Bangalore October 8
Acting on a complaint by Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, Karnataka Assembly Speaker KG Bopaiah today served notices to 11 rebel BJP MLAs asking them to explain why they should not be disqualified under the anti-defection law for indulging in anti-party activities.

The move is considered as a pressure tactic by the BJP to quell dissidence to save its tottering government.

Those issued the notice are MP Renukacharya, Belur Gopalakrishna, Balachandra Jarkiholi, Shivanagouda Naik, HS Shankaralinge Gowda,Y Sampangi, Anand Asnotikar, Sarbhouma Bagali, GN Nanjundaswamy, Baramgouda H Kage and MV Nagaraju.

Assembly Secretary SB Patil told The Tribune that the recipients of the notice had been asked to reply by 5 pm on Sunday. The Chief Minister has convened a special two-day session of the Assembly from Monday to prove his majority in the House.

Fourteen BJP MLAs and five Independents wrote a letter to Governor HR Bhardwaj on Wednesday withdrawing support to the Yeddyurappa-led government. This prompted Bhardwaj to ask Yeddyurappa to prove his majority in the House by October 12.

Under the Anti-Defection Act, legislators face expulsion from the party and disqualification from contesting elections for six years if they defy the party whip. The Chief Minister will be moving confidence motion to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly on October 11, as directed by the Governor.

With three BJP legislators — S K Bellubbi, Rajugouda Naik and DB Patil — breaking away from the rebel group, the ruling party now requires seven more votes to win the vote of confidence.

“I am hopeful of getting full support. I have prayed to Goddess Chamundeshwari to help me in the development of the state without any impediment during the next three years,” Yeddyurappa told reporters after seeking the blessings of the Goddess at Mysore.

The Chief Minister said he prayed to the Goddess to also “give wisdom” to the rebels and return to the party.

Party's senior leader and Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka M Venkaiah Naidu lashed out at the JD(S) for precipitating the political crisis in the state by luring the party's legislators to revolt against the leadership.

“Former state chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and his brother and former minister HD Revanna are the villains behind the political drama being enacted in the state. They are mistaken to dream about coming back to power through the back door after bringing down our government,” Naidu told reporters after meeting ministers and other legislators in the city.

The rebels are currently camping in a hotel in Goa. Karnataka Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy, who has donned the role of a troubleshooter, went to Goa yesterday to persuade the rebels to return to the BJP fold. HD Kumarswamy, JD(S) leader, too, left for Goa yesterday to scuttle Reddy’s mission.

Meanwhile, the Congress has packed off its MLAs to Maharastra to prevent “poaching”.

“Ex-Chief Minister HDKumaraswamy and his brother HD Revanna are the villains behind the political drama in the state.”

M Venkaiah Naidu 

MLAs who’ve been served notices: MP Renukacharya, Belur Gopalakrishna, Balachandra Jarkiholi, Shivanagouda Naik, HS Shankaralinge Gowda,Y Sampangi, Anand Asnotikar, Sarbhouma Bagali, GN Nanjundaswamy, Baramgouda H Kage and MV Nagaraju

Those MLAs who backtracked:

SK Bellubbi, Rajugouda Naik and DB Patil of the BJP

“I am hopeful of getting full support. I have prayed to Goddess Chamundeshwari to help me in the development of the state without any impediment during the next three years.” 

New Delhi, October 8
On Thursday, it was a special party at the Indian Medical Association’s headquarters in the Capital. The chief guest on the occasion was disgraced former boss of Medical Council of India, Ketan Desai.

The dinner was organised by IMA members who were celebrating Desai getting bail from the Delhi High Court to travel to Vancouver to attend a conference of the World Medical Association. Desai was appointed as the chief of the WMA last year and is now set to take over the world body’s reins.

Back home, the Board of Governors of the MCI is learnt to have asked the CBI to prevent Desai from going abroad in the light of serious corruption charges he faces.

The MCI has asked the CBI to immediately appeal against the order of the HC and mention therein that Desai has no right to represent the medical fraternity of India.

