From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Nov 22: Will the much acclaimed and widely publicised "Kiss of Love" campaign, which has already created waves in Kochi, Hyderabad and Mumbai, fail to take off in Namma Bengaluru?
Going by present indications from the powers that be in Karnataka, the ruling Congress government is unlikely to give the green signal to the campaign in the garden city.
After the stern warning from Home Minister K J George, who must be calling the shots as the police machinery is under his direct control, that the State Government will not hesitate to take stern action against those spearheading the campaign if it were to disturb the law and order situation, and Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree’s opposition to the campaign as it was purportedly "against our culture," another senior minister has joined the chorus against the campaign.
Transport Minister B Ramalinga Reddy, who is also the district in-charge minister for the State capital, is the latest to express his strong opposition to the Kiss of Love show.
Speaking to reporters at the KPCC office, Reddy said he strongly opposed the "Kiss of Love" show planned in the City by human rights activist Rachita Taneja and other supporters.
"Kiss of Love" campaign is against our culture. Personally, I am opposing it," he said.
Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree too had expressed her views against the campaign on Thursday.
It may be recalled that Home Minister K J George set the ball rolling in indirectly opposing the campaign when he said police will take stern action against organisers of the campaign if it threatened to disturb the law and order in the city during the show.
KSRTC, BMTC Decide to "Retire" Marcopolo Buses
Owing to heavy financial losses, the State Government has decided to scarp 98 and 41Tata Marcopolo buses of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation respectively.
The BMTC and KSRTC introduced two air-conditioned Tata Marcopolo buses six years ago.
Buses were built under a joint venture between Tata Motors and Marcopolo, Brazil.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the buses have become economically unviable.
BMTC authorities have sent a proposal to the State Government seeking permission to scarp buses. Therefore, the decision was taken to scarp buses, he said.
After introduction of the Marcopolobuses, BMTC and KSRTC incurred loss of Rs 30 crore.
The buses are not popular with passengers either, who find them "noisy and uncomfortable," he said adding that maintenance costs were "pretty high."