Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE LKG CLASS IN BJP BJP PLAYS CASTE CARDS. WILL IT CLICK FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

THE LKG CLASS IN BJP 

 BJP PLAYS CASTE CARDS. WILL IT CLICK FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS 

 The Jagadish Shettar government is based on the new found LKG - Lingayath, Kurubas and Gowda - formula. The CM post has gone to lingayaths and two posts of Deputy CMs have gone to Kuruba and Gowda communities. The LKG formula had already invited the wrath among the other communities especially dalits and OBCs. The dalits who are the main say in the BJP’s strength in the Assembly have been completely ignored. The OBCs too have been ignored. The combination of three major communities will have disastrous consequences to the BJP government.... 

After the removal of D.V.Sadananda Gowda as the Chief Minister, the Vokkaligas, the second largest community, took to the streets protesting the unjust removal of a Vokkaliga CM. The BJP’s National President made it clear that Sadananda was replaced so that BJP could lead the election campaign with a lingayath at the helm. There are no other reasons for removal of Sadananda except the blackmail of Yedurappa who had threatened to form his own party after pulling down the Sadananda government. 

 Arguably, when Sadananda became the CM eleven months ago, the Vokkaligas were not enthused and there were no celebrations of a Vokkaliga becoming the CM. But now, all of a sudden, the Vokkaligas have targeted the lingayaths for toppling a Vokkaliga CM. Sadananda has become a symbol of Vokkaliga pride particularly after his address to a Vokkaliga Conference, where he admitted his pride being a Vokkaliga and promising to bring a good name to the Vokkaliga community through honest and good governance. 

 When the BJP High Command asked Sadananda to resign, it never imagined the fierce protest by the Vokkaligas. The Vokkaligas under the banner of Vokkaligara Sangha erupted in protest only after the observers landed in city to make the way for Jagadish Shettar to become the CM. There were reports of the Vokkaliga MLAs in BJP resigning their membership to protest Sadananda’s removal. At the protest rally, three BJP MLAs threatened to resign if Sadananda was removed. 

 The observers were shocked and surprised at the Vokkaliga protest and were not in a position to sustain the government in case the Vokkaliga MLAs resigned. At one point of time, the controversy became a battle of supremacy between lingayaths and Vokkaligas. 

 Amidst this fight between Vokkaliga and lingayaths, the third largest community Kuruba also staked its claims to the slices of power. The BJP State President K.S.Eswarappa is the party’s Kuruba face. They too wanted their presence to be felt. In fact, the Vokkaligas had even demanded nominating a dalit to the CM, but nobody took them seriously. The BJP high command had already announced Jagadish Shettar as the CM and there was no going back on the declaration. 

 Finally, the observers opted for a caste combination to resolve the crisis and to get maximum support in the next elections which can be held anytime in the next six months. They devised a formula to share the power among the three major communities that is Lingayaths, Kurubas and Gowda. They created two Dy. CM posts and appointed R.Ashoka, a Vokkaliga and K.S.Eswarappa, a Kuruba to the posts. With Jagadish Shettar as the CM, the LKG formula was firmly cemented, as for now. 

 Can this LKG formula win votes for BJP? At the maximum, the LKG occupants may enjoy the CM and Dy. CM posts for some time and there ends the matter. It is another matter that the BJP has a policy of not appointing Dy. CM in states but only in case of coalitions. But this time, it violated its own policy to save its governments. 

 But what about the Minorities and BCs? The minorities in the state form about 10% and the dalits and the OBCs are almost 50% of the state population. This implies that the BJP is bent on three major communities - LKG. In fact, the BJP got into power with the dalits voting massively to the BJP and it has the highest number of dalit MLAs. It is the social engineering of clubbing lingayaths and dalits that produced the winning combination for the BJP in the 2008 elections. In fact, there was a strong demand by the dalits to make Govind Karjol as the Dy. CM. 

 Already the dalit MLAs are protesting their total slighting by the BJP in its LKG formula of sharing power. Few MLAs have sat on dharana. By opting to LKG formula, the BJP has antagonised the major chunk of the population – Minorities, Dalits and OBCs which form 60% of the population. In the long run, the BJP is set to lose as it cannot win by the support of a single community. If a political party wants to come to power, it should have a proper combination of all communities apart from clean image. 

