The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Model code enforcement surprises people in city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Model code enforcement surprises people in city

Staff Reporter

‘It proves that where there is a will, there is a way’
Flamboyant banners, buntings missing this time

Bangalore: Bangaloreans are pleasantly surprised over the manner in which the provisions of the law to prevent disfigurement of open spaces are being implemented during the election campaign.

And they wonder why the same authorities cannot enforce the law on other days and areas.

A cross section of city’s residents The Hindu spoke to pointed out that the manner in which the law is being enforced now proves that where there is a will, there is a way.

“Absence of banners, buntings and postings related to political parties in the city clearly shows that the authorities are capable of enforcing the law affectively. It indicates that they yield to pressure when there is no fear (now there is a fear of Election Commission of India),” pointed out S. Rangaswamy, a resident of Banasawadi.

The strict enforcement of law has delighted B. Ahmed, a resident of Lingarajapurm, who was expecting a large number of banners, buntings on main roads as in the previous elections. He recalls how workers got incensed over removal of party banners that were blocking the sunlight to a neighbour’s house during the last elections.

However, T. Shankaranarayanan, a resident of HBR Layout, suspects that the political parties are likely to spend more money to bribe the voters this time given the amounts saved on displaying campaign materials.

But, he concedes: “I am surprised as to how the officials have enforced the law.” Not all are happy though. For Rangammal, who stays in a house near railway track off Banasawadi Railway Station, the restriction has turned out to be a loss as she could not get the outer wall of her house painted for free.

“Political parties had painted walls of my house with their symbols during last two elections besides paying me some money. This time party workers told me that they cannot paint as police will take action against them,” she said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka