Teacher sets student on fire in Bangalore

In a shocking incident, a teacher reportedly sprinkled kerosene on a ninth standard student and set him ablaze at BTM Layout in Bangalore.

According to police, the computer teacher Suresh Babu invited Vijay, a student of Shantiniketan school in Bangalore, to his residence at BTM Layout, where he offered private coaching to students.

When Vijay reached his teacher’s house, Suresh Babu took out a can of kerosene, splashed its contents on the student and stubbed a cigarette on his damp clothes. Vijay sufferred burn injuries on his arms and face when his clothes caught fire.

The boy was admitted a private nursing home, where he is undergoing treatment, while the teacher is absconding.

Though the incident took place on Tuesday, it had not come to light as the parents of the boy were initially reluctant to lodge a police complaint. However, they eventually lodged a complaint with Madiwala police.

After preliminary investigation, police said the Suresh Babu was teaching Vijay at his earlier school Indira Convent last year. The boy had had complained to the school authorities against the teacher, which cost Suresh Babu his job. Vijay too had left the school and joined Shantiniketan for the ensuing academic year.

Police have taken up a case of attempted murder and are on the lookout for Suresh Babu. Police suspect that the teacher tried to avenge his suspension.

Azhar rules out foray into politics, but to give Rs 100 million for elections

Even though former captain of Indian cricket team Mohammed Azharuddin has ruled out any possibility of entering politics, he is reported to have promised financial help to cricketer-turned-politician Dodda Ganesh to the tune of Rs 100 million.

Dodda Ganesh, who joined the JD (S) in the presence of Azharuddin and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda at a function in Bangalore, told reporters that the former Indian skipper was not only extending him moral support, but also financial support.

“He (Azharuddin) is like an elder brother to me. He has backed my entry into JD (S). He has also promised to give me Rs 100 million for contesting the elections”, Dodda Ganesh told reporters.

Dodda Ganesh, a medium pace bowler, who had played more than a 100 first class matches, could play only four tests and a single one-day international. “I am a poor man. I have made a name, but not money”, he said and added that he decided to join the JD (S) on the advice of Azharuddin.

Earlier, Azharuddin wished Dodda Ganesh good luck in politics. But, he clarified that he had no plans to enter politics. “I request you not to speculate on anything. There is nothing more or nothing less than this”, the former Indian skipper said.

But, Deve Gowda was full of praise for Azharuddin. Pointing out that it was Azharuddin, who had advised Dodda Ganesh to join the party, Gowda said “It shows that Azhar knows that JD (S) is the only party, which can protect the minorities. I will not forget this gesture of Azhar”.

Karnataka Chief Minister slams media

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has slammed the media for linking his name to the disproportionate assets seized by Income Tax officials from the realtors in Bangalore on Tuesday.

A visibly upset Kumaraswamy expressed displeasure over media reports linking his name with G Manjunath from who house the IT sleuths reportedly recovered a large amount of cash and documents of immovable property.

“It is a fact that Manjunath was a JD (S) worker, but why has the media come to the conclusion that he is close to me?”, the Chief Minister wondered.

He referred to the raids carried out by IT officials on the residence of former Federal Miniter of Telecommunications Sukh Ram and sought to know why the assets seized during the exercise were not linked to either the Congress President or the then Prime Minister.

It may be mentioned here that the IT sleuths carried raids on the offices and residences of several realtors in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Karnataka orders closure of all wildlife sanctuaries in July

Karnataka Government has ordered the closure on all wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the State from June 30 to July 31 with a view to facilitate breeding of wild animals.

The Karnataka Government’s decision is expected to hit the tourists, particularly foreign ones, who had scheduled to visit the wildlife sanctuaries and the national parks in Karnataka during the period.

According to the order issued by the Forest Department, all the 25 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka including the famous Dandeli, Nagarhole and Bandipur national parks, will be temporarily closed from June 30 to July 31.

Forest resorts and travel agents, who had already made advance bookings for visit of tourists, will be forced to reschedule the trips of the visitors. Even the state-run Jungle Lodges and Resorts is finding it tough to convince guests to postpone their trips.

The closure of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries will also hit the plans of trekkers and naturalists, who were planning forays into the jungles during July.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) A K Verma told reporters that closure of wildlife habitat during breeding season has been a practice across the country. “It was not followed in Karnataka till now. We can’t afford to take the cause of endangered species lightly anymore”, he said.

Assault of Christian priest draws widespread condemnation

The assault on a Christian priest at Kundapura in coastal Karnataka has evoked widespread condemnation with various organizations staging protests in different parts of the State yesterday.

Suspected Bajrang Dal activists attacked the priest of Katkare Carmel Ashram Sylvester Perriera and three others when they went to a private hospital at Kundapura in Udupi district on Monday evening for medical treatment.

According to a police complaint, a group of suspected Bajrang Dal activists led by Ramana Shetty approached the priest and his companions in the Hospital and began abusing them in foul language before accusing them of converting the local people into Christianity.

The activists allegedly caught Sylvester Perriera by his collar and pushed him down the flight of stairs, causing him physical injuries. Next, they dragged him to the compound of the hospital and began kicking him. The priest’s companions were also attacked by the mob.

The police swung into action and arrested Ramana Shetty and four others on charges of assaulting the Christian priest. They were however released on bail later.

But, a host of organizations staged a protest in Kundapura yesterday with activists belonging to Catholic Sabha, Congress, JD (S), CPI (M), DYFI and others participated in the protest demonstration.

Similiarly, Ahinda, an acronym for Minorities, Backward Classes and Dalits, staged demonstrations in different parts of the State including Mysore.

In Bangalore, the Karnataka Catholic Bishop’s Conference has condemned the assault on the Christian priest and appealed to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to immediately take action against the guilty.

Claiming that the incident had created insecurity in the minds of the Christianity minority, the Conference Archbishop Bernard Moras said in a press statement “the attack carried out without any reason proves beyond doubt that there is no proper security for Christians in this land”.

Karnataka dragged into fresh border dispute with Goa

A fresh border row has erupted in coastal Karnataka with Konkani-speaking organizations moving the Supreme Court seeking the merger of three taluks of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka with neighbouring Goa.

The Goa Konkani Rajya Samithi and Samyuktha Gomantak Manch have submitted a petition before the Apex court seeking the merger of Karwar, Supa and Haliyal taluks in Uttara Kannada district with Goa on the grounds that a “majority” of people in these three taluks speak Konkani, the official language of Goa.

The two Konkani-organizations of Uttara Kannada have also sought the creation of “Greater Goa” with the inclusion of three taluks from Karnataka. The petition is expected to come up for hearing in the Supreme Court during the second week of July.

Karnataka Government is preparing to urge the Apex Court to reject the petition submitted by the two Konkani organizations on the grounds that they did not have any “locus standi” on the issue.

Chairman of Karnataka State’s Advisory Committee on Border Disputes H B Datar told reporters that there was no merit in the Konkani organization’s claim. He was confident that the petition, seeking merger of three taluks of Uttara Kannada including its district headquarters of Karwar would not stand the test of law.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said he would be able to make a comment on the issue only after securing detailed information on the matter.

Though Goa has not officially staked claim over parts of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, the demand for merger of three taluks of the district with Goa have added to the border woes of Karnataka, which is already involved in a row with Maharashtra over the ownership of Marathi-speaking areas in the border district of Belgaum.

Karnataka is also engaged in a border dispute with Kerala over Kasargod and Tamil Nadu over Hogenakal islands.

Speculation over Azharuddin’s foray into politics

Former Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin’s visit to JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda’s residence in Bangalore on Monday has triggerred speculation over the former cricketer’s entry into politics.

Accompanied by former Indian pacer Dodda Ganesh, who has already announced his decision to join the JD (S), Azharuddin met Gowda at the latter’s residence and held closed door talks.

Dodda Ganesh, who has played four Tests and a single one-day international during 1996-97 tour of South Africa, had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, ahead of making public his decision to join the JD (S).

JD (S) spokesperson Y S V Datta told reporters in Bangalore that Dodda Ganesh will be formally admitted into the party fold at a function in Bangalore on Wednesday, where Azharuddin will be a special invitee.

Though its is not immediately known what transpired between the former Indian cricketer and JD (S) supremo, Dodda Ganesh told reporters that Azharuddin was supporting his entry into the JD (S). “I have no idea about Azharuddin’s political interests”, Dodda Ganesh said on a cautious note.

Candidate pursuing doctorate queues up for peon’s job

A post-graduate pursuing a doctorate degree was among the more than 38,000 candidates, who had applied for the 50 posts of peons at the Law courts in Mysore near here.

Mallappa Geddappa Lambani, a post-graduate in Sociology, who is also pursuing a doctorate, turned up at the Law court premises last week for the interviews, which are going on for the last one month in view of the long list of applicants.

Mallappa, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste, has registered himself for a doctorate degree at Karnatak University in Dharwad. He is shortly due to submit his thesis on “Socio economic conditions of Lambanis in the region and their problems in securing jobs”.

With the list of applicants for the post of peon including hundreds of graduates and even post-graduates, the Government officials wondered whether the interest shown by highly qualified candidates for such menial jobs was due to the craze for Government jobs or on account of unemployment in the society.
Mallappa, who hails from a poor family in Bijapur district, told reporters that he had worked as a temporary lecturer in many colleges in Bijapur, but had failed to secure a permanent job. “As I am unable to meet my ends and support my aged mother, I applied for this job and came for the interview”, Mallappa said

Lorries to go off roads in Karnataka from July 1

Lorry owners in Karnataka have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from July 1 in protest against the Federal law on installation of speed governors in their vehicles.