 The BJP’s LKG formula is sure to collapse. Jagadish Shettar, who is supposed to represent the lingayath segment of the formula, will not grow as a lingayath leader because of the overbearing presence of Yedurappa. For Vokkaligas, nobody can usurp the dominant position of HD Deve Gowda and for Kurubas, it is one and only Siddaramaiah. As such the leadership of L, K and G have gone to different parties and people. 

 The elections cannot be won only on the LKG formula. Unless the BJP opts for a better practical formula it cannot hope to win the elections. To top it all, BJP which is drenched in corruption, scams, scandals etc. will be lucky if it comes back to power. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE PARTITION OF KARNATAKA BJP LEGALISES CASTE POLITICS

By Firoz,T,Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

 

THE PARTITION OF KARNATAKA BJP LEGALISES CASTE POLITICS 

 Nobody can deny that caste is one of the important factors of power politics. Still, political leaders despite playing caste politics were afraid of proclaiming their practice in public. However, a political party or a leader cannot depend solely on the caste and he takes into consideration the entire society which is a conglomeration of many castes and communities. No political party has the guts or nerve to proclaim that they represent a particular caste or community. 

 But, in Karnataka, the BJP has gone a step further by proclaiming that it wants to protect the lingayath vote Bank by bringing in a lingayath leader as the Chief Minister. The BJP National President Nitin Gadkari minced no words by admitting that the BJP has to appoint a lingayath as the Chief Minister in this election year, by removing Sadananda Gowda who had given a scam and controversy free administration in the state for the last eleven months. 

 And this had not gone down with the other communities and the Vokkaligas are protesting against the removal. In days to come, one can expect a backlash against the lingayath BJP from the other communities. In fact, the BJP had played this lingayath card not for political gain but to contain the damage by former CM B.S.Yeddyurappa who blackmailed the BJP high command. 

 Yedurappa hogged the limelight when he was made the opposition leader during 1995. And only after becoming the Dy. CM, Yedurappa started posing as a lingayath leader. He realised the community support will come in handy in the political game. Yedurappa did not have any support when Reddy Brothers led a decisive revolt against him in 2009. It was only after this revolt Yedurappa started building his own lingayath vote bank. Even prior to this, he had played the lingayath card in 2008 elections by blaming HD Kumaraswamy of not handing over the CM post as he was a lingayath. But that had only a marginal advantage. Yedurappa had meticulously planned and executed the Operation Kamala in his favour. He targeted the lingayath leaders in Congress and JD(S) and procured them under Operation Kamala. By 2010, he had build up an army of lingayath leaders around him. The imported lingayath leaders were given heavy portfolios and he also enlisted the support of lingayath pontiffs. Almost all the major mutts have started backing Yedurappa to the hilt. And, this support has come in handy for Yedurappa to blackmail the BJP high command whenever he gets into trouble. 

 When he was forced to resign from the CM post, Yedurappa instead of supporting Jagadish Shettar, a lingayath opted for D.V.Sadananda Gowda. At that time, loyalty was more valuable to Yedurappa than the lingayaths. He used every arm in his armour to defeat Shettar and was successful. Now, the same Yedurappa has opted for Jagadish Shettar and got him the CM post. 

 On the face of it, the BJP high command has given into the ‘lingayath’ blackmail by Yedurappa. The BJP President Nitin Gadkari had publicly admitted that the party needs a lingayath leader to lead the party in the elections which is just few months away. The way in which Sadananda was removed and Jagadish Shettar was appointed as the CM and the ‘lingayath’ excuse had already irked other communities. 

 The Vokkaligas have already taken to streets protesting against the removal of a Vokkaliga from the CM post. Nobody even Vokkaligas rejoiced when Sadananda was made the CM by Yedurappa with the support of lingayath MLAs. Now all of a sudden, the Vokkaligas are crying foul. Sadananda had never acquired the image of a Vokkaliga leader and he is now being projected as a pride of Vokkaligas. 

 The fight for power by Yedurappa has turned the lingayaths and Vokkaligas against each other. The other communities are also getting agitated as the high command has given the impression that only the lingayaths have brought BJP to power in the state. Interestingly the Vokkaligas have demanded a dalit be made the CM. As the elections are fast approaching, the caste consolidation will definitely take shape. 

