Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE ROCKING CHAIR POWER STRUGGLE IN BJP, ELECTIONS, THE ONLY ANSWER???

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE ROCKING CHAIR! 

POWER STRUGGLE IN BJP, ELECTIONS, THE ONLY ANSWER??? 

 B.S.Yeddyurappa is staking his claim to the CM post with more vigour and zeal aftermath the High Court quashed FIR against him. The Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda who represents the BJP High Command in the faction studded State BJP is unconcerned about Yedurappa and his tantrums. The State BJP President K.S.Eswarappa is resisting his attempts at getting to the CM post again, with all his might. While Yedurappa’s chances of becoming the CM are remote, there are more chances of Yedurappa, in desperation, toppling the government. As the instability factor grips the BJP government, it is high time to bring stability even if it be at the cost of elections....

 After the BJP High command forced Yedurappa to resign from the CM post on the disclosure of Mining scam report, Yedurappa has been making rigorous attempts at getting back the CM chair. 

While he had appointed Sadananda as his successor, all went well for a couple of months earlier, but gradually Sadananda started asserting authority and obtained the High Command backing. Yedurappa’s total hold on the party and the government is fast losing. Now, there are two distinct factions in the State BJP, one headed by the State BJP President Eshwarappa and Sadananda, while the other being led by Yedurappa. 

 Yedurappa, on the other hand, was making all out efforts to become the CM again. He even asked Sadananda to resign but he did not oblige and stated that he will resign the moment the High Command asks him to do. Yedurappa as usual threatened to topple the government by forming a new party. He used the lingayat lobby to arm-twist the High Command and even arranged a meeting of his loyalist MLAs, MPs and Ministers to show his strength. But nothing affected the High Command. The National President of the BJP Nitin Gadkari made it plain that those who want to walk out of BJP should do so, the earlier, the better. He also made it clear that there will be no change of the CM. 

Yedurappa, unmindful of the consequences of his dissident actions, went ahead with his plan of action. The recent HC order quashing the FIR against him in the Mining scam has come as a shot in the arm for him. With renewed vigour, he has staked his claim to the CM post with all his might. He had already decided to press his claim as he knew that if he does not make it to the CM post this time; he may never become the CM again. Moreover, the elections are a just a year away. 

And the High Command as usual, is not prepared to concede to Yedurappa’s demand. It has asked Sadananda to concentrate on the budget preparations and administration as Eshwarappa will be there to look after the party and the feud. The High Command has taken a firm stand vis-a-vis Yedurappa. There are about 10 serious cases against Yedurappa and his family. The quashing of FIR by the HC does not mean much as the issue has to be settled by the Supreme Court. There is all the possibility of the SC ordering a CBI probe into the illegal mining and Yedurappa then will be in soup again. 

 The High Command realises the damaging potentialities of Yedurappa and his cohorts. But they are not prepared to rock the boat at this juncture particularly when Sadananda is about to present the budget in a few days. Moreover, Sadananda has done his job pretty well without giving room for any controversies or scams. He is a person who suits both the BJP and the RSS and his clean image is an added advantage to the party. 

On the other hand, Yedurappa has become a big headache and embarrassment to the party. He is assertive and has already shown that he can defy the High Command if his interests are involved. 

 Arguably, the politics in the State has entered the decisive stage. There are more chances of Yedurappa charging the Sadananda government to topple it. 

 Eventually, the state administration has come to a grinding halt. The bureaucrats are afraid to take major decisions. The ministers are engaged in dissident activities either pro or anti Yedurappa. There is also the threat of few BJP loyalist MLAs resigning in case Yedurappa is reinstated as the CM! There is a complete breakdown of law and order. ‘Instability’ has crept into the vitals of the administration. 

 Therefore, the time has come to put a stop to the instability of the government. Let the BJP High command take a firm decision about Yedurappa and end the instability factor, even if it is going for fresh elections. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter LET THERE BE PEACE THE CLASH OF POLICE, ADVOCATES AND MEDIA

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

LET THERE BE PEACE!          

THE CLASH OF POLICE, ADVOCATES and MEDIA 

 The standoff between the Advocates and the media has shown no signs of receding. Both sides are sticking to their rigid stand. The media says that it was brutally attacked and asserts that freedom of press is in danger. It wants the police to arrest all those advocates who were caught on the cameras indulging in physical assaults. 

 The advocates on their part too are sticking to their stand. They blame the media and the police for assault on the advocates. They have demanded the media to telecast the clippings on the brutalities of the police on the advocates and an unconditional apology by the media which had called them Goondas, Black Coat Talibans, Rowdies et al. They are boycotting the courts and also demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ashoka and transfer of Police Commissioner Jothi Prakash Mirji and DGP Shankar Bidari. 

 It is another matter that some saner elements have tried to work out a compromise but in vain. In a compromise, there should be an element of give and take, but here, there seems to be no meeting point as both sides have stuck to their stands. Despite the reprimand by the Chief Justice, the Advocates are continuing with their boycott. The advocates are demanding CBI enquiry while the government is bent upon judicial enquiry. The media which too demanded CBI enquiry has lost much steam in the process. 

 On the day of the incident, the advocates were at the receiving end as news channels abused the advocates by every possible defamatory word. A few hotheads abused the media which in turn abused the entire advocate fraternity with the choicest words. Nobody can condone or support the attack on the media, but the hard fact is that journalism has become a very dangerous profession these days. Over the last one year, more than 100 journalists have laid their life in pursuit of their duties in the world over. 

 With regard to the standoff between media and the advocates, nobody can deny that there was a resentment after the January 17th incident when the media showed the advocates in a poor light when they held up the traffic in SBM circle for over six hours. The advocates were protesting against the assault of an advocate by two police constables demanding the suspension of the police constables. It was a snap strike and had the police acted diplomatically, the situation would not have precipitated. But the police took their own time and finally the protest was called off after the constables were suspended. 

 The media carried the road block live for hours together making sarcastic comments on the behaviour of the advocates. They treated the incident as a black mark on the civil society. They condemned the advocates also through ‘callers’ for having held the city to ransom. This negative coverage and publicity made the advocates resent the attitude of the media. 

 As far as the Friday’s ‘black’ incident is concerned, nobody knows who started it all. Janardhana Reddy was to be produced before the court on that day before CBI court. The police were in full strength anticipating trouble and had they managed the things well, there would not have been any trouble. As the CBI court is located on the ground floor, the police had blocked the entrance and brought Janardhana Reddy directly to the entrance of the court. There were some heated exchanges between media and the advocates in the court when the Judge asked media to go out of the court hall. And at the ground level where the media was in full strength behind the barricade, the trouble started and for some time, there was a free for all situations. Arguably, the Friday incident was the culmination of the ‘distrust’ between media and the advocates. The small incident where the advocates tried to prevent the media men to enter the court premises ignited the clash. The stone pelting, burning of vehicles, assaulting people went on for some time. The media was not prepared to take it lying down and started telecasting the clippings of media men getting assaulted by the advocates. In fact, the policemen also beat the advocates and even general public black and blue, but, such clippings never featured on television. 

