The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Reporter's Diary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Reporter's Diary

`Controlled by Telugu desam'

BANGALORE CITY Police is now controlled by "Telugu desam." This is what some police officers have to say about the line of command in the commissionerate.

Of course, they say this in good humour and feel proud that such an exemplary situation stands for the accommodating nature which is close to the heart of Kannadigas.

But, what has "Telugu desam" to do with Bangalore police?

Here is the answer: Neelam Achuta Rao, a native of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, is the Commissioner of Police.

The two senior most IPS officers after him, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Bipin Gopalkrishna and Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.N. Reddi, are also natives of Andhra Pradesh.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Malini Krishna Murthy also hails from Andhra Pradesh. That apart, two other IPS officers, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-West), Ramasubba and Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) P. Muniswamy, are Telugu-speaking Kannadigas.

Slip of the tongue

POLITICIANS HAVE a short memory they say. Their slips of tongue seem to add credence to the statement. Recently, a Union Minister began his speech at a function in Bangalore, except instead of extending greetings to the Karnataka Chief Minister, who was present on the dais, he greeted the Kerala Chief Minister.

At another function, a State Minister, seemed to be stuck in old days. He almost ended up calling S.M. Krishna, the Karnataka Chief Minister. Another Minister, seemingly on fast forward, called Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa the Chief Minister.

On all these instances, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was seen maintaining a nonchalant demeanour at these faux pas.

Utilising funds

WHEN A member of Parliament spends his quota of funds from Delhi to build a much-needed, fairly long stretch of road, it makes news. Because many other MPs do not, or would rather build a few bus shelters with their names prominently displayed on them.

What this city, bursting at its seams and with almost one vehicle for every three citizens, badly needs are proactive members of Parliament and the State Legislature. Persons who can really represent their constituency and do things for them. Apart from the political mileage they can get when elections next come around, such "people's representatives" are also assured of a good press. Or rather a good coverage in all types of news media. Far more than all their speech writers and media relations secretaries can even dream of.

Swathi Shivanand,

K. Satyamurty

K.V. Subramanya, Swathi Shivanand, K. Satyamurty

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