77-year-old American lady found dead in Bangalore

A 77-year-old American woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her rented flat in Shantinagar in Bangalore.

The deceased, who has been identified as Margareth Alexandria from Virginia in the United States, was a devotee of Satya Sai Baba and had been staying in the first floor an apartment in Shanthinagar for the last eight years.

The police broke open the door of the apartment, which was bolted from inside, after neighbours complained of foul smell emanating from the house only to find the elderly American woman’s body in a composed state on Wednesday.

Police investigations had revealed that Margaret used to frequent the Ashram of Satya Sai Baba in Whitefield on the outskirts of Bangalore, where she used to stay for a week or two and return to her house.

A fortnight ago, the woman had complained of severe pain in the abdomen and had even visited a doctor. The Bangalore police found a strip of tablets used for digestion next to her body.

Police said Linden, 65, another foreigner residing in Bangalore was the only person known to the deceased in the City. Alexandria had told Linden that she had no family relations and was alone.

“On Saturday, Alexandria had handed her room keys and also her personal belongings to Linden before entering the house and locking it from inside. She had even covered the key-hole with a sticker from inside the room to avoid others peeping inside her room. She might had decided to kill herself and made such arrangements”, said a police official.
The police are awaiting the post mortem report to ascertain the exact cause of death. The police is also not ruling out the possibility of Alexandria killing herself due to health reasons.

Child prodigy bags three international awards for directing film

Child prodigy Master Kishan from Bangalore, who is Guinness record holder for being the youngest film director, has received three international awards at the 18th International Film Festival for Children held at Cairo in Egypt recently.

Kishan, who is now 12 years old, had begun directing the film “Care of Footpath” based on the lives of street children three years ago at a tender age of 9 years to rewrite the Guinness Book of World Records.

At the International Film Festival for Children, Kishan bagged the Children’s International Jury award under long and short film category, Special International Jury award under long and short film category as well as the Special International Jury award under long and short film category.

The Special International Jury award under long and short film category was closest to Kishan’s heart as the same award was conferred on his favourite hero Amitabh Bachchan about six years ago.

Back in Bangalore with awards, Kishan told reporters that he was thrilled with the awards, particularly the Special International Jury award, which is given after senior members of journalists’ syndicate viewed rare films in their premises and acknowledge rare film personalities with the award.

During the film festival in Cairo, the members of syndicate arranged for viewing the film. “I was very excited when I learnt that the syndicate will be viewing my film. I was curious to know their reaction. After viewing the film, they asked me a series of questions after which I was given the award”, said Kishan.

Incidentally, this is the fifth international award Kishan has bagged for his film so far. The previous two were Chamber of Deputies Award for the second best film and the Children’s Rights Award at the Giffoni International Children’s Film Festival held in Italy in2007.
Kishan, who is studying in standard VII, said he would not rest of his laurels. After being away in Egypt for almost a fortnight, the child prodigy will now be studying hard for the annual exams, which are just round the corner

Live band racket busted in Bangalore

The Bangalore police have busted a live band racket by arresting two men and women, besides rescuing a total of 20 girls, who were entertaining patrons gathered in farmhouses on the outskirts of the City.

Acting on a tip off, the Bangalore police raided a house in the City’s Brindavan extension and rescued 20 girls, hailing from Mumbai and Kolkata, all aged between 18 and 25 years.

The kingpin of the racket, Pandit, 35, his associate Salman, 22, and woman identified as Pandit’s sister in law, who were also present in the house have been arrested.

Police said the accused, who had brought the girls to the City a couple of months ago, were engaged in deploying them as live band artistes to clients. The girls performed at farmhouses on the outskirts of Bangalore in Sarjapur, Nelamangala and Bagalur clandestinely as the Karnataka Government has banned live band performances.

The accused had taken a three-storeyed building belonging to a former counciller in Bangalore on rent to house the girls. Pandit had told the owner that he would occupy one the house on one floor while his brother and sister in law will stay in the house on the other floor. He had not disclosed to the owner who would be staying in the third house.

When police raided the house on Tuesday, eight girls were found staying in one house while the other 12 girls were staying in another house.

Apart from sending them to perform as live band artistes in farmhouses, police said the accused was also coercing the girls into prostitution. The police have registered a case under Immoral Trafficking Act.

The unearthing of a clandestine live band racket by the City police comes as several hotels and restaurants across Bangalore were seeking licences from the police to resume live band performances in their establishments.

Rousing welcome for S M Krishna in Bangalore

Veteran Congressman S M Krishna, who resigned as Governor of Maharashtra recently, was given a rousing reception on his arrival in Bangalore.

Thousands of party workers from various parts of the State had thronged the HAL airport in Bangalore to welcome Krishna, a former Chief Minister of Karnataka, who will be returning to active politics in the state after a hiatus of almost of four years. Krishna arrived at the airport on Monday along with his wife and two daughters.

Krishna, who has been appointed as the Chairman of the Congress party’s Election Management and Co-ordination Committee, is expected to oversee the party’s election strategy in the forthcoming assembly polls.

Soon after his arrival in Bangalore, Krishna cut short the plans of his followers to take him in an open motorcade and instead chose to address the party workers at a venue near the airport. “I am overwhelmed with the reception. I had not expected so many people to come”.

“I have returned to state politics on the directions of the party high command to strengthen the party. We will work unitedly to build a beautiful India and Karnataka”, Krishna said.

Former Minister D K Shivakumar, who was among the large contingent of party leaders present to receive the former Chief Minister, said the people of Karnataka need a leader like Krishna. “Right from the common man to the farmer to a businessman, they are all looking forward to a leader like him”, he said.

Though Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President M Mallikarjun Kharge was conspicuous by his absence at the airport, he made up by calling on Krishna at the latter’s residence at Sadashivanagar in Bangalore in the evening.

When Krishna’s attention was drawn to the discordant notes heard in the party over his return to state politics, the former Chief Minister said the Congress party was like an ocean, where there are many cross currents. “But, the main current is Sonia Gandhi”, Krishna said.

Telgi’s wife appeals against auction of property

Wife of Abdul Karim Telgi, the alleged kingpin in the multi-billion rupee stamp paper scam, has appealed to the Income Tax department in Karnataka not to auction the property belonging to the jailed scamster’s family on Brigade Road in Bangalore.

Shahida Telgi, wife of Abdul Karim Telgi, has sent a letter to the Income Tax Commissioner, Karnataka, stating that the family is dependent on the Rs 80,000 they receive as rent from a commercial building on Brigade Road.

If the request is not considered, Shahida wrote in the letter, that she and her daughter will have no option but to end their lives. The Income Tax Department has attached all other properties belonging to Telgi, she said.

Shahida also said that she ailing from diabetes. Besides, the cost of Telgi’s treatment is also being borne out from the rent her family was receiving from the building on Brigade Road in Bangalore.

Gowda’s night-long homa catches even party workers by surprise

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, who is known for visiting temples across the country and holding religious ceremonies to propitiate gods, surprised even his party workers by holding a night-long homa at the party office on Race Course Road in Bangalore.

The ritual, which was kept under wraps, became public only the next morning when JD (S) workers reached the party office. The party workers were in for a rude shock when they were initially denied entry into the office premises as Gowda had left strict directions to the security personnel not to allow any person inside.