When asked if the body had written to the CBI, Dr Ranjit Roy Choudhry, member of the MCI Board of Governors, did not reply in the negative. He said he did not want to get into the details of the issue. The MCI is, however, learnt to have said that Desai sought permission to travel abroad on the basis of some MCI documents, whereas the government had disbanded the MCI through an ordinance earlier.

The letter also stated how Desai, through his alleged corrupt dealings, caused irreparable damage to the reputation of doctors and therefore had no right to do anything that is representative of the nation’s medical fraternity.

Like the IMA, which continues to support Desai, the WMA is also not willing to take any action (of stalling his taking over as WMA chief) until he is proved guilty. 

New Delhi, October 8
The Navi Mumbai airport — source of major disagreement between the Environment and Civil Aviation ministries — appears to be heading toward a compromise. An Environment Ministry team will visit the controversial greenfield airport site on October 21-22 to assess whether environmental concerns regarding the financial capital’s proposed second airport have been addressed by project promoter City and Industrial Development Corporation.

Environment Ministry officials feel there could be an agreement between the two warring sides, especially after CIDCO having “verbally” indicated of making required changes in its plans to address the concerns.

In its last meeting, the Environment Assessment Committee had asked CIDCO to consider alternative sites for airport as the construction of runways at Navi Mumbai airport would have led to destruction of a large area of mangroves besides diversion of two rivers. It also suggested the developers to relocate non-essential airport facilities away from the site to mitigate the environmental impact of the proposed project. Apparently, CIDCO and consultants for the Navi Mumbai airport have worked out a plan to construct the new airport without damage to mangroves and diversion of Gadhi river. CIDCO has already decided to shift the location of non-aeronautical assets and reduce the distance between runways from 1.8 km to 1.5 km.

Officials, however, say the final call will be taken after the EAC team visit. The project has been hanging fire for long with allegations and counter-allegations flying among Environment and Aviation ministries and the state government. While Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh stressed the need for speedy clearance, Aviation Minister Praful Patel said development could not be sacrificed for ecological concerns.

Chandigarh, October 8
With the IAF being roped in to provide air support for the anti-Naxal operations, it has completed the withdrawal of its combat helicopters that were deployed overseas on the United Nations peacekeeping missions. Withdrawal of transport and utility helicopters is expected to begin shortly. The IAF had delployed its Mi25/35 helicopter gunships in Congo besides Mi-8 and Mi-17 choppers in Congo and Sudan. The de-induction of the gunships began in mid-September and the last batch was airlifted to Chandigarh from Congo on Wednesday, the IAF sources said. These would be serviced and refurbished at No 3. Base Repair Depot here.

Sources revealed that nine Mi-25/35 gunships have been ferried to Chandigarh by the giant Russian built AN-124 freighter, the largest aircraft in regular service in the world, with a payload capacity of 120 tonnes. It has taken six sorties to bring in the helicopters, along with their associated ground support equipment and related paraphernalia. The Mi25/35 gunships are heavily armed and armoured helicopters that are used to provide close air support to ground troops during assaults. Besides the pilot and the weapon systems operator, these also have the capability to carry up to eight fully equipped troops.

Besides the UN operations, the IAF’s Mi-25s have seen action with the Indian Peace Keeping Force against the LTTE in Sri Lanka in the late 1980s where, according to some reports, Indian losses were considerably reduced by the heavy fire support provided by these gunships. Though no Mi-25 was lost, several sustained heavy damage from machine gun fire.

The Antonov Design Bureau, the manufacturers of the aircraft are undertaking the airlift on a contractual basis. Interestingly, the Bureau has its own commercial airlift operations wing and these aircraft do not belong to any aviation firm, sources said.

The IAF had deployed about 12 choppers in Congo and nine in Sudan for providing logistical support to UN personnel. The complete withdrawn of these is expected to be complete by April next year. The Ministry of Home Affairs, the nodal agency handling the anti-Naxal operations, has been seeking enhanced logisitical support from the IAF for movement of personnel and casualty evacuation particularly in inhospitable areas. Consequently, the IAF had opted to withdraw its aircraft assigned to the UN role to make the necessary assets available.

