Tale of two cities & self-serving netas

Tale of two cities & self-serving netas
H S Balram
The Times of India

A mixed package from Karnataka this week. You have some news to cheer about, some that send a chill down your spine, and some that leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

First the good news. Mysore has arrived. It has been catapulted onto the global map. The second city in Karnataka, after Bangalore, to make a mark. No, not because of any efforts made by the government. It’s thanks to IT giant Infosys, which became the first company in Asia Pacific region to open the trading session at Nasdaq’s Marketsite Tower in Times Square, New York, by remotely ringing the opening bell from Mysore. Only twice before has such a remote opening happened — from Davos and London.

Mysore is fast emerging as an IT destination. Its proximity to Bangalore is additional qualification. With Bangalore bursting at its seams, real estate prices skyrocketing, cost of living increasing, IT and other companies are looking at Tier II cities like Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli and Belgaum. It’s good as these cities too will flourish. The state will benefit. But the government has a job to do. It cannot remain content with basking in its glory, like it did with Bangalore. It must help improve infrastructure in these cities and not allow them to go the Bangalore way. Introduce expressways, superfast trains and frequent flights between these cities and Bangalore. Widen roads, build flyovers, subways, underpasses, skywalks and airports, before the population — both vehicle and people — grows. Encourage public-private participation. Desist from politicising everything.

Let Mysore become a model for other cities, not just in Karnataka but other states as well. It is a cute city, with an interesting history and culture. It attracts tourists throughout the year. People are good and hospitable. When such cities are nurtured, employment opportunities grow, investors pour in and living conditions improve.

‘Bangalore module’ is scary

Now the bad news. Or, should we say scary news? Terrorists are eyeing Bangalore. It looks to be their next target. It is learnt that those arrested in connection with the Mumbai train blasts were not the actual perpetrators of the crime. They were, in fact, part of what is now perceived to be the ‘Bangalore module’, which had a plot to target Vidhana Soudha and Electronic City. The ‘Mumbai module’, which caused the ghastly explosions in first class compartments of trains killing 200 persons and maiming 700 others, remains elusive.

Sources in the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) told the Times of India that one of the persons arrested was assigned the task of conducting a dry run at Vidhana Soudha and major IT installations in Bangalore. Doesn’t this send a chill down the spine? Was the attack on scientists on the IISc campus a few months ago such an exercise? Bangalore, which has a large concentration of IT and BPO companies, as well science and defence establishments, is an “attractive target’’ for acts of economic terrorism.

Bangalore must be protected against any terrorist attack. It’s high time those at the helm took a serious look at the security set-up. The police force needs more men, hi-tech gadgets, sophisticated arms and ammunition and a good intelligence wing. You cannot take on a terrorist with a lathi or an outdated .303 rifle. The Veerappan episode taught us a bitter lesson. Our security forces ran around in circles when the brigand was attacking at will. When we found it tough to nab one bigot, how can we face terrorists? Let us learn to act, not react. Badly needed is political will.

Of exposes and mudslinging
Finally, the ugly news. Mudslinging. Political opponents are out to expose each other. Allegations and counter-allegations are flying thick and fast. Dirty linen is being washed in public. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy is caught in a web — one-third of which he created himself, another one-third by coalition partner BJP and the remaining by opposition Congress. When everything was going well for him, Kumaraswamy committed hara-kiri by listening to his father and put hurdles before the Bangalore-Mysore corridor, though its builders had received a clean chit from the Supreme Court. This resulted in a chain of problems for him. The BJP chose not to support Kumaraswamy on the issue. A move by the father-son duo to take over the project fell flat. The apex court came down heavily on the government. Then a BJP man accused him of taking bribe from mine owners in Bellary. It jolted him and his family. The Congress added fuel to the fire by charging him with using the bribe money to purchase property in the IT corridor in Bangalore at a subsidised rate. The Gowda family is now planning to expose the accusers. The inference one draws from this ugly drama is that everyone is out to amass wealth, while paying lip-sympathy to the common man’s needs. A sad state of affairs indeed. Will Kumaraswamy come out of this mess? Will he last the full 20-month term? Will BJP get to rule? No one knows. Isn’t it unfortunate that a young man, who was shaping up well as a good administrator, is caught in a political cesspool?