Disclosing this to reporters in Bangalore, Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners’ Association Shanmugappa said lorry owners have decided to keep their vehicles off the roads from July 1 till the law on mandatory installation of speed governors, a gadget that reduces speed of vehicles, is withdrawn.

Though the Federal Government had mandated installation of speed governors in 1997, Karnataka Government began enforcing the same in 2005. “Around 275,000 lorries in Karnataka will go off the roads until the State Government agrees to withdraw the rule”, Shanmugappa said.

Shanmugappa claimed that the lorry owners’ associations of neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry too had extended support to their Karnataka counterparts. If inter-state lorries go off the roads in Karnataka, Shanmugappa said Karnataka would be denied the 60,000 tonnes of rice from Andhra Pradesh and 400 tonnes of fish from West Bengal, besides a host of commodities from other states every day.

Shanmugappa said even truckers transporting petroleum and diesel will be joining the strike.

Meanwhile, Joint Commissioner of Transport Department (Enforcement) Vijay Vikram said the law in compulsory installation of speed governors was a Federal law and the Karnataka Government has to abide by it.

“All public service vehicles will have to be fitted with the gadget. Or else, their fitness certificates will not be renewed”. However, he said the rule was not applicable to vehicles plying from outside Karnataka.

Oil spill from capsized ship causing environmental concern

Even as efforts continued to trace the missing crew member of the Eritrean cargo vessel, which capsized off the Mangalore coast on Saturday, the oil spill from the ship has become a major source of concern for the Government authorities.

After visiting Thannirbhavi off the New Mangalore Port, where the shipwreck took place, Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district M Maheshwara Rao told reporters that oil had seeped from the sunken vessel and reached the coast, posing an environmental threat. “The oil spill has reached the coast”, he said.

Apart from the seepage of diesel, large amounts of furnace slag the ill-fated ship was carrying had also been washed to the shore, he said. Though it quantity of oil was not immediately known, the cargo vessel Denden was transporting more than 8,000 tonnes of furnace slag to UAE before it overturned in about 250 metres from coast due to high velocity winds.

“The Pollution Control Board officials have already collected samples of water from the coast”, Rao said and added that measures will be taken to check the impact of the oil spill and furnace slag on marine life.

Meanwhile, the captain of capsized ship Abraham Kwaw, who is recuperating in a hospital in Mangalore after local fishermen rescued him, attributed the accident to an “engine failure”.

Speaking to reporters, Abraham Kwaw, a Ghana national, recalled the turbulent time the ship’s crew experienced after the ship’s anchor gave away on Friday, dragging the vessel to Tannirbhavi, about four nautical miles away from the New Mangalore Port.

Kwaw, who has been captaining ships for the last 20 years, said a decision to abandon the ship was taken after contacting his company officials on Saturday morning. “I called the Coast Guard for help at 9 am on Saturday. But, as help was delayed due to rough weather conditions, 12 crew members took a lifeboat and jumped into the waters. The lifeboat went about 10 metres and capsized when a huge wave hit them”, he added. They later swam to the shore with the help of local fishermen.

When the ship sank further by Saturday afternoon, the remaining 12 persons on board the vessel jumped into the sea. With the Coast Guard unable to launch any rescue operations due to rough weather, the local fishermen jumped into the raging waves, risking their lives, and reached out to the crew members, who were struggling to stay afloat against the current.

Out of the 24 people on board the Eritrean cargo vessel, as many as 21 were rescued by the local fishermen. The two persons, who died in the mishap, hailed from Bahrain and Eritrea, officials said.

39 perish as rains pound Karnataka

Heavy and incessant rains lashing severaldistricts of Karnataka during the last two days haveso far claimed a total of 39 lives, besides leaving atrail of misery and destruction in its wake.

With the downpour continuing unabated in several partsof north Karnataka including districts of Belgaum,Bijapur, Raichur, Bagalkot and Gulbarga, besidesKodagu, on account of the deep depression in the Bayof Bengal, several villages were marooned and hundredsof houses collapsed, causing widespread destruction ofproperty and displacement of people.

At least 13 persons, including five children, havebeen killed in three instances of house collapse inthe rain-battered districts of Bagalkot, Raichur andBijapur.

Three persons were washed away in the flash floods inDoni, a tributary of Krishna river, flowing throughBijapur and Gulbarga. With the tributary flowing abovethe danger level, the inhabitants of the villagesalong its banks have been evacuated to safer places.Fifteen villages in Bijapur had already been submergedand two persons, who were trapped in their maroonedhouse in Kotyal village in the district, were washedaway.

Five college-going girls, who were waiting for a busto return home, died on the spot when a coconut treefell on them inside the Hassan bus stand.Rain related deaths have also been reported fromKodagu, Bellary, Shimoga, Karwar and Koppal, besidesBangalore, where a road transport authority officialdied on the spot when a huge branch of a tree crashedon the autorickshaw he was travelling in.

One person died in Kutta in Kodagu district when atree fell on the truck in which he was sleeping. Manyparts of Kodagu, including its district headquartersof Madikeri, remained plunged in darkness for thethird day on Sunday as the power supply, which wentout on Friday could not be restored.

Normal life in many parts of north Karnataka includingGulbarga and Bijapur had been thrown out of gear asbridges and roads had been washed away in the rain.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has conveneda high-level meeting in Bangalore on Monday to takestock of the situation. He has already spoken to theDeputy Commissioner’s of the rain-hit areas andcollected information on the havoc caused by thetorrential downpour.

He has directed the officials to pay compensation tothe families of persons killed in the rains and beginrelief operations on a “war-footing”. Officials ofnorth Karnataka districts, which have bore the bruntof the rain fury, have been directed to open gruelcentres for the benefit of the thousands of people,who had been displaced.

Yediyurappa will be next Chief Minister of Karnataka - BJP

Brushing aside the “minor differences” among party leaders in Karnataka, BJP national leadership announced that Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will take over the mantle of Chief Minister in October this year.

After holding discussions with party leaders in the State, BJP’s national vice president Yashwanth Sinha, who was recently appointed leader in-charge of Karnataka, said there is no change in the stance of the party’s national executive committee that Yediyurappa will become the next Chief Minister of the State.

Claiming that JD (S), its coalition partner in the State, had assured to transfer power to BJP in October this year, Sinha refused to answer queries on the party’s next course of action if JD (S) refused to keep its word. “We will cross the bridge when it comes”, Sinha said.

He said the BJP was eagerly looking forward to having its Chief Minister after three months and hoped the transfer of power will be a smooth affair. “I wanted to meet JD (S) leaders during my visit. But, I could not make it due to lack of time during this visit”, Sinha said.

But, Sinha acknowledged that there were “minor” differences among BJP leaders in the State. “I don’t say there are no differences in the party. But, they have nothing to do with leadership as speculated by a section of the media”.

He said the differences will be resolved and would not affect the party’s performance. “There is no groupism in the party. The party is totally united in its view and the Government and BJP Ministers are doing a good job”, he said.

However, party sources told reporters in Bangalore that a section of party legislators loyal to former Federal Minister Ananthkumar had expressed their displeasure with Yediyurappa’s leadership. The legislators had expressed their strong disapproval of Yediyurappa’s “dictatorial” attitude.

A few party legislators are understood to have complained against Yediyurappa according “undue importance” to woman MLC Shobha Karandlaje in the party affairs at the cost of senior legislators and veteran partymen.

Karnataka carves out two more districts

Karnataka Government has decided to create two more districts of Ramanagaram and Chikkaballapur, taking the total number of districts in the State to 29.

Briefing reporters in Bangalore, Karnataka’s Home Minister M P Prakash said the State Cabinet has decided to carve out Ramanagaram district from the existing Bangalore rural district and Chikkaballapur from the existing Kolar district.

The carving out of Ramanagaram from Bangalore Rural district marks the third bifurcation of the erstwhile Bangalore district. During 1985, the then Ramakrishna Hegde Government had split Bangalore district into Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural for the sake of administrative convenience.

Twenty two years later, Bangalore Rural district has been divided again by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who incidentally represents Ramanagaram in the State Assembly.

While Ramanagaram district will comprise four taluks of Magadi, Channapatna, Kanakapura and Ramanagaram, Chikkaballapur district will comprise Gauribidanur, Bagepalli, Chintamani, Gudibande, Siddlaghatta and Chikkaballapur taluks.

Claiming that the “historic” decision of the Government to carve out new districts from the existing ones would facilitate “better administration”, Prakash said Ramanagaram district and Chikkaballapur district will come into existence from August 15.

However, the new districts are pending final approval from the Justice Kuldip Singh Commission on Delimitation. “Since the Commission has already completed its work on delimitation of constituencies and is expected to release the final report in a few days, there should not be any problem with regard to the creation of the new districts”, Prakash said.

Answering queries, Prakash said the Government had already earmarked Rs 702 million for creating infrastructure facilities like establishing new offices and purchase of vehicles for officials posted to the new districts.

7 years jail for doctors issuing false medical certificate to Telgi

The special court trying the multi-billion-rupee fake stamp paper racket yesterday sentenced two doctors of a hospital in Bangalore to seven years in prison and slapped a penalty of Rs 1.4 million for issuing a fake medical certificate to the kingpin of the scam Abdul Karim Telgi.

The court also sentenced Telgi guilty in the case and sentenced him to seven years in prison, besides imposing a penalty of Rs 2.5 million. This is the third case in the stamp paper racket in which Telgi has been convicted.

Special Court judge Vishwanath V Angadi found the doctors Jnanendrappa and Channakeshava of Victoria Hospital in Bangalore guilty of accepting bribe and issuing false medical certificate to Telgi that enabled him to secure bail.

