ಚಿತ್ರದ ಮೇಲೆ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ...
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
FSL : should a professional seek publicity?
The leakage of narco tests by her to media has brought the Assistant Director of Forensic Science Laboratory, Bangalore into eyes of investigation, lead to Dr Malini revelation of forgery committed by her to get Government job in Forensic Science Laboratory, Bangalore. Counterpoint: Political conspiracy
Question: Should the identity of such professionals (working with sensitive information/ high profile cases) be made public? Should they go after publicity?
If the government acts swiftly on these issues...there is a hue and cry about "not following service guidelines"...if the Government waits...opposition raises the hue and cry!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
ಅಂದು ಇಂದು...
ಅಂದು:
ಯಕ:ಶ್ಚಿತ್ ಓರ್ವ ಕಾಡುಗಳ್ಳನಿಂದ ಡಾರಾಜ್ ಕುಮಾರ್ ಅಪಹರಣವನ್ನು ತಡೆಯಲಾಗದ ಅಂದಿನ ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವ ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರು ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದರೇ?ಸ್ವತ: ತನ್ನ ಪುತ್ರನೇ ಅರ್ಧರಾತ್ರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎಂಪೈರ್ ಹೋಟೇಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಗ್ಗಾಮುಗ್ಗಾ ಪೆಟ್ಟು ತಿನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ ಬಚಾವ್ ಮಾಡಲಾಗದ ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಯಾ ಅವರ ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವರು ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದರೇ?
ಇನ್ನು ಕಾವೇರಿ ಗಲಭೆ, ಡಾರಾಜ್ ನಿಧನದ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಹೊತ್ತಿ ಉರಿದದನ್ನು ವಿಪಕ್ಷೀಯರು ಮರೆತಂತಿದೆ.
ಇಂದು:
ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಪಬ್ ಗಲಾಟೆ : ಘಟನೆ ನಡೆದ ೧೦ ನಿಮಿಷದೊಳಗೆ ಪೊಲೀಸರಿಂದ ಕೆಲ ಅಪರಾಧಿಗಳ ಬಂಧನ. ೨೪ ಘಂಟೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಅಪರಾಧಿಗಳ ಬಂಧನ.
ಕೇರಳ ಶಾಸಕರ ಪುತ್ರಿಯ "ಅಪಹರಣ" ಪ್ರಕರಣ : ಕೆಲ ಘಂಟೆಯಲ್ಲೇ "ಅಪಹರಣ"ಕಾರರ ಬಂಧನ. ಅಪಹರಣಕಾರರು ಶಾಸಕರ ಆಪ್ತರು ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ವಪಕ್ಷೀಯರು ಎಂಬ ವಾಸ್ತವ್ಯ ಬಯಲು. ಶಾಸಕರಿಂದಲೇ ತನಿಖೆಗೆ ಅಡ್ಡಿ. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಪೊಲೀಸರು ಬಾಂಬ್ ಸ್ಪೋಟ ಭೇಧಿಸಿದ ದಿನದಂದೇ ಈ "ಅಪಹರಣ" ನಡೆದದ್ದು, ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಬಂಧಿತರೂ ಕೇರಳದವರು ಎಂಬುದು ಕಾಕತಾಳೀಯವೇ?
ಇನ್ನು ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನ "ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಸಂಪಾದಕ"ರ ಬಂಧನ ಪ್ರಕರಣದಲ್ಲೂ ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವರನ್ನೆಳೆದು ತರುವವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮರುಕ ಪಡಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ. ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯ ಜಾಮೀನು ರಹಿತ ವಾರಂಟ್ ಹೊರಡಿಸಿದರೆ ಅದಕ್ಕೂ ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವರನ್ನು ದೂರುವವರು ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಂಗ, ನ್ಯಾಯಾಂಗದ ವ್ಯತ್ಶಾಸ ತಿಳಿಯದಷ್ಟು ದಡ್ಡರೇ? ಅಥವಾ ಸಭಾತ್ಯಾಗಕ್ಕೊಂದು ಪಿಳ್ಳೆ ನೆಪವೇ?
ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಪಬ್ ಗಲಾಟೆ : ಘಟನೆ ನಡೆದ ೧೦ ನಿಮಿಷದೊಳಗೆ ಪೊಲೀಸರಿಂದ ಕೆಲ ಅಪರಾಧಿಗಳ ಬಂಧನ. ೨೪ ಘಂಟೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಅಪರಾಧಿಗಳ ಬಂಧನ.
ಕೇರಳ ಶಾಸಕರ ಪುತ್ರಿಯ "ಅಪಹರಣ" ಪ್ರಕರಣ : ಕೆಲ ಘಂಟೆಯಲ್ಲೇ "ಅಪಹರಣ"ಕಾರರ ಬಂಧನ. ಅಪಹರಣಕಾರರು ಶಾಸಕರ ಆಪ್ತರು ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ವಪಕ್ಷೀಯರು ಎಂಬ ವಾಸ್ತವ್ಯ ಬಯಲು. ಶಾಸಕರಿಂದಲೇ ತನಿಖೆಗೆ ಅಡ್ಡಿ. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಪೊಲೀಸರು ಬಾಂಬ್ ಸ್ಪೋಟ ಭೇಧಿಸಿದ ದಿನದಂದೇ ಈ "ಅಪಹರಣ" ನಡೆದದ್ದು, ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಬಂಧಿತರೂ ಕೇರಳದವರು ಎಂಬುದು ಕಾಕತಾಳೀಯವೇ?
ಇನ್ನು ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನ "ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಸಂಪಾದಕ"ರ ಬಂಧನ ಪ್ರಕರಣದಲ್ಲೂ ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವರನ್ನೆಳೆದು ತರುವವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮರುಕ ಪಡಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ. ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯ ಜಾಮೀನು ರಹಿತ ವಾರಂಟ್ ಹೊರಡಿಸಿದರೆ ಅದಕ್ಕೂ ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವರನ್ನು ದೂರುವವರು ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಂಗ, ನ್ಯಾಯಾಂಗದ ವ್ಯತ್ಶಾಸ ತಿಳಿಯದಷ್ಟು ದಡ್ಡರೇ? ಅಥವಾ ಸಭಾತ್ಯಾಗಕ್ಕೊಂದು ಪಿಳ್ಳೆ ನೆಪವೇ?
News Update 25.02.2009
The legislative council on Tuesday adopted a resolution congratulating the cast and crew of Slumdog Millionaire and Smile Pinky for their Oscars. Freida Pinto`s Mangalore/Udupi connection
Criticism against police politically motivated, says V.S. Acharya (click for news)
State proposes to include terrorism in definition of organised crime (Krishnaprasad/The Hindu)Death or imprisonment for life mooted for those convicted
Amendment to KCOCA Bill allows detention of accused for a year
A provision to seize the property of the accused has been proposed
Bangalore: In the wake of the terror attack in Mumbai, the State Government proposes to include “terrorism” in its definition of “organised crime” by amending the provisions of the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA) 2000.
Also, the Government has proposed death sentence or imprisonment for life for those convicted of terrorist acts even if such acts do not result in loss of life but only cause loss, damage or destruction to property.
Detention:The proposed amendment to the KCOCA (Amendment) Bill 2009 will enable the police to extend filing of charge-sheet to 365 days from the present 180 from the date of arrest, and thus, allow detention of the accused in judicial custody for a year.
The Bill defines the terrorist act as “any terrorist act committed with the intent to disturb law and order or public order, or threaten the unity, integrity and security of the State or to strike terror in the minds of the people or any section of the people by doing any act or by using bombs, dynamite or other explosive substance or inflammable material or firearms or other lethal weapons or poison or noxious gases or other chemicals or any other substance hazardous in nature in such a manner as to cause or likely to cause death or injury to any person or loss of damage or destruction to property.”
It has also been proposed to enhance the fine the convicted have to pay from Rs.1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh in case of terrorist act not resulting in loss of life, and a fine not less than Rs. 10 lakh in cases involving death of any person.
Property seizure A provision to seize the property of the accused, pending investigation, has also been proposed.
This will permit the investigating officer, with the prior approval from officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police, to seize or attach the property acquired through organised crime or terrorism.
Opportunity: However, the Bill also provides an opportunity for the accused to challenge the seizure or attachment before an appellate and before the special courts.
The Bill was introduced in the Belgaum session of the State Legislature.
Home Minister V.S. Acharya told The Hindu that “we hope that the amendments will be discussed and approved in both Houses of the Legislature during the current budget session as the Bill is a significant one.”
