventually, one pays for 91.6% purity and gets ornaments of about 70% purity. 

 In case of genuine 91.6% gold, the consumer will be paying about 120% cost which includes wastage, making charge, KDM etc. In case of Erodium powder, the consumer pays 130% for 86.1% purity and 140% for Boss metal mixed gold ornament of 70% purity. Can anyone understand these calculations? Definitely not. All one needs is an ornament with reasonable charges. Nobody can make out head and tail of the gold business. 

 It is because of these unimaginable profits that the big merchants make hundreds of crores. They therefore afford to spent crores on advertisements and establishment expenses, open one after the other glittering stores with exquisite interiors and continue to fool innocent consumers repeatedly reminding them that they do not charge profit. 

 All said and done, whether one understands the Gold business or not, one thing is certain that the gold merchants have been cheating thousands of crores through all these years. And with the entry of Shubh, the entire jewellery market has been exposed of what it is. On the contrary, let us also understand that Shubh is no angel. It has not entered into the jewellery market for charity, but to earn profits. While it has exposed many underlying facts about the manipulations of the Gold market, it also has never talked about the profit margin. If Shubh can sell the gold ornaments at cost price, and that too without profits, how could they continue to be in the business? There definitely is more depth in the shubh practices as well as it is also not transparent on the profit factor. No business establishment can run without profit. In fact, it merely exists to earn profit. And therefore, a business without a profit is definitely a suspect.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter TAKEN FOR GRANTED THE TOLERANT & PEACE LOVING KANNADIGAS BECOME EASY TARGETS

BY. FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA 

THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER 

TAKEN FOR GRANTED 

THE TOLERANT & PEACE LOVING KANNADIGAS BECOME EASY TARGETS 

 India cherishes itself of being a largest democracy with secular roots and boasts of its vast, rich and varied cultural heritage. Yet, arguably, India is still struggling to practice complete secularism. Our freedom fighters after the Independence thought it ideal to divide India into linguistic and regional boundaries called State for better and smooth administration, but, the same division now has become an agenda for vested interests. 

 Take for example our State of Karnataka. No doubt, that it is a pride for India, but of late it has been targeted by our own fellow Indians for their personal gains. It is widely known that the Kannadigas are basically peace loving and tolerant people and perhaps therefore they have been taken for granted more often. 

 The fact is that the Kannadigas have allowed outsiders that are the Non-Kannadigas to take them for granted. No amount of humiliations, insults etc can move the Kannadigas. Except the Kannada Rakshana Vedike, no other pro Kannada organisations have thought it fit to counter humiliations by the outsiders. It seems that Kannadigas who were once respected for their valour and tolerance, have forgotten the past. May be the Kannadigas have lost their nerve to protest any attack on the Kannada and the Kannadigas. 

 THE BIHARI PROTEST

 When Raj Thackerey, the boss of Maharastra Nav Nirmana Sena made comments on North Indians particularly the Biharis, the politicians of North India took strong exception. The North Indians in Mumbai observed protest which led to large scale violence and Maharastra literally burnt for three days. 

 Laloo Yadav, a Bihari demanded the arrest of Raj Thackerey and challenged him to prevent him from observing ‘chhath’ festival in Mumbai. Similarly Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar too demanded serious actions against Raj Thackerey. Finally acting under the pressure, the Maharashtra Government arrested Raj Thackerey. He was later within minutes released on bail by the court which passed a gag order against him from making provocative statements. 

 THE DIRTY INSULT

 Now let us compare this with Laloo’s behaviour in Karnataka during his visit to the state to attend the convention of Yadav community. Laloo was very angry with the Kannadigas for having disturbed the recruitment to D group posts in the Railways. If all went according to Laloo’s game plan, most of the D group posts in the state would have gone to Biharis who have descended on the state for recruitment. The Kannada Rakshana Vedike held fierce protests and the recruitment had to be abandoned. This irked Laloo so much that he called Kannadigas as dirty people. There were some strong protests by the Kannada organisations and Laloo cleverly denied that he had made such a remark. He twisted the fact by stating that what he had in mind was dirty issues and not dirty people. What more, he denied the state of its due in new projects and railway lines and Kannadigas and Kannadiga politicians remained quite. 