Though smoke of homa, fragrance of agarbathis and chanting of vedic hymns that reverberated from the building gave an indication that a religious ceremony was underway, the party workers were still not sure what was going on inside. However, it later dawned on them that Gowda was holding yet another ritual when the security personnel emerged from the building and distributed flowers as offerings.

Party leaders later confirmed that Gowda had engaged a team of priests and performed the religious including a night-long homa, apparently to seek divine blessings for the party’s good performance in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka.

The rituals were performed under the direct supervision of Gowda and his son H D Revanna. While Gowda’s wife and Revanna’s wife too attended the ceremony, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his wife were missing.

Later, Kumaraswamy told reporters that the religious ceremony was held for the “good of all”.

Boy killed by pet dog in Virajpet in Karnataka

An eleven-year-old boy died after his pet dog turned violent and bit him to death in Virajpet in Karnataka’s Kodagu district.

Bhuvan Bopanna, a fourth standard student in Virajpet’s Triveni Primary School died after his German Shepherd dog suddenly turned violent, knocked him down and bit him on the neck.

The boy, who was very fond of his pet dog, used to feed snacks and play with it every day after his return from school. Recently, when the boy returned home from school as usual and went to the German Shepherd with biscuits, the dog suddenly turned ferocious and pounced on the boy before fatally biting him on the neck. The profusely bleeding boy died on the spot.

The boy’s grieving parents told reporters that the dog used to very friendly with their son. They are unable to explain the bizarre behaviour of the dog, which led to the death of their son.

The death of the eleven-year-old boy comes even as the news about the killing of children by street dogs in Bangalore and other parts of the state is still fresh in public memory.

188 former Karnataka lawmakers owe dues to Legislators’ Home

More than 185 out of the 224 MLAs of the recently dissolved Karnataka Assembly will not be able to re-enter the electoral fray in the forthcoming elections if they fail to clear their dues towards the rent of the rooms they had occupied in the Legislators’ Home in Bangalore.

For, the State Legislature Secretariat has refused to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which has to be compulsorily filed along with the nomination papers of the former MLAs who seek re-election to the Assembly.

As many as 188 former MLAs, most of whom are still occupying the rooms in the Legislators’ Home, are yet to clear their dues, according to officials in the Legislature Secretariat.

Soon after the dissolution of the 12th Karnataka Assembly in November 2007, the State Legislature Secretariat wrote to the occupants of the Legislators’ Home to vacate the rooms by January 2008. The rent of the rooms, which was a paltry Rs 100 per month before the Assembly was dissolved, was raised to Rs 50 per day soon thereafter till January end, the deadline set by the Secretariat for vacating the rooms.

But, many former MLAs refused to vacate the rooms by January end and sought more time. The Secretariat obliged by giving two more months till March end, but fixed a higher rent of Rs 100 per day.

Among the defaulting former MLAs is former Minister H S Mahadev Prasad, who owes a whopping Rs 211,000. For, the former Minister had refused to vacate the room even after he became a Minister in the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition Government.

According to rules, a legislator has to vacate the room in Legislators’ Home as becomes eligible for a Government bungalow. Mahadev Prasad, who did not vacate the room in Legislators’ Home even after becoming a Minister and occupying a Government quarters, has to pay a monthly rent of Rs 10,000 for the room according to the rules.

Other former Ministers, who figure in the list of top defaulters are Alkod Hanumanthappa, Shashikanth Akkappa and Katta Subramanya Naidu, who owe Rs 164,000, Rs 146,000 and Rs 58,000 respectively. All these former Ministers continued to occupy the Legislators’ Home room even as they were staying in the Government bungalows.

Though a couple of former Ministers are bargaining hard with the Secretariat officials to bring down the monthly rent from Rs 10,000 to Rs 3,000, the officials have refused to yield as it would amount to violating the law.

“The rules are very clear. If they wish to re-enter the electoral fray, they have to submit the NOC issued by the Secretariat. Till the dues are cleared, the NOC will not be issued”, said an official from the Secretariat.

Launch of Bangalore international airport put off to May 11

The much-publicised launch of commercial flight operations from Bangalore International airport at Devanahalli near here has been postponed to May 11, from March 30 as earlier scheduled, in view of the delay in establishing Air Traffic Control (ATC) services.

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) decided May 11 as the new date for launch of flight operations from the newly constructed airport after the Federal Ministry of Civil Aviation suggested that the opening be put off by six weeks due to the delay in setting up the ATC services.

“We have received communication from the Ministry of Civil Aviation seeking consideration of a suitable opening date after May 10, 2008, due to the delays on ATC services. BIAL has decided the new date of airport opening as May 11, 2008”, said an statement issued by BIAL.

BIAL has also indicated to the Federal Civil Aviation Ministry that the first commercial flight was likely to take off at 12.01 am on May 11.

The Civil Aviation Ministry, in its letter to BIAL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Brunner had cited lack of readiness of the ATC services as the main reason for the delay. Though all the agencies had confirmed their readiness, state-run Airport Authority of India (AAI), under whose purview falls the task of setting up ATC services, had reservation about the availability of ATC services by March 30.

BIAL has expressed its disappointment with the delay in opening of the airport. “We are clearly disappointed with this delay especially as our employees and all our partners have been working tirelessly to launch the airport on schedule on March 30. This delay is beyond the control of BIAL”, said Anjana Kher Murray, head of BIAL’s Corporation Communications division.

Nevertheless, to mark the successful readiness of the airport infrastructure, BIAL will hold an event to showcase the new airport on March 30.

Karnataka IPS officer caught taking bribe

A senior IPS officer posted as Superintendent of Police in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district was caught red-handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a sand miner.

Additional Director General of Police (Lokayukta) R K Datta told reporters in Bangalore that Superintendent of Chamarajanagar district police Srikantappa was arrested after he demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 50,000 from sand miner S M Farooq for closing a case registered against him and allowing him to continue with sand mining.

The arrest of the senior IPS officer, the first such arrest in a corruption case in Karnataka, came about after Farooq approached the Lokayukta – the provincial ombudsman – with complaints of harassment and demands for bribe by the Superintendent of Chamarajanagar police.

As par the trap laid by the Lokayukta, Farooq sent the money through his manager Akbar, who went to Srikantappa’s house along with Subbanna, the IPS officer’s associate and middleman in the deal. Subbanna took the money to the first floor of the house, where Srikantappa was present and handed it over to him.

Soon after Akbar came out of the house, the sleuths attached to Lokayukta entered the house and frisked Srikantappa. “The officer, who was dressed in a vest and dhoti was trying to tuck the currency notes in his vest when the Lokayukta sleuths entered the house”, Lokayukta Santosh Hegde said.

The Superintendent of Police was immediately arrested and produced before the court. “The Rs 500 denomination notes had been treated with phenolphthalein powder and the chemical on the currency notes lefts its mark on the IPS officer’s clothes and hands. We have booked him under Prevention of Corruption Act”, Hegde said.

Soon after the arrest, the IPS officer complained of uneasiness and variation on blood pressure. He was admitted to a private hospital. But, the Lokayukta sleuths claim that the officer was feigning illness only to avoid arrest. “He will get himself discharged from the hospital after he gets bail”, he said.

