Bangalore Archive

BJP struggles to solve Karnataka impasse

Published: November 3, 2009Posted in: National, PoliticsTags: ,

New Delhi/Bangalore, Nov 3 – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday struggled to end the nine-day old crisis in Karnataka where rebel ministers insisted on removal of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, ignoring party chief Rajnath Singh’s assertion that there would be no leadership change in the state.

Singh and senior leader Sushma Swaraj indicated, after day-long discussion in New Delhi, that solution to the turmoil was not in sight.

Singh appeared irritable when reporters asked him whether Yeddyurappa would continue as chief minister.

‘How many times the same question?’ he shot back as he got into his car.

When asked about leadership change and whether a solution has been found, Swaraj said: ‘Talks are on, not reached that stage’.

Yeddyurappa sent out contradictory signals while talking to reporters in Bellary, stronghold of state Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy and his elder brother and Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy, who are leading the rebellion against him.

The Reddy brothers are mining barons in Bellary, which is rich in iron ore and is 400 km from Bangalore. Yeddyruappa hoped the crisis would be resolved in a day or two as the BJP leadership was talking to the Reddys.

He blamed assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar, propped up by the Reddy brothers and supporters as an alternative leader, for the crisis simply because he was not made a minister. Shettar holds Yeddyurappa responsible for depriving him of a political post.

Janardhana Reddy in New Delhi and Karunakara Reddy in Bangalore dismissed talk of the party favouring Yeddyurappa continuing as chief minister.

‘It is media creation,’ Karunakara Reddy said when asked whether there was any change in their stand since Rajnath Singh had said Yedyurappa would ‘definitely’ continue as the chief minister.

‘The central leadership has not given us any such indication,’ he asserted.

Janardhana Reddy also maintained the same stand after talking to senior leader Sushma Swaraj, considered close to the Reddy brothers as they joined the BJP just ahead of the 1999 Lok Sabha polls and canvassed for her when she took on Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Bellary.

Yeddyurappa continued to talk tough. ‘There is no need for me to get a certificate on the work I am doing,’ he said, clearly in response to Reddy brothers’ repeated statements that the state BJP needed ‘good leadership’ if it wanted to continue to be in power in Karnataka.

The chief minister said he would visit Delhi Nov 5-6 to meet party central leaders and also Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over central funds for the rehabilitation of the flood hit in north Karnataka.

While Yeddyurappa Tuesday toured north Karnataka and participated in foundation stone laying ceremonies at several places for relocation of flood-prone villages, Karunakara Reddy, as Revenue Minister, held a video conference in Bangalore with senior officials of 12 affected districts to review the rehab work.

In related developments, Energy Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, who has also been unhappy with Yeddyurappa, left for Delhi to meet central leaders.

‘There is problem in the party. We will impress on our central leaders the need for an early solution,’ he said at the airport. He is accompanied by party legislator and spokesperson C.T. Ravi.

A large number of legislators supporting the Reddy brothers and staying in a star hotel in Hyderabad for the last one week also plan to visit Delhi in the next two days if the crisis persists.

The two opposition parties, the Congress and Janata Dal-Secular, have stayed aloof though strongly attacking the ruling party for ignoring the plight of the flood hit and indulging in power games.

The Reddy brothers have sought Yeddyurappa’s removal on the ground that he is dictatorial, does not give them free hand to run the ministries, does not consult them on posting of officials, and allows his favourites to interfere in the functioning of others’ ministries.

The Reddy brothers are upset that their younger sibling G. Somashekara Reddy, a legislator, has been slapped with a case of kidnapping in mid-October. They want the case to be dropped.

BJP struggles to solve Karnataka impasse

Published: November 3, 2009Posted in: National, PoliticsTags: ,

New Delhi/Bangalore, Nov 3 – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday struggled to end the nine-day old crisis in it Karnataka with rebels insisting on the removal Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, ignoring party chief Rajnath Singh’s assertion that he would continue to lead the state.

