The mystery of very rich businessmen getting elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka—think Vijay Mallya, think M.A.M. Ramaswamy, think Rajeev Chandrashekhar—has been plainly obvious to anybody who can add two and two. But for the politically naive and incredulous, it is getting slowly unravelled.
P.M. Raghunandan has a fine story in today’s Deccan Herald on the last named, the erstwhile scion of the BPL empire, who rode to the House of Elders trouncing U.R. Anantha Murthy. A story that shows that when politics becomes a family business, it becomes very easy to transfer the state’s silver to a business family.
Turns out that Chandrashekhar’s nascent firm, Jupiter Aviation and Logistics Limited, won a 30-year lease to develop the 900-acre Hassan aerodrome project for a piddling price of Rs 1,100 per acre per year.
The going price for a similar project in Shimoga: Rs 20,232 per acre.
The going price for a similar project in Gulbarga: Rs 15,111 per acre.
Id est, the land was acquired by the humble farmers of Hassan from the humble farmers of Hassan, and leased out to the business baron from Bangalore for a song because ______ (fill in the blank).
Let the record state that the nodal agency to develop the airport is the Public Works Department, whose head at the time of the transaction was H.D. Revanna.
Obviously it is not for the humble farmer of Hassan to ask what Rajeev Chandrashekhar’s expertise, experience or record in building airports is. But surely, at 10-15 times lower than what his brother-farmer elsewhere was paid, he can understand that the promoters and sponsors have taken them for a ride before the first plane can fly.
Or can he?
churumuri 
As the Hindi saying goes, “Hamaam mein sab nange hain” (everybody is naked in the public bathroom). What the Congress and BJP do subtly, the JD(S) does very openly, very stupidly.
B.S. Yediyurappa’s son is said to have been a direct beneficiary of the chief minister’s bicycle programme. He is also said to have okayed, hold your breath, 24 distilleries on his last day in power.
That’s two scams in seven days. Take a bow, BJP.
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Rajeev Chandrashekar comes across as a very shady character and perhaps the most wily of the businessmen-MPs that the state has suffered. No wonder he is involved in the Hassan deal. Looks like this is the proveribial tip of the ice berg abnd this MP in involved in murkier stuff.Can churumuri investigate the dealings of this MP pls ?
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What is new? We let the scoundrels go scotfree. Remember a former chief minister who publicly used to claim that he had acquired enough wealth to feed seven generations of his family?
Used to be that our crooks used to be pure Kannada variety, but now we import quite a few of them.
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this rajeev chandrashekar is such a bloke that he tries to be politically correct by issuing press releases on every little thing concerning karnataka. but when DH contacted him yesterday he was absconding. was he hiding under the desk in the rajya sabha? i agree with andy that this shady character should be taught a lesson.
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I wrote about this three months ago.
http://ykote.blogspot.com/2007/08/airport-in-hasan.html
When I was in Bengaluru last month, I flew for an hour from Jakkur where I saw the VSL (of the Lad brothers) helicopter serviced at the Jupiter Aviation hangar. The connection between VSL (which probably funds every politician from the CM down) and Jupiter didn’t seem very apparent then. It is slightly more clear now.
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Dr. Ramesappa!
What do you say now?
Gowda Proudanalla!
QED
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These people are more kaLLananna makkaLu than maNNina makkaLu.
Dr. Ramesh, I am sorry to have hurt your feelings.
* Soliciting ideas for a Dr. Ramesh Fan Club *
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It is surprising that DH had this article. Rajeev Chandrashekaran wants to buy a chunk of DH group holding to start his own media house. With the Nandi Mark running the last lap in their existence, this should be a cake walk for Rajeev.
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voho… this means that kheny got into some serious personal issues HDD way back when. something happened between the two (AK-HDD).
it might just be that AK made the deal with the wrong people/opposite camp.
isn’t this all supposed to be tendered first.
isn’t this violation of some form of ethics. capitalists would be done in if this sort of insider trading would have been exposed, how come socialists don’t play with those kind of regulations?
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…nothing about DG and family surprises or shocks me any more these days.
vague feeling of total helplessness pervades…
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Sisya and Dr. Ramesappa!
And what do you two say about this? So this is the first family of Karnataka set to save Karnataka, is it?:)
Dr. Ramesappa!
Where are you?
Sisya!
Where is your response!
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‘Bidding was transparent’
http://deccanherald.com/Content/Nov292007/state2007112938400.asp
Jupiter Aviation and Logistics Private limited has said the Hassan airport project was awarded through a competitive bidding process and the company won the project as a result of an open, transparent, global, bidding process done by the Government.
With reference to the article “Selloff on Hassan, not Shimoga” published in this newspaper on November 28, the company said the Hassan airport project and other projects are not comparable in terms of their size, scope of investments or the nature of Government support.
For example, Gulbarga and Shimoga airports that were awarded on the first day of the seven day the Infrastructure department provides for a direct financial support of 26 per cent equity by the Government and AII.
In case of Hassan, this is not the case and would have caused the Government to invest almost Rs 180 crores if that was the case, the company added.
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A very witty and super headline for the story!
Please accept my congratulations!
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Rob the NICE only to feed the BPL (or ex-BPL?).
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‘X’ Guy!
Chennaghide! Yelle wasa idea; wasa padya:)
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HDD airlines will have Hassan as its HQ.
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GK3S
Here is an idea for Dr. Ramesh Abhimanigala Sangha symbol: three monkeys with their mouth, eyes, and ears covered. The slogan reads–Devegowdara viruddha nudiyalare; Devegowda kettaddhannu madidaga nodalarey; and Devegowdra nindane aaadhrey kelalarey!
Some more Gramayana….
HDK = Gramaradhika (as in aradhaka of Radhika)
HDD = Gramakshourika (Village ‘bolisuwavaanu)
Revanna = Gramagooli (bull)
Dr. Ramesappa = Gramabayvinikaddi (Village’s Neem tree twig!–astringent and good on teeth)
Sisya = Gramabalapa (native pencil = balapa; man who puts up impenetrable defences against Devegowda accusers)
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Rumor had it that M. A. M. Ramaswamy gave Deve Gowda a fee of thirty crores for sending him to the Rajya Sabha. It is believed every JDS legislator–including those who later split with Gowda– got five lacks out of this windfall for his vote. Wonder what this Rajiv fellow stuffed in Gowda’s pockets.
Has Gowda himself ever been charged with financial impropriety as Bangarappa was?
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I mean “lakhs.”
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doddi buddi avare, nimma kalpana shakti ge nammadondu SHAKE HAND.
whatever said and done, kumaraswamy WILL BE THE next biggest mass leader of karnataka.
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Dr Ramesh, do u mean by his expected weight
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Dr. Ramesappa!
Thumbha thanks saar! Adhrey nimma mundhey naavugalu yelli?
Gowda proudanalla!
Jai Karnataka Mathey!!
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