New York, October 8
Former BJP chief Rajnath Singh has contracted dengue fever and has been advised to stay here until it was safe for him to travel, his spokesperson said today.

“He is stable but the doctors will not let him leave until the trend is downwards,” Singh's spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said. Singh, who has been in New York for almost a week, went for further tests to the hospital yesterday but then later returned to his hotel near the United Nations, he said. The 59-year-old leader was yesterday supposed to leave New York for returning to India.

Singh had spoke at the UN about India's concern on terrorism on Wednesday.

He had later in an interview to PTI said countries like Pakistan that had terrorists operating in their territory should be declared as “rogue states”. Singh was hospitalised yesterday but he is expected to return to his hotel this morning. His spokesperson said: “He is okay and his health is improving.” — PTI 

Ayodhya, October 8
Unfazed by plans of others to approach the Supreme Court, three main parties in the Ayodhya title suits - Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, Hashim Ansari and Nirmohi Akhara - today came together for the first time on a public platform and discussed a formula for a negotiated settlement.

Panch Ram Das of Nirmohi Akhara, Ramvilas Vedanti of Ram Janmbhoomi Trust and 90-year-old litigant Hashim Ansari held a meeting at the residence of Hanuman Ghari Mahant Gyan Das and deliberated ways to find a solution.

Later, the three claimed they have reached a formula, which they think would be acceptable to both Hindus and Muslims, but did not elaborate. Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha and Sunni Central Waqf Board have announced they would approach the Supreme court.

“We have devised a solution to the dispute keeping in mind sentiments of people of both Hindu and Muslim communities. And we have also taken into account court's verdict on the issue,” Gyan Das said after the meeting.

“Hashim bhai has given me the responsibility for initiating settlement talks and I have brought the three on a platform. The roza-iftar was held here and now the Ayodhya dispute will be sorted out here,” Das said. Agreeing with Das, Ansari said that even if someone approached the Supreme Court, their exercise for an amicable settlement would continue.

“We will not allow those playing politics over the issue among us,” Ansari said.

Meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court has nominated Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (fourth) Vishnu Prasad Agarwal to hear the Babri Mosque demolition case here.

The nomination has come after the district judge had written a letter to the high court requesting nomination of a judge in the CBI special court, court sources said. The next hearing in the case is scheduled on October 26.

The special CBI court hearing Babri demolition case had been without a judge since the transfer of Chief Judicial Magistrate Gulab Singh, they said. — PTI

Lucknow, October 8
RTI activists in Uttar Pradesh are taking to the streets to protest against the Mayawati government’s decision to keep the Vigilance Department out of the purview of the Right to Information Act.

According to National RTI Forum convener Nutan Thakur, if the controversial order is not immediately revoked, the forum shall seek all possible democratic options, including the right to proper judicial remedies.

“We believe that this act of the state government will only embolden the wrongful elements in the administration,” said Thakur.

The state government has ordered the Vigilance Department and the state’s Vigilance establishment to be kept out of the RTI Act. This has been done under the provisions of Section 24 (1) of the RTI Act. 

Patna, October 8
The ruling National Democratic Alliance received a severe jolt in poll-bound Bihar today following the resignation of state BJP chief Dr CP Thakur.

In a sudden development, Thakur -- appointed Bihar BJP Chief only a few months ago -- put in his papers today morning. However, the top party leadership had not decided on his resignation till late evening. Many senior BJP leaders and NDA convener Sharad Yadav got busy pleading with Thakur to withdraw his resignation.

On being contacted by The Tribune, Thakur confirmed that he had submitted his resignation to BJP chief Nitin Gadkari. Although Thakur refused to elaborate on why he had put in his papers on the eve of Assembly elections, he said there were many factors that led him to resigning. When asked if refusal of party ticket to his son Vivek was the immediate provocation for him to quit, Thakur refuted it.

Thakur also said that he would not campaign for NDA candidates. Thakur was to accompany Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi for campaigning in the Kosi belt today but he stayed back, forcing Modi to go with another party leader.

