Governor flags off Dasara procession in Mysore

For the first time in recent memory, Governor Rameshwar Thakur flagged off the famous Dasara procession in Mysore, a prerogative normally reserved for the Chief Minister of the State.

Thakur had to do the honours in the wake of the collapse of the JD (S)-BJP Government had imposition of Federal rule in Karnataka.

The Dasara procession, which marks the culmination of the ten-day cultural festival, featured twelve caparisoned elephants including a majestic elephant Balarama carrying the 750-kg golden howdah, besides 28 tableaux and 80 cultural troupes that sought to project the state’s culture and traditions.

Thousands of people, including foreigners, thronged the 3-km route beginning from the Mysore Palace to the Bannimantap Grounds. Crowds of people were not only lined on either side of the road, but were also seen perched on branches of trees and advertisement hoardings to catch a glimpse of the procession.

Police said five persons were injured when the branch of the tree on which they were seated collapsed just outside the Mysore Palace. Nearby, an advertisement hoarding came crashing down, injuring three others.

However, police had made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order for the event, which had attracted an estimated 400,000 people.

A vintage car rally featuring a fleet of 45 cars, including the ones owned by the erstwhile Maharajas in different parts of the country, was one of the highlight of this year’s Dasara procession.

During the ten-day-long Dasara festival, which has been celebrated in Mysore with traditional pomp and gaiety since decades, the City comes alive with the illumination of the Mysore Palace and a myriad variety of cultural and recreational events.

Apart from the classical music concerts held in the Durbar Hall of Mysore Palace, which regaled the connoisseurs of music, the administration had also organized dance and music concerts by leading personalities like Hema Malini, the “dream girl” of yesteryears and singers Usha Uthup and Sonu Nigam.

Curtains came down on the Dasara festival with an impressive torch light parade and scintillating fireworks at Bannimantap grounds.

Power consumption goes up in Karnataka due to dry weather

The prevailing dry weather has triggerred a shocking increase in power consumption in Karnataka during the last one month, forcing the authorities to resort to load shedding in rural areas.

According to officials at the Load dispatch Centre, which monitors power supply situation in Karnataka, the power consumption in the State had touched almost 120 million units on October 14 compared to around 81 million units on September 14, registering a rise of 50 per cent in one month.

The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) has attributed the steep rise in power consumption to the absence of rain. The prolonged dry spell had resulted in excess usage of irrigation pumpsets in rural areas to pump groundwater to protect standing crops. Also, in cities, the use of fans and air-conditioners had increased due to the dry weather, officials said.

However, the sudden increase in power consumption has put Karnataka in a tight spot as the state was facing a shortage of 200 to 250 mega watts of power during peak hours.

Complicating the situation for Karnataka is the even greater shortage neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are facing. While power consumption in Tamil Nadu had touched 171 million units, Andhra Pradesh is facing a crunch on account of the consumption reaching 172 million units.

The shortage of power availability in the dry weather has resulted in overdrawal from the Central power generating stations by all the southern states, except Kerala.

With overdrawal of power bringing pressure on the central power generating stations, the southern states including Karnataka have been directed to resort to load-shedding, which has now hit the rural areas of the state hard.

Woman “raped” in police custody

The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission has stumbled upon an instance of a married woman being allegedly raped by a cop in the police station.

Taking serious note of the crime, Commission’s Chairperson S R Nayak has written a letter to the City Police Commissioner N Achuta Rao recommending registration of a criminal complaint against the accused police constable.

The incident has come to light after the victim, who is now an undertrial prisoner at the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail, complained to the Commission.

Addressing a press conference, Nayak accused the police of detaining the victim and her husband illegally for about week at the Koramangala police station before the alleged sexual assault on her by the police constable.

“Though an accused cannot be detained for more than 24 hours in police custody, the police had kept the couple in the police station for a week. According to rules, an accused has to be produced before a judicial magistrate within 24 hours of the arrest”, Nayak said.

The Commission, which has recorded the statement of the victim, found no record of the couple’s detention in the police station. “We visited the police station, where they were lodged and found no records of their arrest of detention”, Nayak said.

During their illegal detention, the cops allegedly tortured the couple. “The accused constable tried to befriend them and even offered them good food at the police station. Later, he separated the husband and wife and allegedly raped the woman in the police station”, Nayak said.

