Tuesday, January 10, 2012
No stepping down: news planted in the media by vested interests!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Media - Internal Ombudsman: need of the hour!
Snehalatha/ BellevisionState government has announced rupees 1 crore for the welfare of the Journalists, rupees 50 lakhs for the welfare of Senior Journalists, the monthly allowance has been increased from rupees 1,000 to 2,000, Smart card for the Journalists who crossed the age of 60 and also Mere Hanumatha Rao awards have been declared. The government is always ready to hear the petitions of the Journalists, said the Minister. State Journalists Association President Gangadhara Modaliyar speaking on the occasion, said that, after the Neera Radhiya case, there have been evidences that even the Journalism is not out of corruption. Elections have created a new corruption called paid news. The murder of Jyothi Dey in Mumbai proclaim that in our country even the Journalists are not safe. To all these problems and issues the only solution is to follow the Journalism ethics by all Journalists, he said.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Who won? Depends on which newspaper you buy
Gauging the mood of the people from zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections is akin to touching different parts of an elephant with a blindfold and arriving at conclusions that suit you.
It’s all in the interpretation.
The lead headlines from the two leading Kannada newspapers show us why.
The BJP’s hold over the 30 ZPs has gone up from 4 in 2005 to 12 this year; the number of seats its members occupy in those ZPs has shot up three fold from 145 to 441.
Out of the 176 TPs, BJP has gained control over 68 of them, more than the Congress (31) and JDS (29) put together.
Yet, for Vijaya Karnataka, which is furiously pedalling backwards, it is “aralada kamala”, the lotus that didn’t bloom. And, for Praja Vani, it is “aralida kamala”, the lotus that bloomed.
So, has the lotus bloomed because its ZP tally has entered double digits, or has it not bloomed because it has not been able to obtain a stranglehold like the Congress did in 2005, winning 22 of the 27 ZPs?
Sunday, November 28, 2010
FAQ on Karnataka leadership
Gyan Varma | 2010-11-28 00:30:00/ Sify.com
VS Acharya, Karnataka`s higher education minister, tells Gyan Varma what Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa will have to do to retain the chief ministership
What are the challenges before Yeddyurappa after the recent crisis in Karnataka?
In my opinion, the single-biggest challenge after the crisis is that he will have to carry everyone together and take into consideration every opinion. The second-biggest challenge before the government is to maintain its wafer-thin majority. The chief minister has to keep all MLAs together and make them work as a team. There are several allegations against the government and the chief minister and so there should be a concerted effort not only to limit these allegations but also to counter them by providing all facts and details to the party and to the people of the state. If Yeddyurappa is able to do these things, I think these allegations will die down.
The state government is doing a good job in terms of administration and governance and so the challenge before the chief minister is to continue the development work while simultaneously countering the political allegations.
How do you see Yeddyurappa as a person?
Yeddyurappa is a leader of the masses, very approachable. His biggest quality as a leader is that he is determined and hard working.
This was the fourth time the Karnataka chief minister was under a scanner. Why is Yeddyurappa facing turbulence repeatedly?
There are a lot of factors that caused these problems for the state government. The biggest reason is the antics of former prime minister Deve Gowda, his son HD Kumaraswamy and his other sons. This is the first time that BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is in power in the state and these people have a record of harassing anyone who is in power in the state. They cannot tolerate anybody else coming to power in a state that they have ruled for so long.
The other reason is the Congress, which is creating problems through SM Krishna. Krishna is the present foreign minister and former chief minister. The Congress is helping Krishna and its other leaders in creating problems for Yeddyurappa, as they fear his popularity. The rule of the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress was unchallenged till now, but not there is someone in the state who is very popular, which these people cannot tolerate.
Is the decision to continue with Yeddyurappa final or will his tenure be reviewed after the panchayat and taluk elections that are scheduled to take place in the coming four weeks?
I think the decision of the party high command to continue with Yeddyurappa will be reviewed from time to time. The leadership has permitted him to continue for now because he has the majority. The panchayat and taluk elections are expected in the next few days and nobody wanted to change the leadership just before the elections. In my opinion, since Yeddyurappa has been asked to stay for now, he will continue for the remaining term as well.
BJP claims it`s a party with a difference but it didn`t act against Yeddyurappa after the land scam allegation came to light. Why is it following double standards?
It`s wrong to say that the BJP leadership in Karnataka and Delhi didn`t act. Action has been taken by the chief minister. He has ordered a judicial probe into all land allotments since 1995. His family members have also returned the land. It is best to wait for the judicial probe to finish and then expect any action. The decision to announce the probe was prompt.
How real was the threat that the government could have fallen if Yeddyurappa was removed from the chief minister`s post?
