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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

BELLARY GONE! 

YEDURAPPA’S MAGIC WANES, BJP LOOSES DEPOSITS 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter ERASING CORRUPTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

ERASING CORRUPTION 

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

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

 But how to fight corruption? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And that is all.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

EMPOWERING THE FIGHTERS!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And that is all.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

TIME WILL TELL!

 ILL TIMED SUSPENSION OF REDDY LOYALISTS MAY HIT BACK THE GOVERNMENT 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And that is all!

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!

 ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE LOKAYUKTA, WHERE IS TEAM ANNA? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And that is all.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE BATTLE OF BELLARY!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter AGE DOES MATTER PREMATURE FORCEFUL RETIREMENT OF HEAD CONSTABLE

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

AGE DOES MATTER! 

PREMATURE FORCEFUL RETIREMENT OF HEAD CONSTABLE 

The negligence on the part of a Head Master cost P. Racha, a Head Constable in Yelahanka Traffic, four years of service. The apathy of the police top brass in not honouring the judgement of a court forced the Head Constable to retire from service despite having four more years of service. Further, he was ordered to retire on 31.11.2010! This is the first time in the history of Gregorian calender that November month has been shown as having 31 days! The tragedy of errors has left P. Racha, a sad man. 

P. Racha, a Head Constable in Yelahanka Traffic was forced to retire four years before attaining superannuation. Despite the tell tale evidences of his age, his relentless efforts to restore his original date of birth, supported by a court’s decree to that effect has gone in vain. The red tapism too has contributed its might. 

P. Racha, was born in a dalit family in Kollegal in November 1954. The entries in Primary school too show this date. According to Racha, he studied in a government National higher primary school and it is here that his tale of woe started. The school authorities issued the TC to study in High School, and wrongly mentioned his date of birth as 22.11.1950 instead of 1954, he said. 

 “Due to my dalit background, I did not realise this blunder initially. It was only when I failed in SSLC; I discovered this blunder and few sympathisers advised me to get the date of birth changed to the original date”, he said. After making futile attempts to get my date of birth changed, I approach the Kollegal Munsiff Court in 1982. The court after conducting proceedings issued a decree in 1983 giving a direction to the authorities to change my date of birth from 22.11.1950 to 22.11.1954. The court declared that the date of birth of Racha as 22.11.1954”, he added. 

 He joined the Police department in 1984 and the police department continued with Racha’s 1950 inflated date of birth in the absence of the modified certificate from the education department. “The education department took its own sweet time of more than a decade to effect the necessary changes in my certificate and marks card. In fact, the JDPI and Divisional Secretary of the SSLC Board started acting on the issue only after the Deputy Director of prosecution (Civil) gave the opinion in 2008 and that too acting on the letter by the police Inspector of Yelahanka Traffic”, said Racha. 

“However, before all these developments, I had made several representations to the ACP, DCP, Police Commissioner and even DGP, pleading them to effect the change, in date of birth as decreed by the Kollegal Court . They directed me to submit the necessary records to take the needful action, and not once but many times and every time, I submitted the required records including the changed SSLC Marks Card etc., but no action was initiated. The only action in this regard was the letter by the Inspector of Yelahanka Traffic to the JDPI, Mysore Division. And here too, the JDPI and Divisional Secretary of the SSLC Board took more than a year to clarify the issue. The JDPI had stated that as per the decree of the Kollegal court, my date of birth has been changed and that my application for change of date of birth can be considered”, he further added. 

 Then in July, 2010, the DCP (Traffic) issued a Memo publishing the list of police personnel retiring from July to November 2010 and Racha’s name was also there in the list. Interestingly this Memo/Order did not have any date even though it has the Number as No.112/Sibbandi-1/Sam.Pa/2010. It is another matter that DCP has signed the Memo on 8th July. In the list of 1 to 9, the 9th name was P. Racha, Head Constable. And blunder of blunders is that the date of their retirements has been shown as 31.11.2010! 

November month has only 30 days and one wonders how the officials in the DCP office made it a 31 days month! Even after the blunder was detected, there was no rectification done. Now further, considering the order, Racha had to retire on 31st of November, 2010, but as November does not have the 31st day, Racha was forced to retire on 30.11.2010! This is another blunder as he has been retired a day earlier than the stipulated date! 

 “While I submitted the records many times from 2007, the police commissioner directed the DCP to provide information whether I had applied for change of date of birth within the stipulated time as provided in the rules. Actually, the rules were amended in 2006 and three years time was provided for applying change in date of birth”, clarified Racha. 

 “However, if this was to be the stand taken just a month before my forcible retirement, why did the top brass not reject my application in 2007 itself? Why did they demand court orders, rectified certificates etc. on many occasions? Finally, few days before I was given an endorsement that my application cannot be considered as it is time barred and was forced to retire. If my application was rejected at the initial stage itself under the same rules, I would have either resigned to fate of losing four precious years of service or had challenge the rejection in a court of law”, he argued. 

It is time, the top brass and also the Home Minister take a look at the entire episode and do justice to Racha, or is it too much to expect from them?

