Former Karnataka ’super cop’ reaches out to voters in style

Bangalore, April 21: Congress candidate H.T. Sangliana, a former “super cop” of Karnataka, says electioneering in the prestigious Bangalore Central parliamentary constituency is like a dream unfolding as the April 23 polling day nears.

Sangliana was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket from the adjacent Bangalore North constituency after defeating Congress veteran and former Union minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief.

This time, after switching parties, the 66-year-old former city police commissioner is contesting from Bangalore Central, which includes some of the areas of his previous constituency post-delimitation. He has been on the move over the last fortnight to reach out to as many of the 1.9 million voters as possible.

“It’s been a dream life. Over the last two weeks, I’ve lost count of the people I met while canvassing door-to-door and campaigning in several localities across the eight assembly segments of this huge constituency,” Sangliana told IANS while on the campaign trail in Gandhinagar.

Though Sangliana’s nomination from the much-sought-after constituency was late in coming, he lost no time in plunging headlong into hectic campaigning that begins early in the day and drags on till midnight.

Typically, he gets cracking at 7 a.m. for the campaign grind after a quick shower and breakfast in his modest sixth floor flat at the National Games Village in upscale Koramangala suburb.

By the time Sangliana sets out in a Honda CRV, with six gun-toting commandos providing him Z plus security cover in an escort jeep, he is swarmed by hordes of party cadres and local leaders to chalk out the day’s campaign route and the schedule for meetings in designated localities.

“I am 100 percent confident of winning. I have felt the pulse of the people as they greet and exchange views with me. The voters are educated and well-informed. They know I am a performer,” he said.

Unlike other candidates in the city, family members do not accompany Sangliana for electioneering.

While his wife Rovi keeps busy with household chores, three of their four daughters - Elizabeth, Sarah and Rebecca - are settled in Agartala, Mumbai and Boston.

Rachael, who lives separately in Bangalore, is the one who helps him in campaigning.

“All my daughters call me every day to enquire about my campaign and give me valuable suggestions,” beams Sangliana, sporting sunglasses and looking flamboyant in his usual safari suit.

As he enters Gandhinagar, a densely populated residential-cum-commercial area, shouts of “Sangliana zindabad” rent the air. Hordes of party workers and supporters converge at a local temple to welcome him with a burst of crackers, beating of drums, sloganeering and strings of garlands.

After praying at the temple, a heavily garlanded Sangliana steps out and climbs a white open van with Gandhinagar Congress legislator Dinesh Gundu Rao for a quick round of the locality.

With a ban on the use of election paraphernalia and loud speakers for campaigning, Sangliana depends on his popularity in the constituency to draw people’s attention and appeals for their votes with a broad smile, waving hands and delivering a short address on what he would do for them if elected.

Introducing him to a small gathering at a street corner, one of his supporters makes an impromptu speech using a mike and shouts “vote for Sangliana, vote for Sonia and vote for Congress to bring about a change in society”.

“Sangliana will definitely win. He is known for his good work both as a policeman and as a parliamentarian. I will vote for him,” said septuagenarian Mahesh Babu, a retired official, who stepped out of his house to greet the Congress leader.

“As a police officer he was a hero and did a commendable job. He is equally good as a politician now. He should win,” said B. Mandakini, 55.

Asked if his “super cop” image would help him garner votes, Sangaliana said he did not become overnight what people think of him.

“People call me a super cop because I introduced several measures for their benefit as a policeman. I was tough with criminals. I have no problem if people identify me as a super cop as long as I get their love and trust,” he said.

Sangliana is locked in a triangular contest with P.C. Mohan of the BJP and B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan of the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S).

“If elected, I will improve electricity and water supply, repair roads and the drainage system. I will prevent moral policing,” Sangliana claimed, drawing a round of applause from his audience.

“I have always believed in good work to be part of public life. I want to spend the rest of my life working for the people,” he asserted.

After a few rounds of campaigning on a hot day, Sangliana breaks for a quick lunch and sets out for another gruelling round of campaigning.

