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UK-India FTA: Labour Party attacks ‘VIP access’ for Infosys due to PM Sunak family link

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LONDON: The UK’s Opposition Labour Party has claimed Infosys was effectively granted “VIP access” after a media report alleged the software services major was promised help to grow in Britain due to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s familial connection with co-founder Narayana Murthy.

based on a freedom of information (FOI) request said Trade Minister Lord Dominic Johnson discussed the UK operations of Infosys during a meeting at the company’s offices in Bengaluru during a visit last April.

A readout of the meeting reportedly said Lord Johnson “made clear that he was keen to see a bigger Infosys presence in the UK and would be happy to do what he could to facilitate that.”

“After the Tories handed billions in taxpayers’ cash to cronies for duff PPE (personal protective equipment), the public will wonder why an outfit so personally close to Rishi Sunak appears to have been granted this VIP access. There are serious questions to answer,” Labour’s shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth told the newspaper.

Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, has a 0.91 percent stake valued at around GBP 500 million in the IT business co-founded by her father and received millions in dividends in the past financial year.

A “steering brief” for the meeting is reported to have said that it “would be good to reassure them on the prospects for the UK economy and remind them of the support that we can provide through DBT [Department for Business and Trade].”

Lord Johnson is said to have outlined to the Infosys executives, whose names were redacted in the FOI documents, the advantages for the multinational as a result of the UK’s high-potential individual visa scheme.

“The investment minister regularly meets businesses and international investors, including a range of Indian businesses, to champion the UK as an investment destination and secure commitments worth billions of pounds. That engagement drives investment across the UK, creating thousands of high-quality jobs and boosting the UK economy,” said a DBT spokesperson.

Infosys has been approached for a reaction over these latest claims, coming in the wake of some opposition murmurings around Infosys seeking visa benefits to accrue from the proposed India-UK free trade agreement (FTA).

The briefing paper for the April 2023 meeting reportedly notes that one of the objectives was to “reassure that the FTA will further create new opportunities and investor-friendly policies to support business growth.”

This is the latest opposition attack faced by Sunak’s wife over her business interests after Labour raised questions over Akshata Murty’s decision to liquidate an investment venture named Catamaran Ventures.

The 43-year-old Indian businesswoman and daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy had incorporated the venture in 2013 with her husband as one of the directors before he resigned in 2015. It had emerged in a financial statement last year that she had decided to wind down her firm as a going concern.

The personal finances of Sunak and his wife have previously also been under scrutiny when it was revealed that Murty had legal non-domicile tax status, which meant she did not have to pay UK tax on her Indian income.

However, after an opposition furor over this issue, she had relinquished her non-dom tax status and said she would pay all her taxes in the UK to prevent the issue from becoming a distraction for her husband’s political career.

King Charles III temporarily halts public duties as he undergoes cancer treatment

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LONDON: Britain’s King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment, Buckingham Palace said Monday. Less than 18 months into his reign, the 75-year-old monarch will suspend public engagements but will continue with state business, and won’t be handing over his constitutional roles as head of state.

The palace didn’t disclose what form of cancer the king has, but said it’s not related to his recent treatment for a benign prostate condition.

The palace said “a separate issue of concern was noted” during Charles’ treatment for an enlarged prostate last month, when he spent three nights in a London hospital.

“Diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” it said in a statement.

“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties,” the palace said. “Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”

The king is being treated as an outpatient, the palace said.

It said Charles, who has generally enjoyed good health, “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”

The palace added that the king “has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”

Charles became king in September 2022 when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne.

News of the king’s diagnosis comes as his daughter-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales, recovers from abdominal surgery that saw her hospitalized for about two weeks.

Kate is still taking a break from royal duties as she recovers. Her husband, Prince William, who is heir to the throne, also took time off to help look after the couple’s three children, but is due to preside over an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle and a charity dinner on Wednesday.