All the three have been convicted for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The judge has also ruled that the convicts will undergo imprisonment of an additional two years if they fail to pay the penalty imposed on them.

Though the special court had found the trio guilty the crime on Tuesday, the quantum of punishment was pronounced yesterday. But, the advocates representing the doctors said they were planning to go in appeal against the sentence, which they found was “too harsh”.

It may be mentioned here that the advocates representing the doctors had sought permission from the court to file bail applications on behalf of their clients soon after the judge completed the dictation of the judgement on Tuesday. But, the special public prosecutor of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) B R Nanjundaiah had opposed the move stating that the bail applications can be filed only after the court pronounces the quantum of punishment.

With the special court sentencing them to seven years in jail, the advocates are planning to go in appeal against the order.

After helicopter and railway track, Karnataka legislator acquires hi-tech bus

Suspended BJP MLC in Karnataka G Janardhan Reddy, who made waves in political circles when he bought a helicopter and laid private seven-kilometre railway track, has now acquired a hi-tech bus at a cost of Rs 40 million.

Reddy, who was suspended from the BJP after he accused Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his Cabinet colleagues of involvement in the Rs 1.5 billion mining bribery scam, is planning to embark upon a state-wide tour shortly on board the hi-tech bus to expose the “corrupt deeds” of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his family members.

The ultra-modern, specially designed high-security luxury bus is understood to be not only bullet proof, but also resistant to landmine and bomb blasts.

Reddy, who claims to enjoy the support of even BJP MPs and MLAs for his state-wide tour, is scheduled to begin his “yatra” from Kudalasangama, a prominent pilgrim centre in Bidar district of Karnataka. During the yatra, which is expected to cover all the districts of the State before culminating in Kumaraswamy’s home constituency of Ramanagaram, Reddy plans to hold rallies to expose the “misdeeds” of Deve Gowda and his family.

But, the ultra-modern bus used by Reddy for the tour is expected to be the highlight of the yatra. The specially designed bus has a pantry, a bed-room with an attached bathroom, a refrigerator, besides provision to install a satellite phone and a kitchen. Apart from a television set, a DVD and audio-player systems, the bus has a public address system too.

Meanwhile, JD (S) spokesman Y S V Datta has filed a complaint before the Lokayukta against Janardhan Reddy for giving a false declaration of his assets and liabilities to the Election Commission before becoming a member of the legislative council.

After scrutinizing the complaint, Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde has issued a notice to Reddy.

No takers for course that made Kalam a Missile Man!

Aeronautical Engineering, the stream of engineering that had made President of India A P J Abdul Kalam a “Missile Man”, apparently has no takers in Karnataka, which is not only the headquarters of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), but also state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Even though there are only 14 aeronautical engineering seats available in the entire State, not a single student, who had cleared the Common Entrance Test (CET) this year, had opted for this course even five days after the counselling for admission to engineering colleges began in Karnataka.

Students are vying with each other to secure admission in electronics, computer science, information science, telecommunication, bio-technology and electrical engineering. Aeronautical engineering does not figure in the list of courses most sought after by the students.

CET Cell sources attribute the poor response for aeronautical engineering course in the State to the location of the college offering it. Khwaja Bande Nawaz College of Engineering, which is the only college in the State offering the aeronautical engineering course, is located in the backward district of Gulbarga, about 650 kms from Bangalore.

Most students prefer courses like electronics, information science and computer science as it provides them with a vast scope compared to traditional engineering courses.

The authorities of Khawaja Bande Nawaz College of Engineering have also bemoaned that students were not queuing up for aeronautical engineering course offered by them despite the institution having the best of infrastructure for the course.

Gowda calls on dissident BJP leader

Former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda called on a prominent BJP leader Chandru, popularly known as Mukhyamantri Chandru, at the latter’s residence in Bangalore yesterday morning, sending the BJP into a tizzy.

Gowda had breakfast with Chandru, a BJP MLC, who had openly raised a banner of revolt against the party leadership at the time of coalition government’s formation last year. “He had been inviting me for almost a month. I finally time found to visit him”, Gowda told reporters after the visit.

But, Gowda’s visit to Chandru’s residence has fuelled speculations over the reported plans of JD (S) to exploit the simmering dissidence in the coalition partner BJP’s ranks and split the party ahead of scheduled transfer of power in October this year.

Gowda’s unexpected visit has also come at a time when the internal differences in BJP’s Karnataka unit had peaked on the eve of newly-appointed BJP leader in charge of Karnataka Yashwanth Sinha’s arrival in Bangalore on Thursday.

The disgruntled section of BJP legislators in Karnataka are understood to be planning to complain to Yashwanth Sinha against the style of functioning of Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who is tipped to take over as Chief Minister later this year.

According to reports, the dissident BJP leaders are also planning to bring to Yashwanth Sinha’s notice the “undue importance” accorded to woman MLC Shobha Karandlaje by Yediyurappa in the party matters. The dissident legislators are also planning to seek the removal of BJP’s Karnataka unit President Sadanand Gowda.

Yashwanth Sinha is scheduled to hold separate meetings with BJP Ministers and legislators, but also state unit office bearers and presidents of party’s district units during his visit to Bangalore.

Liquor barons’ spirits soar high in Karnataka with ban on arrack round the corner

With the Karnataka Government’s ban on sale of arrack, a country-made liquor, coming into force from July 1, the liquor barons in the State are gearing up to not only enhance production of Indian Made Liquor (IML), but also introduce several new brands.

Come July1, all the 15,248 arrack outlets spread across the State, which were selling an estimated 1.35 million litres of the country-made liquor every month at Rs 12 for a sachet of 100 ml, will be closed.

The Government ban on arrack came in the wake of public outcry against growing alcoholism among the poorer sections of the society. Bowing to pressure from several women’s groups and heads of religious institutions, the coalition Government banned arrack despite revenues from its sale fetched the Government more than Rs 20 billion last year.

With the ban likely to drive tipplers from the lower strata of the society, who are the main consumers of arrack, towards IML sold at liquor shops, bars and restaurants, liquor barons in the State have already begun introducing additional bottling lines in distilleries, besides reviving distilleries that had been closed for either technical or financial reasons.

Government officials said even the Excise Department is in favour of increasing the production of IML in the State, which presently stands at 1.8 million litres a month. But, the Excise Department is bringing pressure on the IML manufacturers to bring down the price from the prevailing Rs 32 for a measure of 180 ml to Rs 26. The losses incurred by the reduction in price can be compensated by the increased quantum of sales, the Excise Department officials have argued.

Meanwhile, the Government has constituted a 13-member squad comprising personnel from police as well as excise department to enforce the ban on sale of arrack from July 1.

Snake enters Deve Gowda’s bedroom

A rat snake slithered into the residence of former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda in Bangalore, sending the entire household into a tizzy.

Though the six-feet long non-poisonous reptile, which had taken shelter in Gowda’s bedroom, was caught and taken away, the entry of a snake into his house on Friday, a New Moon Day - also known as Amavasya, which is considered inauspicious - has become a source of acute anxiety to the former Prime Minister.

Gowda, who is known to be a God-fearing person with strong belief in astrology and the influence of heavenly bodies on his life, is understood to have got into a spot of bother after the episode.

The JD (S) supremo’s son and Karnataka’s Energy Minister H D Revanna is reported to have begun consulting astrologers on the significance of the snake’s entry into the Gowda’s bedroom on the night of Amavasya.

Even Gowda’s followers have started approaching astrologers to find out the possible consequences of the snake’s entry into his house. A few followers of Deve Gowda are reported to have performed rituals to protect the JD (S) supremo from any possible ill-effects of the snake’s entry.

However, the episode has turned out to be a boon in disguise at least to people residing in Gowda’s neighbourhood. For, a fairly large team of Greater Bangalore Municipal Corporation personnel descended on the area and began cleaning all the debris and shrubs.

Personally monitored by the Corporation’s Commissioner K Jairaj, the cleaning operation went on a full 12 hours till the entire neighbourood was cleared of all possible habitat for snakes.

Apart from serving a notice to the owner of a vacant site in front of Gowda’s house for not keeping it clean, the civic authorities have planned to develop a park on the shrubby hillock from where the snake could have entered the former Prime Minister’s house.

Karnataka planning to waive agricultural loans

Under pressure to check the suicide-spree among farmers in the State, the coalition Government is Karnataka is seriously considering a proposal to provide one-time waiver of all outstanding agricultural loans obtained by farmers from co-operative banks.

Already, the JD (S)-BJP Government in the State has announced a waiver of agricultural loans upto a maximum of Rs 25,000 obtained from co-operative banks. But, the continuing suicide-spree of debt-ridden farmers, which claimed more than 320 lives since January 2007, has forced the Government to think aloud about providing a one-time relief by waiving all outstanding agricultural loans obtained from co-operative banks.

Addressing a farmers’ rally in Hassan on Sunday, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said wishes to fully liberate the farmers from the debts they owed to co-operative banks. Under the instructions of JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, the coalition Government will formulate a scheme to mop up funds to off-set the impact of the loan waiver on co-operative institutions, he said.

Though the State Government has waived loans upto Rs 25,000, Kumaraswamy regretted that the measure had not helped arrest the suicide-spree among farmers. The loan waiver will benefit poor weavers and fishermen, besides the farmers, he said.

He also appealed to the Federal Government to take decision to waive agricultural loans obtained from nationalized banks also. The co-operative banks come under the purview of the State Government while the nationalized banks are governed by the Federal Government rules, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy’s gesture to waive the entire outstanding agricultural loans obtained by the farmers from co-operative banks has found favour even with its coalition partner BJP, which is scheduled to take over the Chief Minister’s mantle during October this year.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister B S Yediyurappa, who is tipped to assume the Chief Minister’s post in October, said the BJP is committed to providing complete waiver of outstanding agricultural loans.
He also said a BJP legislature party meeting has convened in Bangalore on June 21 in the presence of the newly appointed party leader in charge of Karnataka Yeshwanth Sinha to formulate a code of conduct for the party legislators after the scheduled transfer of power.

