Racing affecting government machinery!

Chief Minister of Karnataka Yeddyurappa is a man in a hurry. He is keen to push the Bangalore Turf Club out of its premises on December 31 so that he executes his plan of having a public garden and a tall structure which can give a panoramic view of Bangalore City. Race horse owners and racing enthusiasts are going through anxious moments about what is in store for racing in Bangalore.

The Chief Minister also said in a lighter vein that it was better racing was shifted out of the city as early as possible as it would help improve administrative machinery. Too many officials are seen bunking their work and attending races, he said.

Government officials becoming enamored by racing and absenting themselves from government work is not something new. It has been happening for ages. One of my classmates who is a police officer came to race course as part of the squad to prevent illegal betting and got hooked on to racing. While many of his colleagues had plenty to show, my friend had lost most of his earnings at the race course.

More than two decades ago, the then Chief Minister Gundu Rao had got CCTV cameras installed at Bangalore Turf Club to catch government officials who were at the race course. But the move was shelved as soon as it was started as some of his trusted officers as well as the most honest and efficient officers were caught on the camera! The Chief Minister was in a dilemma as he could not proceed against his own trusted men. Such is the charm of racing that it spares none.

While racing provides great thrill and there is scope for those who treat as a game of skill, the gambling or betting tendency among government officials is increasingly turning towards cricket. Perhaps the Chief Minister is not aware of this as nowadays mobile phones help prevent trace calls made to the bookmakers by officials on duty. Nowadays you can see most government officials enjoying the facility of a private TV in their own rooms which facilitates cricket betting. May be if BTC moves out of Bangalore, they would perhaps welcome most live telecast of races more than anyone!

Comments

  1. sad sackMay 28, 2009 at 9:36 PM

    Get the Chief Minister this time around to present the Chief Minister Trophy.This is the only way to get him hooked.It may solve our problems

    ReplyDelete

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