karnataka claim

check mental health
of legislators first

By Kulamarva Balakrishna
Vienna,31-10-2007: India´s Karnataka State is under President´s rule because the break down of coalition arrangement between the two difficult partners. First, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr.Yediyurappa and his followers resigned. Then the Chief Minister H.D.Kumaaraswamy sought more than ten days time from the Governor to prove his majority. The Governor did not oblige.The coalition had collapsed and the government had resigned. The Governor´s rule was imposed. That was followed by Mr. Yediyurappa consulting astrologers and changing his name formally into Yeddiyurappa! About three weeks´ time was used then renegotiate the collapsed coalition by the same partners.They march into Raj Bhavan claiming majority and right to form a government. What does it indicate? It does not reflect well on the elected members of the legislative assembly to change their mind into contrary directions in no time. A normal citizen like me when I make up my mind to sign an affidavit saying that on my death my body should be made available to a medical college, no funeral ceremonies need to be held, I am advised to make it valid I should get medical certificate that my mental health is sound. Does the same rule of law not apply to law makers? In other words, in this case all the 129 legislatures who joined together to stake claim for a fresh
beginning of the repaired coalition, should go to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro´sciences and obtain a certificate that all the elected legislators are in a state of good mental health to be trusted with forming a new government.It is that simple.After all the governance of a State government with huge budgets would be entrusted to the proved fickle politicians.

Karnataka has proved it is a badly governed state. Under the same coalition earlier this year two glaring law and order break downs took place. The first was when the State allowed in January this year, a public ceremony in support of an already condemned and hanged foreign dictator. The State has nothing to do with foreign relations with the living or dead. How come then the State concern itself as a party on Saddam Hussains hanging by his own country´s government? Because of this engagement by the State´s law and order broke down, a couple of people died some 40 policemen were injured and properties were destroyed. Then came the Ramasethu controversy in the neighboring State of Tamil Nadu. The State then participated in lawlessness burning an inter-state bus killing two passengers.In no other state such lawlessness ensued. It was proved that governance was sub-standard.

It is reported Bharatiya Janata Party leaders at the national level met the Prime Minister seeking approval of their claim to govern the State under the leadership of its State Unit at once.The State Unit itself gone on record if the Governor does not accept the claim it will go to the streets in agitation. Why then it took them three weeks to know they can indeed govern. They are unwilling to give the Governor,the Ministry of Home Affairs and the President more than 24 hours to take considered decision. How unreasonable.At least they should give the Governor,the Ministry of Home Affairs and the President to consult one each astrologer making a total of three astrologers if the administration was to follow their own examples.The Governor has not to go very far, since
Ms.Shakuntala Devi is in Bangalore now as a practicing astrologer.

The 2004 general elections first caused a coalition between the Congress and Janata Dal (secular) whatever the name may mean. Then the coalition collapsed. In the new coalition
Bharatiya Janata Party and the coalition breaker JDS were partners. The JDS had the least popular support proved by the elections. But it led the government for 20 long months.Another
20 moths designated to Bharatiya Janata Party, by the collapse of the coalition caused a period of one month´s non-government. How then the public should trust the remaining 18 odd months there would be effective government by these politicians. It is therefore, imperative those who claim the right to rule get themselves examined by the National Institute of Mental Health which is not far away from Vidhana Saudha. The institute had mapped the brains of under trials like Abdul Karim Telgi. For a change it may also be wise to give it an opportunity to map the brains of so many legislators who are eager to rule Karnataka. (end)