IISc to raise funds by selling bricks of razed hostel to alumni

In a unique fund-raising initiative, India’s premier scientific institute, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is selling to its alumni the bricks of its old hostel, which was brought down last year.

About 8,000 bricks of the old hostel building, built in 1956, will be sold to the alumni in India and abroad for a whopping $ 1,000 apiece to raise funds for new research programmes.

The sale of the bricks, that could trigger nostalgia among the IISc alumni, is scheduled to be formally kicked off at the IISc Global Conference to be held at Santa Clara, USA, on June 22.

Chairman of IISc’s Governing Council K Kasturirangan said some bricks kept in glass casings would be photographed and put on display at the Santa Clara conference to woo the alumni. The bricks will also be sold online and details of how to apply for them would be put up on the institute’s website www.iisc.ernet.in

If all the 8,000 bricks are sold, the IISc would be able to raise a hefty amount of $ 8 million, which is about Rs 320 million.

IISc Director P Balaram told reporters that the unique fund-raising initiative was the brainchild of its Associate Director Prof N Balakrishnan, who is himself an alumnus of the Institute. Prof Balakrishnan and some of the senior scientists of IISc have ensured that the bricks of the old hostel building were kept safely under lock and key after the demolition last year.

Though the Federal Government extended a grant of Rs 1 billion to IISc two years ago, the aid fell short of the Institute’s requirement to fund research in new areas. Hence, the institute plans to strike at the emotional chords by tapping into the nostalgia of its alumni.

IISc hopes to use the funds to finance a series of five-year projects to improve the infrastructure and attract students to pure science research, which had witnessed a dip in recent times.

Boy abducted from Bangalore rescued in Kerala

Three days after he was abducted from Koramangala in Bangalore, an eight-year-old boy was rescued by the police near the railway station in Thalassery in neighbouring Kerala.

Police said Chandan Reddy, a standard III student of Chinmaya Mission School in Bangalore, was playing on his bicycle in front of his house in Koramangala three days ago on Wednesday when was taken away by three unidentified persons in a car.

The abductors had reportedly sweet-talked Chandan Reddy, who had a craze for cars and cajoled him to get in for a drive.

Within an hour of the abduction, Chandan Reddy’s father Choodesh Reddy, a deputy manager in a private firm in Bangalore, received a call on his mobile phone from the kidnappers, who demanded a ransom of Rs 1 million for his son’s release.

Speaking in Hindi, the kidnappers warned Choodesh Reddy against contacting the police. But, when he did not hear from the abductors for the next few years, Choodesh Reddy approached the police, which formed five teams to track down the boy.

The kidnappers, who were in regular touch with Choodesh Reddy, initially asked him to bring the money to Mangalore, but later kept changing the locations. Finally, the kidnappers asked Choodesh Reddy to come to the railway station at Thalassery in Kerala on Saturday.

The police, who were hot on the abductors’ trail, traced the phone calls to various coin telephone booths in coastal regions of Kerala.

The Bangalore police, which was co-ordinating with its Kerala counterparts, shared the information with Thalassery police. On Saturday, the Thalassery police swooped on the railway station. But, the kidnappers, who had apparently sensed the police operations, abandoned the boy a few metres away and fled.

Fisherfolk, who noticed the boy, took him to the police station. Chandan Reddy, who is the only son of Choodesh Reddy and Chandrika, was finally united with his parents.

Karnataka clears first private SEZ

Karnataka Cabinet has cleared the state’s first private multi-purpose Special Economic Zone(SEZ) at Nandagudi at Hoskote about 55 kms fromBangalore.

The Cabinet has decided to allow a Mumbai-based infrastructure company to purchase 12,350 acres of land for the SEZ that will house not only business houses, but also housing and leisure activities.

The proposed multi-purpose SEZ, to be set up at whopping Rs 150 billion by SKIL Infrastructure Limited, will be the first in Karnataka, where the promoter has to purchase land directly from the farmers after negotiating with them.

“The Government is not going to do land acquisition ormake any promises for water and power supply to them.They have to make their own arrangements. We are, however, willing to sell about 4,000 acres ofGovernment land to them at market rates”, said Karantaka’s Primary and Secondary Education MinisterBasavaraj Horatti while briefing reporters about theCabinet decision.

The SEZ is coming up on a total of 12,350 acres ofland at Nandigudi, which is about 30 kms away from the upcoming international airport at Devanahalli and about 55 kms from Bangalore.

Horatti said the private entrepreneur setting up theSEZ at Nandigudi will now have to take the project toNew Delhi for all the clearances from the Federal Government. “Karnataka Government will however give ano-objection to it”, Horatti said.

Karnataka to set up Madrasa Board

The JD (S)-BJP coalition in Karnataka has decided to set up a Madrasa Board to evolve a uniformcurriculum and improve the standard of education inthe madrasas of the State.

Karnataka’s Minister for Primary and SecondaryEducation Basavaraj Horatti told reporters that theState Cabinet had decided to constitute a MadrasaBoard as there was no specified curriculum for theestimated 35,000 students studying across 320 madrasasin the State.

“With a view to ensuring uniformity in the curriculumand bringing the education in these centres to themainstream, the Cabinet has decided to set up aMadrasa Board”, he said.

Besides, Horatti said, the Government has also decidedto increase the number of madrasas securing financialaid from the Government. Presently, there are only 103madrasas that secure Government aid. “We wish toprovide aid to the remaining madrasas also”, he said.

Sivaji released in Bangalore amid tight security

Tamil superstar Rajnikant’s Sivaji hit the silver screen in Bangalore on Friday amid tight police security in the wake of the pro-Kannada outfits to threat to disrupt the screenings.

Thousands of people thronged outside all the ten theatres and three multiplexes in Bangalore that were screening the Tamil movie, which had generated unprecedented frenzy among Rajnikant’s fans here.

Crowds came to the theatres in mammoth processions and burst crackers before entering the theatres. A few fans clambered atop the cut-outs of Rajnikant and performed puja. Blackmarketeers were found doing a roaring business as most theatres displayed a “House-full” board.

Scores of police personnel were stationed outside the theatres and the cine-goers were let in only after a careful frisking. “We have provided adequate security at all the theatres screening the movie. No untoward incident has been reported so far”, Additional Commissioner of Bangalore City Police (Law and Order) Bipin Gopalakrishna told reporters.

However, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, which has opposed the screening of the Tamil movie in the State, has issued a 24-hour deadline for the theatres to withdraw Sivaji and replace it with a Kannada movie.

Vedike activists led by their President Narayana Gowda staged a demonstration in front of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce in Bangalore yesterday to protest against the screening of the Tamil movie without observing the seven-week moratorium on release of non-Kannada movies.

Narayana Gowda said the collection at theatres screening Kannada films in Bangalore had hit rock bottom on account of Sivaji’s simultaneous release in Bangalore. “It is a major blow to the Kannada film industry”, he said and gave the theatres screening Sivaji to replace the Tamil movie with a Kannada film within the next 24 hours. “Or else, they will have to face the consequences”, the Vedike leader warned.

Meanwhile, Secretary of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce Thomas D Souza said there has been no breach of rules in the screening of Sivaji in Bangalore and elsewhere in Karnataka.

Out of the estimated 1,200 film theatres in Karnataka, Sivaji has been released in only 13 theatres in Bangalore and four in the rest of the State. The release of Sivaji has been in keeping with the restrictions on release of non-Kannada movies in Karnataka to safeguard the Kannada film industry, Thomas D Souza said.

The sizeable Tamil speaking population in Bangalore is visibly excited over the release of Sivaji, featuring Tamil superstar Rajnikant, who incidentally was born and brought up in Bangalore.

The film star was born in Bangalore as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad and grew up to become a bus conductor before he started his film career in a Kannada film Muni Thayi. Later, he shifted to Tamil movies.

Karnataka to teach “life skills” instead of sex education

Instead of imparting sex education as suggested by the Federal Ministry of Human Resource Development, Karnataka will teach “life skills education” to students in its high schools from the current academic year.

Disclosing this to reporters in Bangalore, Karnataka’s Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti said the State Government had decided against introducing sex education in schools following widespread opposition against the move.

The Federal Ministry of Human Resource Development under the Adolescence Education programme had sent a set of study material for implementation of sex education. “After perusing the material, the State Government found the material to be objectionable and not in the interest of the students”, Horatti said.

The tool kit developed by the National Aids Control Organization in collaboration with other organizations contained many obscene charts that were against the cultural ethos. The State Government would shortly write a letter to the Federal Government indicating Karnataka’s decision against introduction of sex education.

Horatti said the Government’s decision was based on a consensus arrived at after holding discussions with various social activists, non-governmental organizations, academic and medical experts.

He said officials of the education department had also met various groups including Students Islamic Organization (SIO) in Bangalore, who had expressed themselves strongly against introduction of sex education.

Instead of sex education, students of high schools in Karnataka will be taught “life skills” that focuses on health care and discipline among children. The introduction of “life skills” was based on a report prepared by National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore.

Kannada activists protest release of Tamil film Sivaji in Bangalore

Notwithstanding the frenzy among Rajnikant’s fans in Bangalore over the release of Tamil film Sivaji across ten theatres and three multiplexes on Friday, scores of pro-Kannada activists staged a demonstration outside the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) premises yesterday opposing the release of the Tamil film in Karnataka.

Activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, who even made a vain bid to lay siege to a theatre that was planning to screen the movie from Friday, accused the management of the film theatres of flouting the guidelines formulated by KFCC that non-Kannada films will be shown in the State only seven weeks after their release elsewhere.

The pro-Kannada activists, who staged a demonstration on Thursday, threatened to attack theatres screening the Tamil movie on Friday itself without observing the seven-week moratorium.

But, distributor of the film in Karnataka H D Gangaraju said the seven week moratorium imposed by the KFCC had been struck down by the Supreme Court. Gangaraju, who was incidentally the President of the KFCC when controversial moratorium was formulated, said the Apex Court had removed such restrictions.

Later, the KFCC, in the interest of Kannada film industry, had facilitated an informal agreement between distributors, theatre owners and Kannada film industry representatives that non-Kannada films should be allowed in a maximum of ten theatres and three multiplexes. “Hence, Sivaji will be released in no more than ten theatres and three multiplexes on Friday”, Gangaraju told reporters.

Gangaraju also claimed that he had spoken to Karnataka Rakshana Vedike President Narayana Gowda and clarified the matter to him. “They were under the impression that the seven-week moratorium is still in force. I have clarified the matter to them and I hope there will be no hurdles for screening the movie in Bangalore on Friday”, he said.

The Kannada outfits’ confrontationist stance towards Sivaji was on expected lines on account of the Cauvery dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, serpentine queues were found outside the theatres and multiplexes that were planning to screen Sivaji from Friday. Though the film was being released without any publicity after Kannada outfits warned that all publicity about the film should be in Kannada and not in Tamil, large number of Rajnikant fans thronged the theatres for advance booking of the tickets for the show.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Rajnikant Fans Welfare Association has decided to maintain a low profile on the occasion of Sivaji’s release in Bangalore due to the charged atmosphere.

“There will be no procession of cut-outs of Rajnikant this time. We don’t want to hurt anyone by taking out such processions”, Association’s President Chandrakant told reporters.

On the occasion of Rajnikant-starrer Chandramukhi’s release in Bangalore last year, his fans had taken out a massive procession comprising 152 cutouts to mark the completion of the 152 films of the Tamil matinee idol.

Defamation suit filed against Karnataka Chief Justice

An advocate has filed a defamation suit against no less a person than the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, claiming damages worth a whopping Rs 11.1 billion.

In his defamation suit filed in the City Civil Court, advocate Keshavan V Challam alleged that the Chief Justice, at a function in Chickmagalur during October last year, had held the advocates responsible for corruption in judiciary.

Alleging that the remarks made by the Chief Justice were “defamatory in nature and lowered the image of advocates”, Challam has sought a ruling from the court for payment of damages.

Interestingly, the defamation suit against the Chief Justice has been classified as “Pauper Miscellaneous”, which exempts the petitioner from depositing ten per cent of the amount claimed as damages. But, the provision of Pauper Miscellaneous is available to indigent petitioners, who can’t afford the court fee.

The registry of the court has already raised an objection by questioning how a practicing advocate can be a pauper. But, the magistrate will have to take a decision on whether the petitioner is indigent or not.

Meanwhile, advocates in Karnataka have been up in arms against the Chief Justice ever since he made the controversial remarks at a function in Chickamagalur on October 10. The issue had been taken up by the Karnataka State Bar Council, which, as a mark of protest, decided that no advocate would take part in any function attended by the Chief Justice.

However, the resolution was withdrawn after Justice Cyriac Joseph sought to mend the fences by clarifying the matter and claiming that he did not mean to offend the advocates. But, the resolution was brought back into force after the Chief Justice, while participating at a function in Mysore during February this year, remarked that advocates with criminal background were elected to the Bar Council and Advocates’ Associations.

Kannada outfits bare fangs over Tamil film Sivaji’s release in Bangalore

Tamil superstar Rajnikant’s latest film Sivaji, which has generated unprecedented interest all over South India, has run into rough weather ahead of its scheduled release in Bangalore with Kannada outfits threatening to sabotage the screening of the movie if Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce’s restrictions on release of non-Kannada films are flouted.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike’s President Narayana Gowda told reporters that pro- Kannada activists would lay siege to theatres screening Tamil film Sivaji and seize the prints if the film is released in more than four theatres as stipulated by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce.

With the distributor of the film in Karnataka H D Gangaraju announcing that the film will be released in three multiplexes in Bangalore apart from four stand-alone theatres, the stage appears set for a confrontation between the theatres screening the movie and the agitated Vedike activists.

“We will allow the film to be screened in only four theatres across Karnataka. Also, the film posters and the publicity material should be in Kannada and not in Tamil”, Narayana Gowda said.

The Kannada outfits’ confrontationist stance towards Sivaji was on expected lines not only on account of the Cauvery dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, but also on account of Rajnikant’s position on the Cauvery dispute and the reported portrayal of Kannada personalities in poor light by the film’s director Shankar in his earlier films.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Rajnikant Fans Welfare Association has decided to maintain a low profile on the occasion of Sivaji’s release in Bangalore due to the charged atmosphere.

“There will be no procession of cut-outs of Rajnikant this time. We don’t want to hurt anyone by taking out such processions”, Association’s President Chandrakant told reporters.

On the occasion of Rajnikant-starrer Chandramukhi’s release in Bangalore last year, his fans had taken out a massive procession comprising 152 cutouts to mark the completion of the 152 films of the Tamil matinee idol.

Meanwhile, theatres that are likely to screen Sivaji are swamped by demands from crazy fans for advance booking of the movie tickets. With each fans association entitled to 25 tickets, a total of 43 Rajnikant Fans Associations have reportedly been registered in Bangalore during the last one week.

All 300 Karnataka legislators to go on foreign junkets

All the 300 legislators of Karnataka belonging to both Houses of the State Legislature will be going on foreign jaunts to different parts of Europe and China in four different batches shortly.

Disclosing this reporters, Karnataka Assembly Speaker Krishna said all the 225 MLAs and 75 MLCs will be part of four delegations constituted by the Government to visit parts of Europe and China to study the development models in those countries.

“We want the legislators to study the development modules adopted by China and countries in Europe so that they can be replicated here. I realized this after my recent visit to China”, Krishna said.

Claiming that his recent visit to China was “inspirational”, Krishna said the development projects in China were taking shape fast with the Government relaxing rules and regulations to facilitate development.

Each batch of legislators, comprising about 60 to 65, accompanied by an IAS officer and officials from the Secretariat will go abroad for about two weeks.

With the first batch comprising JD (S) legislators scheduled to leave for China and Hong Kong on June 18, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy called on Speaker Krishna on Tuesday seeking the postponement of the legislature session scheduled to start on June 22. The 30-day legislature session will now begin on July 2.

The remaining three batches of legislators will have to wait for the legislature session to conclude to begin their foreign jaunts in August.

Though Kumaraswamy was scheduled to lead the delegation of JD (S) legislators to China and Hong Kong, he told reporters that he had decided against proceeding on the foreign jaunt in view of the drought situation gripping the State and the continuing suicides of farmers.

“I am not going on the foreign tour though I have been asked even by the Indian Government to visit China. I went on a foreign tour only twice after I became the Chief Minister, that too for attracting foreign investment to the State”, Kumaraswamy said.

However, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will lead a batch of BJP legislators to Europe.

According to officials in Government Secretariat, the Government will be incurring an expenditure of at least Rs 200,000 per person on the foreign junket.

Gowda assures to transfer power to BJP

Former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda has sought to end the speculation over continuation of H D Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister even after his term ends by assuring to transfer power to BJP during October this year as per the deal under which the JD (S)-BJP coalition Government was formed.

“If the harmonious relationship between the coalition partners continues and the BJP remains committed to the common minimum programme, power will be transferred after four more months. Let there no apprehension on that score”, Gowda told reporters in Bangalore yesterday.

Gowda’s statement comes in the midst of demands by JD (S) Ministers including Iqbal Ansari, who holds the Labour portfolio, for continuation of Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister even after his 20-month-term ends.

When Gowda was asked to react to Kumaraswamy’s decision to quit as Chief Minister even before his term ends if the suicide-spree of farmers in the State did not end, the former Prime Minister said resignation from the post of Chief Minister was not a solution to the farmers’ suicides. “A solution should be found to end the farmers’ suicides in the State. But, bowing out of office is not the solution”, he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP has taken serious exception to Iqbal Ansari’s statements on an extended tenure for Kumaraswamy at the helm with the “support of about 30 BJP MLAs”.

A meeting of BJP legislators convened by Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who is scheduled to don the mantle of Chief Minister in October, came down heavily on Ansari for the “misinformation” campaign he was carrying on. BJP leaders not only clarified that there was no threat of a split in the BJP, they also demanded Ansari’s resignation from the Government. “He should either abide by the spirit of the coalition or resign from the Government”, a BJP leader said.

Ansari later told reporters that he had sent a letter to Deve Gowda clarifying that he had never criticized the BJP leaders in his public statements.

Railways plans bullet trains from Bangalore

The Indian Railways has proposed to introduce bullet trains from Bangalore to four different destinations.

Railway Board Chairperson J B Batra held a meeting with Karnataka Chief Secretary P B Mahishi in Bangalore on Saturday and discussed with him the feasibility of operating bullet trains from Bangalore to Chennai, Mysore, Kochi and Hubli.

Bullet trains that run at minimum speed of 250 kms per hour and a maximum speed of 400 kms per hour can substantially reduce the travel time between Bangalore and the chosen destinations.

Batra told reporters that the existing infrastructure was not fit to run bullet trains. A separate speed corridor has to be developed under a public-private participation scheme for introduction of bullet trains. The public-private enterprise can even consider floating equities, Batra added.