 The hard fact is that even though lingayaths constitute 15% of the population, one cannot win even if 100% of lingayaths vote for that particular candidate. Any candidate even if he is a lingayath needs the support of other comminutes to win the seat. In the Bellary by-elections, B.Sriramulu won the election by a huge majority and the lingayaths who are the deciding factor voted in favour of R.Sriramulu and not the BJP lingayath candidate who lost the deposit! 

 The lingayath card, as used by Nitin Gadkari has completely divided the state vertically on caste lines. It will be lingayaths versus Vokkaligas versus others. If we decide the democracy on caste lines, then we are sure to be doomed. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter SUB REGISTRAR CHELUVARAJ-2 MAN, HOW MUCH HE EARNS?

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

SUB REGISTRAR CHELUVARAJ-2 

MAN, HOW MUCH HE EARNS?

 Cheluvaraj, a Sub Registrar presently working in the most fertile Varthur office, has come a long way from a mere probationary in 1999 to a multi millionaire by 2012. He is now the Transfer broker in the registration department making some more millions. In spite of the Lokayukta raiding him in 2010, Cheluvaraj is making millions in two ways - one as the Sub Registrar and another as the Transfer broker. 

One feels shocked at the naami and benami properties he has made. In 1999, when he joined as the probationary Sub Registrar, according to his assets and liability statements filed with the government for 1999-2000, his declared assets were ‘Nil’ except a house and a quarter acre of land in Chennarayaptna and that too in his grand parent’s name. 

When the Lokayukta raided his posh house in Banashankari II Stage, which he has built in his father-in-law’s name, the Lokayukta police were surprised. His father-in-law, who had retired from service long back, had no where withal to fund the construction of this house, which costs not less than Rs. 50 lakhs. 

Cheluvaraj had worked in a highly fertile Mysore north where he began his money making business. It is here, he started purchasing properties, which by 2007, multiplied by leaps and bounds. He also made many properties in his wife’s name. 

In his assets and liabilities statement for the years 2006-2007, he had a list of properties both in his and his wife’s names. In Lalithadripura in Mysore, he had purchased a big site 60x45 in his mother’s name showing the value at Rs. 8.10 lakhs. Similarly, he had purchased another big site in Belavadi at Mysore measuring 40x60 showing the value at 5.80 lakhs. This site was purchased by Cheluvaraj in his wife’s name. Interestingly, he had shown Rs. 11 lakhs Fixed Deposit in Saraswathipuram Branch of Vijaya Bank being the sale proceeds of site in Kothanur Bangalore South. However, this property was not mentioned in his earlier statement. 

From 1999 to 2007, Cheluvaraj made properties in his wife and mother’s name worth over a crore. The building in BSK II Stage in his father-in-law’s name alone is worth more than 2 crores today. From 2007, when he landed in Bommanahalli Sub Registrar office in Bangalore, he made lot of properties worth crores. He had worked in Bommanahalli for three years and after the Lokayukta raid, he moved on to another fertile Mahadevapura office. Now he has grabbed the Varthur office. 

 What about the Transfer business and its returns? What about his earnings after 2007? 

(To be continued)

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE AUDITING BLUNDERS AIRPORT KSTDC TAXI DRIVERS’ WELFARE ASSOCIATION, BOGUS ACCOUNTS- BOGUS AUDIT

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

THE AUDITING BLUNDERS 

AIRPORT KSTDC TAXI DRIVERS’ WELFARE ASSOCIATION, BOGUS ACCOUNTS- BOGUS AUDIT 

 After getting exposed for what they are, the Neelakantappa gang who treated the Bangalore Airport KSTDC Taxi drivers Welfare Association as their personal property, have tried to legitamise their illegal acts by submitting an audit report for three years - 2009 to 2011, duly certified by a Chartered Accountant to the Labour Commissioner, who simply admitted the same. If one were to take a glance over the audited (?) accounts, one can straightaway say that the accounts are bogus, fabricated and mischievous. And one can also say that the auditing firm - Deva Sheela Associates, Chartered Accountants have committed grave blunder and violations by certifying the bogus accounts... 

