Corruption is Anti-thesis of Law, Against Development, says Governor

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jan 26: Giving a clarion call for rooting out corruption, Karnataka Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj said corruption was an anti-thesis to the rule of law and good governance, which can nullify benefits of all the development.

Addressing the Republic Day parade after unfurling the tricolour at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground here on Wednesday, the Governor stressed the need for active participation of the society to root out corruption in a sustained manner to achieve visible success.

“The society cannot tolerate corruption and when the country is looking forwarded to take a seat at the high table in the world forum, we cannot afford to have this glaring deficiency in our system,” he said.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, against whom the Governor sanctioned prosecution, left the programme in a mid-way, soon after the Governor’s address. Unlike the previous year, the Chief Minister did not attend the cultural programmes.

Pageantry by schoolchildren and a stunning display of horse riding skills by Army Service Group, Central College, Bangalore, marked the Republic Day celebrations at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Grounds.

In the heavily guarded event, a total 1925 of schoolchildren danced for nearly an hour to the rhythm of patriotic songs. A team of Army Service Group, Central College, Bangalore, displayed equestrian show and exhibited their horse riding skills.

The horse riders picked up small objects from the ground while riding the horses amidst applause form the visitors. The team comprised Subedhar Ashok and Havaldhar Sohan was given a special prize by the Governor for their skills.

In his 12-page address, the Governor said the rule of law sustains democracy and good governance. Fortunately, the Lokayukta was trying its best to deal with the corruption in the system.

“Eternal vigilance is the price we have to pay for the success of democracy. We have a very informed, enlightened and vigilant civil society. But we cannot to be complacent in order to secure sustained development,” he said.

The Governor, who took the salute at the Republic Day parade, said the “higher education is at the crossroads.” In the last couple of years, a number of universities were opened and special focus was given for special areas such as horticulture, law, music, Sanskrit.

But there was a need to improve the standards in the university education by attracting the best talents in the faculty and research, he said.

``It is time that the higher education is left in the hands of academicians who have ability to take this field to higher standards,” he said appreciating the Karnataka Knowledge Commission’s proposal to establish innovative universities was an encouraging development.

Stating that the power situation has improved in recent months, Bhardwaj hoped “the relative comport level of we have reached in terms of power supply will continue.”

The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal has given its award by largely acceding to the claims of the State and the challenge is how fast we develop the capacity to fully utilise the state share for the benefit of the people living in the basin.

He congratulated the people and the police for maintaining peace in the State through out the year and called upon the people to join together to build a strong, vibrant and progressive state in all spheres of development.

The Governor said the state had lost two of the celebrated Hindustani musicians – Pandit Puttaraj Gawai and Pandhi Bhimsen Joshi. “It is a loss that cannot be filled.”

The Governor. who had criticised the State Government over illegal mining in Bellary district and denotification of lands, said the development model adopted by the state required huge land resources.

``There are competing demands for the land and it is necessary to evolve a more comprehensive and acceptable policy for facilitating availability of land for development projects. The policy should be an inclusive one, particularly to protect the interests of the vulnerable sections,” he said.

It was crucial to ensure that protection of the environment as well as development go hand in hand without one growing at the cost of another. The increasing instances of wild animals coming into conflict with human habitats, attacking people and damaging crops, is a “clear sign of conflict between the development and environment”, he said.

He said several people were displaced and rendered homeless by unprecedented floods in 2009. “I hope all the ongoing works will be completed soon and they will be provided permanent housing.

The Governor congratulated the sport persons of the State who have won many laurels for themselves and the State during the recent Common Wealth Games and Asian Games.
 
Contingents from the Indian Air Force, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), City Armed Reserve, Home Guards, National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme and Bharat Seva Dal, participated in the march-past and the Governor received the salute.

The marching contingents accompanied by their bands put up a show of discipline and authority. The parade followed by a pagent of spectacular display from different schools of the City. These programmes depict scenes of activities of the people of different times in different regions of the State. The programme on Rani Abbakkadevi showed her struggle against the foreign rulers in the coastal part of the State in the 17th century.

However, compared to previous years, there were less variety in the cultural programmes and less number of schoolchildren participated. Students of N B N Vidya Mandira, Wavers’ Colony; Bannerghatta, Government High School, Gottigere; St. Claret Primary School and St Claret High School, Jalahalli; Government Higher Primary Schools of JC Nagar, Sampangiramangara, Sarvajnanagara, and Government Telugu High School, Shivajinagar, Bangalore, participated.

A student wing of the Janata Dal (Secular) staged a protest during the Republic Day celebrations at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground here on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister. Students shouted slogans against the BJP Government and the Chief Minister alleging that Yeddyurappa has no moral right to continue in the office following his alleged involvement in land scams and corruption.

Police immediately arrested about 25 students and peace was maintained. The protest had not disturbed the Republic Day celebrations at the ground. Elaborate security arrangements were made to ensure peace.