READ MORE - Former Karnataka ’super cop’ reaches out to voters in style

It's triangular contest in Bangalore Central

Bangalore, Apr 18 : A triangular contest is on the cards in the Bangalore Central constituency which has population of all religions and castes. The Congress is betting on its one-time bitter rival, a "super cop", to score victory in this urban Parliamentary constituency.

The Congress candidate H T Sangliana, who recently quit the BJP and joined the Congress after the vote on N-deal in the Parliament last year, is facing tough battle from BJP's P C Mohan and JD (S)' Zameer Ahmed. While Mr. Mohan lost the last assembly elections, Mr. Ahmed is sitting member of the Assembly.

Mr. Sangliana trounced Congress warhorse C K Jaffer Sharief to win Bangalore North seat as a BJP candidate in 2004.

Interestingly, Mr Sangliana has upstaged Mr Sharief in securing Congress ticket to contest from the newly formed Bangalore Central.

A giant killer then, defeating the former union minister Mr Sharief, Mr Sangliana, a former Bangalore Police Commissioner, is now donning a new hat as a Congress candidate.

Former Chief Minister S. M. Krishna and other Congress candidates had intensively campaigned for Mr Sangliana in the last couple of days.

After the volte-face on N-deal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi rewarded him overlooking the party's long-time loyal leader Sharief's demand to contest from Bangalore Central.

Mr Sharief has instead been given a ticket from Bangalore North and he has locked with BJP' D.B. Chandre Gowda, who recently quit the Congress and joined the BJP.

Shedding of his saffron tag, Mr Sangliana is now banking on his image of the no-nonsense "supercop" and the work done by him as an MP from Bangalore North to win against Mr Mohan and Mr Zameer Ahmed.

Mr Sangliana, a native of Mizoram, has made Bangalore his home after he hung up his boots at the end of 36-year police career. He is under Z security, following alleged harassment from BJP cadres for his vote for the UPA.

The Congress candidate has strongly condemned the attack on churches and blamed the VHP and Bajrang Dal forces for attack on women in Mangalore pub.

The Bangalore Central constituency has about 13 lakh Hindu voters, three lakh Muslims and 2.5 lakh Christians.

A minority leader close to JD(S) state unit head H D Kumaraswamy, Zameer is a sitting MLA from Chamarajpet. He won from the constituency after former Chief Minister S M Krishna quit the seat to move to Maharashtra as its Governor, a post he relinquished subsequently. Throwing a formidable challenge to the duo is Mohan, who won twice from Chikpet assembly segment. 

READ MORE - It's triangular contest in Bangalore Central

Contest wide open in Bangalore

By Rajashekara S

BANGALORE, Apr 18 : IT took five years for ‘super cop’ H T Sangliana to find that the BJP is “communal and anti-national,” before switching sides to the Congress on the floor of the House to nurture his political career.

The Indo-US nuke deal gave him a perfect opportunity to “hop” onto the Congress bandwagon and Sangliana has been rewarded with a ticket to contest as the party candidate from the newlycarved out Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency. In fact, he was considered by the party high command by refusing the ticket to seasoned leader and former union minister C K Jaffer Sharief, whom the former Bangalore City Police Commissioner defeated in 2004 from Bangalore North LS constituency, on a BJP ticket.

Soon after his retirement from the police department, Sangliana - hailing from Mizoram - surprised everyone when he joined the BJP stating that he “was inspired by Atal Behari Vajpayee.” After making controversial statements like terming the BJP as Bharatiya Jesus Party, Sangliana could not gel with the local BJP leaders and started distancing himself from the rank and file within a few months after getting elected.

Now, as a Congress candidate, Sangliana has the Herculean task to first establish a rapport with the Congress workers and leaders and second to get re-elected.

