Addiction to social media affects the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots, as they are being deprived of adequate sleep for flying duty, said Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshall B.S. Dhanoa on Friday.

“Much dependence on social media is taking away interpersonal and communication skills of our pilots. Earlier, if a pilot had too many drinks, the bar man would know. If he did not notice, others would know and the affected pilot would be laid off flying for the day. We need a system that can tell us if a pilot has been sleep deprived,” Dhanoa said at a conference here.

Inaugurating the 57th annual conference of the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine here, Dhanoa told the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) to develop a method to ascertain if a pilot was deprived of mandatory sleep.

“Getting hooked to social media like Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for long hours in the night was making pilots sleep late and less than required for flying. The IAM should find a method to de-addict the pilots of social media,” reiterated Dhanoa.

As flight briefings are held very early in the day (around 6:00 a.m.) when the ambient temperature is above 40 degree Celsius, the pilots have to sleep early overnight and rest enough to be fresh and alert for flying sorties.

“We need to have more filters and mechanisms developed to deal with the excessive usage of social media, leading to anxiety and health issues,” added Dhanoa.

“I request doctors to find a quick solution for the problem,” he noted.

On the role of IAF in selecting and training astronauts for the manned mission in 2021-22 under the human space programme, the Air Chief said the IAM would be involved in their selection of astronauts and their health.

“Aerospace medicine specialist is the best friend of the air crew in the field,” added the Air Chief.

Addressing the nation on the Independence Day (August 15) from the Red Fort in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to put Indians in the space orbit around the earth in the next 4 years.

(IANS)

President Ram Nath Kovind is visiting Karnataka on Saturday to participate in the platinum jubilee celebrations of Karnataka Law Society (KLS) at Belagavi in the state’s northwest region, an official said on Friday.

“The President will herald the 80th year-long platinum jubilee celebrations of the KLS and inaugurate the Gogate Institute of Technology campus at Belagavi on the occasion,” the official told IANS here.

Belagavi is about 500 km from the southern state’s capital Bengaluru.

Kovind will also new campus of Raja Lakhmagouda Law College in the city on the occasion.

“The President will address the students, faculty and the gathering at both the events,” added the official.

Besides, Kovind, Chief Justice of India Deepak Mishra, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R. Vala and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will participate in the events among others.

Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal, an alumnus of the law college, will also be present.

Belagavi Deputy Commissioner S. Ziyaullah reviewed the security arrangements and protocol to be maintained during the President’s visit to the city.

Set up in 1939, the 79-year-old Society runs a number of educational institutions, including schools, under-graduate and post-graduate colleges in arts, science, commerce, law, engineering and medicine.

The celebrations will include lecture series and cultural programmes.

(IANS)

BJP leaders have reacted strongly to the statement of chief minister (CM), Kumaraswamy, that BJP is utilizing the services of kingpins to destabilize the coalition government in the state.

BJP leaders said that both intelligence department and anti corruption bureau function under the CM. Therefore, they have sought from him the names of the so-called kingpins. They have urged the CM not to employ hit-and-run tactics. Kumaraswamy has also been warned of legal action.

Speaking in the city on Friday separately, general secretary of the party and MP, Shobha Karandlaje, former deputy chief minister, R Ashok, and state general secretary, Aravind Limbavali, tackled the chief minister for his statement which they feel was unjustified.

Shobha Karandlaje, who advised the CM not to adopt hit-and-run tactics, asked him to utilize the services of intelligence department to get information. She said that Kumaraswamy is accusing BJP for the lack of coordination between the coalition partners, Congress and JD(S). She asked him not to make allegations against BJP to cover up for his own follies.

Ashok challenged the CM to reveal the names of the kingpins. He guessed that the kingpin the CM is referring to might be former CM, Siddaramaiah as the government had faced hiccups when he went to Dharmasthala. He pointed out that the government is on tenterhooks again when Siddaramaiah is away on Europe tour.

Aravind Limbavali blamed the CM of making unsubstantiated allegations against BJP instead of gearing up the administration to meet the challenges created by excessive rains. “The chief minister should behave himself and maintain the dignity of his position. You are in charge of administration. If someone has hoarded money, you have the right of conducting raids,” he commented.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that he will not attend the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) meet scheduled to be held here from Monday.

