1. SC to Karnataka: Release at Least 2 Tmcft Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu
The Supreme Court on Thursday, 3 May told the Karnataka government to show its bona fides by releasing at least 2 tmcft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu by Tuesday 8 May and ordered the Centre to file an affidavit detailing steps taken to frame the scheme on inter-state sharing of river water in accordance with the SC’s 16 February judgment.
“Release 4 tmcft water, at least 2 tmcft by Tuesday. Come with a positive attitude on Tuesday or face consequences,” a bench of CJI Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud warned Karnataka which goes to polls on 12 May. However, the SC order merely said the counsel would take instructions from the state government.
In response to the Supreme Court’s warning, Karnataka said it’s not in a position to release additional water to Tamil Nadu.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Modi Does a Flip-Flop, Says Voting for JD(S) Is a Waste
Days after praising former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, PM Narendra Modi on 3 May aired the opinion that JD(S) would finish a distant third in the Karnataka assembly polls and asked people not to "waste" their votes on the party.
"Surveys say JD(S) will be a distant third, they can't form government. They cannot even remove the Congress from power. So no one should waste their vote on them," he said at a rally in Bengaluru.
Modi alleged that the JD(S) had joined hands with extremists and communal forces and by doing so it has tried to play with the future of Karnataka.
"JD(S) has done a big disservice as they have invited from other states extremist and highly communalist forces and those who support extremism into Karnataka and formed an alliance with them," he was quoted as saying.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. BJP to Increase PM Modi Rallies from 15 to 21 in Karnataka
PM Modi may end up addressing 21 election rallies in Karnataka, instead of the 15 planned earlier, in a late campaign blitz before the 12 May assembly polls, two BJP leaders familiar with the matter said.
Modi began the second round of his campaign on 1 May, addressing three rallies in Chamrajanagar, Udupi and Belagavi. He returned to Karnataka on Thursday to address three more public meetings in Gulbarga, Ballari, and Bengaluru. In the first round, he address about half a dozen rallies before poll dates were announced on 27 March.
“The original plan had three more public meetings each on May 5, 7 and 8,” the first of the two leaders cited above said on condition of anonymity. “Now he will also address rallies on May 6 and 9. He may end up addressing 21 rallies instead of 15.”
(Source: Hindustan Times)
4. Bengaluru Girls to Represent India at Junior NBA World Championships in Orlando
Several weeks of preparation and hard-fought wins over some of the country's best teams has finally paid off for a bunch of talented young women basketball players from Bengaluru, who will now represent India at the Jr. NBA World Championship to be held near Orlando, Florida, in August.
After a gruelling three-day league phase, the city girls overcame favourites Kerala 47-41 in the semifinals and then sealed a 41-38 comeback win over Chennai in the Reliance Foundation Jr NBA National Finals at the NBA Academy in Greater Noida on Wednesday. Among the boys, Delhi defeated Kolkata 81-71.
Both Bengaluru and Delhi teams, along with international teams from Africa and West Asia, Europe, Mexico, Canada, Asia Pacific, China and South America will take part in the global youth tournament in Orlando.
(Source: The Times of India)
5. Techie, Brother Fight off Dacoits Who Attacked Parents
A 34-year-old software engineer and his younger brother fended off a murderous attack from a gang of armed dacoits in Bengaluru’s Ramasagara on the night of 2 May, and even managed to nab one of them.
Sudhakar Reddy, a software engineer, and his brother Chandan Reddy, were in the upper rooms of their duplex house when the gang entered through the front door at about 9.15pm.
Upon hearing the dacoits, the siblings charged downstairs and found their father, Narayana Reddy, engaged in a tussle with one of the dacoits. While two of the gang fled when they saw Sudhakar and Chandan coming towards them, the other two attacked them.
The two brothers managed to fend them off, sustaining minor injuries in the process
Police are on the lookout for the three who fled with two mobile phones and a chain worn by one of the brothers.
(Source: The Times of India)
6. Heli-Taxi Firm Eyes Rooftop Helipads of City’s Highrises
Buoyed by the response for its heli-taxi services between Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and Electronics City, Kerala-based Thumby Aviation Pvt Limited will soon launch services from HAL airport and Whitefield to KIA.
The firm is planning to utilize rooftop helipads in the city’s high-rises to extend its routes for the services. The city has over 90 rooftop helipads, but only the one at ITC Gardenia near Richmond Circle has the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) approval so far.
“We are in talks with star hotels like Leela Palace, ITC Gardenia, Le Meridien, Crowne Plaza and Bengaluru Marriott to use rooftop helipads. We’ll soon apply for DGCA’s approval. This will help us cater to the growing demand from passengers across the city,” said Thumby Aviation chairman and managing director Captain K N G Nair.
(Source: The Times of India)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)