Denial of ticket to Sharief in Bangalore Central could prove to be a thorn in the poll prospects of Sangliana. This apart, Sangliana’s earlier charges against former chief minister S M Krishna, when he was a BJP MP may boomerang on him. Sangliana had supported the now convicted, former ASP Sangram Singh, when Singh had levelled charges against Krishna and other Congress leaders, of allegedly accepting money from stamp paper racket kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi, to secure the release of Dr Rajkumar from the clutches of forest brigand Veerappan.

As a result, Krishna turned down the request of Sangliana to campaign for him. Bangalore Central has four Congress MLAs and four BJP MLAs, representing its eight Assembly segments.

But lack of necessary support by Cong ress MLAs has proved to be a handicap for Sangliana to some extent.

On the other hand, BJP candidate P C Mohan and JD(S) nominee B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan have been aggressively campaigning.

Known for his “honesty and integrity” during service, Sangliana is a poor match when it comes to spending money for the polls, vis-a-vis Khan and Mohan, who are established businessmen.

Other than money bags, Khan is depending on the goodwill that he enjoys among Muslim voters besides the huge Vokkaliga population in the constituency.

Khan had offered to stay out of the contest, if Sharief were to contest from Bangalore Central to avoid division of “secular votes.” This has turned out to be a boon in disguise for the JD(S) as Sharief himself is understood to have sent a message to the community to stand behind the proprietor of the National Travels.

Sangliana, however, expresses confidence of winning the constituency and is pinning hopes on the good work done by him as an MP in the previous term.

In fact, he is one of the few MPs from the state who judiciously utilised the MPLAD fund to take up development works in the constituency.

But his recent public support to “everything Christian,” seems to have taken a toll on his otherwise clean image. More than Mohan’s influence and image, BJP is hoping for a repeat of the 2004 results when its then candidate Sangliana surprised all by trouncing a senior leader Sharief. Then, the party managed to win because of the split in minority votes between the JD(S) which had fielded C M Ibrahim and Sharief.

This time, the saffron party is hoping a similar split in votes between Sangliana and Khan.

On the whole, the contest appears to be equally matched as Sangliana is set to get almost the full chunk of Christian votes, which are around 1.5 lakh, while Khan could bag nearly 80 to 90 per cent of the Muslim votes. BJP, on the other hand, is keeping its fingers crossed waiting for a split in the minority votes.

With no particular wave in anyone’s favour and the general disenchantment among the electorate, it has made it difficult and uncertain for all three main candidates who can never take victory for granted, until the last vote is counted.

READ MORE - Contest wide open in Bangalore

'Amar, Akbar, Anthony' in poll fight: Bangalore Central

Bangalore, April 16 :  After delimitation, constituencies in Bangalore have thrown up an interesting mix of voter profiles. Not to mention an interesting range of candidates.

Manmohan Desai would have been pleased. Attempting to charm the voters of the newly formed Bangalore Central constituency - from the state's three major parties are candidates from three different religions - P C Mohan of the BJP, Zameer Ahmed of the JD-S and the Congress' H T Sangliana. But the competition between them is not too brotherly.

Sangliana also stresses that he has "done good deeds for Bangalore" he 'envisions a 21st century City' for the Silicon Valley of India and People will vote for him.

"I have done good things for every religion. I am a secular leader. I will promise you that as many Muslims vote for me, I will earn 20 per cent vote from my Hindu brothers," says JD-S candidate, Zameer Ahmed.

"I think it should not be taken as siding with Christians only. I have people from all religions who came to me for help," says Congress candidate, Sangliana.

And on the other hand, BJP candidate PC Mohan says, "I appeal to all 18.25 lakh voters and I am confident of getting votes from everybody.

Bangalore Central has a sizeable Muslim and Christian votebank, but the poor can only hope that politicians will help them - whatever their religious faith may be.

"I have been married for 13 years and I have been in this jhopdi only. Whichever caste or religion, whoever does good to us, we will vote for them," says Kannada Muniyamma, a slum-dweller in Bangalore central.

