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9th May 'interaction' with Metro - who were "they"?

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Written By silkboard - 12 May, 2009

Bangalore Media Jayanagar Complaint BMRC protest Participation Metro Rail

There are reports around about how the 9th May interaction between Metro and Laxman Rau Park and Lalbagh lovers (fronted by Hasiru Usiru) turned 'ugly'. After reading enough on HU mailing list, and hearing a first hand account of the event, I learn that some "special" people were brought (by whom?) to project the other ("we love Metro") view. Some carried banners, and some appeared threatening (an accusation, first hand account) to the visibly vocal anti-metro group.

Having seen similar stuff from close quarters, ("Yuva" style ways of mobilizing crowds are for real), this may have been a first in our city as far as hiring 'help' for such urbane apolitical rally is concerned. At a recent rally addressed by a big name leader back at my native place, the going rate was Rs 200 + meals for mere attendance and slogan shouting (via first hand narration). From second hand sources, at a recent rally right here in our city, the rate was Rs 150 plus one meal, and hard workers (who help maintain 'order' etc) would get a bonus on top of that.

This is reality folks. Amidst all the coverage of elections, rallys and protests, this country's media does not have the guts to report the real stuff from the ground (Nalini Singh's coverage on DD two decades ago - one exception I remember).

Before I digress into criticism of media (and their reckless role in recent Lok Sabha elections), back to the point. Such 'organized' protestors - is there anything illegal about it? There are no legal or illegal ways of mobilizing people. Don't think there is a law that prevents you or me from using money and booze to organize a 'peaceful' rally against, say, MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar for misusing ABIDe volunteer mailing list to promote his personal blog :)

So what do we do? (when I say we, I mean us, regardless of HU, KI, CAF etc etc, it is we). Organized way of interacting with government needs some thinking. Street protests can easily be scuttled - unless someone finds a way, or media shows some guts to expose the "lallans" of the day, there are ways to pollute the crowd-driven opinion building events.

Aggeregating questions beforehand. collecting representatives for each opinion that exists, and then organizing an interaction with civic authorities - is such a thing possible and practical? Then again, who is to say that all opinions were heard, and the interaction provided everyone an equal chance? Is there a perfect way of doing such "interaction" and "participation"?

COMMENTS

Bad show, true colours...

Arun - 12 May, 2009 - 07:47

 

It is true that some were there only to create problems.  His behaviour was very obvious; lots of people were interrupted by him.  I was there at 7AM and initially this guy appeared alright but as things progressed he wanted to hog the limelight. Many people, having lived there for more than 3 decades were fed up with this guy and questioned him which ‘residents’ association’ is he talking about as none recognized him.  But the ‘for METRO on LR Park’ gang people did nothing to shut this guy.  Some even had banners with their photographs and proclaiming support for the METRO. 
 
But it was heartening to see that this organized gang was very soon outnumbered and too too many Jayanagarikaas came out and questioned BMRCL for not having acted on their repeated requests to clarify the alignment since 2005-06!!!!
 
BMRCL, on the other hand was at the receiving end.  Obviously, coz they have no exposure to public consultations where the genuine stakeholders are in large numbers.  It was appalling to over hear one of the senior BMRC engineers telling ‘…maraa bekkidhre kaadalli irli…’

maraa bekkidhre kaadalli irli...

rnavada - 13 May, 2009 - 10:22

couldn't resist..

1. What was HU doing all these years? the plan and path if metro alignment is on the website    since 2008 .

2. Do they know how many trees will be cut down on lalbagh? 18 eucalyptus tress . btw, eucalpytus is such an useless tree that forest department's permission is not even required to cut it down. (  coconut tree in my house needs permission!).

3. Nanda theater road..all the trees..tragedy..but why not agigate then when the alignment was announced?

4. As cities grow-NY,London included, they become un-manageable. Its a fact and we need to face it .

5. How come HU does not even create 1% of the noise for sheshadri road. Sheshadri road trees are all 100+ yrs unlike RV road planted by RK hegde's govt. in 83.
 
6. If  alignment not  RV road then where. If HU or that matter i start designing alignment there will be anarchay( i want only the stop not the track near my house!)
 
Gentlemen, I am neither a member of HU nor any of the other RWA . I am a furstrated resident of bangalore trying to go to office and back everyday in minimum comfort.
 
Remember, trees can always be grown back. but lost time in these media seeking ,Personal agenda based agitations, will not come back

I do care for trees but people come first!

pls. visit MKK road where people are very happy to see all the trees and buildings razed ...they go on with the classic bangalore style.."yen maadokagathe, road nalli jaagane illvalla"..

oh! i am not "they"..
 why would a govt. agency "hire" people to counter the HU folks? Is it not possible that opposite could be true?i.e HU on a take from a rival political parties?
HU head was thrown out of a recent BBMPcouncil meeting on tree cutting because, he wanted his way when he was voted against 11-1!!

allave matte..mara bekadre kadalle irabeku..illandre site togundu bari mara nedabeku..:)
 

This could be leverage

idontspam - 13 May, 2009 - 11:36

One could however use this as leverage and get written committment from Govt  to make race course into forest as compensation. Will we miss the forest for the trees? Greed for more trees is good. I would like to see a Red/Amber/Green status for each area in Bangalore vis a vis green cover. Let us see how the rest of the city fares. Lets also compare with cities nationally and internationally.

§§§ Tweetenator

rnavada - dont attack like that

silkboard - 13 May, 2009 - 17:54

One has the right to take a stand, but there is no reason to attack HU like that.

I am on HU lists, there were folks active on Seshadri Road widening matter.

Actually, getting into HU, trees etc is secondary here. What needs noting is that people at large don't take interest in scrutinizing projects. Okay, its not perfect, but transparency has increased in last 5 years. Few active people at HU or a small bunch of geeks at Praja or elsewhere etc talking about things can't mobilize people at early stages of projects. It so happens that issues get attention only when the developments or damage becomes "visible" on the ground.

This is the bigger thing to fix - have to find a way to get people to be interested. Some say that systems of making people participate (Area Sabha etc) is the way, some say there should be more direct on-ground engagement. Whatever. But two things 1) these engagement processes are heavily loaded in favor of people who have more time available - retired people 2) and, the reality is that not many take interest, so all said and done, we may just deserve it.

Anyway. The mystery of the "surprise guests" on May 9 morning remains.

'kai mugidu oLage baa idu sasya kashi'

srinidhi - 14 May, 2009 - 01:20

 This has been written at one of the entrances in Lalbagh..there were times when we have called this place the holiest of all !

..and now we are ready to desecrate this sacred place, which doesnt have an equal anywhere !?

What ever is happening now should be an eye opener for BMRCL that we dont give it up without a fight and they think a 100 times before cutting a tree!

Also..when there were houses and properties annexed for metro job..huge compensations, unprecedented in history, were given...what is the compensation for the tree cutting?

They need to equally penalized, if not more, for cutting the trees..

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