Highway traveling turns nightmarish

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: Monsoons have set in and as expected traveling on the National Highway 17 has become nightmarish.
Vehicles have to ply amid the four-laning works which are underway and the traveling from Suratkal to BC Road is just worth an experience of a lifetime. The innumerous ditches and potholes give rise to a feeling in long distance travelers to Mumbai and Kerala that they are passing through hell to reach their destination.
While one portion of the work on the Kulai-Baikampady stretch is complete, work on the other portion is yet to be completed. As the new road is in an elevated position than the old one, traveling has been made much more difficult, giving scope for accidents.
On the other hand, the either side of the highway from Kottara Chowki upto KPT Circle that has been dug up and leveled has made matters worse.
Even pedestrians are finding it difficult to move on the highway particularly near Kottara Chowki and BC Road where the fly-over works are underway. There is a general fear that the huge trenches laid for installing the fly-over pillars may claim at least some lives one day or the other.
Why so?
According to officials, the four-laning works of the highway is underway on a war footing. The BC Road-Suratkal stretch should be complete by December 2007.But, presently the progress made is just 30 per cent and the big question is whether the remaining 70 per cent of the works could be complete by then, that is within the next five months.
The main reason was the delay caused in the initial six to seven months period. Though the works had begun prior to previous monsoons, the works were suspended during the last monsoon. But, by the time the work recommenced, almost four months had passed since monsoon ended. In the meantime, the city corporation was also blamed for the inordinate delay in shifting the water pipelines enroute.
Though the Highway Authority has requested the contractors to do as much work as possible even during the rains, presently only the fly-over works are underway while much of the highway widening works could not be continued amid the rains.
Presently, some minor works are underway with the Highway Authority even putting up a board ‘Indina Novu Naalina Geluvu’ (Today’s pain for tomorrow’s happiness). However, the Authority should answer where would be the happiness, if the present problem poses threat to life itself.
The unexplained silence
Even as Highway traveling has become hell like, the blatant neglect of elected representatives in terms of making some alternate arrangements, has invited public wrath.
Presently, there is a growing demand from the public to consider this issue seriously and make some alternate arrangements after discussions with the highway authorities.
Though there are several alternate ways including change of route, fixing particular timings for the movement of heavy vehicles including lorries and tankers; the failure of the authorities to discus the pressing issue has only added salt to the injury.
Presently ‘mud-slinging’ is in full swing on the highway inconveniencing motorists as well as pedestrians Thee are many who observe that the permission to tanker sand lorries on this route has added to the problem.
The need of the hour is for the authorities and elected representatives to wake up from their slumber and find some solution to this problem.

Shetty keen on transferring Billawa officials

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: Allegations are presently being heard against the district minister Nagaraj Shetty that he is evincing undue interest in the transfer of officials, particularly Billawa officials serving various departments in the district. Already, several Billawa officials have even been transferred, reveal sources.
What is noteworthy is that majority of the transferred Billawa officials are class I officials. This, many feel, has made it evident that the BJP only eyed Billawa votes while not having any concern for the community.
While the fact is that the Billawa votes have played a significant role in the upper hand of the BJP in the district, this blatant neglect of Billawa officials, has invited the wrath of the Billawa community.
Already the Bantwal tahsildar Krishnappa Poojari has been transferred to Karwar, Chandrashekhar Poojari, ranger in Bantwal to Mangalore, Sadashiv Poojari, ARTO in Puttur to a place outside the district, Jayanna Poojari, assistant engineer in Belthangady to a non-executive post, Bantwal deputy tahsildar Lokesh Poojari to Moodbidri and Vishwanath Poojari, ZP officer to Udupi.
This widespread transfer of Billawa officials has now turned out to be a hot topic of debate in the district.

Problems galore before Khader

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: The Ullal by-elections are over and Khader has been elected as the new legislator of the land of Abbakka by a considerable margin of 8,032 votes over his BJP rival Chandrashekhar Uchil. Khader was administered oath as legislator at Bangalore recently.
Khader had in fact unofficially reigned as the legislator of Ullal for the past three years when his father the then legislator UT Fareed was ailing and bed ridden. Now that he himself is the legislator, a bountiful of problems in the constituency are awaiting him for redressal.
He was just a Congress leader till recently. Now as a legislator he has the onerous responsibility of functioning above party affiliations. When his father was the legislator he (Khader) was facing an allegation that he was coming in the way of development of non-Congress gram panchayats. All such allegations are a part of politics.
Now, as a legislator he should not allow politics to creep in developmental matters. A few of the problems confronting Ullal are enlisted below with the hope that Khader would consider the same.
1. Ullal reels under sea-erosion every year. The several studies undertaken, visits by leaders, and dumping of boulders into the sea have proved futile. Now there is a need for a permanent solution to the problem.
2. Ullal can definitely be developed into tourist spot. Ullal has the historic Darga, famous temple, church and beach.
3. Steps must be taken to distribute the Ashraya houses constructed at Ombattukere, to its beneficiaries.
4. There is a need to find a permanent solution to the drinking water problem of Ullal.
5. Steps must be taken to construct the Adyar -Pavoor Kadavu Bridge.
6. Steps must also be taken to provide housing facilities and ration cards to the thousands of people of Ullal.
7. First and foremost he has to give topmost priority towards maintaining communal harmony in the constituency.