 In protest, the advocates hit back by boycotting the courts. The police acting under the media pressure, booked several cases against advocates and arrested few including the General Secretary of the Advocates Association. Even to this day, the media is demanding the arrest of all those who were on the video clips. 

 The advocates are demanding the unconditional apology from the media for all the defamation words used by the media. They are demanding action against police personnel who have beaten the advocates black and blue. More than anything, the advocates are demanding the media to telecast the police assault on the advocates inside and outside the court and also the damage caused by the police to their vehicles. In fact, the advocates have in their possession clips of police highhandedness and brutality and want the media to telecast them. The advocates have released CDs containing such scenes. 

 Whatsoever, the incident of Advocates versus Media Versus police should not occur again, in the interest of sanity in public life. All the three organs are vital to the survival of democracy and a fair and just introspection must be conducted to discover the truth in the incident. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE POLITICAL ASYLUM CP YOGESHWAR CONTINUES AS MINISTER DESPITE MULTIPLE CASES AGAINST HIM

BY Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE POLITICAL ASYLUM 

CP YOGESHWAR CONTINUES AS MINISTER DESPITE MULTIPLE CASES AGAINST HIM 

 The Forest Minister C.P.Yogeshwar still continues to be a Minister despite several cases of cheating and fraud filed against him by different agencies. His Mega City Fraud has become a sort of folklore. The CID has filed cases of cheating. The serious Fraud Investigating agency under Company Affairs has filed several cases. The Income Tax too has filed a case against him. And in spite of these multi dimensional cases, Yogeshwar is allowed to function as a Cabinet Minister. 

The BJP government in the state has become a bundle of contradictions. It has allowed a few scam studded Ministers to enjoy power, while it has shown the door for some. The BJP has failed to apply the same yardstick to all and has become a laughing stock for participating double standard. 

 Krishnaiah Shetty, Sudhakar, Hartal Halappa, Ramchandra Gowda, Laxman Savadi, C.C.Patil, Krishna Palemar are all BJP Ministers, dismissed from the cabinet on one or the other scam. To crown them all, Chief Minister Yedurappa himself was forced to resign from the CM post after the Lokayukta named him in its report on the mining scam. 

 But, the Forest Minister C.P.Yogeshwar seems to be the luckiest of all. Yogeshwar, who defected to BJP from Congress is synonymous with Mega City fraud. It is to be recalled that Yogeshwar had floated Mega City Housing Project to provide thousands of sites in Bidadi about 15 years back. Thousands of people queued up to pay the sital money. Yogeshwar had proclaimed that he had purchased 500 acres of land to form the Mega city and collected more than 50 crores from the public on the promise of providing sites. It is this project that made him a MLA then and that too, an independent one. 

 Very soon, people realised that Yogeshwar would not give them the promised sites and they began agitating to get their hard earned money back. Yogeshwar joined Congress and won the elections. When the BJP came to power, he defected to BJP to save his skin. He was made the Chairman of the KSIC after he lost the election. Later, the JD(S) MLA defected to BJP and in the Channapatna by-election, Yogeshwar won the seat and later he was made the Minister for Forests. 

 While Yogeshwar was defecting from one party to another in pursuit to whitewash his frauds, there were desperate people who were fighting him. Some of the victims have formed an association and started petitioning the authorities against him and his scams. Having failed to get law of the land applicable to Yogeshwar, they then approached the High Court which ordered COD probe. The COD have filed cases against him for cheating, fraud, and forgery et al. The victims have also approached the Serious Fraud Investigating Office under the Company Affairs Ministry. The SFIO too conducted enquiry and detected some more frauds of Yogeshwar. It had directed filing of cases against him under Companies Act. In the meanwhile, the IT department has also filed cases against him. 

 As such Yogeshwar has created a record for being the politician in power facing almost 50 criminal cases. This is a record perhaps in the entire country. But the BJP is not in a mood to ask him to resign from the cabinet. Apparently, the COD, SFIO, IT etc. have all filed many cases against Yogeshwar and that too in recent days after he became the Minister. 

 Further, the courts have also issued summons to Yogeshwar and family members to appear before it. Now what if the court refuses bail and packs him to jail? Why go far? Any of the investigating agencies can also easily arrest Yogeshwar in any of the cases. Charge sheets have been filed in some cases and FIRs in some more cases. Interestingly, every case filed against him carries a minimum of six months and maximum of seven years imprisonment. In addition to this, there are private, complaints against him which are in various stages. 

 Despite all these ‘undesirable’ background, it is simply unimaginable how Yogeshwar is being allowed to continue as a Minister and that too bossing over the heavy, fertile and sensitive Forest Ministry? It is time the BJP removes him from the cabinet before the law takes its course to nab him. Even now, if the BJP removes him, it can still avoid serious embarrassment! But, it seems that the BJP is following different yardsticks to different players and Yogeshwar stands as a shining example for this phenomenon in BJP. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE JUDICIAL ACQUITTAL HC SQUASHES FIR AGAINST YEDURAPPA

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE JUDICIAL ACQUITTAL! 

HC SQUASHES FIR AGAINST YEDURAPPA 

 The High Court has quashed the FIR against B.S.Yeddyurappa in the Mining scam. From henceforth, the CM, Ministers, legislators and even bureaucrats may indulge in open corruption by directing the favour seekers to deposit/donate the ‘demand’ money in the name of the Trusts-firms owned by their kith and kin. 

Former Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa was often asserting that he will come clean on the mining charges through High Court on 5th January. That is why he wanted the BJP High Command to reinstate him as the CM again, immediately after January 5th and preferably before 14th January, the Sankranti. Yedurappa’s asserting that the HC will clear him of the FIR in the Mining scam had baffled everybody. The confidence of Yedurappa getting favourable judgement stemmed out from the fact that Ram Jathmalani was to appear for him. 

 Now, the HC delivered the judgement quashing the FIR filed against Yedurappa in the mining scam. It may be recalled that the then Lokayukta Santosh Hegde had submitted a copy of his Mining scam report to the governor and the report indicted the then CM Yedurappa in the scam. The report states that Yedurappa in total received 30 crores in a novel way in the name of the Prerana Education Trust owned by his sons and son-in-law, from a mining firm which got a favour. 

 The governor who received the report directed the then Lokayukta (Justice Shivaraj Patil) to take suitable action against Yedurappa as regard to this donation/purchase issues. The Lokayukta police filed an FIR against Yedurappa in this regard. 

 As usual, Yedurappa challenged the FIR and even the sanction given by the governor for filing a case against him over the Lokayukta report. However, the HC dismissed his petitions and as such Yedurappa is facing more than a dozen cases against him. 

