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O HERALD O S
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No end in sight to K’taka crisis
12 rebels leave in chartered flights l Parrikar sends two to Belgaum l
Karnataka MP Ramesh Katti along with BJP workers at Dabolim International Airport while leaving for Bangalore. HERALD REPORTER VASCO, OCT 9
As the political crisis in Karnataka deepens, the three-day drama at a starred hotel at Benaulim shifted to Dabolim Airport on Saturday afternoon, as 12 of the 14 dissidents were holed up in a conference room of airport under tight security. The rebel MLAs were later whisked away in two chartered flights on Saturday night, as they reportedly proceeded to Chennai. It is learnt that Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar managed move two BJP rebel MLAs and sent them to Belgaum via road in the afternoon. These two MLAs were accompanied by other BJP MLAs, who had rushed to the State to interact with the rebel MLAs. The 12 rebel MLAs, including seven from the BJP, were taken out from the Taj Exotica Hotel
under heavy security of the Goa Police to the Dabolim airport at about 3 pm. Incidentally, MPs from the BJP, JD(S) and Congress had also airdashed to the State and later proceeded to Bangalore, after assessing the situation in Goa. Parrikar, who was present at Dabolim airport, was also denied entry in the AAI Conference hall, where all 12 rebel MLAs were guarded under the watchful eyes of SP (South) Allen De Sa, Vasco DySP Mahesh Gaonkar, a police team and the Central Industrial Security Forces. As the politicians and their supporters began arriving at Dabolim airport, the situation became chaotic and passengers had to bear the burnt of the political turmoil. Sources claimed that 12 rebel MLAs housed in the AAI conference hall were taken in two chartered planes on Saturday night.
Airport sources told Herald that the first chartered flight left Dabolim airport at around 9.30 pm with three MLAs. A few minutes later, the second chartered flight also left with the other MLAs and it is learnt that both flights flew to Chennai. Meanwhile, BJP MP Ramesh Katti alleged that JD(S) men had forced the rebel MLAs to go with them to the Dabolim airport. Parrikar alleged that one BJP MLA who wanted to leave the rebel camp had been allegedly abducted and locked in the AAI conference hall. He alleged that the JD(S) and (Continued on page 10)
ON PAGE 2 CISF, AAI accused of misusing powers l
JD(S) blamed for abducting MLAs
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Dissidents challenge show-cause notices PTI BANGALORE, OCT 9
BJP rebels in Karnataka, who want Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to resign, today challenged the show-cause notices issued to them by Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah terming it as illegal, unconstitutional, motivated and devoid of jurisdiction and sought 7 days time to reply to it. The rebels, in an application filed through their counsels, questioned the three-day deadline set by the Speaker to reply to the show -cause notice slapped on them on the basis of a complaint lodged by Yeddyurappa seeking their disqualification under provisions of Anti-defection law. The Speaker had on October 7 served the notices to 11 BJP MLAs, a day after they submitted
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Goa: Old GMC complex to remain with govt — CM Pg 3
News: US asks Pak to take Pg 13 action against terror Four Australian police officers have been sacked in connection with the circulation of racist emails and disciplinary action initiated against 15 others. — (PTI)
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a letter to Governor H R Bhardwaj, withdrawing support to the Yeddyurappa government which faces a trust vote on Monday. Bopaiah had asked the rebels to reply to the allegations levelled against them before October 10 by five pm, an action that evoked criticism from Opposition Congress, JD(S) and even the rebels. The rebels, in their application, defended their action of withdrawing support to Yeddyurappa government, saying they were disillusioned with it after the government faced charges of corruption, nepotism and favouritism. The withdrawal of support to the Government does not attract the provisions of the anti-defection laws under 10th schedule of the constitution, they argued.
Rajdhani rams auto-rickshaw, eight killed PTI KATIHAR (Bihar), OCT 9
At least eight persons were killed and another was injured today when an auto-rickshaw was hit by speeding DibrugarhNew Delhi Rajdhani Express at an unmanned level crossing in Katihar district of Bihar, a railway official said. All the victims, who included two women and a child, were passengers of the auto-rickshaw. The Rajdhani Express running at a speed of nearly 100kmph hit the three-wheeler as its driver tried to cross the tracks at Khaira under Dandakhora police station, Hajong told PTI from the spot. The auto rickshaw was tossed by the impact and bodies of the victims lay scattered on both sides of the tracks.