READ MORE - 'Amar, Akbar, Anthony' in poll fight: Bangalore Central

Justice Saldanha backs H T Sangliana

Bangalore, Apr 16 : Justice Saldanha declared his support for Congress candidate from Bangalore Central H T Sangliana for his secular credentials, reports DHNS from Bangalore.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Saldanha stressed on Sangliana’s integrity and labelled him as ‘the only person to remove crime and corruption.’

The endorsement was supported by Retd DGP FTR Colaso and IIM Professor Rajeev Gowda.

The trio felt that Sangliana was a symbol of secularism and he merited support as an individual and just as a representative of the Congress party.

READ MORE - Justice Saldanha backs H T Sangliana

‘Impart social education in temples’ HT Sangliana

H T Sangliana hits the campaign trail differently

BANGALORE, April 15 : “Bangalore has thousands of places of worship. If all of them were to impart social education, things can be bettered. Teach dos and don’ts of the constitution and life in general.

Knowledge of the scriptures should be imparted.” This statement of Congress candidate from Bangalore Central, H T Sangliana on Tuesday, drew flak from some of the audience at a face-to-face programme held in the city.

One of the participants said that Hindu temples were not places of propaganda.

“This shows your shallow understanding of Hindu culture,” the participant alleged. Responding to this question, Sangliana clarified that religious institutions can impart social education and not be used for political propaganda. “I do not recommend political teaching in temples,” he clarified.

He was also asked questions on job losses, economic situation and security issues. Sangliana said that unity, security, development and communal harmony were his top priorities.

He stated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was a thinker and economist and showed faith in his governance.

JD(S) candidate Zameer Ahmed and BJP candidate P C Mohan were invited to the face-to-face event organised by NGO Unnati, but they did not turn up.

READ MORE - ‘Impart social education in temples’ HT Sangliana

Sangliana Banking on Supercop Image

BANGALORE, Apr 13 : Former IPS officer H T Sangliana who is the Congress candidate for Bangalore Central constituency seems to be banking on his clean image as super cop and as one of the few MPs who has stayed away from the political dirt.

As the BJP’s surprise candidate from Bangalore North in 2004 Sangliana had defeated Congress veteran C K Jaffer Sharief.

And so the Congress has gone out of its way to favour the 66-year-old to contest from the newly formed Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency.

“I am not considered among the hardcore politicians, and I don’t want to consider myself in that list, as it has lost credibility among people. I take this as a service, as people know me as a police officer and I believe the image that I have built during service will work for me in this election,” Sangliana told Express.

A day after his candidature was announced in New Delhi, Sangliana first touched base with the Congress legislators representing the assembly segments of his constituency. “I believe in the work that I have done during my last term as MP of Bangalore North. Though I was deprived of discharging my duties as an MP, I remained serving the people of my constituency and attending to their problems to the best of my ability,” he said.

Though he had pipped Jaffer Sharief in securing the much-coveted Bangalore Central in 2004, this election is going to be a tough road ahead for Sangliana. The constituencies witnessed seriuos changes after the 2008 Assembly elections. BJP has grabbed 17 of the 28 assembly segments across the expanded city. Sangliana can only bank on four legislators of the Congress, which is again a divided house.

However, Sangliana is confident of winning as he believes that though his constituency consists of diverse communities cosmopolitan enough to judge a candidate based on merits.

P K Paul, media coordinator for Sangliana said, “The voters are aware of the Sangliana’s efforts as MP of Bangalore North.

He was one of the few MPs from the state who fully utilised the corpus of Rs 2 crore annually for developing the constituency.”

READ MORE - Sangliana Banking on Supercop Image

Sangliana Confident of Winning with Extended Lead

Bangalore: "Those who are in favour of development and harmonious co-existence will vote for me.

I will win the seat with an extended margin as compared to the earlier election," said Congress candidate from Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency H T Sangliana.

He was speaking after releasing the election manifesto at a press conference on Thursday.

"I am an honest servant of the people. Efforts are being made to finish me off by pitting communal forces against me. I want to transform the constituency into a model one," he explained.

He clarified that there were no misgivings between himself and Jaffer Shareif and that both of them would together file their nominations on Friday April 3.