BJP’s aim at defeating Cong, rather than winning proved fatal

Point of view - B V SEETARAM

The coalition partners in the state government- the BJP and the JD(S) bit the dust in the by-elections to the prestigious Ullal assembly constituency. Many might have observed that the BJP which had cooperated with the Gowda and sons by not fielding its candidate in the Chamundeshwari bye-elections with a view to help JD(S) win the elections, had not been honest enough even to raise an objection when the JD(S) fielded its candidate against it in the Ullal bye-elections. The message was then clear that the JD(S) fielded its candidate following a request by the BJP itself. The ordinary voter had by then come to the conclusion that both the BJP and the JD(S) through an unholy alliance had plunged into the election fray with the ultimate objective of defeating their common enemy-the Congress. The fact that the BJP was operating with a negative approach of defeating the Congress, rather than aiming at its win, made it a villain in public eyes and in turn created a huge sympathy wave for Khader.
The BJP and the JD(S) had not once launched attack on each other during the campaigning. All their attacks were targeted at the Congress only. Shouldn’t the BJP have considered Congress and the JD(S) from the same angle during campaigning? Similarly, the JD(S) too should have launched an attack on the BJP and the Congress. As both the BJP and JD(S) did not hurl accusations against each other not even once by mistake, the voters had realized that the JD(S) was in the fray merely to help the BJP. Thus, there was a clear mandate against the coalition partners in the state government. Why the understanding between the JD(S) and BJP during the Chamundeshwari by-elections did not work in Ullal? Kumaraswamy and Yadiyurappa are answerable to the people of Ullal.
The BJP which had become quite notorious during the bundh and violence that took place in Mangalore, Ullal and other places in October last year, by fielding Chandrashekhar Uchil of Bhajrangdal, the hardcore organization of the Sangh Parivar, did nothing but add salt to the injury of Ullalites.
Though there was no consensus among local BJP leaders on fielding Uchil, he was finally chosen as the party candidate. Now the leaders who chose him to contest seem to have been enlightened that too after burning their fingers. Now, in a post-poll analysis, several BJP leaders are observing that the party had good chances of winning had it fielded Jayaram Shetty instead of Uchil.
As against the hardcore BJP candidate Uchil, the secular minded UT Khader was the natural choice of the electorate. Khader had not only secured Muslim votes, but also a significant number of Hindu votes. That is his plus point. His visiting religious shrines of all faiths after winning, reflects his secular nature. It seems Khader, who would go along well with members of all communities, can be termed Ajathashatru as far as Ullal is concerned. Ullalites feel Khader can be a Good Samaritan. The main reason for Khader’s choice is that he rushes to the aid of those in distress at any time.
Though I and Khader are not any old time friends, he was a good hearted man who visited me when I was in hospital after my arrest, courtesy the vested interests and religious mafia. Even after my release, he had been to my residence to enquire about my health. It would be injustice if I do not mention that at that moment, I saw a brotherly figure in this youth.
Khader, who was a voice of the people of Ullal and heard their grievances when his father was ailing and bedridden, was the natural choice for people of Ullal. People of Ullal hope that this young man can meet their aspirations. Even I personally have the faith that Khader may play an instrumental role in the progress of Ullal, by getting sanctioned record number of developmental works and by responding to the problems of the masses.

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No surprise if Ullal proves BJP’s Waterloo

After the JD(S) candidate in Ullal failed to even retain his deposit despite the Chief Minister plunging head on into a weeklong campaign by setting aside his other duties, it is time for Deve Gowda who speaking length about Ethics, dharma and Lakshmana Rekha in politics, to sit with his chief miter son and decide how far it is proper for their party to remain in power no. Even the cold response from the BJP to the defeat in Ullal polls, is a witness to the degradation of a values in the political field/
There is a chance of the Ullal election proving a waterloo for the BJP which lost by an impressive 8000 margin by proving wrong the general notion that any win in Ullal might be just be a margin of over a hundred votes. Deputy Chief Minister BS Yadiyurappa and sate BJP chief DV Sadananda Gowda must own up responsibility for the party’s debacle. The main reason is the refusal by both Yadiyurappa and Gowda for t he other faction in the BJP to plunge into campaigning.
Now there are party leaders who even argue that making Shobha Karandlaje, the Deputy CM’s right hand as the election-in charge proved fatal for the party. OIT is left to be seen how Shobha who is sensitive to criticisms would react to this allegation.
Whatever may be Yadiyurappa action, it is for sure that the other faction in the BJP which working overtime to refuse the chief ministerial post to the Yadiyurappa might make use of the Ullal results to achieve its objective.
Deve Gowda who is already greatly worried over the damage which his party’s secular image would face if JD(S) took part in the coalition government led by Yadiyurappa is already suggesting his two sons that it would be better to face mid-term elections rather than associate with the BJP.
Amidst all this confusion there is the question as to how may more days this coalition government would last. One thing is for sure that the State government has already been admitted to the ICU!

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Jyothi-Hampankatta road still not open for traffic

By C T reporter
MANGALORE: It has been months since the Jyothi-Hampankatta road, one of the prominent roads of the city, was closed for vehicular traffic ever since the concretization works commenced. Now the big question that is asked by many is when this road will be declared open for traffic.
The road was closed about five months ago. Though the works are now almost complete, reports indicate that some of the works are pending near Jyothi.
Today several people are greatly inconvenienced owing to the closure of this road. Those wishing to go towards Balmatta, Jyothi and Hampankatta have to go in a roundabout manner.
Though some buses reach State Bank via Jyothi, Bavutagudde in the morning hours, almost all the buses ply via Falnir, KS Road Road. Though buses pass through Jyothi from their starting point State Bank, the problem arises when the buses enter the city from outside.
The closure of this road for traffic has also hit hard the businesses of the several shop keepers enroute who are hoping the road would be declared open for traffic at the earliest.

