Police questions Karnataka Home Minister

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 24: Lokayukta police today questioned
Karnataka Home Minister R Ashoka in connection with its
probe into a complaint filed against him for allegedly
securing denotification of government land in violation of
rules.
A team led by City Lokayukta Superintendent of Police P
Shivashankar questioned Ashoka for about 90 minutes in its
office and asked him about 80 questions about the course of
events in purchasing and denotification of a piece of land,
Lokayukta police sources said.
A sessions court had yesterday directed Lokayukta police
to submit its final report on the complaint filed against
Ashoka by December 16.
RTI activist Jayakumar Hiremath had filed the complaint
accusing Ashoka of being involved in illegal denotification of
government land, causing an estimated loss of Rs 50 crore to
the state exchequer.
Hiremath alleged the minister had secured denotification
of 23.12 guntas (a gunta is 1/40 of an acre) of land belonging
to Bangalore Development Authority when B S Yeddyurappa was
the Chief Minister.
Earlier, the Lokayukta police submitted a status report
on its investigations into the complaint.

Ex-KSPC Chief gets bail

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 24: Karnataka High Court today
granted conditional bail to former Karnataka State Public
Service Commission Chairman H N Krishna who was arrested in
connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment of
gazetted probationary officers.
Granting the relief, Justice Billappa said since
sufficient investigation had been done there was no purpose in
keeping the accused in custody.
The judge also said the complainant's highlighting the
grievance six years after the incident took place in 2005
gave rise to suspicion.
The judge directed Krishna, a former state Information
Commissioner, to furnish a Rs two lakh bond and two sureties
of the like sum. Krishna was also directed to submit his
passport to the court and appear before the CID for
interrogation as and when required.
A CID inquiry had found alleged discrimination,
fabrication of documents, fraud and criminal intimidation
among others in various stages of selection process of
gazetted probationers (Group A and B posts) during 1998, 1999
and 2004.
The CID had filed a complaint against him on August 11. A
Metropolitan Magistrate court had on October 12 remanded
Krishna to judicial custody.
Krishna also allegedly forced a candidate appearing for
personality test to put in his signature in attendance sheet
and another document and fabricated it later to disqualify
him.

HC rejects BJP MLA's plea to transfer case to other judge

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 24: The Karnataka High Court today
rejected the petition filed by BJP MLA Y Sampangi seeking
transfer of a bribery case against him in a lower court before
some other judge, for lack of documentary evidence.
Sampangi had contended that his case be transferred to
another court as present Lokayukta Judge N K Sudhindra Rao and
complainant Hussain M Farooq hail from Kolar district to which
he also belongs.
Justice B V Pinto rejected the petition by dismissing
the statements made by Sampangi as mere allegations which were
not substantiated with documentary evidence.
Sampangi, the MLA from Kolar Gold Fields, was caught by
Lokayukta police in January 2009 at the Legislator's home
while allegedly accepting Rs five lakh bribe from Farooq, a
businessman, to settle a civil dispute.
The legislator was booked under the Prevention of
Corruption Act, and charges were framed against him earlier
this year.
On October 31, Sampangi was granted bail by the Lokayukta
court.

Yeddyurappa's bail plea posted for Nov 28

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 24: Karnataka High Court today posted
for orders on November 28 a petition moved by former Chief
Minister B S Yeddyurappa seeking anticipatory bail in a
complaint filed against him and his family members relating to
alleged irregularities in denotification of land.
When the matter came up, Justice H Billappa, who was to
pronounce the order today, posted it to Monday next observing
that the main order was yet to be ready and there were certain
corrections to be made therein.
The private complaint filed before the Lokayukta court by
advocate Sirajin Bhasha related to denotification of land by
Yeddyurappa in violation of rules favouring his family.
In this case, besides Yeddyurappa, the other accused are
Davalagiri Property Developers Private Limited and Bhagath
Homes Private Limited (both promoted by Yeddyurappa's family),
R N Sohan Kumar (Yeddyurappa's son-in-law), Adarsh Developers
represented by B M Jayashankar and Karunesh, director of
Akarsha Properties.
On November 16, Justice Billappa granted anticipatory
bail to Yeddyurappa, his two sons B Y Raghavendra, a Lok Sabha
member and B Y Vijayendra and Sohan Kumar in two complaints
relating to alleged irregularities in denotification of
government lands. Bhasha had filed the complaints in the
Lokayukta special court.

India to raise Rs 10,000 crore to build highways

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 23: The National Highways Authority
of India (NHAI) would soon raise Rs 10,000 crore through a
public debt issue to fund various projects across the country,
Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi said today.
"We are making efforts to raise Rs 10,000 crore debt from
the open market to fund various national highway projects in a
month's time," Joshi told reporters on the sidelines of Excon
2011 here.
"Finance ministry has given approval for raising only up
to Rs 10,000 crore. It is sufficient for the time being and we
will look at raising more funds as and when we take up new
road projects," he added.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced a target of
laying of 20 km of new roads every day and for that contracts
for about 7,300 km had to be awarded, he said.
The Ministry has already awarded contracts for 4,600 km
and the rest would be awarded in the remaining months, Joshi
said. "Before going to (the next parliamentary) election, we
will be able to do 20 km per day," he said.
Earlier, addressing the exhibition, Joshi said that in
the 12th Five Year Plan, investments in the highway sector "in
all likelihood" would increase by USD 185 billion.
He said Public Private Partnership projects have been
able attract investments of Rs 21,000 crore in the first four
months (to July) in the current fiscal.
The Centre had targeted investments worth 9 per cent of
gross domestic product (GDP) in infrastructure during the 11th
Five Year Plan.
Indian Earthmoving and Construction Industry Association
Chairman, Glenville da Silva, said there was a need for a
robust policy reforms and greater transparency in decision
making to tide over several economic-related problems
afflicting the country.
"We require a clearly articulated environmental policy
that will help clear logjams afflicting mining and power
projects," he said.
Silva also stressed the need for a new land acquisition
policy that would speed up project execution.
The recent debt crisis in Europe, the weakening of the
rupee against the US dollar and high inflation have induced
negative sentiments in the market, he said.

Yeddyurappa, Sreeramulu face off during Bellary campaign

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bellary (Kar), Nov 22: Former Karnataka Chief
Minister B S Yeddyurappa and BJP rebel B Sreeramulu were today
involved in a war of words while campaigning for bye-election
to November 30 Bellary rural assembly constituency, claiming
that they were the kingmakers.
Yeddyurappa said as chief minister he gave Bellary three
ministers (Reddy brothers and Sreeramulu) from the district.
"I was the only chief minister to have given Bellary three
ministers from the district," he said at Cowl Bazar.
BJP would take strict action against those BJP legislators
who were campaigning for Sreeramulu in the bypoll, Yeddyurappa
said. "A lesson will be taught to those supporting
Sreeramulu," he added.
Yeddyurappa said he was confident of party candidate
Gadi Linganappa winning the bypoll, which he considered as
crucial for both the party and the government.
"People in Bellary have seen our development works
across the state and they are with us. I am confident that
Gadi Lingappa will win the bypoll," he said.
Hitting back at Yeddyurappa while campaigning at Honalli
Tanda, Sreeramulu said he and Reddy brothers', in fact,
were instrumental in making the BJP leader chief minister.
"With Reddy brothers' support Yeddyurappa became chief
minister ... also he has taken help from us whenever
required," he said.