The threat to the Karnataka government was real because BS Yeddyurappa is a popular leader both among the people and also with the MLAs. Most party MLAs continue to rally around him. He is control of 90-95 per cent of the MLAs. If the central leadership had decided to replace Yeddyurappa, the MLAs would not have liked it. The government was under threat.
During the meetings in Delhi, we managed to convey the feelings of the MLAs to the central leadership. There were certain allegations against him and he was called to Delhi to clarify his stand. He gave his impression of the developments and after considering the pros and cons of the situation, the central leadership decided to continue with him.
Earlier, BJP didn`t act against the Reddy brothers and now very little action has been taken against Yeddyurappa. Is BJP doing a balancing act in the state?
There is no comparison. This is not a balancing act by the central leadership. The allegations against Yeddyurappa were made by a section of political leaders in Karnataka and they are being investigated. It is not correct to say that the central leadership is doing a balancing act.
How do you think Yeddyurappa will deal with the factions in the central leadership which are unhappy with his tenure?
There is only one national executive and one core group in BJP. All the leaders sit together and take decisions. The decision has been taken that Yeddyurappa will remain the chief minister. We are in touch with party President Ntitin Gadkari and other leaders at the Centre.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Learn to respect policemen, else face the heat
After several instances of policemen being assaulted by members of the public were reported recently, city police commissioner Shankar M Bidari issued stern warnings, saying stringent action would be taken against those attacking his men.
But is that the best way to approach this problem? Is there some underlying problem of which the attacks are merely a symptom?
Home minister VS Acharya admitted, in an interview with DNA, that policemen too need training in dealing appropriately with the people they are meant to protect. Those misbehaving with police personnel, however, will get the ‘treatment’ they deserve, the home minister said.
What have you planned to bring those who attack policemen on duty to book? And how would you explain the recent spurt in such instances?
There need be no leniency shown to those who feel free to attack policemen on duty. We will take measures to ensure that such attacks do not happen. Most of the assaults have happened late in the night, and the attackers are mostly people driving home drunk, who have been hauled up. These are miscreants who ought to be taught to cooperate with police personnel who are only doing their duty. We’ll take strong action against them.
These incidents are cause for concern. Do you think they have an impact on the morale of the police force?
If people who attack policemen are let off easily, it would send out a message about the police force being bullied. People will begin to look with contempt at policemen if we fail to deal with these miscreants sternly. We cannot ignore such attacks, as it would be detrimental to the image and morale of the policemen.
Are you implying that the policemen are never at fault?
Policemen are not saints. They too are human and sometimes make mistakes. What I am saying is that all instances of attacks on our men in uniform will be scrutinised. Corrective measures will be taken.
Do you have a notion of what the solution to this problem might be?
There should, as far as possible, be no lapse on the part of the policemen. To train our men adequately, we will be bringing out miniature police diaries for people in each district. The diaries will contain phone numbers of police officials. If anyone faces harassment at the hands of a policeman, he or she should know how such misbehaviour could be reported, and the right channels through which action can be taken in such cases. Officers will be available on phone round-the-clock.
Has something like that ever been tried?
We launched an initiativein Dakshina Kannada. Soon, all districts will have it. We have also started orientation programmes for police personnel.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Acharya to journos: Go easy on the cops
Aug. 17: Home minister V.S. Acharya on Tuesday made an unusual request to the media: Don’t haul cops over the coal as it will demoralise them.
Speaking after inaugurating a new building of the district home guards training centre here, he said the media should motivate policemen to work with enthusiasm instead of criticising them through news reports for even the small mistakes that they may commit.
He said police personnel were like “Lord Hanuman”, “endowed with a lot of energy to do several things at the same time”. Therefore, the media should awaken their strength by encouraging them instead of criticising them.
“There is a need to infuse confidence among the policemen and encourage every step that they have taken for a good cause as they are expected to work day and night,” he said.
Hinting that the state government will introduce a group insurance facility for personnel of home guards department, Dr Acharya said the government is likely to hike the honorarium for the personnel. (Deccan Chronicle)
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Evidence vital for filing a case!
| Bangalore, May 18, DHNS | |
| Home Minister V S Acharya on Tuesday said the State government is unable to take action against Sri Rama Sena Chief over the alleged “rent-a-riot” case, as the news channel which conducted the sting operation has not furnished a copy of the unedited cassette/CD. “A day after the private TV channel broadcast its sting operation, the government asked it to provide a certified copy of the unedited cassette/CD. But they have not provided the cassette yet. Once we get the cassette/CD, we will verify its authenticity and take appropriate action,” he stated. Even in the Mangalore pub attack case action could not be initiated against the culprits, as none of the victims came forward to lodge a complaint, he added. When questioned about the government not taking suo-motu action against Mutalik for reportedly negotiating money for organising a riot, the Home Minister said the police would look into those aspects of the issue. “Suo-motu action can be initiated, when the police finds concrete evidence against any person, who threatens to harm any individual or the society,”he stated. | |
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Quote of the week: Rajdeep Sardesai
“People like me, who should be giving you the right information are under pressure to hype up the information”. Friday, May 14, 2010
Paparazzi culture creeping in...All for a breaking news!