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter PLANETS AND THE PEOPLE TV ASTROLOGERS TAKE GULLIBLES FOR A RIDE. MUST BE BANNED.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

PLANETS AND THE PEOPLE 

TV ASTROLOGERS TAKE GULLIBLES FOR A RIDE. MUST BE BANNED. 

The other day, a TV astrologer created fear among people, particularly women folk by stating that those married on particular dates face serious problems and to ward off the evil, they should get their Mangalasutras removed and wear it again after purification in the name of God or Gods with animal face. Interestingly, he asked the people to come to him to get the purification process of their Mangalasutras! 

Astrologers making one or the other bundle predictions on TV are common today. They act as if they are the messengers of God and people should believe them and do what they tell them. And the tragedy is that some people blindly follow their orders given on TV shows. These astrologers are thus making money in heaps by instilling fear among the gullible followers. 

Then there are scientific astrologers and numerologists who also appear in TV chat shows. They also put their foot in the mouth by giving predictions none of which prove right. The TV channels try to bring in more new faces but many astrologers, numerologists and scientific astrologers have become dominant. In spite of their repeated blunders in predictions, they continue to play dominant roles in peoples’ lives and continue to appear on Television shows. 

Few astrologers had predicted a clean sweep victory for Indian cricket team in their England tour, months ago. But, unfortunately, it was a clean sweep in the negative way. Similarly, most of the astrologers had predicted Sachin to score his hundredth century at Lords but he ducked! 

Arguably, the TV channels have glorified the ‘Astro’ talks only for the sake of the TRP. If an ‘eclipse’ is to happen, the channels bring in astrologers to talk about the evil effects of the eclipse on people, born in ‘Rashi’ etc. and they also advice the ‘would be’ affected to undertake some preventive measures to ward off the evil effects. Interestingly, they reel out few facts as a result of their vast research to make people fear more. 

It should be remembered that no astrologer predicted Yeddyurappa’s fall from the CM post. They simply said that he will face difficult times and because of the various Satvik and Tantric sevas he was doing, the difficulties will vanish and he will complete the full term. But he was removed halfway. Even after his resignation, many astrologers predicted Jagadish Shettar becoming the CM, but, Sadananda Gowda took the pie. Similarly, none of the astrologers and numerologists predicted Yedurappa going to jail. But, he did go to Jail. 

Normally, the astrologers are soothsayers, which are in a way, counselors. There are a negligible number of astrologers who try to provide relief to the disturbed people through kindling hope for the future, and they do not depend on astrology for their livelihood. Whether their predictions come true or not, people get some mental satisfaction, at least for the time being. But, the society has to be vigilant of bundalbaaz astrologers who have made it a roaring business. 

 If one looks at the business of TV astrologers, one has to pay Rs.500 for registration and appointment and wait for the turn. On the appointment day again, the customer has to pay Rs.500 for consultation. Thus the astrologer is paid Rs.1000 per head - 500 for registration and 500 for consultation. And the real business starts during the consultation. The customer is enlightened about the evil forces or bad phases hindering them or their family and remedial measures are recommended which costs not less than Rs. 15000. In a way, these astrologers make multi million business by scaring the ordinary people. 

 Some astrologers advertise of “Taking fees after relief”. They say they will charge fee only after people get relief! This may be sweet news to ears, but here too, one has to pay Rs.500 towards registration. And during consultation, this ‘challenging’ astrologer, as usual suggests some remedy. He then asks the customer to bring all the ingredients as per the list given to him on his own to imply that he will not get any commission on purchases. Innocent customer then “forcefully” convinces the astrologer to arrange the items and pays few thousands depending on the estimate of the astrologer because some items are not easily available. 

Nobody knows whether the astrologer conducts the remedial Shanthi or Prayoga but he gives a pendent or a ring or a talisman. If the customer gets relief, on some or the other reasons, he believes the astrologer and pays up huge fee! In case, if the customer does not get relief, the astrologer tells him that he had done something wrong and nobody quarrels with him. 

Whatsoever, the astrologers are playing with the sentimental attachment of people with the astrology. One wonders why the so called intellectuals and people with scientific temperaments are keeping their lips sealed. 

Any comments?

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter YOU’VE GOT BAIL YEDURAPPA OUT ON BAIL. LOYALISTS CELEBRATE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

YOU’VE GOT BAIL! 

YEDURAPPA OUT ON BAIL. LOYALISTS CELEBRATE. 

Former Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa, who was in jail for 24 days got released on bail. The news of the bail became the reason for celebrations among the BJP workers and leaders. Ministers, MLAs along with their supporters gathered before the Parappana Agrahara Jail to welcome Yedurappa. Finally Yedurappa walked out of the Jail and there was jubilation and celebration of the event by his supporters who burst crackers. 

Besides, central jail, BJP workers started celebrating the release on bail by bursting crackers and dancing before the BJP offices. The BJP government on its part laid out a red carpet welcome to Yedurappa from the moment he stepped out of the Jail by according him VIP status. Traffic was halted and he was followed by hundreds of cars. Firstly Yedurappa went to Someshwara Temple in Halasur to offer prayers to Lord Shiva for having got released on bail. There was a move to take him in a procession from Vidhana Soudha to Race Course Road but it was abandoned as his family was waiting for his arrival with Arathi et al. 

