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Back to listsBtc Deadlock Central Government Should Intervene.
By Cyber Cop | 11-Sep-2017
The impasse in BTC over the issue of license is entering the 11th day. For the first time I had seen a CM had gone into blackmailing tactics to make his way in matters of his interest. The CM had decided not to renew the license of BTC unless and until his demand for increase in membership is met.
It seems the CM of Karnataka is adamant in the matter of membership. I dont know whats the stakes involved in 150 membership. In Karnataka the elections are round the corner. Is there a connection between the election and the 150 membership the CM is asking for? I am asking this question for a legitimate reason.
I am quoting part of a newspaper article published on February 2017.
"The chief minister Sri S Siddaramaiah is the sole authority in the state government empowered to nominate members to the Bangalore Turf Club Ltd. After nominating Sri L Vivekananda as a member to the managing committee / steward to the Bangalore Turf Club, the chief minister has entered into monetary transaction and availed loan of INR 1,30,00,000 from the same individual Sri. L Vivekananda on 28.07.2014". He was appointed on September 2013 and still continues to be a member. Since the elections are round the corner stakes can go up per membership. More than that some ministers and senior politicians of Karnataka Congress Party have stakes in horse racing in Bangalore. It will be easier for them to bend rules their way if they have enough support of the members.
Bangalore Turf Club Limited is a Public company incorporated on 31 March 1962. It is classified as Non-govt company and is registered at Registrar of Companies, Bangalore. It has its own registered rules and regulation and should operate under such rules and regulation. The issue is increasing the membership of Btc from 350 to 500 with 50 going to government nominees. This is possile only if the majority of the members approves a resolution recommending the same. Here the matter in front of the members is whether to fall in line because of the blackmailing tactics of the CM.
After GST was imposed the taxes BTC had to pay the goverment for July and August is close to Rs 90 crores. Half of this goes to state goverments kitty. More than that BTC pay a daily sum of Rs 60000/- to the state government to conduct on and off course betting. Government stands to lose if the impasse continues because of the adamant stand of the CM. Will the CM fill the loses caused to the exchequer from his kitty?
The CM may argue that he is waiting for the outcome of CID enquiry into matters of BTC. Please note no one is guilty unless and untill proven in a court of law. As per the current situation in our judicial system it may take between 3-5 years for a final judgement to come. Will he prefer not to grand license till that long(provided he comes to power again). If this is the real reason for not granting the licence then I have a question for you sir. There are more than 40 cases pending aganist you in the lokayuktha will you also step down till all these cases reach a logical conclusion?
Those who are hard hit are the 800 odd daily wage workers of BTC. They come to BTC to work for a paltry sum of Rs 300-500 per day. Their familes bread come from this amount. The action of the government had snatched daily meals of this group. It seems they are an unorganised sector and none of the political parties who boost of working for the welfare of labours are still not in the scene even after 11 days. The leftist parties were seen shouting their heartout during the murder debate of journalist Gowri Lankesh on various channels. Till now they had not uttered a single word aganist the action of government which was aganist the interest of the working class sorry I forgot both are allies now so the interest of labours can take a back seat.
The tug of war between the members of BTC for power had turned the matters to worse. Most of the members of BTC dont have any interest in racing. They are interested in goodies offered as part of the package being member of the BTC. Because of this the quality of racing in BTC had come down considerably in the last 5-6 years and the racing public had lost trust in the managing commettes of BTC which ever faction was on power. The way racing was conducted this summer season had created a lot of anguish in the minds of racing public. Recent changes in calculating tote dividends which again had gone aganist the public had added oil to the fire. Because of this there is no sympathy for BTC in the minds of racing public. The managing commette of the BTC had time and again proved that they are incompetant to run the show.
This situation can't continue for long. In my opinion its time for the central goverment to get involved in matters of racing in the country may be alteast Bangalore as they are also getting a part income based on GST. As per the agreement between the Maharaja of Mysore and then commette conducting racing in Bangalore "The said lands will be held in the sole possession of the Race Club Committee so long as they are utilized for a Race Course."
Early once the land was hand over from one commette to other in 1923. Following this precedence the central government should appoint a commette run by professional to conduct racing in Bangalore and take over the land from Bangalore Turf Club Ltd. Right now BTC have no authority over the land as no racing activity is taking place there. In this matter we don't trust the State Government nor BTC.