A large number of Thakur’s supporters who had gathered outside Thakur’s residence shouted slogans against the Deputy Chief Minister. They also slammed Sushil Kumar Modi for denying the party symbol to sitting Bikram constituency MLA Anil Kumar. Barely a day ago, the BJP leadership had nominated Ram Janam Sharma -- considered a close confidante of Sushil Modi -- from the Bikram seat.

Meanwhile, his supporters said that CP Thakur had not been consulted by the Modi-led coterie while selecting candidates for the assembly election. They said that Sushil Modi had opposed Thakur’s appointment as Bihar BJP president tooth and nail as he had wanted one of his yes-men on the post. But in view of the ensuing elections, the top BJP leadership decided on Thakur’s name to keep his castemen -- Bhumihars -- in good humour. 

Bangalore, October 8
After a five-year-long trial, a fast track court today sentenced to life imprisonment till death cab driver Shiva Kumar for the gruesome rape and murder of call centre employee Pratibha Srikanthamurthy. Shiva Kumar will remain in jail till his natural death and not the usual 14-year term.

The court also sentenced Shiva Kumar to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 10,000 under Section 366 of the IPC for kidnapping Pratibha. If he fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo one year additional imprisonment. Shiva Kumar was given another 10 years rigorous imprisonment under Section 376 for raping Pratibha and ordered a fine of Rs 20,000. In case of failure to pay the fine, he will have to undergo two years additional RI.

Pratibha, 22, had joined HP Globalsoft in 2005 after her marriage. On the night of December 13, 2005, Shiva Kumar picked up Pratibha up for her night shift in the office vehicle but she neither reached office nor returned home. A day later, her body was found on the outskirts of the city with her throat slit.

Eighty witnesses were examined in the case in the last five years. Pratibha’s mother Gowramma (80), who raised her single-handedly after her father died when she was 16 days old, turned emotional and said she had expected that Shiva Kumar be sentenced to death. She, however, added that she was happy that Shiva Kumar had been finally punished.

Gowramma, a former employee of Vijaya Bank, said stringent punishment should be given to such culprits so that it acts as a deterrent. She said she was contemplating filing an appeal in a higher court demanding death sentence for Shiva Kumar.

Shiva Kumar, who claimed he was framed by the police and remained unperturbed during the trial, lost his composure after the verdict was pronounced and started shouting: “I am not guilty. I have not done it. Do a narco analysis on me”. His wife Suma, who had disowned him after the crime and refused to even see him, burst into tears. “If my husband is not released, I will drink poison and end my life,” she said and told reporters that she would do everything to prove Shiva Kumar’s innocence.

Pratibha’s husband Srinivas Shetty expressed satisfaction with the verdict and said: “Everyday, the convict should remember the heinous act he had committed.”

Panaji, October 8
Grassroots wildlife activists who have been fighting for notification of Goa's rich but mining-threatened forests as a tiger reserve have found a unique way to compensate a 51-year-old widow whose cow was killed by a big cat in September.

The milk-yielding cow was a lifeline for Sai Pingle, a dhangar tribal, and a mother of two boys living in a thatched hut in the remote village of Ponsuli on the fringe of the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary. “We decided to collect money and compensate her with another cow. The local population should not turn against the tiger. It is imperative that they realise how important the animal is for the sustenance of this forest in the long run,” renowned wildlife activist Rajendra Kerkar said.

His Vivekanand Environment Awareness Brigade (VEAB) has taken the lead for collecting donations for the cow. “A desi variety of cow, the kind, which was killed by the tiger, costs Rs 15,000, but a tiger is priceless,” Kerkar said. Kerkar's anxiety stems from extremely practical reasons. Last year, a tiger was snared and poached in the very same Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary by members of a local hunting tribe called the “Majiks”. Interestingly, both top forest department officials and the local administration first tried to cover up the poaching incident. The chief conservator of forests, Shashi Kumar, even went to the extent of calling Kerkar, who exposed the poaching episode, an abettor.