Acharya won't resign: Unmoved by the Opposition demand, Yeddyurappa reiterated that home minister V S Acharya will not been asked to resign as he has efficently discharged his duties over the past nine months. Reeling off statistics of previous CMs, Yeddyurappa said from R Gundu Rao to H D Kumarswamy, there've been at least 4-5 firing incidents in the state. However, opposition parties see all this happening only during the BJP's tenure. Moral police, beware: In a warning to the Sri Rama Sena, Yeddyurappa said the government would henceforth not hesitate to invoke the Goonda Act against anyone taking the law into their own hands in the name of moral and cultural policing.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Our Democracy: A perspective
A writeup, sent by one of the readers of the blog, B Shankar
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Today, as we all proudly say our country is one of the biggest democracies in the world. We are second to none when it comes to boasting about our country, democracy, the freedom we all enjoy and so on. The list is endless. However, ask anybody about the condition of our democracy, and the only answer we get is a deep sigh!. Everyone knows that the most prominent ills of our democracy like the rampant corruption, dishonesty, voter enticement etc makes one think where all this is leading us.
We all should not forget that this system is "of the people, for the people, by the people". So, in theory it is just as good as the people who elect it. So, when we point fingers on all the ills, in some ways we are pointing fingers at ourselves. All those who are members of the so called system are at the end of the day, just one of us. So, probably there is something lacking within us.
A democracy is an evolving entity. No amount of enforcement and policing can fix it. At the end it is the people who will bring about a change in the system. Until then the churning will continue. It is only when we are fed up with the corruption, fed up with the bribes we get for our votes we stand to revolt. All the well functioning democracies of the world that we see today like the USA or other western countries are still evolving even after hundreds of years of experimenting and reforming their system. If you go back in history say 10-150 years, we can see the same ills even in those system that we so hate here!. After so much churning, today they are where they are and going by that example our 60 year old democracy is still very much in its infancy!
Having grown all my adult life trying to understand and cope with our system, recently I had a chance to visit the oldest democracy in the world that is the USA . Invariably I was very curious to find out the good and the bad in their system. After almost 300 years of refining, I was really impressed by the system that is working so smoothly there. It is very surprising for them see the heavy deployment of troops here for the elections or the daily dose of corruptions that they hear. It was very difficult for me to explain why we have phased elections out here or the seizure of sarees, liquor etc during elections.
One thing I have observed was that for effective functioning of the system, there are few very basic ingredients such as deterrent rules/laws, effective implementation, honesty and personal responsibility. Not that there are no ills in that system. But how those ills are tackled should be an example. I was very surprised to see that a city official was imprisoned for 24 years in prison for taking a bribe of $3000 and the sentence was pronounced within 3 months of the crime. How many officials and politicians have seen in our country goto prison for corruption in the last 60 years? I don't remember even one case!
Secondly, the system is designed in such a way that for the common folks, it is so easy to get their things done without any hindrance. Be it getting some certificates or a driver license, it is a no nonsense approach that caught my eyes. My friend happened to sell his car while I was there and I was very curious to see the whole process work!. First of all there are clear cut instructions that need to done for transferring the registration? As a first step, he had to get the vehicle inspection and emission test. Just drive to a designated test area, show your documents and you get the report in 10 min. Secondly, go to the DMV(Dept of Motor Vehicle) equivalent to our RTO here, show the necessary documents and the whole thing is done in 20 minutes straight. No hassle, no going round the tables nothing. Just one counter, one person. Everything is so straight forward that there is no scope for any confusion at any point. Corruption - Forget it.
That’s not to say that there is no corruption here. Like everywhere else there is some degree of corruption here. However that is probably at the higher level. Common people are not affected. Also the retributions are really great. Nobody is spared if caught and punishment is swift. That really gives a sense of everybody is one when it comes to implementation of the law. Lastly, one thing that impressed me a lot was the personal integrity of the people here. Since my friend had recently had got very high speed internet, I joked to his son that now he can download music and movies much faster from the internet. Pat came the reply: How can I download when I have not purchased the CD. Isn't that wrong. I was dumb founded. I simply had no answer for that. I was just wondering how many of us back home will think in that lines.
The experience I had in US made me think of the infancy that we are still in here. To cap that all, recently I had a very good chance to compare the system here with the experience I just had in US!
I wanted to sell my 7 year old Hero Honda and I wanted to find out how easy it is or difficult to go through that. So, after I found a suitable buyer, the next step was to transfer the registration. I wanted to do this without paying single rupee as bribe. Not that I can't but I wanted to find out Can I?
So as a first step, I had to get a NOC from the Shimoga RTO since I still had the registration from that office. It is a 5 hour drive from Mangalore and I went to the local office in Shimoga. When I enquired about getting NOC, the concerned clerk first learnt that I was from out of station. Then he started by saying that getting an NOC is a very cumbersome task and that he had to get signatures from 3 officials. His time estimate was 4-5 days to get that done. He was very aware that I did not have a luxury of waiting 3-4 days at Shimoga. His intension was to get some bribe for getting the job done the same day. As determined as I was not to give any money, I asked is there any way to get NOC the same day and his reply was an emphatic "NO" and that it would cost something to get things done the same day. Remember, all that is required is that they find my file, get it signed by 3 officers (who were all in the office that day). When I was convinced that I cannot get NOC that day without paying the bribe, I had to invoke my friendship to a very prominent personality ( as much as I hated to do that, I had no other way). Walla! Believe it or not, I had my NOC within 10 min. The very clerk who was so dillydallying to the file was in hyperactive once he heard me invoking my friendship. What it demonstrates is that the system can deliver very efficiently if there is a will! Think of the hardship of the poor village folks who neither have the time to wait nor know somebody to invoke when required!
Having obtained my NOC, I came back to my city and the next job was to get the registration transferred to the buyer. Again I was determined to get this done without paying bribe. I was told that was next to impossible. Just as I entered my local RTO, I was greeted by scores of so called brokers. I think they are the unofficial representatives of the officials inside!. When I just enquired with one of the broker, he said it would take a month if I alone. He can get it done the same day but I would have to cough up Rs 1000.
When I entered in, I first checked with a clerk who was supposed to give out information. Again his response was not clear and it was clear that he wanted me to take the broker route. So I decided to directly talk to the RTO and so I did. I asked him about what is involved in getting my registration transferred. He said that I have a pay a fees of Rs 35, submit an application along with RTC documents, safety inspection report and the Rs 35 fee receipt. Armed with this information, I paid the fees and again went to the clerk with all the documents. Again, the clerk was very evasive and said that it might take 4-5 days for the application to be processed. When I asked for the reason, he said that it would take that much time to get everybody's (3 official's) signature! I am still not sure why they need so many officers to sign that! I asked the clerk about the officials whose signature was required and their room numbers. Next I myself took all the papers to each of these officials and took their signature myself and at last I had my registration transferred the same day without paying any bribe. Albeit, it took 3 hours for me to get everything done and one more thing: that is the right amount of time they have to take to get the registration done.
Now, how many of us have that kind of patience and even the time for doing it ourselves standing in the queue? Most of us will take the easy way out: that is hiring a broker paying 1000 when the actual fee was 35! That makes even the clerks to channel people to these brokers. As long as there is bribe givers, there will be bribe takers!!
I think the change should start with us. If we arm ourselves with the information and then spend time getting things done the right way, the system will start working the way it should work! No short cuts. Just follow the rules. Initially, it might be difficult. There will be lot of people resisting it. However, when we demand service, they will turn around. After all remember we pay their salaries and they are there to do our work! Let’s all demand that service but in the right way, no short cuts, no jumping lines. Only then at least our next generation can witness the service they deserve!
(this writeup was sent in the form of a comment)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Solid waste management project inaugural...
An ambitious eco friendly project, starts today, delayed due to the irrational opposition...
An end to the "Dumping Yard" problems at Beedinagudde!
Udupi , Feb 22 The BJP government in Karnataka has planned to spend Rs 2,400 crore in the next two years for the civic infrastructure development both in urban and rural areas in the state.
Inaugurating Rs 4.82-crore solid-waste scientific processing unit at Karvalu-Alevoor on the outskirts of the city today, Home Minister Dr V S Acharya said under this plan, Rs 15 crore would be released to every city municipal council during the current year, whereas the town municipal councils would get Rs two crore if the respective urban bodies would submit their plans by April next.
The government would release 50 per cent of the fund immediately, he said.
He said Udupi city municipal council was the first among the 10 selected urban bodies for the Asian Development Bank- aided solid waste management project to be completed under Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management project.
He said the garbage dumping yard in the heart of the city would stop functioning from tomorrow and all solid wastes here would be taken to the new disposal yard, where primary segregation and other processes would take place.
The present dumping yard would be converted into a cricket stadium and a public park after filling the land, which was expected to be completed in two years, he added.
Pics by Janardan Kodavoor
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Karnataka Budget 2009-10
Please click on the image for
Karnataka Budget 2009-10
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಬಜೆಟ್ 2009-೧೦ ಕನ್ನಡ ಆವೃತ್ತಿ ಕೂಡ ಲಭ್ಯ...