Charles took the throne intending to preside over a slimmed-down monarchy with fewer senior royals carrying out ceremonial public duties. But with Charles and Kate both temporarily sidelined, Prince Harry self-exiled to California and Prince Andrew largely banished from view because of his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the royal “Firm” risks becoming severely overstretched.

The king personally called both William and Harry — as well as his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — to share news of his health.

Harry, who quit royal duties in 2020, has spoken to his father about the diagnosis and “will be traveling to U.K. to see His Majesty in the coming days,” said the office of Harry and his wife, Meghan.

U.K. political leaders sent messages of support. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: “Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.”

U.S. President Joe Biden, traveling in Las Vegas on Monday, said he had just learned about Charles’s diagnosis and said he hopes to speak with him, “God willing.”

“I’m concerned about him,” Biden told reporters.

The president later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery.”

Charles departed from royal tradition with his openness about his prostate condition. For centuries Britain’s royal family remained tight-lipped about health matters.

When U.K. monarchs had real power, news of illness was withheld for fear it might weaken their authority. The habit of secrecy lingered after royals became constitutional figureheads.

The British public wasn’t told that Charles’ grandfather, King George VI, had lung cancer before his death in February 1952 at the age of 56, and some historians have claimed that the king himself wasn’t told he was terminally ill.

In the final years of Elizabeth’s life. the public was told only that the queen was suffering from “mobility issues.” The cause of her death was listed on the death certificate simply as “old age.”

Pat Price, founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, said millions shared the “collective concern” for the king’s health.

“The king’s openness about his battle with cancer is a powerful reminder that one in two of us may face cancer at some point in our lives,” Price said.

Messi expected to play in Hong Kong despite injury worry: Coach Martino

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Hong Kong: Lionel Messi should be able to take the field for Inter Miami’s pre-season friendly in Hong Kong at the weekend despite an injury niggle, coach Gerardo Martino said Friday, to the relief of thousands of football fans in the city.

The World Cup-winning Argentina star is carrying a hamstring injury and came on only for the last few minutes of a 6-0 friendly defeat to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia on Thursday night.

Martino said he will assess Messi’s fitness in training on Saturday before deciding whether the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will be able to start against a Hong Kong XI the next day, a match that sold out in minutes.

“We had two very intense games (in Saudi Arabia this week), two more we have played in El Salvador and in Dallas.”

Messi’s Miami side lost 4-3 against Saudi’s Al Hilal in Riyadh on Monday after games against El Salvador and Dallas FC.

They will head to Japan for a match against Vissel Kobe on Tuesday to conclude a globe-trotting pre-season tour for the MLS side.

“We have to observe the physical situation of each of our players, but we have the expectation that Leo will play as much time as possible,” said Martino ahead of the match at the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium.

Martino’s words will be welcomed by thousands of fans in Hong Kong who have been in the throes of Messi-mania this week.

Hundreds gathered outside the team hotel in the south of the city on Friday hoping to catch a glimpse of their hero after Inter Miami arrived by private jet from Saudi Arabia.

A traditional junk boat, with Messi’s face plastered across sails in the pink colours of Inter Miami, cruised around Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Harbour to welcome the team.

Sports retailers reported that Messi shirts were flying off the shelves. Billboards all around the city proclaimed the team’s visit to Asia as organisers warned fans not to fall victim to ticket scams and scalpers.

The team, which also features former Liverpool and Barcelona star Luis Suarez, will take part in an open training session at Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where thousands of Messi-shirted supporters are expected to turn up.

“We will assess each of the players in training because we have been playing a lot of pre-season games,” Martino told reporters.

“The aspiration is that Leo can play as many minutes as possible.

“We will determine how long he can play depending on what happens in training tomorrow.

“But he will most certainly be on the pitch.”

The new MLS season in the United States begins on February 21.

India beat England by 106 runs in 2nd Test, level series at 1-1

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Indian players celebrate the wicket of England captain Ben Stokes during the fourth day of the second Test at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, in Visakhapatnam, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Indian bowlers won an engrossing battle against England’s firebrand batting for a series-levelling 106-run victory in the second Test here on Monday, blunting ‘Bazball’ with their resilience in a roller-coaster contest.

