1. BJP’s Operation Lotus Withers as Rebel Karnataka MLAs Back out
BJP suffered a loss of face in Karnataka on Wednesday, 16 January, after its efforts to topple the Congress-JD(S) coalition government failed, with disgruntled Congress MLAs developing cold feet at the last moment and not succumbing to the opposition party’s “Operation Lotus”.
This is BJP’s second failed attempt in the past seven months to form government in Karnataka. BJP had planned to get about 12-15 Congress MLAs to resign and form the government.
The party had corralled its MLAs in a hotel near Gurugram for the last few days besides shifting four Congress MLAs to Mumbai and other places. After realising that the required number of Congress MLAs would not resign, state BJP President BS Yeddyurappa is said to have told party MLAs at the hotel that Operation Lotus had been dropped.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. HC Quashes NBW Against Nithyananda
The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday, 16 January, set aside an order passed by Third Additional District and Sessions Court in Ramanagaram, which had, on 6 September 2018, issued a non-bailable warrant against Nithyanada Swami of Nithyananda Dhyana Peeta, Bidadi, while rejecting his plea for exemption from personal appearance during trial for a limited period as he was participating in a religious ritual.
Nithyananda had sought exemption for personal appearance while pointing out that being a sanyasi he was practising ‘Chaturmasa’ on the banks of the Narmada while indicating to the trial court that his lawyer would be present during his period absence besides undertaking that he will not object to any witness taking his name in his limited period of absence during the trial of the alleged rape case against him.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. Dowry Case: Bengaluru Cops Nab Commercial Pilot in Rajasthan
A 32-year-old commercial pilot of a private airline was arrested by Bengaluru City police at Jaipur airport on Wednesday morning, 16 January. According to police, Yudhishtir Poonia was facing a non-bailable warrant in a dowry harassment case registered at HAL police station in Bengaluru in October 2018.
Poonia, from Khatipura in Jaipur, was picked up by police at the airport and taken to Sanganer police station in Rajasthan where they completed the arrest formalities. “Poonia had been skipping court hearings for five months. Finally, the court issued a non-bailable warrant last week and we executed it,” Sanganer station house office Lakhan Singh Khatana said.
A 15-page complaint was filed against Poonia by his wife in which she narrated how she was subjected to violence. The complainant told cops that after 7 September, Poonia blocked all communication with her and disappeared from the house.
(Source: The Times of India)
4. Flight Operations to be Disrupted at Bengaluru Airport due to Aero India
Regular flight operations at the Kempegowda International Airport will be disrupted from 14 February to 24 February due to Aero India 2019 – the international aerospace exposition – being held at the Yelahanka Air Force base. The flight operations at the airport will be affected on the days leading up to Aero India as well due to rehearsals that will begin a week earlier.
On 20 February, aerial displays that are a part of the show's inauguration will be held in the morning. According to reports, flight services will likely be down from 8:50 am to 12 noon on that day. Further, the runway will be closed from 1.20 pm to 4.30 pm from February 14 to 17. On all days from 18 February to 24 February, except 20 February, the runway will be down from 9.50 am to 12 noon and from 1.50 pm to 5 pm.
On 20 February, the runway won’t be functional from 8.50 am to noon and from 1.50 pm to 5 pm.
(Source: The News Minute)
5. Dy CM Parameshwara Bats for Developing New City
Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday, 16 January, said there were plans to build a new city, which will have infrastructure on a par with other metros in the world.
He was speaking at the ‘Karnataka Government and IT Industry: A dialogue for future and continued engagement to strengthen the eco-system’, which saw the participation of industry leaders from Information Technology and Bio Technology.
The idea of a twin city was in response to suggestions from participants for the need to address Bengaluru’s growing population and the strain on its resources. Dr Parameshwara, who also holds the additional charge of IT-BT, Science and Technology Ministries and is the Bengaluru Development minister, sought ideas from industry leaders to prepare a plan for such a new city. However, he did not elaborate on its location.
(Source: The Hindu)
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