Yeddyurappa sent out contradictory signals while talking to reporters in Bellary, stronghold of Tourism minister G. Janardhana Reddy and his elder brother and Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy, who are leading the campaign against him.

The Reddy brothers are mining barons in Bellary, which is rich in iron ore and is 400 km from Bangalore. Yeddyruappa hoped the crisis would be resolved in a day or two as the BJP leadership was talking to the Reddys.

He blamed assembly speaker Jagadish Shettar, propped up by the Reddy brothers and supporters as an alternative leader, for the crisis, simply because he was not made a minister. Shettar holds Yeddyurappa responsible for depriving him of a political post.

Janardhana Reddy in New Delhi and Karunakara Reddy in Bangalore dismissed talk of the party favouring Yeddyurappa continuing as chief minister.

‘It is media creation,’ Karunakara Reddy said when asked whether there was any change in their stand since Rajnath Singh had said Yedyurappa would ‘definitely’ continue as chief minister.

‘The central leadership has not given us any such indication,’ he asserted.

Janardhana Reddy also maintained the same stand after talking to senior leader Sushma Swaraj, considered close to the Reddy brothers as they joined BJP just ahead of the 1999 Lok Sabha polls and canvassed for her when she took on Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Bellary.

Yeddyurappa continued to talk tough. ‘There is no need for me to get a certificate on the work I am doing,’ he said, clearly in response to Reddy brothers repeated statements that the state BJP needed ‘good leadership’ if it wanted to continue to be in power in Karnataka.

The chief minister said he would visit Delhi Nov 5 and 6 to meet party central leaders and also Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over central funds for the rehabilitation of the flood hit in north Karnataka.

While Yeddyurappa Tuesday toured north Karnataka and participated in foundation stone laying ceremonies at several places for relocation of flood-prone villages, Karunakara Reddy, as Revenue Minister, held a video conference in Bangalore with senior officials of 12 affected districts to review the rehab work.

In related developments, Energy Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, who has also been unhappy with Yeddyurappa, left for Delhi to meet central leaders. ‘There is problem in the party. We will impress on our central leaders the need for an early solution,’ he said at the airport. He is accompanied by party legislator and spokesperson C.T. Ravi.

A large number of legislators supporting the Reddy brothers and staying in a star hotel in Hyderabad for the last one week also plan to visit Delhi in the next two days if the crisis persists.

The two opposition parties, the Congress and Janata Dal-Secular, have stayed aloof though strongly attacking the ruling party for ignoring the plight of the flood hit and indulging in power games.

The Reddy brothers have sought Yeddyurappa’s removal on the ground he is dictatorial, does not give them free hand to run the ministries, does not consult them on posting of officials, allows his favourites to interfere in the functioning of other ministries.

The Reddy brothers are upset that their younger sibling G. Somashekara Reddy, a legislator, has been slapped with a case of kidnapping in mid-October. They want the case to be dropped.

The lone woman minister in Karnataka storm is a gritty fighter

Published: November 3, 2009Posted in: National, PoliticsTags:

Bangalore, Nov 3 – Shobha Karandlaje, the lone woman minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) first ministry in Karnataka, whose scalp is being demanded by the rebels, is not perturbed.

‘Allegations and insinuations are not new to me,’ she retorts in response to dissidents’ charge of her overbearing attitude and interference in other ministries. Karandlaje is considered close to beleaguered Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

The rebels led by Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy and his elder brother G. Karunakara Reddy want Yeddyurappa to go. They may settle for a compromise that would include sacking Karandlaje from the 17-month-old ministry.

Karandlaje, a post-graduate in social work, is not a push over.

‘I have come up the hard way. Let these people prove that I have been interfering in their work,’ she challenges when reporters ask her about the rebels’ allegations.

‘He is like a father figure,’ she says of Yeddyurappa when questioned about her closeness to him.

‘He recognizes talent and hard work. I am not the only woman he has encouraged. There are many in the party whose abilities have been spotted and encouraged.’