Hegde said Farooq was embroiled in the affair as he had a dispute with a local forest officer over transportation of his sand-laden trucks. The sand miner had lodged a complaint of harassment and assault against the forest official, who had lodged a counter complaint accusing Farooq of obstructing him from discharging his duty.

The local Deputy Superintendent of Police, who investigated the case, found no substance in the forest official’s complaint and proceeded to close the case. But, the Superintendent of Police, who got wind of the matter, reportedly sent word to his sub ordinate asking him not to close the case till he gives the green signal.

Meanwhile, Srikantappa summoned Farooq and demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000 to close the case and another Rs 25,000 to let the sand miner continue his business undisturbed for one month.

Senior police officer hospitalized after attack by wife

A senior police officer in Bangalore was admitted to a private hospital here after his angry wife bit him.

Sushanth S Mahapatra, an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police, was admitted to a private hospital with wounds inflicted on his left arm and cheek after his wife attacked him and bit him.

The police official, who is among the contenders for the post of Bangalore City Police Commissioner after the term of present incumbent N Achuta Rao ends, promptly lodged a complaint with the jurisdictional police station seeking action against his wife.

Though the police obliged by registering a case, they have not yet arrested her and are hoping the husband and wife will patch up.

According to the complaint lodged by Mahapatra, who heads the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement in Bangalore, his wife Sadhana not only bit him, but also tried to stab him with a knife.

In his complaint, Mahapatra said his “foul tempered” wife had never allowed his father, mother or siblings to stay with him in his official quarters after marriage. When his 77-year-old father, a retired principal in Orissa, came down to his house recently, the police official’s wife did not permit the elderly person, who was physically weak and sick, to stay in the house, he said.

“I had to arrange separate accommodation for my father at the residence of my deceased mother’s foster daughter. Since my father was having severe health problems, I am bound to spend time with him. This caused a major heartburn to my wife”, the senior police officer said in the complaint, giving the background of the attack.

The attack took place on March 7, when Mahapatra went to his house in Jeevanbhima Nagar collect clothes and also to speak to his daughters, who were appearing for exams. “I was accompanied by my driver and constable attached to the office. Just after I entered the house, Sadhana became violent and attacked me. She bit me on the left arm and cheek. Further, she rushed towards me holding a knife with the intention of stabbing me”, the police official said.

Mahapatra came out of the house and took initial treatment at Bowring Hospital. Later, he was admitted to City Hospital on West of Chord Road as an in-patient or treatment of his wounds. “Since there was severe bleeding, I could not lodge a complaint earlier”, he said in the police complaint.

Supersede Nippani City Municipality – Kannada groups

The Nippani City Municipality in the border district of Belgaum has become the target of pro Kannada groups’ ire for passing a controversial resolution on the border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Though the resolution does not expressly seek the merger of Marathi speaking areas of Belgaum with neighbouring Maharashtra, the Municipality’s appeal to the Federal Government to give its opinion to the Supreme Court on the border dispute was enough to raise the hackles of Kannada activists.

Activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and other pro Kannada groups have been staging protests in different parts of the State urging Governor Rameshwar Thakur to supersede the civic body for transgressing its limits.

Seeking to remind the Governor that the State Government had superseded Belgaum City Corporation two years ago for adopting a resolution seeking the merger of Marathi-speaking areas of Belgaum district with Maharashtra, the Vedike leader Rajeev Topannavar said the Governor should terminate Nippani City Municipality so that no other body dare pass such an anti-Karnataka resolution in the future.

It may be mentioned here that pro-Kannada activists fought pitched battles with Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES) supporters in Nippani after the controversial resolution was adopted at the civic body’s first meeting recently.

While the Vedike activists stormed the Municipality building and damaged the furniture, the MES supporters retaliated by removing Kannada name boards in the City and also replaced the Kannada flag atop the statue of Rani Chennamma with a saffron-coloured flag. The MES supporters pelted stones of the house of a Vedike leader and burnt a two-wheeler standing outside his house.

Topannavar also warned that thousands of Vedike activists from different parts of the State will storm Nippani if the police does not arrest the MES activists, who were responsible for the recent riots.

North Indian prisoners find South Indian food unpalatable

– A group of prisoners from North India, who have been lodged at the Central jail in Bangalore, have approached the Karnataka High Court seeking North Indian food.

Contending that the South Indian food served to them in the jail had made them weak, six prisoners, two each from Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have urged the High Court to direct the prison authorities to allow them to receive North Indian food or permit them to cook their own food.

The petitioners, who had been lodged in the Central prison at Parappana Agrahara in Bangalore as undertrials, took serious exception to the poor hygiene in the jail and urged the High Court to direct the authorities to provide the jail inmates with good food, clean water and other basic amenities.

Pointing out that State was bound under law to provide adequate facilities to the prisoners, the petitioners said the North Indian inmates, who were unable to digest the South Indian food, could not even order for meals from the canteen as it had been closed since July 2007.

The petitioners – Shameem Ahmed and Syed Asim from Delhi, Rajesh Salecha and Rameshwar Palhidar of Rajasthan, Devendra Soni and Deepak Porwal from Madhya Pradesh claimed that there were around 50 prisoners from North India lodged at the Bangalore Central jail.

They urged the High Court to segregate them from local prisoners with whom they were unable to converse. The absence of communication between prisoners and North India and South India was causing leading to misunderstanding and friction, said the petitioners.

Also, the North Indian prisoners have complained to the High Court that as many as 100 prisoners are packed in cells and the toilet facilities in the prison are grossly inadequate. Apart from unpalatable food and inadequate facilities, the prisoners have also taken serious exception to their alleged humiliation by the jail officials, who handcuff them at the time of producing them before the court.

High Court Judge K L Manjunath, who heard the petition, said the prayer of the petitioners is in the nature of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and referred the matter to Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph.

Gram Panchayat member turned thief arrested

A people’s representative from Alangur in Karnataka’s Kolar district has been arrested on charges of theft.

35-year-old Srirama is a gram panchayat member by day and thief by night, said the police.

Srirama, who claims to come from a family of thieves, had burgled six houses and stolen two motorcycles in Bangalore. Police inspector Guruswamy, who arrested Srirama and brought him to the Bangalore City Police Commissioner’s office, said the gram panchayat-member-turned thief’s father and brother are also thieves.

A native of Alangur in Kolar, Srirama was not only elected gram panchayat member a few years ago, but had also served as a President of the gram panchayat for three months. But, that did not deter him from going on a burgling spree.

Along with his accomplice Srinivasa, Srirama went about breaking homes and carrying away valuables after nightfall even as he would solemnly go about his tasks as a gram panchayat member.

According to the police, Srirama’s modus operandi was to hop onto a train or a bus along with his accomplice and carry out a recce of residential areas in and around Bangalore and fix the target. But, the police stopped him in his tracks on Sunday and recovered from him gold, silver and motorcycles valued around Rs 450,000.

With at least eight cases of theft against him, Srirama had a criminal past even before he was elected as a gram panchayat member. With his ill-gotten wealth as a petty thief he went on to become a minor politician. “He had dreams of becoming an MLA”, a police official said.

Police inspector Guruswamy said a letter will be written to the authorities concerned to find out whether Srirama had misused the funds allotted for the development of the village.

