There’s nothing like a drought to drive an elected representative to distraction. Earlier this year, in the midst of a discussion in the Karnataka Assembly on lack of rainfall in the State, a Minister was caught watching a pornographic clip on a mobile device. His excuse: he was really conducting research on atrocities against women. Six months later, when the State is reeling under the worst drought in four decades, this ardent desire to study is once again on display as legislators from the State clamber aboard planes bound for different points on the globe. Predictably, these jaunts have drawn public ridicule. They have also renewed questions about the quality of governance the first-ever Bharatiya Janata Party ministry in the South is providing. Despite the unfolding calamity that has affected the livelihoods of people living in vast swathes of the State, the Assembly Speaker had no problem sending 13 legislators on a junket to South America — euphemistically called a ‘study tour’ — at a cost to the exchequer of about Rs. 7 lakhs per person for the airfare alone. Felicitously, these eager “students” are drawn from all major parties.
Following the outrage, the Speaker now wants to postpone the visit of another 19 legislators to Russia, Scandinavia, Egypt and Israel for a 17-day trip starting September 27. Each legislator is eligible for a daily allowance of $350 plus $75 for two days of air travel. The 17-day tour will cost the government Rs. 2.97 lakhs per legislator. In addition, the tickets cost Rs. 6.80 lakhs per person. Moreover, the government faces the prospect of having to pay the travel agency a penalty of 40 per cent of the fare for each postponement of the trip. Meanwhile, as part of their course curriculum, the MLAs who are halfway through a 13 day trip, with 2 days in Dubai — have visited Buenos Aires, where they have been on a tour “highlighting the city’s major neighbourhoods and attractions” and taken in a tango performance. From Argentina, they have since moved on to Peru where they have “studied” the Inca palaces in Cusco and the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu. Most of them are accompanied by their spouses, all the better to learn. The BJP government in Karnataka, which was elected in May 2008, has lurched from one crisis to another, and brazened through several scandals. These include a massive mining scam and a series of land scams, which forced its then Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to resign and go to prison. With Assembly elections due soon, the BJP will have to contend with snowballing public disenchantment with its less-than-diligent performance in office.
There does not seem to be any point these days lamenting over our rulers' indifference to the people's plight even as they merry make at people's expense.Their uniform stance vis-a-vis people's problems had been most aptly portrayed by the late Congress Supremo K.Kamaraj when he dubbed our political parties as 'coconut husks soaking in one and the same pond'--(Orae kuttaiyile oorina mattai!).He was a down to earth people's leader the like of whom we will not come across in centuries.
The BJP disrupted the Parliament asking the PM to resign as if BJP
is such a boon to the country. Truth is, all the parties are the
same- corrupt. Congress is bad, BJP will be worse. Why do we even
vote?!
funniest editorial. this editorial is quite an eyeopener for it effectively delivers the irony. former president mrs patil's world tour and this study tour simply makes the tax payer wonder how people in higher offices think - use this golden opportunity : eat well, have major health check ups, go for a world tour, save some good money and settle for life. blood boils sir.
If they were in such a dire need to "study the remains of Machu Pichu"
they could have sat in a seventh grader's classroom. It would have at
least saved some money.
Good Article
The BJP in Karnataka, don't even deserve this sarcasm. With such a poorly performing govt machinery in the state, they deserve a more abusive invective.
Another Scam !!! Ohh Sorry my mistake, I forgot in the sunlight of 2G
and coalgate these stars of Indian politics would be hardly visible. But
what the poor exchequer can do to prevent constant decoiting of their
hard earned money ??? ...it seems NOTHING as the only weapon (supposed
to be most powerful weapon of democracy), the voting right has been
wisely neutralized with the question "Which symbol on ballot is white ?
"
In Karnataka where on average 25 farmers commit suicide every month ,the so called 'public servants' have created innovative methods to exhaust public money either on themselves or on stupid ideas like spending crores on having puja for rains.If such government and such politicians are in power ,its nothing but our fault!
It does show not only the legislators in poor light but also our esteemed newspaper, in singling out BJP on this topic. It is not the first time nor they the first one to embark on a study tours.
Right from the President of this country to a small legislator, all are enjoying at govt's expense. Why show your hatred against BJP so openly?
A well written article,which before could be summarized in our own words and then further groomed by our comments and notes, need appreciation for author's efforts and courage to write. its not only karnataka or any other state with BJP rule, its more or less the same case of every where of every state of India, where the voter has the write and liberty to choose their representatives but have no right to contest their supremacy and their poise ideas to rule the masses, it could be more or less a deviation from the nature of the comment on above article, but it is equally necessary to write on these issues wherever u get time and space to write.it is very unfortunate that we stuck hugely in this menace of corruption and luxury life on people money. if we just stop our self and think for a moment that is it ethical to use the money illegally for whom our citizen are paying in different form i.e tax.
"“studied” the Inca palaces in Cusco and the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu". I wonder how the respected leaders found a solution for a draught in karnataka by studying the ruins of Machu Picchu.
With the kind of unenviable performance narrated in the editorial,the BJP must already be reading the writing on the wall as regards its chances of recapturing power in Karnataka in the next elections. Hence the urgency to go on the "study tour" abroad at the cost of the tax payers' money.The Opposition could have exposed the BJP if it had dissociated itself from the foreign jaunt but it has only proved that it is no different. Loser is the State exchequer.
[With Assembly elections due soon, the BJP will have to contend with snowballing public disenchantment with its less-than-diligent performance in office.] Get it while you can! In fact, I'm sure that's precisely what they're doing.
Leave aside drought conditions, should legislators embark on such
journeys to far away land at tax payers; cost. This scandal is likely to
blow over and noticed by the other countries and commented. It has even
exceeded in proportion to British MPs fudging personal expenses
accounts. The legislators should be asked to repay the money with 12%
intereest.
There cannot be a more apt assessment on the performance of the BJP rule in Karnataka than the stinging editorial high lighting the insensitivity of the elected representatives indulging in their overseas jaunt sanctioned by the BJP government even as the State is reeling under unprecedented drought. The state of affairs in the BJP is that the State leadership does not defer to its central leadership and the partymen to the State leadership. With such incohesive mindset, the party is going to face the next Assembly elections and with the growing disenchantment of the people with the BJP fractured verdict is guaranteed.
This could be named as the ''new liberal age of loot'' for our
legislators.What a shame!
The editorial " A class apart" which, without any attempt at mincing words, calls a spade a spade is simply outstanding.What precisely are the benefits the draught-stricken state stand to gain by sending the two batches comprising several MLAs and their spouses/relatives to far-away foreign countries at enormous cost to the public exchequesr? The government's act of squabdering tax-payers' money on the needless pleasure trips of legislators, at a time when that money can be used for draught-relief works, is certainly questionable.
I think the writer was in full mood of sarcasm.I smiled after reading each line of the article.I too agreed with him describing politicians as students going on the so called "study tour" with their beloved wife unnecessary when the country is reeling under high inflation ,economy is not under control and the state is spending money on such useless study tour resulting a loss to public exchequer.
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