Dist minister’s bid to sideline Khader

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: An incident wherein the district in-charge minister Nagaraj Shetty distributed compensation to two aggrieved families at Ullal constituency limits without taking the newly elected legislator UT Khader into confidence has been reported of late.
The minister along with the tahsildar of Mangalore had distributed cheques for Rs 50,000 each on behalf of the government to the family of one Balappa Poojari who died of electricity shock at Talapady and to the family of Kinya Ansar who died after a tree branch fell over him at Kotekar Ukkuda.
In both the cases, Khader had tried to secure compensation for the aggrieved families right since the beginning. However, when the compensation was released and the time came for cheques distribution he was neglected by the minister.
Khader who has taken this seriously has orally complained to the deputy commissioner and has even rapped the tahsildar who has confessed that he did so owing to pressure from the district minister.
It is learnt, the minister who contacted the tahsildar over mobile asked him to arrange for the function the very next day when the legislator had been to Bangalore for his oath taking function.
When the tahsildar informed about this to the minister, he it is learnt, was hell bent on holding the function in the absence of the legislator.
Now Congressmen in Ullal are alleging that the minister was only trying to boost his image through such tactics. In fact the very same minister had just recently taken Khader to task for distributing bicycles to students even before his oath taking function.

Ivan shining, Ballal unhappy

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: It has been reliably learnt that the North Block Congress president Suresh Ballal is greatly irked over the undue publicity enjoyed by the DCC vice president and former JD leader Ivan D’Souza.
Presently, Ivan who is eying the Mangalore assembly constituency has maintained good relations with all leaders particularly the administrative reforms commission chairman Veerappa Moily. This in turn has become difficult for Ballal to digest.
Ivan who is a recent entry into the Congress and was spitting venom against the Congress while in the Janata Dal earlier, is presently shining in the Congress and is considered one of the district Congress leaders. He was even the election agent of the Congress candidate in Ullal. All these activities by Ivan with an eye on Mangalore constituency. This has irked Suresh Ballal who is very well aware of Ivan’s intentions. He was the man who was in the race for a party ticket during the previous assembly election when the former deputy mayor Lancelot Pinto sidelined him. This time there is no chance for Lancy as Ivan has superceded all Christian leaders in the Congress. For that matter, even the DCC chief Blasius D’Souza is totally inactive. Considering all these aspects, Ivan is forging ahead with full vigour in the Congress.
Ballal is particularly infuriated with Ivan, more so because he (Ballal) too is an ex-Dal man who had defected to the Congress and had even contested from Mangalore once. Now his second chance is all likely to be snatched by Ivan.

Dist minister’s bid to sideline Khader

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: An incident wherein the district in-charge minister Nagaraj Shetty distributed compensation to two aggrieved families at Ullal constituency limits without taking the newly elected legislator UT Khader into confidence has been reported of late.
The minister along with the tahsildar of Mangalore had distributed cheques for Rs 50,000 each on behalf of the government to the family of one Balappa Poojari who died of electricity shock at Talapady and to the family of Kinya Ansar who died after a tree branch fell over him at Kotekar Ukkuda.
In both the cases, Khader had tried to secure compensation for the aggrieved families right since the beginning. However, when the compensation was released and the time came for cheques distribution he was neglected by the minister.
Khader who has taken this seriously has orally complained to the deputy commissioner and has even rapped the tahsildar who has confessed that he did so owing to pressure from the district minister.
It is learnt, the minister who contacted the tahsildar over mobile asked him to arrange for the function the very next day when the legislator had been to Bangalore for his oath taking function.
When the tahsildar informed about this to the minister, he it is learnt, was hell bent on holding the function in the absence of the legislator.
Now Congressmen in Ullal are alleging that the minister was only trying to boost his image through such tactics. In fact the very same minister had just recently taken Khader to task for distributing bicycles to students even before his oath taking function.

Rai’s show of strength at press meet

MANGALORE: The presence of seven block Congress presidents at a press meet convened by the former minister Ramanatha Rai in the city recently seems to be just an effort to project Rai as the most ideal candidate to be the next district Congress president. Rai who had convened the press meet to share his joy over the victory of the party candidate in the Ullal by-election, said the result made it evident that the BJP’s communal agenda had no takers in the district and that even those at the helm of affairs in the government could do nothing to defeat the congress.
The Ullal results, he said would have an adverse bearing on the state government. Block Congress presidents Suresh Ballal, Prithviraj R, Eshwar Ullal, Padmashekhar Jain, Harish Kumar, PP Varghese, Sarvottam Gowda, former presidents KP Thomas, Nonayya Poojari, party leader BM Idinabba, mayor Vijaya Arun, former mayors K Ashraf, Shashidhar Hegde, Hilda Alva, former ZP chief Mamatha Gatti, DCC vice president Ivan D’Souza and others were present on the occasion.
Thus the presence of the seven block congress chiefs at the press meet seems to be conveying a message to the sitting DCC Chief Blasius D’Souza that their support is for Ramanatha Rai as the next DCC chief.
Already the DCC in-charge Ramanatha Rai is being projected as Blasius D’Souza’s successor.

The Congmen who betrayed Khader

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: Several interesting aspects are slowly coming out after the Ullal elections. While it has now remained no secret that many JD(S) workers themselves voted for the Congress instead of their own candidate, reports are coming in that some Congressmen who were close to Khader and were seen along with him,, had ditched him by campaigning for the JD(S) candidate in a hush hush manner.
It is learnt, these party men had been in touch with JD(S) leaders as their hands had been sufficiently greased by a JD(S) minister.
They being in the Congress had worked for the JD(S) candidate by telephoning their near and dear ones and asking to vote for Natekal instead of Khader, who they described as the best candidate.
Even Khader is aware of this fact. But he has not bothered much.
Meanwhile, there are several in the party who have already begun pulling legs of Khader as they are very well aware that Khader has greater chances of becoming a minister in case the Congress comes to power in the next elections, particularly as there are no other prominent Muslim leaders in the district from the Congress.

