BANGALORE,Dec 20 (Agencies): Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today underwent an open heart surgery at a super-speciality hospital here.
Kumaraswamy, who had been admitted to Worckhardt Hospital following complaints of chest pain, had been diagnosed to be suffering from severe calcific arotic valve stenosis,necessiating an open heart surgery for replacement of the blocked valve of his heart, hospital sources said.
The four-and-half hour long surgery which commenced at nine am was conducted by a team of eight docotrs, headed by Dr Vivek Jawali.
"The surgery has gone well and has been uneventful," Dr Vishal Bali, CEO of the hospital told PTI.
He has been shifted to the intensive care unit where he will remain under observation for 48 hours.
He will subsequently be shifted out of the ICU but will remain in the hospital for a week, he said.
"All his parameters are fine", Bali said.
Kumaraswamy was admitted to the hospital on December 18 after he complained of chest pain.
PM asks states to set up specialised force to combat extremism NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (Agencies): Admitting that naxal groups have succeeded in enlarging their base, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked the states to establish specialised and dedicated forces needed to cripple the "virus".
"Although the notions of a red corridor from Nepal to Andhra Pradesh are exaggerated, we have to admit that they have achieved some degree of success in enlarging their areas of militancy," Singh said while addressing the Chief Ministers conference on internal security here.
Making a special mention of the recent jail break incident at Dantewada district of Chattisgarh, the Prime Minister said this was not an isolated incident.
"Not a day passes without an incident of Left-wing extremism taking place somewhere or the other," he said.
Observing that over the last years, the activities of naxal groups have revealed new aspects, targeting vital economic establishments and eliminating important political leaders, Singh said "...We cannot rest in peace till we have eliminated this virus.
"We need to cripple Naxalite forces with all the means at our command," he said and asked the states to set up specialised and dedicated forces to combat extremism.
The conference, which was barred for media coverage, is being organised by the Home Ministry and is also being attended by Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police, chiefs of para-military forces and intelligence agencies.
(MORE) Stressing on improved policing capabilities and better training facilities, the Prime Minister said "I hear that there were only three staff in the Dantewada jail where the jailbreak took place.
"Inadequate, ill-equipped, ill-trained, poorly-motivated personnel cannot take on the naxal extremists who are increasingly better equipped and organized," he said.
The Prime Minister assured full cooperation from the Union Home Ministry in setting up the dedicated forces for countering naxalism.
"The states also need to consider joint operations and joint mechanism for effective police operations," he said.
Suggesting blocking of infrastructural support to the naxal groups and weaning away of youth from their ideologies, Singh said "we also need to ensure that essential economic infrastructure is protected and the tempo of development activities is increased".
While the Left-wing extremism might be restricted to some regions, Singh said terrorism was becoming a larger problem, affecting all states equally.
"In the current year, we have had high profile terror attacks in Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh," he said.
The intelligence agencies have warned further intensification of attacks by terror groups.
Terrorists are able to use a wider range of materials and also able to organize coordinated strikes, he said.
"They are able to network across states and even international boundaries...While the actual perpetrators of terrorist violence may belong to a few known organizations, we need to guard against their attempts to recruit local sympathy and support," Singh said.
Asserting government's commitment to combat terrorism in "all aspects", the Prime Minister said the key to success in fighting terror is actionable intelligence for which the primary requirement was "better coordination between central and state agencies." Noting that soft targets became the "increased focus" of terrorists, Singh said there was a need to improve the surveillance and preventive systems to reduce the probability of terror attacks.
The Prime Minister said this would have a bearing on the exchequer but this was a "cost we must learn to bear for the sake of the safety and security of our citizens." Calling for people's participation in the battle against terror, he said "often, it is the early warning given by citizens which has prevented major catastrophes." He said the issue of investigations and prosecution of cases of terrorism having inter-state or international linkage also needed to be considered pragmatically.
"The proposition now appears to be that we are not talking about specifying any crimes as federal crimes to be investigated by a federal agency," he said.
Suggesting setting up a consultative mechanism which would decide on a case-to-case basis whether investigations needed to be done by a designated agency or by a collaborative arrangements, Singh told the Chief Ministers to "consider these options seriously." On situation in Kashmir and north eastern states, he said while there was an over all improvement all these states, Manipur and Nagaland appear vulnerable to militancy.
"Extortion seems to be a frequent occurrence.
We need to put an end to this.
We need to enforce the rule of law and create a respect for state apparatus," he added.
Aviation sector flies high but infrastructure hurdles remain NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (Agencies): India's crowded skies saw the first wave of consolidation as some airlines merged and others gobbled up a rival to gain market share and cut losses during the year 2007 that was also marked by a rapid increase in air travellers, infrastructure hurdles and addition of new planes.