The entire episode of giving a hero’s welcome to Yedurappa was not for any achievement small or great but a celebration of his release from Jail on bail. Interestingly, only his loyalist ministers and legislators turned up to welcome him and along with willing electronic media gave live coverage to his release from jail. 

Yedurappa was sent to jail by the Lokayuktha court which is hearing criminal cases against him under Prevention of Corruption Act. He is charged with scams relating to misuse and abuse of his power and position to show extraordinary favour to his family members. There are five criminal cases against him and family under PC Act. All the cases concern sudden enrichment of his family members at the cost of the state exchequer through his direct involvement, who as Chief Minister bent and broke the laws of the land to favour his family members. 

Normally, in such cases, the leaders accused of the crime feels ashamed and their political career comes to an end. Whether they gets exonerated or convicted after the trial, they fall from public esteem. But, the story is different here. Few Ministers loyal to Yedurappa are crying from roof tops that only he can save the party and keep it united. Interestingly, most of these leaders who proclaim loyalty to Yedurappa are not from original BJP. They are defectors from other parties procured by Yedurappa under Operation Kamala. In fact, these leaders have no where to go except sticking with Yedurappa. They are considered traitors by their mother parties because they sold themselves for power and money and in the BJP too, they are viewed with suspicion. True, the original BJP cadre and leaders are sorry for Yedurappa going to jail, but they blame Yedurappa himself for the mess he is in. 

Coming back to bail, as the Supreme Court had recently ruled that high profile politicians should be dealt seriously in corruption cases, the Lokayukta judge had denied the bail to him. Finally, the High Court after many hearings granted bail to him, on technical grounds in one of the cases and an anticipatory bail in another case. There are still three more cases against him and his family members that are under process. 

Whatsoever, when the HC granted bail to Yedurappa and was released, many leaders proclaimed that it was a great achievement and Yedurappa will come out ‘clean’ of all the cases! The fact is that trial has not started at all in any of the cases filed against Yedurappa. It is a long process and as the court had found prima facie case, it had admitted the cases and issued summons and when he tried to avoid summons, the court issued warrant and sent him to jail. And he is released on bail. This does not mean that Yedurappa has won the cases. 

Whatsoever, one feels sick at the celebrations and display of arrogancy and indirect contempt towards courts at the release of Yedurappa from jail, on bail. Mind it, Yedurappa is only on bail. And mere getting a bail in a criminal case is not a big achievement that calls for celebrations. It may be recalled that Yedurappa had blocked all these cases for the last one year and engaged the best legal brains of the country to save himself. He had even forced ‘State Bundh’ after the Governor gave permission to prosecute him under PC Act. 

In fact, Yedurappa’s release from jail does not deserve celebration but needs a thorough introspection by Yedurappa and his die hard loyalist Ministers and leaders. 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE FIGHT WITHIN YEDURAPPA TAKES ON ADVANI. LOYALISTS BOYCOTT VISIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE FIGHT WITHIN! 

YEDURAPPA TAKES ON ADVANI. LOYALISTS BOYCOTT VISIT 

 Former Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa has gone to the extent of challenging Advani. He successfully made his loyal Ministers, MPs and MLAs to boycott the Jan Chetana Yatra of L. K. Advani and the BJP is still silent on this open insult. 

L. K. Advani’s public function in Bangalore was doubtful in first place as Home Minister and Bangalore In charge Minister R. Ashok faced the FIR by the Lokayukta police. Moreover, it was embarrassing for Advani to bring his fight against corruption Yatra to Karnataka where the BJP’s Former CM B. S. Yeddyurappa was in jail accompanied by three other former Ministers. Another former Minister Janardhana Reddy is languishing in Hyderabad Jail! Two more ministers R. Ashok and Murugesh Nirani are facing FIR registered by the Lokayukta police against them. Besides, some more ministers are in the queue to face the probes for all their omissions and commissions. 

 It was therefore difficult for Advani to talk against corruption in Karnataka. But, Advani stood firm on the public meeting in Bangalore and the State BJP saved the day by entrusting the responsibility of the public meeting arrangement to Prahlad Joshi, an MP. 

 It may be recalled that a couple of days before his Bangalore programme, Advani had publicly castigated Yedurappa and his corruption soaked government. He stated that Yedurappa was asked many times by the BJP High Command to mend his ways but he did not care. Yedurappa’s answer to Advani’s statement was boycott and the message was loud and clear to all including the BJP high command and his loyalist Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda. 

Yedurappa’s loyalist Ministers like Shobha Karandlaje, Basavaraj Bommai, Nirani, Renukacharya, Umesh Katti, C.M.Udasi, V.Somanna etc. stayed away from Advani’s yatra. The state BJP President K.S.Eswarappa sealed his lips and tried to make the boycott a non-issue. In fact, even Advani tried to wish it away saying that as the BJP High Command has become tough on corruption and Yedurappa was removed for the same reason, his supporters have acted that way. 

 Of course, Sadananda Gowda accompanied Advani during his Yatra in the state and made his presence felt in the rallies and public meetings through his plain speeches and pledging to fight against corruption. In fact, Advani had all praise for Sadananda Gowda and assured the people that he will give honest and transparent rule in the state. 