Gowda goes on fast for CBI probe into anti-BIMC activist death

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 22: Former prime minister and JDS
chief H D Deve Gowda today observed a day's fast here
demanding a CBI inquiry into the recent murder of a man who
was protesting against Bangalore-Mysore expressway project.
Gowda, who went on the fast in front of the Mahatma Gandhi
statue here, alleged that the firm implementing the
controversial Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC)
project, was behind the killing of Siddalinga Prabhu.
He also alleged that the firm Nandi Infrastructure
Corridor Enterprise (NICE) was threatening and harassing
farmers in collusion with state police.
Gowda claimed the state government failed to take
cognisance of a letter written by senior Supreme Court
advocate Prashant Bhushan to the state government last year
complaining about the threat to Prabhu, who was hacked to
death on October 17.
Inspite of an FIR filed against NICE chief Ashok Kheny and
his men, police took no action, Gowda, who himself has been
carrying on a sustained campaign against the project alleging
irregularities in land acquisition, said.
He said he would the raise the issue in the ongoing winter
session of Parliament and also meet leaders of regional
parties in Delhi and discuss 'irregularities' in the BMIC
project.

Srei BNP Paribas ropes in Sahaj to offer trained operators

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 22: Infrastructure equipment finance
company Srei BNP Paribas today roped in the services of Sahaj
e-Village Limited, a subsidiary of Srei Infrastructure Finance
Limited, for offering trained operators to infrastructure
contractors.
Sahaj works towards eliminating undemocratic digital
divide between rural and urban India under the flagship of
National e-Governance Plan (NeGP). It brings government,
business and services to rural India through an expanding
network of village-level franchisee partners.
"With this initiative we hope to help infrastructure
contractors in getting skilled manpower to complete projects
on time," Srei BNP Paribas CEO D K Vyas told reporters here.
As the largest implementer of NeGP, Sahaj through its
Skill Development Centres (SDCs) has already trained more than
7,600 candidates in different trades in rural areas in six
states, he said.
Sahaj has already rolled out network of over 24,000 Common
Service Centres (CSCs) out of over 28,000 mandated CSCs, he
said. "Each CSC provides host of e-governance, e-learning
and e-commerce services to over 28 crore rural Indians," Vyas
said.
Srei Sahaj e-Village Limited CEO Sanjay Panigrahi said
the company has 5,674 candidates in different vocations
providing highly skilled work force to the construction
industry.

Srei BNP Paribas expects Rs 600-cr biz at Excon show

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 22: Infrastructure and
construction equipment financing firm Srei BNP Paribas hopes
to do business of over Rs 600 crore at Excon 2011, the largest
construction equipment exhibition in the country, a senior
company official said.
At the five-day exhibition, Paribas would offer
innovative financial products like Asset Power, Money Power,
Don't Worry Finance and Khel Interest Ka, Srei BNP Paribas CEO
D K Vyas told reporters here.
"A customer will be entitled to enjoy a pre-approved
credit limit and may get 100 per cent financing of the
equipment at attractive terms," he said.
Paribas would organise customer engagement programmes
at its 82 offices across India with live webcasts and
streaming to ensure customers to get th feel of Excon 2011,
Vyas said.
Paribas has also introduced a unique solution 'Tension
Mat Lo' at the exhibition, he said.
"Keeping in mind the problems a customer faces while
trying to get finance, through 'Tension Mat Lo' Paribas
assures its customers to leave their tensions behind and enjoy
the hassle-free financing solution," Vyas said.
Paribas already disbursed over Rs 6,611 crore in first
half of this fiscal and expects a target disbursement of Rs
14,000 crore for FY12, Vyas said.

Why was Advani silent on graft during NDA rule: Kharge

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bellary (Kar), Nov 21: Terming L K Advani's yatra as
a failure, Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge today
alleged that the BJP leader had been "silent" on black money
and corruption issues when NDA was in power.
"Advani kept mum and did nothing to bring back black
money to the country during the six years of NDA rule. Why is
he vocal now? ... It is just a political gimmick," he told
reporters here.
Kharge was here to campaign for Congress candidate B
Ramprasad for the November 30 by-election to the Bellary
Rural constituency.
Kharge said Advani's yatra against corruption has failed
to evoke good response as people are aware of the "real
culprits".

Karnataka to get three new railway lines

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 21: The Railway Ministry has approved
three new railway lines in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister
D V Sadananda Gowda said here today.
"Three new railway lines - Gadag-Wadi, Kengeri-Chamrajnagar
and Srinivasapura-Madanapalled - have been approved (by the
Railway Board)," he said delivering keynote address at
Business Standard Infrastructure Round Table 2011 here.
About Rs 24,000 crore worth projects are being undertaken
in the state, including 2,137 km of new railway line in
Karnataka, Gowda said. "Gauge conversion and line doubling
works also are being undertaken," he added.
The state government has also received in-principle
approval for Metro Phase II from the Central Government, he
added.
About air connectivity, Gowda said both Shimoga and
Gulbarga airports, being developed under Public-Private
Partnership (PPP), would be operational before July 2012.
As many as 105 infrastructure projects under PPP format are
underway in the state and are at various stages of development
involving an investment of Rs 80,946 crore, he said.
Karnataka has been at the forefront in various sectors
including education, health, business, communication and
information technology, he said.
"The state contributes up to 8 per cent of India's
industrial income and 9.8 per cent of product exports," Gowda
said. Karnataka is the seventh largest and fifth most
urbanised state and ranks third as a recipient of FDI, the
chief minister said.
Gowda also said the government was taking up major projects
like the greenfield port at Tadadi, Dabhol-Bangalore gas
pipeline, city gas distribution for Bangalore, international
transit centre at Subhashnagar and traffic/transport
management centre at Hebbal.

Karnataka sets up panel to look into cocoon price crash

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 21: Karnataka Chief Minister D V
Sadananda Gowda today announced setting up of a committee
comprising silk farmers and officials to study the reasons
that led to a crash in prices of cocoon in the state.
Cocoon prices have plummeted to Rs 30-40 per kg from Rs
150-170 per kg.
The committee would submit its report in a month's time,
he told reporters after meeting sericulture farmers here.
"Soon after the committee submitts report, I would meet
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to sort out the problem of
crashing cccoon prices," Gowda said.
Labour and Sericulture Minister B N Bache Gowda on
November 10 had blamed north India's silk traders lobby for
the price cash, accusing it of forcing the Centre to reduce
import duty on silk from 31 per cent to 5 per cent in the
last year's budget.
Gowda said Pranab Mukherjee, who wrote a letter to Bache
Gowda, has also defended the north India silk traders' demand
to reduce import duty on silk.
The state government recently assured sericulture farmers
that they would get a threshold price of Rs 160 per kg of
cocoon.
Sericulture farmers staged a protest on Bangalore-Mysore
road in Channapatna and Ramnagar last Sunday and blocked the
movement of vehicles for several hours.
Karnataka accounts for almost half of the country's silk
production and an estimated 8.15 lakh people depend on
sericulture and allied activities for their livelihood.
Mulberry cultivation is spread across 62,697 hectares.

Let states take up rail work under PPP model: Plan panel member

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 21: Planning Commission Member B K
Chaturvedi today said state governments should be allowed to
take up railway works under PPP model.
"It is an excellent idea ... state governments should be
allowed to adopt PPP model for taking up railway works ...
this will improve railways income," he said in response to a
query in an interaction session at Business Standard
Infrastructure Meet 2011 here.
Chaturvedi also hinted at including adoption of PPP model
to raise the income of Railways in the ensuing 12th Five Year
Plan (2012-2017).
There is a massive requirement for the Railways to expand
as it has just added 11,000-km odd railway line to 52,000-km
line existing prior to the Independence, he said.
"Hardly any expansion has taken place in the Railways,"
he added.
The expansion has taken place in line doubling and gauge
conversion activities, Chaturvedi said.
Stressing the need for expanding PPP window to improve
income in all sectors, he hoped far more private investments
as against public investments in the 12th plan.
"In 1950s, private investments used to be 45 per cent as
against 55 per cent public investments," he said.