Friday, February 20, 2009
News Fabication! Page 3 newspaper does it again...
Repeating a lie...100 times...becomes a truth for hallucinating writers (Prashanth GN, Dipannita Das, TNN)
Click on the image for "fiction" passed off as "news"
The statements attributed to the Home Minister in the abovementioned "creative piece of writing(!)" are utterly false, fabricated by the hallucinating writers themselves!
(forgive them, as they know not what they do)
Why not a terrorism awareness campaign and a media ombudsman?
Excerpts from a writeup by Arakere Jayaram
Read full article
"The Home Minister Dr.V.S.Acharya's proposal for setting up a media ombudsman was unfortunately never debated"
"Those watching the media scene in Karnataka recall the bitter debate over the now forgotten move of the Ramakrishna Hegde government to introduce a Bill on freedom of the press. In 1988, the Hegde government had introduced the Karnataka Freedom of Press Bill which in fact was very much in favour of the freedom of the press. It in fact included the right to information for journalists. The Bill had aimed at providing immunity to journalists from disclosure of source of information, right of access to public documents and provided penalty for causing hurt etc. with the intention of preventing any journalist from performing his duties. Those were the days when the newspapers reigned supreme and there were no private television channels."
"Apparently Dr.Acharya is not the first one to talk of some regulation of the media, whose freedom he has rightly said is not limitless. The Minister, a veteran politician of the State was a member of the Janata Party which in 1977 removed the shackles on the press imposed by the Congress government in the days of the Emergency. Let it be remembered that the very first amendment to the Indian Constitution had among other things imposed some restrictions on the Freedom of Speech and Expression which includes Freedom of the press. The Congress Party has a questionable record when it comes to safeguarding the freedom of the press."
"Questions about how the private TV channels are respecting the freedom are raised when it is observed that they had accompanied the Sri Rama Sene activists even at Belgaum on Feburary 14 when a Valentine's Day party was disrupted. They had done so at the time of the attack on the pub in Mangalore. The private TV channels in Tamil Nadu are no better. They covered live the brutal fight in the Madras Law College hostel some months ago involving students belonging to Dalit and Thevar caste groups. In none of the incidents the channels tipped off the police about the intentions of those who had invited them to "catch them live".
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V V: The truth about media errors
Read full article
"The Home Minister Dr.V.S.Acharya's proposal for setting up a media ombudsman was unfortunately never debated"
"Those watching the media scene in Karnataka recall the bitter debate over the now forgotten move of the Ramakrishna Hegde government to introduce a Bill on freedom of the press. In 1988, the Hegde government had introduced the Karnataka Freedom of Press Bill which in fact was very much in favour of the freedom of the press. It in fact included the right to information for journalists. The Bill had aimed at providing immunity to journalists from disclosure of source of information, right of access to public documents and provided penalty for causing hurt etc. with the intention of preventing any journalist from performing his duties. Those were the days when the newspapers reigned supreme and there were no private television channels."
"Apparently Dr.Acharya is not the first one to talk of some regulation of the media, whose freedom he has rightly said is not limitless. The Minister, a veteran politician of the State was a member of the Janata Party which in 1977 removed the shackles on the press imposed by the Congress government in the days of the Emergency. Let it be remembered that the very first amendment to the Indian Constitution had among other things imposed some restrictions on the Freedom of Speech and Expression which includes Freedom of the press. The Congress Party has a questionable record when it comes to safeguarding the freedom of the press."
"Questions about how the private TV channels are respecting the freedom are raised when it is observed that they had accompanied the Sri Rama Sene activists even at Belgaum on Feburary 14 when a Valentine's Day party was disrupted. They had done so at the time of the attack on the pub in Mangalore. The private TV channels in Tamil Nadu are no better. They covered live the brutal fight in the Madras Law College hostel some months ago involving students belonging to Dalit and Thevar caste groups. In none of the incidents the channels tipped off the police about the intentions of those who had invited them to "catch them live".
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V V: The truth about media errors
Conspiracy
Bangalore, Feb 20: Replying to questions raised, home minister Dr V S Acharya informed the legislative council on Thursday February 19, that 50 accused have been arrested in 22 cases out of the 28 murder incidents that occurred in the city since the last two months. He said criminal investigation work is going on successfully and also that steps will further be beefed up against crime and criminal elements in the state.
To another question, he said that the government is initiating steps against organizations which aim at restricting the freedom of citizens. Rowdy sheets will be opened for powers which disturb peace in the society, he said.
Acharya apprehended that there more to it than what meets the eye in the pub attack incident. The fact that some people were present ten minutes in advance to videograph the event and that the recordings were bought at New Delhi level is proof of the fact that there have been some missing links. The policemen arrived on the spot within ten minutes of the attack and made arrests. 13 more people were arrested the same night. A total of 28 people were remanded to judicial custody in the case," he stated, in support of his claim that his department took timely action.
Meanwhile, intervening in discussions on law and order that was held in the legislative council, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa hailed the home minister as a person who owns tough posture against crime. "The state had never come across a home minister with such firm resolve to contain crime," he appreciated. He dismissed the opposition demand for the sacking of the home minister.
"The home minister might look like a calm, soft-spoken person. But he has undertaken tough measures to maintain law and order in the state. The incident that took place in Mangalore was part of a planned conspiracy. Still, we could control the situation within 24 hours. You should congratulate the home minister for this achievement," he said to the opposition members. He also reiterated his resolve to book culprits under the Goonda Act if members of organizations take law into their hands and meddle with law and order situation in the state.
(news: Daijiworld)
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ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಓದುಗರೊಬ್ಬರು ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ...
ದಿನ ಬೆಳಗಾದರೆ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳ, ಗೃಹ ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳ ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ಕೇಳುವ ವಿರೋಧೀ ನಾಯಕರಾದ ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ ಖರ್ಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಉಗ್ರಪ್ಪನವರ ಡಿಮಾಂಡ್ ಏನೆಂದೇ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ.
ಪ್ರತಿಪಕ್ಷ ಮತ್ತು ಆಡಳಿತ ಪಕ್ಷಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ಭಿನ್ನಾಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಗಳಿರುವುದು ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಜ. ಆದರೆ ಕಳೆದ ಕೆಲ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಖಾಯಂ ಪ್ರತಿಪಕ್ಷಗಳ ಬೆಂಚಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೂತಿರುವ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ನಾಯಕರಿಗೆ ಅವರು ಅಧಿಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿರುವಾಗ ಏನು ಸಾಧಿಸಿದರು ಎಂಬುದು ಮರೆತು ಹೋದಂತಿದೆ.ಇಂದಿನ ಪ್ರತಿಪಕ್ಷದ ನಾಯಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರು ಸ್ವತ: ಗೃಹ ಮಂತ್ರಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದರು - ಅವರ ಆಡಳಿತದ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲೇ ವೀರಪ್ಪನ್ನಿಂದ ಡಾರಾಜ್ ಅಪಹರಣ ನಡೆದದ್ದು, ಹಲವು ವಾರಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಇಡೀ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯವೇ ಸ್ತಭ್ದವಾದದ್ದು, ಕಡೆಗೆ ಕೋಟಿಗಟ್ಟಳೆ ರೂಪಾಯಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಬಿಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದದ್ದು ಪ್ರಾಯಷ: ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರಿಗೆ ಮರೆತು ಹೋದಂತಿದೆ.ಯಕ:ಶ್ಚಿತ್ ಓರ್ವ ಕಾಡುಗಳ್ಳನಿಂದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಕಣ್ಮಣಿಯನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲಾಗದ ಮಾನ್ಯ ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರು ಈಗ ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಪಬ್ ಗಲಾಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇವಲ ೧೦ ನಿಮಿಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪರಾಧಿಗಳನ್ನು ಪತ್ತೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಬಂಧಿಸಿದರೂ, "ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾನೂನು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಠೆ ಕುಸಿದಿದೆ" ಎಂದು ಬೊಬ್ಬೆ ಹಾಕುತ್ತಾ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಪೊಲೀಸರ ಧ್ರುತಿಗೆಡಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅದಲ್ಲದೇ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಛಾಪಾ ಕಾಗದ ಹಗರಣದ ಆರೋಪಿ ತೆಲಗಿಯ ಮೂಲಕ ವೀರಪ್ಪನ್ನಿಗೆ ಹಣ ನೀಡಿ ಡಾರಾಜ್ ಅವರನ್ನು ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಲಾಯಿತೆಂದು ಈಗಲೂ ಹೇಳಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ, ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು ಬಂದಿವೆ. ಅದೇ ತೆಲಗಿಗೆ ಜೈಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ ಮರ್ಯಾದೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಕೋರ್ಟಿನಿಂದ ಉಗುಳಿಕೊಂಡ ಗೃಹ ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳು ಯಾರೆಂದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಜನತೆಗೆ ತಿಳಿದಿದೆ.