The Commission has even enclosed the statement of the medical officer of Parappana Agrahara Central Jail with the letter addressed to the Bangalore City Police Commissioner, recommending criminal action against the accused police constable.

JD (S) MLAs authorize party leadership on next course of action

The JD (S) Legislature Party meeting has unanimously decided to authorize senior party leaders including former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to chalk out the party’s future course of action in consultation with JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.

A formal decision in the regard was taken at the two-day JD (S) Legislature Party meeting, which concluded at a resort near Bangalore on Tuesday evening.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kumaraswamy said the party legislators had openly expressed their views on the present political situation and steps to be taken in the interest of the party.

JD (S)’ state unit President Merajuddin Patel, senior party leader M P Prakash and Kumaraswamy will convey the collective message of the party legislators to Deve Gowda and a final decision will be taken in the next two days.

Though the party leadership had favoured mid-term elections, Kumaraswamy admitted that a majority of the legislators were against polls at the present juncture.

However, he ruled out the possibility of reviving ties with the BJP in view of the saffron party’s belligerent posture after the JD (S) refused to transfer power earlier this month. “The BJP leaders have been attacking me and the JD (S) day in and day out. How do you expect to talk to the BJP. It is all over”, he said.

Kumaraswamy spoke in the same vein against the Congress party and reiterated his desire to face mid-term polls instead of aligning with either BJP or Congress to form an alternative Government.

He also said the JD (S) had not approached any party to form an alliance. “Neither have we approached them nor have they approached us”, he said.

Law and order will be maintained at Bababudangiri - Governor

Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur has assured to take all steps for maintenance of law and order at the disputed cave shrine of Bababudangiri in Chikmagalur district in Karnataka, where the Sangh Parivat outfits have planned to hold Datta Jayanthi celebrations.

“We will take all steps to ensure that the court’s directions are followed and peace is maintained at Bababudangiri”, Thakur told reporters after a delegation of Congress leaders led by former Minister D B Chandre Gowda met him and submitted a memorandum to ban the controversial Shobha Yatra planned as a precursor to the Datta Jayanthi celebrations.

The Congress delegation sought to bring to the Governor’s notice the efforts being made by the Sangh Parivar outfits to incite communal sentiments by carrying out a campaign for Datta Jayanthi celebrations.

Chandre Gowda told reporters that former Federal Minister and BJP MP Ananthakumar had declared at a recent rally in Chikmagalur that the party will declare Bababudangiri as Datta Peetha if it was voted to power. He added that the party would hold the Datta Jayanthi celebrations in a grand manner this year.

Though Datta Jayanthi is held in December, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists had decided to launch a “Datta Mala Abhiyan” to drum up support for its programme. The Shobha Yatra posed a threat to law and order in Chikmagalur, Chandre Gowda said.

He said the Sangh Parivar was determined to transform the Bababudangiri shrine, a Sufi dargah, that has for centuries been a place of common worship, into a Hindu temple, complete with idols and Brahmin priests.

Panamanian boat in distress rescued by Coast Guard

Coast Guard authorities from Mangalore in coastal Karnataka have rescued a Panama registered motor tug, which was in distress off the Lakshadweep.

The motor tug Energy, proceeding to Singapore with nine crew members on board, was adrift in the seas for almost a week due to a major breakdown in the machinery. The rescue came after the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Mumbai received a message and intimated the Coast Guard authorities in Mangalore.

According to officials, the Coast Guard ship Annie Besant, based in Mangalore was diverted from the Exclusive Economic Zone, to help the tug in distress. The vessel was brought to Mangalore, where it is presently berthed at the New Mangalore Port.

The vessel, which was adrift in the seas since October 7, had exhausted its ration supplies. Also, the adrift vessel was posing a hindrance to the navigation of vessels transiting the busy sea route off Lakshadweep.

Karnataka Governor takes over administration

Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur formally took over the administration of the State by addressing a meeting of top officials of all Government Departments at the State Secretariat Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore yesterday.

Unlike other Governors, who functioned from Raj Bhavan even from the State was brought under federal rule, Thakur will be occupying the office of the Chief Minister situated on the third floor of Vidhana Soudha.

After addressing Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of all Government Departments, besides the Director General of Karnataka Police and the Commissioner of Bangalore City Police yesterday, Thakur said he would be present at the Vidhana Soudha between 10.30 am and 1.30 pm on all working days.

According to officials in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), the Governor prefers to function from the Vidhana Soudha to have a direct feel of the administration.

