The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Ignorance! What is that?

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Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Ignorance! What is that?

Do some politicians require a crash course in public speaking? Though the question might sound absurd because most of them refuse to let go of the mike, there are a few who could do with a little coaching. Recently, a politician who was invited to speak at a public meeting held in connection with`Operation Dengue' was seen fumbling for words. After managing to put across that mosquitoes were dangerous, he looked around and then suddenly, pointed to banners put up around the meeting venue and said: "Please read those banners, they have all the information you want." Can't beat that, can we?

Ministers coming late to functions has become a rule rather than an exception. Generally, everyone puts up with this inconvenience without a murmur. However, the other day Mohd. Shabbir Ali and Mohd. Fareeduddin were in for a surprise when they arrived late to the Mir Alam Idgah to take stock of the arrangements for Id prayers.

The programme was scheduled to begin at 3.30 p.m. but till 4 p.m. there was no sign of the ministers. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who had been waiting since 3 p.m., was quite upset at this delay. He called up the ministers on phone and gave an earful. "It is insulting for me. Am I a Congress worker to wait for you," he shouted in the phone. The Majlis workers too resented the affront to their leader and insisted on Mr. Owaisi unveiling the plaque of the extension of the Idgah. However, the ministers landed soon and attributed the delay to the traffic jam.

Commitment in advertisement, callousness in actions! When it comes to publicising measures to control chikungunya and dengue, Alwal municipal officials are in the forefront. They had put up colourful boards at several places - a huge one is at Golnaka rotary - asking people to keep their surroundings clean.Ironically, the dustbin at a stone's throw from the rotary is brimming with garbage with mosquitoes zooming all around. The civic officials must be busy erecting more such advisory boards, say people.

At a time when the city was battling dengue, scare one would expect MCH officials and public representatives to work together. Alas it was not to be. Recently, corporators fought among themselves on the procedure to clear construction of sporting complexes.

They argued for three hours in a meeting as officials sat smugly without informing them that a GO was already issued. The expenses for the meeting - Rs. 2 lakhs - went waste. When Mayor T. Krishna Reddy came to know of it, his first reaction was to request the media not to "make it an issue". But, on realising that the story was going to be published anyway, he changed tack and said it was "shameful" on part of officials' to keep him in the dark. Next day, he called for the sacking of the Commissioner and his (two) or three Additional Commissioners plus the Chief Engineer. "We are all aware of the GO," confessed a senior official. "I sign many files. How many can I remember?" Commissioner Sanjay Jaju tried to defend himself.

V. Geetanath

Dennis Marcus Mathew, J.S.Ifthekhar, Marri Ramu and V. Geetanath

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