Rafique, Atik encounters were contract killings!

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: A shocking information that has been received of late is that the reported encounter killings of Atik alias Bullet Sudhir and Mulki Rafique, at the behest of the SP owing to pressure from hardliner Hindus, were in fact contract killings taken up by the SP himself.
When BJP leader Sukhananda Shetty was murdered in front of his granite shop on Kulai-Hosabettu Road on December one last year, the police at that moment were not sure about the killers though they had enough clues before them. It was then that some Sukhananda Shetty well-wishers who were also saffron band entrepreneurs decided to take two lives to avenge the Sukhananda Shetty killing, in the second week of December as by then Shetty’s Vaikunta Samaradhana would have been over. It was also decided to depute hired killers from a killer gang in Mumbai. Some names like that of Ravi Poojari came up before them. In the meantime, a three member team even left for Mumbai for talks with the dons. During the second round of talks the dons reportedly demanded Rs one crore to finish off two. However, when the team failed to strike a deal with the hired killers, a proposal came up as to why not award the contract to the khaki band for half the amount. Finally, this matter was brought up for discussion with Modi’s disciple in the district.
Sources now indicate that this ‘powerful’ politician soon held talks with the SP and struck the deal for the contact killing. Then an entrepreneur who arrived at the airport from Mumbai left straight to the SP’s residence to hand over the suitcase.
For the SP who had to yield to the saffron band pressure to execute two to maintain the equilibrium following the earlier killing of two in a police firing during the procession of the dead body of Sukhananda Shetty, the contract offer was nothing but a God send gift. Dayananda, who had tried to keep this Rs 50 lakh deal a secret to some extent, entrusted the task to his sub-ordinate inspectors Gangireddy and Venkatesh Prasanna. The two officers were also assured of an award in return. No sooner he received orders, Venkatesh Prasanna wasted no time - Atik was brought from Jog on December 18 and Rafique from a town near Madhurai in Tamil Nadu on December 30 as if everything was pre-planned ; to be more precise, the two officers knew the whereabouts of the two much earlier.
Even though Mulki Rafique’s name was heard in the Polali Ananthu murder case, the police without apprehending him had been only trying to get an excuse saying they were unaware of his whereabouts. However, the very same cops had no problem in apprehending the two when they wanted them.
The SP, who had already received the contract amount, gets Atiq finished at Ottinane near Byndoor on December 19 the very next day of his apprehension and Rafique at Indrali near Manipal, 12 days after his arrest.
However in case of Rafique, as the plans of the cops to finish him off in an encounter, was leaked to the press well in advance, the encounter date was put off and Rafique was finally eliminated on January 14. Following this incident, Rafique’s family itself had faxed to all media saying the SP Dayananda himself had masterminded the encounter plot. This eventually turned true also.
The fact that Rafique and Atiq who were arrested in connection with Sukhananda Shetty murder were eliminated through encounters in a similar fashion is the greatest evidence to prove that both the encounters were fake and pre-planned. Even if the cops try to argue that it was improper to link both the encounters and that they were coincidental, the civilized society cannot accept this argument. It is only an independent and impartial probe that may bring out the truth. Neither the SP nor his higher-ups have so far answered questions like how the two accused in police custody who were chained in hands and legs could escape and how they could have pistols or revolvers with them.
Today, the general opinion among the public is a brain mapping test may be inevitable on the SP who ordered the encounter and the two inspectors who executed the same, in order to get a true picture.

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Encounter killings: PUCL resents DySP’s remarks

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The Dakshina Kannada district unit of the PUCL has taken strong exception to the Mangalore sub-divisional DySP D Dharmayya’s remarks to the allegation of the PUCL that the five encounters resorted to by the police officials in DK during the past two year period, were fake. It may be mentioned here that the PUCL had earlier submitted a memorandum to the chief minister seeking criminal proceedings and demanding the arrest of the police officials who resorted to the five ‘fake’ encounters in the district. However, the DySP in his remarks had termed the allegations as baseless.
The PUCL raising objection to Dharmayya’s remarks, has questioned how a sub-ordinate officer could probe the case when the allegation is against the SP himself, and has demanded a CID or CBI probe into the case.
The PUCL had in a letter addressed to the Chief Minister on January 31 had drawn his attention to the over dozen encounter deaths in DK and Udupi districts since 2003. Complaining that "DK and Udupi police have become notorious as
killers," the PUCL had furnished details of the encounter killings resorted to by the police.
"This is the heights of the arrogance and unbridled operation of the police; the government by misusing the police machinery was exploiting the people. The police officials, in order to win the appreciation, awards and promotion, through their political bosses, were mercilessly killing people," the PUCL had stated in its complaint.
Referring to the encounter deaths of Shaji alias David, Atiq alias Sudhir, and Mulki Rafiq, the PUCL had questioned why charge sheet had not been filed against the accused police.
"A policy of bias has been pursued by not arresting and charge sheeting the police officials concerned after considering every encounter and custody deaths as murder, as per the orders of the National Human Rights Commission," the PUCL had said in its complaint.
The DySP Dharmayya who had said that the PUCL complaint has been investigated had mentioned only about the encounter of Shaji alias David and had even defended this encounter.
The PUCL has replied as below to Dharmayya on May 31.
* As the accused is a district superintendent of police, the allegations against him needs to be probed by an officer holding a higher post than him.
* There is a Human Rights Cell in the police department. The investigation had to be done by a senior officer of this cell or through the National Human Rights Commission.
* Your letter does not verify whether an FIR has been field against the guilty officers as per the orders of the Supreme Court and National Human Rights Commission.
* Your letter mentions only about Shaji alias David. But we in our letter have mentioned about several other killings.
In the meantime, PUCL leaders of the district held talks with state PUCL leaders in Bangalore on the encounter deaths in DK. They have even discussed with legal experts on moving the High Court or Supreme Court in this regard.