Domestic passenger traffic soared by almost 40 per cent this year.
This prompted nearly all the airlines to place orders for buying new aircraft, undeterred by the fact that they posted combined losses of about Rs 2,000 crore largely on account of rising fuel costs and payments of aircraft.
Indian carriers have inducted about 150 aircraft in the past two years, taking the total number of planes with them to more than 310.
They will be adding close to 500 aircraft over the next few years to expand operations.
The increase in the number of planes, coupled with more foreign flights, put immense pressure on the hard-pressed aviation infrastructure.
This forced the Civil Aviation Ministry to start working on a policy to encourage private or merchant airports, besides expediting airport modernisation works in Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities.
The Airports Authority of India also started work on 35 non-metro airports, and called for bids for developing the city-side of these airports.
Government will also set up an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority to deal with the emerging scenario of private airport operators.
A major achievement this year was that no accident occurred, the best record in the past seven years.
However, a number of 'air-miss' incidents were registered, including one involving a special aircraft carrying UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
But aviation authorities maintained that these were procedural failures and would never have caused an accident.
The year witnessed a smooth merger of two state-owned carriers - Air India and Indian, despite strong protests from their employees.
Private carrier Jet Airways completed its takeover of rival Air Sahara earlier in the year and made it a wholly-owned unit JetLite.
Besides, liquor baron Vijay Mallya's UB Group bought 46 per cent stake in low-cost carrier Air Deccan that will be merged with Kingfisher Airlines.
A demand for relaxation of the existing norms to allow domestic carriers to undertake international flights was made by some airlines, notably Kingfisher.
However, the government stuck to its position and did not change the norms that allow only those airlines which have flown on domestic routes for at least five years and have a 20-aircraft fleet.
Kingfisher now plans to operate on Air Deccan's rights from early next year when the low-cost carrier completes five years of domestic operations.
However, the government decided to open up the Gulf route to eligible private carriers from January and Jet Airways was allowed to fly on this sector.
With the Indian aviation industry maturing, government proposed to liberalise the policy of foreign direct investment in the sector, particularly in areas such as creation of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, sea-planes, charters, helicopters and other non-scheduled operations.
In light of significant planned expansion of India's fleet, several global players such as Airbus, Boeing, SIA Engineering, ST Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik are in the process of tying up to establish Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in the country.
In a bid to beef up regional connectivity, the government announced a policy to promote scheduled regional airlines that would operate in the designated regions in the country.
A major initiative that would take the country's aviation sector to new heights and make India one among the four in the world was the successful testing of various aspects of the prestigious GAGAN project, a satellite-based navigation system that would manage air traffic even over oceans around India.
Government also focused on liber alising bilateral air traffic rights with several countries, taking the total seat entitlements up by 123 per cent between 2003 and 2006.
While traffic between India and Europe increased from 70 flights a week to 204 in the same period, Indo-US traffic rose from about 450,000 in 2003-04 to almost 900,000 in four years.
Government has also liberalised tourist charter norms by removing all restrictions on frequency, size of aircraft and points of call, subject to availability of immigration and customs facilities for inbound tour charters.
To meet the shortage of pilots, several steps were taken in recent months.
These include raising the retirement age to 65 years and allowing expatriate pilots to operate in India, subject to approval by Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
The state-owned Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Academy tied up with a renowned pilot training firm CAE of Canada.
A world-class flying school is being set up by the AAI at Gondia in Maharashtra and five foreign operators, including Airbus and Boeing, are evaluating investment opportunities.
Government has also enhanced DGCA's powers after amending the Aircraft Act, which would empower the regulatory body to license air traffic controllers.
The year 2007 can be called a mixed bag for the Indian aviation with a number of good initiatives that propelled the sector although airlines struggled to maintain profitability.
Fierce competition, high jet fuel costs and infrastructure bottlenecks could, however, play spoilsport in the new year.
Mecca Masjid withdraws case against Sania NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (Agencies): Seems like Sania Mirza will get a respite from the Mecca Masjid controversy.
Masjid officials have asked police to withdraw the case against the tennis star.
Sania had later apologised for shooting a commercial in the Masjid premises on December 13.
Police though are yet to take a decision on withdrawing the case.
However, there is no word on the case filed against the advertising agency.
The case had been registered against Sania in connection with the shooting for a commercial in the historic Mecca mosque in Hyderabad.
Another case had been registered against the advertisement agency for trespass, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Charminar) B Reddenna had said.
The minority welfare department had filed a complaint with the police that Sania and the agency's crew had entered the 17th century mosque without obtaining permission from the authorities.
The Hyderabad police on registered a case of house-trespass under Section 448 of IPC against Sania Mirza and an ad agency on December 13 (Thursday).