ಅದಲ್ಲದೇ ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಶಿಶುಗಳ ಹಗರಣ, ಕಳ್ಳಭಟ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೂರಾರು ಸಾವು, ಕೋಮು ಗಲಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎಷ್ಟು ಜನರು ಸತ್ತರು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಮಾನ್ಯ ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರು ಮರೆತಿದ್ದಾರೆಯೇ?
ಸಲೀಂ ಮುದ್ರಾಡಿ
To another question, he said that the government is initiating steps against organizations which aim at restricting the freedom of citizens. Rowdy sheets will be opened for powers which disturb peace in the society, he said.
Acharya apprehended that there more to it than what meets the eye in the pub attack incident. The fact that some people were present ten minutes in advance to videograph the event and that the recordings were bought at New Delhi level is proof of the fact that there have been some missing links. The policemen arrived on the spot within ten minutes of the attack and made arrests. 13 more people were arrested the same night. A total of 28 people were remanded to judicial custody in the case," he stated, in support of his claim that his department took timely action.
Meanwhile, intervening in discussions on law and order that was held in the legislative council, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa hailed the home minister as a person who owns tough posture against crime. "The state had never come across a home minister with such firm resolve to contain crime," he appreciated. He dismissed the opposition demand for the sacking of the home minister.
"The home minister might look like a calm, soft-spoken person. But he has undertaken tough measures to maintain law and order in the state. The incident that took place in Mangalore was part of a planned conspiracy. Still, we could control the situation within 24 hours. You should congratulate the home minister for this achievement," he said to the opposition members. He also reiterated his resolve to book culprits under the Goonda Act if members of organizations take law into their hands and meddle with law and order situation in the state.
(news: Daijiworld)
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ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಓದುಗರೊಬ್ಬರು ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ...
ದಿನ ಬೆಳಗಾದರೆ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳ, ಗೃಹ ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳ ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ಕೇಳುವ ವಿರೋಧೀ ನಾಯಕರಾದ ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ ಖರ್ಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಉಗ್ರಪ್ಪನವರ ಡಿಮಾಂಡ್ ಏನೆಂದೇ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ.
ಪ್ರತಿಪಕ್ಷ ಮತ್ತು ಆಡಳಿತ ಪಕ್ಷಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ಭಿನ್ನಾಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಗಳಿರುವುದು ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಜ. ಆದರೆ ಕಳೆದ ಕೆಲ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಖಾಯಂ ಪ್ರತಿಪಕ್ಷಗಳ ಬೆಂಚಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೂತಿರುವ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ನಾಯಕರಿಗೆ ಅವರು ಅಧಿಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿರುವಾಗ ಏನು ಸಾಧಿಸಿದರು ಎಂಬುದು ಮರೆತು ಹೋದಂತಿದೆ.ಇಂದಿನ ಪ್ರತಿಪಕ್ಷದ ನಾಯಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರು ಸ್ವತ: ಗೃಹ ಮಂತ್ರಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದರು - ಅವರ ಆಡಳಿತದ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲೇ ವೀರಪ್ಪನ್ನಿಂದ ಡಾರಾಜ್ ಅಪಹರಣ ನಡೆದದ್ದು, ಹಲವು ವಾರಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಇಡೀ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯವೇ ಸ್ತಭ್ದವಾದದ್ದು, ಕಡೆಗೆ ಕೋಟಿಗಟ್ಟಳೆ ರೂಪಾಯಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಬಿಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದದ್ದು ಪ್ರಾಯಷ: ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರಿಗೆ ಮರೆತು ಹೋದಂತಿದೆ.ಯಕ:ಶ್ಚಿತ್ ಓರ್ವ ಕಾಡುಗಳ್ಳನಿಂದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಕಣ್ಮಣಿಯನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲಾಗದ ಮಾನ್ಯ ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರು ಈಗ ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಪಬ್ ಗಲಾಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇವಲ ೧೦ ನಿಮಿಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪರಾಧಿಗಳನ್ನು ಪತ್ತೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಬಂಧಿಸಿದರೂ, "ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾನೂನು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಠೆ ಕುಸಿದಿದೆ" ಎಂದು ಬೊಬ್ಬೆ ಹಾಕುತ್ತಾ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಪೊಲೀಸರ ಧ್ರುತಿಗೆಡಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅದಲ್ಲದೇ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಛಾಪಾ ಕಾಗದ ಹಗರಣದ ಆರೋಪಿ ತೆಲಗಿಯ ಮೂಲಕ ವೀರಪ್ಪನ್ನಿಗೆ ಹಣ ನೀಡಿ ಡಾರಾಜ್ ಅವರನ್ನು ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಲಾಯಿತೆಂದು ಈಗಲೂ ಹೇಳಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ, ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು ಬಂದಿವೆ. ಅದೇ ತೆಲಗಿಗೆ ಜೈಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ ಮರ್ಯಾದೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಕೋರ್ಟಿನಿಂದ ಉಗುಳಿಕೊಂಡ ಗೃಹ ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳು ಯಾರೆಂದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಜನತೆಗೆ ತಿಳಿದಿದೆ.
ಅದಲ್ಲದೇ ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಶಿಶುಗಳ ಹಗರಣ, ಕಳ್ಳಭಟ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೂರಾರು ಸಾವು, ಕೋಮು ಗಲಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎಷ್ಟು ಜನರು ಸತ್ತರು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಮಾನ್ಯ ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರು ಮರೆತಿದ್ದಾರೆಯೇ?
ಸಲೀಂ ಮುದ್ರಾಡಿ
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Better facilities for Police force
UDUPI: The state government is committed to increasing the salary and other facilities to the police force, said home minister V S Acharya here on Wednesday.
He was speaking at the passing out parade of the sixth batch of trainees from the Police Training School. "Policemen in Karnataka will be better paid and additional facilities will be extended to ensure their safety when confronting crimes," the minister said.
Pointing out that there are more vacancies coming up in the state police and merit is the only criteria for the selection, he called on the new batch of constables, 59 in all, to take up responsibility, be duty conscious and work diligently.
He urged many of the personnel who are overqualified not to leave the department when they get better employment and assured that government would take care of them with better facilities.
Acharya earlier received the customary salute and inspected a parade by the constables from District Armed Reserve Police, Kolar. Superintendent of police Praveen Madhukar Pawar, also the principal of the school, and deputy commissioner Hemalatha spoke. The sub-divisional deputy superintendents of police, A Vishwanath Pandit, Shahsidhar and Sathish Kumar co-ordinated the programme.
(News TOI/ Pic Daijiworld)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
An Unusual Thank You Note...
B Shankar comments...Policing in India is a thankless job. The Home Minister and the police gets blamed for each and every thing. When they are proactive and take steps they get blamed of high handedness. All the so called Rights group become very active (take the recent case of a bombay don or naxal attacks). When they do their job according to the law or unfortunately they could not arrive on the scene immediately, they are blamed for everything from inefficieny to being involved in that. Just take the mangalore pub incident. The police arrested 10 culprits within 30 min of the incident. Within 24 hours they had arrested 27 people. Still every news paper/channel and parties started accusing the Home Minister and the police of inaction? What does "Action" mean? I assume for them "arresting and keeping indefinitely" accounts to some action. Now if the court grants bail, how can we blame the police/HM for that? We have to check the law which is used!. Also remember, the central govt recently ammended CrPc to prevent arrest of people by the police if the crime is punishable with less than 7 years of jail time.While everybody jumps to conclusion and starts critisizing at the drop of a hat, nobody talks about the job they do day and night to protect us. How many of us have thanked even a single police man for doing service for us when we enjoy our life? Have anybody thanked for maintaing the traffic for us, standing in a busy smoke filled road on a humid sunny day while we move around in our AC cars? How many of us have thanked him for maintaining vigil in a stadium while we enjoy a cricket match? Think of every act they do that most of us will not even imagine to do. I am not telling that there is no bad thing at all. There are black sheep. But pick one place where such a thing is not there? I cannot pick one. Then why paint the police dept as one inefficient Dept and blame them for all the ills in the society?
Lastly, we have seen so many articles critisizing the home minister as very inefficient and weak? I am still not sure the reason for such an assessment. For some of us, a minister is very strict and capable only when he bashes his officers in the public and suspends them as we have seen so many of the politicians do. But we have to understand that this is only for the public consumption. The reality is minister/politician should rely on the same officers to implement their programs. Nothing moves without their cooperation. Now if you demoralize them in public, what kind of cooperation can one expect? I would have the enthusiasm to do work for someone who chides me/my colleagues for no fault. And as we know just doing job is not good enough for progress.Now lets compare that with our current HM. Have we ever heard him complain against his officers? He has backed his force to the core even when he faced tremendous pressure from the media and the public. He knows that blaming officers just to please others does no good to anybody. Not the morale of the force albiet it may potray him as strict!And we all have started seeing the results. Today, ask any official and they are happy that they have a minister who can understand and supposts them. Also, see the number of cases that are solved in last few months including the blore blast case!
