The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

on record
‘Clean-up has to begin from the top’
Siddaramaiah Chief Minister, Karnataka, talks to Raj Chengappa, Editor-in-Chief, The Tribune Group of Newspapers

Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Chief Minister.

Siddaramaiah, the new Chief Minister of the southern state of Karnataka, brings an earthy approach to the job and does not have time for niceties. Rustic at heart, he appears to be in a man in a hurry and is rather abrupt, both in manner and speech, as Chengappa, Editor-in-Chief, discovered when he sat down for an exclusive interview with the Chief Minister at his official residence in Bangalore recently.

Siddaramaiah, 64, comes with a sizeable reputation of probity and zeal to deliver. In a state that has been beset by political instability for the past decade — it saw three Chief Ministers in the BJP-led government’s five-year rule — both these qualities should help Siddaramaiah pull the once progressive state out of the morass it has sunk into. Political instability and corruption were the twin issues that resulted in the BJP losing its only southern bastion. It also saw the Congress, which had for years been in the doldrums in the state, win the May Assembly elections with a clear majority despite the disillusionment over the functioning of the UPA-II at the Centre. Till Siddaramaiah joined the Congress in 2006, he was the evergreen rebel who was influenced by the ideals of socialism espoused by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia. He entered the Karanataka Assembly in 1983 on the Lok Dal ticket and later joined the Janata Dal (JD). When the JD split in 1999, he supported Deve Gowda, who formed the JD (Secular), JDS.

Hailing from the backward Kuruba (shepherds) community, Siddaramaiah was twice deputy chief minister of the state — once in 1996 and then in 2004. He was sacked from the JDS in 2006 when he rebelled against Deve Gowda, who favoured his son HD Kumaraswamy and denied him the chance to lead the state. He then joined the Congress and worked hard to rebuild the party in the state. When the Congress won the majority he was voted as Chief Minister ahead of two Union Cabinet Ministers, Mallikarjuna Kharge and Veerappa Moily, who belong to the state. Siddaramaiah seems determined to prove himself and says his dream is to "make Karnataka the No. 1 state in the country." Excerpts of the interview:

What do you think were the main reasons for the Congress victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections?

People wanted a stable government in Karnataka. They were fed up with the BJP and coalition governments — their corruption, misrule and poor performance. So people wanted a change. That is why they rejected the BJP in such an emphatic manner.

There will be zero tolerance for corruption and we will take stern action against offenders. Before we take tough measures, we ourselves must be honest, the Chief Minister and the ministers should be honest, and then ensure that the bureaucrats are honest; and it will then percolate down.

There is a lack of infrastructure in Bengaluru and there is congestion, particularly of traffic. We will make a visible change in Bengaluru both in terms of infrastructure and other amenities.

Speedy decisions, time-bound implementation, accountability and eliminating corruption. This will be my style of functioning.

What are the priorities that you have set for the government now?

The first priority is to put the administration on the right track and create confidence among the officers as their morale has been lowered. Since the previous rulers were corrupt, naturally many bureaucrats became corrupt, and overall the bureaucracy lost their morale. My government will support honest people who deliver.

How do you plan to tackle corruption?

You had said the previous government’s rule saw years of stagnation in development. Which are the areas or sectors that suffered the most?

The irrigation and power sectors were totally neglected, apart from drinking water.

How do you propose to augment the drinking water supply?

We plan to go in for multi-village water supply schemes as these would provide a more permanent solution for the problem. We have so many rivers, and if we take water from permanent sources and give it to the villagers, we can solve the drinking water problem in a major portion of the state.

Are you planning more projects for irrigation?

Yes, because as far as the Cauvery basin is concerned most of the projects are completed. In Upper Krishna, in the award of the Krishna Waters Distribution Tribunal – II, Karnataka has been allotted 177 tmc of water that we have to utilise within five years. Our priority is to draw up projects that can utilise the water. We have promised the people that every year we are going to spend at least Rs 10,000 crore in the budget for their development.

The dispute over the Cauvery waters with Tamil Nadu continues. What would your approach be?

Our appeal is pending before the Supreme Court and also our review petition is in the Tribunal. It is a legal battle now and our approach is that we fight this battle with all seriousness.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has been asking for compensation of Rs 2,500 crore for crop loss because she claims that Karnataka didn’t release the Cauvery waters as per the interim formula of the Disputes Tribunal?