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‘BJP now knows who is facing brunt of Abbakka’s curse’

CT Interview
MANGALORE: This youth who was seen running around in Ullal till recently, helping those in need, is now the legislator of the constituency. He has all the qualities of a good leader and has already made efforts to improve the communal amity in Ullal. He by visiting religious shrines of all faiths, no sooner he won the elections, has sent the message of peace to the masses. The Canara Time spoke to Ullal’s new legislator UT Khader recently.
Excerpts from the interview
g As the polling percentage was less, did you have any fear about the results?
I had no such fears as I strongly believed that I had the blessings of people of all castes, creeds and religions. Accordingly I have won. But what hurt me the most was the denial of voting rights in the last minute, to people having temporary ration cards. Had the authorities mentioned about this earlier, some alternate arrangements could have been made. Nearly 4000 people were deprived of their voting rights for not possessing voters’ identity cards. In some cases, names were omitted owing to neglect of authorities. Had all these discrepancies been cleared, then my victory margin would have increased by 4000.
g What was the strategy that helped you register a convincing win?
BJP people had resorted to malicious propaganda against the Congress and against me personally. But we without bothering about it had resorted to campaigning peacefully. We explained to voters the evil intentions of the JD(S) and the incidents that took place after the BJP came to power in the state. Apart from this, we had no other vote winning strategy.
Were the votes polled in your favour, the votes for the party or for you personally?
May be both.
g What do you have to say about the sympathy wave, cash distribution etc?
People who have lost have to cite some reason for their failure, and it is owing to this that they have several complaints to make. MLC Shobha Karandlaje had said that the Congress party had the curse of Rani Abbakka. Now, the BJP people might be very much aware as to who has been cursed by Abbakka.
g What do you have to say about the poor show of the JD(S)candidate?
The JD(S) candidate giving a poor show despite the Chief Minister himself campaigning for the party for five to six days is a shame on the candidate as well as the party. The voters did not fall prey to the trap laid by these parties. Nor did they heed to malicious propaganda. The voters here only considered the service of the candidates as post or individuals did not matter to them. Let the JD(S) leaders and chief minister understand this.
You are every well aware of the problems of the constituency? What would be your top priority?
Ullal is reeling under sea-erosion. The problem cannot be solved merely with the help of the legislator’s funds. It needs central grants too. Along with it the cooperation and assistance of the state government too is essential. As a legislator I will try my level best. In order to solve drinking water problem, I will strive to secure water to Ullal from Tumbay. Efforts would also be made to open a college in Ullal.
g Is this your assurance?
No, I will not give any new assurance. Several projects initiated and promises given during my father’s tenure have remained unfulfilled. I will try to implement the same first.
Injustice has been done to several during the Ullal riots. Will you strive to secure justice?
We would pressurize the government to make public the reports of the Agarwal committee and the CoD investigation ordered by the government.
g What about the allegation that you had come in way of development of panchayats ruled by non-Congress parties?
Such an allegation is baseless. The people of the constituency can contact me at any time with regard to any problem; I will try my level best within my capacity to solve the same. There is also an allegation that the coalition government has been biased while releasing funds for Ullal? Is this right? Will people who have hurled allegations against me answer?
g JD(S) Leader Vasanth Bangera who campaigned for you and other leaders have demanded the resignation of the district minister Nagaraj Shetty? Will you too demand his resignation?
The voters have given their verdict in my favour. It is enough if the district minister understands this fact. There is no need for me to separately demand for his resignation owning moral responsibility?
g The BJP candidate has charged you of cash distribution?
It is natural for such allegations to come after defeat. The voters love me and have identified my service and have even understood me. That is enough for me. Even prior to the elections several tried to tarnish my image. The voters themselves have answered them.
g Is it that some Congressmen themselves had tried to defeat you?
I am not aware of this nor have I bothered much about it All this is common in politics. Thousands of party men and leaders are behind me. It has elevated my spirits.
g The Congress secured fewer votes in areas of MCC limits though majority of the corporators are from Congress. Is this a reflector of the unsatisfactory works?
We cannot say that there has been no developmental work. Probably the votes for the Congress were less as the developmental works were not up to the mark or as expected.

Amarnath Shetty to be MLC?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: The chances of the former Moodbidri legislator Amarnath Shetty becoming an MLC are high considering the recent political developments. The fact is that Amarnath Shetty despite remaining in active politics for a significant number of years as legislator and minister has presently turned out to be a not so noteworthy figure in DK politics.
Of the six MLC posts that would fall vacant shortly, the JD(S) would bag three seats with Shetty standing a chance of bagging one of them. Presently, following the exit of Vasanth Bangera from the JD(S), the party has become a ship sans a navigator and has even bitten dust in the Ullal elections by losing its deposit.
Sources indicate that the party which strongly felt that at least a legislator from the district may help boost the sagging image of the part in the district wants Shetty to be made an MLC.
In case Amarnath Shetty gets as seat in the Upper House, then the possibility of him getting projected as state minister during the tenure of the BJP led government after October cannot be ruled out.
A long journey
As far as DK is concerned, Amarnath Shetty had played a significant role like Vasanth Bangera, in building up JD(S). He has served as legislator of Mulki-Moodbidri constituency and also a state minister. He was once the district president of Janata Dal also. When there was a split in the Dal he had identified himself with Ramakrishna Hegde and had followed him in Nava Nirmana Vedike, Janata Dal (United) and ABPJD. Later, at one stage he had even been in proximity with the BJP and had sprung a surprise a few years ago by being present at the Bajpe airport in Mangalore during the arrival of the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
In developments that followed later on he identified himself with the JD(S) of Deve Gowda after JD (U) virtually lost existence in the district.
Though he had contested the previous assembly elections, he could not emerge victorious owing to the ploy of another JD(S) leader.
In fact, it was he who was instrumental in forging a BJP-JD(S) alliance in the Mangalore taluk Panchayat despite opposition from the then district president Vasanth Bangera. He also saw to it that his son-in-law Bharath Shetty was made the district JD(S) youth wing president. Presently, with the JD(S) being a partner in the government, it may not be difficult for Shetty to get a berth in the Upper House.
In the meantime, sources indicate that Vasanth Bangera had demanded the Vidhana Parishat membership earlier itself and when he realised that he stood no chance, launched a tirade against Gowda and Kumaraswamy. It is said it was owing to this reason he quit the party and planned to join the Congress.
Now, it is being widely felt that Shetty is being considered for the MLC post, to suppress Bangera politically.