 MUSICAL HUMILIATION

 While Kannadigas were about to forget the Laloo episode, another shocking incident of humiliating Kannada surfaced. A senior official of a software company penned a derogatory song on the Kannadigas and forced the Kannadiga employees to sing it daily before him. The outsider employees used to take perverted satisfaction while singing this derogatory song! Naturally the news incensed the KRV activists who laid siege to the company and ransacked the office of the company. As usual, the police made their presence and the company who felt embarrassed with its official announced his dismissal. In fact, the police should have arrested this perverted official who had insulted the Kannadigas and filed a criminal case against him particularly so when the official concerned was a foreign citizen. If the same were to have happened either in Tamil Nadu or Kerala, the person would have been tried for treason! But this is Karnataka and the Kannadigas are notorious for their tolerance. So, the traitor was simply fired from his job in Bangalore and no wonder, if he got the posting in another place. 

 Laloo is an outsider to the state. The derogatory song on Kannadigas was penned by a foreigner. Except KRV, the giants of Kannada literature, Culture, Politics etc simply sat tight and some even went to the extent of taking exception to strong arm tactics of KRV activists. 

 MAJORITY POWER

 Everybody knows that the Marathis who started systematic migration from Maharastra are now a majority in Belgaum and surrounding areas. After becoming dominant, they started the demand for merging Belgaum, Nippani etc to the Maharastra. The Kannada speaking people were always at the mercy of this Marathi speaking dominant groups. The MES, that is, Maharastra Ekikarana Samithi, used to win all the assembly seats from this area and the Belgaum Corporation was also in control of MES. Only in the past few years, Kannadigas too started asserting their position. Literally, while the Marathis were consistently supported by the Maharastra politicians, the Kannadigas were completely ignored by the state’s politicians. 

 THE SECOND CAPITAL 

 It was only after HD Kumaraswamy becoming the Chief Minister that the Belgaum received its due importance. In order to show the Government’s solidarity with Kannadigas in Belgaum, Kumaraswamy held a special session of the Assembly in Belgaum and declared Belgaum as the second capital of Karnataka. This gesture by the Government made the Kannadigas to assert their position and things started changing since then. 

 KANNADIGA RISES 

 The following elections to the Belgaum Corporation saw prominent Maratha leaders licking the dust. For the first time, Kannada people got elected in large numbers but still fell short of the majority. Finally, sometime later, a Kannadiga got elected as the Major putting an end to the Marathi dominances. 

 DEMAND FOR MERGER

 This fact might have provoked the Marathi councilors in Nippani to assert their dominance and as a face saving formula, passed a resolution for the merger of Belgaum, Nippani etc with Maharastra. It is another matter that the politicians of Maharastra especially the Shiva Sena is providing all the logistic support to the Marathis in Belgaum and surrounding areas. 

 The resolution for merger with Maharastra by the Nippani Municipality had sent shockwaves across the state. As usual the politicians and leaders of Kannada kept a studied silence. And as usual, the KRV activists held strong protests and the Marathis too came on to streets against the KRV activists and prominent Kannada leaders in Nippani and Belgaum. The city became tense following the clashes between KRV and Marathi elements. However, the proposal was later rejected by the Government. Whatsoever, one thing that is easily ascertained with the incident is that everyone has a casual attitude to Kannadigas including Kannadigas. 

 It is interesting to know that the Maharastra politicians and local organizations who want North Indians to get out of Mumbai, have themselves colonised Belgaum and surrounding areas of Karnataka. And they support the Maratha elements in these areas to get Belgaum, Nippani etc merged with Maharastra. However, their double standards have gone unchallenged because the Kannadigas are peace loving and tolerant. They tolerate and even stomach humiliations. And that speaks volumes about the nature of Kannadigas.