The recent political machinations in Maharashtra brought up an interesting issue — age. Is age just a number in politics? Yes. But one should know when to retire and how to retire. In all facets of life. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar, at the launch of his autobiography last month, announced his retirement…
First, build on the ground, then underground
June 24, 2023It was reported yesterday that Karnataka Dy.CM and a team of senior officials would visit Singapore to get a first-hand experience of tunnel roads so they can build similar underground roads to decongest Bengaluru. Ambitious much? A few years ago, Bengaluru got an underpass system called ‘Magic Box’, where they created box-shaped passages under existing…
Anti-conversion bill, we may need it still
June 17, 2023On Thursday, the Karnataka Cabinet decided to repeal the stringent law regulating religious conversion introduced by the previous BJP Government. Is this Anti-Conversion Bill draconian? Yes, but why can’t we have an Anti-Conversion Bill with specific changes? Why reject the Bill outright? While the Congress party in Karnataka has repealed the Bill, didn’t the same…
Expressway Deaths: RTO problem, not the Road
June 10, 2023Last year, Zoomcar, India’s biggest self-drive rental car company, surveyed 22 cities using its proprietary drive scoring system and declared Mysuru had the worst drivers in the country! Based on yesterday’s SOM report, the survey’s assessment seems right. The report stated that in just five months of the Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway opening, there have been 570…
Break in India !
June 3, 2023We are a nation of vandals — wilful destroyers of what is beautiful or venerable. Be it painting love quotes on rocks, etching perverse rhymes on elevator doors, breaking art installations, slashing bus seats, stealing street lights or cutting fences on the new Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway, we are constantly defacing, stealing or destroying public property. Mysuru-Kodagu…
Hollow Oaths
May 27, 2023Every time there is an oath-taking ceremony, MLAs do not follow the rules, which is to take the oath either in the name of God or the Constitution. Instead, they take the oath in the name of whomsoever they want. This time was no different, the MLAs began their stint as rule-makers by breaking the…
King Cong
May 20, 2023Soon after Congress got an overwhelming mandate, an otherwise stern and emotionless D.K. Shivakumar (DKS) shed tears of joy before the media. Now, he is probably shedding tears of disappointment as he did not get the Chief Minister’s chair. Unfortunate for a man who has been a Congress workhorse all his life. While many may…
Verdict 2023: Lessons & Warning
May 14, 2023What an emphatic victory for Congress and what a lesson the Karnataka voters have taught the State BJP that was corrupt, arrogant, incompetent and ill-prepared. The scale of Congress’ victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections is a record of both seats and vote share in over 30 years. The party has won 135 seats with…
Manifesto? Meh!
May 6, 2023Every year on the 25th of January, the Election Commission of India (ECI) releases advertisements asking voters to take a pledge which is to be an honest voter. That elaborate pledge seems redundant as I watch the caste and cash politics being played out before us. This year, the Election Commission has stated that there…
Garland Mania
April 22, 2023Come elections, I look forward to two things — manifestos and garlands. So far, no party has presented a manifesto. It’s an embarrassment in democratic politics. Sadly, no one is asking or talking about it. But garlands have become a talking point. The garlands this election have been outstanding as they have been outlandish. Garlands,…
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