Later on Thursday evening, Sania sent an apology to Mecca Masjid Imam Hafiz Mohammad Usman Naqshbandi.
The tennis star had entered the Mecca Masjid in jeans and T-shirt for the shooting of an ad film.
The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Mecca Masjid superintendent Mohammad Nayeemuddin on December 11 against Sania and the ad agency for shooting the promotional film without seeking permission.
Govt woos Bedi, top cop says she won't stay NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (Agencies): : The Union Government is in no mood to accept India's first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi's request for voluntary retirement.
Instead, the Union Home Ministry is now exploring ways to accommodate Bedi in a top position in the national security setup as her grouse against the government was the appointment of YS Dadwal as Delhi Police Commissioner by overlooking her.
Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta dropped enough hints about his ministry's plans to handle the issue when he remarked at an official function that the government "has decided to put a big new responsibility on your (Bedi's) shoulders and that means anchoring the National Police Mission." Gupta made the mention while addressing the Foundation Day celebrations of Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR%26D) where Bedi is currently Director General.
Gupta, however, in his speech at the BPRD Foundation Day did not make it clear whether Bedi's services would be utilised when she would continue to be in service or after accepting her VRS application, which she had put in recently.
Bedi has, however, kind of spurned the offer, saying: "My request for voluntary retirement stays." She said she was looking forward to the acceptance of her voluntary retirement as she would not like to work 'for' the government anymore.
"I now look forward to working 'with' the government and not 'for' the government," Bedi, who forwarded her application about a month ago, told PTI.
"I am grateful for the recognition.
However, I am looking forward to the acceptance of my voluntary retirement by the government," she said.
"There is a difference between the two routes.
Also, no one is indispensable.
The irony is if I was dispensable for a particular position, I can surely be dispensable for this one too," Bedi said in an apparent reference to the appointment of Dadwal as Delhi Police Commissioner.
New fatwa forbids artificial conception LUCKNOW, Dec 20 (Agencies): A rude shock is in store for all childless Muslim couples who were planning to undergo artificial insemination.
Dar-ul-Uloom, a reputed Muslim seminary based in Deoband, UP, has issued a fatwa saying Islam cannot accept a woman conceiving through such an unnatural act.
The fatwa declares that medical techniques such as in vitro fertilisation and test tube babies are un-Islamic.
The edict raises deep socio-ethical questions for the community that is grappling with modernity and change.
Said the Dar-ul-Uloom's Ulema, Mufti Imran, "A woman whose husband is not able to give children, she is not permitted to use any other means.
It is forbidden and un-Islamic.
The fatwa also bans infertile women from allowing others to bear their babies.
Clerics say it is improper to masturbate in order to get a child through artificial means.
Though a child born this way will be regarded as one's own descendant, the method itself is undesirable and is haraam, or forbidden, if done through a doctor.
This is not the first time that the Dar-ul-Uloom of Deoband has issued such a controversial fatwa.
The edict has evoked a mix response from the Muslim leaders." AIMPLB (All India Muslim Personal Law Board) member Khalid Rashid agrees with the ruling.
''You cannot make a child through any artificial manner.
A child should be (created) in a natural manner," he says.
"If Allah has not given a child, He has not given the right (to get one) through artificial means." But the President of the AIMWPLB (All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board), Shaista Ambar, disagrees.
"If we have a lady doctor, then there should not be any problem," she maintains.
Religious leaders also feel that the Shariyat or the Muslim law book does not give the right of adoption.
A child adopted by a Muslim family can receive gifts from his or her parents but he or she cannot become their legal heir.
HC quashes externment order against Sethi MUMBAI, Dec 20 (Agencies): The Bombay High Court today quashed the externment order against former president of Dance Bar Owners' Association Manjit Singh Sethi.
The High Court said the order was malafied and biased.
This order would now enable him to return to Mumbai.
Police issued externment order against him this September, after the sessions court convicted him in a 1997 abduction case.
He got bail in this case as his appeal was pending before the High Court.
The externment order said Sethi was likely to cause "alarm to public".
It also mentioned that Sethi was suspected to be involved in a prostitution racket.
However, arguing his case before division bench of Justices R M S Khandeparkar and Amjed Sayed, Sethi's lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani had alleged that police were harassing his client because of political pressure.
But the public prosecutor Satish Borulkar pointed out that Sethi could have appealed to the higher police authorities under the Bombay Police Act, and need not have rushed to the High Court.
Sethi, who vociferously opposed the state government's order banning the dance bars (ban was set aside by High Court later), had to undergo three months imprisonment for committing breach of privilege last year.
He had threatened that bar girls would not let ministers' wives move on the streets, if ban was not revoked.