Advani helpless over corruption in Karnataka: Moily

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 20: Moily today said BJP in Karnataka is "neck-deep in
corruption" and Advani is helpless on that front.
On Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's decision to
divide the state into four parts, Moily said, the proposal is
an election ploy to woo voters towards BSP.
The National Development Council should decide over
dividing Uttar Pradesh into four states, but there should also
be a national-level debate over the matter, he said.
On Anti-Communal Violence Bill, Moily said it would be
passed very soon despite BJP and other parties opposing it.
However, their opinions would be considered before passing the
bill in Parliament, he said.

Mines and Geology dept wants cancellation of 24 mining leases

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 19: Karnataka Mines and Geology
Department has recommended to the state government to cancel
the leases of 24 mining companies which have been indicted
by the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.
The department in its September 24 letter to the Principal
Secretary to the Industries and Commerce Department has
recommended cancellation of the leases as they were involved
in illegal extraction of iron ore and transportation of it,
according to a reply received by Tapal Ganesh, a mines owner
himself, under Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Ganesh, waging a battle against illegal mining, released
the copies of the letter to the press here today.
The department said the leases of 24 mining companies
should be terminated under Section 4 of MMDR Act 1957 and Rule
22, 27 (5), 37 and 45 of MCR 1960 by forfeiting the security
deposit pending recovery of the losses caused to the state.
Mining activities in Karnataka have been stopped
completely as per Supreme Court orders.
Then Lokayukta Santosh Hegde had submitted the report on
illegal mining in July last, indicting politicians, including
then chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, officials and mining
firms.

No question of taking back Sreeramulu: Karnataka CM

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Mangalore, Nov 19: Karnataka Chief Minister D V
Sadananda Gowda today said there was no question of
readmitting into the BJP fold former minister B Sreeramulu,
who has quit the party and decided to contest Bellary Rural
bypoll as an independent.
"There is no question of taking Sreeramulu back into the
party fold. He got an opportunity to serve people because of
BJP," he told reporters here.
Sreeramulu, a close associate of mining baron and former
minister G Janardhana Reddy, turned down the BJP offer to
field him in the bypoll caused by his resignation apparently
to protest his exclusion from the Gowda Ministry and
sidelining of Reddy brothers.
Gowda also ruled out 'appeasing' BJP legislators,
including Suresh Babu, campaigning for Sreeramulu in the
bypoll. "Legislators campaigning for Sreeramulu will be
shunted out ... we will not have anything to do with them.
They got an opportunity to serve people because of the party.
Party is bigger than individuals," he said.
Gowda said the BJP would retain the Bellary Rural seat as
leaders like state party chief K S Eshwarappa and former chief
minister B S Yeddyurappa were working together to ensure its
candidate Gadilingappa's victory.
"We will use our party strength to register a win (in
Bellary bypoll) ... Our party intelligence says Congress will
come a poor third or fourth," he claimed.

Educomp unveils digital education tool CTS

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 19: India’s largest education company
Educomp Solutions today unveiled a revolutionary digital Class
Transformation System (CTS) that would transform classrooms
resulting in better academic results in schools.
"There is an urgent need to supplement traditional methods
of learning in classrooms with digital instruction. Smartclass
CTS will empower teachers with cutting-edge education tools in
classrooms to enhance learning experience," Educomp Solutions
Vice President Rohit Mallik said in a statement.
Smartclass CTS was unveiled in a seminar organized by
Educomp Solutions in association with Intel here, he said.
Smartclass CTS is an amazingly rich-on-technology
innovation which would make every teaching-learning session
more interactive, Mallik said.
"It will ensure outstanding teaching outcomes and pave
the way for academic excellence of every learner," he added.
With Smartclass CTS, teachers would be empowered with a
whole range of ready-to-deploy resources. "Animation apart, it
will have simulations, mind maps, worksheets, web links,
diagram maker, graphic organisers and assessment tools and a
lot more," Mallik said.

Naidu should be open to CBI inquiry into assets: Narayan

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Mysore, Nov 18: Lok Satta party president Jayaprakash
Narayan today urged Telegu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu
to prepare himself to face CBI inquiry into his assets,
instead of levelling charges that Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan
Reddy and Congress have "ganged up" to target him.
Facing the CBI inquiry "is an opportunity to prove (his)
innocence and once for all he can bury charges against him,"
Narayan told PTI on the sidelines of India Urban Conference at
Infosys campus here.
"Public representatives should be prepared to face
investigation in larger public interest," Narayan said.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court yesterday directed the CBI
and Enforcement Directorate to conduct an investigation into
the assets of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, who dubbed the
petition as a "malicious attempt" to defame him.
The court gave the order based on the petition filed on
October 17 by YSR Congress honorary president and Pulivendula
MLA Y S Vijaya.
Naidu's TDP had charged that Vijaya's petition was part of
a "witchhunt" launched by the Congress party in collusion with
Jaganmohan Reddy.
Regarding Naidu's allegation, Narayan said, "Both Congress
and YSR Congress may have common interest to target Naidu, but
it is irrelevant to the Indian citizens".
"Let us not make this as a battle between Naidu and Jagan.
It is a bettle between the people and the corrupt," he added.
TDP Politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu had alleged
yesterday that the petition was filed as part of a political
conspiracy after Jagan had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and senior Congress leaders last month.
On the issue of Naidu allegedly favouring former Karnataka
minister Gali Janardhan Reddy in giving mining licence during
his tenure as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Narayan said
giving license to a person or a company does not make a
government corrupt.
"There is a difference between a bad government decision
and corruption. Naidu might have taken a bad decision. Bad
decisions does not necessarily mean corruption," he argued.
However, there should be a thorough investigation into the
issuance of license in light of corruption allegations, he
said.

Selja advocates need to set up town-planning institutions

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Mysore, Nov 17: Rueing that the urban local bodies
were being managed by "amateurs," Union Housing and Poverty
Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja today stressed the need for
setting up institutions imparting education in town planning
and urbanisation.
"There are no such institutions in India that impart
education addressing problems related to town planning and
urbanisation," she said addressing the India Urban Conference
2011 here.
Town planning institutions would churn out experts who
could address town-planning and urban-related problems
professionally, Selja said.
Urban local bodies were being managed by "amatuers" and
there was a need for professionals to take over to solve
burgeoning urban and town-planning problems, she said.
Selja also stressed the need for overhauling the property
tax system as she said the collections suggested many were
evading paying property tax.
The minister stressed the need for Centre-State cooperation
for making India slum-free. "The Central government wants to
make India slum-free through Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY). The
programme envisages Central support to States that are willing
to assign property rights to slum dwellers," she said.
Stressing the need to find ways to make cities more
inclusive, she said urbanisation of cities was creating a
wedge between the rich and the poor.
"There is a dire need to address the issues of faulty urban
land policy and urban planning models responsible for
mushrooming of slums," Selja said, adding current land
policies would need "drastic changes" to address the interests
of the urban poor.
The States need to re-look at the policies of making land
and living space available to the masses in cities, especially
the poor at a much faster rate than the pace of urban
population growth, Selja said.

Launch of $400,000 Abdul Kalam Scholarship scheme announced

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 16: Universities and Science Minister
of the United Kingdom David Willetts today announced launch of
$400,000 A P J Abdul Kalam Scholarship scheme for Indian
students and signing of an MoU between Oxford University and
Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
The scheme would offer scholarships to 100 Indian students
enrolling in postgraduate engineering, science and technology
programmes in September 2012, he told reporters here.
Willetts said the tieup would involve clinicians from
Bangalore hospitals and scientists from rural Indian
universities providing affordable healthcare.
It would also involve innovation and commercialisation
experts from the Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore)
to provide affordable treatment, Willetts added.
He said UK was through with the proposal to set up an
academy to train at least 300 Indian academics for gaining
quality teaching skills. "There is immense scope for British
institutions to provide training to teachers," he added.
Willetts also said there are about 50,000 Indian students
studying in various UK institions. "India runs second only to
China in terms of oversees students pursuing higher education
in UK," he said.
On his meeting with IISc experts, Willett said UK was keen
on addressing problems relating to urban transport and town
planning systems in Bangalore.
He also hoped to see business students in Britain taking
benefit of IIM, Bangalore. "It is an execellent business
school," he said.
Asked about signing MoUs between India and UK in fields
other than education and research, Willetts said his country
expected a lot of collaboration with industries in future.