Srirama confessed to have taken to crime to fund his drinking and gambling habit, police said.

Majority of IIM-B students opt to work in India

A majority of the outgoing batch of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) students have opted to work in firms in India.

A good 75 per cent of the 256 students, who appeared for placement before leading global consulting companies, investment banks and marketing companies, opted for a career in India this time. Only 25 per cent opted for overseas locations that included London, New York, Boston, Shanghai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Florida, Dubai, Amsterdam, Sydney and Melbourne.

Four students opted out of the recruitment process, which had brought head-hunters from a total of 120 global and Indian companies to the IIM-B campus. The four students will pursue an entrepreneurial career by starting their own ventures.

The number of IIM-B graduates opting for an overseas posting came down from 30 per cent to 25 per cent this year.

However, as a policy, the management of IIM-B did not reveal the pay packet offered for the students. “Since last year, we have decided not to reveal the package offered. If the compensation figures are mentioned by other IIMs, it is their choice. We are not aware which company has offered what pay packet and to whom”, IIM-B faculty member (placement) Sourav Mukherjee told reporters.

The good turnout for the placement for IIM-B graduates comes in the midst of global recession. But, undeterred by the global recession and the fall out of sub-prime crisis in the US, a large number of investment banks flocked to the premier B school in Bangalore to snap up the brightest among the candidates.

McKinsey and Co made 15 offers followed by Lehman Brothers and Boston Consulting Company with 11 offers each. Deutsche Bank came up with seven offers, Merryl Lynch, Bain and Co and AT Kerney made six offers each. Goldman Sachs and Morgan and Stanley came with five offers each.

“The increasing number of global recruiters bears a strong testimony to the maturing global reputation of IIM-B. Inspite of recessionary fears in the US and the resultant slowdown in global economy, we have not seen such concerns impacting hiring our students”, IIM-B Director Pankaj Chandra told reporters.

Doubts over Bangalore International airport’s take-off date

Serious doubts have arisen over Bangalore International Airport’s scheduled launch of commercial flight operations on March 30 in view of the safety concerns raised over an incomplete Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility.

The uncertainty over operationalizing the country’s first Greenfield airport established at Devanahalli about 35 kms from Bangalore was raised after an onsite inspection by senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) when flight trials were held at the airport recently.

“Right now, March 30 is still not the absolute date for launch of flight services”, Secretary of Federal Ministry of Civil Aviation Ashok Chawla told reporters after a two-day stay in Bangalore. “We still have not taken a final decision as we need to have a clear picture. We may take a decision either on Monday or Tuesday after holding further discussions in New Delhi”, he said.

According to officials monitoring the progress of work at the new airport, the imported ATC equipment and radar landed only in February almost three months behind schedule. The delayed arrival has given AAI staff very little time for onsite familiarization.

The AAI staff requires at least four weeks time to test, calibrate and synchronize the equipment before keeping the instruments in hot stand-by mode for 42 days or 1,000 hours before the airport can be operationalized, the officials said.

Senior air traffic controllers at the airport are understood to have told the senior officials that it would be “unsafe” to launch flight services at the airport by March 30 as scheduled.

Chawla admitted that the ATC issue was the main reason behind the Federal Ministry of Civil Aviation’s decision to review the launch date. “If there is a need to postpone the airport’s launch, the Government will try to sort out the matter as early as possible, so that the plans of the airport developers are not affected while also ensuring that all regulations for opening of a new airport are met”, Chawla said.

The new airport being developed by Siemens-Unique Zurich Airport- L and T Consortium is yet to receive the operators’ license. For that, the DGCA has given the developer a list of 59 items for compliance. Almost 10 of the conditions are yet to met, officials said.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) Albert Brunner told reporters that ATC does not fall under its ambit. “AAI is responsible for air traffic management. I don’t install it”, he said when his attention was drawn to the incomplete ATC facility at the new airport.

JD (S) rebels led by M P Prakash joins Congress

Rebel JD (S) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash has joined the Congress party along with a total 14 former MLAs and 3 MLCs, dealing a major blow to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda’s party ahead of the assembly elections.

Prakash, who had broken ties with the JD (S) almost six months ago, joined the Congress party in the presence of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President M Mallikarjun Kharge at the Congress Bhavan in Bangalore.

Prakash and his supporters formally became Congress members by paying a membership fee of Rs 100 each. Prakash’s supporters include former Ministers H S Mahadev Prasad, Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Amaregowda Bayyapur and Ekanthaiah, besides former MLAs B C Patil, Santosh Lad, Anjaneya, K N Rajanna, Raju Gowda, Vasanth Bangera, Muniswamappa, Balaraj, Suryanarayana Reddy.

The MLCs, who joined the Congress on the occasion, include Chidananda, son in law of veteran politician M Rajashekarmurthy, besides Gurudev and Channabasappa.

“We have severed all ties with the JD (S). We have chosen a party which is closer to our ideology”, Prakash told reporters after joining Congress.

The former Deputy Chief Minister also said that he had not imposed any conditions to join the Congress party. “We are joining the Congress party expressing our faith and commitment to the party’s ideology. I have requested Congress President Sonia Gandhi to provide party tickets to all those, who joined the party along with me”, Prakash said.

Earlier, Prakash had arrived in Bangalore along with All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader in-charge of Karnataka Prithviraj Chauhan from New Delhi.

Welcoming Prakash and his supporters into the party, Kharge said their entry will help strengthen the Congress party ahead of the assembly elections.

The entry of Prakash, who belongs to the predominant Lingayat community of Karnataka, into the party is expected to not only give the Congress a much-needed representative from the influential community, but also cause damage to JD (S).

Two test flights land at Bangalore international airport

Two test flights of commercial aircraft landed successfully at the Bangalore international airport on Friday in the run-up to the formal launch of the airport by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on March 28.

A Kingfisher aircraft and an Air Deccan aircraft landed at the country’s first Greenfield airport located at Devanahalli, about 30 kms from Bangalore, with an interval of ten minutes on Friday.

A Kingfisher flight carrying media personnel and airlines executives from Mumbai touched down at the Bangalore International airport at 10.58 am on Friday. Exactly ten minutes later, an Air Deccan test flight, which took off from the HAL airport in Bangalore, landed at the international airport at 11.08 am.

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) authorities said the take-off trials of commercial aircraft from the newly built international airport had been scheduled in the early hours of Saturday.

While the Kingfisher aircraft will take off to Mumbai at 12 midnight, the Air Deccan aircraft will depart at 12.30 am on Saturday. The take off trials will be preceded by flight tests on the new runway as well as the taxiway and the parking bays.

The test flights at the Bangalore International airport were conducted even as four Public Interest Litigations (PIL) were pending before the Karnataka High Court challenging the closure of the existing airport at HAL in Bangalore.

The petitioners had sought the retention of HAL airport for short haul domestic flights in view of connectivity problems to the newly built international airport, which is situated at a distance of 30 kms away.

A division bench of the High Court, which took up one of the petitions, adjourned the hearing to March 10 after BIAL contended that one of the terms of the agreement between the project promoters and the Federal Government was the closure of the HAL airport. If the old HAL airport is retained, the international airport’s financial viability will be jeopardized, BIAL counsel said.

