Bengaluru will sorely miss a prominent and regular figure when the biennial air show returns to Yelahanka in February. Avinash Chander, the soft-spoken scientist, who is credited with the realisation of the Agni ballistic missile series, would have led his team of defence scientists at Aero India 2015. Mr. Chander leaves prematurely this month-end as Director-General of DRDO, Adviser to the Defence Minister, and Secretary, Department of Defence Research.
Bengaluru has a significant number of defence laboratories, mostly engaged in aeronautical projects such as the Light Combat Aircraft and unmanned air vehicles. The dozen labs have pride of place at the air show and exhibition. Late on January 13, around 30 military scientists were brainstorming in the city over their organisation’s role in the air show. As they were winding up their discussions, some of them started getting insistent calls on their cellphones, but they silenced them presuming that they were interruptions that could wait. Imagine their shock when they read the text messages about the fate of their boss. Many others did not know until much later that the government had summarily ended their chief’s contract 15 months ahead of time. The DRDO chief himself reportedly heard it from outsiders as he was leaving the missile centre in Hyderabad for Delhi. He was put on a two-year contract only in November last year. Thank you and farewell, Mr. Chander.
‘I want to interact with the people’
Excise Minister Satish Jarkiholi is unhappy with his portfolio and has sought a change. After holding the portfolio for the last 20 months, he says the department does not suit his temperament. The Minister, who spent a night at a crematorium at Belagavi last month to create awareness against superstitions, wanted a portfolio change to enable him to directly interact with the people.
In 2013, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had assured him that his portfolio could change during future Cabinet reshuffles. But that did not happen.
At a recent press meet, Mr. Jarkiholi said: “I will again appeal to the Chief Minister to change my portfolio. I do not care what portfolio is given to me, except that it needs to have direct interaction with the people.” Surprised over the move, critics have been asking why he would want to give up the excise portfolio — a major revenue generator (Rs. 14,700 crore in 2014–15). As district in-charge Minister of Belagavi, he still has the opportunity to interact with the people. Ironically, his promise to rehabilitate families associated with the illicit liquor menace remains largely on paper.
Where invitees felicitated the hosts
Invitees felicitated by the hosts at functions is not only customary, but has been an accepted practice. But, in Ballari, it was the other way round. The invitees (Ministers), who were of course honoured, were also entrusted with the task of honouring the hosts (government officials). This strange phenomenon was witnessed at the just-concluded Hampi Utsav 2015, a three-day mega cultural festival of dance, drama and music.
At the valedictory function, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Kagodu Thimmappa, Tourism Minister R.V. Deshpande, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H.K. Patil and P.T. Parameshwar Naik, Minister of State for Labour and district in-charge, were the guests of honour. They were asked to honour the heads of a few departments, besides extending kudos to them for working relentlessly to ensure the success of the cultural extravaganza.
A similar exercise took place at the Hampi Utsav 1996, and it was discontinued for reasons best known to the organisers. The trend was revived this year.
A longstanding emotional attachment
The Janata Dal (Secular) is now left with no choice but to vacate its office at No. 3, Racecourse Road, with the Supreme Court dismissing the curative petition filed by the party. In fact, the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and others, who are part of the Janata Parivar, have an emotional attachment to the structure, as it is has been part of their lives since 1977, after the merger of the Congress (O) with the Janata Party.
Having to sever its bond with the structure, the JD(S) submitted a petition to the government seeking allocation of land for the party office. But with the Chief Minister maintaining a studied silence on the issue, Mr. Gowda is not pleased. Especially since Mr. Siddaramaiah was associated with the JD(S) till 2005. The JD(S) appealed to the city’s civic agencies (the BDA and the BBMP) to allocate a site in the heart of the city for its office. Though the BBMP allocated 1.1 acres (near Chowdiah Memorial Hall) to the JD(S) on a 30-year lease, it has been embroiled in a controversy.
Madhumathi D.S.,
Vijaykumar Patil,
M. Ahiraj, and
Muralidhara Khajane
