BJP in Karnataka: Hundred Not Out - And Counting
The Hindu
Bangalore, Sep 9: Karnataka's BJP government completes 100 days on Tuesday. And the occasion has given rise to the usual self-congratulatory statements, and noisy protests from the Opposition.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa says: "Once in 100 days the government will come out with a report to the people who are the real masters in democracy. The report card will have information about the actions taken by the government."
Among the actions that are unlikely to figure in that report is the winning over of independents and MLAs from both the Congress and the JD (S). Most of the new arrivals got cabinet berths.
If the Bharatiya Janata Party workers are upbeat about their party completing 100 days in power, the State Government officials are equally overwhelmed.
Call any civic official and he is busy making arrangements for the gala function organised by the Government to mark the 100 days in power. With Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa inaugurating a slew of infrastructure works, mostly executed by the BBMP and BDA, officials from these organisations are either preparing for the programme or getting work expedited by the contractors.
Though officials claim that the arrangements have not affected their work, it remains to be seen how the programme will actually benefit them.
Price for information
There is always a friendly exchange of information between reporters and police officers. There are times when such an exchange turns sour as this reporter found out recently.
The reporter during his routine check heard about plans of a Kannada organisation to ransack the building housing Central Government offices. The reporter passed on the information to a police officer, who made arrangements to foil the organisation’s plans. A few days later the reporter met the officer.
During the course of the conversation, the officer produced a cover containing cash.
“I am happy. Take this. This is the usual reward given to informants which is allotted by the Government.”
This reporter of course declined the offer and told the officer not to put a price to the information.
Early for Deepavali
Various government departments go on an overdrive to ensure that all is smooth during festivals. Every festival, the traffic police and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation send press releases to media organisations about the arrangements made.
The KSRTC recently sent a press release to publicise the special transport arrangements made i.e. providing extra buses to meet the festival rush.
The heading indicated that the arrangements were for the Deepavali festival, while the release was issued just a few days ahead of the Gowri and Ganesha festivals.
It was, indeed, surprising to note that the bus service provider had made such elaborate arrangements for the supposed festival rush during end of October.
Or was it just a case of cut-copy-paste syndrome? May be the authorities will be able to throw some light on this enigma.