CM or no CM, let’s have tea

The City has learnt its lesson when it comes to inviting the CM for events. His recent ‘fashionably late’ appearance left many attendees fuming. Looks like the mantris need a lesson in valuing others’ time too.

Old ways die hard. The Chief Minister Kiran Reddy is known for keeping his audience waiting for hours. He had made an honest bid to amend this penchant after the debilitating electoral blow in the latest bypolls when he turned up on the dot at his office and met visitors by the appointed time. But that was short-lived.

On Wednesday, Kiran was to address the FICCI’s ladies organisation at Taj Krishna on empowering women entrepreneurs. The scheduled speech was at 4.30 pm. Some 250 participants had turned up 15 minutes before the function to facilitate the VIP’s passage.

An hour passed and there was no CM. Meanwhile, the tea and snacks were going cold and stale. The organisers decided to do justice to the food-— CM or no CM. The resolve was welcomed with a murmur of approval .

Will the VIPs realise that the time of their audience is precious? You may say that many things could hold up a CM but then one has to manage one’s time even if one could not be as scrupulous or as finicky as Mahatma Gandhi or Morarji Desai who respected the clock more than anything else. s IA

Shocking cops

Crime reporters are fated to see the ugly faces of society as they interact with the dregs of society. In the process they are bound to absorb many shocks. Police are the pivot of any State. While the behaviour of criminals is understandable the same is not true of some policemen.

What do you say of a police officer who several months after the complaint is “still investigating” the matter of a husband who installed a hidden camera in the bedroom? Ramchandrapuram circle inspector had no qualm to say that in spite of the wife being attacked after the complaint, investigation was in progress!

What do you, again, say of a police who claim a hardened criminal like Psycho Samba ‘escaped’ while he was being escorted by 2 SIs, 2 CIs, and 10 armed policemen? He was supposedly handcuffed and chained. And, pray, how does he ‘run away?’ The fact that he was the prime suspect in stabbing three bus travelers in Nellore is held back. Law-abiding citizens who pay taxes are entitled to know the reasons. MS

Heavy weight demands

You are a common man even if you come in a swanky car. In the eyes of GHMC all are equal, particularly when it comes to taking building permission.

Even big engineers from private firms should make many visits to have a glimpse of the higher official. The file is pending for months due to ‘less weight’ attached with it. Worst is when it comes to charitable trusts, the engineer will have to spend a long time, just for a simple scribble.

“Seventy per cent of the building is ready, when you get through this. What remains is mere construction” observes a veteran. Patience is the key, if your path is genuine. But lock opens, when sympathy creeps in. MN

Fear is the key

Fear, not actual sufferance, is central to the law. Law should command respect and fear. This doctrine of law and punishment is forgotten or not known to the law keepers, veterans believe.

They were discussing the incarceration of G Janardhan Reddy and YSRC chief Jagan, two most important tenants of Chanchalguda jail. Gali who had once dreamt of becoming the CM of Karnataka and tried to dislodge B S Yeddyurappa has lost count of weeks since he first set foot in this historic structure.

Initially, as evidences prove, he was greatly agitated and apprehensive, hence we hear the news of cash-for-bail that amounted to crores. But now, insiders say, he would not give a nickel because what is the use? He has learnt to live till the law takes its course.

Jagan too had similar experience. Shocked that he, the Prince Charming of AP should be put in the dingy cell, he has overcome fear and now rules from the jail.

If only the law would make mental torture of its quarry, it would prove more efficacious than actually padlocking them. But many others disagree too. “Let them count the rotis and know how claustrophobic a cell is,” said R Kumar, a lawyer. PK

Contributed by Inkeshaf Ahmed, Md Nizamuddin, Md Subhan and PK Surendran

Tags: FICCI, Kiran Reddy

Category: City, City News