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IT Raids on Karnataka Congress Secretary Vijay Mulgund

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Bengaluru: Income Tax officials raided the residence of Karnataka Congress Secretary Vijay Mulgund today.

Continuing their investigation into D K Shivakumar’s properties, IT officials searched properties of his close aide, Vijay Mulgund, in Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi.

IT Department official told “Today’s raids are taking place simultaneously in New Delhi and Bengaluru.”

On August 2, IT officials raided Shivakumar’s official residence here. The officials had then seized over Rs 10 crore.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah criticized the raids on Mulgund’s residence as part of the vendetta politics of the BJP government in New Delhi. “I have no objection to IT officials conducting raids but this selective targeting of Congress leaders lends credence to the feeling the IT Department is being misused to target Congress leaders,” Siddaramaiah said.

(Agencies)

Yeddyurappa hosting Dalit families is a political gimmick: CM Siddaramaiah

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Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today described as a “political gimmick’ the BJP state President B S Yeddyurappa hosting Dalit families at his residence.

“It is just a political gimmick, it is a drama,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here in response to a question.

When said that Yeddyurappa has clarified that the event has nothing to do with politics, he said … then why he did not do it when he was the Chief Minister, while in power? Why did not he go to their (Dalits) houses and hear their difficulties and pain, then? Why did not he formulate programmes for their upliftment”, he asked.

“Did he give even a single Dalit leader good portfolio? See these are all political gimmicks. He is doing it for 2018 elections, but people will understand (the truth),” the Chief Minister said.

Yeddyurappa had yesterday hosted 33 Dalit families from across the state at his residence here, as a mark of gratitude to their hospitality during his state wide tour.
Considered as an attempt to woo Dalit votes, the families were served with lunch along with gifts besides arranging for sightseeing in the city.

As part of his “Janasamparka yatra” and drought study tour across the state in May, Yeddyurappa along with other leaders partook of breakfast at dalits houses across the state.

The former Chief Minister had quoted controversy during this state wide tour as it was alleged that he had breakfast brought from a nearby hotel instead of what was homemade, which drew flak from both the Congress and JD(S).

(Agencies)

Gorakhpur tragedy continues: 42 children die in 48 hours at UP hospital

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Gorakhpur: Two weeks after the Gorakhpur tragedy that stunned the nation, another 42 children died in the last 48 hours at the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College.

“42 children died in 48 hours of which 7 due to encephalitis, rest due to other reasons,” said PK Singh, the principal of BRD Medical College

Over 290 children have died at the hospital from August 1 till August 28, including at least 77 from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).

Among 36 deaths reported on August 27 and 28, seven children died of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), 15 in Neo-Natal Ward NICU and 14 children died of different medical reasons, claimed a senior doctor at the hospital seeking anonymity, reported DNA.

According to hospital sources, nearly 1,250 children have died since January 2017, including 175 due to AES.

Following widespread outrage over the death of children, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government suspended BRD principal Dr Rajiv Mishra.

Mishra and his wife were arrested by the Special Task Force in Kanpur on Tuesday.

Dr Kafeel Khan, who shot to limelight for saving many kids, was also sacked from his position of as the head of the encephalitis ward.

Source told the DNA, while the state goes on a sacking spree, no arrangements have been made for the replacements.

It is interesting to note that Gorakhpur and surrounding areas have been badly affected by the encephalitis infection for more than a decade.

Despite many efforts, the locals have not been able to realise the extent of the situation. A doctor on condition of anonymity told the DNA, “How will we treat these infants when they reach hospital at the last stage.”

He also said that, “the toll, if compared from the previous year, is less. Media is unnecessary making a hue and cry.”

(Agencies)

‘Deadline for linking Aadhaar with government schemes is now Dec 31’

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court was informed on Wednesday the deadline for linking Aadhaar to various government schemes for benefits will be extended till December 31.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Amitava Roy and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar said the challenge to the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar scheme would be heard in the first week of November.

Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told the court that the existing deadline of September 30 would be extended by three months.

Venugopal made the statement after senior counsel Shyam Divan, appearing for a batch of petitioners, said that if government was inclined to extend the deadline, then the matter could be heard in November.

(IANS)

Anna Hazare slams PM Modi over inaction on Lokpal, plans fresh agitation

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New Delhi: Social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the union government’s inaction on Lokpal and threatened to launch another round of agitation in the national capital.

The anti-corruption crussader in his letter mentioned that he would continue to campaign in Delhi till Lokayukta isn’t appointed and Swaminathan report isn’t implemented.

