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Journalism of Courage
Opposition parties have been united in dismissing Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappas second full budget as lacking in substance. The Congress leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah,a former finance minister himself,has called the 2010-11 budget anti-people and anti-poor. The JDS leader of the opposition in the state legislative council,M C Nanaiah,took a dig at Yeddyurappas penchant to quote poetry in the course of his Budget speech. The only difference between last years budget and this years is that Yeddyurappa used different lines from the same poets, he said.
Fire tragedy: A wake-up call for all companies
The fire tragedy in Bangalore on February 23 at the Carlton Towers that claimed nine lives has served as a wake-up call for fire awareness in the city. The first major fire tragedy in the city since the Venus Circus fire of 1981 that killed 70 people has made companies across the IT city formulate and communicate fire safety plans to employees in their organisations. Over the past week,employees at some of the top companies have received reassurances with facilities teams going the extra distance to show all fire safety practices that have been incorporated in their buildings. The DGP for fire services Jija Hari Singh has also suggested to the government installation of public address systems in all highrises in the city to help direct rescue operations.
Krishna turns down uncomfortable question
Foreign minister S M Krishna on a recent visit to Bangalore was asked a mischievous question by a journalist. He was asked for comments on how he was connected to Swami Nityananda,who is caught in a controversy over his alleged sexual escapades with a Tamil actress. Krishna had been photographed with the Swamiji at public functions,the journalist said. The former Karnataka chief minister said he would not like to respond to the mischievous question. Krishna along with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa are among a spectrum of political leaders from around the country who have been photographed with Swami Nityananda over the years.
New Prevention of Cow Slaughter Bill
When the Assembly convened after lunch break one sleepy afternoon last week,the Speaker sprang a surprise when he announced that the BJP government had decided to withdraw its pet Prevention of Cow Slaughter Bill. It came as surprise since the government just days earlier in a Cabinet meeting cleared a brand new Prevention of Cow Slaughter Bill with punishments including jail of up to seven years and fines of up to Rs one lakh. Home Minister V S Acharya later said the Bill cleared by the Cabinet would be introduced during the current session. What was being withdrawn he said was the original Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act and proposed amendments discussed during an earlier legislative session.