In the manifesto, Sangliana has spelt out his priorities as ensuring communal harmony, restricting government interference in matters pertaining to religious centres, protecting religious rights and stopping political interference in police department affairs.

READ MORE - Sangliana Confident of Winning with Extended Lead

Bangalore Central Candidates for Lok Sabha 2009

H T Sangliana | Indian National Congress

Educational qualifications:  BA (Hons), IPS
Legislative experience:  MP in 2004
Political career: Contested from Bangalore North on a BJP ticket and was subsequently disqualified. Joined Congress.
Causes identified with: For the Indo-US nuclear deal, safety and security of minorities
Criminal cases: None Assets: Rs 2.54cr

Cash in his and wife’s name - Rs 3.86 lakh; Motor vehicle - third-hand car; jewellery - 175 gm gold, Rs 2.8 lakh; agricultural land - 3.10 guntas worth Rs 3 lakh; 2 acres in Jala hobli — Rs 10 lakh; Buildings worth Rs 2 crore and Rs 35 lakh 

Former BJP MP from erstwhile Bangalore North, this IPS officer was the former city police commissioner. Hailing from Mizoram, Sangliana was a super cop on whose life and work, movies have been made in Kannada. As a BJP nominee, Sangliana took on Congress heavyweight and war horse C K Jaffer Sharief from Bangalore North constituency in 2004. He won with a good margin and silenced his detractors in some style.

He took up the cause of the Christian community when there were attacks on community members. Sangliana lent his support to many Christian organisations to draw the government’s attention. However, he shot to fame on the political canvas when he ignored the party whip in the Parliament and voted for the UPA government last year during the trust vote on the Indo-US nuclear deal. His vote mattered a lot in saving the UPA government. His office was ransacked and he was given security. Subsequently, Sangliana was disqualified by the BJP. After coming into good books with the Congress high command, Sangliana was keen on contesting from Bangalore North again. But Congress could not overlook Sharief and decided to field Sangliana from Central.

Bangalore Central Constituency:

Has eight assembly segments — Sarvagnanagar, C V Raman Nagar, Shivajinagar, Shantinagar, Gandhinagar, Rajajinagar, Chamarajpet and Mahadevapura. Barring Mahadevapura, all the segments are within BBMP areas. The voters are mainly urban and literate.

TOTAL NO. OF VOTERS : 18.4 Lacs
TOTAL NO. OF POLLING BOOTHS 1767

Sangliana Opponents from Bangalore Central:

Zameer Ahmed | JD(S) Age: 43
Educational qualifications:
SSLC,not completed
Legislative experience:
MLA in 2005, 2008
Political career: Was JD(S) worker; minister for Wakf and Haj committee in H D Kumaraswamy government. Won in 2008.
Causes identified with: Civic issues

Criminal cases: One case under section 486, 471, 420 of IPC is pending

Assets: Rs 44 lakh
Cash in hand - Rs 1,60,900; Cash in Banks - Rs 4,51,220; Motor vehicles - nil; Jewellery - gold - 279 grams worth Rs 2,83,900; Silver - 250 grams - Rs 42,500; House at RMV has a registered value - Rs 35 lakh
    From nobody to somebody in 2005. Former CM S M Krishna’s appointment as Maharastra governor paved the way for Zameer’s political growth.
    When Krishna vacated Chamarajpet seat to take up the governor’s post, JD(S) fielded Zameer who went to beat Krishna’s lieutenant R V Devaraj.
    Subsequently, Zameer was sworn in as wakf minister in the JD(S)-BJP coalition government under H D Kumaraswamy’s chief ministership.
    However, due to a misunderstanding with the former CM, Zameer resigned in protest. But within a few days, the duo patched up but he did not get back his portfolio.
    A two-time MLA, Zameer is a partner in National Travels, one of the biggest transport companies in the state. Interestingly, his affidavit does not show a single motor vehicle in his name. Zameer did his schooling at Siddhartha High School Kunigal in Tumkur but didn’t take the SSLC exam.
    He joined the family transport business. A staunch followed of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, he rose very quickly in the party ladder.