 And now, the HC has quashed the FIR against Yedurappa in the mining case. The HC has given him a clean chit in the Prerana Trust and Land sale case and refused to link the payments of the company to the corruption. The judgement by the Division Bench has shocked the people to no end. At the same time, Yedurappa is again staking his claim to the Chief Ministership on the plea that the Mining report has no bearing on him with the HC judgement. Already his loyalist MLAs and ministers are demanding the resignation of Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda so as to enable him to occupy the CM Chair again. 

 With regard to the judgement, the government advocate interestingly was absent throughout the hearing. Only the Lokayukta was represented by an inexperienced advocate who by keeping quite helped Yedurappa’s case and the HC had no other go except to quash the FIR. Further, the government headed by Sadananda was not prepared to put up an effective fight over the case. Moreover the Lokayukta institution is headless since six months after the exit of Santosh Hegde and the advocate who represented the Lokayukta cases in the courts all these years, has been removed for no reasons at all. 

 Lokayukta was paying a pittance as advocate fee to him and when the advocate demanded more considering the increasing number of high profile cases, the Lokayukta refused and the advocate was left with no other alternative but to resign from the post. In comparison, this advocate fought with the best legal brains in the country who appeared for Yedurappa and Company before the Lokayukta court but received a meager remuneration. 

 Whatsoever, with the quashing of the FIR, the case under PC Act against Yedurappa for having received the ‘bribe’ of 30 crores in dubious means stands quashed. In the present case, a mining company donated 10 crores to Prerana Trust owned by Yedurappa’s family members who are doing education business. It is not a charity business. Interestingly, the company’s application was before Yedurappa for renewal of their mining lease as Yedurappa held the Mining portfolio also. At the same time, the company bought one acre of land in Bangalore belonging to Yedurappa’s sons for a whopping 20 crores, while the market rate was only one crore per acre! Why should the company pay almost twenty times more? After the, donation and purchase of the land, the company was given the renewal of mining lease. Interestingly, the company was in red and had to borrow money from one of its associate companies! Can anybody in his senses, imagine a loss making company donating 10 crores, and that too by borrowing, to the Trust floated by the Chief Minister’s family? And one does not even imagine the same company paying twenty times more than the market price to purchase one acre of land from Yedurappa’s family members! 

 Now, one may see the politicians in power or outside, officials etc. floating trusts, for whatever reasons, and lodge their money in such fronts openly. They can also take their bribe through cheques in the name of the Trusts/Companies. And one can be sure of them getting immunity under PC Act! Eventually, only those officials /politicians who are caught red handed while taking bribe and that too personally, can be booked under the PC Act. 

 It is time the government should appeal against this judgement in the Supreme Court. As things stands as on today, it is highly not possible for the government to do so. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE ELECTION OF SCANDALS UDUPI- CHICKMAGLUR BY-ELECTIONS, A PRELUDE TO MEGA FINAL

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE ELECTION OF SCANDALS!

 

UDUPI- CHICKMAGLUR BY-ELECTIONS, A PRELUDE TO MEGA FINAL 

 The Udupi - Chickmagalur Loksabha Constituency is witnessing the by-election which, the political pundits describe as the semi-final to the elections in 2013. The BJP has fielded Sunil Kumar and Congress, Jayaprakash Hegde. The JD(S) is also trying to play spoilt sport by fielding its candidate. The interesting aspect of the contest is that while Congress is going hammers and tongs over BJP’s scandal ridden rule, the BJP is knocking the doors with the unlimited scams of UPA government at the centre. In a way it is a contest between state politics and central politics…. 

 The by-election to the Udupi-Chikmagalur Loksabha seat is to be held on 18th March, necessitated by Sadananda Gowda resigning his seat after he became the Chief Minister. The BJP candidate is Sunil Kumar, a former MLA of Karkala and State Yuva Morcha President and Congress has nominated Jayaprakash Hegde who contested against Sadananda Gowda in 2009 and lost by a slender margin. JD(S) will field Bhoje Gowda as its candidate. 

 In fact, the poll has become a prestige issue for BJP as the seat was held by Sadananda, the present CM. On the face of it, the BJP holds six out of the eight Assembly seats in this Loksabha constituency. And as the prestige of the Chief Minister is at stake, one can expect the BJP leaving no stone unturned to win this seat. 

 Similarly, the Congress too has a high stake in this election. The Congress has not won a single seat in the by-elections held since 2008. The Congress High Command has made many permutations and combinations to revive the fortunes of the Congress in the state. But nothing has changed. In the 2009 Loksabha elections, the Congress could win only six seats. 

 Thus, the by-election has become a prestige issue for the Congress also. In addition, the candidature of Jayaprakash Hegde also counts much. Despite BJP’s money and muscle power, Hegde was able to give neck-deep fight to Sadananda Gowda in 2009 elections, who finally won the seat by a margin of around 26000 votes. Further, the death of V.S.Acharya is also a minus point to BJP. Thus, if Hegde wins, it will mark the beginning of Congress’s revival in the state and therefore, the by-election is a ‘now or never’ opportunity for the Congress. 

 And there is the JD(S), which wants to play spoil sport. Had the Congress leaders impressed upon the JD(S) not to field its candidate, the Congress could have won the seat. But with JD(S) fielding its candidate, there is the real danger of anti-BJP votes getting split to the advantage of BJP. 

 The most interesting aspect of this by-election is the fight to seek the votes harping on the scams. The Congress candidate is confident of romping home by educating the people about the multifaceted and multi dimensional scams of the state BJP government, especially of the former CM Yedurappa, in addition to the Rave party at Udupi and the porn gate scam. The BJP candidate is harping on the scams of the UPA like 2-G Spectrum, CWG etc. Not to be left alone, the JD(S) will expose the scams at state and central government level. 

 Arguably, the by-election will witness a ‘scam studded’ campaign. The hindutva plank of BJP has lost its relevance and so is the Congress’s slogan of ‘aam admi’. It is the ‘scams’ that decide the outcome. As on now people get easily influenced by the scams at the local level. If Congress harps on BJP government scams, it will have an impact more than BJP’s exposure of UPA scams. More than anything, it is the ‘Rave Party’ in Udupi that occupies the centre stage in the campaign. 

 It is to be recalled that few days ago, the Udupi district administration on the pretext of promotion of tourism, organized a cultural program in the St. Mary Island. Hundreds of foreigners, who attended, converted it into an open air theatre for their dirty activities. Booze, drugs etc. and open sex were highlights of the fest and it became a raging controversy. The local MLA Raghupathi Bhat was the force behind organising this event. The other issue where the BJP will feel the heat is the ‘porn Gate’ involving three ministers (now ex) including Krishna Palemar who hails from the region. It is these two issues that will play a decisive role in the outcome of the elections. 