Now BJP, a so called cadre based party with ‘inbuilt’ discipline is vertically divided into pro and anti Yedurappa groups. Some of his loyalists excused their absence on the pretext of participating in the funeral of a pontiff or some other private engagements. Some said that the BJP had not made it compulsory for them to attend the meeting and some took the plea that they were busy touring and studying the drought situation in their constituencies. But then, if they could not attend the Bangalore program, they could have attended the same in Mangalore and Udupi. 

 In fact, Sadananda Gowda also played down the boycott and declared that no action will be taken against the ‘absentee’ leaders. However, there are more probabilities for the BJP to take some action at the very right time against the absentees for insulting Advani. 

And now the turning point is that Yedurappa is out of jail on bail. Now, he may embark on statewide tour holding public meetings and blaming, the JDS, Congress and also his own party leaders who have conspired to finish him. And it is possible that Yedurappa may deliberately indulge in all such tantrums to force the High Command to take some action against him and his loyalists. Once the High Command takes some action, Yedurappa may pose himself as a ‘Martyr’ and seek public sympathy. He may even float a regional party of this own. 

Arguably, if Yedurappa’s plans are put to practice, the state will witness a political turmoil and may be elections in a few months. 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE BLASTED MRP 90% DISCOUNTS, CRACKERS HAVE A ROCKETING MRP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE BLASTED MRP! 

90% DISCOUNTS, CRACKERS HAVE A ROCKETING MRP 

 Another Deepavali has come and gone. Thousands made a beeline to Hosur in Tamil Nadu to buy the crackers where the prices are 50 to 60% less than in Bangalore. The cracker merchants of Hosur offer heavy discounts which are sometimes up to 90% and nobody bothers to understand this. Interestingly, they make crores of profit in the season. They offer 70 to 90% discount on MRP or 50% discount on the wholesale price, also known as dealer price. 

 The cracker business in Tamil Nadu is not restricted. One fire extinguisher and a No smoking board is suffice for anyone to get license there. Earlier Shivakasi was the sole Cracker business centre which houses hundreds of small, medium and big cracker factories. People used to go to Shivakasi and book their requirements well before the season. Over the years, the Shivakasi crackers manufacturers started housing their outlets in Hosur, 48 kms from Bangalore as Bangalore was and still is the biggest market. 

But the game is all about the MRP. It all started when the crackers business in old Mysore area was monopolised by ‘Pataki Chits’. The agents of these chits would collect a certain amount monthly for three months beginning after the Deepavali and invest it in other businesses for eight months. During the festival they would give gift articles, sometimes gold, silver or utensils depending upon the chit amount and as a bonus also give crackers worth the chit amount. 

These agents would visit and place orders with Shivakasi manufacturers and make them print whatever MRP, they desired, on their consignments. For example, if an agent wants to give crackers worth Rs.1000 to a chit customer (along with gift worth equal amount), he would make the manufacturer print Rs.3000 MRP on gift boxes and make the customers happy as he gets crackers worth 3000 for free despite the fact that it were not worth even Rs.200! 

The Shivakasi manufacturers then started this practice by themselves. They exaggerated the MRP and enticed the customers with huge discounts. In the last decade, the Pataki Chit business almost finished with the soaring prices of gold, silver and steel. Since then, it is individual purchase and people go to Hosur to buy crackers getting cheated and the state losing heavily in taxes. 

Arguably, the cracker business is restricted in our state. Aftermath the cracker tragedy in KR Market, 15 years ago, the shop keepers are banned from stocking and selling crackers. The police issue the license just few days before Deepavali and the merchants have to apply to the police commissioner for the same. Again, the licensees must put up a temporary shed at the fixed and allotted play ground and sell crackers there. All these mean spending money and they also have to invest in buying crackers from Shivakasi and now Hosur. 

As the license is valid for few days, the traders, to empty the stock attract the customers by giving 40 to 60% discount. As usual, the MRP printed on the crackers are highly exaggerated. But, as people are aware they prefer Hosur to save through additional discounts and choice of companies. Unfortunately, neither the state nor TN government has any control over the cracker production, its pricing etc. 

 Earlier there was no sales tax on crackers in TN and a nominal tax was levied later. And this year, the tax is on advalorium basis. If this hike is enforced in TN, the manufactures should have abandoned the exaggerated MRP printing. For example, if a pack of five Flower pots are priced at Rs.500, the tax at 10% would amount to Rs.50. But the selling price of the Flower pots will actually come to Rs.50 after the discounts. Does this mean that the cracker manufacturers are selling their products free of cost, albeit collecting Sales Tax (now VAT)? The MRP includes the costs of raw materials, production, labour, commission to the wholesalers and dealers and the VAT. Then offering 90% discount beats any known standards of reason or logic. Apparently it implies that the TN government too is involved in the fraud? 

The truth is that the entire business borders on fraud MRP. The companies print MRPs in multiples of the product’s cost. For example, if a pack of Flower pots costs Rs.20, the MRP is printed as Rs.300 to 400 and the VAT is not paid on the MRP but on the cost price. Assuming that the companies declare Rs.20 as the cost price and pays Rs. 2 as VAT, the total cost would be 22. And the MRP printed will be Rs.400. Even after 90% discount, the cost will come to Rs.40, and that means a profit of 100%! 