Karandlaje was born near Puttur in the coastal Dakshina Kannada district, about 350 km from here, on Oct 23, 1966 to Monappa Gowda and Poovakka.

‘I have been a swayamsevak (a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and then came to BJP. I have worked hard and not aspired for any post in the organization or government,’ Karandlaje insists.

She was active in the BJP’s student wing Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishath, Mahila Morcha (women’s wing) and was also the general secretary of the state BJP unit.

Karandlaje is not married and devotes full time to BJP. She was elected to the Vidhana Parishat (legislative council) in June 2004 for the first time.

As she rose in the party ranks, controversies surrounded her, mainly around her closeness to Yeddyurappa.

Ignoring opposition within the party, Yeddyurappa picked her up to fight the May 2008 assembly elections from Yeswanthpur in Bangalore north.

She beat her detractors and won the seat though a section of BJP workers did not canvass for her saying she was an ‘outsider’ as she hailed from Dakshina Kannada.

Yeddyurappa rewarded her by giving Rural Development and Panchayat Raj ministry. He also made her in charge of the prestigious Mysore district, a popular tourist attraction, including the Jamboo Savari or procession of caparisoned elephants during Dussehra festival.

In addition, she was given the task of briefing the media after cabinet meetings.

There have been murmurs ever since by a section of ministers, legislators and partymen about her style of functioning.

When these got louder, she dropped out of the briefing job which was taken over low-profile, soft-spoken Home Minister V.S. Acharya.

She has frosty relations with Mysore district BJP leaders, many of whom boycotted this year’s Dussehra festivities.

The bad blood between her and Mysore leaders had prompted her to appeal to Yeddyurappa at a public function in Mysore a few months to relieve her of the charge the district.

Karandlaje has her supporters in the ministry, besides Yeddyurappa. Medical Education minister Ramachandra Gowda recently rubbished the talk of Karandlage interfering in other ministries.

‘If the charges are proved, I will resign,’ he had said springing to the defense of his lone woman colleague in the ministry.

Karandlage has been keeping a low profile ever since the turmoil reached a high pitch. ‘I am busy attending to my work. My ministry is so vast,’ she explains.

Cycling through India’s blue mountains – for culture and cause

Published: October 29, 2009Posted in: NationalTags:

Bangalore, Oct 29 – Come December and 70 cyclists will set off on a 900-km-long tour from Bangalore to the beautiful Nilgiris mountains in Tamil Nadu, soaking in not just natural beauty but also the culture and cuisine of the region. And, of course, they will push the cause of the humble bicycle.

The eight-day tour – Tour of Nilgiris (TFN) – beginning Dec 15 will pass through Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan, Mercara, Irupu, Sultanbathery and Ooty. The Nilgiris are popularly known as the blue mountains in the Western Ghats of India.

‘The success of the TFN in 2008 has ensured that more people want to go out on the TFN that aims at creating awareness about the multiple benefits of commuting by the most humble mode of transport – the cycle. Thus we’re set for the second edition of the tour,’ Ravi Ranjan, founding trustee of the RideACycle Foundation – the NGO organising the event – told IANS.

One of the major attractions of the cycling tour is the rich flora of the region. The Nilgiris are a set of 24 peaks located in the western parts of Tamil Nadu, and borders Karnataka and Kerala.

The journey will give riders not only a good dose of adventure and view of the breathtaking natural beauty of southern India but a chance to discover the heritage, culture and cuisine of the region, says the Foundation.

The Nilgiris have been a popular tourist destination since India’s pre-independence days. The Nilgiri Hills, a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, has been included in the Unesco World Network of Biosphere Reserves because of its rich flora diversity.

‘The Nilgiris have its own charm. Over 2,700 species of flowering plants, 160 species of fern and fern allies, countless types of flowerless plants, mosses, fungi, algae and land lichens are found in the Nilgiris. No other destination in India has so many exotic species,’ said Arun Katiyar, a member of the foundation.

The first edition of the TFN in December 2008 saw 56 participants.

