Karnataka News Archive: August 2007

Rameshwar Thakur sworn-in as Karnataka Governor
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 | MP

New Delhi, Aug 21 (ANI): Former Governor of Orissa Rameshwar Thakur was today sworn-in as the 15th Governor of Karnataka. Thakur took oath of office, which was administered by Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph. State Chief Secretary P B Mahishi read out the Presidential communiqué appointing Thakur as the Governor of the state at a ceremony held in Raj Bhavan. Outgoing Governor T N Chaturvedi, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, floor leaders in both houses of legislatures N Dharam Singh and H K Patil, KPCC President M Mallikarjun Kharge and ministers attended the function. Born in Thakur Gangti village in Jharkhand’s Godda District, Rameshwar took charge of the office of Orissa Governor in November 2004. A qualified chartered accountant, the 80-year-old Thakur actively participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942. He remained underground for nearly six months in Raj Mahal Hills in Santhal Parganas and was later arrested and put in Kolkata Central Jail in 1946 in connection with the national movement. Thakur has occupied various important and prestigious positions from time to time, including Director of Unit Trust of India, Director of Export Credit and Guarantee Corporation, Director of Punjab National Bank and Director of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi Chambers of Commerce. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 1984 and again in April 1990. He was Union Minister for Finance (Revenue), Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs between 1991 and 1994. (ANI)

Dhruv's flight was a proud moment for HAL
Friday, August 17, 2007 | MP

Bangalore, Aug 17 (ANI): The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has begun the test flight of the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Dhruv with new engines and weapons fitted in it.The armed version of Dhruv helicopter fitted with rockets and a 20mm gun is being powered by new Shakti engine that is 30 per cent more powerful than Turbomeca's TM332-2B2 engines, which are presently used in the choppers.The test flights of the weaponised version of Dhruv are being presently carried out in Bangalore at sea-level and at high altitudes level. The hot weather desert trials and cold weather trials will follow this."This is a significant beginning and we are looking forward for large scale orders form the country's defence forces," said Ashok K Baweja , Chairman HAL.The "fire and forget" air-to-air missiles will be in addition to 70mm rockets and 20mm gun turret that are fitted with the new version of ALH.So far, Dhruv has been used for ferrying troops or during rescue missions, but now with weapons and new engines that would increase the payload capability of the choppers by 150 percent, the indigenous ALH is expected to contribute significantly in operations and ground support to forces. "The pilot will have new systems like electronic warfare, ground proximity approach systems, missile warning, laser warning to make it more lethal for our military services," Baweja added.He also said that the HAL would be setting up a pilot training school in association with CAE, Canada.The 55-million dollar pilot training school in Bangalore will be operational in September next year. (ANI)

Dr Ali on his way to India
Friday, August 17, 2007 | MP

Sydney, Aug 17 (ANI): Indian born doctor Mohammed Asif Ali is on his way to Bangalore after flying out of Brisbane early this morning.Dr Ali took the opportunity to return home after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) returned his passport on Thursday.Dr Ali's lawyer Simone Healy said that her client was anxious to see his family, but hopes to return to Australia to clear his name and continue working at the Gold Coast Hospital."He's pretty upset about it, but he's doing everything he can within reason with respect to that," she said.Healy said Dr Ali's 457 temporary work skills visa was dependent on his employment with Queensland Health.Sources said that the Queensland Government would be happy to allow him to leave in order to avoid further embarrassment over his employment on the basis of doubtful credentials.Dr Ali was detained temporarily when his friend and colleague, Dr Haneef was held for questioning over alleged links to the accused of the failed Glasgow Airport car-bombings.Dr Ali, a colleague of Dr Haneef at the Gold Coast Hospital doctor was suspended after the AFP found that he had exaggerated his qualifications.The AFP reportedly ascertained that Dr Ali, who was suspended, had exaggerated his job experience in India by three months, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Queensland Health suspended him on July 27 after it was revealed that he faked about three months of his employment history on his resume when he applied for his job at the Gold Coast Hospital.Queensland Health has said that Dr Ali remains under investigation, but was free to leave the country. (ANI)