The 80-year-old activist in hs letter mentioned that he will reveal the date and place of his agitation in the national capital in his next letter.

Slamming the Narendra Modi-led government, Hazare said that his protest will be aimed predominantly against the Modi government’s apathy in appointing a Lokpal even after three years in the Centre.

“It has been six years of a historical movement that aimed at creating a corruption-free India. But even after six years, the government has not drafted a definitive law to end corruption,” Hazare’s letter to PM says.

“For three years now, I kept reminding your government on the appointment of Lokpal and Lokayukts as well as on the welfare of farmers, but you neither replied to my letters nor took any action,” he wrote.

The letter demands that a Lokpal (ombudsman) be appointed at the Centre, a Lokayukta in every state, and a Citizen’s Charter on ending corruption be adopted by the government.

(Agencies)

Doctors engage in verbal spat in operation theatre, newborn dies

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Udaipur: The operation theatre of Udaipur’s Umaid hospital turned into a virtual battle ground on Tuesday when a verbal spat broke between two doctors operating on a pregnant woman.

In a video captured by a staff member in the operation theatre on a mobile phone, both the doctors were seen arguing loudly, calling each other names and even threatening each while conducting an emergency surgery on a pregnant woman, lying on the operation table.

The emergency operation was underway due to the low heartbeat of the foetus, which is when the incident took place.

Both doctors kept fighting, as one was seen involved in the surgery.

When one of the doctors – the obstetrician – finally delivered the baby at a hospital in Rajasthan, the baby didn’t survive.

According to a report in NDTV, the argument erupted between doctors – Ashok Nainwal and ML Tak – during an emergency caesarean surgery scheduled because of the feeble heartbeat of the foetus. It appears to have started when Dr Nainwal, the obstetrician, questioned whether the patient had eaten before the operation. The anaesthetist, Dr Tak, reportedly tried to have a junior doctor carry out tests, which Dr Nainwal did not agree with.

“You stay within your aukat (limits),” Dr Nainwal, in green scrubs and surgery attire, is seen screaming at the anaesthetist.

It quickly degenerated into shouting and name-calling. A nurse and another doctor are seen trying to stop them and remind them that a surgery was underway.

Rajasthan High Court took cognizance of incident of verbal spat between the doctors in the operation theatre at Umaid Hospital and asked the hospital to submit a report by 2 pm on Wednesday.

The Principal of Sampurananda Medical College, AL Bhat, has said he was informed about the “viral” video, where two of the doctors were quarreling and using indecent language inside the operation theatre.

“This is condemnable and a disrespect of the operation theatre,” Bhat said.

He informed that both the doctors have been removed from their post.

Bhat also revealed, “A committee has been established to look into the matter and based on this committee’s report, a strict action will be taken against them.”

Condemning the whole incident, Prinipal Bhat also said they have recommended the government to take this matter seriously.

The onlookers have said that the intensity of the fight was such that the doctors would have beaten up each other.

Amidst the spat, the doctors standing inside the operation theatre kept looking on, as mere spectators.

(Agencies)

Tropical storm Harvey displaces 30,000 in Texas, USA

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US disaster agency says 50 counties in Texas are affected by the flooding, as weather forecasters predict more rain.

by Al Jazeera

More than 30,000 people are expected to be placed in temporary shelters in the US state of Texas due to widespread flooding caused by Tropical Storm Harvey, US officials said, with more rain expected in the coming days.

Brock Long, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said on Monday that 50 counties in Texas are affected by the floods, which were brought about by an estimated six months-worth of rain falling in the last three days alone.

“We have not seen an event like this. You could not draw this forecast up, you could not dream this forecast up,” Long said.

Earlier, Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed an additional 1,000 National Guard troops, on top of the 3,000 already sent in the flood-stricken state, which is the size of France, Belgium and Switzerland combined.

Texas officials said Monday that six more people are feared to have died in the Houston area as a result of the storm and flooding.

Tricia Bentley, spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office in Harris County – which includes the city of Houston – confirmed six deaths since Sunday that are “potentially tied to Hurricane Harvey”.

She was unable to specify the cause of death, explaining that “some people may have had a medical emergency and just could not seek help because of the flooding”.

The fatalities were distinct from unconfirmed reports that a family of six had died in a van caught in floodwaters.

Three people were previously confirmed to have died after Harvey hit Texas on Friday. In Houston, a woman drowned when she left a car that had stalled in high water. Another man was found dead in a flooded Wal-Mart parking lot in Galveston County.