Though the introduction of bullet trains was still in at the discussion stage, Mahishi had agreed to extend all support to Railways’ proposal.

Railway officials said the ambitious project, which already been approved in the Railway Budget, requires not only dedicated railway tracks, but also specialist trains. The high-end service of the Indian Railways is expected to cost a whopping Rs 20 to 30 million for every kilometer of the track that is likely to deploy magnetic levitation technology to achieve high speeds.

Travel by the proposed bullet train, which is expected to bring down the journey time between Bangalore and Chennai from the existing seven hours down to just one hour, will cost as much as air-fare, said railway officials.

Kumaraswamy invites Kalam to settle down in Bangalore

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has invited President A P J Abdul Kalam to settle down in Bangalore after he demits office next.

Kumaraswamy told reporters that he made the offer to the President during his visit to the Master Control Facility (MCF) of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) at Hassan in Karnataka on Friday to dedicate the INSAT-4B to the nation.

The President, whose term at the Raisina Hills ends on July 24, is reported to have thanked Kumaraswamy for the offer and assured to consider the same. “Though he did not commit himself, he promised to consider the offer”, Kumaraswamy said.

The Karnataka Chief Minister made the offer to Abdul Kalam during one-to-one talk on the sidelines of the function at MCF. During the brief exchange of words, the President appreciated Kumaraswamy village stays and suggested that he interact with students during the village stays.

It may be mentioned here that Abdul Kalam, before assuming the President’s mantle five years ago, had expressed his desire to settle down in Bangalore and continue his research work at Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

Kumaraswamy’s offer to the President also comes at a time when there are reports that Bangalore-headquartered ISRO was planning to offer a top position at its Indian Institute of Space Technology (IIST) coming up at Trivandrum in neighbouring Kerala.

Meanwhile, Abdul Kalam was accorded a warm farewell at Bangalore airport on Friday after what was billed as his last official visit to the State as the President of India. Children from a host of schools in Bangalore greeted him with a banner that read “With love from the children of Karnataka”. He interacted with the children for a brief while before returning to New Delhi.

Also, on behalf of the people of Karnataka, Deccan Herald, an English daily, took the initiative to bid farewell to the President and conveyed the people’s wishes with bouquets and words of love and thankfulness. The newspaper’s chairman and editor K N Tilak Kumar pointed out that Kalam had captured the imagination of Karnataka and enjoyed unbridled love of the children in the State.

Dog bite claims another life in Bangalore

Karnataka’s Health Minister R Ashok came under fire after another boy died due to dog bit in Bangalore on Friday, taking the total number of children succumbing to the canine menace in the City to three in the last six months.

Three-and-a-half-year-old Ajay, son of a driver and a maid servant, was playing in front of his house in Kamalanagar in Bangalore on Monday when was bitten all over the body by a rabid dog. The parents, who realized that the child had been bitten by a dog only after they returned home in the evening, took him to the Vani Vilas Hospital for treatment.

Though he was given three doses of anti-rabies vaccine, he had begun frothing from the mouth on Thursday following which the child was rushed to Epidemic Isolation Hospital. The boy breathed his last on Friday after the virus spread to his central nervous system. The doctors at the Epidemic Isolation Hospital said it was too late by the time the child was brought to them. “What could have saved him is a five-dose regime as three doses are simply inadequate to fight the infection”, a doctor said.

Ajay’s death has triggerred a protest against the Government authorities for the continued neglect of dog menace in Bangalore, which is reaching threatening proportions.

Scores of Congress activists gathered outside Kumarakrupa Guest House in Bangalore on Saturday seeking Health Minister R Ashok’s resignation. Holding aloft banners and shouting slogans, the demonstrators urged Ashok to resign from his post owning moral responsibility for the Government’s failure to arrest the dog menace in Bangalore, which has so far claimed the life of three children.

Abdul Kalam visualizes human habitat on Mars in 50 to 75 years

President A P J Abdul Kalam has visualized human habitat on Mars and an industrial complex on the Moon in the next 50 to 75 years.

Speaking after dedicating communication satellite INSAT-4B to the nation at the Master Control Facility at Hassan, about 200 kms from here, Kalam, who is also a rocket scientist, said the increasing world population and associated problems in resources call for an “out of the box and path breaking solutions”.

“Don’t, we have to look at an alternate habitat for human beings? Is it not the responsibility we, the living human beings of planet earth, to look at alternate habitat”, Kalam said before suggesting studies for creation of an alternate habitat in Mars as a “fail safe” mechanism for the problems on earth.

He also cited a number of examples for the potential danger to life on earth. “There are potential dangers of impact by asteroids on this planet. Even our living star, the Sun, has definite life. Added to this, there is now the ever-present danger of nuclear conflict between nations”, Kalam said.

Calling for sustaining the spirit for deep space exploration by building up space infrastructure leading to space industrialization, Kalam said future space missions would include bringing minerals and other special materials from Moon, Asteroids and Mars. “Such missions would also enable building of infrastructure for solar power generation, building industrial complexes on the Moon and initiating human habitat on Mars”, he said.

Kalam said there were more than 800 active satellites in various orbits around the earth. “The geo-synchronous orbit is almost full with 240 satellites from many nations”, he said. The growing satellite population includes a number of military satellites for communication and reconnaissance.

Kalam also emphasized the need for all space faring nations to work together to develop re-usable satellite launch vehicles, which can bring down the cost of launch from the present US $ 20,000 per kg to US $ 200 per kg.

Earlier, Kalam dedicated to the nation INSAT – 4B, which had been successfully launched from Kourou in French Guyana by Ariane-5 spacecraft of the European Space Agency on March 12 this year.

The satellite developed by ISRO has 24 transponders aimed at augmenting the communication services, particularly to provide Direct To Home (DTH) services for 150 digital television channels.

On the occasion, Kalam gave away the ISRO awards to meritorious scientists from different centres of ISRO. He also interacted with 472 chosen students at Kala Bhavan in Hassan.

Earlier, the President arrived in Bangalore by a special flight from New Delhi. Governor T N Chaturvedi received him. Later, he proceeded by helicopter to Master Control Facility in Hassan, where Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda received him.

Mysore Lamps to be switched off !

The 71-year-old Mysore Lamps company in Bangalore, which once illuminated the famed Taj Mahal in Agra, will be closed down.

Karnataka’s Minister for Industries Katta Subramanya Naidu drew curtains over the company by announcing that the Government had against reviving the sick company, which had accumulated losses amounting to Rs 1.85 billion.

“There is no question of reviving the sick unit. It will be closed down”, he told reporters in Bangalore.

Mysore Lamps located in Yeshwanthpur in Bangalore started operations in 1936 and the Karnataka Government took it over in 1980 when it became a public sector enterprise. Karnataka Government is the largest shareholder in the company with 91 per cent of the shares. Public investment amounted to 6 per cent while another public sector company NGEF held the remaining three percent.

After the company went into the red since 1985, the J H Patel Government referred it to the Board of Financial and Industrial Reconstruction (BIFR) in the late nineties. The BIFR had declared Mysore Lamps as a sick unit.

“We have come to the conclusion that it is not worth reviving the company. The only thing is that the dues have to be settled”, Naidu said. Out of the 1,556 employees working in the company, as many as 1,419 had opted for voluntary retirement. The compensation for the rest of the employees will also be settled soon, he added.

The State Government is planning to develop the 21 acres of land in the heart of the City on which the factory stands into a building providing office accommodation. “We will use it for commercial development. We propose to rake in at least Rs one billion per month from the property. The plan will be finalized after consultation with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy”, Naidu said.

Software firms lobby for two airports in Bangalore

Software companies have made out a case for continuation of civil aviation operations at the existing HAL airport in Bangalore even after the proposed international airport at Devanahalli on the outskirts of the City becomes functional in April next year.

A delegation of chiefs of software companies led President of National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) Kiran Karnik put forward a collective demand in the regard in front of Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy during a breakfast meeting in Bangalore.

With the proposed international airport coming up at Devanahalli, about 35 kms away from Bangalore, the software industry captains urged the Government to spare the air passengers the 35-km drive through traffic-choked roads of Bangalore.

However, according to an agreement between the airport builders’ consortium – Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) – and the Federal Government, civil aviation operations from the existing HAL airport have to cease once the new international airport is in place.

But, the captains of the software industry urged Kumaraswamy to prevail upon the Federal Ministry for Civil Aviations to continue with operation of at least domestic flights from the HAL airport.

“It does not make sense for a person to drive two hours to reach an airport and then take a one-hour flight”, Director of Human Resources at Infosys Mohandas Pai told reporters later. Retaining the HAL airport for short-haul flights will not only ease the pressure of the new airport, but also ensure easy flow of traffic, he said and added that a group of domestic carriers had also endorsed the idea of continuing operations even from the existing airport.

The Chief Minister looked into the proposal, but did not give any assurance to the software industry in the regard.

The existing airport belonging to HAL, a Government undertaking, presently handles over 165 flights a day, including several international flights. More than seven million passengers had used the Bangalore airport during the calendar year 2006, according to HAL authorities.

Tiger attacks shepherd in H D Kote

A tiger attacked a shepherd in Dadadahalli village in Mysore district’s H D Kote taluk on Wednesday.

35-year-old Chikkadasi was mauled by a wild tiger from the Mayalur forest range nearby when he was grazing sheep and cattle in the fields just outside the village. Two others, who were with Chikkadasi, fled when the tiger attacked him, and informed the villagers.

Soon, villagers rushed to the spot with clubs and other weapons. But, the tiger left the spot, leaving behind a badly injured Chikkadasi, who was bleeding from the head, shoulders and hand.