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It’s Bunts all over in JD(S)
It has been Bunts all over in the district unit of the Janata Dal (S). While Balaraj Rai has been made the district president of the party, Dr Bharath Shetty is the president of the district youth wing of the JD(S). Yogish Shetty Jeppu is the nominated member of MCC. The Suratkal assembly unit president of the party is Sureshchandra Shetty. Thus almost all strategic posts of the JD(S) in the district have gone to members of the Bunt community itself.

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Shiroor seer’s real love for nature!

From our Udupi office
UDUPI: Recently, Sri Lakshmivara Theertha Swamiji of Shiroor Mutt was much in the news- for his love for nature- by opposing tooth and nail the uprooting of huge trees near the Udupi Taluk office for road widening and footpath laying works. The Shiroor seer taking the officials to task was also shown on TV. But a glance at the past activities of the seer would force one to conclude that this seer had no moral right to protest against tree felling.
The manner in which the seer took the officials to task for the tree felling had even raised doubts as to whether he was a religious head or a lay man. Moreover, the seer’s action had also raised several eyebrows.
But, wait a minute; here is the other face of this swamiji who posed as a great environmentalist and nature lover just recently by raising voice against tree felling.
The seer sometime back had sold to the Manipal Pais the Kundel forest in the 32 acre land belonging to the Mutt, near the Manipal main road. Presently the huge trees from this forest are being felled and transported to some other place. The land in the forest area is also being leveled with an intention of raising multi-storied constructions here. Already one or two buildings have even come up.
It is all likely that the Kundel Kadu would vanish from the Udupi map in the days to come and a concrete jungle would be standing in its place. The very same seer who was responsible for this destruction of a forest land which was in possession of the Mutt, turned into an environmentalist when huge trees were felled near the Udupi taluk office recently.
Wasn’t the seer aware of the fact that the Kundel forest land if sold to Manipal Pais would be converted into a concrete jungle? At least on environmental grounds, he shouldn’t have sold this land, opine locals.
Here it is worth recollecting that this seer some time hack had told in public that he would not sell Kundel Forests but would instead hand over the land to the Sri Krishna Mutt. Has the seer forgotten his words?
Considering all these aspects, one can conclude that the Shiroor seer certainly has lost the moral right to protest against tree felling.

Naxal warning to police informers

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: Close on the heels of the killing of a trader named Venkatesh at Gandagatta near Shringeri by Naxals suspecting him to be police informer, the CPI (Maoists) Party has released a press communiqué warning that the same fate as that of Venkatesh was awaiting all those who informed the police with an intention of suppressing their armed movement.
The press communiqué sans any signature released by the CPI (Maoists) Karnataka zonal committee said "We are once again warning the informers. Those treading that path should admit their mistake and surrender. Lest we have to punish them. Let all informers know about this."
The statement which said that their comrade Dinaker was killed by the police with the help of information provided by Venkatesh said "Venkatesh had informed the police over phone and had later on tried to flee his town fearing his life."
The statement further said "Venkatesh who had made some money through illicit liquor sale did not understand the problems of the poor. He did not want to know the problems of the oppressed and their movement to free them from oppression. It is owing to this that he tried to suppress the people’s movement through blood shed. This is the punishment which people wish to give them. Our party has imposed this punishment on the person who has betrayed the people."
"If the informers are ready to stake the lives of the people’s activists, with the hope of getting some money, they will not be there to enjoy the wealth. The cash would also not reach their families. Remember, even the movement of the Bhajrangis is in vain. If they continue further, then they will have to undergo the punishment given by the people," the press communiqué said.

Jail officials’ neglect costs youth’s life

Rs 1 lakh compensation to mother

Verdict

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: In a landmark judgement, the First Additional Civil Judges Court of Mangalore, has directed the district jail superintendent., deputy commissioner and chief secretary of the state government to pay a compensation of Rs one lakh to the mother of a youth who died of Malaria while remaining in judicial custody in the city sub jail, owing to the neglect of the jail authorities.