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Now, get Set to zoom Centre okays expressway through goa
SURAJ NANDREKAR PANJIM, OCT 9
Even as the dust over the demolition of houses for the proposed widening of National Highway 17 and National Highway 4A is yet to be settled, the Central Government has granted its approval for an expressway passing through the State. In what could spell more trouble for residents, the new expressway, to be undertaken by the proposed National Expressway Authority of India (NEAI), in all probabilities will take an entire different route – which would mean more demolition of houses and possibly some more protests. The Expressway, which will be a six-lane road, will be completed in two phases. The first phase from Mangalore-Karwar-Panjim, covering a distance of 400 kms is scheduled to be completed by 2012 while the second phase from Panjim to Mumbai is scheduled to be
Ayodhya battle set for SC
PTI NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW, OCT 9
The All India Muslim Personal Board and Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, key parties to Ayodhya title suits, today appeared set to mo v e t h e S u p re m e Court against the Allahabad High Court verdict, even as some litigants are exploring possibilities of an amicable solution. “We will file an appeal against the High Court order in the apex court by the end of this month,” ABHM’s UP President Kamlesh Tiwari told PTI. He said the Mahasabha was firm on its stand not to allow division of the land in three parts. The legal committee of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board al s o f a v o u r e d a p proaching the Supreme Court against the verdict in the Ayodhya title suits.
completed by 2017. A Faridabad-based company Craphts Consultants (India) Pvt Ltd has completed the feasibility study to formulate a Master Plan for development of “Indian National Expressway Network” for the horizon year 2022, i.e. by the end of the 13th Five Year Plan. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) website says that the idea is to achieve a modest target of nearly 15, 600 kms of expressway by 2022. The study also aims at prioritising and phasing of expressway development/construction programme by 2012, 2017 and 2022. “Future expansion of ports, major identified SEZs, development programme under NHDP Phase VI, proposed expressways, existing expressways, expressways committed at the State levels have all been considered while drafting the network of national expressways,” the re-
The first phase from Mangalore-KarwarPanjim, covering a distance of 400 kms is scheduled to be completed by 2012 while the second phase from Panjim to Mumbai is scheduled to be completed by 2017. port by the consultants states. The consultants have further recommended certain amendments in the LA Act of the NHAI along the lines of the DMRC Act for speedy land acquisitions. In the process, the consultants have also recommended formation of a nodal authority to be named as the National Expressway Authority of India (NEAI) that shall have State (project) units for efficient discharge of duties.
The Commissionerate (Land) shall be a part of the NEAI. Authorities in the State, however, have not yet taken the matter seriously despite intimations being sent to the Public Works Department and other officials. The MoRTH has also given its approval for the expressway through Goa. When contacted top officials, who refused to be named sighting election code, admitted receiving the letter but said the matter was yet to be studied. “We have to first see what the Centre’s plan is and only then we can react”, an official said. Ironically, it is pertinent to note that a similar attitude has put Goans in a soup over the alignment for the proposed NH17 and NH4A. Till recently, the State did not have any knowledge about the alignment for the project and the administration woke up only after protests from the locals.
Inter-State sex racket busted 11 girls rescued from Candolim parlour HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 9
Goa police today busted an inter-state sex racket after tipoff from Manipur police and rescued 11 girls from a beauty-cum-massage parlour at Candolim. The Women and Child Protection team also arrested five boys employed at the parlour and is most likely to arrest the owner Mahalaxmi Mishra. The raid was carried out in view of a letter written by Manipur Superintendent of Police to Goa Police that Manipur girls were trafficked in Goa and are working at the parlour. “The Manipur police had written to Goa police that girls working at the parlor (name formally not disclosed) were trafficked from the former state. The intimation was in wake of several cases wherein north eastern women and girls are trafficked
in Goa,” Margao-based women NGO Bailancho Ekvott chief Auda Veigas told the waiting journalists late night. Veigas was called to assist the police team during and after carrying out the raid. She further told reporters that the Manipur Government also expressed concern that girls though are not professional beauticians have been employed at such parlours. “They found it suspicious and therefore asked Goa police to carry out a raid,” she further said. A high-voltage scene unfolded inside women’s police station at Panjim when Mishra was locked inside the police station with the arrested boys and rescued victims. She kept on banging the door from inside and screaming that ‘I have not done anything wrong. I will not keep quite.’
Media persons were forced outside the police station as the police closed all the doors creating a panicky situation for nearly two hours. It may be recalled that Mishra had launched a sustained campaign after series of raids in her parlour led by Calangute police inspector Nolasco Raposo. The owner had also approached Goa State Commission for Women (GSCW) in July that police were harassing her. Calangute police had rescued 29 girls in a raid along the Calangute-Baga belt in July, five of whom were working in the ‘Shamile beauty lounge’ at Candolim. Owner of the said beauty parlour Mishra had filed a formal complaint with the GSCW that her female employees were picked up from their accommodation without explaining the offense.