Open to increase number of prize categories: Murthy

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 16: Infosys Chairman Emeritus N R
Narayana Murthy today said the company was open to increasing
the number of prize categories for scientists depending on
returns it gets from its corpus.
He, however, said there was no such proposal as of now.
"Right now we are focussed on five prize categories, but
depending upon the returns that we get from the corpus and
recommendations given by various people,including Jury Chairs,
Board of Trustees of Infosys Science Foundation will meet and
consider from time-to-time (to increase prize categories)," he
told reporters here.
As on date there was no such proposal but the company has
an open mind to consider increasing prize categories, he said.
To a question, Infosys Board of Directors member Mohandas
Pai said the company has no plan of giving research grant to
young talent from the corpus, but wants to create new 'science
heroes' by interacting with Infosys prize-winning scientists.
"At the end of the day, a true measure of any country's
wealth depends on the wealth of scientists it boasts
of," Pai said.
Earlier, Infosys Science Foundation announced 2011 prize
winners across five categories.
Former President A P J Abdul Kalam would felicitate prize
winners Kalyan Deb (Engineering and Computer Science), Imran
Siddiqi(Life Sciences), Kannan Soundarajan (Mathematical
Sciences), Sriram Ramaswamy (Physical Sciences), Raghuram G
Rajan (Economics) and Pratap Bhanu Mehta (Political Science
and International Relations) here on January 9, 2012.
Each winner would receive a 22-carat gold medallion, a
citation and Rs 50 lakh in recognition of their outstanding
contribution to scientific research, Pai said.

Iran makes veiled attack on US over global economic crisis

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 15: Iran today used the Indian Ocean
Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) platform to
make an indirect attack on the US, blaming its policies for
the present global economic crisis.
Addressing the 11th Council of Ministers Meeting of the
18-member regional grouping here, Iran Deputy Foreign Minister
Mohammad Mehdi Akhondzadeh noted that, "The economic crisis
caused by unjust global financial and economic mismanagement
by a certain power has created a situation that no single
country could escape its negative impact on its overall
development programmes."
Akhondzadeh said certain countries wanted to make
"instrumental exploitation" of international economy and
political bodies in favour of their own interest.
No significant change would be expected to occur in the
global economic status unless every country played its role in
reforming the present economic situation, he said.
Other speakers at the meeting dwelt on the issue of sea
piracy and pressed the need for coordinated action to fight
the menace.
Supporting any action taken to overcome the problem of
piracy, Malaysia, however, said regional and international
cooperation in combating piracy should not undermine
sovereignty and territorial integrity of member countries.
"Malaysia believes that the primary responsibility for
dealing with piracy and armed robbery against ships should
remain with littoral or coastal states," Malaysian Deputy
Foreign Affairs Minister Y B Datuk Richard Anak Jaem said.
Oman Ambassador Talib bin Miran Alraisi said the most
effective way to end piracy in the Horn of Africa would be to
restore effective government in Somalia.
He said the earlier outbreak of piracy in the Straits of
Malacca was reduced by effective international cooperation and
negotiated settlement of insurgency.
"The danger of piracy can be contained with a more
coordinated, creative and courageous international response.
We have the means and it can be done without major armed
expeditions. What it requires is collective political will,"
Alraisi said.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said effective port
administration, well-equipped enforcement agency, judicial and
legislative capacity-building as well as counter-piracy
measures in the ships could bring down the incidents of piracy
in Indian Ocean.
Moni stressed the need for creating a good order at the
sea which would prevent illegal fishing activities in Somali
waters by other nations.
Complaining about projects not coming to fruition, he said
there was a need for revitalising focus in areas of
cooperation.
"A greater level of political commitment may also be
crucial to expedite progress on the projects undertaken and
envisaged," Moni said.
Mauritius Foreign Affairs Minister Arvin Boolell said
effective prosecution of captured pirates could bring down
incidents of piracy.
In this regard, Mauritius signed on July 14, 2011 with
European Union an agreement defining conditions and modalities
for transfer of suspected pirates from the European-led naval
force and also prosecution of them, he informed.

Australia may consider reviewing ban on uranium sale to India

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 15: Australian Prime Minister Julia
Gillard has written to her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh
indicating that a proposal would be considered by her party to
review ban on uranium sale to India, Foreign Affairs Minister
Kevin Rudd said today.
Gillard had earlier said she will urge the Australian
Labour Party at next month's national conference to reverse a
ban on uranium exports to India and lifting it would be
another step forward in Australia's relationship with India.
Rudd said regardless of the policy on ban on sale of
uranium to India, Australia was conscious about India's
impeccable record in not proliferating nuclear weapons and
nuclear-related technologies.
"On one side of the argument, there are many passions who
are opposing uranium sale to India. On the other side, there
are deep concerns about strategic importance of India in the
region," Rudd told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing
Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation
(IOR-ARC) here.
He also said Australia also recognises its relationship
with India. "Prime Minister Gillard and myself have overseen
the upgradation of our relationship with India in 2009," he
added.
External Affairs Minster S M Krishna had met Rudd in
Melbourne recently making a strong pitch to lift ban on
uranium sale to India insisting that nuclear power was
necessary for energy starved developing countries.
The Australian Labour Party opposes selling uranium to
any nation such as India, which is not a signatory to the
nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The coalition government,
however,supports exporting uranium to India.

India announces USD one million to IOR-ARC fund

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 15: India today announced an additional
funding of USD one million to make the Indian Ocean Rim
Association for Regional Cooperation Special Fund an effective
instrument for financing projects and studies of common
interest among member-nations.
"To make the IOR-ARC Special Fund an effective instrument
for financing projects and studies of common interest, India
has decided to provide additional funding of USD one million
to the fund," , External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told the
Council of Ministers' Meeting of the 11th IOR-ARC here.
Describing piracy at seas as a "priority challenge", he
stressed the need for building on the existing national,
regional and multi-lateral measures to enhance coordination to
combat it.
"Piracy is a priority challenge. It increases the direct
cost of trade. It adds indirect costs through increased
insurance premium and a human cost to many of our nationals
involved in shipping industry," he said.
Krishna also emphasised the need for building functional
relationship between Navies and Coast Guards to enhance
security in Indian Ocean waters. "Our port and customs
authorities, as well as our shipping firms, need to be address
issues of transport infrastructure and connectivity that
hinder trade."
He said initiatives should be promoted to improve
intra-regional trade among Indian Ocean countries, which has
been dogged by poor connectivity, market complexities and
inadequate trade facilitation.
"Our intra-regional investment flows are modest, though
many of our economies are important destinations for FDI from
outside of our region," he said.
Referring to disaster management agencies, Krishna
expressed India's willingness to share its experiences with
the Tsunami Warning System for the Indian Ocean."We should
strengthen connections between our disaster management
agencies".
The sustainability of economic development in an
ecologically challenged world required efficient management of
the Indian Ocean, Krishna said.
The 18-member IOR-ARC grouping comprises India, Yemen,
Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique,Oman, Singapore, South Africa,
Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and the UAE.

India welcomes Australian PM's announcement on uranium exports

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 15: India today welcomed Australian
Government's move towards reversing its ban on uranium exports
to India.
"We welcome Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's
proposal to seek a change in Australia's Labour Party's
policies and sale of uranium to India in recognition of our
energy needs for the impeccable record in non-proliferation
and strategic partnership between two nations," External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna told reporters here.
Krishna said India attaches great importance to its
relations with Australia which are growing across the board.
He also said energy was one of the key areas of
bilateration cooperation between India and Australia.
Krishna's comments on the sidelines of the ongoing Indian
Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)
here come in the wake of Gillard making a strong pitch for
uranium sale to India.
Gillard has said she will urge the party faithful at next
month's Labor national conference to reverse a ban on uranium
exports to India and lifting the ban was another step forward
in Australia's relationship with India.