R.Neelakanta and five others had registered Bangalore Airport KSTDC Pre-Paid Taxi Drivers Welfare Association in 2002 with the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Circle-3. Since then, they have not held any Annual General Body Meetings, elections and submitted audited accounts to the authorities for renewal of their registration. The registered office of the Association was the residence of R.Neelakanta. The Association was registered under the Indian Trade Union Act and as per the Act, if the Associations fail to hold AGM, elections and submit audited accounts for three years, the department has to cancel the registration, after giving due notice and opportunity. 

 But nothing was done. Only after we filed the RTI application, the Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) realised his folly and it is said that notices were issued to R.Neelakanta only about two months back. As already said the Association has neither held AGM nor submitted the Accounts from 2002, for the simple reason that they have never transacted anything in the name of the Association. They have floated another benami Association - Bangalore Airport KSTDC Taxi Drivers Welfare Association, suffixed by Registered. In all their correspondence with government authorities including Airport and Taxi drivers, they have flaunted “Bangalore Airport KSTDC Taxi Drivers Welfare Association (R)” and the registered office is, again the residence of R.Neelakanta. Curiously, R.Neelakanta started officiating as R.Neelakantappa. It is in this bogus Association’s name, the Neelakantappa gang collected money from the Taxi Drivers cum owners. As every correspondence and collections and even official agreements were done with the KSTDC in the name of this bogus association, nobody had even imagined that the association was a bogus one and they are being taken for a ride. One can imagine the facade of legitimacy of this bogus association by the fact that even the KSTDC has recognised this Association without insisting on Registration Certificate and other legal documents. Only after we exposed the bogus nature of the Association did people wake up and took notice. Interestingly, the Neelakantappa gang who were being exposed by the media by then, tried to legitimise their illegal actions by calling the AGM and placing the audited accounts of the Association for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011, duly certified by a Chartered Accountant B.Satyanarayana Dev of Deva Sheela Associates. 

 Wonder of wonders, they have submitted the audit of accounts for three years that is 2009 to 2011. And what about the accounts from 2002 to 2009? There is no answer. If one peruses the audit report from the first glance, one can say that it is a bogus report. The accounts (?) of the bogus Association are shown as the accounts of the registered Association. Had the CA taken the pains to glance the accounts, he would have seen that all the receipts and vouchers are in the name of the bogus Association that is- Bangalore Airport KSTDC Drivers Welfare Association. Not a single pie was transacted in the name of the registered ‘Bangalore Airport KSTDC Pre Paid Taxi Drivers Welfare Association’ since its registration in 2002. In that case, one definitely doubts the integrity of the Chartered Accountant who had blindly signed this undated certificate. One wonders how this CA has compiled and audited the accounts of this non-existing Association. 

 The Chartered Accountant audit shows the total assets, that is funds, at 49.19 lakhs at the end of the 31st December 2011! Mind it; this is the audit report of the ’defunct’ Bangalore Airport KSTDC Pre Paid Taxi Drivers Welfare Association! To an ordinary person, the report reflects the functioning of the Association and the mobilisation of substantial fund. 

 If one takes a glimpse at the audit report, one finds it a bogus one of the highest order. The following are few such cases. There is a deposit of FD of Rs.20 lakhs in SBI by Neelakantappa gang in the name of the bogus association. Other FDs totaling Rs. 42 lakhs were placed by the gang in the name of the bogus association. At least the CA should have taken a look over the FD receipts and he would have known the truth. But the CA simply showed this FD as belonging to ‘Pre Paid’ association which is a blunder of the highest order. 

 In 2009 report, membership fee collection is shown as Rs.22,000, Drivers ID card fee collections at Rs.17,000 and donations at Rs.96,000, as on 31.12.2009. The Neelakantappa gang has shown Rs.10,730 as Nutritional expenses! Nobody knows what this nutritional expense is! As on 31.12.2009, the total balance was 1.74 lakhs. 

 It is in 2010, the association has increased its balance to 22.72 lakhs! This is simply unimaginable. The hard fact is that this enormous increase was the result of unimaginable membership fee collected by the Neelakantappa gang. The membership fee collected was Rs.16,500. There is no separate receipt for collection of membership fee. Rather the Neelakantappa gang used to issue receipts in the name of the bogus association, treating the membership amount as donations! 

