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Karnataka Crisis |
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Delhi, Moscow to jointly
develop advance stealth jet
Mumbai house collapse kills 4
Anti-collision device ready: Rail Minister
Seeing world through the eyes of a 110-year-old
CBI opposes ULFA leaders’ bail plea
They sustain in dense forests, thanks to IAF
NZ sorry for TV host’s slur on Dikshit
Family first, party later for Bihar MPs!
32,000 pilgrims expected to travel for Haj
‘North Eastern Hill varsity V-C must be a tribal’
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Karnataka Crisis
Bangalore, October 7 Will the beleaguered Chief Minister be able to pull off a victory? What if he fails to muster the strength? Will the Opposition Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) try to cobble up a government if the 28- month-old BJP government in the state loses its majority? Crucial issues such as these will become clear only on October 11, the day chosen by Yeddyurappa for proving his majority even though the Governor had offered him time till October 12. One thing is certain. Whoever wins the game of numbers on Monday, instability is going to be perennial feature of the Karnataka government in its remaining tenure. Till now, a serious game of hide and seek is being played between the rebel MLAs and their pursuers from the ruling party. The rebels are frequently changing their locations with BJP emissaries hot on their heels! From their initial hideout at Chennai, the rebels flew to Kochi last night and then left for Mumbai the same night. According to latest reports, some of the rebel MLAs have checked into a luxury resort at Goa today. Big money is being spent on their travel and accommodation and Yeddyurappa has accused HD Kumaraswamy, JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister, of taking care of the financial requirements of the rebels. There were initially 19 MLAs — seven ministers included — who wrote to Governor yesterday saying they were withdrawing support to the government. Five out of the 19 MLAs were the Independents. Four among the five Independents are ministers, who have been sacked by Yeddyurappa. According to latest reports, at least two MLAs — Doddanagouda Patil and Raju Gowda — have parted ways with the rebels and have offered support to Yeddyurappa. Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy, who had thrown a challenge to Yeddyurappa last year but is now playing the role of a saviour this time, has claimed that Bellubi S Kalappa, also a signatory of the letter to the Governor, too, has made a turnaround. One more rebel reportedly is having second thoughts. But Yeddyurappa, who went to Kerala today to offer prayers in a temple at Kollam, is still short of majority. Only if the Speaker disqualifies the rebel MLAs - who now number 15 - the BJP can have a wafer-thin majority over the opposition Congress - JD(S) combine. Yeddyurappa today sacked two more rebel ministers - Anand Asnotikar and Balachandra Jarakiholi. Both Asontikar and Jarakiholi are turncoats who had won the Assembly elections in May 2008 as Congress and JD(S) candidates, respectively. The BJP had similarly roped in others also from the Congress and the JD(S) to give stability to its government. In fact, following the present crisis, the Congress has sent away a large contingent of its MLAs to Pune to foil any attempt by the BJP to woo them. Karnataka BJP chief Eshrawappa has, meanwhile, ruled out removing Yeddyurappa from Chief Minister’s post.
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Delhi, Moscow to jointly
develop advance stealth jet
New Delhi, October 7 Announcing this here today, Defence Minister AK Antony today said that he has sorted out all issues regarding the joint development of the fifth generation of fighter aircraft
(FGFA) with his Russian counterpart AE Serdyukov. Apart from this, the joint development of the multi-role transport aircraft
(MTA) will be the other major military programme between the two nations over the next ten years. The FGFA deal is expected to be signed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s December-visit. Notably, today’s announcement balances out the “perceived” tilt in India’s decision to buy a series of aircrafts from the US. This includes medium haul transporters, the C-130-J, long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, the P8-I, and some VVIP jets from Boeing. India is likely to announce in November its decision to buy heavy-lift transporters, the C-17
globemaster, from the US. At present, the IAF flies only USSR-origin transporters. A majority of its reconnaissance aircraft are also from the same stable. The FGFA will be the IAF’s frontline fighter from 2016-2017 onwards and will cost the nation $ 25 billion, dwarfing the much-hyped $11-billion deal for the purchase of another 126 fighters. With stealth technology, super maneuverability and supersonic speed, it will match the F-22 raptor produced by the US.