P C Mohan | BJP Age: 45

Educational qualifications: II PUC

Legislative experience: MLA in 1999, 2004
Political career: Started as a BJP party worker, was in the Yuva Morcha. Got party ticket to contest assembly elections from Chickpet
Causes identified with: Civic issues
Criminal cases: None Assets: Rs 5.68cr
Cash on hand: Rs 28.79 lakh; cash in financial institutions - Rs 2.64 lakh; Bonds, debentures and shares - Rs 1.74 lakh; LIC policies - Rs 31 lakh; Motor Vehicles — 3 cars - Rs 34 lakh; Jewellery - 350 gms gold and 3 kgs silver - Rs 6 lakh; Capital in business - Rs 2.78 crore; Agricultural land - Rs 31.49 lakh; Buildings - Rs 1.52 crore; Borrowings - Rs 3.28 crore
    Arich businessman dealing with sanitaryware products, and a two-time MLA from Chickpet, Mohan was born in Bangalore and studied in Balamandira, National High School and Vijaya College, Jayanagar. Coming from a business family, he started working at 19 years and was instrumental in launching their business chain. In 1993, Mohan took the plunge into politics through the BJP. Representing Chickpet, an under-developed commercial centre, Mohan had initiated underground drainage and road projects.
    The Chickpet constituency belongs to the Old Bangalore area where the infrastructure with regards to roads, underground drainage, storm water drain and water supply is a major issue. They had crumbled under the pressure of rapid growth over the decades.
    Several projects to improve the roads, drainage facility and providing drinking water were taken up. The government schools were given priority to raise the standard of education and extend basic amenities.
    After the delimitation last year, Chickpet segment disappeared and Mohan contested from Gandhinagar in 2008, but lost to the Congress. He was a natural choice for Bangalore Central.

READ MORE - Bangalore Central Candidates for Lok Sabha 2009

Sangliana kickstarts poll campaign

BANGALORE, Apr 10 : Congress candidate from Bangalore Central, H T Sangliana, kickstarted his poll campaign by thrashing the state government and the BJP.

“BJP is trying to divide the people by playing the communal and caste cards. They should understand that this is a new India which is looking at economic development.

One cannot play these cards for a long time,” he said. He was addressing the media, prior to his campaign, at his campaign office.

The newly-formed Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency has considerable number of minority community votes which both the Congress and JD(S) are eyeing. “People of this constituency know what I am and what I did for them in the last five years. They will vote for me and I will win,” Sangliana said.

When asked about his affiliation with the BJP in the last elections, he said, “I never joined BJP on my own. It was the party leaders who came to me and asked me to contest.

However, I worked based on my principles and not those of that party.” Sangliana alleged that the state government was misusing the police stations for BJP activities.

The leaders should avoid this as the people of the state have great respect for the police station.

Government machinery cannot be used for party purposes, he added.

When asked about the split in minority community votes, Sangliana told Express, “This time it will not get split as the opponents are not strong. Both the JD(S) and BJP have weak candidates.

Even if JD(S) fights with all its force, it will not get more than 25 per cent of the minority community votes.

Moreover, more than 90 per cent of Hindu voters in this constituency are secular and I will get a large chunk of the votes from them also. My victory is certain.”

Congress workers are banking on his track record as MP of Bangalore North, parts of which have been included in the newly-formed Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency.

READ MORE - Sangliana kickstarts poll campaign

Candidates list of Congress likely to be announced shortly

Bangalore, Mar 20 : Congress in Karnataka is facing an arduous task in selecting the aspirants for the Lok Sabha elections with numerous leaders camping in New Delhi lobbying for winning the confidence of the party top brass to get the green signal to contest.

The party is doing a 'tight rope walk' as far as the selection of the candidates was concerned as in each of the constituency there were more number of popular leaders who were keen to contest in this election. However, the party is likely to relese the first list of candidates in a day or two.