This year 70 participants have been selected to take part in the event. The organisers received around 300 entries through its website www.tourofnilgiris.com and 50 more through contests on Radio One FM94.3, the official radio partner for the event.

Along with participants from various parts of Karnataka, cyclists from Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and even the US will take part.

Besides, a support team of 20 people will also be on the tour. The support team consists of a blogger, a photographer and a doctor.

The group will cover an average distance of 120 km a day.

‘On some days because of the sharp inclines, the riding will be tough. But the challenge is worth taking up. Most people will cycle for about 7 to 10 hours a day, starting each morning at 6 a.m.,’ said Katiyar.

‘TFN rules specify that no one can ride beyond 4 p.m. Once it is 4 p.m., riders must wait where they are for a TFN sweeper truck to pick them up and take them to the end point.

‘Not everyone can complete every day – there are changes in food, weather, altitude, road conditions, bike conditions, the company you are with and their pace for the day, unexpected breaks in the road, etc,’ he added.

Giving details about the kind of medical assistance the participants will be given during the tour, Katiyar said: ‘Renu Arora, a lifestyle physician and fitness consultant, who was part of the tour last year, and a fully equipped vehicle to manage emergencies will accompany the cyclists during the event.’

‘In addition, we map out every single hospital and police station along the route and discuss with them our tour before we go on it. A day before we are in their area, the TFN tour director alerts them to the fact that we will be riding through their neighbourhood. This way the hospitals are always prepared for an emergency,’ added Katiyar.

Bangalore-based RideACycle Foundation is a not-for-profit advocacy group promoting sustainable transport, responsible travel and environmentally and socially responsible bicycling opportunities in Bangalore.

The ‘real’ Satyajit Ray – caught on camera

Published: October 29, 2009Posted in: Entertainment, NationalTags:

Bangalore, Oct 29 – He took Indian cinema to the world stage. But very few know that Oscar-winning film director Satyajit Ray while being a perfectionist was almost an ‘autocrat’ when it came to filmmaking, right from scripting to camera handling to direction.

A rare series of photographs depicting the ‘real’ Ray – the man and his passion – are currently being depicted at an exhibition hosted by the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Bangalore.

Titled ‘Satyajit Ray: From Script to Screen’, it displays a suite of photographs by Nemai Ghosh who was closely associated with Ray. With 101 photos, the month-long exhibition was inaugurated by Jawahar Sircar, secretary in the union culture ministry Tuesday evening.

‘Satyajit Ray is a film institution. Nobody can take his place. The exhibition is an attempt to discover the man and his work. We’re grateful that Ghosh made an attempt to capture some of the most interesting moments from his life,’ Rajiv Lochan, director of NGMA, told IANS.

Narrating his close association with Ray, the director who made films like ‘Pather Panchali’, Ghosh said, ‘I was lucky. I came in touch with Ray during the beginning of my career in photography in 1968. I saw him closely while he was at work. Be it during the shooting schedule or while writing his scripts, he was like an autocrat. He took control of the entire cast and crew.’

Most of the photographs at the exhibition depict Ray deeply engrossed in his work during the shooting of his films. Many of the film frames that Ray would sketch before proceeding with a shoot were snapped up by Ghosh and these photographs are now on display.

‘These are rare moments from Ray’s life and his works. He belonged to a rare breed of filmmakers who was a complete perfectionist. I spent hours with him, trying to know the real man the world knows as Satyajit Ray. My photographs are pieces of understanding of the real Ray,’ added Ghosh.

Ray, who shifted to filmmaking from advertising, directed 37 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts.

With his debut film ‘Pather Panchali’ (1955), a modern-day Bengali classic, bringing into light rural life and its struggles, Ray brought worldwide attention to Indian cinema at large. Apart from an Oscar, Ray was honoured with several national and international awards. He passed away in 1992.