Antony, while explaining the FGFA deal, said: “All issues (were) discussed and solved. Some technical formalities between the two governments are pending and we will be able to complete them very soon.” India will get anywhere between 250 and 300
FGFA, while the number of the MTA would be 45, said Antony. The Russians have already test flown a 30-tonne prototype of the
FGFA, known as the PAK-FA or by its shorter name T-50. The Russians today handed over a contract, which suggests a cost sharing formula for its substantial investments in design, development and testing. Sources said the Indian Defence Ministry has agreed as the Russians will transfer technology. In case of the
MTA, the two nations formed a $600 million joint enterprise in September for designing and producing it. The planes will be designed at carrying load of around 20
tonne, with speeds in the region of 800 miles, and will be an asset on shorter runways in Ladakh and the North East. Design specialists from
Ilyushin, maker of best-selling transport plane, IL-76, will be on board. Notably, India flagged to Russia about the delays it was facing in connection with some military projects. Sources said this included the upgrade programme for the MiG 29 fighters, delivery of nuclear submarine ‘Nerpa’ on lease, transfer of technology for critical equipment of T-90 tanks. New Delhi also wants establishment of repair and overhaul facilities for Russian origin defence equipment within India.
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Mumbai: Four persons were killed and 20 others injured after a three-storied building collapsed in South Mumbai's Bhendi Bazaar area. Some of the victims received severe burns in the incident, according to police. According to the fire brigade, the Jamnadas Villa building dating back more than a century collapsed this morning following a suspected gas cylinder blast. The impact of the explosion brought down a portion of the building trapping several people in the debris, officials said. The death toll so far has been pegged at four. More persons are trapped in the debris and rescue efforts to bring them out are on, according to officials.
— TNS
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Anti-collision device ready: Rail Minister
Kolkata, October 7 “The anti-collision device and the new signalling system will help prevent accidents,” Banerjee said. Stating that there was lack of initiative by her predecessors on the anti-collision device and the signalling system, Banerjee said that the Railways had to bear with the old infrastructure, while passenger traffic increased from 1.08 crore to 2.20 crore in last few years. On train accidents, she said that human error was responsible for some of them, but they were less in comparison to road accidents. "Road accidents take a toll of 1.40 lakh lives in India each year, while 1,000 persons die in rail accidents," she said. Railway will be self-sufficient in the next two years and a 'Vision 2020' have been developed for plans and programmes in this regard, she said, while inaugurating a three-km Metro Rail stretch from Kavi Nazrul to Kavi Subhas stations here.
— PTI
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Seeing world through the eyes of a 110-year-old
Chennai, October 7 The freedom fighter, Saraswathiammal, died as a destitute woman at an old age home here on Monday and her eyes were transplanted to a 12-year-old boy and a 35-year-old lady on the same day. After examining the results today, doctors at Rajan Eye Care Hospital said the process was successful on both the patients. The vision of the 12-year-old boy had been restored up to 70 per cent and that of the 35-year-old lady by 50 per cent, the doctors said and hoped for further improvement within a few weeks. The hospital management did not reveal the identities of the beneficiaries. The chairman of Rajan Eye Care Hospital, Mohan Rajan, said they were quiet surprised when a request was made by the old age home to harvest the eye of a 110-year-old lady. However, more surprise awaited them when they found that the corneas of the deceased lady were healthy. They seemed like that of a person who was in the age group of 40 to 50, the doctors said, adding that this prompted them to go ahead with the harvesting for transplantation purposes. According to the inmates of Vishranthi Old Age Home where she died, Saraswathiammal was a freedom fighter, whose family living in north India disintegrated following the riots after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. She came to Andhra Pradesh and later to her native Pattukottai in Tamil Nadu. While appearing in a TV show in 2002, she made an open request to shift her to an old age home. She was admitted to the Vishranthi home, as per her request. Saraswathiammal could speak six languages and was popular among the other residents of the old age home and her associates in her native town of Pattukottai, the inmates said. The administrators of the old age home said Saraswathiammal was admitted eight years ago with documentary proof that she was 102 years old at the time. They said it was a practice of the home to ask all the residents if they wanted to donate their eyes after death. When that question was put to Saraswathiammal, she readily agreed, they recalled. So far, about 182 pairs of eyes have been donated to Rajan Eye Care Hospital and this was the first time the donor happened to be a 110-year-old woman, they added.
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CBI opposes ULFA leaders’ bail plea
Guwahati, October 7 The ULFA leaders moved the bail petitions amid speculations that the government would not resort to stiff contest of bail petitions to facilitate release of the rebel leaders in the interest of beginning a peace process with the outfit.