Cracks surface in Karnataka Congress over Krishna’s return

Former Chief Minister S M Krishna’s impending return to Karnataka politics in the wake of his recent resignation as Governor of Maharashtra, has created fissures in the State Congress circles with a section of senior party leaders meting out a cold treatment to grand road show planned by his supporters.

Soon after Krishna submitted his resignation as Governor of Maharashtra on Wednesday and announced his return to active politics in election-bound Karnataka, his close aides led by former Minister D K Shivakumar began chalking out plans to accord him a grand reception at Belgaum on the state’s border with Maharashtra.

The reception at Belgaum was scheduled to be followed up with a road show that passes through various parts of the state before concluding in Bangalore.

But, a host of senior party leaders including Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President M Mallikarjun Kharge have decided to keep off the show on the grounds that it is not a party function.

Though most senior party leaders in Karnataka welcomed Krishna’s return to his native state and party workers across the state burst crackers to celebrate the development, Kharge had sought to downplay the matter. “There is no need to attach much significance to Krishna’s return. He is only returning to Karnataka, which is his native, as per the party High Command’s directive”, Kharge had told reporters.

The Congress High Command’s move to appoint Krishna as the Chairman of Congress party Co-ordination Committee to work out an election strategy for the impending assembly polls in Karnataka, appears to have not gone down well with the old guard in the party.

For, the position is of the rank of an All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and gives Krishna a pivotal position in the poll-bound state.

Despite the cold shoulder given to Krishna by a section of the Congress leaders, his supporters are jubilant over his return to Karnataka.

According to a tentative programme finalized by Krishna’s supporters in the Congress, a grand reception will be given to him at Belgaum where he is scheduled to arrive on March 14. After the reception and a public meeting, the road show will commence and proceed to Hubli. After an overnight halt, the cavalcade will roll into Haveri followed by Davangere, Chitradurga and Tumkur before arriving in Bangalore after a 600 km long journey.

Election Commission hints at Karnataka polls in May

The Election Commission has dropped enough hints that a popular Government could be installed in Karnataka before the term of Federal rule in the State ends in May last week.

Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami expressed confidence that the electoral rolls in the delimited assembly constituencies will be ready by April first week, but stopped short of announcing whether the impending elections will be held in May.

Speaking to reporters after a marathon meeting with deputy commissioners of various districts in the state and representatives of various political parties on Tuesday, Gopalaswami said the revision of electoral rolls as per the delimitation of constituencies was proceeding smoothly. “By March 15, the preliminary work will be completed in all the districts. The entire exercise will be completed between March 25 and first week of April’, said Gopalaswami.

A final decision on the timing of assembly polls in Karnataka will, however, be taken by the Election Commission in New Delhi after assessing the entire situation and considering the petitions filed various political parties.

A full bench of Election Commission comprising Election Commissioners Navin Chawla and S Y Quraishi met leaders of various political parties earlier and heard their views on the timing of polls.

While BJP and JD (S) favoured polls before expiry of Federal rule on May 28, the Congress had sought postponement of the exercise till all the anomalies in the electoral list are removed.

However, the Election Commission appeared determined to hold the polls before the Federal rule ends. “Except for acts of God, human acts should not come in the way of holding elections on time”, Gopalaswami said in an oblique reference to the Congress party’s demand for putting off the polls.

The Chief Election Commissioner even quoted the Supreme Court ruling delivered in 2002 stating that elections should be held within six months of the dissolution of the House except in rare cases like “acts of God” (natural disasters).

According to Election Commission officials, who were present in the meeting, the Chief Election Commissioner told the Deputy Commissioners to be prepared for elections any time. “Be prepared to meeting any eventuality. It is the duty of the election commission to hold elections on time”.

Major fire destroys more than 500 huts in Mandya

More than 500 huts in Tamil colony slum in Karnataka’s Mandya district were destroyed in an accidental fire on Monday evening rendering an estimated 5,000 people homeless.

The accidental fire that broke out from a hut with a thatched roof soon assumed the proportions of an inferno engulfing the entire settlement, causing panic and commotion among the inhabitants.

When the initial efforts by the dwellers to contain the spread of fire with buckets of water went in vain, they were forced to abandon their homes and rush out with whatever belongings they could carry.

Commissioner of Mandya City Municipal Council Ramaswamy told reporters that the fire was finally extinguished by pressing into service fire tenders from Mandya and neighbouring Mysore. The firemen had to battle with the leaping flames for more than three hours to put out the fire.

Eventually, all the 536 huts, predominantly occupied by migrant Tamil population, were reduced to ashes in the fire that destroyed household articles, including food grains, cash and jewellery.

The fire personnel and the police had to face the wrath of the angry slum dwellers, who accused the authorities of delaying the dispatch of fire tenders. Irate slum dwellers stoned a fire tender and a police jeep. The driver of a police jeep was injured when the glass pieces of vehicle’s windscreen hit his head.

The slum dwellers, who had watched their homes go up in flames, heckled senior police officials and tore the shirt of a police inspector when they reached the spot to calm the agitated crowd.

The protestors later marched to the Mysore-Bangalore highway and disrupted vehicular traffic. They threw stones at passing vehicles forcing authorities to divert the traffic away from the trouble spot in Mandya.

The Mandya district administration later opened temporary shelters for the homeless slum dwellers in Government schools and a nursing college.

Crucial meet of Election Commission held in Bangalore

Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami presided over a crucial meeting of the Election Commission at the State Secretariat Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore yesterday to review the preparations for next assembly elections in Karnataka, which is under Federal rule.

Gopalaswami and two election commissioners S Y Quraishi and Navin Chawla met senior officials of Karnataka Government including the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts in the State for a feedback on the revision of electoral rolls on the basis of redrawn boundaries of assembly constituencies under the recently completed delimitation exercise.

The meeting is considered to be crucial, as it would clear the confusion over the timing of the assembly polls in the State, which has been under federal rule since November 2007.

Apparently determined to hold assembly polls before May 28, Gopalaswami is believed to have told the officials to complete the revision of electoral lists and other election related work entrusted to them before March 15.

The Election Commission, which is likely to take a final decision on the timing of the assembly polls in Karnataka, is expected to make an announcement on the issue after holding talks with representatives of leading political parties as well later in the day.

Meanwhile, the political parties are divided over the timing of elections. While the BJP and JD (S) are in favour of holding elections before the six month deadline for withdrawal of Federal rule in the state lapses on May 28, the Congress is citing the “incomplete” electoral list as a reason to put off polls.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President M Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters before meeting the Election Commission officials that the Congress party was not convinced by the “cut and paste” method to complete the revision of electoral rolls after altering the boundaries of assembly constituencies.

“Revision of electoral rolls following fresh delimitation of constituencies is a long-drawn exercise. We want a door-to-door enumeration carried out and not a random deletion of some voters and the inclusion of some others”, he said and referred to the presence of 6 million bogus voters in the electoral list, as claimed by the Election Commission officials themselves during their previous visit.

However, Kharge sought to make it clear that the Congress part was not seeking a postponement of polls, but was only emphasizing on deletion of bogus voters from the list and inclusion of genuine voters.

The BJP, however, is seeking early polls before the May 28 deadline for Federal rule lapses.