 The BJP’s attempts to rake up the scams in the UPA government at national level, may not cut much ice with the people. By anyway one looks at it, the by-election has become an indication of things to come and also a testing ground for getting votes by trumpeting scams both at the local, state and national level. It is a sort of semifinal to the fast approaching Mega Final that is the general elections in 2013. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE POINT OF NO RETURN…. DESPITE OPPOSITION, RECALL OF UPA LOKAYUKTA DIFFICULT

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE POINT OF NO RETURN…. 

DESPITE OPPOSITION, RECALL OF UPA LOKAYUKTA DIFFICULT 

 There is a demand for withdrawal of Justice (Rtd) Chandrashekaraiah's appointment as Upa Lokayukta. The ball was set in motion by the Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen who had taken exception to the appointment of Chandrashekaraiah on the plea that he had not recommended his name. The Governor HR Bharadwaj who cleared the name within minutes and administered the oath within hours, has also changed. Besides, many political leaders are also demanding the recall of Chandrashekaraiah. While the Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda defends his appointment, the Law Minister Suresh Kumar has stated that he will leave the matter to the legislature to decide. 

 In spite of Justice (Rtd) Chandrashekaraiah's appointment as Upa Lokayukta being controversial, it is difficult for the government to recall or withdraw his appointment. It is not a simple matter. His appointment can be revoked or recalled only by the Assembly through impeachment which is next to impossible, given the present political scenario. The Sadananda government has to defend it, the opposition Congress too will not oppose it because of political compulsion and the JD(S) too will not oppose it because of Chandrashekaraiah's links with HD Devegowda family. 

 What more, Chandrashekaraiah is not keeping quite either. He had made it amply clear that he has come to stay and questioned the detractors to show the reasons for his recall. He clarified that the Lokayukta Act does not give power to the government to withdraw the appointment of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta once the oath of office is administered. The only way to remove him, he asserts, is through impeachment by the legislature and he says that he will abide by the decision of the legislature. 

 Well, forget about passing, in fact, moving an impeachment motion itself is a complex issue. First, charges have to be made out and a preliminary enquiry has to be held. The accused has to be given sufficient opportunity to defend. Only after the probe committee comes to the conclusion that there is substance in the charges, the impeachment motion can be moved in the Assembly. Here too, the accused has to be given sufficient opportunity to defend his actions in the Assembly itself. And only after the motion is passed by three fourth majorities, impeachment can be done and the accused will be removed. This is the set rules for the removal of Lokayukta / Upa Lokayukta. 

 On the face of it, he cannot be removed and his judicial orders or adventures during his long years as the judge of the High Court do not matter now. One cannot question such actions after he became the Upa Lokayukta. His tenure as a Judge has ended long back that was in 2004. He was the Chairman of the State Consumer Forum from 2004 to 2009. And here too, his actions cannot be questioned now. As such, there are no grounds, as on now, to remove Chandrashekaraiah through impeachment. In fact, impeachment is the ultimate weapon which has to be used in extreme situations and Chandrashekaraiah's case is no way near to 'extreme' situation. 

 It is another matter that judge M.F.Saldhana has addressed a strong letter to the Government making serious charges against Chandrashekaraiah and demanding his appointment to be revoked. He has cited few cases including the Mysore Resort case to oppose Chandrashekaraiah’s appointment as Upa Lokayukta. And as usual, there is the charge that Chandrashekaraiah too had procured a big site in the judicial employees Housing Society layout, the same issue that saw the resignation of previous Lokayukta Shivaraj Patil. 

 However, in the case of Chandrashekaraiah, it is more a legal issue than moral. If the 'site' issue has to be the deciding factor, then the first Upa Lokayukta Majage too has to resign as he too has procured a site from the Judicial Society. Interestingly, nobody has raised Majage's site issue since the moment he assumed the charge as the Upa Lokayukta. But, definitely Chandrashekaraiah will question the 'silence' of critics over this issue. 

 Besides, Chandrashekaraiah’s appointment is also opposed by few on Caste lines. But, whatsoever, Chandrashekaraiah has already made it clear that he is a hard nut to crack. One can be sure of Chandrashekaraiah not resigning on his own and one does not foresee his removal by the government through impeachment, either. Then, let the Upa Lokayukta come into action and fight the graft now. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE UGLY FACE OF A BEAUTY SALOON BODY N SOUL DOWNS THE SHUTTERS IN JP NAGAR

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE UGLY FACE OF A BEAUTY SALOON! 

BODY N SOUL DOWNS THE SHUTTERS IN JP NAGAR 

 In our past issue, we had exposed about the functioning of BODY AND SOUL agency which offers health and beauty care in various locations of Bangalore. One of the outlets had not refunded the money to a customer who had paid the full amount towards a beauty package in spite of not using its services. The case is however registered in Consumer court. 

Now, it is learnt from the sources that Body N Soul is permanently closing down their outlet of JP Nagar area. There are hundreds of customers who have paid money for various services to the agency but are not refunded. It is also learnt that though illegal, some have lifted the equipments from the outlet and conditioned them to return it on payment of their money. Allegedly, some customers are also diverted to Jayanagar Branch, but there too, the agency has not paid the rent of the premises for many months. Even their Indiranagar outlet is under the same condition. They have already closed down their 2 outlets in Pune recently. Further, they are claiming that their Kormangala Branch is under renovation, but it appears to be eyewash. It is said that, that too is closed down and the same fate will be that of Jayanagar branch in the near future. 

 The staff of Body N Soul also has approached JP Nagar Police Station and complaint of having not received salary for more than two months. The agency has taken loans of more than Rs. 50 lacs for the purchase of equipments from the Madiwala branch of Bank of India and it is said that there are private financiers too who are in line to collect their dues. 

Eventually, the employees working in Body N Soul and the innocent people who paid towards the packages have once again been cheated.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE EXPANSION BLUES CABINET EXPANSION A CUMBERSOME TASK FOR CM

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE EXPANSION BLUES!                         

CABINET EXPANSION A CUMBERSOME TASK FOR CM 

 Finally, the Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda has talked of a cabinet expansion in a few days. It is six months since Sadananda became the CM and he was not able to expand the cabinet for political reasons. Now that the CM is talking of cabinet expansion, there is going to be more trouble for him, mainly from former CM B.S.Yeddyurappa whose attempts at reclaiming the CM post has not borne fruits yet. Yedurappa may demand more berths to his loyalists and anti-Yedurappa lobby will not lag behind with similar demand with elections just about a year ahead, Sadananda or BJP cannot afford any more trouble. But the hard fact is that it cannot wish it away … 

 The Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda, the other day stated that he is not in a position to do justice to the 16 portfolios he holds and that he will soon expand the cabinet to lessen the burden on him. It is almost certain that Sadananda will expand the cabinet soon as the budget session has to begin in March. Sadananda has to present the budget and the unexpected death of V.S.Acharya who was instrumental in preparing the budgets in the last three years has taken its toll on him. 