The announcement of party nominees for the coming Lok Sabha elections was delayed following tug-of-war between senior party leaders in getting party's nominations to various seats including Bangalore Central, Bidar, Mangalore, Bangalore Rural, Haveri, Davanagere, Shimoga and Chitradurga.

Congress party's National General Secretary and party's Karnataka in-charge Gulam Nabi Azad, who had a two-day brain storming sessions with the party's grassroot level office bearers before shortlisting the aspirants, was struggling to finalise the candidates list as consensus was eluded for over a dozen seats.

While party's stalwart and former Railway Minister C K Jaffer Sharief was keen to contest from Bangalore Central seat, BJP turned Congress leader and former supercop H T Sangliana equally insisting to contest from the same constituency and demanding party leaders to fulfil their promises made to him before switching over to Congress from the Saffron party.

Mr Sharief, who was defeated by Mr Sangliana in the 2004 elections was reportedly reluctant to contest from Bangalore North Lok Sabha seat.

For Bangalore Rural seat, party's sitting MP, Tejaswini Gowda lobbying hard with the party higher ups to retain her nomination but her former mentor and KPCC working president D K Shivakumar is leaving no stone unturned to deny ticket to her.

The party leaders are finding it difficult to finalise party's nominee for the Bidar Lok Sabha seat as former Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh and sitting Gulbarga MP, Iqbal Ahmed Saradagi pitching equally hard to get party ticket to contest from the seat which has become general seat after delimitation process.

Mr Saradagi, two-time MP from Gulbarga has to migrate to other constituency as the seat which he was represented was changed to 'SC Reserve' category.

READ MORE - Candidates list of Congress likely to be announced shortly

Protecting Bangalore, Super Cop Style

By Jayadevan P K

BANGALORE: This time was known as the golden period - a time when people actually felt that the police patrol vehicles were named ‘Hoysala’ (the erstwhile empire that ruled Karnataka) for the right reason.

In view of the recent murders and increasing crimes in the city, ex- super cop and former city police commissioner H T Sangliana has some points to make. Reacting to the recent murders, he said: “It is very unfortunate and I pray to god that sinners are behind bars soon. These are animals in a human frame.

This is a big challenge for the police too.” His advice to the present city police commissioner: “In my time, I used to throw a challenge to myself that if a crime takes place in my place, I should be paraded in the streets. I used to say if I cannot control law and order in my district, I can be hanged in public - this was my challenge and I meant it. Let every officer make sure that he is accessible all the time.” Back in his days, it is said that he used to visit police stations frequently and walked into offices even after midnight. If a policeman was caught sleeping he would be punished. Some of the measures he introduced and which actually worked effectively have been shelved.

Brass bells were installed at all police stations in the city.

The bell was to be rung by alert citizens, whenever an untoward incident occurred.

The time at which the bell was rung would be recorded.

This was expected to help the police know the exact time of the incident taking place.

It also ensured that sentries and the police were on their toes at all times.

At present, the bells have rusted and most have been sold off. The pros and cons of such a system was debatable, but some feel that it used to ensure citizen participation in policing and thereby they felt responsible.

The hello neighbour programme introduced by Sangliana was particularly famous for its effectiveness.

Teams in a neighbourhood were entrusted with the task of checking out a new neighbour.

A friendly visit was all it took for them to know their neighbour better and feel safer.

The presence of the police should be felt in the city, Sangliana says. In his time, policemen used to go for rounds in pairs. One carrying a lathi and the other a rifle, so that miscreants felt that the police were well-equipped.

READ MORE - Protecting Bangalore, Super Cop Style

Sangliana’s Warning

Is communal harmony in Karnataka nearing its end?
Former BJP MP H T Sangliana, in a letter to home minister V S Acharya, has said that Christian militancy could be the new reality in the state if attacks on the community continue

Self-defence Militancy Could Be A New Reality, Sangliana Told Home Minister

Bangalore, Mar 12 : Is Karnataka a breeding ground for a new kind of militancy arising from self-defence? Former BJP MP and police commissioner H T Sangliana certainly thinks so.