Former Chief Minister B S Yedyurappa has threatened to move the Supreme Court if the Congress party conspires to put off the polls and seek an extension of the Federal rule by securing Parliamentary approval.

He said the anomalies in the voters’ list can be corrected even till the last date for withdrawal of nominations and the Election Commission should go ahead with the polls before May 28.

The JD (S) is also favouring early polls that would facilitate the withdrawal of Federal rule and install a popular Government in the State. “We want polls to be held before May 28 so that the Federal rule comes to an end and a popular Government takes over the reins of power”, JD (S) spokesperson Y S V Datta told reporters.

Fish famine plagues coastal Karnataka

Fishermen in coastal parts of Karnataka have been left high and dry on account of a severe fish famine.

Assistant Director of Fisheries in Mangalore Suresh Kumar has admitted that the phenomenon of fish famine, which grips the maritime districts of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi in Karnataka during November and December, has been particularly severe this time with the lean season extending into March.

The poor yield of fish, which is estimated to have declined by 50 per cent this season, has already sent the prices of several varieties of fish skyrocketing and affecting the export of fish from Mangalore. The price of a few popular variety of fish had doubled or tripled this season in view of the drastic decline in the volume of fish catch.

Meanwhile, an elite panel of fishermen and researchers constituted by the Government a couple of months ago to study the reasons behind the significant decline in volume of fish catch, has attributed the recurring phenomenon of fish famine to over-exploitation of the seas and lack of induced breeding techniques.

The report had also pointed out that the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada had landed 218,000 tonnes of marine fish varieties during 1995-96. But, since the turn of the century, the fish yield had declined drastically and had even reached 128,000 tonnes during 2001-02.

The fish yield during the ensuing season has also been described as extremely bad. “This situation is such that almost 70 to 75 boats out of around 100 that venture into the sea for fishing return to the shores with empty baskets”, according a representative of fishermen’s association.

The Karnataka Fishermen’s Action Committee has also taken serious note of absence of uniform period for imposing a fishing ban along the western coast of India. The different periods of ban on fishing imposed to facilitate breeding of fish was not serving the purpose.

Hogenakkal dispute: Karnataka to move Supreme Court against Tamil Nadu

Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu’s dispute over the tourist destination of Hogenakkal waterfalls situated along the borders of the two states has been re-ignited after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi inaugurated a Rs 13.3 billion drinking water project from the water falls.

Karnataka Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao told reporters that the State Government had already conveyed its reservations about the project at the disputed site to the Federal Government. “We are ready to move the Supreme Court also in the regard”, Rao said.

Rao opined that Tamil Nadu’s decision to commence work on the Hogenakkal project amounts to injustice to Karnataka. The State Government has already consulted legal experts in New Delhi and is awaiting their views before proceeding to move the Supreme Court.

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been locked in a dispute over the picturesque Hogenakkal island, which also features waterfalls from a tributary of river Cauvery, draw hordes of tourists every day.

Though a Commission has been set up to survey the land situated exactly on the borders of the two states, its final report has not been submitted yet.

Though Karunanidhi laid foundation stone for the project at function organized at Dharmapuri, a large number of activists representing various farmers and pro Kannada organizations went to Hogenakkal water falls to protest the project and courted arrested.

Meanwhile, the State Government has issued directions to the district administrations of Bangalore urban and Chamarajanagar to maintain beef up security in view of the likely threat to law and order on account of the development.

Tamil Nadu’s decision to go ahead with the project despite opposition from Karnataka has drawn flak from various politicians in Karnataka. Former Minister K S Eshwarappa, who held the portfolio of Water Resources during H D Kumaraswamy’s regime as Chief Minister, warned the Federal Government as well as Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur of a possible law order problem over the issue.

He also accused the Tamil Nadu Government of launching an irrigation project in the garb of a drinking water project at Hogenakkal.

Doctors and hospitals in Karnataka barred from advertising services

Doctors and hospitals in Karnataka have been barred from advertising their professional services.

The Karnataka Medical Council has issued an order prohibiting doctors and hospitals from advertising their services on the grounds that it was a violation of the Code of Medical Ethics.

President of Karnataka Medical Council Chikkananjappa told reporters that any violation of the Code of Medical Ethics will be treated as “professional misconduct” and action will be initiated under section 15 of the Karnataka Medical Council Act.

He said the penalty could range from a warning to de-recognition for a year. Persistent violation could even attract permanent de-recognition, which means the medical professional cannot practice anywhere in the world.

Chikkananjappa regretted that many hospitals, including superspeciality centres, were advertising themselves on a mass scale in newspapers, billboards and road medians. “Medical profession cannot be marketed”, he said.

About 70 notices had already been issued to doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and diagnostic centres for advertising themselves. “About 65 consultants responded to the notice and we have explained to them the provisions of the law that self-aggrandisement with ulterior motive of attracting patients was against ethics”, Chikkananjappa said.

However, hospitals have taken exception to the Karnataka Medical Council’s move. A spokesman of Wockhardt Hospital, a leading private hospital in Bangalore, told reporters that extending the order to institutions is not correct. “Hospitals worldwide advertise their services. Not to allow hospitals to advertise is taking it a little too far. As there is so much competition in the sector, how else can we advertise our services”, he said.

Bihar MPs pulled me down from PM’s post - Gowda

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s claim that he got a Prime Minister elected from Karnataka has not gone down well with former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Gowda accused the MPs from Bihar for pulling him down from the Prime Minister’s post.

When his attention was drawn to the Railway Minister’s claim that he was responsible for a Kannadiga to occupy the Prime Minister’s post, a visibly irritated Gowda said “I know very well who made me the Prime Minister. It was, in fact, MPs from Bihar, who pulled me down from the post”.

“I got a Prime Minister elected from Karnataka”, Lalu Prasad Yadav had told the BJP MPs from Karnataka, who accused him of insulting Kannadigas by describing them as “dirty people” during his recent visit to Karnataka.

Gowda accused the Railway Minister of meting out injustice to Karnataka in the Railway Budget 2008-09. “Let alone sanctioning new projects, no funds have been earmarked to any of the on-going projects”, Gowda fumed.

The former Prime Minister said he would soon hold talks in the regard with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Gowda warned that his party would take up in its election campaign the issue Railway Minister’s alleged negligence of Karnataka in the Railway Budget.

Charge iPod with an onion!

Two teenaged boys in Bangalore have come up with a unique innovation that can recharge an iPod with an onion.

The duo – Ajay, 15, and Chandrashekar, 14, students of Poornaprajna Education Academy, Bangalore - demonstrated their discovery at the Young Innovators’ Meet, an exhibition of creative ideas at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium in Bangalore.

The boys took an onion, drilled a see-through hole with a screw driver and kept the bulbous vegetable dipped in an energy drink, a branded citric juice, for half an hour. Next, they took out the onion, wiped its bottom with a piece of cloth to absorb the moisture and inserted the free end of an iPod’s USB cord to successfully charge the gizmo for 15 minutes.

The voltmeter, which recorded the iPod before and after its insertion into the onion, showed that the gadget could be used for 15 minutes after the exercise. “After keeping the onion dipped in the energy drink for half an hour, the USB cord of iPod should be kept inserted in it for another half an hour. Then, you can listen to the music on the iPod for a full 15 minutes”, Ajay claimed.