Investigating agency plans to book scribe who had shown visuals of officials questioning Nithyananda on TVThe investigating agency is planning to book him on charges that include conspiring against the state and data theft.
Home Minister Dr VS Acharya, on the other hand, admitted that the department is planning to book some journalists, including Raghavendra. "As a few of them have grown so impish, we have to put brakes on them," he said. The state Home Minister fired salvos against Raghavendra for his attacks on the system as a journalist. (MidDay/NDTV)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Police too have Human Rights!
As if fighting the Maoists was not enough, the police involved in the anti-Naxal operations in Chattisgarh are stretched on another front where they have to spend a considerable time in courts.
Police often get bogged down by cases of alleged human rights violations in various courts resulting in diversion of manpower affecting its operational capabilities in the operations in the Naxal-hit state, top police officers said today.
And the man worried is none other than Director General of Chhatisgarh Police Vishwa Ranjan who finds himself in a catch-22 situation as his men have to spend more time in courts with lawyers to counter the propaganda of Naxals which is being spread through human rights activists.
The case of Dantewada, the heart of Maoist insurgency, has been cited by the police to buttress their point.
The district Superintendent of Police Amresh Misra has to spend half his time in Delhi with lawyers in a Public Interest Litigation filed before the Supreme Court by a human rights activist Himanshu Kumar alleging that 13 people were killed in fake encounters.
In fact, all the 13 persons were alive and their statements have been recorded before a magistrate in a Delhi Court, says Ranjan.
"But to counter this (allegation), my SP has to spend most of the time in Delhi briefing lawyers," he told PTI here. (Read Full Report)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Lessons to be learnt!
Plea to the media: Please Let the investigating officers do their job, do not spread rumours, do not be informants to the miscreants by giving live coverage of the scene of investigations, DO NOT quote irresponsible officials who want remain anonymous!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
`Law and order situation has improved in DK'
A quick perusal of numbers post-Malbari arrest tells its own story. Police in the district have accounted for 146 criminals with `alleged' underworld links and recovered around 43 firearms from their possession. This, says police commissioner Gopal B Hosur, is significant in that the main intent of the criminals arrested was to foment communal discord in a major way by targeting prominent personalities of either religious communities.
Hosur told STOI that a lot more can be done to keep the underworld elements firmly under the thumb. "By and large, we are successful in thwarting designs of fugitive underworld bosses, who seek to spread their reign of terror from abroad," he said. The unemployed youths of the region come in handy for them to carry out their nefarious designs. "Money and thrills of organized crime is a heady cocktail for these youth," he observes.
On reasons for increasing police success in cracking down on organized crime, Hosur opines, is primarily because of vastly improved law and order situation in communally-volatile Dakshina Kannada. "Police get a lot more time on their hands to investigate cases when there is no law and order situation to deal with," he says. "A lot more tact and time is needed in dealing with extortion related cases, which are more local," he adds.
Apportioning equal responsibility for the civil society to help the police in dealing with organized crime, and maintenance of law and order, Hosur says, "It is strange that builders, most often targeted by underworld with extortion related calls, do not lodge a complaint." Builders as a body must set aside their professional rivalries and stand united and stronger to counter threats facing their community rather than succumb to it, he adds.
The home minister V S Acharya observes that there is a definite strategy on part of the state police to take on organized crime. Not outlining this strategy, Acharya recently told STOI that the results are there for all to see. Hosur feels it is the faith reposed by the department on young officers to take on the underworld, which is yielding rich dividends. "It is their determination and our guidance that is winning the battle for us," he adds. jaideep.shenoy@timesgroup.com
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Disclosure of Sensitive data to the media: Maharashtra ATF chief removed
Leaking sensitive information to the media by investigating police officers/personnel for petty gains or instant fame has been on the rise. This dangerous trend leads to destruction of evidence, escape of criminals...
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Sting Operation: Footage telecast in bad taste: CM
BANGALORE: Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and home minister V S Acharya have felt that the repeated telecast of the Swami Nityananda scandal footage to be in bad taste. The repeated telecast of the footage, he said does not well with the tradition of our country. "It does not adhere to our culture," the chief minister said. (TOI)
=The media's improper reporting of sex crimes had led to a phenomenon of ''sexual adversity''
=It is worrying that society was being subject to daily news reports of sexual violence, as if it were a common occurrence.
=''The journalists may feel they are doing their job well, reporting fast and intensely. But they forget that it may destroy the victims' dignity,''
=''We're in a society where humans are commercial goods. Humans make news. And yet we don't care what happens after the news is published,''
=''If we continue to accept that into our culture, sexual adversity will never end.''