However, if Karnataka State desires and makes sincere efforts, it can easily curb this MRP fraud. The TN border with the state starts at Attibele and there is a commercial tax check post there. When people bring crackers from Hosur, it should be checked and taxed at the check post on the MRP according to our state’s tax slab. This will ensure the crackers manufacturers not indulge in the excess MRP fraud. 

If this exercise is undertaken, people will not go to Hosur or Shivakasi to buy crackers. One can even expect crackers manufacturing units coming up in the state also. In that event, the Shivakasi manufactures will see the reason and will be forced to opt for fair business practices. Till then, one has to live with the excess MRP Fraud of the cracker manufacturers. 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter CALLING THE CRUSADER LONG LIST OF JUDGES HAUNTED BY THE JUDICIAL SOCIETY WHO WILL BE NEXT?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

CALLING THE CRUSADER! 

LONG LIST OF JUDGES HAUNTED BY THE JUDICIAL SOCIETY WHO WILL BE NEXT? 

The specter of Judicial Department Employees Housing Co-op Society is out to claim its victims. Lokayukta Shivaraj Patil, has already resigned following his involvement in procuring sites from the judicial society and Vyalikaval HBCS. Then, all of a sudden, the Upa Lokayukta R. Gururajan too has resigned his post. Interestingly, many probable names for the Lokayukta too have the same stigma. Considering the number of Judges (both serving and retired) of High Court and Supreme Court who are the beneficiaries of the sites from judicial society, one may not wonder if the Lokayukta post is not filled in the near future. 

After the resignation of former Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Shivaraj Patil as the Lokayukta, the Upa-Lokayukta R Gururajan also has tendered his resignation to every one’s shock and surprise. Now, the Lokayukta office is left only with another Upa Lokayukta Justice S. B. Majage who has to manage the affairs until new Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta are appointed by the Government which is making out all efforts to select the persons to the post. 

As per the law, a retired Supreme Court Judge or a Chief Justice of a High Court has to be nominated as the Lokayukta and the Upa Lokayukta has to be filled by a retired High Court Judge. In the wake of sital scams and more focus on the honesty and integrity that the chair deserves, there are not many takers to these posts as some may find themselves in embarrassing situation later when exposed. As long as the Juducial Society is concerned, it is meant to provide benefits to its members who should be the employees of the Judiciary. And apparently, the Judges of the High Court and Supreme are not the employees of the Judiciary, but are constitutional authorities. 

However, despite the reluctance of many former judges to become the Lokayukta, there are some names doing rounds as serious contenders. Among them, the prominent names are of R. V. Raveendran, a sitting Supreme Court Judge who is to retire next month, V. S. Malimath, a former Chief Justice of the High Court and Bannurmath also a former Chief Justice of the High Court. The choice will be invariably made among these three, if one looks at the indications, unless the Government opts for an outsider. 

Even, if one of these three is nominated to the Lokayukta post, one will have no doubt about specter of judicial society haunting them for the simple reason that they too have procured big sites from the judicial society. V. S. Malimath, may feel embarrassed by the fact that the Judicial society has given him 80x120 site when he was a Judge of the High Court. 

The other name is of Bannurmath who is also a close relative of V. S. Malimath. In case, V. S. Malimath decides not to opt for the post, he may back Bannurmath and Bannurmath too has to explain his procurement of a 60x90 site from the Judicial Society. 

The third strong contender is R. V. Raveendran, a sitting judge of the Supreme Court and he will be retiring in November. If R. V. Raveendran has to be made the Lokayukta, the Government has to wait till his retirement. But again, he too has procured 80x120 site from the Judicial society, illegally. 

So, all the three prominent names for the Lokayukta Post are being haunted by the Judicial Society! It is another matter that more than 80 High Court and Supreme Court Judges have procured sites from the Judicial Society layout in Yelahanka. Similarly, some more judges have procured sites in the judicial Layout at Thalaghattapura and one wonders whether a suitable retired High Court Chief Judge or a Supreme Court Judge can be found to the job in the present situation! 

And by the way, the present Upa Lokayukta, S. B. Majage too has procured a 50x80 site from the judicial society! One may not wonder, if he too puts his papers in the near future! Interestingly, Patri Basavanagowda, who retired as Upa Lokayukta some months back too has procured a site from the Judicial Society! 

Well, there we are. The selection of the candidate as the most reputed and needed Lokayukta and Upa-lokayukta is going to be very tough indeed. The ghost of sites in Judicial Society is quietly watching and unfortunately many are sailing in the same boat. Don’t be surprised if the chairs remain vacant for long as the list of beneficiaries in Judicial society is very very long. 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter LIVING ON THE EDGE ANNA HAZARE AND CO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

 LIVING ON THE EDGE ANNA HAZARE & CO 

Anna Hazare’s so called movement ‘India Against Corruption’ which turned into ‘India Against Congress’ is showing all signs of fizzling out due to serious differences between the leaders of the core committee. Anna team’s foray into the politics where Anna has campaigned against Congress has not been. Added to this, is Anna’s encouragement to Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejrival who have kept him as their puppet too has not gone down well and some members have already distanced themselves from Anna’s IAC. It is easy to whip up emotions during a movement but it is very difficult to sustain the movement. 