 By 31st December 2011, the transactions, nay, collections had crossed 50 lakhs. This year, the membership fee collections was Rs.65,000 and the donations Rs.27.24 lakhs! Mind it; the donations are from the drivers! Here again, the Neelakantappa gang had given imaginary expenses - like Rs.64,000 towards nutritional expenses, Rs.46,000 as office rent etc. More than anything, they have shown Toll fare protest expenses at Rs.32,000! This is simply absurd. 

 And now? Their game is up. Already some drivers have filed complaints against the Neelakantappa gang. The labour department is probing the non submission of accounts, non holding of AGMs, non submission of accounts since 2002 etc. There are other enquiries against Neelakantappa gang as well. The huge misappropriation of funds etc. too will have to be subjected to a police probe. There are all the chances of Neelakantappa gang emptying the FDs worth 40 lakhs in Banks placed in the name of the bogus Association. Despite the fact that the Association was not a registered one, one does not understand how the banks have allowed them to deposit the huge amount and operation of accounts! One wonders how the Chartered Accountant has certified the FDs of the bogus Association in spite of the tell tale evidences. 

Of course, the KSTDC MD Devaiah took some remedial measures. He has kicked out Neelakantappa from the KSTDC services and shifted the ATO Chikkmath who was an active partner in Neelakantappa gang’s money making business. 

Any comments!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE AFFIDAVIT OF LIES- 2 BANGALORE DOORDARSHAN DIRECTOR (NEWS), SG RAVEENDRA, FALSE AFFIDAVIT TO GRAB LAND

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

THE AFFIDAVIT OF LIES- 2 

BANGALORE DOORDARSHAN DIRECTOR (NEWS), SG RAVEENDRA, FALSE AFFIDAVIT TO GRAB LAND 

 S.G. Raveendra, the Director (News) in Bangalore Doordarshan provides a classic text book case to bureaucrats about “how to benefit from false affidavits and gain stray sites and still go scot free”. SG Raveendra owns a bungalow in RT Nagar and also owns agricultural lands and a revenue layout on the lands. And to top it all, has obtained a stray site in HSR layout by submitting a false affidavit to the BDA and got the Chief Minister to allot a stray site to him. While the site allotment has taken its toll on many, SG Raveendra is still roaming scot free! 

In our earlier issue, we had exposed the false affidavit scam of SG Raveendra, the Director (News), Bangalore Doordarshan. 

 We had exposed about the allotment of a stray site under Chief Minister’s quota (?) to SG Raveendra in HSR Layout 6th Sector in 2011. Before he was allotted this highly valuable stray site, Raveendra had given an affidavit to the BDA swearing that neither himself nor his wife or dependent children own any site or house in Bangalore. The filing of the affidavit is a must for getting a BDA site allotment. Raveendra had also affirmed that if his affirmations in the affidavit are false, he is liable for penal action including forefeiture of the allotted site and the building built thereon by the BDA without paying any compensation. 

 And now for the crux of the issue, on 24.05.2010, SG Raveendra had sworn an affidavit before the Notary D.S.Chandrakanth and submitted it to the BDA for allottment of site to him. On the basis of this affidavit supported by the direction of the then Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa, the BDA allotted a big site in HSR Layout, VI Sector. The stray site bearing No.1014, HSR Layout 6th Sector has been shown an alternate site allottment! 

 Raveendra had sworn the affidavit on 25.4.2010 by stating that he had no site or house in Bangalore. It goes without saying that the affidavit is insisted by the BDA to prevent more than one site to a family. And what is the real truth vis-a-vis Raveendra filing an affidavit about not having any site or house in Bangalore? 

 The hard fact is that as on 25.4.2010, that is the day Raveendra sworn this affidavit, he had a big house in the posh RT Nagar Layout, in his own name. The house in question bears No.406, I Block, RT Nagar on 40x60 site. It is another matter that this RT Nagar Layout was formed by the BDA. The PID Number for the property being 97-1-406 and the Khatha extract from BBMP states that the owner of the property is S.G.Raveendra and the property came to his name during 2006 though Mutation number 768/06-07! 