The moment Sadananda announced the expansion of the cabinet; aspirants for berth have started their lobby in a big way. They know that it is now or never for them as the state will go to polls next year and there are remote chances of BJP coming back to power. The aspirants are therefore making desperate attempts to get to the cabinet and this is creating serious problems to Sadananda and BJP. 

 Of course, there were only six vacancies for the last six months not filled due to political reasons. In the present cabinet there are equal numbers of pro-Yedurappa and Anti-Yedurappa groups. And the porn gate has created three more vacancies of which the two 'resigned' ministers are Yedurappa loyalists. The death of V.S.Acharya has created one more vacancy taking the number of vacancies to ten. Sadananda has to fill the vacancies and there are more than 30 aspirants. 

 Surely, Yedurappa will demand the lion's share of the vacancies and at the same time the anti-Yedurappa group will also demand more share. Yedurappa, who is making no-holds barred attempts to reclaim the CM post, is waiting for more than six months and the High Command is only promising him a suitable post. 

 In the recent past Yedurappa is getting snubs at the hands of the High Command and leaders especially L.K.Advani who is not prepared to talk to him. Yedurappa knows that his rehabilitation is a remote possibility and must plan a strategy accordingly. 

 By all indications, Yedurappa may demand at least six berths to his loyalists and one can be sure of the party high command rejecting the demand. It can at best offer three berths and this will be enough for Yedurappa to prepare the ground. Then, it will be the real test for Sadananda and BJP. It is another matter that Yedurappa will oppose more berths for his detractors. 

 As on now, the cabinet expansion is a risky one and Sadananda has to take the risk if he wants to provide good administration to the state particularly so when the elections are hardly a year from now. At the same time, Sadananda cannot afford to lose the government while Yedurappa is bent of getting his pound of flesh and in default, would not mind pulling down the government. Sadananda has to tread carefully. 

 Of course, the cabinet expansion instead of solving the problems will confound the same. It all depends on the collective wisdom of the BJP leaders in neutralising Yedurappa factor; otherwise, it is more troubles for Sadananda. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter BBMP BLUNDERS DENIES KHATHA TO OWNERS, MALA FIDE INTENTIONS SUSPECTED

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

 The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

 BBMP BLUNDERS! 

 DENIES KHATHA TO OWNERS, MALA FIDE INTENTIONS SUSPECTED 

 What one has to do if BBMP refuses or drags registering a khatha for a property? Either bribe the officials or approach the courts. What if both fail to do the needful? The High Court had given a direction to effect the khatha to a big vacant land in Sy.No.61 of Akkithimmanahalli, in accordance with law within two months! The Legal officer opined that khatha can be registered with some riders. But the BBMP officials are inventing one or the other excuses to deny the khatha. Despite having valid documents to prove the ownership, the BBMP is out to deny the khatha claiming that the property in question belongs to BBMP. And the battle continues.... 

Hats off to the BBMP officials who can invent unimaginable objections and queries to prevent a land owner in Akkithimmanahalli to get the khatha registered in BBMP. What was essentially a private property, the BBMP is claiming ownership over the same, just because the Executive Officer had made a temporary entry as ‘BBMP’ in 1975, because during his local enquiry then, nobody came forward to claim the ownership! 

 SAU SAAL PEHLE! 

 The story starts in 1907, when one Krishnamurhty Setlur purchased 10 acres and 20 guntas of land in Akkithimmanahalli from its previous owner Keshava Iyengar. The lands were situated in Sy.No.64 of Akkithimmanahalli, later renumbered as Sy.No.61. Between the years 1965-79, the Survey department took up the survey in Bangalore and the lands were given CTS numbers. Later, the owners sold a major portion of the lands by forming sites. As per the BBMP records, the land was converted into non agricultural before forming the layout. Finally, the owners/successors have retained a big plot of land measuring 19, 900 sq. ft. It is this plot that is creating history in BBMP. The BBMP is claiming that it owns the lands and bases its claim on an entry made in 1975 showing it as BBMP property. 

 It is this entry that is central to the issue. It so happened in 1975 that the City Survey Enquiry officer went for spot inspection of the area and nobody claimed the ownership of the property. But he was appraised that the land belongs to a private person. The EO had reported that there is a vacant land consisting of an open drain in between the Protestant cemetery and private properties. As the private party is not known, the property is kept in the name of Corporation of Bangalore. The open drain happens to be Raja Kaluve. 

 YE MERI JAAGEER HAI! 

 It is on this ‘entry’ the BBMP is claiming the property as its own. In fact, in 1979, the EO of the city Survey No. 3, had held that the land belongs to City Corporation. By then, the owners who learnt the matter rushed to claim their property. They filed a revision petition against the orders of the city Survey EO in 1995 with the Joint Director of Land Records. The JDLR remanded the matter back to the EO detecting him to conduct fresh enquiry. The EO conducted the fresh enquiry and in 2000, held that the property belongs to the owners (Settur and family) and not the BCC. 

 THE TRANSPARENT EO ORDERS! 

 The EO divided the property into five parts and assigned CTS No. 1909/ 1 to 5. Out of this, the EO held that CTS Nos.1909/1 and 1909/3 belongs to City Corporation, 1909/4 and 1909/5 belongs to the owners - Setlur family and CTS No.1909/2 being the Raja Kaluve. The BBMP was not prepared to accept the orders of the EO and preferred an appeal to the JDLR who dismissed the appeal and upheld the orders of the EO. The BBMP then made an appeal in the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal and the KAT also dismissed the appeal and hence, as far as the lands in CTS 1909/4 and 1909/5 are concerned, the Survey department has ruled in favour of Settur and family. The KAT Order was in 2004.

 DRAGGING IS AN ART! 

 The story takes a different turn from here. The BBMP should have filed an appeal in the High Court against the Orders of the KAT, but it chose to remain silent. Once the KAT dismissed the BBMP appeal, Noorjahan and others who have purchased the sites from Setlur and others petitioned the BBMP for registering the khatha. But the BBMP officials dragged the case without taking any action. The applicants made every effect to get the khatha registered by BBMP and the BBMP was equally adamant on not making khatha under any circumstances. 

 LAW OFFICER CONFIRMS! 

 In fact, the Law Officer had also given his opinion that the lands in 1909/4 and 1909/5 belongs to Setlur and family and that the BBMP can register khatha to the site owners by stipulating that in the event of any objections supported by documents by others, the khatha can be revoked! The law officer gave this opinion on 28.11.2007. 