So my suggestion is for a change lets not get swayed by the views of some and start supporting our police force. Only then we can see a real change and I want to begin right now. My heartfelt "Thank You" to all the policemen and officers and the Home Minister for ensuring a peaceful Karnataka state as well as for all the work you do day and night to keep us safe.
Lastly, we have seen so many articles critisizing the home minister as very inefficient and weak? I am still not sure the reason for such an assessment. For some of us, a minister is very strict and capable only when he bashes his officers in the public and suspends them as we have seen so many of the politicians do. But we have to understand that this is only for the public consumption. The reality is minister/politician should rely on the same officers to implement their programs. Nothing moves without their cooperation. Now if you demoralize them in public, what kind of cooperation can one expect? I would have the enthusiasm to do work for someone who chides me/my colleagues for no fault. And as we know just doing job is not good enough for progress.Now lets compare that with our current HM. Have we ever heard him complain against his officers? He has backed his force to the core even when he faced tremendous pressure from the media and the public. He knows that blaming officers just to please others does no good to anybody. Not the morale of the force albiet it may potray him as strict!And we all have started seeing the results. Today, ask any official and they are happy that they have a minister who can understand and supposts them. Also, see the number of cases that are solved in last few months including the blore blast case!
So my suggestion is for a change lets not get swayed by the views of some and start supporting our police force. Only then we can see a real change and I want to begin right now. My heartfelt "Thank You" to all the policemen and officers and the Home Minister for ensuring a peaceful Karnataka state as well as for all the work you do day and night to keep us safe.
Friday, February 13, 2009
an Ombudsman speaks...
Professor John Horgan / Article reproduced from From The Sunday Times, February 15, 2009
As Press Ombudsman, I am struck by the frequency with which people contact my office asking me to hurl a thunderbolt at some journalist or other. It’s not only that they feel they have been wronged in some way, but also because they have a real fear that if they engage personally with a journalist or a newspaper they will inevitably come off second best in a struggle between unequals.
No journalist worth his or her salt should expect to be universally loved, but is it a good thing that journalists evoke such fear? Where is the dividing line between honest indignation and arrogant prescription? Does journalism sometimes take on, chameleon-like, some of the attributes of those in public life whom it attacks for being out of touch, for dodging uncomfortable issues, and for refusing to take responsibility when things go wrong?
Other people knock on my door not because they are afraid to deal with journalists but because their reasonable attempts to do so have been met with a deafening silence. My own dealings with newspapers and journalists are generally businesslike and efficient: is there some reason why a small number of them cannot deal with the public — their ultimate paymasters — in the same way?
I know journalism is a high-pressure business, and dealing with the public is time-consuming and often unrewarding. But there are times when a little more humility and efficiency would go a long way towards restoring public confidence in print media that are under threat. In an ideal world, my office would be a last resort rather than the first port of call.
Independent regulation is good and useful in itself, whether in journalism or in banking. But if one profession after another turns into a cat-and-mouse game between the regulators and the regulated, we are on the way to fulfilling George Bernard Shaw’s sharp-tongued observation that all professions are conspiracies against the laity. Journalism should set its face against such an outcome and should continue to hold the feet to the fire of any other profession which looks like it is heading in that direction.
There is a continual risk, especially in straitened times, that the pressures of time and money will convert journalists into drones, residual processors of facts and opinions that have been generated elsewhere and which they will not have the time to evaluate or sift properly.
The web is a huge research tool and should not be underestimated. But journalists need to remember that their fingers on the keyboard are not the only tools of their trade. So are their eyes, ears and legs. They need to turn the damn computer off, get out and explore the world on the other side of the screen. It always repays a visit.
In journalism, crime always pays, but not always in the right currency. Newspapers would be a lot less interesting if there were no news of crime, and indeed crime reporting is often in the public interest, as well as being something that the public is interested in.
We employ Police to catch criminals and judges to sentence them. If journalists don’t think these institutions are doing their job properly, criticism is in order: that is what a free press is for. But there are a couple of reasons why journalism should stop short of operating on the basis that it could do a better job of either.
Justice should be the currency of the courts and the Police. Synthetic anger, trials by media and invitations to moral panic are no substitute. Worse, they run the risk of deadening the sensibilities of readers so that, when the wolf is really at the door, they will be unable to distinguish the hype from the reality.
If we are encouraged to believe that criminals are beyond redemption and have no human rights, what is the point of a probation service? Is inflicting collateral damage on the innocent families of those who have broken the law worth thinking about, or is it simply a question of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth? Is vengeance preferable to justice?
If we persist in maintaining that although every saint has a past, no sinner has a future, do we not run the risk of coarsening public debate? And perhaps wearying readers, listeners and viewers with a diet of fake outrage that begins by boosting circulation and ends by turning people off?
Very little of this comes under the media’s new code of practice. But all of it invites reflection by journalists on what they are doing, and why.
This is an edited version of a recent address given by Professor John Horgan, the Press Ombudsman, at the University of Limeric
Coping with terror attacks
Co operation from the common man is the key word for secure society! Please have faith in the government, administration... If all of us (media, public, law enforcement) were to temper our reaction and response to terrorist events, we would lessen our attractiveness as a terrorist target and reduce the overall impact of the attackThe Media have the responsibility for accurately and objectively reporting a terrorist event, as exaggeration would only serve to increase the terrorist effect. Unknowingly they act like informants to the terror groups or agents for corporates trying to sell gadgets to the forces...
Law enforcement must remain both sensitive and sensible, in other words, not letting their emotions cloud their judgment when investigating terrorism or protecting the public from it. There is no meaning left in cliches like "security beefed up" etc.,
Politicians: Avoid knee jerk reaction: avoid using terrorist attacks as a platform for pushing other agendas or justifying irrational expenditures.They should also refrain from making hasty comments/ statements which might hamper investigations.They should also avoid useless exercises like visiting the victims of terror attacks in the hospital/ visiting the dead, which will not only hamper the medical management but also burdens the local administration and the police – who otherwise should be involved in relief measures/ investigations. (It is a well known fact that, the terrorists target hospitals for secondary attack, as they know that victims of primary attack would be rushed to hospitals along with curious onlookers/ security agencies/ politicians and media!)·
The Public has the responsibility to look at terrorist events in perspective, and has an important role in balancing the response of the media, law enforcement and politicians, by trying to learn as much as they can about terrorist methods of operation, to understand what the real threat is to them, and identify the appropriate measures to stop them. Ignorance of these methods reduces the public's ability to act as a check and balance to the policies and activities of the other sectors who represent and serve them. Public should also minimize use of cellular network at the time of such terror attacks to prevent network jam (remember that by doing so, you may save lot of lives!)·
Terror: Change in mindset
The nature of the threat we are facing these days dictates a change in mindset. People expect law enforcement and security to know how to mitigate the terrorist threat facing us. Yet, enforcing the law is very different from preventing terrorist attacks. Law enforcement focuses on the ability to catch criminals, and prosecuting them requires finding evidence that will prove their intent. The mitigation of terrorism, however, involves the detection of aggressive intentions whether or not a crime has (yet) occurred. To further complicate the matter, security personnel and law enforcement officers are often faced with issues of liability and marketability that prevent them from meeting their threat mitigation goals. In other words, security-related actions are influenced by the potential for legal ramifications or negative public opinion and not necessarily by the threats posed to the protected environment. These restraints on the security goal are a fact of life. The following outlines the cultural change in mindset needed in order to better respond to the new reality of the terrorist threat. This cultural change needs to be reflected in the terminologies, protocols, policies and procedures used by law enforcement and security organizations.Refrain from racial/ communal profiling. It is politically, legally and operationally wrong. Assuming that a given ethnic group/community has a higher potential for threat will result in ignorance of other ethnic groups that may very well be involved in the execution of a terrorist attack. What characterizes a terrorist is their choice of method and not their ethnic background. Engage suspicious activity using a customer service approach. The deterrence value of security and law enforcement is not in response to an authoritative voice or aggressiveness but to a carefully thought-through and targeted question as simple as: “how can I help you?” or “where are you heading?” These questions are regarded as service oriented to the law-abiding citizen but will be deterring to the terrorist, now confronting a situation where his false identity and terrorist intentions could be exposed. Attempting to refute suspicion instead of building a case. Often we are driven to jump to conclusions based on an observed suspicious activity. We assume threats or guilt even before engaging with the observed suspicion. Suspicion is a common occurrence that needs to be mitigated through refutation i.e. trying to prove the suspicion wrong and not validating it with an assumption of guilt.