It was Kiran Bedi first who coined the slogan ‘Anna is India and India is Anna’ and now Arvind Kejrival, has coined another slogan “Anna is above Parliament’’! Even though people at large and even the so called intellectuals were shocked by these proclamations, Anna never raised his finger against such vulgar display of sycophancy and on the contrary enjoyed it. These two proclamations apparently sum up the reality about Anna’s IAC (India Against Corruption). Interestingly, no other members of the Anna team have also raised their concern about such slogans. 

Few days back Prashanth Bhushan who advocated plebiscite in Jammu & Kashmir was roughed up by Kashmiri youths. The separatists backed by Pakistan are demanding the plebiscite in J&K and his statement only supported their cause. One could condemn the physical assault on Prashanth Bhushan but not condone his blasphemy in indirectly supporting traitors. 

 It is to be recalled that his father Shanthi Bhushan was the Law Minister in the first ever non Congress Government in the country in 1977. It was the slogan ‘Indira is India and India is Indira’ that played a dominant role then which ultimately brought Janata Party under Loknayak Jay Prakash coming to power. And surprisingly, the same Shanthi Bhushan has now accepted the slogan ‘Anna is India and India is Anna’. The same Shanthi Bhushan who as the Law Minister abolished many draconian laws enacted by Smt. Indira Gandhi, on the plea that supremacy of the parliament can not be compromised is now living up with the slogan ‘Anna is above Parliament’! 

Arguably, Anna team’s adventures in Hissar Loksabha bye elections have betrayed its political colours. On the pretext of forcing the Government to bring his version of Jan Lokpal Bill, Anna called upon the Hissar voters to defeat Congress. Arvind Kejrival toured the constituency pouring venom on Congress and Anna too sent his recorded statement to the people to vote against Congress. However, the hard reality is that Congress never stood a chance of winning the Hissar seat and has not won it for the last three terms. The bye election was necessitated by the death of the sitting MP Bhajan Lal, the former CM of Haryana and while his son contested the election, Congress was nowhere near, even in challenging him. And smartly, Anna team claimed credit for the defeat of Congress in Hissar! 

Curiously, the Anna team never bothered to adopt the same fight against corruption in other five bye elections across the country including Koppal! They simply could not dare to follow the same policy in Andhra Pradesh etc. 

Of course, Anna’s political adventurism had its fall out. Santosh Hegde has already distanced himself from the Anna team over its political ambitions. In fact, he wanted wider consultations over the Bill to make it a strong one against Anna’s insistence that only his version of Jan Lokpal Bill be passed. Except leading IAC in Bangalore during Anna’s fast at Ramlila grounds, Santosh Hegde has kept aloof from the Anna team. 

Earlier Swamy Agnivesh, feeling bad about the overbearing and autocratic handling of the movement by Kiran Bedi and Kejrival distanced himself from the team. Baba Ramdev left the movement as Anna Team did not support him in his fight against the Black money stashed abroad! Further, two respected Muslim leaders distanced from the team during the Hissar episode. 

 Later two more prominent members, P. V. Rajgopal and Rajender Singh distanced themselves from the Anna movement. And as on now, the Anna team has people who do not matter much to the public. Moreover, Anna has invited the wrath of Shiv Sena boss Bal Thackery who had earlier supported him and also warned him not to talk loosely about the Shiv Sena. Anna has also snubbed RSS which was the movement’s backbone and he has even taken exception to RSS Boss Bhagawat’s support to the IAC. 

 Now, with Anna himself in the dock over his trust issue, the tables are turned against him. The Supreme Court is hearing a petition against Anna and his trust where a judicial commission has found out many irregularities and misappropriations. There are also serious allegations about the funds collected for IAC and its spending by the Anna team. 

If the desertions from Anna team continue, only Anna, Kiran Bedi, Kejrival and Sisodia will remain in the end. There is another interesting fact talked about Anna being a freedom fighter. Anna is now 73 years old and when the freedom came, he was just nine years old. It is hard for one to accept a boy of nine years to have become freedom fighter. 

It is very easy to whip up emotional issues during the initial days of any movement. But it is very difficult to sustain the tempo of the movement. Mahatma Gandhi used to say ‘If means are good, end will always be good’, but, Anna team may not have known this famous saying of Gandhiji.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE BITTER TRUTH METRO LAUNCH- THE HYPE V/S REALITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE BITTER TRUTH 

METRO LAUNCH- THE HYPE V/S REALITY 

The 6.5 Km stretch of Metro from MG Road to Byappanahalli is tom tomed as the ultimate solution to the unimaginable traffic woes in Bangalore. The Metro Corporation has spent crores on the inauguration function. The pomp - splendour - publicity hype for the Metro service should be seen to believe. The 6.5 km stretch is not even 15% of the Metro project. There was no need for such extravaganza. The Metro works in other reaches is going on a snail’s pace and one wonders whether the project will be completed in five years time. 