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They sustain in dense forests, thanks to IAF
Pasighat (AP), October 7 In fact, the IAF is the only lifeline for seven villages - Galling, Singha, Paling, Chaklagam, Aneni, Mippi and Desali - of Pasighat district. In the absence of any motorable road to these villages, the local population depends on the IAF for the monthly supply of dry rations. The Mi-17 from the Mohanbari Air Force Station conducts 10 sorties in a month to provide ration to the villagers at Pasighat Aerodrome. However, the sorties usually reduce to five in a month during the monsoon, which inundate the low-lying areas of these villages. Abdul Majid, a resident of Pasighat said: “We cannot imagine life without the IAF. From providing rations to conducting evacuation operations during flash floods or any other exigency, we solely depend on the IAF.” Talking to The Tribune, District Food and Civil Supplies Officer Gautam Mibang said since there was no road connectivity and weather also remains unpredictable, we constantly keep in touch with the Mohanbari Air Force Station. “The incessant rains from May to September, fear of flash floods and problem of soil erosion virtually brings life to a halt,” he added. The IAF sources in Delhi said: “Not just Pasighat, there are many other areas in Aruncahal Pradesh which are maintained by the IAF. The IAF is also playing a significant role in road construction as the helicopters ferry equipment to these remote places.
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NZ sorry for TV host’s slur on Dikshit
New Delhi, October 7 The anchor Paul Henry, who had earlier made a racial slur against Indian-origin Governor-General of New Zealand Sir Anand Satyanand for which he was suspended, had deliberately twisted Dikshit's name to make fun of her. Upset over this, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna today directed the ministry to convey India's unhappiness over the conduct of the anchor to the High Commissioner Rupert Holborow. Halborow was summoned to the ministry and told that such remarks were unacceptable. On his part, the envoy is believed to have apologised and said he would convey the same to the Delhi Chief Minister. Meanwhile, the comments made by Henry has sparked a record number of complaints to TVNZ and drawn criticism from the Race Relations Commissioner, politicians, ethnic and community organisations and thousands of people. The Auckland Regional Migrant Services (ARMS) today said that many migrants to New Zealand would view the comments negatively.
— Agencies
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Family first, party later for Bihar MPs!
Patna, October 7 The electorate of Bihar is surely in for an entertaining election with father and son, husband and wife and siblings pitted against each other’s party in the fray. Interestingly, many of the fathers have pleaded their inability to campaign against their son but there is also an exceptional MP who has announced to campaign against his son contesting on the symbol of a rival party. RJD’s Lok Sabha member from Buxar Jagdanand Singh has openly announced to seek votes for his party’s candidate from Ramgarh Assembly constituency, the seat held by Singh for the last five terms till he was elected to the Parliament in 2009. Jagdanand’s son Sudhakar Singh is contesting the polls from the same seat as a BJP nominee against the wishes of his father. On the other hand, JD(U) MP from Karakat Mahabali Singh has expressed his inability to campaign against his son Dharmendra Singh who is the RJD candidate from Chainpur Assembly constituency, the seat represented by him till he was elected to the Lok Sabha last year.
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32,000 pilgrims expected to travel for Haj
New Delhi, October 7 Around 32,000 pilgrims are expected to travel out of Delhi for Haj this year through the IGIA. The first batch of pilgrims will leave from IGIA on October 9 and will continue till the 10th of November. After performing Haj, they will start returning to Delhi from November 21 till December 22. “The erstwhile international terminal, T2 will be used for the Haj operations this year. Pilgrims will be able to use specially earmarked areas for offering prayers inside the Terminal 2. Other facilities at IGIA for pilgrims this year include: Eight immigration counters, 10 check-in counters, convenient toilet areas specially modified to Indian style and provision of basic medical support,” DIAL statement added.
— TNS
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‘North Eastern Hill varsity V-C must be a tribal’
Guwahati, October 7 Students of the varsity, backed by the influential Khasi Students’ Union, have opposed Rai’s appointment. The Meghalaya Tribal Students’ Coordination Committee, demanded that a “tribal from the region, preferably from Meghalaya” be chosen for the post. —TNS
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The gripping political drama in Karnataka, with a bunch of disgruntled BJP legislators as chief actors, is expected to reach its climax on Monday when Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa is supposed to prove his majority in the Assembly.
New Delhi, October 7
Kolkata, October 7
Pasighat (AP), October 7