Explaining the scientific aspect of the innovation, Ajay told a curious crowd of visitors to the exhibition that the acidic elements of the onion react with the electrolytes in the juice to produce small electric charges. This crude, but handy, method was invented by the two young minds in merely 45 days. “We conducted many experiments and concluded that it worked the best with onions”, Chandrashekar said.

It is not just an iPod, which can be charged with the onion, other gizmos like even the MP3 player can be charged in a similar manner, the budding scientists claimed.

Pilgrims rescued three days after losing their way in forests

A group of sixteen pilgrims from Gulbarga in Karnataka had to be airlifted in a helicopter to reach their destination after they lost their way in the thick forests of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

The devotees, who had embarked on a journey by foot to the pilgrim centre of Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district to fulfill a vow, lost their way and wandered in the deep forests aimlessly without food or water for four days before they were rescued.

Police said the sixteen pilgrims from Yadgir in Gulbarga set out on foot on February 18 for Srisailam. Everything went on well for almost three days till February 20. But, when they decided to take a short cut through the forests upon the advice of locals in a village in Andhra Pradesh, the pilgrims just lost their way. Soon, they were literally in the woods as they were stuck deep inside the jungles without any mobile phone link.

The devotees just walked in the forests for three days, thirsty and hungry, till they fortunately strayed into a pocket with mobile phone coverage. They managed to contact their relatives, who in turn communicated their plight to Gulbarga district police.

The message was conveyed to the police in Andhra Pradesh, who formed two special teams comprising even forest officials, and located the devotees with the help of global positioning system. The hapless pilgrims were located near Neelaganga on the banks of river Krishna seven kms from Srisailam.

The Andhra Pradesh police deployed a helicopter, which located the group, and managed to shift the starving and exhausted devotees to Srisailam Government hospitals. Eventually, the pilgrims were discharged from the hospital and managed to visit the Temple in Srisailam on Monday.

Soap contract lands Dhoni in soup

State-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) has served a legal notice to India’s limited overs cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, claiming damages worth Rs 4 million for dishonouring the contractual obligations as brand ambassador for its Mysore Sandal soaps.

KSDL had roped in Dhoni to endorse its Mysore Sandal soaps in January 2006 for a term of two years for a sum of Rs 8.5 million. But, the company terminated the contract and after the star cricketer failed to give them enough time for endorsing its soap product.

KSDL Executive Director Babu Siddakumar told reporters that Dhoni was to have given the company five days each for the two contract years according to the agreement. “But, he has given us only three days out of the ten days required as per the contract. We have been asking for his dates for commercial shoots and marketing events. But, he has failed to abide by the contractual obligations”, Babu Siddakumar said.

The soap company’s contract with the wicket-keeper batsman commenced from January 2006 and was scheduled to end on January 2, 2008. A legal notice revoking the contract with Dhoni and seeking damages from him was issued on December 20, 2007.

KSDL also claimed that the company has already paid Dhoni and his agency Rs 6.4 million out of the contract amount of Rs 8.5 million. The balance amount was to have been paid after Dhoni completes his dates with the company. “We have been releasing quarterly payment to the cricketer as per the contract terms and decided to cancel the contract when we did not get his dates”, Babu Siddakumar said.

During the three days Dhoni made himself available to KSDL, a 60-second commercial advertisement had been produced. However, Dhoni should have made himself available for upto five days during each contract year in order to make personal appearances at clinics, camps, trade shows, retail outlets, autograph sessions and other activities related to marketing of the Mysore Sandal soap, a press statement from KSDL said.

Three new species of fish found in Western Ghats

Three new species of fish were found in the high altitude streams in Western Ghats region of Karnataka.

The new fish species were discovered by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in the streams of Sita river, flowing at altitude of 2,000 feet above mean sea level, near Agumbe in Karnataka’s Shimoga district.

The discovery was made while MPEDA was preparing a database of indigenous ornamental fish available in Western Ghats region of Karnataka. MPEDA’s Karnataka convenor P K Pramod said the newly discovered fish species have been identified as Danio, Schistura and Mesonemachelius.

Scientists of Chennai-based Zoological Survey of India K Rama Devi and T J Indra have confirmed the discovery of the new fish species.

Pramod told reporters that Danio species collected from a high altitude stream is characterized by two pairs of elongated barbells. The fish shows resemblance to Danio dangilla and brachydanio rerio in having long barbells. The similiarities end here. For, the species differs in fin formulae.

Schistura species, which has 11 to 13 bands, is characterized by beautiful black markings while Mesonemachelius is olive green in colour with black blotches on the body and flanks.

Pramod said the discovery proves that Western Ghats, with its pristine waters, harbours a rich variety of fresh water species. These attractive species have the potential to be introduced as ornamental fish varieties in domestic and international markets. “But, the resource abundance of the species should be studied and breeding technology perfected prior to popularization of the fish in ornamental trade”, Pramod added.

Eunuchs may dance in Bangalore live bands

With a view to circumventing the prevailing ban on women dancing in bars, live band owners in Bangalore are planning to bring in eunuchs, who can legally dance the night away.

During a protest demonstration at Cubbon Park in Bangalore seeking Government permission for live bands, the Karnataka Live Band Restaurants’ Association gave the onlookers a glimpse of the dancing skills of eunuchs.

A group of about 20 eunuchs swivelled their hips and gyrated to the tunes of film songs as part of the protest.

The protest comes barely a fortnight after the Karnataka High Court ordered the Bangalore police to consider the pending applications by Live Band Restaurant Owners. The police had been refusing permission for live bands under the stipulations of the Excise Act, which prohibits employment of women in places where liquor is served.

“If there is a ban on women dancing in bars, we will rope in eunuchs as there is no ban on them”, said President of the Karnataka Live Band Restaurants’ Association Sanjay Kochhor.

More than 100 live bands in Bangalore were forced to shut shop in 2005 after the police withdrew their licenses under the provisions of the Excise Act, which not only prohibits serving of liquor beyond 11.30 pm, but also bans employment of women in bars.

“If girls are not allowed to dance, we will bring eunuchs from neighbouring states and ask them to dance”, Kochhar said.

Bangalore City’s Additional Police Commissioner Gopal Hosur, however, said the police department would have to stick to the rules. The Excise laws prohibits women from working at bars as bartenders or dancers, he said.

“There is a certain level of decency to be maintained in the society. We will take a decision depending on the norms or society and the law of the land”, he said when asked about the High Court’s recent order to consider the long pending applications of the live band owners in Bangalore.

Krishna’s return to Karnataka politics at least two months away

Former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna has indicated that his return to Karnataka politics was at least two months away as his programmes as Maharashtra Governor had been finalized for the next two months.

“My programmes in Maharashtra for the next two months have been finalized”, said Krishna when reporters in Mysore near here sought to know from him when he was returning to Karnataka politics.

The Maharashtra Governor, however, evaded a direct reply to a question on when he would return to Karnataka politics.

He said the speculation over his return to Karnataka politics had been there in the media and political circles ever since he took charge as Governor of Maharashtra three years ago. “I keep hearing these rumours whenever I come to Karnataka”, he said.

