The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 01, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Briefly

Assembly to meet on Thursday

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Jan. 31. The seventh session of the eleventh Legislative Assembly, which was adjourned sine die on January 16, 2004, has been convened again on February 5, according to an official release The State Cabinet, which met yesterday, put off a decision on the dissolution of the Assembly The Government is expected to seek a vote on account when the House meets.

Swamy meets Deve Gowda

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Jan. 31. The President of the Janata Party, Subramanian Swamy, called on the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) President, H.D. Deve Gowda, at the latter's residence here today and spent about an hour with him. Dr. Swamy told The Hindu that it was more of a courtesy call. Mr. Deve Gowda recently underwent minor surgery in Mumbai and is recuperating here. Several Janata Party leaders, including the national General Secretary, Subbaiah Shetty, accompanied Dr. Swamy. The National Council of the Janata Party will meet in New Delhi on Tuesday and take stock of the political situation. The strategy of the party on political alliances is also expected to be finalised at the meeting. The Working President of the party, Vijay Mallya, who is abroad at present, will also attend the meeting. Mr. Deve Gowda said that he and Dr. Swamy exchanged notes on the political situation in the country in the light of the forthcoming elections to the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assembly and the need for like-minded political parties to come together to defeat the Congress in the State and the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre. He also referred to the Janata Dal (S) understanding with the Left parties.

Chief Medical Officer suspended

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Jan. 31. The Government has placed under suspension the Chief Medical Officer of Bhadravati General Hospital, R.V. Sridharamurthy, for certain lapses found during a recent visit by the Lokayukta, Justice N. Venkatachala, to the hospital. An official press release said that Mr. Justice Venkatachala had found that conditions in the hospital were unhygienic, patients were being told to buy medicines from outside, and patients were not being operated upon though they were in need of surgery.

Governor extends greetings

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE JAN. 31. The Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi, has extended greetings to Muslims on the occasion of Bakr-Id. "On this auspicious day of commemorative sacrifice, let us re-dedicate ourselves to uphold the principles of love, compassion, and understanding and avow to live in fellowship as brothers and sisters," Mr. Chaturvedi said. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, has also extended his greetings. "Let the celebration of Bakr-Id inspire us to uphold the principles of peace, friendship and brotherhood," the Chief Minister, said. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, M.V. Venkatappa, and the Ministers, M. Mallikarjun Kharge, R.V. Deshpande, N. Dharam Singh, G. Parameshwar, V. Krishnappa, C.R. Sageer Ahmed, H.M. Revanna, Ramalinga Reddy, Rani Satish, K.B. Koliwad, Baburao Chinchasoor, Suma Vasanth and Kumar Bangarappa have extended their greetings on the occasion.

Varsity decision upsets medicos

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Jan. 31. The decision of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences to allow non-Karnataka students to appear for the postgraduate entrance test on February 15 has angered students of medical and dental colleges here. The students are upset that competition from outsiders will reduce their quota of seats. Since Karnataka students are not allowed to write entrance tests in other States, why should non-Karnataka students be permitted here? the students ask. After inviting applications from Karnataka students for government quota postgraduate seats, the university amended the notification, allowing Indian citizens who had done their MBBS and BDS in colleges affiliated to universities established by law in Karnataka to take the entrance test. The students feel the decision is unjust for Karnataka students as non-Karnataka candidates will have the dual advantage of claiming a seat in Karnataka and in their respective States. Besides, with the Confederation of Medical, Engineering and Dental (COMED) Colleges claiming 50 per cent of the seats, meritorious candidates will be left in the lurch, they say.

Deshpande's remarks criticised

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE JAN. 31. Suresh Kumar, BJP MLA, has taken exception to the statement made by Minister for Medium- and Large-scale Industries, R.V. Deshpande, that the BJP has been indulging in "cheap politics" to mobilise voters in view of the coming elections to the Legislative Assembly. In a statement here, Mr. Kumar charged that Mr. Deshpande had quit the Janata Dal and joined the Congress to become a Minister. The Minister's statement was baseless and he had no right to give advice on politics to anybody, he added.

Congress discusses polls

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE JAN. 31. The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) coordinators, Mullappali Ramachandran, former Union Minister and former AICC Secretary, and Shantharam Naik, former MP and former Goa PCC President, met Congress party workers, office-bearers of the KPCC and the DCCs, and others in connection with the forthcoming elections. The coordinators held a discussion this morning with the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, on various aspects related to the election strategy and campaign. The Ministers, H. Vishwanath, Qamar-ul-Islam, C.R. Sageer Ahmed, and R.V. Deshpande, also called on them. The coordinators have impressed upon party functionaries and leaders that enthusiasm of the party workers has to be canalised for victory in the forthcoming elections. The coordinators will be leaving Bangalore tomorrow and will return on February 5 after which they will tour every district to feel the pulse of the people. They will convey their recommendations to the High Command after the tour.

Udupi Utsav to end on Tuesday

By Our Staff Correspondent

Udupi Jan. 31. The Deputy Commissioner, S.R. Umashankar, today said that the valedictory function of the Udupi Utsav exhibition would be held here on Monday. He told presspersons here that a souvenir, "Sambhrama - 2" would be released on the occasion by the former Vice-Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), B.M. Hegde. A lucky dip would also be held the same day. The president of Dakshina Kannada Milk Producers' Union, K. Diwakar Shetty, and the Superintendent of Police, S. Murugan, would be the chief guests. The 40-day Udupi Utsav received an enthusiastic response from the people of the district. While in other places the zilla utsavs were held in the district headquarters, in Udupi it was held in five other towns and villages in the district. Many other districts were now trying to follow Udupi in this regard, Mr. Umashankar said. The Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat, K. Sundar Naik, said that as many as 1.58 lakh people had visited the Udupi Utsav exhibition and cultural programmes.

Zoo invites volunteers

MYSORE Jan. 31. Mysore Zoo is looking for volunteers from among the citizens of Mysore who can devote a part of their leisure time on a regular basis for zoo activities.

According to a press release from the Executive Director of Mysore Zoo, Kumar Pushkar, the zoo administration expects the volunteers to participate in the zoo programmes regularly.

"Age is no bar. Anybody from students to retired persons are invited," Mr. Pushkar said. " We are looking forward to about 25 volunteers who should send their bio-data, mention their field of interest, and how much time they can spend with the zoo," he said.

The bio-data and other details could be delivered by hand or sent by post to Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysore, by February 7.

Arrangements for milk supply

MYSORE Jan. 31. The Federation of Mysore and Chamarajanagar District Cooperative Milk Producers' Associations has made special arrangements for supply of milk to the public on Monday on account of Bakrid.

According to an official press release, Nandini milk outlets opposite Mysore Dairy and at K.R. Circle will remain open throughout the day. To buy milk in large quantities, customers can call 2473923 or 2473584.

Train extended

MYSORE Jan. 31. The weekly winter special train running between Mysore and Dharwad has been extended up to April 29, according to a press release from the Divisional Commercial Manager, South-Western Railway, Mysore.

The last service from Mysore will be on April 28 while the last service from Dharwad will be on April 29. "There is no change in the days of service and timings of the above trains," the release added.

Sammelan concludes

DHARWAD JAN. 31. A life characterised by devotion to God can alone bring solace to tormented souls, the Pejawar swamiji has said.

Speaking on the concluding day of the Akhila Bharata Madhwa Tatwagnana Sammelan here on Friday, the swamiji expressed the hope that the deliberations would help proliferate devotion and bring relief to people.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka