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Resentment against hike in bus fare mounting in Bhopal

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NK SINGH Though a Govt. directive has frustrated the earlier efforts of the MPSRTC to increase the city bus fares by as much as 300 per cent, the public resent even the 25 per cent hike. It is "totally unjust, uncalled for and arbitrary", this is the consensus that has emerged from an opinion conducted by "Commoner" among a cross-section of politicians, public men, trade union leaders, and last but not least, the common bus travelling public. However, a section of the people held, that an average passenger would not grudge a slight pinche in his pocket provided the MPSRTC toned up its services. But far from being satisfactory, the MPSRTC-run city bus service in the capital is an endless tale of woe. Hours of long waiting, over-crowding people clinging to window panes frequent breakdowns, age-old fleet of buses, unimaginative routes and the attitude of passengers one can be patient only when he is sure to get into the next bus are some of the ills plaguing the city b...
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Karanths release ends Bhawans stupor

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NK SINGH

Bharat Bhawan, the controversial "House of Arts" at Bhopal, has started limping back to normalcy with the release on bail of B.V. Karanth—the noted drama director who was recently arrested on the charge of attempted murder.

The lake-side multi-arts complex, constructed with public funds and run by a private trust headed by the ruling Congress (1) leader, Mr Arjun Singh, became the centre of unsavoury public attention in the wake of the sensational Vibha-Karanth affair.

Normal functioning of the cultural complex was disturbed and the Bharat Bhawan repertory, Rangmandal, was almost paralysed following the arrest of its director, Karanth, and the serious burn injuries sustained by the leading actress of the troupe, Vibha Mishra.

Over the last month, little had happened in Bharat Bhawan apart from two minor programmes and a campaign launched to defend the institution against public criticism.

Now with Karanth back in action, Bharat Bhawan is restarting its cultural activities in the right earnest. Rangmandal is staging its long-awaited play on the Bhopal gas tragedy, Banjh Ghati (Barren Valley), originally scheduled to be staged earlier last month, on July 5.

Ever since his release from jail last week, Karanth had to resign the trusteeship of Bharat Bhawan and directorship of Rangmandal. His arrest has been visiting the arts complex daily to participate in the rehearsal of Banjh Ghati Rangman dal artists said he was helping with its music. The renowned drama director is reputed to be a good musician.

His wife, Mrs Prema Karanth, had disclosed in a press interview that the theatreman planned to finish the plays he was preparing before his arrest. The High Court has asked him to remain in Madhya Pradesh till the disposal of the case. However, a Bharat Bhawan spokesman said Karanth was visiting the complex only to meet friends.

On Monday, the bearded, 57-year-old artist left Bharat Bhawan suddenly, and then left amid rehearsals as a group of curious newsmen reached persons who were taking him there and much more shameless of state Government which was watching the drama without batting an eyelid," the opposition leader told newsmen on Thursday. "Art and culture will survive even without Karanth," Mr Patwa commented.

Mr Patwa also condemned the visit of Mr Ashok Vajpeyi, the culture secretary of Madhya Pradesh, to Bhopal central jail to meet the imprisoned artist, and Mrs Rashmi Vajpeyi's visit to the jail to receive Karanth at the time of his release last week.

Indian Express

July 3, 1986





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