(Maitreyee Boruah can be contacted at m.boruah@ians.in)

Wipro projects $1.11 billion earning from IT services in third quarter

Published: October 27, 2009Posted in: Business, NationalTags:

Bangalore, Oct 27 – Wipro Ltd Tuesday projected an earning of $1.11 billion from IT services for third quarter (October-December) of this fiscal (2009-10), as revenue for second quarter (July-September) at $1.06 billion was higher than the guidance of $1.03 billion.

‘We expect revenues from our IT services business to be in the range of $1.09-1.11 billion in the third quarter, as we see more stability in volumes and pricing,’ Wipro chairman Azim Premji said in a statement here.

In a regulatory filing earlier, the IT bellwether said net profit for the second quarter increased by 19 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs.11.62 billion, as per the Indian accounting standard.

The net profit is higher than the projection of Rs.10.6 billion by analysts who keep track of Indian blue chip firms in the technology space.

But consolidated revenue for the quarter under review (Q2) increased modestly by six percent YoY to Rs.69.17 billion, as per the Indian accounting standard.

According to the International Financial Regulatory Standard (IFRS), the company’s net income at $243 million increased by 21 percent YoY, while total revenue increased by six percent YoY to $1.44 billion.

Revenue from IT services at $.106 billion was, however, four percent lower YoY though sequentially higher by 3.2 percent, as per the IFRS.

‘Our broad portfolio of services and strong delivery excellence continue to position us as a partner of choice with customers,’ Premji noted.

Operating margins for IT services increased by 143 basis points to 23.8 percent sequentially and 279 basis points on annualized basis.

In rupee terms, revenue from IT services at Rs.49.96 billion is an increase of five percent YoY and 3.5 percent sequentially.

‘Our unwavering commitment to operational improvements continues to pay dividend, resulting in double-digit sequential growth in net profit,’ Wipro chief financial officer Suresh Senapaty said in the statement.

The IT services business added 37 clients during the quarter.

The company’s IT products business recorded 18 percent YoY growth to Rs.11.83 billion, while consumer care and lighting grew by 11 percent YoY to Rs.5.87 billion.

With voluntary attrition marginally increasing to 10.5 percent from 8.4 percent in the first quarter (April-June) and involuntary attrition to 3.1 percent from 1.9 percent in the same period this fiscal, the headcount for IT services business decreased by 630 people to 97,891 from 98,521 sequentially.

On annualised basis, the headcount has increased by 330 people from 97,552 in the second quarter of last fiscal.

India, Russia, China meet in Bangalore to bolster ties

Published: October 27, 2009Posted in: Business, NationalTags:

Bangalore, Oct 27 – The foreign ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC) Tuesday began a meeting here to explore business opportunities in key sectors and collaboration on playing a greater role in world affairs.

India’s External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will exchange views on regional and international issues as well.

This is the ninth trilateral meeting. India’s IT capital, Bangalore, hosts a major international meeting 23 years after the second South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in November 1986 under then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Krishna is from Karnataka and has served as chief minister of the state.

‘The foreign ministers of RIC countries will discuss trade and business opportunities in infrastructure, energy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and nanotechnology for mutual benefit,’ external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash told reporters Monday evening.

‘Some of the global issues on the agenda are climate change, world trade and the global financial crisis from which the world is gradually emerging,’ Prakash noted.

The three foreign ministers will sign a joint declaration after the two-hour long meeting.

The three countries account for 20 percent of the global landmass and 39 percent of the global population.

The interaction is being held against the backdrop of bilateral meetings Krishna and Lavrov had during the 15th session of the Indo-Russian inter-governmental commission in Moscow Oct 21; and between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at Hua Hin, Thailand, on the margins of the Indo-ASEAN summit Oct 24.

‘The RIC process also encourages academic exchanges. India enjoys most important and time-tested relations with Russia based upon mutual trust, continuity and understanding,’ Prakash said.

Wipro net profit up 19 percent in second quarter

Published: October 27, 2009Posted in: Business, NationalTags:

Bangalore, Oct 27 – Wipro Ltd posted a net profit of Rs 11.62 billion for the second quarter (July-September) of this fiscal (2009-10), registering 19 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth, as per the Indian accounting standard.