Kumaraswamy, Yediyurappa to decide on power transfer in Karnataka: Gowda
Monday, August 13, 2007 | MP

Madurai, Aug 12 (ANI): Janata Dal (Secular) chief H D Deve Gowda today said the decision to transfer power to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka would be taken by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.As per the power-sharing agreement, the transfer is due for October.The coalition government was an 'arrangement' to work for the people, said Gowda, who was here to attend a function to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Kamaraj.He added that the JD(S) has maintained equidistance from Congress and BJP.Last week, BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu had expressed hope that the JD (S) would honour its commitment by ensuring that a person belonging to the BJP "becomes Chief Minister on October 3."He also expressed hope that the JD (S)-BJP Government will complete its remaining tenure of 20 months.The BJP's central leadership is closely watching the developments in the State, said Naidu. (ANI)

Microsoft selects Wipro for Windows Server 2008 Software Certification Test Services
Thursday, August 9, 2007 | MP

Bangalore, Aug 8 (ANI): Wipro Technologies, the global IT services business of Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT), today announced its selection by Microsoft as an authorized test house for Windows Server 2008 certification test services. "Wipro has a long-standing relationship with Microsoft and a proven track record of providing high quality testing and certification services," said Joseph Landes, Director of Windows Server product management at Microsoft. S Muralikrishnan, Vice President - Computing, Storage and Software Products Group, Wipro Technologies said, "We are a Gold Certified Partner for Microsoft and have been partnering with Microsoft on their key product launches.” Developed by Microsoft, the certification test validates application compatibility and compliance with best practices for stability, security, reliability and availability. By immediately engaging Wipro's expert support, ISVs can maximize their existing product development timeline and incorporate certification test requirements prior to the Windows Server 2008 release. With its global presence, Wipro is positioned to help Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) worldwide earn the "Certified for Windows Server 2008" logo and thereby connect with increasing IT market demand for quality-assured applications. Hallmarked by greater transparency in technical aspects of certification, the Windows Server 2008 logo program features free downloadable tools, published test cases and technical support for certification questions. The result is increasing IT market demand for certified applications in tandem with greater support for ISVs seeking to demonstrate compliance with best practices. Recognizing the benefits of incorporating certification requirements into their existing development cycle to achieve early competitive differentiation, several software vendors have already engaged with Wipro to prepare to meet certification standards prior to Windows Server 2008 launch. Wipro has been providing outsourced product engineering services to ISVs, for over a decade. It has built strong domain knowledge on Security software, Database software, Systems Management software, Middleware software, SDLC Engineering tools, OS software and others. (ANI)

Landslides cripple Konkan railway route
Thursday, August 9, 2007 | MP

Nagarcem (Goa), Aug 8 (ANI): Landslides, triggered by incessant rains for the past ten days, have crippled train services on Konkan railway route.Train services on the rail route between Margao and Mangalore were disrupted as a portion of a hillock collapsed on Tuesday, blocking 60 metres of rail track at Nagarcem in South Goa.Baban Ghatge, Public Relation Officer of the Konkan Railway Corporation, said 5,000 cubic meters landslide took place at the Nagarcem tunnel.Around 70 to 80 labourers have been employed to clear the track, Ghatge said.The rail route on the western coast, known as the Konkan route was built in 1998, and is one of the country’s most scenic. The 760-km railway route links Mumbai to Mangalore. (ANI)

Khafeel Ahmed's last rites in UK, not Bangalore
Sunday, August 5, 2007 | MP

London, Aug.5 (ANI): Intelligence sources in the United Kingdom and India have reportedly agreed that it would be prudent to hold the last rites of Khafeel Ahmed, one of the accused in the June 30 Glasgow Airport attack, in Britain rather than in his hometown Bangalore. Intelligence Bureau sources have confirmed that British authorities have conveyed to both the family members and the Bangalore Police that the last rites of Khafeel will be held in the UK. Khafeel, who suffered 90 per cent burn injuries during the failed bomb plot, died on Friday in a hospital in Glasgow. Sources said that the UK authorities had sought permission from the family members as well as the Bangalore Police to conduct the last rites of Khafeel Ahmed in UK. Both parties did not object, it is learnt. It is stated that the family wanted the last rites to be conducted as per Muslim traditions, which the UK authorities are said to have agreed to. British authorities had earlier cited problems about shifting Kafeel's body to Bangalore. They said that his body was not being publicly claimed by his family, and added that his body was in bad shape. Apart from this, at least four seats would have had to been booked on a plane to transport the body and there was also the possibility of a law and order problem once the body reached Bangalore. According to the BBC, it would take at least two days for Kafeel's body to be transported to Bangalore, and therefore, it was decided to conduct the last rites in the UK as per the Muslim traditions. (ANI)