“Apart from holding meetings with officials of various departments, the Governor will meet the general public on alternate days between 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm at Vidhana Soudha”, according to a statement from the Governor’s Secretariat.

Though Karnataka was brought under federal rule in a decision late on Tuesday and was gazetted on Wednesday, Thakur was unable to hold official meetings on Thursday in view of the state mourning on account of the former Chief Minister S R Bommai’s demise. However, the meeting was held on Friday.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary to DPAR Syed Zamir Pasha told reporters that the Governor would be functioning from the Chief Minister’s office in the Vidhana Soudha.
Karnataka was brought under federal rule on Tuesday after the BJP withdrew its support to the Kumaraswamy-led Government in the wake of JD (S)’ refusal to hand over power to BJP as per a power-sharing agreement between the two parties

Cop stabbed to death by mentally unstable woman

In a bizarre case, a cop on duty in Bangalore bled to death from the stab wounds inflicted on him by a mentally unsound woman.

When the slain cop’s friends and relatives learnt that the accused woman was also the sister of a senior police official, they staged a demonstration in front of the police station protesting against the police for trying to shield the accused by portraying her to be mentally unstable.

D M Madaiah, 47, the head constable of Sampangiram Nagar police station in Bangalore was patrolling the area along with is colleague Prakash on the fateful Tuesday night. When they noticed a woman sitting outside the residence of Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramesh Babu in the area, Madaiah advised her to go inside the house as it was very late in the night.

Suddenly, the woman got up and stabbed Madaiah in the neck with the knife she had with her. His colleague Prakash, who was taken aback by the woman’s attack, tried to restrain her and found blood oozing from the cuts she had already inflicted on her hands.

Immediately, Prakash flashed a message to the mobile patrol vehicle, which rushed a seriously injured Madaiah to a private hospital, where he was declared “brought dead”.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested the woman, who has been identified as Geetha, 45 years, and booked a murder case against her. Though she is married, her husband works abroad. Geetha, who is under psychiatric treatment for the last one year, has been staying with her brother in Sampangiram Nagar.

Police said that psychiatrists treating Geetha have confirmed that she is suffering from “dissociative reaction” and is undergoing treatment for her “impulsive” behaviour. “She has a tendency to cut her wrists and had done the same thing even on the night of the incident”, according Geetha’s psychiatrist M Srinivasa.

However, Madaiah’s relatives accused the Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramesh Babu of shielding her accused sister Geetha by projecting her as a mentally unsound person. Madaiah’s relatives staged a demonstration before the police station demanding the arrest of not only Geetha, but also her brother and Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Bommai passes away

Former Karnataka Chief Minister S R Bommai passed away in Bangalore late on Wednesday evening after prolonged illness.

Bommai, 84, who the Chief Minister of Karnataka for about eight months from August 13, 1988 till his controversial dismissal on April 21, 1989, breathed his last at a private hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for last few weeks.

A veteran politician of Karnataka, Bommai was identified with the famous Janata Parivar quartet along with late Chief Ministers Ramakrishna Hegde and J H Patel, besides former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.

It was the Supreme Court’s verdict on the dismissal of Bommai Government in 1989 that helped redefine the circumstances under which the Governor can dismiss state Governments and impose President’s rule under article 356 of the Constitution.

On April 21, 1989, some Janata Party MLAs withdrew support to Bommai. The then Governor P Venkatasubbaiah dismissed the Bommai Government and recommended federal rule in the State. The recommendation was accepted by the then Federal Government and ratified by the then President K R Narayanan.

However, the Supreme Court declared the dismissal of Bommai Government as unconstitutional and stipulated floor test as the sole yardstick for verifying majority in case of doubt. By the time the Supreme Court passed the order in March 1994, a new Government was in place. But, the verdict, popularly known as Bommai case verdict, serves as a ready-reckoner for Governors.

Meanwhile, several leaders belonging to various political parties visited Bommai’s residence at R T Nagar in Bangalore and paid their last respects to the departed soul. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and former Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa also visited Bommai’s residence.

Bommai’s mortal remains were yesterday taken to his native place in Hubli, where the last rites will be performed with full state honours on Friday.

The veteran Janata Parivar leader, who had played an important role in consolidating anti-Congress forces in Karnataka, leaves behind two daughters and two sons, including JD (United) MLC Basavaraj Bommai.