(thanks to Chamelion)
Counterterrorism in India
India faces more terrorism than anywhere in the world other than Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. What makes it such a popular target?By Eben Kaplan and Jayshree Bajoria, Council on Foreign Relations, Courtesy: Newsweek
Introduction
The deadly terrorist assault on Mumbai's hotel district and a spate of bomb attacks across India's cities this year have claimed hundreds of lives and once again raised questions about India's vulnerability to terrorism. According to the latest report on global terrorism by the U.S. government's National Counter-Terrorism Center, more than 1,000 people died in India because of terrorist attacks in 2007, ranking India fourth behind only Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. India, a nation of a billion people, has been confronted with terrorism since its birth, and currently contends with a variety of regional groups mainly intent on separatism.
Why is India the target of so many terrorist attacks?India is embroiled in a number of low-intensity conflicts throughout its territory. Many terrorist incidents are the products of these clashes.
Why is India the target of so many terrorist attacks?India is embroiled in a number of low-intensity conflicts throughout its territory. Many terrorist incidents are the products of these clashes.
The regions most affected are:
Jammu and Kashmir. Located at the northern tip of India's territory, this state has been the focal point of a territorial dispute dating back to 1947—when British colonial rule ended—involving India, Pakistan and China. India claims the entire region as its sovereign territory, though it controls only about half of it. A third of the land is controlled by Pakistan, and China controls the remainder. The quarrel between India and Pakistan has touched off a number of military showdowns. Since the late 1980s, the region has been home to a number of militant groups seeking independence for the region. Experts say these groups have extensive support networks in Pakistan, and some accuse Pakistan of using these insurgent groups to wage a proxy war in the region. Over the last decade, this conflict has been linked to some two-thirds of all fatalities from terrorist attacks in India.
Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh state along the Bay of Bengal coast has endured a number of attacks linked to a group known as Naxalites. Named for the town of Naxalbari where their movement began in 1967, Naxalites are revolutionary communists. Though not all are militant, Human Rights Watch estimates some 10,000 are members of armed militias, which continue to wage a low-intensity insurgency that claims hundreds of Indian lives every year. In areas under Naxalite control "people's courts" prosecute individuals deemed "class enemies" or "caste oppressors." The U.S. State Department reports Naxalite terrorism "is growing in sophistication and lethality and may pose a significant long-term challenge." Indian officials have reportedly organized vigilante groups to help oppose Naxalite influence, and human rights groups have criticized the government's methods. Over the years, the Naxalite influence has spread to 13 of India's 28 states. The swath passes through the woods and jungles of central India, where the group takes refuge and recruits from the region's impoverished population. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa have witnessed high levels of Naxalite activity, but Chhattisgarh witnessed the most Maoist-related violence in 2006 with more than 360 deaths.
Northeastern states. Violence has plagued several states in northeast India ever since the country now known as Bangladesh was partitioned off in 1947. Fighting has been particularly bad in the states of Assam and Nagaland, which over the years have received a large influx of immigrants. Shifting demographics in an area already prone to tribal friction have helped touch off a number of religious and cultural conflicts. Poverty is endemic in the region, and many groups are demanding independence, citing neglect and discrimination on the part of the Indian government as grounds for separation. Militant groups like the United Liberation Front of Assam have targeted politicians and infrastructure in an attempt to force out government influence.
Jammu and Kashmir. Located at the northern tip of India's territory, this state has been the focal point of a territorial dispute dating back to 1947—when British colonial rule ended—involving India, Pakistan and China. India claims the entire region as its sovereign territory, though it controls only about half of it. A third of the land is controlled by Pakistan, and China controls the remainder. The quarrel between India and Pakistan has touched off a number of military showdowns. Since the late 1980s, the region has been home to a number of militant groups seeking independence for the region. Experts say these groups have extensive support networks in Pakistan, and some accuse Pakistan of using these insurgent groups to wage a proxy war in the region. Over the last decade, this conflict has been linked to some two-thirds of all fatalities from terrorist attacks in India.
Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh state along the Bay of Bengal coast has endured a number of attacks linked to a group known as Naxalites. Named for the town of Naxalbari where their movement began in 1967, Naxalites are revolutionary communists. Though not all are militant, Human Rights Watch estimates some 10,000 are members of armed militias, which continue to wage a low-intensity insurgency that claims hundreds of Indian lives every year. In areas under Naxalite control "people's courts" prosecute individuals deemed "class enemies" or "caste oppressors." The U.S. State Department reports Naxalite terrorism "is growing in sophistication and lethality and may pose a significant long-term challenge." Indian officials have reportedly organized vigilante groups to help oppose Naxalite influence, and human rights groups have criticized the government's methods. Over the years, the Naxalite influence has spread to 13 of India's 28 states. The swath passes through the woods and jungles of central India, where the group takes refuge and recruits from the region's impoverished population. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa have witnessed high levels of Naxalite activity, but Chhattisgarh witnessed the most Maoist-related violence in 2006 with more than 360 deaths.
Northeastern states. Violence has plagued several states in northeast India ever since the country now known as Bangladesh was partitioned off in 1947. Fighting has been particularly bad in the states of Assam and Nagaland, which over the years have received a large influx of immigrants. Shifting demographics in an area already prone to tribal friction have helped touch off a number of religious and cultural conflicts. Poverty is endemic in the region, and many groups are demanding independence, citing neglect and discrimination on the part of the Indian government as grounds for separation. Militant groups like the United Liberation Front of Assam have targeted politicians and infrastructure in an attempt to force out government influence.
What groups are involved in terrorism in India?
There are scores of insurgent and terrorist groups operating in the country. Those recognized by the U.S. State Department as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) or other "groups of concern" are:
Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT), whose name means "Army of the Pure," is a militant Islamist group operating in Pakistan as well as in Jammu and Kashmir. The group reportedly received funding from Pakistan's intelligence services until 2001, when the United States designated it an FTO and Pakistan froze its assets. LeT, which has ideological, but unconfirmed operational ties to Al Qaeda, aims to win sovereignty for Jammu and Kashmir and spread Islamic rule across India. The group is blamed for some of the most high-profile terrorist attacks in India, including the July 11, 2006 bombing of the Mumbai commuter rail.
Jaish-e-Muhammad, meaning "Army of Mohammed," is another Pakistan-based terrorist group operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Founded in 2000 by the former leader of the now-defunct group Harkat-ul-Ansar, Jaish-e-Muhammed seeks to drive India out of Jammu and Kashmir and transfer control of the region to Pakistan.
Harakat ul-Mujahedeen (HuM), or the "Islamic Freedom Fighters' Group," was founded in 1985 as an anti-Soviet group fighting in Afghanistan. When Soviet forces withdrew in 1989, the Pakistan-based HuM shifted its focus to Jammu and Kashmir. HuM seeks to battle "anti-Islamic forces" and its members have helped carry out operations as far away as Myanmar, Tajikistan and Bosnia.
The Communist Party of India was formed by a merger of Naxalite groups in 2004 after talks between the Indian government and the leftist militants broke down. The group seeks to establish a "revolutionary zone" of control extending from the Nepalese border down to the southern part of Andhra Pradesh that would ultimately become a sovereign state.
Harakat ul-Jihad-I-Islami (HUJI) was founded in 1980 to fight Soviets in Afghanistan but has since concentrated its efforts in Jammu and Kashmir. HUJI, which is based in Pakistan and Kashmir, primarily attacks Indian military targets, but it is believed to be linked to the abduction and slaying of five Western tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in 1995.
Jamiat ul-Mujahedin is a small group of pro-Pakistan Kashmiri separatists operating in or near Pakistan. It is thought to be responsible for a pair of 2004 grenade attacks against political targets in India.
The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) has sought to establish an independent socialist state in Assam since its founding in 1979. In the 1990s, ULFA's attacks on political leaders, security forces, and infrastructure provoked a harsh response from the Indian government, causing it to lose some support among the residents of Assam. The U.S. State Department reports a December 2003 attack on a ULFA base by Indian forces caused the group's numbers to drop from more than 3,000 to several hundred.
What agencies are responsible for fighting terrorism in India?
Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT), whose name means "Army of the Pure," is a militant Islamist group operating in Pakistan as well as in Jammu and Kashmir. The group reportedly received funding from Pakistan's intelligence services until 2001, when the United States designated it an FTO and Pakistan froze its assets. LeT, which has ideological, but unconfirmed operational ties to Al Qaeda, aims to win sovereignty for Jammu and Kashmir and spread Islamic rule across India. The group is blamed for some of the most high-profile terrorist attacks in India, including the July 11, 2006 bombing of the Mumbai commuter rail.