PM “dissatisfied” with the state of agricultural extension system
Saturday, August 4, 2007 | MP

Bangalore, Aug 3 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed “dissatisfaction” with the state of agricultural extension system across the country. Reviewing the agricultural scenario in the state, he said it also includes Karnataka, despite its leadership in Panchayati Raj. He emphasised the need for revamping the extension system through communitisation and private sector participation, saying that it should be a major area of focus. He said Karnataka has a large arid tract, second only to Rajasthan, and called for focussing the attention “much more sharply” on this area. “I assume that in your plan for improving natural resources you will be focusing on this. In addition to resources available from within the agricultural sector, there is a huge opportunity from the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme to improve private farm lands of farmers below the poverty line, undertake soil and water conservation and improve productivity of land and water,” he added. He went on to urge the State Government to use NREGA funds to undertake a massive campaign for improving all private farmlands of the poor in the arid districts of the State. Singh further said that the NDC has decided for providing Additional Central Assistance amounting to Rs. 25,000 crores to develop district-specific plans for agriculture. He expressed satisfaction with a new Karnataka Agriculture Policy, which has five components of improving soil health, conservation of natural resources, timely deployment of credit and other inputs, integration of post-harvest technology with production, and quicker dissemination and transfer of technology. (ANI)

Manmohan Singh begins review of Karnataka's economic scenario
Saturday, August 4, 2007 | MP

Bangalore, Aug 3 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has arrived here on a day's visit to review the economic scenario in Karnataka. State Governor T N Chaturvedi, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, state Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge and others received him at the airport on his arrival. Dr Singh is meeting party workers,and would also review the progress made in the agricultural and infrastructure sector. Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Finance Minister P Chidambaram are assisting him in this endeavour. Earlier this week, Dr. Singh visited Andhra Pradesh capital Hyderabad for a similar exercise.He spent time reviewing the Andhra Pradesh Government's performance in key sectors like agriculture, irrigation, infrastructure and industrial development.The review meeting was attended by Chidambaram and Pawar, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, his cabinet colleagues and officials.The Prime Minister will return to Delhi this evening. (ANI)

Glasgow Airport attack suspect Kafeel Ahmed dead
Friday, August 3, 2007 | MP

London, Aug 3 (ANI): Kafeel Ahmed, a suspect in failed Glasgow Airport attack died of burn injuries in a hospital in UK early morning.

Twenty-seven-year-old engineer from Bangalore, succumbed to his injuries in Glasgow Royal Infirmary with 90 per cent burns, was in critical condition since the attack.

He had been in the hospital for a month in a state of coma throughout his hospital stay, and was kept under armed police guard.

Kafeel had set himself on fire after allegedly driving an explosives-laden jeep into the Glasgow Airport terminal on June 30. He was arrested in Great Britain in the aftermath of the attack.

He was an aeronautical engineer with PHD in Design and technology, who was being kept under armed guard.

The Bangalore-based engineer was believed to have worked in the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and was reportedly a member of the religious sect Tabhleegi Jamaat.

His brother, Sabeel Ahmed, 26, had also been charged with withholding information that could prevent an act of terrorism, and is in police custody in Britain.

The other man in the car, Iraqi doctor Bilal Abdullah, had already been charged with conspiring to set off explosions.

Kafeel’s second cousin Dr. Mohammed Haneef, who had been incarcerated since his arrest at Brisbane Airport on July 2 over the foiled bomb attacks in the United Kingdom in late June, was cleared of terror-related charge by an Australian court last week. (ANI)

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