 As per the khatha extract, there is a built up area of 2000 sq.feet and is self occupied. The property tax is Rs.5000 per annum. This amply makes it clear that Raveendra does own a house in Bangalore years before he had sworn the affidavit claiming that he has no site or house in Bangalore. This implies that Raveendra had submitted a false affidavit to the BDA for allottment of a stray site which is valued at more than two crores! 

 Apart from this property, Raveendra owns lands in Sy. No.15 of Madanayakanahalli village, near Widia on Tumkur Road. The lands were purchased jointly by Raveendra and his brother who later gave the GPA to SG Raveendra. An unauthorised revenue layout was formed by Raveendra in this land. However, the said lands are not mentioned in Raveendra’s Assets and Liabilities Statement. 

 And what now? As per the BDA Acts and Rules, a person who owns either in his name or in the name of his wife or dependent children, a site or house in Bangalore is ineligible for allotment of sites by BDA. Before getting the allotment, one has to file an affidavit with the BDA to this effect. In the affidavit itself, the person swearing the affidavit clearly states that if the contents of the affidavit are proved to be false, the BDA can forefeit the site or the building on it, without paying any compensation. 

 In the case of Raveendra, on the face of it, it becomes clear that he had submitted a false affidavit claiming that neither he nor his family owns a house/site in Bangalore while the hard fact is that he owned a site in RT Nagar and that too in his own name! Now, the BDA has to allow the law to take its course. First it has to cancel the allottment and resume the site from SG Raveendra and also forfeit the sital amount paid by him. Further, the BDA has to prosecute SG Raveendra under Indian Penal Code for having given false affidavit to grab a highly valuable site. 

 Of course, Raveendra being a government servant and that too, of central government, should have known the repercussions of filing a false affidavit, more than anybody else. Moreover, he is in a high position as Director (News), in Bangalore Doordarshan. What he had done is beyond anybody’s comprehension. Even as per the service rules, he is liable for dismissal from service as he has violated them by making false affidavit. 

 In conclusion, the BDA should resume the stray site allotted to SG Raveendra immediately and forfeit the sital amount. It should also prosecute him for submitting a false affidavit of not owning any house/site in Bangalore while infact, he owns a bungalow in RT Nagar. In addition to this, the Prasara Bharathi should also initiate proceedings against Raveendra for behaving in a manner unbecoming of a civil servant. More than anything else, the BDA should initiate prosecution in criminal court against Raveendra for false affidavit so that it will be a warming signal for others.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE KHAKI CM CM BLUNDERS WITH ARREST AND SEIZE CALL SWAMI NITHYANANDA- IN THE STORM AGAIN

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

 
The Bangalore Metro Reporter

 

THE KHAKI CM 

CM BLUNDERS WITH ARREST AND SEIZE CALL SWAMI NITHYANANDA- 

IN THE STORM AGAIN 

 The Chief Minister orders the arrest of self proclaimed Godman cum fraud Swami Nithyananda and directs the officials to attach the Nithyananda Ashram. In fact, it is the duty of the local police to act whenever there is law and order problem or committing of criminal offences. The DC, SP and the police force stationed around the ashram and acting on the directions of the Chief Minister, conducted search and seize operations in the Ashram. 

 It all began when a News Channel conducted an interview with one Arathi Rao, a former Nithyananda devotee where she claimed being exploited by Nithyananda for full five years. She had claimed credit for Video grapling the Nithyananda - Ranjitha episode and not his driver Lenin. She poured venom on Nithyananda and accused him of all sins on earth. She also claimed that Nithyananda has foisted many cases against her in the US and she is running from the cases as she has no money to fight the cases. She had admitted physical relationship with Nithyananda for over five years. Well, the TV channel carried the 3 hour long interview with Arathi and repeat telecast for three days at a stretch. Arathi Rao’s story was similar with other stories of his victims exposed during Ranjitha episode. The only pathetic revelation by Arathi was her claim of aborting her unborn child at the behest of Nithyananda. 

People were not amused by the interview as Nithyananda had become notorious for his amorous activities with his disciples. The interview was also carried by a kannada newspaper. Nithyananda thought it fit to call a press meet and explain his side of the story at his ashram. The media was in full strength and Nithyananda preferred to talk in Tamil and English and left the translation work in Kannada to one of his disciples. It was during the press meet that a channel reporter confronted Nithyananda with the copy of summons issued against Nithyananda from a US Court. 

