Desperate IT Raids
Finally looks like the BJP has kicked off to a strong campaigning phase in the upcoming loksabha elections. IT dept officials have raided a few selected people including politicians of other parties in the state giving the BJP much needed campaign curtain raiser. In the recent past, the same IT dept officials had raided the house of minister D K Shivakumar’s residence. Centre had sent IT teams for the very purpose when DKS had created a safe haven for Cong MLAs from Gujarat.
A few years back, central governments would use IT department in a rather clandestine manner to issue a veiled threat to their opponents. But now things are not covered anymore. Government issues direct threat to opponents using the IT dept.
When Yeddyurappa’s diary was made public in the recently, a BJP sympathizer IT official had hurriedly clarified that the diary was fake. But one cannot even question how he was authorized to clarify the matter. The raid by IT dept around the same time as coalition partners are entering polls has created some controversy. Both JD(S) and Cong have alleged that the raids are connected with upcoming elections, a claim denied by the officials.
IT dept is bound to investigate into the matters of tax evasion. There is no doubt about this. The offenders might be the big shots or the powerful politicians, if their accounts don’t tally, the department has to investigate into the matter. In this regard, anybody interrupting the officers on job is liable to punishment. But even the IT officials during the raid have to maintain their credibility. The main question now is why are the officials raiding the offices of only one party's workers and supporters? Yeddyurappa diary is testimony to the fact that more tax evaders are present in Karnataka.
Reddys of mining mafia are still capable of spending thousands of crores during elections. Hence sparing all BJP workers, why did the teams raid only those who are with the coalition government? And why did the raids happen only at the time of elections? Why were they silent till now? IT officials are responsible to answer these questions.
The raids conducted by them during the assembly election at DKShi’s residence and now on the residences of JD(S) leaders are same in bear the same motive. Hence no matter how much one wants to defend them, the underlying rot is rather too evident. At the same time, another question also arises. The night prior to the raids, CM had said in no uncertain terms that raids on their party supporters were due soon. How did he get the inkling of this? Who leaked the information to him? If he had known beforehand, would the raid even have any impact? Persons concerned would have hidden important documents and details beforehand itself. What impact would the raids even have as an act? But despite this if the raids have happened, it means there is something more than what meets the eye here. This is about spreading negativity among people about the parties. The main purpose of this raid is over with turning into cover page news. At the same time, BJP leaders defending this raid is a mockery of sorts. If IT officers had been working independently even BJP leaders would have been the aggrieved ones along with JD(S) by now. It would have been a credible thing if the IT officers had raided all politicians that are corrupt irrespective of their party background. People would have appreciated this task by IT officers on the whole.
This raid has been some sort of a humiliating one for the central government itself for having timed it around elections. People are wise enough to understand this. They can sense the game centre is playing with the state. This shows Modi’s desperation, and his fear towards a rather bleak future for his party in the upcoming elections.
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Karnataka HC rules in favor of bike taxi drivers, asks govt to protect their interest
Bengaluru: In a move aimed at safeguarding the safety of bike taxi operators in the state, the Karnataka High Court recently directed the state government to take strict action against individuals or groups found illegally preventing bike taxis from carrying out their services.
The High Court order, dated March 28, stated that the writ petition was being disposed of, directing the Karnataka government to take appropriate action against any person who is found to have unlawfully obstructed the petitioners from operating the bike taxis.
The order comes nearly two years after a direction was issued to the transport authorities under the state government not to take any coercive action against bike taxi services. The High Court, in its latest order, stated that despite its earlier directive, the police have failed to take action against respondents found guilty of obstructing and assaulting bike taxi riders. "The State is under obligation to take appropriate action against any individual," the High Court added.
The Bike Taxi Welfare Association, one of the petitioners, stated that the recent High Court order would boost their fight against harassment, physical violence, vehicle damage, and obstruction to bike taxi riders by auto-rickshaw union members in Bengaluru. "This order not only carries the weight of legal obligation but also marks a crucial stride towards ensuring the safety and security of all riders within our transportation landscape," the association said in a statement.
The association had filed a petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, seeking relief from unlawful interference in their operations. Senior advocate KN Phanindra represented the association during the hearing of the petition in court.