The case: Mohammad Sharief, the only son of a widow named Saramma, hailing from Panjimogaru in Mangalore was arrested in connection with a road accident that took place at Kodikal in 1996. He was sent to judicial custody for 15 days from 31-8-1998 and was lodged in the Mangalore sub-jail. The youth was then suffering from Malaria and the repeated plea by Saramma and Sharief to the jail authorities to provide him medical treatment, went unheard of. Sharief finally died on 14-9-1998.
Following this, Saramma wrote to the state minister for prison on 18-9-1998 demanding a thorough probe into the cause of death of his only son while in jail and sought aid to lead a life in the absence of her only son.
Copies of the appeal were also sent to the IGP, governor and home minister.
In a separate memorandum submitted to the deputy commissioner on 17-3-1999, she explained how her son had died owing to the blatant neglect of the jail authorities and even sought compensation. Copies of the memorandum were also sent to the then district in-charge minister.
Moves court
Saramma even contacted senior advocate KS Nambiar who served a notice on 28-12-1998 to the jail superintendent, deputy commissioner and chief secretary of the government, seeking a compensation of Rs one lakh to his client. However, when the respondents turned down the request, a petition was filed in the court.
During the hearing, the jail superintendent who admitted that Sharief was ill while in prison also argued that he was provided suitable treatment.
However, the court came to the conclusion that the youth died owing to the neglect of the jail authorities who failed to provide him timely treatment.
As per the court verdict, a compensation of Rs one lakh should be paid and any delay in payment would lead to levying of an additional 6 per cent interest with effect from February 5, 2007, the date of the judgement.
The court in its verdict has also rapped the jail superintendent, deputy commissioner and chief secretary for failing to furnish any evidence to prove their contention and has warned that legal action could be initiated for recovery of the compensation amount if they failed to adhere to the verdict.

Dist minister sponsored land mafia eying all land in Padubidri area

Special Report
MANGALORE : Even as all out efforts are on to set up the controversial Nagarjuna thermal power project in Padubidri area despite widespread protests, reports mention about the operation of a land mafia involving influential politicians which is moving heaven and earth to acquire the remaining land in the area at any cost.
What is all the more interesting for locals is that in this land dealing involving a cabinet rank minister of the coalition government in the state is to see two ministers of the same party, sending their bandwagon to the field as agents separately. One such team is said to have links with a highly influential minister.
Already the State Industrial Development Board has acquired lands in Mundkur, Ellur, and Nadsalu area of Padubidri for the proposed Nagarjuna and Suzlon projects and has handed over the lands to the companies to initiate the works. However, the process of acquisition of the rest of the lands is limping owing to the legal battle taken up by the Nandikur Samithi. Amid this development the land mafia involving politicians is deeply engaged in the task of acquiring private land in the surrounding Kerama, Gundlady, Bengre and other areas by willing to pay double the land value.
According to reliable sources, a state minister for industries of Andhra origin, along with another minister of his party, in partnership with a Bangalore based businessman of Udupi, is engaged in the land purchase business, as against a similar task initiated by the in-charge minister of a divided district by colluding with a former underworld don, and another accomplice of the latter. The agents of both these groups are reportedly led by a travel agency owner of Mangalore and a hotelier of Padubidri.
It is learnt, the gang led by the district minister had offered an advance of Rs 10000 per acre of the land which it was willing to purchase and two locals were appointed agents for his purpose. No sooner this news reached the rival group, it too launched its land acquisition drive by luring locals with double the amount mentioned by the rival group. At one stage, this group had even deposited Rs 2 crore in the local branch of a nationalized branch.
In the meantime, in a sudden development, one of the agents belonging to the district in-charge gang, shifted stance overnight and joined the rival gang. This culminated in him receiving threatening calls from underworld dons forcing him to quit his business for ever.
On the other hand, both the groups have fixed the land value at Rs 5 to 9 lakhs per acre in Padubidri and surrounding areas. Presently, it is said there is much demand for land on the western side of the Mangalore Udupi National Highway which the groups were purchasing on the pretext of IT and tourism. It has even been gathered that the two groups were engaged in similar land dealings in Bangalore, Karwar, Devanahalli and Sakleshpur too.
While initial works pertaining to Nagarjuna are being undertaken amid police protection, on the other hand, Suzlon, a wind mill spare parts manufacturing unit has slowly purchased land and is leveling land in its site. Where would all these developments lead to? Time alone will answer.

Gaonkar transfer order revoked within an hour!

MANGALORE : In a dramatic development, a message which reached the SP office recently saying inspector Vinay Gaonkar has been posted at Bunder police station, turned otherwise in a matter of another hour when the Bunder inspector received another message asking him not to hand over charge to Gaonkar until further orders. This development stunned the entire police department in the district.
It may be mentioned here that the former Bunder station inspector Vinay Gaonkar who was suspended over the Jangama Mutt controversy and had remained at home for some time, was later posted at the special branch in Bangalore. Despite that he was hell bent on getting posted in Mangalore that too at the Bunder police station itself and was reportedly heard saying often that he would occupy the chair of the Bunder inspector or one day or the other.
As if Gaonkar’s efforts materialized, the SP’s office received a message mentioning of posting Gaonkar in Bunder station. But within an hour, another message reached the Bunder station asking the inspector not to hand over charge.
It has become very much clear that the hands of a senor politician of the district was behind getting Gaonkar posted in Mangalore after he had lobbied with the chief minister during his recent Ullal visit. As the transfer could not be executed when the election code was in vogue, it was executed soon after, and also cancelled very soon.
MP Prakash did it all
In the meantime, it has been gathered that it was home minister MP Prakash who came in the way of getting Gaonkar posted in the Bunder police station.
It is learnt, the home minister made it a point with the chief minister that Gaonkar who was once suspended should not be posted in the district for any reason.
Gaonkar who was known to be a confidante of SP Dayanand had even bypassed IGP Satyanarayana Rao on many occasions, thus inviting his wrath.
It has now been learnt that Gaonkar is once again trying to get himself posted at Bunder and is moving heaven and earth for the same.