Jaish-e-Muhammad, meaning "Army of Mohammed," is another Pakistan-based terrorist group operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Founded in 2000 by the former leader of the now-defunct group Harkat-ul-Ansar, Jaish-e-Muhammed seeks to drive India out of Jammu and Kashmir and transfer control of the region to Pakistan.
Harakat ul-Mujahedeen (HuM), or the "Islamic Freedom Fighters' Group," was founded in 1985 as an anti-Soviet group fighting in Afghanistan. When Soviet forces withdrew in 1989, the Pakistan-based HuM shifted its focus to Jammu and Kashmir. HuM seeks to battle "anti-Islamic forces" and its members have helped carry out operations as far away as Myanmar, Tajikistan and Bosnia.
The Communist Party of India was formed by a merger of Naxalite groups in 2004 after talks between the Indian government and the leftist militants broke down. The group seeks to establish a "revolutionary zone" of control extending from the Nepalese border down to the southern part of Andhra Pradesh that would ultimately become a sovereign state.
Harakat ul-Jihad-I-Islami (HUJI) was founded in 1980 to fight Soviets in Afghanistan but has since concentrated its efforts in Jammu and Kashmir. HUJI, which is based in Pakistan and Kashmir, primarily attacks Indian military targets, but it is believed to be linked to the abduction and slaying of five Western tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in 1995.
Jamiat ul-Mujahedin is a small group of pro-Pakistan Kashmiri separatists operating in or near Pakistan. It is thought to be responsible for a pair of 2004 grenade attacks against political targets in India.
The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) has sought to establish an independent socialist state in Assam since its founding in 1979. In the 1990s, ULFA's attacks on political leaders, security forces, and infrastructure provoked a harsh response from the Indian government, causing it to lose some support among the residents of Assam. The U.S. State Department reports a December 2003 attack on a ULFA base by Indian forces caused the group's numbers to drop from more than 3,000 to several hundred.
What agencies are responsible for fighting terrorism in India?
A number of intelligence, military, and police organizations within the Indian government contribute to counterterrorism efforts. These include state-run police forces, special security forces to guard airports and other high-profile targets, and paramilitary forces that patrol the borders and assist the police when necessary. These paramilitary groups, such as the 165,000-strong Central Reserve Police Force, have been accused of committing human rights violations, especially in Kashmir, where they are particularly active. The army usually participates in counterterrorism operations as a last resort, though in Jammu and Kashmir they play a more consistent role. India's closest structural equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is the Ministry of Home Affairs, which oversees national police, paramilitaries, and domestic intelligence gathering.
India has several intelligence agencies that monitor terrorist activities. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is the external intelligence agency and the Intelligence Bureau (IB), a division of the Home Affairs Ministry, collects intelligence inside India. A Joint Intelligence Committee analyzes intelligence data from RAW and IB as well as from a handful of military intelligence agencies, which usually provide tactical information gathered while carrying out counterterrorist operations.
The IB oversees an interagency counterterrorism center similar to the CIA. The Ministry of External Affairs oversees its own counterterrorism body, much like the U.S. State Department, which oversees diplomatic counterterrorism functions such as briefing other nations on suspected Pakistani sponsorship of terrorism in India.
How does the government react to terrorist attacks?
India has several intelligence agencies that monitor terrorist activities. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is the external intelligence agency and the Intelligence Bureau (IB), a division of the Home Affairs Ministry, collects intelligence inside India. A Joint Intelligence Committee analyzes intelligence data from RAW and IB as well as from a handful of military intelligence agencies, which usually provide tactical information gathered while carrying out counterterrorist operations.
The IB oversees an interagency counterterrorism center similar to the CIA. The Ministry of External Affairs oversees its own counterterrorism body, much like the U.S. State Department, which oversees diplomatic counterterrorism functions such as briefing other nations on suspected Pakistani sponsorship of terrorism in India.
How does the government react to terrorist attacks?
Experts say the government's response to terrorist attacks have been episodic; soon after an attack the government appears to take short-term measures. "India lacks a coherent strategic response to terrorism; there is no doctrine, and most of our responses are kneejerk," says retired Major General Sheru Thapliyal, who works at the Center for Land Warfare Studies in New Delhi.
Indian security officials usually focus their investigations on the country's Muslim minority following such attacks. India is home to 150 million Muslims, the second largest Muslim population in the world. But a large percentage of them feel disadvantaged and discriminated against by the government and the security forces.
Indian security officials usually focus their investigations on the country's Muslim minority following such attacks. India is home to 150 million Muslims, the second largest Muslim population in the world. But a large percentage of them feel disadvantaged and discriminated against by the government and the security forces.
How have India's counterterrorism agencies performed?
Some Indian journalists called the July 11 Mumbai bombings a failure of the country's intelligence community. Stephen P. Cohen, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, says that within the ongoing debate over the effectiveness of India's counterterrorism apparatus, "there's general agreement that the old institutions can't cope with the new pressures." Wilson John, a senior fellow with the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, writes in the Terrorism Monitor the problem is an intelligence structure which has yet to emerge from its "debilitating colonial legacy and a complementary stranglehold of bureaucracy." John argues the state police and intelligence units are mostly structured as agencies to protect law and order and spy on rivals rather than act as investigative and intelligence units. He says there is reluctance, and even refusal, to share information among the intelligence and security agencies.
Others counter that the intelligence agencies are performing well, but politicians too often shy away from making tough security decisions for fear of angering their constituents. Jeevan Deol, a lecturer in South Asian studies at the University of London, says, "There may well be occasions where elected politicians may not see it in their interest to isolate insurgent groups." He says their actions are nothing "too unusual for an elected democracy."
India's counterterrorism measures have often been the subject of appeals by human rights organizations. Deol says Indian officials have a higher tolerance for collateral damage than counterterrorism authorities in many other nations. In an example of such tactics, he says, "Agencies and arms of the state have been accused of turning a blind eye in order to run rival gangs that would be tasked with killing other insurgents, but would also kill innocent people." Such tactics have been effective in the past, says Cohen, but only when coupled with political accommodation.
Others counter that the intelligence agencies are performing well, but politicians too often shy away from making tough security decisions for fear of angering their constituents. Jeevan Deol, a lecturer in South Asian studies at the University of London, says, "There may well be occasions where elected politicians may not see it in their interest to isolate insurgent groups." He says their actions are nothing "too unusual for an elected democracy."
India's counterterrorism measures have often been the subject of appeals by human rights organizations. Deol says Indian officials have a higher tolerance for collateral damage than counterterrorism authorities in many other nations. In an example of such tactics, he says, "Agencies and arms of the state have been accused of turning a blind eye in order to run rival gangs that would be tasked with killing other insurgents, but would also kill innocent people." Such tactics have been effective in the past, says Cohen, but only when coupled with political accommodation.
Does India have antiterrorism legislation similar to the U.S. Patriot Act?
Not anymore. In 2002 India passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), expanding the government's powers in combating terrorism. Some measures, such as the ability to keep terror suspects in custody without bringing them to trial, met with objections, and the law was repealed in 2004 after allegations that officials were abusing their powers. However, after the recent spate of bombings, some Indian politicians are calling for the law to be restored.
Some Indian states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra have other laws, Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Karnataka Control of Organized Crime Act, that are used to try suspected terrorists. The MCOCA was also extended to Delhi in 2002. Some lawyers have alleged that MCOCA is even more draconian than POTA and has often been misused by the investigative agencies. Other states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are also seeking similar anti-terror laws.
Some Indian states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra have other laws, Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Karnataka Control of Organized Crime Act, that are used to try suspected terrorists. The MCOCA was also extended to Delhi in 2002. Some lawyers have alleged that MCOCA is even more draconian than POTA and has often been misused by the investigative agencies. Other states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are also seeking similar anti-terror laws.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
ಇದು ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯದ ಮೇಲೆ ಟೀಕೆಯೇ?
ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ ತಿಳಿಸುವ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ...ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದ ವಿಷಯದ ಮೇಲೆ ರಂಪ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ...ಅದೂ ಒಂಥರಾ "ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯದ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಲ್ಲೆ" ಸ್ವಾಮಿ!
ಬೇರೆಯವರ ತಪ್ಪನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸುವುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಉದ್ದೇಶ ಅಲ್ಲವೇ ಅಲ್ಲ...ಆದರೆ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯದ ದುರುಪಯೋಗ ಆಗಬಾರದು. ಅದರ ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೊ ಸಿದ್ದಾಂತದ ಪ್ರಾಪಗಾಂಡ ಆಗಬಾರದು ಎನ್ನುವುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಉದ್ದೇಶ...
(ಅಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೂ ಬ್ಲಾಗರ್ ಗಳು ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಜಾಹಿರಾತು/ ಸಬ್ಸಿಡಿ/ ಸೈಟು/ ವಿದೇಶ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ / ಬಸ್ ಪಾಸು ಪಡೆಯುವ ಜನ ಅಲ್ಲ ನೋಡಿ!)