These are allegations. I don’t think there is truth in them or these are maintainable. The fact is that we don’t even have water for our own drinking purpose.

The power situation in Karnataka is. How do you plan to augment the supply?

The previous government did not have a proper focus on the power sector and could not even generate a single MW of additional power in their regime. That is why they failed miserably in the polls. We will focus on generation of power and also distribution. We also have to prevent the high transmission and distribution laws, particularly due to theft of power.

Karnataka is also buying power from the private sector at high rates?

Thermal power is always expensive, hydel power is not available, and therefore we have to go in for small and mini-hydel projects. We are working on the schemes.

There is a feeling that Karnataka has become a problem state for industry because of instability and lack of infrastructure, resulting in many existing units shifting to other states. How do you propose to address this problem?

We have to create confidence in the investors. Investments were not coming because Karnataka didn’t have a stable government for the past eight years. Now a Congress government has come back again, and Congress governments in the state have always been stable. We are looking for special incentives for industry and will come out with a policy soon.

Bengaluru city has been neglected by previous governments. Are you planning to improve things?

Yes, we are planning. There is a lack of infrastructure in Bengaluru and there is congestion, particularly of traffic. I have told the Commissioner in charge of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike to come out with an action plan that would make a visible change in Bengaluru both in terms of infrastructure and other amenities. Apart from Bengaluru, we would also be focusing on second-tier towns like Mysore, Mangalore, Dharwar and Belgaum.

When you were the state Finance Minister many years back, the state’s financial position was healthy. But since then the financial management has declined. What measure will you take?

The previous government failed to keep up the fiscal discipline. Of course, we are within the parameters of fiscal responsibility, but the debt burden is increasing. There is no fiscal discipline and we have to set that right.

Yet among the first measures you announced was to supply 30 kg of rice at Re 1 per kg for BPL families. What would be the cost to the exchequer and how would you meet it?

The Re 1 rice scheme was a promise in the manifesto and we decided that we have to keep our promises. The cost comes to about Rs 4,000 crore. Budget allocations are already there for around Rs 1,500 crore. The remaining 2,500 crore will be made up by stopping pilferage and proper collection of revenue and tax.

You have also announced schemes for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Is this to win over this section, particularly with the General Election due in 2014?

It is not with elections in mind. I want to empower the socially and economically backward people to bring about visible change in their lives. We have to give them opportunities and bring them into the main stream.

At the Centre, your party is facing serious charges of corruption. The image of UPA-II has taken a beating. What are the chances of your party in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections?

Most of the allegations are politically motivated and none of them have been proved so far. The achievements of the UPA government, both I and II, and also the Congress party’s programmes will be the focus. The party is the only one that can give a stable government, fight communal forces and terrorism, and uphold rule of the law. In Karnataka I am confident we will win more than 20 of the 28 seats.

What about your rivals, the BJP and the JD (Secular)?

I think the BJP will win one or two seats. The JDS is also confined to only four or five constituencies.

Do you still maintain relations with your erstwhile JDS colleagues, including Deve Gowda?

I am a Congressman.

What is your assessment of former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s political future?

His party will not go far.

You were Deputy Chief Minister twice, what are the lessons you learnt that will help you as a Chief Minister?

That experience will help in administration, managing finances and other aspects. My dream as Chief Minister is to make Karnataka No. 1 state in the country.

What style of functioning can we expect from you?

Speedy decisions, time-bound implementation, accountability and eliminating corruption. This will be my style of functioning

last word
What the third coming of Sharif holds
Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Prime Minister
by Afzal khan in islamabad

Last week, it was after 14 years in the political wilderness that he stood on the podium in the majestic Aiwane-Sadr to be sworn in by archrival Asif Zardari to a third term as premier, a rare distinction in the country’s chequered political history. His face bore a mix of expressions — the pensiveness of a man taking a prestigious office amid daunting challenges, and the satisfaction of returning to power.

Moments later, Nawaz Sharif was back in the sprawling lawns of his old abode, taking the salute from the security detail, the likes of who had once driven him handcuffed out of the PM House as Musharraf’s generals overthrew the democratic government on October 12, 1999. Sharif says he has forgiven the man. But it was evident he has forgotten nothing when, soon after the election results, the media spotted his car taking a round of the farm house where his tormentor is confined on serious charges. Looking for some vicarious pleasure?