 In spite of this clear legal opinion, the BBMP still dodged the issue. On 17.12.2007, the official concerned recorded that the khatha cannot be issued at this stage as the same has to be done through Akrama-Sakrama Scheme and that there is a civil case pending over the property. The file was again sent to the Joint Commissioner (Welfare) who after realising the dismissal of the civil case among parties, directed to implement the opinion of the law officer to make khatha with some conditions. The DC (Estate) sent the file to the JC (East) for taking necessary action. As such, there was no bar of registration of khatha and the Akrama-Sakrama is irrelevant in this issue. 

 Interestingly, the file was sent back to the DC (Estates) to provide information under RTI to an applicant on 22.2.2008. Then nobody heard about the file till 6.2.2009 when the files were called by the SP of the BBMP Task Force. And now, the matter takes another turn. The Revenue Officer of Shanthinagar sent the file to the Additional Commissioner (East) to verify whether the properties belong to BBMP or belong to private parties through spot inspection as the Raja Kaluve exists in this property. This was only a ploy to drag the file as there was no need for any further verification. 

 The City Survey has clearly demarcated the boundaries and given CTS Nos.1909/4 and 1905/5 and declared that these properties belong to Setlur and family. However, the Additional Commissioner acting on the opinion of the RO, made a startling note to the effect that the legal cell has given conflicting opinion and that the same has to be sent back to the legal cell for clear opinion! 

 Of course, the file moved from one officer to another and finally, on 14.7.2009, the Shirestedar has noted that the khatha can be made with conditions, only after verifications that the applicants are in possession of their sites. And there was more. The ARO, Shanthinagar who earlier put a brake on the file for recommending resurvey and verifying the BBMP ownership over the properties has rejected the proposal of conditional khatha by stating that the khatha cannot be effected by collecting betterment charges as the property does not come under the five conditions for registering khathas. What more, the ARO also recommended to file an appeal with the Director of Land records against the orders of the JDLR dated 3.9.2002. It may be recalled that, the BBMP had gone to KAT in appeal against the same orders in 2004 and the appeal was dismissed as not maintainable. Now, if the BBMP wants to make fresh appeal to the Director of Land Records, then the question is, what was the BBMP doing for all these seven years? 

 ADALAT KA FAISLA! 

 Having exhausted all the avenues for getting the khathas to their names, the applicants were left with no other alternatives except to approach the High Court with a Writ Petition. They filed Writ Petition in the High Court (W.P.Nos.37615 and 37616 of 2009) and on 23.9.2010, the High Court issued a direction to the BBMP to consider the Petition for khatha and do the needful within two months. 

 THE DRAIN TURNS! 

 Aftermath the HC orders, the Revenue Officer invented another excuse that the request cannot be considered as the Raja Kaluve passes through these lands. On the contrary, the owners gave an affidavit to surrender the lands if it is proved that it is a Rajakaluve. The hard fact is that the Raja Kaluve abets the lands and not goes through it. The Enquiry Officer of the Survey has clearly given a different CTS number to the Rajakaluve also. 

 MERI AWAAZ SUNO! 

 The gist and essence of the entire proceedings is to deny registering the khatha to the land owners. It is another matter that the owners have approached every possible forum to get redressed. They have approached the legislative committee on public grievances, Lokayukta, Mayor and other officials. Despite the records favouring them, the BBMP is dragging its feet. One can only assume that the land which is worth crores is being eyed by powerful people with high links. Even the HC order has not come to the rescue of the owners and the High Court itself has not entertained their contempt of court petitions. And even now, the owners are making efforts to get the khatha and the BBMP is equally resigning their moves. 

 CLAIM WITHOUT DOCUMENTS! 

 Interestingly, the BBMP is claiming the ownership over the land without any documents or evidences. When the owners got the survey department to recognise their ownership, the BBMP went in appeal and got the snub. The legal cell had clearly opined that the land in question belongs to the owners and recommended ‘conditional’ khatha. But, the BBMP officials continued to play truant in the matter and prevent registration of khatha to the property by one or the other excuse. Interestingly, each time, the file moves either through a direction from the HC or the other senior officials, the lower rung officials ensure to continue the file from the beginning to delay the process and whenever a new JC or Additional Commissioner changes, the file gets moved afresh with different opinions. 

 THE FINAL ONSLAUGHT! 

 Finally, the BBMP officials who realised that they cannot drag the file for ever issued an endorsement to the parties stating that their request for khatha registration can be considered only after they get the lands converted. In their endorsement dated 5.1.2012, the Joint Commissioner (East) has asked the parties to provide documents to prove their possession and flow of rights, title and ownerships and the relationship between the sellers and the owners. The JC made it clear that as the registration of khathas to revenue properties have been prohibited from 2007, the parties have to get the land converted from proper authority and submit the conversion order to consider their request! 

 This is the height of stupidity and clearly shows the mala fide intention of the official. If the JC had referred to the legal cell’s opinion in 2007, he would have realised that the lands were converted decades back. The contention of the JC that the lands are in possession of the BBMP is only from the records, while the hard fact is that the same has been stuck down by the Survey department through an order. The BBMP has appealed to the JDLR and KAT against this order and the appeals were dismissed. The Legal Cell has dealt in detail with these matters in 2007 itself. And now, the JC wants another legal opinion. Interestingly, the JC (Welfare) had given specific opinion regarding the matter stating that all claims of BBMP over the property have come to naught and there is no way khatha can be denied to the owners. 

 CONVERSION GOOGLY! 

 To top it all, in the endorsement, the JC has asked the parties to get the land conversion for which one should have the ownership and title over the land. In this case, the BBMP is not willing to admit the ownership of Setlur and family who sold the lands to others. Then, how one can expect the parties to get the conversion order from the government? It is just a ploy by the JC to bury the matter deep into the forest. 

 To put it bluntly, the land is a big one considering the location that is abetting Hosur Road and touching upon the Eagle Street. It commands huge premiums and that is why some powerful people have cast their eyes upon this property and made the BBMP, their stooge to prevent the legitimate owners to get the khatha. 

 More interestingly, the BBMP has affected the khathas for big apartments built in CTS No.1909/1. Shockingly, the EO of the Survey department has ordered that the land in 1909/1 belongs to BBMP! This takes as back to BBMP tricks. The BBMP, which owns CTS 1909/1, has registered khathas in private person’s names in the same property. And while 1909/4 & 1909/5 does belong to private owners, the BBMP is not prepared to register khatha for the same. Strange it is! 

Any comments…

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE REACTION VAJARAHALLA AND KARIOBANAHALLI RECORDS SEIZED

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

 The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

 THE REACTION!

 VAJARAHALLA AND KARIOBANAHALLI RECORDS SEIZED 

 After the TBMR exposure on the bogus khatha entries made in Vajarahalli and Kariobanahalli areas by fraudsters, the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Administrative Reforms, has raided the offices and seized records. As the fraud is conspicuous by records, the least the Commissioner could do was to suspend the RO, AROs, RIs, case workers etc. But that is not happening as the Chairman has not given a report to the Commissioner. 