Krishna also evaded a question on the controversial autobiography of former Minister H Vishwanath containing references to his romance with yesteryear actress B Saroja Devi. When the Maharashtra Governor was asked whether he had read the autobiography, he said “I am busy reading a book on the biography of Indira Gandhi”.

Later, Krishna drove to Hotel Lalitha Mahal Palace, where he took rest for some time before proceeding to the marriage of a close relative of former Karnataka Minister D K Shivakumar. It may be mentioned here that Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was also in Mysore on Sunday to attend the same wedding.

Project to bring back birds to Bangalore

The Forest Cell of Bangalore City Corporation has begun putting up artificial nests for birds on the trees in the parks in a bid to attract birds that have deserted the City after its rapid transformation into a bustling metropolis.

As many 300 out of the 800 species of birds found in south India had made Bangalore their home till a decade and a half ago, particularly the ubiquitous sparrow. Now, not only have the sparrows become conspicuous by their absence, atleast a 100 other varieties of birds have just disappeared from the City, much to the concern of environmentalists.

The transformation of Bangalore into a concrete jungle and the rising noise and pollution levels has been attributed to the missing of many common varieties of birds. Particular concern has been expressed for the disappearance of the sparrows, which are normally found perched on tiled roofs of houses and near open wells.

“Houses with tiled roofs have now given way to high-rise apartments. The roads are bursting with honking vehicles that emit smoke from their exhaust. The situation is not congenial for birds”, said Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bangalore City Corporation S Shekar.

Hence, the Bangalore City Corporation has launched a unique project “Birds, Come Back Bangalore” with a view to attracting the birds by creating a congenial atmosphere for them.

The municipal staff with the help of nature lovers and bird watchers has already created nests on trees in Gayathri Devi Park in Bangalore’s Rajajinagar. “Separate areas have been created for offering grains to birds and for sand-bathing. Artificial ponds made of granite slabs have also been created in the park”, Shekar said.

The municipal authorities are planning to create such bird conservation spots in at least 100 such parks spread across Bangalore.

Soldier held for drug peddling in Belgaum

The police have recovered more than 500 grams of brown sugar worth Rs 9 million from three persons including a defence personnel in Belgaum in Karnataka.

Belgaum district police superintendent Hemant Nimbalkar told reporters that the seized narcotic substance was part of the consignment that had been brought to India from Myanmar for dispatch to different parts of southern and central India.

Acting on a tip-off, the Belgaum police rounded up the three persons at the bus stand in the town. The arrested persons include Tombram Singh, 27, a native of Manipur and a soldier attached to the AHR and R, New Delhi. He had travelled along with another accused Yalangbam Singh, 28, also a native of Manipur, from Delhi to Belgaum by a truck.

The duo was caught while they were handing over the drugs to Narayan Majgaonkar, 26, a native of Karwar, who was all set to leave with the consignment to Goa. Police said another soldier Ramesh Sawant, a native of Karwar and attached to Army Dental Corps, Rajasthan, was also involved in the drug racket. However, Sawant is absconding, he said.

Nimbalkar said Belgaum had emerged as a transit point for drug peddlers in view of its proximity to the tourist haven of Goa. The Belgaum police had had recovered a total of 50 kgs of narcotic substances including brown sugar and hashish in the town during the last few months.

The solider Tombram Singh, who was arrested by the Belgaum police, was on leave. He and his associate had packed brown sugar in a bag used to carry a laptop. On interrogation, they revealed that they had bought the drugs from a source in Delhi, who had in turn received it from Myanmar.

Karnataka Chief Secretary’s appointment challenged by senior IAS officer

The appointment of Sudhakar Rao as the new Chief Secretary of Karnataka superseding four senior IAS officers has been challenged in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) by the Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman of Bangalore Development Authority Dilip Rau.

The Tribunal took up Dilip Rau’s petition yesterday and issued notices to the Federal Government and the State Government, besides posting the next hearing of the case to March 6.

Sudhakar Rao’s appointment as the new Chief Secretary in place of P B Mahishi, who was transferred as Chairman of Karnataka Power Corporation Limited by Governor Rameshwar Thakur had stirred up a hornet’s nest in the State.

The move, which comes when the state is under federal rule, has not only caused bitterness among the IAS officers senior to Sudhakar Rao, but also angered the JD (S), which had appointed Mahishi to the coveted post during the regime of H D Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister.

Even as Sudhakar Rao assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary, Dilip Rau submitted his petition before the CAT terming the appointment as “illegal, arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory”. Requesting the Tribunal to pass an interim order staying Sudhakar Rao’s appointment, Dilip Rau, who is a 1972 batch IAS officer and senior to Rao, sought a direction to appoint him to the post of Chief Secretary.

No senior IAS officer attended the brief programme held in the chambers of the Chief Secretary in Vidhana Soudha to witness the assumption of office by Sudhakar Rao.

Former Chief Secretary P B Mahishi and Additional Chief Secretary Neerja Rajumar are also exploring the options of moving the Tribunal against Rao’s appointment.

Meanwhile, JD (S) activists held demonstrations in different parts of the state yesterday condemning the removal of Mahishi from the post of Chief Secretary. Former Minister H D Revanna, who is also the son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, accused the Governor of succumbing to the pressure tactics of Congress leaders and removing Mahishi from the post.

However, former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the Governor’s decision and said the appointment of the Chief Secretary is carried out on the basis of seniority as well as merit. Hence, there is no violation of law in the appointment of Sudhakar Rao to the top post, he contended.

Doctors successfully remove extra pair of limbs from 2-year-old

A team of doctors have successfully removed the extra pair of arms and legs from a 2-year-old girl during a marathon surgery that extended upto 27 hours in a private hospital in Bangalore.

The condition of Lakshmi, who was born in a village in Bihar with eight limbs, four arms and four legs, was described as “safe” and “stable” after a team of 27 doctors separated her from the extra limbs, salvaged her vital organs and rebuilt her pelvis area.

“The operation was successful”, a beaming chairman and chief orthapaedic surgeon Sharan Patil told a press conference at Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore yesterday.

“Beyond our expectations, the reconstruction worked wonderfully well”, he said attributed the success of the rare surgery to the entire team of the hospital that was involved in the complex operation.

Lakshmi was a conjoined twin – joined to what doctors described as a headless parasitic twin, which had stopped developing in mother’s womb. The surviving foetus had absorbed the limbs, kidneys and other parts of the undeveloped body. Hence, Lakshmi was born with not only two pairs of arms and legs, but also four kidneys, entangled nerves, two stomach cavities and two chest cavities.

After the surgery, Sharan Patil said “Every step was successful. There was no setback whatsoever”.

Before Lakshmi was brought to Bangalore for the surgery, the two-year-old with eight limbs was worshipped as an incarnation of a Goddess in the rural parts of Bihar. Her poor parents Poonam and Shambhu were convinced by the doctors to bring Lakshmi to Bangalore for all-expenses paid surgery.

Both Poonam and Shambhu are happy that the surgery on their child was successful, but are continuing to pray that she can lead a normal life after the operation.

The rare surgery attracted huge media attention in Bangalore and the people were praying for the success of the operation ever since a cheerful Lakshmi was wheeled into the operation theatre early on Tuesday morning.

Compliments began pouring in to the doctors after they declared 27 hours later that the surgery had been successful and Lakshmi can hopefully lead a normal life in future.

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.