As Nawaz Sharif lends fresh hope to a country that’s hit rock bottom, his ability to take the antagonised military along and contain extreme fringes will decide the outcome.

Most analysts concur that over the years Sharif has learnt from his experiences. “He has grown into a seasoned politician,” says Imtiaz Alam, secretary general, South Asia Free Media Association, citing his choice of Dr Malik Baloch, a middle-class politician, as Balochistan Chief Minister, bypassing his own party’s ‘sardars’, and letting Imran Khan’s PTI attempt a coalition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as statesman-like gestures. He has also become a more confident and articulate public speaker.

However, Sharif is conservative and shows proclivity to concentre powers, as during his second term in 1997-2000 he almost made himself an autocratic “Amirul-Momineen” by introducing Islamic ‘Shariah’ through a constitution amendment, which, mercifully, fell through when he was toppled by General Musharraf.

Clan of prosperity

The First Family of Pakistan has a strong clannish affiliation. Father Mian Mohammad Sharif migrated from Jati Ura, near Amritsar, where he had set up a steel business which grew fast as Pakistan’s major industrial unit named Ittefaq Foundry. In 1972, Z.A. Bhutto nationalised major industries and banks, including Ittefaq Foundry. It was the only unit denationalised by Gen Ziaul Haq after the 1977 coup. Zia who also picked up Nawaz Sharif for the Punjab Cabinet as Finance Minister and later named him Chief Minister in 1985.

The family business flourished rapidly while Nawaz Sharif was in power, both as Chief Minister and Prime Minister twice. His younger brother Shahbaz became the Chief Minister of Punjab in 1997. Daughter Mariam has been active in recent elections but sons Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz are doing business in Saudi Arabia and London.

Musharraf sent the entire Sharif family in exile to Saudi Arabia in 2001, where Mian Mohammad Sharif died.

The businessman in Sharif tends to strengthen his belief in improving trade with India. In 1989, as Chief Minister, he had told then India High Commissioner J.N. Dixit that once he came into power at the Centre, he would forge stronger bilateral ties. When Dixit pointed to his public speeches that ran contrary to that declaration, Sharif quipped: “That is politics as I confront Benazir”.

He proved his point when he became Prime Minister the second time in 1997. Atal Behari Vajpayee’s bus journey from Amritsar in February 1999 led to the Lahore Declaration, laying the foundation for resolution of all issues, including Kashmir, through bilateral dialogue. The Kargil War subsequently, of course, subverted everything.

Under scrutiny

Despite messy problems, Sharif has the advantage of a massive majority in the National Assembly and the most-populated Punjab province. Besides, things have been so bad in the past five years that these can only look up.

But Pakistan today is different from the 1990s. A vibrant media, pro-active judiciary, vigilant civil society and, above all, a popular and formidable opponent in Imran Khan leave little room to falter.

Nawaz Sharif likes grandeur and believes in pompous projects. During his second term, he built South Asia’s first motorway, which made little economic sense, besides most modern internal airports in Karachi and Lahore. His younger brother Shahbaz Sharif introduced the ambitious Metro Bus project in Lahore, which he completed in a record 10 months before the May 11 polls. They have promised similar projects in Karachi, Islamabad and other cities. He has evoked Chinese interest in linking Gwadar port with Chinese cities through rail and roads. He also promised a Bullet Train.

In infrastructure development, Sher Shah Suri is his ideal, whose picture he installed in PM House after undertaking the construction of the motorway that triggered whispers of corruption. Then Interior Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain asked whose picture it was. He was told it was the emperor who built the G.T. Road from Calcutta to Peshawar. “Oh, that long. He must have made a hell of a lot of money,” he is said to have remarked!

Men in uniform

Civil-military relations will be a major test for Sharif. Although a prodigy of Gen Ziaul Haq, Sharif found his niche in 1993 with his anti-establishment stance when President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dismissed his government on corruption charges. His combative nature has put him at odds with every army chief, including Beg, Janjua, Kakar, Karamat and Musharraf.

He was critical of the move to grant three-year extension to the present army chief, General Kayani, who is credited with the smooth transition from one elected government to another. But the army’s powerful voice in national and security affairs continues. Nothing can better illustrate the pre-eminence of the military than the episode of the day Sharif took oath. According to Dawn, Sharif’s car was stopped by commandos as he emerged from Punjab House on way to the Presidency and made to wait for a couple of minutes to let General Kayani’s car pass.

Who gets the right of way now on is the question.