Congress welcomes President's rule in Karnataka

The Congress party in Karnataka has welcomed the imposition of federal rule in Karnataka.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President M Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters that the imposition of federal rule had freed the state from a “corrupt, selfish and opportunistic alliance”.

Holding the JD (S) and the BJP responsible for the present situation in the State, Kharge hoped that the federal rule would usher in an efficient, honest and transparent administration.

Karnataka came under federal rule after Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government had approved Governor Rameshwar Thakur’s recommendation to the effect. Thakur had sent his recommendation to the federal government late on Monday night after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy submitted his resignation in the wake of withdrawal of support to his Government by the BJP.

Though Karnataka has come under federal rule, its 224-member assembly has been kept alive, giving the Governor an opportunity to explore the possibilities forming a workable government in the near future as the term of the present assembly has 20 more months left.

The BJP has 79 MLAs while the Congress has 66 MLAs and the JD (S) 57 MLAs in the Assembly. Any political formation requires a minimum of 113 members to form a Government in Karnataka.

The sudden arrival of Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in Bangalore has fuelled speculations over Congress trying to forge an alliance with the JD (S) to provide an alternative Government.

President’s rule recommended in Karnataka

Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur recommended the dissolution of the Assembly and imposition of President’s rule in the State late on Monday night after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy submitted his resignation.

Kumaraswamy’s decision to quit came after the Governor summoned him on Monday and advised him to resign as his JD (S) Government had been reduced to a minority in the wake of BJP pulling out of the coalition.

Earlier in the day, the Congress party also demanded the dismissal of the Kumaraswamy Government and submitted to the Governor individual letters from all its 66 MLAs ruling out extending support to any coalition in the State.

The Governor’s recommendation for President’s rule in Karnataka is based on his assessment that no viable alternative government could be formed in the State. The BJP, the largest party with 79 MLAs, and the Congress, with 66 MLAs, had made it clear that they wished to have no truck with the JD (S) that has 57 MLAs in the State Assembly.

Since no party or formation had staked claim before him to form an alternative Government, the Governor recommended for the dissolution of the Assembly and imposition of President’s rule.

Governor Rameshwar Thakur is understood to have sent his report with the twin recommendations within 45 minutes of Kumaraswamy’s resignation.

However, high drama preceded Kumaraswamy’s resignation with speculations of a remarriage between JD (S) and BJP taking political centre-stage.

After the Governor told Kumaraswamy to quit gracefully as he did not have the required numbers to prove his majority in the Assembly, a number of JD (S) legislators urged Kumaraswamy to hand over charge to BJP leader B S Yediyurappa and revive the coalition with a view to avoiding mid-term elections.

Despite severe opposition from JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy had reportedly agreed to hand over the baton to Yediyurappa in a bid to contain the damage caused to the party’s image on account of its failure to honour the solemn assurance given to the BJP under a power-sharing agreement.

Yediyurappa, who had barely launched a campaign against the JD (S) for reneging on its promise, rushed back to Bangalore in view of the change of heart in the JD (S), particularly Kumaraswamy.

Even as Yediyurappa was closeted with party leaders in Bangalore and trying to convince the reluctant BJP central leadership over the JD (S)’ offer, Deve Gowda got the wind of the developments in the JD (S) and is understood to have contacted the Governor and requested him to recommend President’s rule.

Requirement of ready astronauts to go up – Swedish astronaut

The requirement of ready astronauts will go up with space scientists looking at international co-operation in increasing manned space missions in future, said Sweden’s first astronaut Christer Fuglesang.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Fuglesang said European Space Agency (ESA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the USA would be reducing the duration of astronaut training programme with a view to meeting the increased requirement of astronauts for manned space missions.

Fuglesang, who was in Bangalore to announce Sweden’s initiatives to collaborate with India in the field of science and technology, said the present duration of astronaut training stretches to three years. He said efforts were underway to shorten the duration to less than two years.

The Swedish astronaut, who is presently supporting the activities of ESA and NASA, said the space organizations devote about two years for general astronaut training followed by a year of specialized training on simulated systems for familiarization. “The general understanding is to increase the number of active astronauts by reducing the training period”, he said.

Fuglesang also referred to ESA Director General Jean Jacques Dordain’s recent call to embark upon manned space flights in an effort to extend the life of the International Space Station (ISS), which NASA is planning to phase out by 2015-16.

However, ESA, which is for the first time directly contributing to the ISS, sees the 2015-16 deadline as too early for it to conduct sustained experiments on board the space station.