In a regulatory filing, the IT bellwether Tuesday declared that revenue for the quarter under review (Q2) was Rs.69.17 billion, a modest increase of six percent YoY, as per the Indian accounting standard.

According to the International Financial Regulatory Standard (IFRS), the company’s net income at $243 million increased by 21 percent YoY, while total revenue increased by six percent YoY to $1.44 billion.

Revenue from IT services, however, declined by four percent YoY to $1.06 billion during the quarter though it was sequentially higher by 3.2 percent.

Artists doing their bit for Karnataka flood victims

Published: October 27, 2009Posted in: NationalTags:

Bangalore, Oct 27 – Art is helping heal the wounds in the aftermath of the floods that struck Karnataka, killing hundreds and leaving millions homeless, as 41 well-known artists have come together to help raise money for the victims.

A special exhibition-cum-sale is on display at Venkatappa Art Gallery here. The five-day exhibition will end Oct 28.

The exhibition is an initiative of Samyojitha, a trust run by artists for social causes.

‘The exhibition is an attempt of the artists to do their bit for the relief and rehabilitation of floods victims. What better way than exhibiting their art work for connoisseurs and raising money by selling the art exhibits,’ Samyojitha convener N. Marishamachar told IANS.

‘Ours is one of the oldest modern art organisations in Karnataka. Artists have always been concerned about the well- being of people, especially the downtrodden. At a time when hundreds of people have been killed in the floods and millions are homeless, the artists feel it is their responsibility to do their bit,’ he added.

An estimated 18 million people have been affected by the floods in 18 of Karnataka’s 29 districts. Three days of torrential rain, accompanied by floods, beginning Sep 30, left around 220 people dead in the state.

Prominent artists featuring in the exhibition include Yusuf Arakkal, Chandranath Acharya, M.B. Patil, B. Jayaram, K.B. Surekha, Gurudas Shenoy, Rani Rekha, S. Krishnappa, J.M.S. Mani, R. Suri and P.S. Kumar among others.

‘We’re receiving a lot of enquiries from visitors at the art gallery. Art lovers are showing interest in buying art works. We’re hoping to raise good money through the event,’ Marishamachar said.

The prices of the art works range between Rs.2,000 and Rs.150,000.

‘It’s the time to stand together and help our brothers and sisters in the time of their need,’ said M.B. Patil, one of the artists.

India, China foreign ministers meet Tuesday

Published: October 27, 2009Posted in: NationalTags:

Bangalore, Oct 27 – Indian and Chinese foreign ministers will meet here later Tuesday to try and take forward the decision of the prime ministers of the two countries to build better understanding and trust at the political level, a senior official said.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi will ‘discuss all issues, including differences that persist between the two countries, in an atmosphere of mutual trust and on equal terms,’ according to external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash.

Yang will be accompanied by Chinese ambassador Zhang Yang during the talks to be held after the ninth trilateral meeting between the two Asian neighbours and Russia earlier in the day.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and joint secretary (East Asia, China, Japan affairs) Vinay Gokhale will assist Krishna in the talks.

The Krishna-Yang meeting comes three days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met on the margins of the Indo-ASEAN summit at Hua Hin in Thailand Oct 24, and decided to resolve all differences amicably.

‘Over the years, the convergences (between India and China) have grown and divergences have narrowed. The talks are an attempt in that direction,’ Prakash told reporters ahead of the Tuesday meeting.

‘There are no relationships in the world where there are no differences. We have differences. But both sides have the maturity, the mechanism and the framework to address those differences. We are in the process of narrowing them,’ he said.

The unresolved border dispute, the on-and-off Chinese intrusions into Indian territories, China’s objection to Singh’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh early this month and the upcoming visit of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to the border state in November are expected to figure prominently in the Krishna-Yang talks.

Prakash said as Singh and Wen agreed to build better understanding and trust at the political level, the foreign ministers’ talks would focus on robust relations and would not allow differences to be an impediment.

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