He was shifted to a hospital nearby with the help of the local villagers. The doctors treating the injured shepherd said he was out of danger.

Few takers for air ambulance in Bangalore

Launched with much fan-fare for emergency medical evacuation of patients from remote areas to super speciality hospitals in Bangalore, the air ambulance of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is presently being used to ferry marriage parties and shower petals during functions and ceremonies.

HAL had pressed into service a specially designed Chetak helicopter as an air ambulance for medical evacuation of patients in dire need during October last year. The fully equipped helicopter that had been christened as Vayu Vahan was Bangalore’s first air ambulance.

But, the air ambulance has very few takers. “We are not getting calls. So, we use it for flying wedding parties and showering flowers at functions so that we can at least raise money for maintenance. There is a little profit as well”, chief test pilot and retired wing commander C D Upadhyay told reporters.

Among its few medical sorties is the one that ferried a Japanese woman with a broken spine from Badami in north Karnataka to a private hospital in Bangalore during December last year.

An eighty two year old tourist from Japan had become immobilized after she sufferred a fracture in the lower back-bone while travelling in a bus around 210 kms from Bangalore. The air ambulance had flown her to Wockhardt Hospital in Bangalore for treatment.

With calls for emergency medical evacuation few and far between, the air ambulance is also being used for flying marriage parties. Recently, the air ambulance dropped a bridegroom and the baraatis to Tumkur near here, besides showering petals on VVIP statues and religious functions at different places in Bangalore.

Another aspect posing hurdles for the air ambulance in reaching remote areas for medical evacuation is the absence of co-ordination with local police authorities while landing in areas not designated for landing. “Talented pilots can even land by the roadside. The local police should help us in cordoning off the area. But, this never happens in time”, he regretted.

JD (S) Minister to quit cabinet if power is handed over to BJP

Karnataka’s Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari has threatened to quit the Cabinet if power is transferred to the BJP in October this year.

Ansari, who had put the BJP into a state of turmoil a few days ago by claiming that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will continue in his post even after October, said he would prefer to remain out of the Cabinet if BJP assumes the reins of power in the State.

According to a power-sharing agreement between JD (S) and BJP before the coalition assumed power in February 2006, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is scheduled to hand over the baton to the BJP in October this year at the end of his 20 month tenure. But, Ansari, who represents the JD (S), had caused anxiety among the BJP leaders by claiming that power will not be handed over to the coalition partner.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Ansari said he was representing the minorities in the coalition cabinet. “If BJP takes over the reins, I will not prefer to be in the Cabinet”, he said.

However, Ansari said he was a soldier of the JD (S) and would continue to work for the party.

Congress retains Ullal assembly seat in coastal

The ruling JD (S)-BJP coalition has
suffered a major setback in Karnataka with the
Opposition Congress candidate U T Khader emerging
victorious in the keenly fought by-elections to Ullal
assembly constituency.

Announcing the victory of the Congress candidate after
fourteen rounds of counting on Tuesday, Election
Commission officials said Khader had defeated his
nearest BJP rival Chandrashekar Uchil by a margin of
8,032 votes in the by-elections held on Saturday.

While Khader polled 46,721 votes, Chandrashekar Uchil
secured 38,239 votes. JD (S) candidate Abubakr Natekal
polled 6,217 votes and lost his deposit. CPM’s
Balakrishna Shetty and independent candidate J
Balakrishna Shetty, who secured 4,803 and 1,196
respectively, too forfeited their deposits.

Ullal assembly constituency in coastal Karnataka was
considered a Congress bastion in view of a sizeable
number of voters belonging to the Muslim community.
But, the decision of the JD (S) to field a Muslim
candidate had queered the electoral pitch and raised
BJP’s hopes of a victory.

But, Khader proved all calculations wrong when he
defeated the BJP candidate by 8,032 votes during the
counting process, which appeared to be a seesaw battle
till the initial few rounds of counting. Though the
counting process began with BJP candidate leading till
the fifth round, the Congress candidate bounced back
and overtook his rival in the latter rounds of
counting.

The by-elections to Ullal assembly constituency had
been necessitated by the death of Khader’s father U T
Fareed, who had defeated the BJP candidate by a margin
of 6,696 votes during the 2004 polls.

A beaming Khader sought to thank the voters of Ullal
assembly constituency for his victory and promised to
bring welfare programmes that would help the large
number of people below poverty line in the
constituency. “There are many people in Ullal, who
deserve attention, like poor fishermen, displaced
workers, beedi rollers, women and other marginalized
classes”, he said.

Khader also two major challenges in his role as an MLA
of Ullal. “I want to keep Ullal free from communal
tensions and control sea erosion”, he said.

The Congress party has described the outcome of Ullal
by-elections as a “rejection” of communal politics
practiced by the JD (S)-BJP coalition. “The voters
have stood by the secular principles of the Congress
party”, former Chief Minister and Leader of the
Opposition Dharam Singh said.

But, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy refused to attach
much significance to the by-poll results. Seeking to
attribute Khader’s victory to sympathy factor,
Kumaraswamy said Congress party fielded the son of
late MLA U T Farid and rode on the sympathy wave.

To a question, he said there was no threat to the JD
(S)-BJP coalition in the State on account of the Ullal
by-poll results.

Wife stands by BJP MLA facing sexual harassment

The wife of BJP MLA Renukacharya, who is
facing sexual harassment charges from a nurse, has
given an undertaking to the Karnataka State Women’s
Commission that her husband is innocent.

Defending her husband, who has been charged with
sexual harassment and criminal intimidation,
Renukacharya’s wife Suma deposed before the Karnataka
State Women’s Commission Chairperson Pramila Nesargi
in Bangalore and accused nurse Jayalakshmi of
harassing her husband and damaging the reputation of
her family.

An emotionally charged Suma told the Commission that
Jayalakshmi was a “vampire”, who “exploits and cheats
men”. “My husband is innocent. Any other person in my
husband’s place would not have been able to survive
the ordeal. I have full faith in my husband. He is a
kind-hearted person and a good father to my children”,
Suma told the Commission.

Suma recalled that she had herself introduced her
husband to the Jayalakshmi when she was very poor and
working as a nurse in Honnali. “But, she exploited him
and later tarnished his reputation. She took financial
help from him and later blackmailed him”, Suma said.

Accusing Jayalakshmi of being promiscuous, Suma cited
the case of another person Ramesh, a resident of
Bellary. “Ramesh’s wife had called me and said she had
gone through a similar nightmare”.

When she was queried about the intimate photographs of
Jayalakshmi and Renukacharya, Suma said she does not
know anything about them. “But, my husband is a good
man. I hope I get him as my husband for all the seven
lives”, she said.

Suma also gave a written undertaking to the Commission
to initiate stern action against Jayalakshmi for
“tormenting” her husband and her family.

Though the Commission had also summoned Jayalakshmi,
she failed to turn up. Chairperson of the Commission
issued fresh summons asking Jayalakshmi and others to
be present on June 11.

Kumaraswamy hints at quitting before his term ends in October

Amidst the uncertainty over transfer of power from JD (S) to BJP in Karnataka, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said he might quit his post much before the completion of his 20-month term in October.

“I will resign before October if the farmers’ suicides in the state continue”, Kumaraswamy said while addressing a public meeting at Tumkur near here. “I am not reacting casually to the increasing instances of farmers’ suicides. I am serious about the matter”, said the Chief Minister.

Kumaraswamy’s statement came hours after a 46-year-old coconut grower in Nellikere village of Tumkur district was found hanging from the ceiling of his house on Saturday night, adding to the growing tally of farmers ending their lives in Karnataka unable to clear their debts.

The Chief Minister, however, blamed the Congress party for the pathetic condition of farmers in the State. “The Congress party, which ruled the State for more than 40 years, had left everyone helpless. Even as a Chief Minister, I am helpless in solving many problems faced by the farmers. Congress leaders want me to deliver in 15 months what they failed in 40 years”, he said.

The spate of farmers’ suicides reflected poorly on the governance, he said and added that his Government’s decision to waive agricultural loans had not helped the farmers substantially. “I do not want to stick to the Chief Minister’s post as I did not assume it by your mandate, but by circumstances. I desire to be the Chief Minister by winning people’s mandate”, he added.
Kumaraswamy said the exorbitant rate of interest charged by private money-lenders, particularly in rural areas, has made the lives of farmers miserable. Several farmers including the 46-year-old coconut grower Keshavamurthy had ended their lives unable to withstand the pressure from banks and money-lenders

More than 53,000 messages sent through e-post in Karnataka

More than 53,000 messages have been sent from Karnataka to different parts of the country through e-post, a unique facility introduced by Department of Posts to help people send and receive e-mails even without access to computer and Internet.

Since e-post service was introduced in Karnataka on January 30, 2004, a total of 53,009 messages have been handled by Karnataka postal circle till April 30, 2007, bringing in revenues to the tune of Rs 534,440.

Post Master General of Karnataka Postal Circle Meera Datta said e-post helps people without access to computer and Internet to send and receive e-mails. “Neither the sender nor the receiver needs to have access to computer and Internet to send e-mails by e-post”, she said.

Under e-post, printed or even hand-written messages of customers are scanned and sent to the destination post office, where the message is printed and delivered to the addressee, enclosed in an e-post cover.

Meera Datta has described the response to e-post as “encouraging”. “It bridges the digital divide”, she said.

There are a total of 27 designated e-post centers in Karnataka, which are equipped with computers, Internet and scanners to receive and e-posts. The customers are charged Rs 10 per page of A-4 size. E-post messages can be sent to any postal address in India or e-mail address anywhere in the world.

