The scenes of Karnataka MLAs fighting in the assembly with their shirts torn and worst of all MLAs beating up security marshals was probably the lowest point of Indian politics. To call it a shame would be a sheer understatement but this is not the first time that Karnataka politicians have embarrassed the state.
It was only last year when 57 BJP MLAs led by illegal mining barons- the Reddy brothers held the Yeddyurappa government to ransom by threatening to withdraw support unless some of the ministers were not dropped. And this all was happening at a time when the state was suffering due to the worst ever floods that had hit the state.
The unfortunate aspect of this whole episode is that all the actors involved have made a mockery of democracy. The two unbiased members of the whole system- the governor & the speaker who are the guardians of the constitution also let the constitution down by placing their parties over state.
The tragedy is that Karnataka which was considered as the most progressive state till the 90’s has suddenly become a disgraced story. All aspects of the state have taken a major beating. For instance Bangalore or Bengaluru as it is called now was considered as one of the best cities to live in India till the 90’s. But the sudden influx of migrants due to the booming IT industry & better educational prospects crowded the city. And by the time the state woke up it was too late. The metro rail project which was supposed to start way back in 1993 finally took off in 2005 due to lack of political will. The city which was known for its greenery was turned into a concrete jungle and all main roads were dug up for the project which has made driving in Bangalore as nightmare.
The unfortunate aspect of this whole episode is that all the actors involved have made a mockery of democracy. The two unbiased members of the whole system- the governor & the speaker who are the guardians of the constitution also let the constitution down by placing their parties over state.
The tragedy is that Karnataka which was considered as the most progressive state till the 90’s has suddenly become a disgraced story. All aspects of the state have taken a major beating. For instance Bangalore or Bengaluru as it is called now was considered as one of the best cities to live in India till the 90’s. But the sudden influx of migrants due to the booming IT industry & better educational prospects crowded the city. And by the time the state woke up it was too late. The metro rail project which was supposed to start way back in 1993 finally took off in 2005 due to lack of political will. The city which was known for its greenery was turned into a concrete jungle and all main roads were dug up for the project which has made driving in Bangalore as nightmare.
Even the cosmopolitan nature of the city transformed within years. Once known as the city of pubs & the rock capital of India, Bangalore was known for its vibrant night life and women safety. But with the so called moral forces taking charge, the city’s night life suddenly collapsed with all pubs & discotheques shutting shop at 11 PM, the last movie show starting at 8-45 PM & even restaurants shutting by 11 PM. The city which was known for women safety also became unsafe for women to travel late nights. Multiple cases of women raped and in some cases even murdered put a blot on the city’s clean image.
In 2005 the Kannada film association forced a ban on all non-Kannada movies to release in the state. This was a clear violation of the citizen’s right to freedom. But the government at that time which was a Congress –JD(S) coalition remained silent on the issue and did not take any legal action against the perpetrators. The most appalling act was displayed by a group of hooligans who call themselves the ‘Sri Ram Sena’ when they openly attacked young girls in a Mangalore pub in broad day light in the name of culture and moral values.
And all of these instances have a pattern. All of them are linked to political groups in one way or the other. The political fraternity has failed to uphold the values of average Kannadigas. Not so long ago the States’ Lok Ayukta’s chief – Justice Hedges had stepped down in the wake of spiraling corruption that had entrenched the political & bureaucratic system. It was after a lot of deliberation that he agreed to stay back.
Karnataka has a history of producing renowned citizens who have made this country proud. CV Raman, Dr Devi Shetty, NRN Murthy, Azim Premji, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid are a few extraordinary Indians the state has produced. But so has the state given a person like S. Manjunath, who was killed by a petrol pump owner for exposing corruption. Manjunath was an average middle class boy who passed out from IIM but chose to work in a government company to serve his country. But yet was killed for doing his duty honestly. The Karnataka politicians are doing exactly the same thing; with each disgraceful act of theirs they are killing the proud spirit of an average Kannadiga.
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