“The sensitisation of the local population towards the tiger is extremely essential to ensure the preservation of the animal. If the tiger is to frequent the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, the local residents cannot have animosity towards it,” Kerkar said. He said: “People like Sai Pingle who live near wildlife sanctuaries should not begin to curse the king of the jungle.”

Kerkar said if the 'Cow for Pingle' formula works, then similar efforts would be made to collect donations for those economically backward folk whose bovines were lost to tiger kills. The Eco Treks Goa (ETG) has aligned itself along with the VEAB in the campaign. A very popular trekking group, the ETG has also been at the forefront of the state's green brigade. Wildlife activists claim that the grudging reluctance of the Forest Department and the state administration to admit to the presence of the tiger in Goa's numerous wildlife sanctuaries stems from the fact that notification of a tiger reserve in the area would severely impede the Rs 6,000-crore mining industry, which threatens to rip into Goa's green cover. — IANS

Chennai, October 8
The Madras High Court today set aside the appointment of senior IPS officer Letika Charan as DGP on grounds that it was not made in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.

Allowing a petition filed by IPS officer R Nataraj challenging Letika Charan's appointment, a division Bench comprising Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifullah and Justice MM Sundaresh directed the Tamil Nadu government to appoint a new DGP by December first week.

The Judges added that Letika Saran, the first woman DGP of the state who took over in January last, could continue as DGP till a new one was appointed. The court directed the state government to furnish a fresh panel of names of those eligible to hold the post of DGP to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Senior IPS officer Nataraj in his petition had claimed that his seniority had been overlooked by the state government during the appointment of DGP.

The hearing ended on September 7, when the court had reserved orders.

Besides Nataraj, the appointment was challenged in the Madras High Court by K Vijay Kumar, who now heads the CRPF. Vijay Kumar, the only IPS officer from Tamil Nadu who received the President's Police Medal for Gallantry, headed the successful operations against forest brigand Veerappan.

In his petition, Vijay Kumar expressed shock at the presumption of the state government that he was not willing to accept the post of DGP since he had never expressed his "unwillingness" to be appointed for the post. Charging the home secretary with misleading the court, he said the official might have misled the government as well.

“The home secretary's contention that I had gone on my own volition (for deputation) is correct but his presumptuous inference that this is synonymous with my unwillingness to serve in the cadre in which I was borne since the last three decades is shocking, to say the least. It is also legally incorrect,” Vijay Kumar had said.

Guwahati, October 8
The Gauhati High court today granted bail to former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Gegong Apang, who was arrested in connection with the Rs 1,000-crore Public Distribution System scam.

Apang, who was the CM of the hill state for 23 years in different tenures, was arrested by the Special Investigation Cell (SIC) of the Arunachal Pradesh police on August 24 this year for his alleged involvement in the scandal. Though in custody, Apang spent last 40 days in hospital. He was interrogated thrice by the SIC while in custody.

A Division Bench of Gauhati High Court, comprising Justice IA Ansari and Justice AC Upadhyay, after hearing the bail petition today granted bail to the veteran politician.

The court directed Apang to not induce, intimidate or even get in touch with any of the witnesses or accused in the case, not to leave station without permission of the court and make himself available whenever he is required for interrogation.

Apang’s counsels argued before the court that since the case was based on documentary evidence that is now in the custody of the police, there was no need for keeping Apang in custody any longer.

The scam involved misappropriation of about Rs 1,000 crore through fake bills submitted in connection with hill transport subsidy and road transport charges.

Apang was booked under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC. Charges under Prevention of Corruption Act have been also slapped on him.

The SIC was formed at the instruction of the HC after it had taken up a public interest litigation filed by one Bamang Anthony (now Tago) president of Arunachal Citizens’ Right, and Domin Loya in October 2004. The petitioners alleged that foodgrains meant for tribals in Arunachal Pradesh were sold in black market in neighbouring Assam and sought the court’s intervention to stop it.

The SIC had submitted a list of 40 persons, including any IAS offices, to the HC as accused in  October 2008.