E-post service is not limited to the designated e-post centers. All post offices accept the message and send it to the nearest e-post center for onward transmission. Messages that are received at e-post centers for areas beyond their delivery jurisdiction are printed and sent to the concerned post offices for delivery.

With a view to further popularize e-post service among the rural populace, Karnataka Postal Circle has printed pamphlets detailing the products in Kannada for distribution among people in rural parts of the State, Ms Datta said.

Arrest warrant against BJP MLA Renukacharya

A city court has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against BJP MLA Renukacharya, who is accused of harassing nurse Jayalakshmi.

The fifth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Bangalore issued the warrant after the police filed the charge-sheet against the BJP legislator for threatening nurse Jayalakshmi.

According to the charge-sheet, the MLA had threatened to release Jayalakshmi’s nude photographs to the media and the college, where she works, if she did not stop issuing statements against him. The MLA had claimed that he had at least 500 pictures of the nurse in a compromising position.

Noting that the acts of the MLA were punishable under section 506 of Indian Penal Code, the judge issued a non-bailable warrant and ordered the police to arrest him before June 25.

According to police, the BJP MLA has a total of 16 criminal cases registered against him in Honnali and one in Shimoga.

The public spat between 36-year-old nurse Jayalakshmi and the married BJP MLA came to light after she gave a statement to a television channel that the MLA was sexually harassing her and had threatened her with dire circumstances. Later, she attempted a suicide for which a case has been registered against her.

The nurse, who later obtained bail from the court with regard to her attempted suicide, gave a dramatic twist to the episode by releasing photographs in which the MLA was shown kissing her.

By-polls to Ullal assembly constituency in Karnataka held

A voter turnout of 60.14 per cent was reported during the polling for Ullal assembly constituency in Karnataka, where by-elections were held on account of the demise of Congress MLA U T Farid.

Though polling remained by and large peaceful yesterday, malfunctioning of electronic voting machines and missing of names from the electoral list were reported from several parts of the constituency, which lies on the outskirts of Mangalore.

Congress candidate and Farid’s son U T Khader is locked in a triangular contest with BJP’s Chandrashekar Uchil and JD (S) nominee Abubakr Natekal.

Though the constituency is considered to be a pocket-borough of the Congress, which has won the seat on seven out of eight occasions, the decision of the JD (S) to field a candidate from the Muslim community has instilled hope in the BJP, which is banking on a split in the Congress party’s vote-bank.

But, the Congress party has remained confident on the grounds that Muslim voters will not waste their vote on JD (S), which has tied up with the BJP to form a coalition Government in Karnataka.

Polling began on a brisk note on Saturday with people standing in queues outside the 140 booths, braving a mild drizzle in some parts of the constituency. Ullal assembly constituency has a total of 160,862 voters, spread across both urban and rural parts.

People cast their votes under heavy deployment of security forces in the constituency, where as many as 58 booths had been identified as hypersensitive and 70 as sensitive.

Police said two persons were arrested for trying to distribute cash among voters with a view to influencing their voting. “We have received Rs 62,000 cash and a car from them”, police said.

BJP workers accused Congress candidate U T Khader of violating the poll code of conduct by speaking on the mobile phone inside a booth in Ullal town. A minor altercation took place between Khader’s supporters and BJP workers, but the police managed to control the situation and prevent it from going out of hand.

The counting of votes in the elections held yesterday will take place on June 5. The results are expected to be declared within a few hours after counting starts at 8 am as the electronic voting machines had been used for the polling.

Kids begin learning English in Karnataka amid protests by Kannada activists

More than 3.5 million students in an estimated 55,000 Government-run primary schools across Karnataka began learning English at the primary school level yesterday amid growing protests by pro-Kannada outfits.

The academic year began on Friday for the children with their first-ever experience of learning to speak and write English with the Government enforcing its decision to introduce English as language from Standard I.

Hitherto, students of Government run schools had to wait till they reached Standard V to learn English.

Notwithstanding the opposition from pro-Kannada outfits including the State’s leading literary body Kannada Sahitya Parishat, the State Government took a firm stand on introduction of English as a language from Standard I after prolonged deliberations with language experts and various literary and social organizations. The issue was also discussed in the State Legislature and both the houses had approved the proposal.

Secretary to Department of Education, Government of Karnataka, T M Vijaybhaskar told reporters that research had revealed that most of the kids, even before they join school, were familiar with nearly 200 English words that formed part of their daily lingo including words like “bus”, “road” and “car”.

“Using this information, we have designed text books that build on their current vocabulary”, Vijaybhaskar added. A total of 3.5 million text books were being printed. “We have already dispatched the text books for Standard I and III. Text books for Standard II and IV are in various stages of being dispatched. All the students will receive their text books by June 15”, he said.

The text books are “colourful, lively and pictorial” and are aimed at making learning of English an enjoyable process rather than a rudimentary task, he said.

Meanwhile, a host of Kannada litterateurs led by President of Kannada Sahitya Parishat Chandrashekar Patil began a protest demonstration in Bangalore yesterday. Noted poet G S Shivarudrappa and K S Nissar Ahmed were among the protestors, who had gathered in the Kannada Sahitya Parishat premises to oppose the “unscientific” move of the Government to teach English to children studying Government primary schools.

However, several Dalit organizations took out a counter-rally in Bangalore welcoming the Government move to teach English to students of Government primary schools from Standard I. The Dalit organizations even took out a mock funeral procession of Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Chandrashekar Patil to condemn his rigid stance on the issue.

High Court admits plea against offensive Gandhi video

The Karnataka High Court has admitted a Public Interest Litigation Digital Society Foundation against Youtube.com, a video-sharing Internet website, for web-casting a controversial video that denigrates Mahatma Gandhi.

Admitting the petition filed by cyber law consultant N Vijayshankar and businessman Sathyachethan, representing Bangalore-based Digital Society Foundation, a division bench of Karnataka High Court headed by Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph has ordered issue of notices to Federal Ministry of Information Technology and Internet Service Providers’ Association, besides You Tube Inc.

The petitioners have also sought action against the US-based comedian of Indian origin Gautam Prasad for publication of the offensive video clip. They claimed that the video clipping depicts Mahatma Gandhi as a cartoon figure and also indulging in lewd striptease dance.

The petitioners have urged the court to initiate action that leads to blocking of the despicable video by issuing necessary directions to the Internet Service Providers Association. The court has been urged to establish a system that stops such illegal hosting of contents, which are offensive to Indian culture and ethos.

It may be recalled here that the controversial video had triggerred widespread outrage across the country earlier this year with the Federal Ministry for Information and Broadcasting threatening action against the controversial video-sharing website.

However, the video has remained on the website albeit with a caution to viewers not to watch if they feel offended.

Mango trees planted by Tipu still bear fruit

Mangoes from three surviving trees planted by warrior king Tipu Sultan more than 225 years ago in the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens in Bangalore are still bearing fruit.

Displaying the mangoes in Bangalore, Karnataka’s Additional Director (Fruits), Horticulture Department, S V Hittalamani said the mangoes, which have come to acquire a heritage value, would not be available for sale. But, the general public visiting the annual Mango Mela, which starts from June 1 at Botanical Gardens, can taste the mangoes from these trees.

Out of the four trees planted by Tipu Sultan in Lalbagh, three have stood the test of time. “The more than 225-year-old mango trees still bear fruit, putting to shame many younger ones in the garden. Each tree yields over two tonnes of mangoes every year”, Hittalamani told reporters.

But, the mangoes, which have a royal past, are not for sale. “No price can match its taste and quality”, he said.

Though there is no scientific name for the species of mango trees planted by Tipu Sultan, who had a taste for greenery and acquired a huge collection of plant species from France, China and Turkey, Hittalamani said the mangoes from trees planted by erstwhile ruler had a distinguishable yellow colour and a taste of light cumin (jeera ).

Though one of four trees planted by Tipu Sultan succumbed to pests and termites and collapsed a few years ago, Hittalamani is confident that the remaining three trees will live for another 25 to 30 years. “They will continue to produce sweet and juicy mangoes even for the next generation to enjoy”, he added.

Superintendent of Lalbagh Botanical Gardens Krishnam Raju said the officials and the staff of Horticulture Department in Lalbagh have an emotional bond with the trees planted by Tipu Sultan and the fruits they bear.

“These trees might have been brought here from Arcot during Tipu’s regime”, Krishnam Raju said.

CBI names Health Varsity VC prime accused in entrance test malpractice

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named the Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences P S Prabhakaran as the prime accused in the malpractices reported during the Post Graduate Entrance Test conducted by the University during 2006.

The First Information Report (FIR) filed by the CBI in the designated City and Civil Sessions court in Bangalore has named a total of 30 persons as the accused in the leakage of question papers of the entrance test, spoon feeding of key answers and manipulating of ranks allotted to students.

While Prabhakaran has been named as the first accused, the University’s former Registrar V I Hukkeri has been named as the second accused. The list of accused included six officials from the University. The remaining accused are students, who had secured high ranks in the post-graduate entrance examination.

The 100-page FIR filed by the CBI has charged the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for cheating, hatching a conspiracy, besides indulging in corruption.

However, Karnataka’s Medical Education Minister V S Acharya said the Government could not take action unless the CBI files a charge-sheet against the accused. “We cannot take action unless a charge-sheet is filed against the accused”. When asked by reporters whether the Government will ask Prabhakaran to resign from the post in the wake of the development, Acharya said, “He has been claiming that he is innocent. How can we take action until he is proven guilty?”

Prabhakaran said he had received no communication from the CBI on the FIR. “My conscience is clear. I am not involved, so why quit? “I have not received any orders from anyone on the probe. But, even if I do, I am confident that I will come out clean”, he told reporters.