C. M. Ibrahim: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox officeholder

| name        = C. M. Ibrahim

| caption      =  

| office      = Member of the [[Karnataka Legislative Council]]

== Career ==

Ibrahim was said to have been first spotted in 1967 when he was 12, by former Chief Minister of Karnataka [[S. Nijalingappa]], where he was found giving election speeches as part of the campaign for his father's friend, who was contesting on an INC ticket. Nijalingappa entrusted him to another former Chief Minister [[Veerendra Patil]] two years later following the split of INC. It was with Patil that Ibrahim later "stayed till [the former's] death."<ref name="toi"/>

==Controversies==

In 1997, Ibrahim denied permission to a joint venture between the [[Tata Group]] and [[Singapore Airlines]] to operate a domestic airline in India. Ibrahim claimed that his reasons were ideological, as he was opposed to foreign investment in the Indian aviation sector.<ref name="rediff.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/money/feb/19ratan.htm |title=Rediff On The Net Business News: Aviation Minister Chand Mahal Ibrahim on the Tata-SIA proposal and other related issues |work=Rediff.com |date=1997-02-19 |access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref> However, at the time, a senior bureaucrat accused the Aviation ministry of being "a malign influence",<ref name="rediff.com"/> and there were allegations that Ibrahim was protecting the private carrier [[Jet Airways]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rediff.com/money/apr/23cmb.htm | title=Why did C M Ibrahim scuttle the Tata-SIA project? | date=23 April 1997 | publisher=Rediff | access-date=20 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/Favouritism-in-air/articleshow/2381659.cms |title=Favouritism in air - The Economic Times |publisher=Economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=2007-09-19 |access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/the-last-jet-engine-sigh/215387 |title=The Last Jet Engine Sigh |publisher=Outlook|location=India |date=29 April 2002 |first=Arijit|last=Barman|access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref> On 15 15 November 2010, [[Ratan Tata]], the head of the Tata group alleged that, during the 1990s, a minister had asked for a bribe of INR 15 crore (USD 3.3 million approx) to clear a proposed venture with Singapore Airlines, but he had refused to pay the bribe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/120064/India/didnt-want-to-bribe-our-way-into-airline-business-tata.html |title=Didn't want to bribe our way into airline business: Tata : Corporate News - India Today |publisher=Indiatoday.intoday.in |date=2010-11-15 |access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/minister-wanted-rs-15cr-bribe-for-aviation-permit-tata/711610/ |title=Minister wanted Rs 15-cr bribe for aviation permit: Tata |publisher=Indian Express |date=2010-11-15 |access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref> Although Tata did not name Ibrahim as the offending minister, sections of the media speculated that the minister Tata was referring to may have been Ibrahim. Ibrahim denied the allegation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?701302 |title=C.M. Ibrahim Dares Tata to Name the Minister |publisher=news.outlookindia.com |access-date=2012-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715024413/http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?701302# |archive-date=2011-07-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

As Information & Broadcasting Minister, Ibrahim denied [[Star India|Star Television]] permission to operate a Direct to Home (DTH) service in India. It was alleged that Ibrahim had overruled other ministers and was protecting the interests of Star's rival [[Zee Television]], who he granted permission to operate a DTH network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/money/apr/23cmb.htm |title=Rediff On The Net Business News: C M Ibrahim and the fate of the Tata-SIA project |work=Rediff.com |date=1997-04-23 |access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/money/apr/23cmb2.htm |title=Rediff On The Net Business News: C M Ibrahim and the fate of Star TV's DTH project |work=Rediff.com |date=1997-04-23 |access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?203698 |title=Heavyweight Measures |publisher=www.outlookindia.com |date=1997-06-18 |access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref>

On 1 September 2010, while campaigning in his home state, Ibrahim alleged that [[Katta Subramanya Naidu]], a politician from the rival [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] was bribing voters. However, Ibrahim reportedly told voters: "Take the stack of currency given by Katta Subramanya Naidu without any second thought but do not fail to cast vote for Congress.".<ref name="deccanherald.com">{{cite web|date=1 September 2010 |author=DHNS |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/93260/take-money-bjp-vote-congress.html |title=Take money from BJP, but vote for Congress: C M Ibrahim |publisher=Deccanherald.com |access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref> The [[Deccan Herald]] accused Ibrahim of making a "mockery out of democracy."<ref name="deccanherald.com"/>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ibrahim, C. M.}}

[[Category:Members of the Karnataka Legislative Council]]

[[Category:1952 births]]