And one person was killed when a house caught fire in the Rockport area, where Harvey made landfall.

Al Jazeera’s Heidi Zhou-Castro, reporting from Houston, the largest city in Texas, said that in the last 48 hours, emergency agencies have received some 6,000 calls for help.

She said that between 300 to 400 households are still waiting to be reached by rescuers as of 13:00 GMT on Monday.

Our correspondent also said that the flooding is expected to rise in some parts of Houston, as authorities are expected to open dam and levies in the area, to ease pressure from continuous rain.

Al Jazeera’s weather presenter Richard Angwin reported that the “worst is probably yet to come”, saying that the storm, which is moving only at an estimated five kilometres per hour, could dump more rain in the coming days.

“We are only half-way through the rainfall,” he said.

“The storm is going nowhere very fast. It is going so slowly. There’s still a lot still coming out of it, picking up warm water in the Gulf of Mexico.”

‘Catastrophic’

In some areas just north of Houston, rainfall has already reached 1,000mm in the last three days, which our correspondent described as “catastrophic”.

Aside from the 50 counties affected in southern Texas, a portion of south-western state Louisiana was also affected by Harvey, which made landfall late on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane.

Harvey has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, but the damage it has left is extensive.

About 450,000 people are anticipated to apply for disaster assistance, which would make them eligible for financial support, possible replacement of property and other disaster-related aid.

President Donald Trump is expected to visit Texas on Tuesday, but not Houston as flooding in the US’s fourth largest city continues.

Harvey is the first major natural disaster to hit the US Trump’s presidency. On Sunday, he convened a cabinet meeting by telephone in response to the disaster.

Harvey was the fiercest hurricane to hit the country in 13 years, and the strongest to strike Texas since 1961’s Hurricane Carla, the most powerful Texas hurricane on record.

‘Fire and destruction’ as Myanmar army targets Rohingya

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Human Rights Watch says satellite data show fires have razed 100km of land in Rakhine state in the wake of crackdown.

More than 3,000 Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh from Myanmar [Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

Satellite data accessed by a rights body shows widespread fires burning in at least 10 areas in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, following a military crackdown on the country’s Muslim Rohingya population.

Residents and activists have have accused soldiers of shooting indiscriminately at unarmed Rohingya men, women and children and carrying out arson attacks.

However, authorities in Myanmar say close to 100 people have been killed since Friday when armed men, reportedly from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), launched a pre-dawn raid on police outposts in the restive region.

Myanmar authorities say Rohingya “extremist terrorists” have been setting the fires during fighting with government troops, while Rohingya have blamed soldiers, who have been accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings.

A government spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment.

“The Burmese government should grant access to independent monitors to determine the sources of fires and assess allegations of human rights violations,” the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement on Tuesday.

HRW said fires have razed 100km of land – an area larger than that burned during a crackdown by the Myanmar military following attacks by Rohingya fighters in October 2016, when data from the group suggested some 1,500 buildings were destroyed.

Witness statements

The locations of the fires correlate with some witness statements and media reports describing blazes deliberately set, the group said.

“This new satellite data should cause concern and prompt action by donors and UN agencies to urge the Burmese government to reveal the extent of ongoing destruction in Rakhine State,” Phil Robertson, HRW’s deputy Asia director, said in a statement.

“Shuffling all the blame on insurgents doesn’t spare the Burmese [Myanmar] government from its international obligations to stop abuses and investigate alleged violations.”

Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, “is deeply concerned at the reports of civilians being killed …,” according to a statement from spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres called on Bangladesh to step up assistance to civilians escaping the violence, noting “many of those fleeing are women and children, some of whom are wounded”.

More than 3,000 Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh from Myanmar, where the ethnic Muslim minority faces persecution, in the past three days, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said on Monday.

Bangladesh has said there are thousands more Rohingya massed on its border with Myanmar, where it has stepped up patrols and pushed back hundreds of civilians who have tried to enter.

On Monday, Bangladesh detained and forcibly returned at least 90 Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar.

About 87,000 refugees entered Bangladesh in 2016 following the military crackdown.

Ethnic cleansing

The UN believes the army’s response may amount to ethnic cleansing, allegations denied by the government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the army.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has proposed joint military operations with Myanmar against Rohingya fighters in Rakhine state.

At the weekend, as violence in Rakhine worsened, Bangladesh’s foreign minister summoned Myanmar’s charge’d affaires in Dhaka to express “serious concern” at the possibility of a fresh refugee influx.