In a letter on August 18, 2008, Sangliana told home minister V S Acharya rather bluntly that Christian militancy could be the new reality in the state if attacks on the community continue.

Such a direct, public and formal communication by a then serving MP to a state home minister is perhaps a first of its kind. Sangliana’s letter stressed on ‘militancy’ and ‘self-defence’.

THE LETTER TO V S ACHARYA
“Targeting and repeatedly attacking the most non-violent community in Karnataka, on baseless charges, calls for firm handling by the government before militancy for self-protection is forced to be born in the Christian community out of sheer necessity for selfdefence,” the letter stated.

    The former top cop further observed: “Cases of violence are increasing these days due to indifference on the part of police officers despite being duly informed by the priests for protection. Police are found to be always on the side of the attackers. They ask the priests to obtain permission to worship instead of dealing with anti-social elements firmly...” The attacks, he said, were ‘on imaginary and made-up conversion charges without proof ’. 

    Sangliana had conducted a spot inquiry then into incidents of attacks on churches in Mangalore and Bantwal. The team comprising a Muslim, Hindu and Christian was ‘of the considered opinion that Bajrang Dal had carried out the attacks, which they themselves had admitted’.

‘TAKE ACTION AGAINST ATTACKERS’
Sangliana warned in his letter: “Stern action is needed to stop such baseless attacks in future so that communal harmony continues in the state where Christians have always lived in complete peace, harmony and friendship with other communities for centuries.”

He told TOI he had suggested a committee of senior ex-policemen to help tackle issues of security and protection of minorities in the state. “This can help improve law and order. But the home minister hasn’t got back to me on that. Where is he?”

[source: Times of India, Bangalore Edition, Published on Mar 12, 2009]

READ MORE - Sangliana’s Warning

Armed self-defence may be only option: Sangliana

Bangalore, Mar 13 : Ex-senior cop H T Sangliana has alerted the government to the prospect of armed self-defence by minorities if attacks against them continued in the state, particularly in Dakshina Kannada region.

“If the government doesn’t act effectively and attacks on minorities, like the one on women on Monday, continue, a situation of armed self-defence and confrontation in the region may arise,” he said on Tuesday.

“Worse, you can expect communal conflicts too,” he warned.

“Women were beaten up in Mangalore. And recently, RSS members trespassed into St Aloysius College.

In Mangalore again, the arm of a Jesus Christ statue was missing. What is the home minister doing? Where is he?” Sangliana charged.

[Source: Times of India, Bangalore Edition, Published on Mar 11, 09]

READ MORE - Armed self-defence may be only option: Sangliana

Surfeit of seniors: BANGALORE CENTRAL

Bangalore, Mar 11 : This is one constituency where three candidates, who fought against one another for the same seat in the last Lok Sabha elections, are in the same party now and fighting for the ticket.

Bangalore Central is said to have become a major cause of concern for the Congress high command as it chooses the candidate here.

Post-delimitation, Bangalore Central has retained most characters of Bangalore North in terms of assembly segments and caste composition.

Vyving for this constituency are four former MPs C K Jaffer Sharief, H T Sangliana, Margaret Alva and C M Ibrahim, MLA R Roshan Baig and party functionary H Abdul Wahab, who is in the mining business.

    It is learnt AICC president Sonia Gandhi assured Sangliana that he would be accommodated in Bangalore Central, when he defied the BJP and voted in favour of the nuclear deal. Sharief, who suffered a political reversal in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from Bangalore North, is looking for a comeback, while Alva has also staked claim to the seat.

According to sources, the party’s rank and file is a confused lot with their loyalties divided between Sharief and Baig, while Sangliana is a newcomer to the party and Margaret Alva was always seen as having made New Delhi her base.

Ibrahim had contested on a JD(S) ticket in 2004 and known for his oratory skills is yet to reclaim his base in the Congress, which he had quit years ago.

READ MORE - Surfeit of seniors: BANGALORE CENTRAL