Nithyananda flared up and ordered his people to remove the reporter from the press meet as he had not come as a media man but as a lawyer to serve the summons. The meet ended abruptly as other media people staged walk out. To add fuel to the fire, the devotees of Nithyananda called another Press Conference the next day. This time, few Kannada activists gathered in front of the Ashram and some of them entered the press meet wearing press badges. As they were local people, they were identified and asked to leave. 

This started the clash between devotees and the Kannada activists who had by now gatecrashed into the ashram. The police intervened and arrested some activists and also desciples including women. The desciples were released on bail while the activists were sent to judicial custody. The police booked cases against both the groups. But, thereafter there was a huge hue and cry particularly by the media over Nithyananda. The channels vied with one another to damn Nithyananda. There were discussions, chat shows and telecasting of some CDs containing Nithyananda’s tantrik rituals. Every politician and bureaucrat was accused of supporting Nithyananda. 

The Minister C.P.Yogeshwar, Home Minister R. Ashok were accused of backing Nithyananda which forced them to issue a denial. There were also protests by Kannada activists etc. etc. Eventually, all these mayhem forced the CM D.V.Sadananda Gowda to order the arrest of Nithyananda and sealing of the Ashram! Whatsoever, what are the charges filed against Nithyananda and his desciples by the police? When the activists barged into the press meet and clashed with the ashram disciples, Nithyananda was not in the scene. Still, the police have filed cases against them which were all bailable. 

Similarly the police have booked cases against the anti-Nithyananda protestors. The case against Nithyananda was on the basis of the complaint of a channel Reporter. Once the police filed the cases, it is the investigating officer who had to decide whether to arrest the accused or not. In the present cases, the police have produced the arrested before the Judge and all the accused are let on bail. Only Nithyananda was spared as he was not in the Ashram. 

 When this being the case, how could the CM order the arrest of Nithyananda and seizure of his ashram? The local police have the powers to raid the Ashram if they get information about undesirable activities. There is no denying of this fact. It is very plain that the Chief Minister and the Home Minister succumbed to the combined pressure and some say that the entire operation by the TV channels was orchestrated by anti-Nithyananda elements in addition to vested interests who have eyed the vast estates of the Ashram worth hundreds of crores. 

 It is another matter that Nithyananda is highly intelligent and perverted person. Interestingly, most of his devotees who are in thousands are highly educated. Despite all these ‘sting operation’ and ‘hate campaign’ the devotees are standing behind Nithyananda as a rock. And one can be sure of the desciples taking the legal course to clear themselves. For any impartial observer, it seems that the entire operation has been meticulously planned and executed with precision by the anti Nithyananda group. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE COVETED ROAD TO RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN POLITICAL GAME IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

THE COVETED ROAD TO RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN 

 POLITICAL GAME IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 

 From the word go, the Congress has hinted that Pranab Mukherji will be its presidential candidate. The opposition NDA realising its limitations has not thought of putting up its candidate. Mamata Bannerji, who though in UPA, is not inclined to Pranab Mukherji. Along with Mulayam Singh, she floated the name of Dr. Abdul Kalam and the name of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the President post. TN Chief Minister J.Jayalalitha and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik proposed PA. Sangma’s name. Now, PA Sangma who broke away from the NCP, is contesting as an independent. Interestingly, the BJP has declared support to P.A.Sangma. While NDA’s allies JDU and Shiva Sena are backing Pranab, the CPI and RSP have decided to abstain from voting.... 

 The UPA led by Congress, has put up Pranab Mukherjee as its candidate for President’s post and Mamata Bannerji, a partner in UPA has opposed his candidature. Along with Mulayam Singh, she floated three names - Dr.Abdul Kalam, Somanath Chatterji, and even Manmohan Singh. Never in the history of the country, has the name of the PM been proposed to the President Post. It was just Mamata’s ploy for humiliating Manmohan Singh. 

 At the other end, the NDA led by BJP has its own problems. It does not have the numbers and so is not interested in putting up its candidate. When Mamata floated Kalam’s name, the NDA was thinking of backing him as it was NDA which nominated Kalam to the President post in 2002. However, When Kalam withdrew from the race, the BJP and its NDA were back to square one. 