ಬೇರೆಯವರ ತಪ್ಪನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸುವುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಉದ್ದೇಶ ಅಲ್ಲವೇ ಅಲ್ಲ...ಆದರೆ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯದ ದುರುಪಯೋಗ ಆಗಬಾರದು. ಅದರ ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೊ ಸಿದ್ದಾಂತದ ಪ್ರಾಪಗಾಂಡ ಆಗಬಾರದು ಎನ್ನುವುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಉದ್ದೇಶ...
(ಅಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೂ ಬ್ಲಾಗರ್ ಗಳು ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಜಾಹಿರಾತು/ ಸಬ್ಸಿಡಿ/ ಸೈಟು/ ವಿದೇಶ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ / ಬಸ್ ಪಾಸು ಪಡೆಯುವ ಜನ ಅಲ್ಲ ನೋಡಿ!)
ಒಂದಂತೂ ಸತ್ಯ : ನಿಂದಕರಿರಬೇಕಯ್ಯ!ಮೆಲುಕು : ಆಗಷ್ಟ್ 2008 ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾದದ್ದು...
"ಟಿವಿ ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವ ಮಾನಹಾನಿಕರ ಸುದ್ದಿಗಳು/ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳು ಹಿಟ್ ಅಂಡ್ ರನ್ ಕೇಸು ಇದ್ದ ಹಾಗೆ..."ನಿರಂಜನ ವಾನಳ್ಳಿ, ಉದಯವಾಣಿ...
(ಬ್ರೆಕಿಂಗ್ ನ್ಯೂಸ್ ಚಿತ್ರ ಕೃಪೆ TV9)
The Bitter Truth...Click on the image
Heinous act, equally condemnable is the "Judgemental writeup"
A simple example for "biased reporting" or reporting with "pre conceived news" "news fabrication"...a heinous crime of alleged sexual assault of a school girl, leading to her unnatural death...(already the culprit has been arrested) Kannada newspaper on the left has a 2 column, 10cm writeup in the Page 10, under routine crime news...However, a national newspaper, with a reporter with "ideological leanings" thinks it is fit to be published in the Front Page, 3 columns and 20cm...He is also judgemental...in declaring what allegedly caused her death...very creative writing...Now, dear readers, don`t you think, there is a need for some 'self regulation' by the those in the media? What you can do now? Write to the Readers Editor, The Hindu, express your displeasure! readerseditor@thehindu.co.in
You can't have a first-rate commando force and a third rate magistracy. You can't have defence and intelligence personnel who will nab terrorists and courts that will let them off, or, better still, enable them to live off the treasury as state guests for years. Writeup by Arun Shourie, Courtesy .Iindian Express
I am happy that healthy deliberations were held across the state in political, government and media circles in the past few days...
Most terrified visual media Scribes snub Acharya
(newspapers have press council, who controls the visual media?)
The Bitter Truth...
Introspection by the media, need of the hour...by
Vishweshwar Bhat
ನೂರೆಂಟು ಮಾತು - ವಿಶ್ವೇಶ್ವರ್ ಭಟ್
News Scan 12.02.2009
Healthy discussion on Media Ombudsman concept
Two (too)good writeups...
Remember that little can be achieved unless every aspect of governance, is brought up to par. You can't have a first-rate commando force and a third rate magistracy. You can't have defence and intelligence personnel who will nab terrorists and courts that will let them off, or, better still, enable them to live off the treasury as state guests for years. And that excellence must reach down to that "head constable/constable" level. When K.P.S. Gill reconquered Punjab for the country, he did so by strengthening and invigorating the local thana.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Truth is bitter, all that is bitter is not venom!
Truth is bitter, all that is bitter is not venom!In a world full of negative reporting, biased writings, stage managed media coverages, media with ideological leanings, sponsored propaganda, Page 3 culture, lies repeated every day, whose motto seems to be Report First, Verify Later, Never Clarify...who will present the other point of view? BLOG of course!
A reader of the blog pointed out...the opposition to the Ombudsman concept by the media houses itself is an indication that, it is needed!
Thanks to the TOI, for the coverage!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
People want media ombudsman: Acharya
12.02.2009
I am happy that healthy deliberations were held across the state in political, government and media circles in the past few days. "I am an ardent follower of Deendayal Upadhyaya and his political ideology which always upheld freedom of the Press. I sought for an ombudsman in the context where some journalists with `vested interest' produce concocted stories and it was my view that an ombudsman can end such unethical practices,'' he maintained.
Full text & other reports today...
Most terrified visual media Scribes snub Acharya
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ತುರ್ತು ಪರಿಸ್ತಿತಿ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ಸ್ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ದಮನಕಾರಿ ನೀತಿ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟಿಸಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಜೈಲು ವಾಸ ಮಾಡಿದ ಡಾ ಆಚಾರ್ಯ...Dr Acharya was jailed during the emergency period(clamped by Indira Gandhi/Congress), for expressing his views on protection of freedom of expression...
If a proposal for Media Ombudsman generates a healthy discussion, it is a good sign in democracy! If the people do not want any such body, then there is no question of having one. At the same time, media needs to have some introspection, self regulation...or have an internal ombudsman, in the lines of Readers Editor, concept of The Hindu.
BANGALORE: Home Minister V S Acharya has been under the scanner of the Opposition and the media for his “alleged failure,” to protect law and order. The Opposition has even doubted his handling of sensitive cases including the infamous Padmapriya death, the communal violence and the latest pub attacks in Mangalore. However, Acharya seems unperturbed.On Sunday, the Home Minister stated that the government would set up a media ombudsman to curb “sensationalising reports,” both in electronic and print media.On Monday, however, he said that he was only reflecting views of several people at a peace meeting in Mangalore. “I have been receiving calls from Bidar to Chamarajanagar and from Kolar to Malpe, to restrict the media,” he said. When quizzed by the media, he elaborated his views and defended the decision.
Q: Would you clarify your statement on media ombudsman?
Acharya: This is not my view. It is a reflection of views expressed by a cross section of people attending a peace meeting in Mangalore. Several of them wanted a ban on media, particularly electronic media after the pub attack and the recent kidnap case.
I was only summing up their views and trying to convince those arguing for a ban that it was not fair to curb freedom of press. We are followers of Deendayal Upadhyaya and never believed in curbing media. I was only assuaging the people’s feelings.
Q: There already exists a Press Council of India (PCI), what is the need for a parallel body?
Acharya: Where is PCI? Is it functioning and performing any duties? Q: What will be the role of the proposed ombudsman? Acharya: We believe in freedom of press and media. There is no question of curbing any freedom. What we want is that media should be responsible while reporting on any issue. Reports on January 24 (pub attack), February 6 (kidnap of Kerala MLA’s daughter) and the pulse polio had created panic among public. Several people are of the view that Padmapriya committed suicide because of premature reporting. Media first gives judgment and then verifies facts. To stop such premature reporting, we are considering the creation of an ombudsman.
Q: When is the government planning to create the new body? Acharya: It is still under consideration.
I will discuss with all concerned people, including the Chief Minister. We will explore all options and seek opinion of experts to create the ombudsman, probably headed by a judge.
Q: In the past 50 years, there was no need for creating such a media watchdog. What made you to decide on setting up of an ombudsman in just eight months? Acharya: It is not just in the last eight months. There has been an accumulation of several incidents (of wrong reporting and sensationalisation by media). Now the time has come to create an ombudsman.
Q: Are you satisfied with your performance?
Acharya: Yes. The crime detection rate has gone up, after I assumed charge. I have been interacting with senior officials and specialists on modernising police force. I am now focusing to ensure that detected cases are taken to the logical end by punishing the culprits
(You may recall that in the case of Pub attack, first arrest was made by Mangalore police within 10 minutes, subsequently many were arrested, including Ram Sena leaders. Ram Sena is in no way connected to BJP, in fact they had fielded their candidates against BJP canditates in the last election. The release of these leaders is as per the decision of the judiciary. However the investigations were hampered, due to "no complaint" by the victims of the attack!...Similarly, in the case of "abduction" of MLA`s daughter, 5 persons - CPIM activists were arrested, produced in the court as per the laws. However, to coverup a family issue, Manjeswar MLA Kunjambu made media statements blaming the Home Minister of Karnataka making irresponsible statements!- such statements were never made by Dr V S Acharya)
Express News Service
Excerpts...Click on the Images, for report
Media censorship v/s Media Ombudsman
Communist Role in Mangalore attack: Unveiled!
ಏನಿದು ಒಮ್ಬಡ್ಸ್ಮನ್? ವಿಷಯ ತಿಳಿದು ಚರ್ಚೆ ಮಾಡಿ....What is this concept?
Media Ombudsman, Why? ಸತ್ಯ ಹೇಳುವ ಜನಕೆ ಹೆದರಿಕೆ ಏಕೆ?
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