England began day four at 67 for one, chasing a record target of 399. They were bowled out for 292 in the extended afternoon session.

The visiting team’s no-holds-barred approach, which has largely been successful, did not work on this occasion as India picked up nine wickets over the course of two sessions to bounce back in the five-match series.

The third Test will be played in Rajkot from February 15.

“You know winning a Test in these conditions is not easy. (I) wanted our bowlers to step up, and they did that,” said an elated India skipper, Rohit Sharma.

Only Zak Crawley’s (73 off 132 balls) strategy of mixing caution with aggression worked before the collective efforts of Jasprit Bumrah (3/46), R Ashwin (3/71), Axar Patel (1/75), and Kuldeep Yadav (1/60) yielded the desired results for the hosts, who were under pressure going into day four.

Bumrah picked up the Player of the Match honours for his overall haul of nine wickets in the game, ahead of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a crucial 209-run knock in India’s first innings.

“He (Bumrah) is a champion player for us,” reiterated Rohit.

After James Anderson claimed that India were nervous while batting in the second innings and did not know a safe target to counter ‘Bazball’, England walked the talk on Monday and went ballistic.

“Coming into this last innings, (we) had full belief in ourselves that we’ll chase it down,” England skipper Ben Stokes said at the end of the game.

His team would have been better served taking a cue from Crawley, who saw out an intense morning spell from Bumrah before going for his strokes.

Night-hawk Rehan Ahmed (23) wanted to smash his first ball of the day out of the park while Hyderabad Test hero Ollie Pope (23) and Joe Root (16) were pushing their luck, frequently attempting sweeps and reverse sweeps on a pitch with variable bounce.

The visitors managed to make 127 runs in the opening session, but the loss of five wickets effectively sealed their fate.

When skipper Ben Stokes (11 off 29 balls) got run out via a brilliant direct hit from Shreyas Iyer post-lunch, there was no coming back for England.

But Ben Foakes (36) and Tom Hartley (36) frustrated the visitors with a 55-run partnership for the eighth wicket.

Hartley could have been Ashwin’s landmark 500th wicket, but the TV umpire overturned the on-field decision of a catch as the ball had ballooned after hitting the batter’s arm and not the glove.

However, Rohit and Co. were not convinced with the DRS showing umpire’s call for LBW. Since the appeal was only for a catch and not LBW, the umpire’s call for the latter was not considered.

At the stroke of lunch, Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Crawley while Bumrah trapped Jonny Bairstow (26) in front to deal a massive blow to England, who slipped to 194 for six at the break.

Crawley, by far the best batter on show, was adjudged LBW off Kuldeep with a close DRS call. On the sixth ball of his first over, Kuldeep got one to turn back in from the middle stump. It seemed the ball was going down the leg, but DRS showed that it was hitting the leg stump.

India’s standout bowler in the game, Bumrah, bowled his heart out in the two-hour session.

For someone who was operating in four-over spells, Bumrah bowled one extra in his opening burst before returning towards the end of the session to send back Bairstow. He also cleaned up Hartley to end the game.

Root and Pope perished while going for their strokes.

Root, in particular, would be disappointed with his effort as he danced down the track and went for a wild slog without getting to the pitch of the ball to be caught at short third man, giving Ashwin his 499th wicket.

While Axar Patel found Rehan’s pads with a straighter one, Pope offered a sharp catch to Rohit Sharma at first slip off Ashwin, and the Indian skipper made no mistake in pouching it.

Crawley’s play in the first session stood out. He was patient enough to leave balls in Bumrah’s opening spell, and when the champion fast bowler did for a full ball, the England opener was quick to put it away with a straight bat. His cover and straight drive off Bumrah were the standout strokes of his innings.

When Axar was bowling his first spell, India were a tad defensive and had both long off and long on in place for Rehan, who was promoted to bat at number three before stumps on day three.

Pope played a sweep, flick and stepped out to Axar in the same over for three boundaries.

