From: rajkumar@ece.orst.edu (Rajkumar Vedam)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Bangarappa the 5% CM ?
Date: 22 Jul 92 18:59:40 GMT
Article-I.D.: talon.1992Jul22.185940.24889
Organization: Oregon State University, Corvallis
Originator: rajkumar@sardine.ECE.ORST.EDU



In article <1992Jul22.031917.17090@seas.smu.edu> krishna@seas.smu.edu (Sanjay Krishna) writes:
>From: nagappa@Rosie.UH.EDU (C Nagappa - behind the scenes)
>Subject: Bangarappa of Karnataka Mr. 5%?
>Hello nettors,
>
>>	My cousin who has just returned from a vacation in India, mainly
>>Bangalore and thereabouts, told me about the alleged widespread 
>>corruption under Mr. Bangarappa (CM of Karnataka). Allegedly, he has a 
>>reputation similar to Pakistan's Asif Zardari (Mr. 10%), except that his
>>commission is (allegedly) less - around 5%.
>
>>	Also I heard that he has acquired a large number of money-
>>making businesses in Bangalore and elsewhere: Hotel Ashoka, Windsor
>>Manor, Holiday Inn, Taj, etc., and he is also allegedly taking about 10%
>>of proceeds from the Bangalore Dairy milk sales.

>>Regards,
>
>>Chetan Nagappa
>
>
>Well I have 10 Deccan Herald issues from May 24 to June 4 and have read them
>carefully. There are absolutely no such items in the newspaper or in the 
>letters to the editor or the complaints section where people are free to 
            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  			No ! See below .

>vent their feelings. From the news items itself, exactly the opposite is 
>taking place. This should come as a surprise to many Bangaloreans and other
>folk from Karnataka - EVERY state government undertaking is making profits 

 (deleted)

>
>Sanjay 
>


Normally I wouldn't quote street talk. But then this
is relevent to put things in perspective.

I was in B'lore on this New Year's eve. My friend and I
were shopping for UBs, Kingfisher, etc., for a midnight
bash. He remarked that while the prices of EVERYTHING
in B'lore had gone up since the devaluation, ONLY ONE
item had actually gone down - Liquor, thanks to the
reduced taxes, etc. No second guesses who's behind
it ! Common knowledge would have it that he makes
over Rs. 1 lakh a day, from the liquor lobby. Who
else do you know in Bangalore, who would charter a private
plane to fly from B'lore to Pune and back, the same day,
to attend a classical music concert (incidentally, while
B'lore was burning - Cauvery water riots) ?? (which
other state do you know, having as many liqour shops,
bars, and pubs as Karnataka ?)

Also it is important to remember that the marriage alliances
between the families of the CM Bangarappa, owners of the
newspaper Deccan Herald, and the cine actor Dr. Rajkumar, have
produced a very powerful vested interest group in Karnataka.

I was in Bangalore during the Cauvery water riots, and I can
vouch for the following: letters to the editor in the 
newspapers Indian Express, The Hindu, and Times of India
(all b'lore editions), blasted  CM Bangarappa for his complicity
in the riots. During the same time, EACH LETTER IN DECCAN
HERALD praised the CM for his "handling of the riots", and
indulged in a fair share of the TN CM bashing. Draw your 
own conclusions !

On a related note, immediately after the riots, there was
supposedly a souring of relations between the CM Bangarappa
and the publishers of Deccan Herald, Hari Kumar. Apparently,
Bangarappa had tried unsuccessfully to acquire control of
Deccan Herald, which was resented by the owners. 

Like I wrote earlier, this is common talk, and the truth
could be far off the mark - I don't like quoting
such, but they do lend a new perspective !


--------------
Rajkumar Vedam