There are already almost 400,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in squalid camps near its border with Myanmar.

In a goodwill gesture, Thai Prime Minister on Tuesday said his country was preparing to receive people fleeing fighting in Myanmar.

“Thailand’s defence ministry and security are preparing to receive various displaced people,” Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters. “We will provide them with shelter like in the past … and send them back when they are ready.”

I-T dept imposes Rs 7.9K cr penalty on Vodafone for tax dues

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New Delhi: The Income Tax Department has imposed Rs 7,900 crore penalty on the tax demand of the same amount on a unit of billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd over its decade old sale of mobile phone business in India to Vodafone Group Plc.

In a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange, the company said its unit Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd had late last year received a tax demand notice of Rs 7,900 crore and on August 9 received a penalty order of a similar amount.

The CK Hutchison unit continues to dispute the validity of those taxes, it said. Hutchison Telecom, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd, had received a draft assessment order from the Indian Tax Authorities dated November 24, 2016 on “the alleged gains” made in the 2007 deal with Vodafone.

The tax department on January 25 this year issued the final assessment seeking Rs 7,900 crore in taxes on capital gains made in the Rs 16,430 crore deal. Now, the tax department has by an order dated July 3 imposed “a penalty of approximately Rs 7,900 crore”.

The company said “taxes cannot be validly imposed” as the tax demand order was passed on “the basis of retrospective legislation seeking to overturn the judgement of the Supreme Court of India in January 2012, which ruled that the Acquisition was not taxable in India, are in violation of the principles of international law.”

“Accordingly, the company continues to believe that the tax orders would not have any effect on the company’s financial condition or the results of its operations for any period,” it said. Vodafone had in 2007 acquired 67 per cent stake in the mobile-phone business owned by Hutchison Whampoa, now part of CK Hutchison.

(Agencies)

Nine coaches of Duronto Express derail

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Asangaon: The engine and nine coaches of the Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express derailed between Vasind and Asangaon stations in Maharashtra early today following a landslide, a senior railway official and a PTI reporter on- board the train said.

The accident took place at 6:36 am. No passenger is reported to be injured in the incident so far, Sunil Udasi, Chief PRO of the Central Railway, said. Udasi said the derailment was caused due to a landslide. “The cause (of derailment) is sudden landslide due to heavy rains. But graciously enough, the driver did an excellent job of applying emergency breaks,” he said.

However, another railway official said the exact cause of the derailment was not yet clear. “It is suspected that a portion of the tracks was washed away due to heavy rains in the Kasara Ghats section since there has been long spell of incessant and torrential rains since the past few days,” the official said. The train had a total of 18 coaches.

Helpline numbers have been set up at CSMT, Thane, Kalyan, Dadar and Nagpur stations to help passengers. A PTI reporter, Justin Rao, who was on-board the train said, “At least six coaches along with the engine slipped off the tracks”. Rao, who was travelling in the A-2 coach that derailed, said the accident happened when most of the passengers were sleeping.

“While we were sleeping, we felt a jerk and several passengers fell off their berths. When we got up, we found our train’s bogies derailed”. “Few people were stuck in the washrooms and were rescued by some passengers by breaking glasses of windows,” Rao said. Rao said, “Though relief and rescue came a bit late, everything was fine once the Central Railway team arrived.”

A team of doctors as well as senior officers are at the spot. Proper arrangements have been made to transport stranded passengers from the site to CSMT or other destinations by buses and taxis. Traffic operations in the affected section have been stopped and few trains have been diverted and short- terminated, official said. A statement issued by the Central Railway said, “12859 CSMT-Howrah Gitanjali Express has been diverted via Kalyan- Karjat-Pune-Daund-Manmad route.”

“Sectional officials and railway workers have arrived at the spot and the entire team has swung into action to rescue stranded passengers and restore traffic in the affected section,” Udasi said. “Our rescue team along with the Accident Relief Train along with engineering staff has reached the spot,” he said. This is the fourth train derailment in the country in a a span of 10 days.

About 100 passengers were wounded when 10 coaches of the Kaifiyat Express train derailed in UP’s Auraiya district after crashing into a dumper which strayed on to the tracks. Fourteen coaches of the high-speed Utkal Express jumped the tracks on August 19, with one of them crashing into a house adjacent to the track near Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district, claiming 23 lives and over 60 injured.

On August 25, six coaches of the Andheri-bound local train derailed in Mumbai, injuring six of its passengers.

(Agencies)

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