Root, who had missed the last two sessions on Sunday due to an injured right little finger, was in full attack mode, with his first two scoring shots being reverse sweep for four.

Brief scores:

  • India 1st innings: 396
  • England 1st innings: 253
  • India 2nd innings: 255
  • England 2nd innings: 292

Our protest for tax share is apolitical BJP must join it says C.M Of Karnataka

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The CM sent an open invitation to BJP leaders to join the state government’s protest in Delhi. “If you do not support the state’s cause, it amounts to betraying its people,” the CM added.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and DCM DK Shivakumar address a press conference in Bengaluru on Monday

BENGALURU : Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday that the Karnataka government’s protest in New Delhi on Wednesday over the state losing its central tax share of Rs 1.87 lakh crore under the Modi regime is apolitical and not against the BJP.

Addressing reporters along with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah took a dig at state BJP leaders, including MPs and union ministers, for not taking up Karnataka’s cause with the Centre. He sent an open invitation to BJP leaders to join the state government’s protest in Delhi. “If you do not support the state’s cause, it amounts to betraying its people,” the CM added.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar categorically rejected the BJP’s allegation that the state’s resources are being spent on the implementation of the five guarantee schemes. They said this could not be related to the state losing its tax share from the Centre. “Karnataka government has the capability to manage its five guarantees. Let the Centre give us our tax share and we will manage the finances of our state,” Shivakumar said.

“Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman has every right to address the disparities. If she can announce the GIFT city project for Gujarat, why can’t she announce the same for Karnataka? We are all Indians, why this disparity?” Shivakumar said.

Asked if Kerala and Telangana will stage protests in Delhi, he said, “I am not going to comment on other states. It is natural for a baby to cry when it is hungry,” he said.

The CM sidestepped queries on whether he took other southern states into confidence over the issue and stated that he is only concerned about Karnataka losing its tax share. 

“Our government’s protest is not a fight between Congress and BJP. It is to draw the attention of the Centre and the people of the country to the state’s predicament,” Siddaramaiah said.

He criticised Sitaraman for the rejection of 15th Finance Commission’s recommendation to allocate a special grant of Rs 5,495 crore to the state, in her interim budget. The commission had made this recommendation realising the fact that the state’s tax share was reduced to 3.74% from 4.71% (in the 14th Finance Commission), a reduction by 1.07% for four years (2020-2024) that caused a loss of Rs 45,000 crore in tax devolution.

“Nirmala Sitharaman rejected it. She also rejected the recommendation for Rs 3,000 crore each to the Peripheral Ring Road project and development of lakes in the final report of the commision,” the CM alleged.

Replying to BJP’s allegation that his claims are false, Siddaramaiah said the Centre’s documents itself prove the state losing its tax share

Kamal Nath’s son says will contest from Chhindwara

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BHOPAL: It will be the first-time sitting MP son Nakul Nath and not his nine-time former parliamentarian father Kamal Nath who’ll contest the coming Lok Sabha polls from Chhindwara seat – the opposition Congress’s lone unconquered citadel of the 2019 polls.

“Assembly polls were held in November 2023 in three states, but Chhindwara parliamentary constituency remains the only constituency, where all the assembly segments were won by the Congress. The credit for it goes to all our workers present here. Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha polls are totally different, there are many candidates which leads to groupism in assembly polls. But there is no groupism in LS polls as there is only one candidate, I am your candidate in the coming Lok Sabha polls,” Nakul Nath said.

Addressing a meeting of Congress workers in Parasia assembly segment of Chhindwara LS constituency in father Kamal Nath’s presence, the sitting Congress MP said, “Let me clear the uncertainty about whether I or Kamal Nath Ji will contest from Chhindwara, by stating that I’ll contest from Chhindwara LS seat. The election in Chhindwara will be fought by me under his (Kamal Nath) guidance and support. You’ll have supported Kamal Nath and the Nath family for 42 years, I’m confident that the Nath family will get the same support and affection in the coming election also,” Nath Jr added.