 Now, allegedly, the fraudsters are making efforts to clinch a deal with the chairman of the Standing Committee, to hush up the issue, through a corporator. As per the deal, the ARO, RI and case workers have to pool 5 lakhs each and surrender it to a man who is clinching the deal. It is not a big deal by any standard as the Vajarahalli ‘fraud’ has provided at least rupees 60 lakhs to the fraudsters and the Kariobanahalli fraud has provided, equal if not more ‘revenue’ to the fraudsters. 

 One will have to wait and see whether the Chairman of the Standing Committee oblige the fraudsters or not, with a meager ‘payment’ of few lakhs!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE REAL CRUSADER FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: ANNA HAZARE V/S SUBRAMANIAM SWAMY

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE REAL CRUSADER! 

FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: ANNA HAZARE V/S SUBRAMANIAM SWAMY 

 Janata Party leader Subramaniam Swamy has scored a major victory in his fight against corruption. Without resorting to public agitations, threats etc. for a special law to fight corruption, Subramaniam Swamy has shown that the fight against corruption can be fought more effectively through the existing laws of the land. In contrast, Anna Hazare, the so called Gandhian who advocates slapping of corrupt and beating of people who drink alcohol, wants only his version of Jan Lokpal Bill to fight corruption. 

 The Supreme Court, the other day delivered a landmark judgment which will have far reaching effects by upholding the rights of the citizens to prosecute corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. The SC delivered the historic judgment on Subramaniam Swamy’s petition seeking permission to prosecute A.Raja in the 2G Spectrum Scam. It clearly stated that corrupt bureaucrats can be prosecuted without waiting for sanction from the appropriate authority. The SC also directed the Indian government to enact a law that makes it mandatory for the government to decide the permission to prosecute a corrupt public servant by a citizen within months. If the government does not act within three months and at the maximum four months, the SC made it clear that this will be treated as ‘deemed permission’. 

 The SC judgment has provided a new dimension to the fight against corruption. What the Lokpal movement could not achieve despite agitations, fasts, threats, blackmail etc. by Anna Hazare Team, the SC judgment achieved it and went a step further to arm the citizens with a right to prosecute corrupt public servants including politicians and bureaucrats. The time limits of three months set by the SC and the threat of ‘deemed permission’ will automatically make the government sensitive and responsive to people’s complaint against public servants. 

 Swamy has to be congratulated for having persisted with his fight against corruption. In fact, when he petitioned the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh two years back for permission to prosecute the then Telecom Minister A.Raja alleging huge scams, he was not taken seriously. It should be recalled that it was Swamy who exposed the scam in 2-G Spectrum, even before the CAG started looking into the matter. 

 When the PMO did not act on his petition, Swamy approached the High Court to seek Prime Minister’s permission to sanction his petition to prosecute the Telecom Minister. But, the High Court simply dismissed his petition. Swamy however persisted and went to Supreme Court challenging the HC Order. 

 Only when the CAG in its report estimated the loss to the government at 1.76 lakh crores rupees in the 2-G Spectrum allotment business, the politicians took notice. The CBI was awarded the probe and many VIP politicians including the then Telecom Minister Raja and others were jailed. Some people like DMK Boss M.Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi is on bail after spending a couple of months in jail. 

 Subramaniam Swamy continued his fight and finally, the Supreme Court delivered a historic and landmark judgment allowing Swamy’s plea and directed the government to act upon his petition to prosecute Raja and others in 2-G Spectrum scam giving three months to decide the matter. The SC’s observation that every citizen has a right to fight graft and prosecute public servants and that there is no need for permission to file criminal complaints against public servants, has become the catalyst to fight against corruption. And Swamy has proved that graft can be fought effectively with the existing law. 

 Let us compare Subramaniam Swamy’s fight against corruption with the so called crusade of Anna Hazare’s “India Against Corruption”. Anna who claims himself a Gandhian, encourages physical violence to fight corruption and alcoholism. He feels that the law of the land is not effective to fight corruption and wants the Jan Lokpal Bill as prepared by his followers to be adopted by the parliament and enforced within a stipulated time. Team Anna is intolerant of any opposition or criticism of their Jan Lokpal Bill. 

 On the contrary, the Team Anna which is fighting against corruption has mobilised crores through donations from corporate houses like Reliance etc. which are involved in 2-G Spectrum scam. This makes one wonder whether the Anna Team’s fight against corruption is a sponsored movement by vested interests with ulterior motives. 

 Swamy’s relentless legal fight against corruption has borne fruit which helped the entire society. Swamy, a politician himself has fought corruption legally, and the Anna Team which proclaims that it is non-political, is waging a political battle against Congress, on the pretext of fighting corruption! This itself speaks volumes about the entire episode. 

 Whatsoever, the country should be grateful to Subramaniam Swamy for having succeeded in providing legal sanctity to the fight against corruption. 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE TOTAL RECALL SC CANCELS ALL 122 2G SPECTRUM ALLOCATION, BLESSING IN DISGUISE FOR GOVERNMENT

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE TOTAL RECALL!                                                     

SC CANCELS ALL 122 2G SPECTRUM ALLOCATION, BLESSING IN DISGUISE FOR GOVERNMENT 

 The Supreme Court’s judgment in cancelling 122 2G Spectrum Licenses, has dealt a severe blow to the corporate bodies, which have corrupted the system for their profit making. A. Raja, the then Telecom Minister and an accused in the 2G Spectrum Scam, has completed one year in Jail facing trial. The SC judgment has come as a sort of anniversary ‘Jolt’ to him. The SC directive to take a decision on fresh licensing in place of cancellation of the existing licenses will on the contrary fill the coffers of the government. Now that the SC has cancelled 122 Licenses, the Telecom revolution has come a full circle... 

In 2008, the UPA government allotted spectrums to the Telecom companies at throwaway prices. Even companies which had no reputation or experience in Telecom field obtained Licenses and later sold it to other interested players at not less than ten times the License fee. 

 The previous NDA government started the Telecom revolution and at that time itself, there were allegations of thousands of crores from the deal. Then under UPA Government, A. Raja proved that the Telecom services are a multi billion business. The ‘First come First serve’ policy introduced by NDA was continued by A.Raja and many companies to whom Telecom business was Greek and who set up benami companies were favoured with licenses at throw away prices. Allegedly, had the government adopted auction or tender process it would have belted more than two lakh crore rupees! There were some efforts at fixing a reasonable and market driven pricing, but the DMK vetoed the move and A.Raja was asked to continue issuing license to companies at a throwaway price. And these companies in turn sold the same to others at rates ranging from 10 to 15 times the license money. The License money was around 5000 crores and one can imagine the huge profit these companies made by selling off their licenses. 