The Namma Metro service has begun between MG Road and Byappanahalli - a stretch of 6.5 kms. The BMRCL is boasting this achievement of completing 10% of the Metro work and giving an impression to the Bangaloreans that the Metro is a great Diwali gift! It has further spent crores towards the inaugural function of the dedication of the Metro to the public. 

 Keeping aside the emotions of having the prestigious Metro rail in our Garden City, can this really be called an achievement, by any standard? The Metro should have been completed by 2010 itself, whereas, by the end of October 2011, only 10% of the work is completed. It would be a miracle if the entire project is completed by 2015. 

Besides, the havoc caused by the Metro works is incredible and it compounded the already choking traffic woes. Further, the highly damaged roads due to the Pillar erection and overhead slab works are also not asphalted which would greatly benefit the people. As the Metro line passes through high density traffic roads, one can imagine the plight of the people. 

The hardships are there for the last three years and will continue for another few years. As on now, there is no guarantee of the Metro phase-1 completion in the near future as the inaugurated Metro stretch has taken more than four years. The BMRCL admits that one day delay causes Rs. 85 lakhs due to which the project cost has jumped from the original estimate of Rs. 5800 crores to more than 12000 crores! One should not wonder if it crosses 15000 crores by the time, the Phase-1 becomes operational. 

The underground Metro tunnel work has become the biggest joke. When the BMRCL awarded the contract to foreign companies for digging the underground tunnel from MG Road to Swastic Circle and Swastik Circle to Leprosy Hospital in Magadi Road, it publicised the high technology machines and its capacity. It said that these world famous machines can dig 100-150 meter tunnel a day and that tunneling work will complete in about a year and half. But the hard reality is that these machines are digging 8 to 10 meters per day! One can now have an idea about the time needed to tunnel almost 9 kms in two reaches. 

The 6.5 Kms inaugurated Metro services which has costed Rs. 1600 crores does no good to the Bangalore traffic even in that stretch and it also cannot cater to the commuters between Byappanahalli and MG Road. People from adjoining areas must use another mode of transport like autos or buses to reach the stations. They cannot bring their vehicles as there are no parking facilities in any of the six stations along this stretch. 

Besides, despite the boasting of the Metro services being hi-tech and stations tech savvy, ordinary people face difficulty in swapping the cards, using elevators etc. In addition, there are restrictions like the restriction of number of people in the station at any time. The BMRCL says that it will allow only 400 people at a time and only after they have left in the train, another batch of 400 will be allowed inside! Then there is the time restriction of staying for maximum of 20 minutes in the station! There is fine and penalty for everything. There is also a restriction in carrying the 10kg luggage for commuting in the Metro. The BMRCL has banned the entry of people with illnesses like serious cold, fever, severe cough etc. Then what about people with other fatal diseases, which cannot be detected on the face value? The list of restrictions is a long one and suffices to say that they are similar to the Air passengers. Thank God, the BMRCL has not made it compulsory for the passengers to get immunized before entering the station! 

Whatsoever, one does not understand the unimaginable hype created for inauguration of 6.5 kms stretch of Metro services. The newspapers and the electronic media are vying to give larger than life coverage to the event, which is only a small beginning. When Namma Metro’s First phase is completed and dedicated to the public, it will be useful as people can reach South from North or South from West etc. in record time, saving money and avoiding traffic problems. That would be a real boon. 

The current rush in Metro is because all citizens are queuing up to enjoy a new experience. Once the initial euphoria is over that is after two or three months, one can get the ground reality of the utility of the inaugurated Metro stretch. At the end of the day, the Metro services can at best become one of the things to see in Bangalore like Cubbon Park, Lalbagh, Vidhana Soudha etc. 

And that is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter BEHIND THE IRON BARS KPSC FRAUD- HN KRISHNA IN JAIL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

BEHIND THE IRON BARS 

KPSC FRAUD- HN KRISHNA IN JAIL 

Former KPSC Chairman and Information Commissioner HN Krishna has been sent to jail, after the judge rejected his bail application. Interestingly, not a single person had felt sympathy with his predicament. Similarly hundreds of Government officials who used to experience the vulgar abuse and threats from him in the Information Commission are happy and relieved. HN Krishna, who holds the record of having the long tenure of Membership (including Chairman Post) in KPSC, had also created a record for being the only member who is spending his time in Jail. 

At long last, the long arms of law have caught up with HN Krishna, the former Chairman of KPSC and Information Commissioner. HN Krishna is basically a politician and he chose the ‘safe’ routes to get at the power. He is more famous for his foul mouth and vulgar abuse as the Information Commissioner. 

When he completed his term in KPSC as chairman, he made all out efforts to become a MLC but could not garner support to rehabilitate him politically. But, HN Krishna was also not prepared to live without power. He was very much concerned about his ‘Rent free’ bungalow, official car, drivers etc. enjoyed by him as KPSC Chairman. Even after his term expired, he did not simply vacate the official car and quarters and wanted to retain the same by getting into some seat of power. But the law stipulates that a person who has been a member or Chairman of a PSC can not hold any offices, let alone offices of profit. At the maximum, the person may be nominated to UPSC or PSC of other states. 