The sitting Congress MP’s announcement happened just two days after his former CM and nine-times former parliamentarian father Kamal Nath had told journalists that winnability factor will guide the Congress party in deciding candidates on all seats, including Chhindwara.

Importantly, much before the Congress officially declared candidates for the seven assembly segments of his parliamentary seat in 2023 polls, Nakul Nath had himself announced the names of the same candidates at separate public meetings in Chhindwara, while his father was the state Congress chief and party’s CM face in MP.

Importantly, Chhindwara seat was the lone parliamentary constituency in Madhya Pradesh, which was won by the Congress in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. All other 28 seats in the state, including two other Congress citadels – Jyotiraditya Scindia’s Guna seat and Kantilal Bhuria’s Ratlam-Jhabua ST seats – were won by the BJP.

In the 2019 elections, Nakul Nath had made a winning Lok Sabha polls debut from his family’s pocket-borough by 37,536 votes, while Kamal Nath-led Congress government was in power in MP. Nakul Nath’s winning margin, however, was more than three times smaller than the 1.16 lakh-plus votes winning margin of his father in the 2014 LS polls from the same seat.

The Chhindwara seat since four decades has become synonymous with the Nath family headed by ex-union minister and former MP CM Kamal Nath, who won it nine times between 1980 and 2014, while his wife Alka Nath won it in 1996. In the last 43 years, the BJP has won the seat only once, when ex-CM Sunder Lal Patwa emerged victorious in the 1997 by-election.  

BJP-led Centre trying to scare AAP leaders by conducting ED raids: Atishi

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Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Atishi on Tuesday said the BJP-led Centre is trying to “scare and silence” the party by conducting ED raids on its leaders.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the premises of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary Bibhav Kumar and AAP Rajya Sabha MP and party’s treasurer ND Gupta as part of a money laundering case, official sources said.

Atishi said raids were being conducted by the ED at the premises of Kumar and Gupta since 7 am.

More raids on the premises of other AAP leaders are to be conducted throughout the day, she claimed.

The minister also alleged that the statements of witnesses and accused related to the excise policy case were extracted by the probe agency by force and threat.

She alleged the BJP-led Centre using ED to “scare and silence” AAP by conducting raids on its leaders.

Despite two years of probe, nothing has been found by the agencies in the alleged excise policy scam, she said.

About 10 premises in the national capital are being covered as part of the ED raids.

It was not immediately clear if the searches were part of an ongoing money laundering investigation or in connection with a fresh case, official sources said.

Vizag Test: England 194-6 at lunch on day 4, chasing record 399 to win

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India's bowler Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates with teammates the wicket of England's batter Ollie Pope during the fourth day of the second Test match between India and England on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.

VISAKHAPATNAM: England were 194 for six at lunch in their second innings in pursuit of a record chase of 399 on the fourth day of the second Test against India here on Monday.

Ben Stokes (0) was at the crease during the break with England still needing 205 to win.

R Ashwin dismissed Ollie Pope (23) and Joe Root (16) in the morning session to take his Test wicket tally to 499. He had removed Ben Duckett (28) in the final session on day 3.

At the stroke of lunch, Kuldeep Yadav trapped Zak Crawley (73), while Jasprit Bumrah had Jonny Bairstow plumb in the 43rd over.

England were 67 for one at stumps on day 3.

India had scored 396 and 255 in their two innings, while England were dismissed for 253 in their first essay.

Brief scores: India 1st innings: 396 England 1st innings: 253 India 2nd innings: 255. England 2nd innings: 194 for six in 42.4 overs (Zak Crawley 73; R Ashwin 3/42).

Australia thump West Indies by 83 runs to seal ODI series

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Australian players celebrate their victory in the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match against West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 4, 2024 in Sydney.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Man of the match Sean Abbott grabbed three wickets and slammed an entertaining 69 as Australia cruised to an 83-run victory over the West Indies in the second one-day international to seal the three-match series on Sunday.