Is CM to be blamed for split in BJP polls?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: With Ullal by-elections over and the results out, a debate is presently underway whether chief minister Kumaraswamy was responsible for a split in BJP votes.
It is already an open secret that the JD(S) had fielded a Muslim candidate Aboobakker Natekal in the last minute at the behest of the district minister Nagaraj Shetty whose sole aim was to defeat the Congress.
Had the JD(S) adhered to Rajadharma then it should not have fielded its candidate in Ullal. Even in the Chamundeshwari by-elections, the BJP had not fielded a candidate against the JD(S). But here, the JD(S) fielded a candidate reportedly by bowing to Shetty’s pressure. The BJP was beaming all through the campaigning as if victory was its sole prerogative. Never had it at any point of time, blamed or launched an attack on the JD(S).
But everything turned upside down in the elections. The BJP lost the elections and the JD(S) even lost its deposit. The BJP secured less votes compared to the previous election.
What has been gathered now is that the JD(S) workers had themselves voted for the Congress, as they didn’t want to vote for the JD(S) which was sure to bite the dust and thereby help the BJP win. On the other hand some in the BJP who were against the candidature of Chandrashekhar Uchil, voted for the JD(S) rather than Khader. One reason for this is the talks which the chief minister had held with the BJP dissidents in Ullal. The chief minister who was very well aware that the Muslims in Ullal may not back a JD(S) candidate, in a bid to grab as much votes as possible, had a try by groping in the BJP basket. It is owing to this reason that the BJP candidate secured fewer votes when compared to the previous election. In toto what can be said is that the poll strategy of the district in-charge minister, proved fatal for his party itself.

Links between Pandeshwar inspector, sandalwood smuggler?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: A link between a sandalwood smuggler and the Pandeshwar inspector Venkatesh Prasanna has been exposed of late.
Recently, the anti-rowdy squad cops had been tipped off with regard to sandalwood smuggling in a bus operating between Mangalore and Goa. The Squad personnel waited near Mukka for the bus. But, when the bus did not stop as per their instruction, they forced it to stop and then thrashed the driver.
The case would have ended then and there. The Pandeshwar inspector Venkatesh Prasanna who was worried on noting that the anti-rowdy squad was after the sandalwood smuggler, tried to pass the buck on the squad by trying to prove that the anti-rowdy squad after being bribed by the smuggler had tried to hush up the case.
He even took the bus driver who was thrashed by the cops, before the IGP instead of taking him to the squad inspector Umesh Ganapathi Shet. It is said the Pandeshwar inspector by doing so, only wanted to tarnish the image of a honest officer. By doing so he has only washed the dirty linen of the police department in public.
When the anti-rowdy squad inspector Umesh Ganapathi Shet was contacted, he admitted that the operation was embarked upon following a tip off, but ruled out the chance of the anti-rowdy squad personnel accepting any bribe to hush up the case.
However, this case has aroused much curiosity in the police circles.
Now, the ball is in the IGP court and all eyes are on the IGP and his decision.
Prasanna eying Anti-Rowdy Squad
In the meantime, what has been gathered is that the Pandeshwar inspector had resorted to all this just with an eye on the District Anti-Rowdy Squad which is presently headed by Umesh Ganapathi Shet. To achieve this endeavour, he thought it fit to tarnish the image of Umesh Shet, considered to be an upright and honest officer.

Adoption of Ullal: Will Dy CM stick to his words?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: Deputy chief minister BS Yadiyurappa while campaigning prior to the Ullal elections had assured to adopt Ullal for its overall development. Following this, Congress leaders had even complained to the election officer saying this was in violation of the poll code of conduct.
Now that the election is over and results are out, it is left to be seen if the deputy chief minister would make any efforts towards adoption of Ullal.
The deputy CM however had not said that the BJP would adopt Ullal if the party was elected. Now as a deputy chief minister such a task is not at all difficult for him.
In case he fails to keep up his words, one has to conclude that he had said so merely from the point of view of elections, without any concern for the welfare of the people of the constituency.

Liquor collection in Shobha Karandlaje’s name

Interesting turn of events

By CT reporter
MANGALORE: The case of excise officials reportedly collecting huge quantity of liquor from various bars in Puttur and Sullia for the reception of BJP MLC Shobha Karandlaje’s sister’s wedding, has now taken a new twist.
It may be recalled here that two excise officials were suspended from service following high level probe soon after a complaint was lodged in connection with the unauthorized liquor collection, by the state BJP chief DV Sadananda Gowda and Shobha Karandlaje herself, following the involvement of her name.
Though it is said that the Puttur excise deputy inspector Yaqub Khan and Sulla excise inspector Krishna Naik were suspended, the department is still not divulging the actual cause of their suspension.
The rumor that was doing the rounds earlier was that the liquor was collected for the reception of Shobha’s sister’s wedding. However, no sooner there was such news, Shobha had contacted the newspaper office to say that the groom’s party had left soon after the wedding, so were the VIP and other dignitaries and the question of a reception did not arise. She also expressed her helplessness about the rumours regarding her.
Now, reports say even the name of a secretary of deputy chief minister BS Yadiyurappa is being linked in this case.
One Suresh who was earlier working in the BJP office is presently the secretary of deputy chief minister BS Yadiyurappa at Bangalore. The secretary’s wedding was held in Kodagu district on May 10 and the reception at the Todikana Sri Mallikarjuna Temple at Sullia the next day. The reception was attended by a good number of BJP leaders. The dinner was held on May 12 at Sullia’s Sheetal Restaurant and according to sources, the liquor was collected for this party itself which was attended by a large number of BJP leaders and local workers.
What sources reveal now is that Shobha was infuriated over the excise officials who had not evinced the same interest in collecting liquor for her sister’s reception. But she, instead got the two officials suspended no sooner her name was linked in this case. It is now being said that that two officials were suspended not because they misused their authority, but because they did not pay heed to her words.
Still, the excise department senior officials are not ready to divulge anything on this issue.