Karnataka - Bangalore

Reporter's Diary

How safe is our city?

ONE WOULD have thought that compared with other bustling metropolitan cities such as Mumbai or Delhi, women in Bangalore are quite safe. Recently, a journalist had to play bodyguard to a petrified college student on her way home. The student complained of being followed and harassed by a middle-aged man in a car. The "gentleman" returned a few minutes later only to leer and make catcalls at both the women. All this a little after noon in a so-called posh and safe locality.

Without a card

LEGISLATORS, WHO sometimes attend many functions in a day, find it hard to remember the names of organisers and those on the dais. Invitation cards come in handy for them. But A. Krishnappa, who represents Varthur constituency, was not fortunate enough to get a card at an event organised by an education institution on Monday. He arrived late. He was called to speak soon after.

He asked the organisers to give him the invitation card and went towards the podium. As the organisers were searching for the card, Mr. Krishnappa began his speech. He ended his brief speech before the organisers could give him the card. He did not refer to anyone on the dais or to the organisers. Now pray, who was at a loss?

Clearing the mess

SANITATION WORKERS in the BMP may take days to clear up the mess left behind after a major political rally was held over the weekend. After every major event, tonnes of debris in the form of buntings, banners, posters and cut-outs are strewn in and around the venue. On Sunday evening, near Trinity Circle and on Airport Road, there were squads of people, perhaps hired by the political organisation involved, who were carefully removing the buntings and banners and carting them away. Perhaps for recycling.

Chitra V. Ramani,
Raghava M., K. Satyamurty

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