Gowda completes 100 days in office amidst political crisis

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 14: Amid a political crisis in the
ruling BJP and continued allegations of corruption against
some of his ministerial colleagues, Chief Minister D V
Sadananda Gowda today completed 100 days in office.
Gowda, who assumed office on August 3 following BJP central
command forcing his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa to quit after
he faced a slew of corruption charges,had to walk a tightrope
to manage his faction ridden ministry.
After taking charge Gowda tread a cautious path, promising
people he would refurbish the government's battered image and
infuse transparency into the administraion.
The first saffron party government in South was jolted when
Yeddyurpapa was arrested and sent to judicial custody by a
local court in two corruption cases.
As if rubbing salt into the wounds, the Gowda government
faced another severe embarassment when two of his cabinet
colleagues -- Home Minister R Ashoka and Industries Minister
Muruesh Nirani faced land grabbing charges.
The jailing of Yeddyurappa escalated groupism in the party
rank and file, apart from the ministry, which came to the open
during BJP leader L K Advani's Jan Chetana Yatra against
corruption entered Bangalore.
Ministers and Legislators owing allegiance to Yeddyurappa
stayed away from the yatra, disregarding the high command
directive to attend it.
The abrupt resignation of Bellary mining magnate B
Sreeramulu from the Assembly and party membership further
precipitated the crisis in the ruling BJP.
Gowda failed in his efforts to stop him contesting as an
Independent in the November 30 Bellary Rural bypoll, resulting
in the party now fighting against him.
The Chief Minister also came under sharp criticism from the
Opposition over the power crisis,drought in 60 per cent of the
state, besides troubles on appointment of the new Lokayukta.
Govenor H R Bhardwaj expressed reservation over government
recommending as Lokayukta former Kerala High Court Chief
Justice S R Bannurmath, facing allegations of securing
allotment of a residential site in a judicial layout on land
earmarked for civic amenities.
Another controversy rocked the Gowda government when he
transferred ADGP Lokayukta Jeevankumar Gaonkar, investigating
cases against Yeddyurappa and also H D Balakrishe Gowda,
former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's son.
Gowda who is not a member of either house of the state
legislature is preparing to get elected from the upper house
in the ensuing bypoll to fill up vacancy caused by resignation
of BJP MLC Shakarappa, whom the party asked to vacate.
"I am happy with the performance of my ministers and trying
to bring in more transparency in administration," Gowda said
on his completion of 100 days in office.

Environment, business and research delegation meet begins

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 14: The five-day, environment, business
and research delegation meetorganised by European Business and
Technology Centre (EBTC) along with Bangalore Chamber of
Industry and Commerce (BCIC), kickstared here today.
EBTC, for the first time, plans to bring succinct Indian
project and partnership opportunities in the environment
sector to the fore for EU companies, EBTC Director Poul V
Jensen told reporters here.
"We are pleased to see many EU-India relationships develop
and mature before the event, and we are now accompanying them
until the point of success," Jensen said.
Europe sees huge potential for environmental
technologies in domestic market as India's vast environmental
technology market is estimated to be at around 8 billion
pounds, Jensen said.
"With the demand for innovative technologies predicted to
increase, EU countries with their knowledge, expertise and
experience are starting to tap opportunities in Indian
market," he said.
Delegates from France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Portugal,
Spain and Sweden would also hold B2B talks with Indian
government, business and research officials to promote
environment-related technologies, Jensen said.
Companies such as Ciel et Terre, Techsub-Aquago, Global
Green, Jarven EcoTech, Aqua-Q AB, Gestamp Solar India and
Sintrol would present their technologies during the event,
he said.
The event would also witness signing of a MoU between
Bangalore-based energy and environment consultancy Enzen
Global Solutions and France-based Ciel et Terre, Jensen said.
"The tieup will pave way for setting up floating
photovoltaic projects in selected states of India," he said.
On November 15 and 16, the event would focus on Indian
project opportunities in public and private sectors, Jensen
said.
As a bridge between business, research and government, EBTC
is working closely with Karnataka and Central governments to
introduce innovative EU clean technologies in India, he said.
Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Agency, Karnataka
State Pollution Control Board, Bangalore Water Supply and
Sewerage Board and Bangalore Development Authority among
others have shown keen interest to participate in the event.

GM showcases electric 'Beat' in Bangalore

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 14: General Motors India showcased an
electric version of its small car, 'Beat' here today, as part
of a global demonstration of the technology.
"We are delighted that Chevrolet selected India as an
important market to test battery electric technology, while
recognising the capabilities of our engineering team to help
identify ways to make this technology more affordable," GMI
President and MD Karl Slym told reporters here.
The electric Beat is powered by a lithium-ion battery and
can cover at least 130 km after a single charge under normal
driving conditions, he said.
GM is committed to delivering customers around the world
with electrification solution, Slym said, adding the company
would showcase the technology in other countries such as
Korea, China and Germany.
GM India is already offering a range of alternate fuel
vehicles including Chevorolet Beat, Chevorolet Spark LPG and
Chevorolet Aveo CNG to its customers, Slym said.

Yeddyurappa rules out mid-term assembly polls

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 13: Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S
Yeddyurappa today ruled out possibility of mid-term assembly
polls following political turmoil in BJP's state unit in the
wake of Bellary strongman B Sreeramulu's decision to quit the
party and contest the bypoll as an indepenent.
There were no differences in the ruling BJP and the present
government would complete its remaining term in office, he
told reporters at Hubli airport.
Replying to a question, Yeddyurappa said he would soon
campaign for Gadilingappa, who is contesting the Bellary Rural
bypoll as BJP candidate. "I am confident of BJP retaining
Bellary seat," he said on his first visit to Hubli after
his release on bail in land scam cases.
He, however, said he could not be present when Gadilingappa
filed his nomination as he was preoccupied with other works.
Sreeramulu, a former minister and close aide of mining
barons, Reddy brothers, quit the party after filing nomination
as an independent candidate for the Bellary Rural bypoll
on November 9.
Dismissing reports that he was eyeing for the state party
president's post, Yeddyurappa said he was a common party
worker and would work for strengthening the BJP in the state.
The senior BJP leader was in Hubli to attend the
marriage of a relative's son.

Action against those who threatened Lokayukta ADGP:Karna CM

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 13: Karnataka Chief Minister D V
Sadananda Gowda today said appropriate action would be taken
against those who had threatened Lokayukta police official
Jeevan Kumar V Gaonkar after police submits its probe report.
"Gaonkar has written a letter to the Chief Secretary
explaining his embarrassment to continue his duty as he had
been threatened by politicians connected with some sensitive
case. But he has not filed any complaint against anybody. So,
I am getting it investigated and will look at it after getting
a report from the police," Gowda told reporters here.
The Chief Minister's statement comes a day after JDS
chief Deve Gowda admitted speaking to Gaonkar over phone but
rejected charges that he held out a threat in connection with
the ongoing probe in a wealth case against his eldest son, H D
Balakrishna Gowda.
"Certain words used by Gowda during the talk were
unpalatable" and Lokayukta Police thought it fit to bring the
development to government's notice, Lokayukta police sources
had said on condition of anonymity.
Lokayukta police is investigating a disproportionate
assets case against Balakrishna, who opted for voluntary
retirement from government service.
Giving clarification on Gaonkar's transfer, the Chief
Minister said the officer was transferred not on former Chief
Minister B S Yeddyurappa's behest or to sabotage the probe
against him.
"We have transferred Gaonkar after taking cognisance of
his letter written to the Chief Secretary S V Ranganath. There
is no truth in shifting him to derail investigation against
Yeddyurappa," he said.
Government had on November 10 transferred Gaonkar, who was
serving as Additional Director General of Police, Karnataka
Lokayukta, and brought Satyanarayana Rao H N, Additional DGP,
Crimes & Technical Services, Bangalore, in his place.
Former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde had
slammed the government for transferring Gaonkar, alleging that
it was an attempt to "sabotage" the probe against Yeddyurappa
and his family.
The Chief Minister said the recent police transfers were
in accordance with the Supreme Court order and based on
availability of vacancies and promotional aspects.
"We also transferred officials whose names have appeared
in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining submitted by former
Lokayukta Santosh Hegde," he added.
Sadananda Gowda said he has written to Governor H R
Bhardwaj furnishing details about the norms to be followed to
appoint new Lokayukta. "I will not say till I get a reply from
the Governor," he said when asked if he had sought appointment
of former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S G Bannurmath as
new Lokayukta.
Replying to a question, Gowda said Yeddyurappa would
campaign for November 30 Bellary Rural Bypoll from November
18. "Yeddyurappa will accompany me and would stay in Bellary
for a week," he said.
Rumours were rife that Yeddyurappa would not campaign
after he was found absent when BJP candidate Gadilingappa
filed his nomination papers last week.
Yeddyurappa told reporters at Hubli today that he
was preoccupied and could not be present. He had also asserted
that he would campaign for Gadilingappa.