Besides, ESA is sending the Columbus space laboratory to 12.8 tonne ISS and will carried by Space Shuttle Atlantis. Columbus and an automated transfer vehicle, an unmanned cargo ship to ferry food and material for astronauts on space stations, would be ESA’s first contribution to the ISS and launch is scheduled to be on December 6 this year, he said.

JD (S)-BJP stand off over power transfer in Karnataka continues

A day after talks between JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and BJP’s national Vice President Yashwant Sinha failed to break the deadlock over the issue of transfer of power, the reluctance on the part of JD (S) to hand over the coveted post of Chief Minister to BJP’s B S Yediyurappa became evident.

Amid reports that Gowda had down certain conditions during his brief meeting with Sinha on Sunday night, JD (S) MLAs have openly begun arguing for continuation of H D Kumaraswamy as the coalition’s Chief Minister.

Housing Minister D T Jayakumar said Kumaraswamy should continue in the top post while party MLA and former Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan urged the BJP to allow the Chief Minister to continue for another term of 20 months in view of the appreciation for his good work.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, on his part, has declared that he is bound by the decision taken by the party MLAs on the issue of handing over the baton to BJP. “The alliance with BJP and formation of coalition Government was formed as per the wishes of the party MLAs. Similiarly, any move to demit office will also require the concurrence of the party MLAs”, said Kumaraswamy, who is scheduled to hand over power to BJP by October 3.

But, the BJP, which is not amused by the pressure tactics mounted by the JD (S), is understood to have taken a decision to opt for snap polls to the Assembly if power is not transferred to the BJP as per the power-sharing arrangement between H D Kumaraswamy and B S Yediyurappa.

A meeting of senior BJP leaders and party’s Minister’s in the coalition Government met at Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s residence in Bangalore and decided that the party should be ready to face mid-term polls if the JD (S) reneges on its promise to transfer power as scheduled.

Gowda, who holds the key to the transfer of power, is understood to be in no mood to hand over power to BJP in the wake of the thumping victory registered by JD (S) in many urban local bodies in the recent elections.

Meanwhile, Gowda told reporters in Bangalore that the resolution of the JD (S) Legislature Party meeting scheduled for Monday night on the transfer of power, will have to be placed before the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC). “I will go by the decision of the PAC”, Gowda said.

According to party sources, transfer of power to BJP is unlikely to take place in the next week.

JD (S) fares well in local body polls, legislators to discuss power transfer

Amid reports of an impressive performance by the JD (S) in the polls to urban local bodies, the JD (S) Legislature Party will be meeting in Bangalore on Monday to take stock of the prevailing political situation and discuss the contentious issue of transfer of power to BJP.

The JD (S) and Congress were locked in a neck and neck race in the 4,920 wards of 209 urban local bodies of Karnataka while the BJP had been pushed to third place. According to trends in the counting of votes, which was progressing, the Congress had bagged 1,111 wards out of the 2,850, whose results had been announced. The JD (S) was close behind with 1,044 wards while the BJP had 669 wards in its kitty.

Expressing satisfaction over the trends of the results, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the outcome proves that even urban voters have reposed their trust in the party. “We were hitherto considered to be a rural based party. Now, even urban voters have expressed their support to us”, he said.

Though Kumaraswamy ruled out the possibility of the outcome of the urban local body polls having any impact on the political situation in the State, political observers pointed out the results will have a bearing on the proposed parleys between alliance partners JD (S) and BJP on the issue of power transfer.

The JD (S) has convened a meeting of its legislature party soon after a Cabinet meeting on Monday to discuss the performance of the party in the polls and the issues of power transfer.

“The JD (S) Legislature Party will deliberate and decide on the power transfer issue. There are certain things that need to be considered by our legislators. I can’t talk about those issues openly”, Kumaraswamy said.

When asked whether power will be transferred to the BJP as scheduled on October 3, Kumaraswamy said “I will take a decision that would be appreciated by 50 million people of Karnataka”.

Referring to BJP’s Tourism Minister B Sriramulu’s resignation, Kumaraswamy said the resignation did not have much of an importance at this stage. “I never asked for Sriramulu’s resignation. The state is in the grip of a sensitive political situation. There is no urgency to decide on the resignation letter”, Kumaraswamy said.

He, however, added that he was in receipt of the letter and was yet to decide on accepting it or ignoring it.