 Unmindful of the reality and legality, HN Krishna made rounds of politicians in power and eyed the post of Information Commissioner for his rehabilitation and retention of his official quarters and car. Finally, he succeeded to become one of the Information Commissioners. As the constitution has barred such appointments, his appointment was challenged in the High Court but Krishna managed the situation and by misrepresenting the facts, got the petition dismissed. 

As an Information Commissioner, Krishna earned notoriety for his vulgar behaviour and abuses to Government officials. In fact, such was his ‘Vulgar’ rule that many officials pleaded for hearing in other benches. Many times, HN Krishna used to threaten even senior officials. In one case of harassment of a Government official, HN Krishna used his PA to file the RTI application and appeal was heard despite the fact that the information was supplied. HN Krishna was very harsh on the Sub Registrars and openly threatened some of them that he will get them dismissed and sent to jail. Ironically, it is HN Krishna who himself is in jail now. 

Even after the High Court ordered CID probe into KPSC fraud, Krishna took it lightly. He had an army of officials in KPSC who could do any damn thing for him. But, finally, the CID was forced to step up the probe and now Krishna finds himself in Jail. Whether he gets convicted or not, the fact remains that the law of the land has made Krishna, a habitual violator, taste the Jail.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter BAILING WITH THE SICKNESS JAILED NETAS END UP IN HOSPITALS AS REFUGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Firoz.T Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

 BAILING WITH THE SICKNESS 

 JAILED NETAS END UP IN HOSPITALS AS REFUGE 

The other day former Chief Minister Yeddyurappa suffered an assortment of serious illness as he entered the Parappana Agrahara Jail. Later, he was rushed to Jayadeva Hospital and kept in an ICU. On the same day Malur MLA and former Minister Krishnaiah Setty collapsed in the Court hall after his bail plea was rejected. He was taken to the Jail in an ambulance and was taken to hospital, again for multiple diseases. 

 It may be recalled that a month back, popular film star Darshan too was admitted to Victoria Hospital for getting sudden illness, the moment he entered the Jail premises. Another Former Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu who is in Jail for the last two months is fighting to get bail on the plea of suffering from cancer. Similarly, MLA Sampangi, who was trapped by the Lokayukta, while accepting the bribe did not even enter the Jail as he complained of chest pain etc. and was taken to the Jayadeva Hospital. He remained in the hospital till he got the bail. 

Same is the case of Former Minister Haratala Halappa, who after being remanded to Jail, complained of serious illness and was shifted to Victoria Hospital. He remained there for almost two months and the doctors kept giving details of illnesses and he remained in VIP ward. After the court granted him bail, he was discharged from the Hospital. While he was on wheel chair all the time while in hospital, he was literally dancing during his welcome in his constituency, after his discharge! 

Same is the case in the 2G spectrum and CWG scams at national level politics. A. Raja who was hale and healthy till the CBI touched him developed serious illness later. Suresh Kalmadi was rushed to the hospital after he complained of chest pain etc. One can go on listing such cases of politicians and VIPs, developing sudden illnesses the moment they were remanded to judicial custody in connection with criminal offences. 

It is because of these manufactured illnesses, politicians have rarely gone to jail in criminal cases. Ordinary people ultimately became cynical but off late, this cynical opinion has started to change as many VVIP politicians and businessmen are denied bail by the courts in various scams. For example, Former Central Minister Raja is in jail for the last six months and DMK Boss and TN Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s daughter Kannimozhi who is also a MP is in the jail for the last three months. Similarly Suresh Kalmadi, a Congress MP and a powerful leader, too is in the Jail for his involvement in CWG scam. There are many other big names in the corporate world who are in jail for their involvement in one or the other scams. 

Even the Supreme Court has refused bail to them and any amount of sudden illness has not helped them get bail. 

Arguably, the top honour of Jail Yatra in State must go to former CM Yeddyurappa. Yedurappa was remanded to judicial custody by the Lokayukta court in two of the five cases against him under prevention of Corruption Act. Yedurappa who had successfully blocked the probe and proceedings against him while he was CM saw the tables turning against him after being removed as CM. He first tried his best to avoid appearing in the court itself but was forced to appear and he tried to get exemption on the plea that he has health problems, but in vain. The court apparently rejected the bail plea. While the Malur MLA Krishnaiah Setty collapsed in the court on hearing the rejection and was sent to jail in the ambulance, Yedurappa was issued arrest warrant as he finally surrendered in the evening and was sent to judicial custody. 

Immediately upon entering the jail premises, Yedurappa developed sudden illness and was treated in the Jail hospital. But that was not to his liking. After midnight, he was shifted to the Jayadeva Hospital and lodged in the VVIP ward and put in an ICU. The doctors of Jayadeva gave many technical names to the assortment of diseases and VIPs including the CM made a beeline to Jayadeva to see Yedurappa and hold discussions. Also many Swamijis visited him in the hospital. Mind it, all these was when he was in ICU, where the normal procedure is that the doctors do not allow anybody to visit and talk with the patients who are put up in ICU. 

It is time; one has to put an end to this ‘Jail illnesses’ of VIPs and VVIPs. 

And that is all.