Peacock politics
V.S. Ugrappa ( in picture ), Congress MLC, known for fighting bitter political battles with the Opposition both inside and outside the Legislative Council by citing Constitutional provisions, seems to have now become a wildlife expert too.
Inspired by strutting peacocks in the Mughal Gardens of Delhi’s Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mr. Ugrappa wanted peacocks in the State Secretariat gardens as well, as part of the beautification process of the 60-year-old seat of power. He communicated his idea to the Chief Secretary and wrote to the Department of Horticulture to take necessary steps.
According to him, besides beautification, peacocks help in eliminating snakes and scorpions on the premises on the Secretariat as well. It also reduces expenditure on pest control.
However, the Horticulture Department is in no mood to buy the idea and has simply washed its hands of by noting that it is not their job to procure peacocks. The Forest Department too is said to have turned down the MLC’s proposal, arguing that the environs of Vidhana Soudha are not conducive for peacocks.
Kannada only
“No Tamil, No Telugu, Hindi thoda, thoda (little). Today is Rajyotsava, I speak Kannada only...” This was how Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ( in picture ) reacted when senior cine artiste Kanchana asked him whether he knew Tamil or Telugu at a gathering in the Banquet Hall on the day of Karnataka Rajyotsava. As a practice, the Chief Minister hosts tea for recipients of Karnataka Rajyotsava award at the Banquet Hall every year before conferring the award at Ravindra Kalakshetra.
Ms. Kanchana, one of the recipients of the award, asked Mr. Siddaramaiah about the languages he knew and this was what she got as reply. The crowd surrounding him burst into laughter. Mr. Siddaramaiah went on to tell Ms. Kanchana and others about his upbringing and education. He did not forget to add that he was the first chairman of Kannada Kavalu Samiti.
Testimony in blood
Politicians making promises on development is nothing new, but former Chief Minister and BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa ( in picture ) went a step ahead and said that he would write “a testimony with his blood” that he would not breach the trust of the people if the party comes to power.
He made this promise at the party’s Parivartana rally in Vijayapura district, but did not clarify when and where he would draw his blood and write the testimony.
His statement drew lots of cheer from his supporters who seemed to rather enjoy this hyperbole.
Muralidhara Khajane
Firoz Rozindar