Don't link Fukushima disaster with Kudakulam row: Kakodkar

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Manipal (Karnataka), Nov 12: Terming the agitation
against Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant as "unfortunate",
former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar today
asked the protestors not to link the issue with Fukushima
Nuclear disaster in Japan.
"To link Koodankulam Plant controversy to Fukushima is
uncalled for. It was Tsunami which destroyed Fukushima nuclear
plant, not technical glitches in reactors," Kakodkar said.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating Innovation
Centre and Manipal University Technology Business Incubator at
Manipal University here, he asked the agitators not to panic
over safety issues and said the KNPP had state-of-the-art
features and was a great boon to the future generation.

ASSOCHAM calls for low jet fuel taxes

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 12: With dozens of flight
cancellations across the country, ASSOCHAM today called for
low taxes on jet fuel, liberal foreign investment norms and a
new civil aviation policy which are in tune with current
global and domestic realities.
"The government must rationalise tax structure so that the
airline industry can grow further," said Associated Chambers
of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) in a statement.
ASSOCHAM also said a right tax structure and healthy
regulatory mechanism are essential for expanding and upgrading
existing infrastructure facilities besides creating new ones.
"Airlines could suffer losses worth about Rs 15,000 crore
in the current financial year with Air India alone likely to
account for more than half of it. They need fresh funds and
there will be a question mark on their survival if they are
unable to raise them, he said," ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S
Rawat said.
Rising crude oil prices, depreciating Rupee and cut-throat
competition have eroded airlines' ability to raise fares,
despite about 19 per cent passenger growth this year, he said.
Rawat asked the government to scrap the existing rule of
not allowing foreign airlines to invest directly or
indirectly in domestic carriers.
He also demanded cutting down of airport charges and
streamlining ground handling operations.
ASSOCHAM said India’s scheduled airlines is likely to
go up to 1,500 by 2025 from 430 planes at present.

Gadilingappa files nomination as BJP candidate

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bellary, Nov 11: Local businessman P Gadilingappa
today filed his nomination papers as BJP candidate for the
Bellary Rural Bypoll scheduled to be held on November 30.
Gadilingappa was accompanied by state BJP President K S
Eshwarappa and Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda.
BJP had announced Gadilingappa's candidature last night
after its efforts to woo former minister B Sreeraumulu, who
has quit the party and contesting the bypoll as an
independent, back into its fold failed.
Party sources said talks with Sreeramulu failed as he
insisted on a commitment for a ministerial berth to him if he
wins the bypoll.
BJP, on the other hand, refused to give in to his demands
fearing it could destabilise the state government.
Sreeramulu, who was part of the previous B S Yeddyurappa
Government, was excluded in the Sadananda Ministry in view of
his indictment in the Lokayukta report into illegal mining.

IOR nations deliberate on finding al'natives to improve trade

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 11: Countries around the Indian Ocean
today deliberated on finding alternatives for improving trade
and investment among member-nations out of the purview of
World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"Countries falling under Indian Ocean region are seriously
contemplating improving trade relations among themselves as
they fear Western economies will adopt protectionist trade
policies to tide over global slowdown." Ministry of External
Affairs Joint Secretary Ravi Bangar told reporters after
Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation
(IOC-ARC) deliberations here.
With trade exchanges among Indian Ocean countries expected
to improve in coming years, member-nations hope to insulate
themselves from negative impact of global slowdown that has
affected the Western economies, Bangar said.
"India's trade with Indian Ocean member-countries is Rs 280
billion, of which Rs 160 billion accounts for imports. Hence
the prospects are rosy to find alternative means to improve
trade relations," he said.
Member-nations have already started to work on the concept
of University Mobility in Indian Ocean Rim (UMIOR) which aims
to retain academic experts among themselves, instead of they
contributing to Western economies, IOC-ARC Director (Mauritius
Secretariat) Vish Badal said.
"The setting up of UMIOR is to ensure not losing our
intellectual experts to other regions, especially the Western
countries," he said.
Likewise, member-countries were also serious about setting
up Open Data Centre For Drug Development which would encourage
developing indigenous medicines cutting down dependence on
Western medicines, Badal said.

IIHT along with Micrsoft launches learning programme on cloud

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 11: Leading technology training
organisation IIHT in collaboration with IT major Microsoft
launched ‘Learning-as-a-Service’ on cloud using Microsoft
virtualisation technologies here today.
IIHT’s Cloud Computing programme would cater to the growing
demand for trained and certified cloud computing experts to IT
Industry, IIHT MD and CEO Keshava Raju told reporters.
IIHT would train and certify 100,000 cloud professionals
globally including India in the next three years, Raju said
adding "This service platform is accessible anywhere, anytime
and on any device instantly on demand."
The service supports learning of 20,000 individuals with
decreased cost and is available on subscription and pay only
on use, he said.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer during his visit to India last
year had announced cloud computing would generate 300,000 jobs
in India over the next five years. Gartner estimated the cloud
market would be 150 billion dollar by 2013.
IIHT, which also launched one of its kind certification
programme IIHT Certified Cloud Expert, and Microsoft
Corporation also announced a strategic tieup.
Under the partnership, IIHT would integrate highly sought
after licensed Microsoft course content into its career and
short-term courses, Microsoft Learnings Senior Regional Sales
Director Kyle Uphoff said.
Along with the career and short-term IT courses, students
would also get added advantage of Microsoft certifications and
trainings to enhance skills and job opportunities, he said.

Karna Guv asks BJP Govt to suggest more names for Lokayukta

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 14: Virtually disapproving the BJP
Government's recommendation to appoint retired judge S R
Bannurmath as the Karnataka Lokayukta, Governor H R Bhardwaj
today said he has asked Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda to
furnish more names to fill the vacant post.
"I have urged the Chief Minister to furnish at least four
more names for the appointment of new Lokayukta," he told
reporters on the sidelines of a function here two days after
citing 'technical defects' for not acting on the government's
recommendation.
Bhardwaj had said the government had not obtained the
consent of the state high court chief justice while
recommending the name of Bannurmath.
The post of Lokayukta is lying vacant for the past two
months after Justice Shivraj Patil quit following a land
controversy, with opinion divided between the government and
the opposition on appointing Bannurmath.
Bannurmath, a former Kerala High Court chief justice, is
facing allegations of securing allotment of a residential site
in Judicial layout, on a land earmarked for civic amenities.
Patil, a former supreme court judge who succeeded Santosh
Hegde in August, had quit over allotment of housing sites to
him and his wife in violation of rules.
The Lokayukta presently has only one Upa Lokyukta after R
Gururajan, the other Upa Lokayukta, had resigned last month
citing personal reasons.
Replying to a question, Bhardwaj said it was not advisable
for him to endorse former Karnataka High Court judge M F
Saldanha's suggestion to appoint a non-native as the Lokayukta
as it would hurt the people's sentiments.
"Though Justice Saldanha's suggestion is good, I cannot
advise the state government to appoint Lokayukta belonging to
a different state. People will question my loyalty towards
Karnataka," he said.
Declining to comment on state BJP President K S
Eshwarappa's remarks on scrapping of the Lokayukta, he said he
would not allow anybody to destabilise the institution.
On the transfer of Lokayukta ADGP Jeevankumar V Gaonkar, he
said it would hamper the probe against former chief minister B
S Yeddyurappa in corruption cases.
"I am not happy with Gaonkar's transfer as he was
investigating some high-profile corruption cases. I had also
opposed Pranab Mohanty's transfer from the post of Lokayukta
DIG to Bangalore city police," he said.
On the government's decision to close down 1,500 schools
with student strength of between six to ten from next academic
year, Bhardwaj said he would talk to Primary and Secondary
Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri in this regard.
"I will discuss with Kageri before the matter comes up
before the Cabinet," he added.

