Should a Chief Minister factor in predictions by astrologers while taking decisions on security in the State? Well, a recent notice served by the Lokayukta to the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy seems to raise that question. The Lokayukta has sought an explanation from Mr. Kumaraswamy for not acting on the “alert” of an impending terror attack on the city by an astrologer.
A copy of the notice is available with The Hindu .
A self-proclaimed “international astrologer” T.D.R. Harishchandra Gowda lodged a complaint with Lokayukta on July 8 claiming that he had predicted a terror attack in the city and had alerted the then CM about the same.
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“I wrote a special letter on February 1, 2007 to the then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy predicting that terrorists would strike in the city. I went to his house over 10 times to discuss the issue. But he did not meet me. He did not even take my letter seriously. The result was a serial bomb blast in 2008,” he alleges in the complaint.
The Lokayukta issued a notice seeking an explanation from Mr. Kumaraswamy on July 13. The notice states that it was issued on the directions of the Lokayukta by Additional Registrar of Enquiries (2) M.S. Balakrishna, who is now in-charge registrar of the anti-corruption body.
Mr. Kumaraswamy has been given two months’ time to submit his reply. Mr. Kumaraswamy came down heavily on the notice.
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“Is this what the functioning of Lokayukta has come down to? So, as a Chief Minister, I should have consulted astrologers on matters of national security? I am at a loss as to what reply I should file,” he told The Hindu .
Is this what the functioning of Lokayukta has come down to? So, as a chief minister, I should have consulted astrologers on matters of national security?
H.D. Kumaraswamy
Former CM