 The spectrum allocations clearly benefitted the politicians in power and the Telecom companies. During that time, the Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy exposed the scam and even petitioned the Prime Minister Mahmohan Singh to permit him to prosecute A.Raja for all the omissions and commissions by him in allocation of Spectrum Licenses. But nobody took notice of Swamy’s charges and ignored him. However, Swamy persisted with his crusade and continued to send reminders to the PM. He also approached the High Court for a direction to the PM to consider his petition, but it also refused to allow his petition. Finally, Swamy filed the petition in the Supreme Court which delivered a historic judgment. 

 Before Swamy admitted his petition in the Supreme Court, the CAG dropped a bombshell taking strong exception to the illegalities in the spectrum allocation. The CAG put the loss to the state by this scam at 1.76 lakh crores rupees which shocked the entire nation. The SC ordered the CBI probe which took up the probe seriously. It arrested A.Raja and other big wigs involved including Kanimozhi, the MP daughter of DMK boss Karunanidhi. The CBI also filed charge sheets and the trial is going on. A.Raja has completed one year in jail and among the key players and brokers some have committed suicides, some are murdered and some are absconding. Moreover, the scam also involves foreign companies. 

 The Supreme Court after taking into consideration all the facts stuck down the ‘first come first serve’ policy of the government and in one go, cancelled all the 122 licenses issued by A.Raja. It further directed the government to come out with a system in consultation with the Trail for allocation of new licenses in place of the cancelled ones. The Supreme Court also heavily fined few Telecom companies for having indulged in unfair practices. 

 And the net result of the judgment is that the operators will have to cease their operations in the next three months. The government may or may not allow them to bid for new licenses. Eventually, the mobile charges will become dearer once the new licenses start operation because they have to shell out more for the license fee. 

 Whatsoever, the government is extremely happy with the Supreme Court judgment as it is expected to earn revenue of more than two lakh crore rupees from issuing fresh 2G licenses. As on now, the government’s financial position is precarious and the rupee value has also nosedived. In such a situation, addition of 2 lakh crores rupees is definitely a blessing in disguise to the government. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter ASSEMBLY HALL OF SHAME SEX, LIES, CORRUPTION ROCK BJP, 3 MORE BECOME EX- MINISTERS

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

ASSEMBLY HALL OF SHAME!  

SEX, LIES, CORRUPTION ROCK BJP, 3 MORE BECOME EX- MINISTERS 

 The BJP government in the state seems to have excelled in the art of corruption, casteism and sexcapades. In the last three years, we have seen ministers and even the CM going to Jail. Hartal Halappa was lodged in jail for two months on rape charges. Katta Subramanya Naidu was in jail on corruption charges. Even B.S.Yeddyurappa was in jail for almost a month on corruption and nepotism charges. Janardhana Reddy has already completed six months in jail. And now, three more ministers have lost their ministerships for having ‘viewed’ porn film clipping in the Assembly... 

The other day Ministers Laxman Savadi, C.C.Patil and Krishna Palemar tendered their resignations. Their crime was, viewing porn film in the Assembly when discussions were taking place over the drought situation. They were caught on camera by TV channels crew and within few minutes, people were shocked with the irresponsible behaviour of the ministers. An embarrassed BJP leadership forced the ministers to resign who promptly resigned stating that they have resigned on their own. 

 It was natural that this shameful act in the Assembly would naturally reflect in the ongoing session. The opposition Congress and JDS were rearing to go and the ruling BJP was equally prepared to thwart any discussion on the issue. When the opposition leader Siddaramaiah started his submission for admitting adjournment motion, Minister Suresh Kumar started raising point of order. The motive was clear; the BJP was not prepared to discuss the porn gate issue in the Assembly. 

 Truly, the Speaker should have taken immediate and decisive actions as the behaviour of the three ministers were simply contempt of the House. But nobody in his senses expect anything from the Speaker K.G.Bopaiah who himself has been snubbed by Supreme Court in MLA’s disqualification case. The Supreme Court has passed severe strictures against the Speaker in his now notorious Disqualification of independent MLAs episode; but he is still sticking to the chair. 

Needless to say the BJP leadership rushes to defend its tainted leaders and their undesirable acts. It should be recalled that the BJP leadership strongly defended former CM B.S.Yeddyurappa’s corrupt practices. When he was released from Jail on bail, the event was celebrated as if Yedurappa had achieved a great feat. At one point of time, the cabinet passed a resolution urging the Governor not to give sanction for prosecution of Yedurappa! And when the Governor did grant permission, the BJP held ‘Karnataka Bundh’ to protest against governor’s actions. This is the ultimate defense of BJP leadership towards the acts of corruption among its leaders. 

 This is not the only ‘shameful’ defense of the BJP leadership. There are many other ‘shameless’ acts of its leaders. For example, Hartal Halappa, the Food and Civil Supplies Minister was trapped while trying to ‘rape’ his friend’s wife. None in the BJP leadership condemned his act. Rather when he was sent to judicial custody, the BJP government ensured that he was lodged in VIP ward in Victoria Hospital instead of the jail. From day one to the day of his release on bail, Halappa has spent the period in VIP ward meeting friends, relatives etc. Any political party worth its salt with little moral values would have suspended the likes of Halappa from the party. But Halappa instead has become a prominent face among the BJP leadership. 

 Renukacharya’s extra marital affair with a ‘high class’ Nurse is also well known. Their colourful photos in compromising positions flooded the walls of his Honnali constituency and the nurse had filed a criminal case against him. Renukacharya, a staunch follower of Yedurappa who later led the gang against him, was not even fit for consideration to any office of profit. But Yedurappa to protect his CM gaddi had made him a minister. And it is this Renukacharya who is in the forefront of defending the porn gate stars. 

 What is disgusting is the attitude of the Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda who considers the porn gate issue as a petty one. The entire government and the leadership of BJP are standing like a rock behind the ‘resigned’ ministers by describing their actions as improper but not undesirable. The BJP Ministers and MLAs have successfully blocked the discussions on the porn gate. It is not new to them. They have done the same thing when the opposition wanted to debate the Mining scam of Reddy Brothers and also on the Lokayukta issue. Sadananda Gowda who earlier tried to run the session smoothly by soliciting the help of opposition is slowly but steadily emulating Yedurappa’s example. The BJP’s legislature party meeting had decided to fully back the porn gate stars and has blocked any discussions over the issue and the houses were adjourned. Needless to say that Speaker had insulated the BJP Ministers and MLAs from any charges. 

 Whatsoever, the BJP government has already outlived its utility long back. Sadananda Gowda, who raised some hopes of good governance, has also sullied his image by his inept handling of the porn gate issue. He has rushed to the rescue of the scamsters who have committed a criminal offence, that too when the Assembly was discussing an important issue. As expected, the Speaker has ordered an enquiry! What is there to enquire now Mr. Speaker? The Ministers were caught on live cameras watching porn films on their mobile. Then what is there to enquire now? 

 The actions and blunders of BJP government and its leadership have shamed the word shame! 

And that is all.