The Hindu : Karnataka News : Tight security for swearing-in ceremony

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Tight security for swearing-in ceremony

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JUNE 5. If chaos reigned in and around the Raj Bhavan when the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, and the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, were sworn in on May 28, the scene was different today when 10 Ministers were sworn in on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha.

The Bangalore city police, who received all the flak last time, turned overzealous today and the security arrangements encompassed even Cubbon Park. All roads leading to the Vidhana Soudha were blocked resulting in a massive traffic jam, which took over two hours to clear. In the bargain, a large number of invitees with invitation cards and car passes could get nowhere near the venue. A number of chairs in front for the swearing-in ceremony remained empty.

A large number of people watched the swearing-in ceremony from a public gallery on Ambedkar Road. The secretariat staff watched the programme from the second and third floors of the Vidhana Soudha.

The police personnel on security duty outnumbered the gathering. People remained silent and did not even cheer when their leaders were sworn in as Ministers.

In father's name

The Ministers took the oath in the name of God. But H.D. Revanna, son of the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, took the oath of office in the name of God and the oath of secrecy in the name of his father. Prakash Babanna Hukkeri touched the feet of Mr. Dharam Singh.

Some of the prominent leaders who had attended the swearing in of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, were absent today. The former Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, the former Urban Development Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, and a few other former Ministers did not make it to the function. In fact, Mr. Deve Gowda did not attend both the functions.

Lucky man

Many people seen talking about the Chief Minister, Mr. Dharam Singh, and some said he was luckiest of all. Most parts of the State, including Bangalore, have been experiencing good rainfall after he was sworn in as Chief Minister. Today was not different. Rains lashed the city soon after the swearing-in programme.

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