C. M. Ibrahim

Chand Mahal Ibrahim is an Indian National Congress (INC) politician from the south Indian state of Karnataka. He is currently a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council.[1][2]

C. M. Ibrahim
Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 2018
Minister of Tourism
In office 2 June 1996 – 22 April 1997
Prime Minister	Deve Gowda I. K. Gujral
Preceded by	V. Dhananjay Kumar
Succeeded by	Srikant Kumar Jena
Minister of Civil Aviation
In office 22 April 1997 – 19 March 1998
Prime Minister	I. K. Gujral
Preceded by	Himself
Succeeded by	Ananth Kumar
Minister of Information and Broadcasting
In office 2 June 1996 – 1 May 1997
Prime Minister	Deve Gowda I. K. Gujral
Preceded by	Sushma Swaraj
Succeeded by	Jaipal Reddy
Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council
In office 24 August 2017 – 17 June 2018
Preceded by	Vimala Gowda
Personal details
Born	Chand Mahal Ibrahim (1952-08-14) 14 August 1952 Airani
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Indian National Congress (2008–present)
Other political affiliations	Janata Dal (Secular) All India Progressive Janata Dal Janata Party

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."[2]

Upon finishing schooling, Ibrahim stayed with the INC, later shifting to the Janata Parivar alliance, winning his seat at the 1978 legislative assembly election contesting from the latter's Janata Party ticket. He shifted allegiance to INC two years after, only to quit and join the All India Progressive Janata Dal,[3] and then the Janata Dal (Secular). He held portfolios of Civil Aviation and Tourism and Information and Broadcasting in the Deve Gowda and Gujral government, formed respectively in 1996 and 1997 at the centre.[2] After falling out with JD(S)' leadership, he re-joined the INC in 2008.[4]

Controversies

TATA-Singapore Airlines Controversy

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.[5] However, at the time, a senior bureaucrat accused the Aviation ministry of being "a malign influence",[5] and there were allegations that Ibrahim was protecting the private carrier Jet Airways.[6][7][8] 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.[9][10] 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.[11]

Star DTH Controversy

As Information & Broadcasting Minister, Ibrahim denied 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.[12][13][14]

Voting bribery Controversy

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.".[15] The Deccan Herald accused Ibrahim of making a "mockery out of democracy." [15]

References

1. "Ibrahim elected unopposed". The Hindu. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
2. "Cong gets C M Ibrahim into council". The Times of India. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
3. "BIODATA OF C.M. IBRAHIM" (PDF). karnataka.gov.in. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
4. "C.M. Ibrahim rejoins Congress". The Hindu. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
5. "Rediff On The Net Business News: Aviation Minister Chand Mahal Ibrahim on the Tata-SIA proposal and other related issues". Rediff.com. 19 February 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
6. "Why did C M Ibrahim scuttle the Tata-SIA project?". Rediff. 23 April 1997. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
7. "Favouritism in air - The Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 19 September 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
8. Barman, Arijit (29 April 2002). "The Last Jet Engine Sigh". India: Outlook. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
9. "Didn't want to bribe our way into airline business: Tata : Corporate News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
10. "Minister wanted Rs 15-cr bribe for aviation permit: Tata". Indian Express. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
11. "C.M. Ibrahim Dares Tata to Name the Minister". news.outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
12. "Rediff On The Net Business News: C M Ibrahim and the fate of the Tata-SIA project". Rediff.com. 23 April 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
13. "Rediff On The Net Business News: C M Ibrahim and the fate of Star TV's DTH project". Rediff.com. 23 April 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
14. "Heavyweight Measures". www.outlookindia.com. 18 June 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
15. DHNS (1 September 2010). "Take money from BJP, but vote for Congress: C M Ibrahim". Deccanherald.com. Retrieved 1 January 2012.