Chasing 258-9, the visitors were dismissed for 175 in the 44th over at a humid Sydney Cricket Ground.

Abbott starred with 3-40 while Josh Hazlewood took 3-43.

“It was a challenging start to the game, the West Indies bowled quite well early on. It was a tricky surface, but our late middle order did a terrific job,” said Australia skipper Steve Smith.

“I thought 250 was around par and we came out and did the job really nicely with the ball.”

It was Australia’s 11th consecutive ODI win to wrap up the series with a match to play in Canberra on Tuesday.

Australia won the first game in Melbourne by eight wickets and while it was a more disciplined bowling performance by the West Indies, their batters struggled against the hosts’ relentless attack.

“I thought we stuck to our guns really well in the bowling department,” said West Indies captain Shai Hope. “But the Aussies bowled very well and we need to find a way to bat a bit more freely.”

The West Indies run chase started with a flourish as Alick Athanaze slammed successive boundaries off Aaron Hardie.

But he was out the following ball for 11 and fellow opener Justin Greaves (eight) went the next over with Hazlewood — back in the side for rested Melbourne bowling hero Xavier Bartlett — doing the damage.

When Kjorn Ottley was out for eight, caught behind off Abbott, they were struggling at 34-3.

Hope and Keacy Carty ground out a 53-run stand, but it took them 14 overs.

Hazlewood returned to bowl Hope for 29 and when Abbott accounted for Carty (40), the West Indies were 108-5 with the match slipping away.

Hazlewood struck again to remove Matthew Forde lbw and the night was capped by a sensational one-handed diving catch by Cameron Green to dismiss Roston Chase.

Earlier, Abbott hit 69 off 63 balls to help Australia post a respectable score after slumping to 167-7.

Explosive 21-year-old Jake Fraser-McGurk was handed a debut in place of Travis Head, but failed to fire after the West Indies won the toss and sent Australia in, out for 10 to Alzarri Joseph.

Joseph struck again seven balls later to remove Josh Inglis for nine, caught at backward point.

Green and Smith had steered Australia to their resounding win in Melbourne with an unbeaten 149-run stand.

But they were unable to repeat the feat with Forde bagging the key wicket of Smith, who chopped on to leave Australia tottering at 50-3.

Green added 39 with Marnus Labuschagne before he lofted Oshane Thomas to mid-on and was gone for 33.

Labuschagne (26) again failed to convert a start to a big score, with spinner Gudakesh Motie picking up his wicket before removing dangermen Aaron Hardie (26) and Matt Short (41).

Abbott then put on 57 with Will Sutherland — another debutant — before a late flurry took him to only his second one-day half-century.

No space for elephants in camps Karnataka Forest dept helpless

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BENGALURU: There is a rise in demand for Karnataka’s elephants in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. But the Karnataka forest department is not in a condition to give the elephant away, despite the increase in man-animal conflict in the past few months.

“There is a demand for Karnataka’s bull elephants to be used as kumkis (elephants used to capture other wild elephants) in other states as well. There is also a demand for elephants from other zoos of India. But after the incident of Arjuna, we have slowed down the relocation operation. We have also put a halt on the capture operation, as we don’t have enough space in the rescue centres. We have told the state government of the current situation and are awaiting its decision. We also need strong bull elephants, more so after the death of Arjuna, to capture other wild elephants in conflict,” said a senior forest department official, not wanting to be named.

Forest, environment and ecology minister Eshwar Khandre, had recently held a meeting with department officials, to address various issues including man-animal conflict and afforestation.

At the meeting while it was pressed upon the officials to address the man-animal conflict, capture or relocate the elephants, the officials told the minister that they are in no position to capture elephants. According to department records, there are 100 elephants housed in various camps, of which 30 – 35 can be used as kumki elephants. The remaining continue to be housed in the camps. The state government is keen on resolving the issue of man-elephant conflict and has set up task force teams to address the issue. During November-December, the forest department had listed a plan to capture wild elephants, from Hassan and Kodagu.

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