Indians are tolerant to zeros: Santosh Hegde

July 1, 2011

Mangalore, July 2: Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde said that it is time to introspect and ask ourselves if we have really lived up to the expectations of the people who fought and sacrificed their lives to earn us freedom.

Addressing the C A Foundation Day celebration here on Friday, the Lokayukta said that India has broken out of its identity of being a 'third world country' and is racing with some of the developed countries of the world.

“India has developed, undoubtedly, but we have to question if the development has happened across the country or only in certain pockets of the country. In either of the cases, we have to question who is responsible for the same,” he said and added if India on one hand boasts of producing 29 multi billionaires, it is the same country which also has the pathetic situation of the lady of the house milling four to five kms to get a pot of water in rural pockets. “I say there is a contribution of each one of us for the non development of certain pockets and development of only individuals. The professional code of conduct in each and every profession has taken a back seat. A lawyer is not arguing the cases any more but he instead acts like a middleman. This trend has entered every profession possible. There is mal-administration in each and every department,” said the Lokayukta.

He said that the Government talks of Gross Domestic Production (GDP), but we have to know if the GDP has been achieved with contribution from people across the society or by the 29 multi billionaire and another chunk of elites.

The 'Zeros'

Accountants' role

“May it be Satyam or any other scam, there is role of accountants behind them,” he said ending with the note that every profession is collectively responsible for what is partly happening in the country.

Assembly Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat, National Institute of Director- Karnataka (NITK) Director Prof Sandeep Sancheti, ICAI Chairman Chandramohan K Y and others were present.

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Citing example of Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda who stifled Rs 4,000 crore, Hegde said that Koda, a mine worker managed to take the money out of the country, formed fake companies abroad, invested the money into those companies and brought back the money to India as FDI.

The Lokayukta said: “Our Prime Minister had issued a statement that we should have 'Zero tolerance to corruption'. I tried to make a study on this great suggestion of our esteemed Prime Minister and I learnt that we Indians have managed to cover first three letter of it. We have 'Tolerance to Zeros'. 2G scam has 15 zeros, oil scam has 17. Our scams and the number of zeros in the amount bungled up has been shooting up but we are very tolerant,” said Hegde in ridiculing tone.

He said that the CAG report says that Rs 51,000 crore has been unaccounted in the funds kept aside for eight schemes including mid-day meals, integrated child development, drinking water, Gram Sadak Yojana and the likes.

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News Network
November 14,2024

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Bengaluru: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi led union government has requested the Karnataka High Court to direct the Mandya district administration and the state government to clear a madrasa operating within the premises of the historic Jama Masjid in Srirangapatna.

The Waqf Board, opposing this move, has claimed the mosque as its property and defended the right to conduct madrasa activities there.

The matter was brought before a division bench headed by Chief Justice N V Anjaria following a public interest litigation filed by a person named Abhishek Gowda from Kabbalu village in Kanakapura taluk. The petition alleged “unauthorised madrasa activities” within the mosque.

Representing the Central government, Additional Solicitor General of India for High Court of Karnataka, K Arvind Kamath argued that the Jama Masjid was designated as a protected monument in 1951, yet unauthorised madrasa operations continue there.

He noted that concerns over potential law and order issues have so far prevented any intervention. Kamath urged the court to direct the Mandya district administration to take action and vacate the madrasa from the mosque.

In defence, lawyers for the state government and the Waqf Board contested this request, stating that the Waqf Board had been recognised as the owner of the property since 1963 and, thus, conducting madrasa activities there is lawful.

After hearing both sides, the bench adjourned the case for further arguments, scheduling the next hearing for November 20.

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News Network
November 17,2024

Mangaluru: District-in-Charge Minister and Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao, announced that a day-care chemotherapy centre will soon be established at District Wenlock Hospital. Speaking to mediapersons after reviewing the activities at Wenlock and Government Lady Goschen Hospital, he shared the government’s plans to enhance healthcare services in the region.

Key Initiatives Announced

•    Day-Care Chemotherapy Centre:

  • Ten beds will be reserved for cancer patients.
  • The government will collaborate with Yenepoya Hospital to provide chemotherapy treatments.
  • All required facilities for the centre are already in place, awaiting inauguration by the Chief Minister.

•    Wenlock Hospital Facelift:

  • Critical Care Block: To be built at a cost of ₹24 crore.
  • Integrated Public Health (IPH) Lab: Planned with a budget of ₹1 crore.
  • New OPD Block: As per a 2017 agreement, KMC Hospital will take up construction. Discussions with KMC management are underway.

•    Additional Requirements:

  • A new mortuary and post-mortem building.
  • Paramedical college building.
  • Modern kitchen.
  • Bridge connecting two buildings within the hospital.

•    Total facelift cost: ₹6 crore to ₹10 crore, utilizing funds from the Department of Health and Family Welfare and CSR contributions.

•    Timeline:
By December or January, priority works will be finalized. The superintendents of Wenlock and Lady Goschen Hospitals are scheduled to visit Bengaluru next week to discuss these projects.

•    MRI Fee Allegations:
The minister assured that allegations of patients being charged for MRI scans at Wenlock Hospital will be resolved at the earliest.
These measures aim to improve healthcare accessibility and infrastructure, positioning Wenlock Hospital as a state-of-the-art facility in the region.

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News Network
November 12,2024

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Mysuru, Nov 12: Zameer Ahmad Khan, the Tourism and Waqf minister of Karnataka, who stirred a controversy by addressing the Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy as ‘Kaala Kumaraswamy’ has tendered apologies for his remarks.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Tuesday, Minister Zameer stated that he will apologise if remarks have hurt JD-S workers.

“We both are very close. Then, in a total of 24 hours, we were together for 14 hours. He used to fondly address me as “kulla” (shorty) and I used to address him as “kariyanna” (blacky, kaalia),” Minister Zameer stated.

“I am not addressing him as ‘kaalia’ for the first time. I have not said something highly derogatory. It is being made as big in the backdrop of elections. With love, he used to call me a shorty and I called him a blacky. If I had caused pain to anyone by my words I apologise,” he said.

He further stated: “Kumaraswamy had said that he didn’t want the votes of the Muslim community. But now they are attempting to purchase Muslim votes. Against this backdrop, I have made the remark.”

Minister for Home G. Parameshwara stated on Tuesday, “Minister Zameer and Kumaraswamy are close friends. Their comments against each other are not significant.”

Zameer Ahmad Khan, the Tourism and Waqf minister of Karnataka stirred a controversy on Monday as he addressed the Union Minister as ‘Kaala Kumaraswamy’.

JD-S on Tuesday demanded a public apology and resignation of Minister for Waqf and Tourism Zameer Ahmad Khan over his ‘racist’ remarks.

“Remember, there is no place here for your divisive policies. You have insulted the people by making ethnic, racist and discriminatory statements. You should apologize to the people of the state and resign,” the JD (S) demanded in the post.

Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju reacted sternly to the racist jibe and stated, “I strongly deplore Congress Minister Zameer Ahmed calling Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Karnataka Kumaraswamy as 'Kaalia Kumaraswamy'.

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