 While UPA and NDA were finalising their strategy, the Tamil Nadu CM J.Jayalalitha and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik floated the name of former Loksabha Speaker P.A.Sangma who is in NCP of Sharad Power. NCP is an ally of Congress both at the State and National level. Infact, Sangma’s daughter Agatha Sangma is a Minister in Manmohan Singh Cabinet. 

NCP rejected Sangma’s request to sponsor him as its candidate. But, Sangma was determined to contest and therefore resigned from NCP and announced his candidature as Independent. He had the assured support of AIADMK of J.Jayalalitha and BJD of Naveen Patnaik, whose vote share do not cross even single digit percentage. By any stretch of imagination, Sangma did not stand even remote chance of a strong contest. 

 The NDA too faced embarrassment from its allies. Its strongest ally, Shiva Sena, and Nitesh Kumar’s JD (U) announced their support for Pranab Mukherji. The NDA at one point of time mulled over not putting up a fight itself. 

 As far as UPA is concerned, except Mamata all other allies stood behind Pranab Mukherji, Mulayam Singh and Mayawathi’s BSP too pledged support to Pranab. Apparently, the road to Rastrapathi Bhavan became easy for Pranab Mukherji. Had NDA put up its candidate and managed its allies and the support of other ‘neutral’ regional parties, the contest would have become real. 

 In the left front also, there were divisions. The CPM was not in favour of backing Pranab, but, the Bengal lobby insisted to back a fellow Bengali. The CPI has thus decided to abstain and so is RSP. Interestingly all the political parties call upon the people to vote in the general elections. And they are also thinking of making a law for compulsory voting. And here, they have decided not to vote! 

 Finally, Sangma entered the fray as an Independent candidate backed by AIADMK and BJP. The BJP which was not prepared to put up a candidate suddenly made a U turn and to everybody’s shock announced its support for Sangma. The BJP’s decision to back Sangma has exposed its political opportunitism. If it wanted to really contest, it would have put up any of its leaders even if it meant defeat. The BJP would have bargained with Congress to get the post of Vice President’s post in lieu of allowing Pranab Mukherji getting elected as the President unanimously. But it chose to adopt a rank outsider who belonged to Congress (NCP), the arch enemy of BJP. As on now, the NDA which is divided over the President election, is not in a position to garner enough support for Sangma through cross voting. 

 It is not in a position to get the support of regional parties. Even in BJP ruled state there is the fear of cross voting. 

 True, neither the Congress nor the BJP have a majority of state government of their respective parties. Regional parties are ruling many a states. The BJP in Odisha, SP in Uttar Pradesh, SAD in Punjab, JDU in Bihar, TMC in West Bengal, AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, CPM in Tripura, JMM in Jharkhand etc. The Congress and BJP are sharing power with regional parties in some states. The UPA and NDA are full of regional parties and both Congress and BJP are numerically larger than their respective allies. 

 The BJP, a national party and the leader of the NDA has belitted itself by not putting its own candidate and adopting a rank outsider as its candidate. It would have gained public esteem had it allowed the unanimous election of President. But it adopted Sangma just for the sake of contest. Contesting for the sake of contest is not a wise political move. 

 All the political parties talk of policy, principles, committment etc. Once they gain or come near power, they forget all their ‘objectives’. The BJP on its part ‘borrowed’ Sangma, despite knowing that Sangma has all along been anti BJP. Similarly, Nitesh Kumar who is sharing power in Bihar with BJP and an ardent Congress enemy now wants to prove his secular credentials, by backing Congress candidate Pranab Mukherji. Similarly, Mamata who grew with Congress and is a party of UPA does not want Pranab Mukherji. SP and BSP, who fought bitterly with each other in UP and with the Congress, also are supporting Pranab Mukherji. 

 To top it all, Sangma, the candidate sponsered by BJP is appealing to the electoral college of MPs, MLAs to vote on their conscious! It has been proved time and again that politician as tribes, except rare exceptions, do not have a conscience of their own. All they do is politics devoid of policy, principles, committments and probity. This is nothing but the politics of absurdities, at its peak. 

That is all.