'Satisfied over legacy of hostility giving way to cordiality'

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 13: External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna today said he is happy that the legacy of hostility
between India and Pakistan has given way to cordiality and
understanding.
"We have had a legacy of hostility, but now I am happy
that the hostility between India and Pakistan is giving way to
cordiality and understanding," he told reporters on the
sidelines of Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional
Cooperation (IOC-ARC) conference here.
Krishna said the equation between India and Pakistan is
extremely good as both countries had a "good meeting" at the
SAARC summit in Maldives, but hoped Pakistan would address
India's core concerns seriously, especially terror-driven
activities.
He also said there was a realisation on the part of both
countries to look at improving relations in future. "Future is
one which brings about greater understanding with both
countries," he said

U.S. state dept should adhere to protocol, says Krishna

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 13: Taking strong exception to former
President A P J Abdul Kalam being frisked at New York's JFK
Airport, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today urged the
US State Department to adhere to protocol when government
dignitaries visit America.
"We will have to account for a mechanism where the US
strictly adheres to protocol when important Indian dignitaries
or government representatives visit US," he told reporters at
Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation
(IOC-ARC) meeting here.
Krishna said the external affairs ministry has instructed
Indian ambassador in the US Nirupama Rao to take up the issue
with the State Department.
Though the US has apologised to Abdul Kalam, India expects
such incidents do not occur in future, Krishna said.
"Whatever has happened is certainly not acceptable. We have
taken up the issue and protested. The U.S. has already
apologised to Kalam. We hope such incidents do not occur
again," he said.
Eighty-year-old Kalam was frisked in New York on Sept 29
before boarding an Air India flight.US security personnel also
forced the crew to open the door and took away Kalam's jacket
and boots to check for explosives since they had forgotten RPT
forgotten to do before his boarding.
The U.S. has apologised to Kalam, saying it "deeply
regretted the inconvenience that resulted for him (Kalam) as a
result of the Sep 29 incident involving security screening at
JFK Airport in New York."
Outraged at the frisking incident, India today threatened
retaliatory action against US dignitaries unless such
"unacceptable" practices were stopped.

Action against those who threatened Lokayukta ADGP:Karna CM

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 13: Karnataka Chief Minister D V
Sadananda Gowda today said appropriate action would be taken
against those who had threatened Lokayukta police official
Jeevan Kumar V Gaonkar after police submits its probe report.
"Gaonkar has written a letter to the Chief Secretary
explaining his embarrassment to continue his duty as he had
been threatened by politicians connected with some sensitive
case. But he has not filed any complaint against anybody. So,
I am getting it investigated and will look at it after getting
a report from the police," Gowda told reporters here.
The Chief Minister's statement comes a day after JDS
chief Deve Gowda admitted speaking to Gaonkar over phone but
rejected charges that he held out a threat in connection with
the ongoing probe in a wealth case against his eldest son, H D
Balakrishna Gowda.
"Certain words used by Gowda during the talk were
unpalatable" and Lokayukta Police thought it fit to bring the
development to government's notice, Lokayukta police sources
had said on condition of anonymity.
Lokayukta police is investigating a disproportionate
assets case against Balakrishna, who opted for voluntary
retirement from government service.
Giving clarification on Gaonkar's transfer, the Chief
Minister said the officer was transferred not on former Chief
Minister B S Yeddyurappa's behest or to sabotage the probe
against him.
"We have transferred Gaonkar after taking cognisance of
his letter written to the Chief Secretary S V Ranganath. There
is no truth in shifting him to derail investigation against
Yeddyurappa," he said.
Government had on November 10 transferred Gaonkar, who was
serving as Additional Director General of Police, Karnataka
Lokayukta, and brought Satyanarayana Rao H N, Additional DGP,
Crimes & Technical Services, Bangalore, in his place.
Former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde had
slammed the government for transferring Gaonkar, alleging that
it was an attempt to "sabotage" the probe against Yeddyurappa
and his family.
The Chief Minister said the recent police transfers were
in accordance with the Supreme Court order and based on
availability of vacancies and promotional aspects.
"We also transferred officials whose names have appeared
in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining submitted by former
Lokayukta Santosh Hegde," he added.
Sadananda Gowda said he has written to Governor H R
Bhardwaj furnishing details about the norms to be followed to
appoint new Lokayukta. "I will not say till I get a reply from
the Governor," he said when asked if he had sought appointment
of former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S G Bannurmath as
new Lokayukta.
Replying to a question, Gowda said Yeddyurappa would
campaign for November 30 Bellary Rural Bypoll from November
18. "Yeddyurappa will accompany me and would stay in Bellary
for a week," he said.
Rumours were rife that Yeddyurappa would not campaign
after he was found absent when BJP candidate Gadilingappa
filed his nomination papers last week.
Yeddyurappa told reporters at Hubli today that he
was preoccupied and could not be present. He had also asserted
that he would campaign for Gadilingappa.

Yeddyurappa rubbishes reports about floating new party

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 9: Rubbishing speculations that he
might float his own outfit following reported differences with
the BJP top brass, former Karnataka chief minister B S
Yeddyurappa today said he would work for strengthening the
party as a loyal worker.
"Why should I float a new party ? Over the years I have
built the party (BJP) in the state. We had just two MLAs in
the assembly. Now it is the number one party in the state,"
Yeddyurappa told reporters here.
Yeddyurappa, who was released from prison on bail in a
graft case yesterday, also dismissed reports that he wanted to
be made the party state unit chief.
Reports in recent weeks suggested that Yeddyurappa might
float his own party as he was unhappy with the party central
leadership over his treatment in the aftermath of his
indictment by the Lokayukta report on illegal mining and
subsequent developments that undermined his role.
The absence of Yeddyurappa's supporters in senior leader L
K Advani's rally here recently as part of his Jan Chetna Yatra
brought to fore intra-party differences fuelling further
speculation about the former chief minister's next move.
"I am not an aspirant for any post including that of the
state unit President. As a loyal worker of BJP, I will tour
the state and strengthen the party", Yeddyurappa said.
He blamed some forces including opposition for the
corruption cases filed against him.
"Some who are intolerant about my government's achivements
and the welfare schemes I initiated, hatched a conspiracy
againt me and I had to go to jail," Yeddyurappa, arrested in a
case relating to alleged irregularities in denotification of
government lands, said.
"I won't brand those who filed cases against me as my
opponents. They are all my well wishers. Let them approach
Supreme Court. I am confident of proving my innocence",
Yeddyurappa said in a voice choked with emotion.
A day after his release from the jail, hunderds of BJP
workers, ministers and legilators of his party thronged his
residence to reaffirm their support to him.
Yeddyurappa said he would soon call on BJP President Nitin
Gadkari and senior leader L K Advani.
Excise Minister M P Renukacharya, a hardcore suppoter of
Yeddyurappa, insisted that the former chief minister should be
made the state party President.
Yeddyurappa's contribution in installing BJP's first ever
government in the south was immense and the next election
should be fought under his leadership to retain power, he
told reporters.

Land scam case: Police asked to submit final report by Nov 21

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 5: A local court today directed
Lokayukta police to submit final report by November 21 in a
land scam allegedly involving Home Minister R Ashoka and
former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
Lokayukta Special court judge N K Sudhindra Rao said
he would pass orders in the case,if Lokayukta police failed to
submit final report by that date.
RTI activist Jayakumar Hiremath had filed a complaint
accusing Ashoka of being involved in illegal denotification of
government land causing an estimated Rs 50 crore loss to the
state exchequer.
In his complaint, Hiremath said the minister had allegedly
denotified 9.12 guntas and 14 guntas (a gunta is 1/40 of an
acre) of land belonging to Bangalore Development Authority in
Lottegollahalli when B S Yeddyurappa was Chief Minister.
Yeddyurappa, who is already in judicial custody in
connection with another corruption case, is the second accused
in the complaint.
On October 21, Lokayukta police had filed an FIR against
Ashoka and Yeddyurappa on charges of being involved in illegal
denotification of government land.
When the case came up, Lokayukta DySP Abdul Ahad sought two
months time for examining more than 25 witnesses and documents
related to the illegal denotification of government land.
Overruling Ahad's request, Justice Rao directed Lokayukta
police to submit the final report by November 21 after he was
given to understand that a forensic examination of documents
was not required in the particular case.

HC adjourns Yeddyurappa bail hearing to Nov 8

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 4: No immediate relief was in sight for
jailed former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa as the
state High Court today adjourned further hearing on his second
bail application in a graft case to November eight.
Justice B V Pinto, who yesterday granted conditional bail
to Yeddyurappa in another corruption case, said he needed time
to study it and wanted some more clarification.
With this, hopes of walking free today have eluded
68-year-old Yeddyurappa who is in judicial custody for the
past 21 days.
"I am still studying the case. The study is in progress
and not yet completed. I need further clarifications", Justice
Pinto observed.
Justice Pinto had yesterday allowed the bail plea by
Yeddyurappa in one of the two complaints in which he has
landed in jail and reserved order for today on the other.
Even as Yeddyurappa got relief on a complaint in which he
has been accused of denotifying government land for personal
gains, the order on another complaint was awaited today.
Yeddyurappa, who has been accused of illegally denotifying
land, is facing trouble for his alleged involvement in the
scam that saw his family members getting prime land at
throwaway prices during his Chief Ministership.
Yeddyurappa and his family members have filed anticipatory
bail applications in three other cases on which the hearing
was adjourned to November 8 by the High Court yesterday.
Besides Yeddyurappa, his two sons, B Y Raghavendra, a Lok
Sabha member and B Y Vijendra and son-in-law R N Sohan Kumar
who are among the other accused, have sought anticipatory
bail, fearing arrest in the complaints, filed by Advocate
Sirajin Basha, proceedings of which are on before the
Lokayukta Court.

Yeddyurappa gets bail in one case, orders reserved in another

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 3: Karnataka High Court today
granted bail to former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in a
graft case, but reserved order in another to tomorrow.
Justice B V Pinto allowed the bail plea by Yeddyurappa in
one of the two complaints in which he has been arrested and
reserved orders on the other after arguments by both parties.
Even as Yeddyurappa got relief in the third complaint in
which he has been accused of denotifying government lands for
personal gains, the verdict tomorrow on the fourth on similar
allegtions will decide whether he will walk free from judicial
custody to which he has been remanded since Oct 15.
Justice Pinto observed that criminal jurisprudence
principles would not go to the extent of denying a person the
right to personal liberty on the basis of allegations levelled
against him, while ordering conditional bail to Yeddyurappa,
who has been directed to furnish a surety for Rs five lakh and
not to destroy evidence.
The judge observed it was too early to decide if
Yeddyurappa was guilty or not, as the credence of documents
submitted to the court was yet to be proved.
The order on bail plea of former minister S N Krishnaiah
Shetty, arrested along with Yeddyurappa, has also been
reserved for tomorrow by the court.
Meanwhile, Justice H Billappa adjourned further hearing to
November 8 on anticipatory bail applications moved by
Yeddyurappa and his family members, apprehending arrest in
three other private complaints filed by Advocate Sirajin
Basha, proceedings of which are on before the Lokayukta Court.
Besides Yeddyurappa, his two sons, B Y Raghavendra, a Lok
Sabha member and B Y Vijendra and son-in-law R N Sohan Kumar
who are among the other accused,have sought anticipatory bail.
Lokayukta Court judge N K Sudhindra Rao extended judicial
custody of Yeddyurappa and Setty till November 15.

Yeddyurappa gets bail in one case

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 3: Karnataka High Court today granted
conditional bail to former Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa in a
corruption case relating to alleged irregularities in
denotifying lands.
Justice B V Pinto allowed the bail plea of Yeddyurappa and
directed him to furnish a surety for Rs five lakh and not to
tamper with evidence.
Yeddyurappa is in judicial custody for the last 20 days
which was granted by a Lokayukta court before which the case
is pending.
The Lokayukta court had earlier dismissed the bail
application of Yeddyurappa, against whom it had issued summons
in two private complaints regarding alleged irregularities in
denotification of government land for pecuniary gains.
Facing the arrest warrant, Yeddyurappa had however
surrended before the Lokyukta court, where advocate Sirajin
Basha had filed the complaints.
Yeddyurappa, his two sons-- B Y Raghavendra, a Lok Sabha
memebr and B Y Vijendra and son-in-law R N Sohan Kumar have
also moved applications seeking anticipatory bail in three
other private complaints in which they have been named as
accused by Basha.
Their pleas are being heard by Justice Billiappa today.
In another development, Lokayukta Special Court today
extended the judicial custody of Yeddyurappa and former
minister S N Krishnaiah Setty till November 15. Judge N K
Sudhindra Rao extended the judicial custody of both, as it
ended today.
While Setty was produced before the court, jail
authorities had not produced Yeddyurappa, at which the judge
took objection.
The court issued a notice to the Superintendent of the
Bangalore central prison seeking explanation for the reasons
for not producing Yeddyrappa before the court and declined to
accept the plea that lack of police personnel as the reason.
All the other accused in the fourth private complaint
were present before the court and in the third complaint four
accused filed application seeking exemption from personal
appearance.

Advani demands white paper on black money

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Udupi (Karnataka), Oct 31: Training his guns at Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh for 'failure' to bring back black
money stashed away abroad, senior BJP leader L K Advani today
demanded that the government table a white paper on the issue
in the coming winter session of Parliament.
Addressing a public rally here as part of his Jan Chetna
Yatra, he said Singh had failed to keep up his promise of
bringing back Rs 25 lakh crore black money to India within 100
days after the UPA came to power for the second time in 2009.
"As many as 700 days have passed and yet there are no
signs of UPA bringing back Rs 25 lakh crore back to India.
Therefore, I demand Manmohan Singh to come out with white
paper on black money in the coming winter session," he said.
Advani said Singh should explain to the nation steps taken
by his government to bring back the black money.
He also demanded that the UPA Government take recourse to
the provisions of Restitution of Illicit Assets Act, 2011
passed by the Swiss Government. "I demand that the Central
Government should bring back black money as it is being done
by America and Germany," he said.
Advani asked the government to reveal the names of the
people who had illegally parked black money in Swiss banks.
He also pressed for a Supreme Court monitored CBI probe
against Congress ministers and leaders in the 2G scam.
He rued that the Congress had not taken any action against
its ministers but compelled ministers belonging to its allies
and leaders to resign from their posts.
Moreover, action was taken against the corrupt ministers
only after the intervention of Supreme Court, Advani said.