“I don’t have much knowledge about RSS. I have only read on what made Sardar Patel ban the RSS and after reading that paragraph I don’t have the courage to attend the meet,” said the Samajwadi Party President while attending the ‘India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit’ event.

“I always insist that each one should at least read about those matters which were banned by Sardar Patel. It will ensure that whatever he had said that time, the situation remains same even today,” he added.

The RSS will organise a three-day lecture series ‘Future of Bharat: An RSS perspective’ with its chief Mohan Bhagwat at Vigyan Bhavan here.

(IANS)

Five militants were killed on Saturday in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, police said.

Upon receiving a tip-off about the presence of militants, the security forces on Friday night cordoned off Chowgam village of Qazigund area and launched a search operation.

According to the police, there were no casualties on the security forces side.

Meanwhile, clashes broke out between civilian protesters and the security forces at the gunfight site, the police said.

Two protesters sustained firearm injuries.

Train services between Srinagar and the Bannihal town that passes through Qazigund area have been suspended.

Mobile internet services have also been suspended in Kulgam.

(IANS)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused former CBI Joint Director A.K.Sharma, who is also a former Gujarat IPS officer, of helping fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya to escape from the country.

He said Sharma, who was in the CBI in 2015, was also “in charge of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi’s escape plans”.

The Congress President also alleged that Sharma is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “blue-eyed-boy” in the CBI.

“CBI Joint Director A.K. Sharma, weakened Mallya’s “Look Out” notice, allowing Mallya to escape. Mr Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer, is the PM’s blue-eyed-boy in the CBI. The same officer was in charge of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi’s escape plans. Ooops…investigation!” Gandhi tweeted.

Earlier this week, he had accused Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of “colluding” with Mallya to help him flee the country and demanded his resignation.

Gandhi had asked why had Jaitley not informed the investigative agencies about his meeting with the chief of now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

Mallya, who left India on March 2, 2016, faces charges of defrauding banks to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore.

(IANS)

Afghanistan on Saturday invited Indian businesses to invest in its agriculture sector, promising to roll out great opportunities in the fields of manufacturing, processing, packaging and marketing of farm products.

Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture Naseer Ahmed Durrani said that the country’s farm production and exports were growing and urged Indian businesses to explore investment opportunities available there.

He was speaking during the conclusion of a four-day long exhibition and conference “Passage to Prosperity: India-Afghanistan International Trade & Investment Show”, organised by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the governments of India and Afghanistan, here.

Durrani informed that agriculture, farming and livestock forms the backbone of Afghanistan’s economy contributing 25 per cent to its GDP and involving around 80 per cent of the population.

“Rebuilding trade relationships and expanding export markets for Afghan products are critical for Afghanistan’s job creation, capital flows and overall stability, and we are looking for potential investors in these areas,” said Durrani.

He said that Afghanistan’s agriculture exports were growing and expected to increase by nearly one-third or 30 per cent this year, to touch $260 million, up from $200 million last year.

“We export dry fruits, fresh fruits and nuts to India, which is now increasing with the opening of the air corridors between Kabul-New Delhi, Kabul-Mumbai. Traditionally, the top destinations for Afghanistan exports are Pakistan and India, followed by China, Iran and Turkey,” added Durrani.

The Minister said Afghan products like apples, grapes, apricots, pomegranates and raisins were very popular in India and continue to be a staple of Indian hospitality and diet.

With increased capacity of Afghan producers and exporters to deliver the freshest of produce to the markets, these quality products are once again finding their way onto supermarket shelves, he pointed out.

The current bilateral trade between India-Afghanistan is $900 million and expected to touch $2 billion by 2020, he said.

At the four-day show in Mumbai, more than 50 top agriculture exporters and another 150 businessmen from Afghanistan participated to showcase their finest high-value agro-products and explore business ventures with 1,200 Indian and global 100 counterparts.

At the first event held in New Delhi last year, Indian and Afghan businessmen signed contracts totaling over $27 million for raw and processed agriculture products, besides agreements worth $214 million.

(IANS)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the contribution of India’s ‘Nari Shakti’ (women power) in the Swachh Bharat Mission was immense.

“The contribution of India’s Nari Shakti (women power) in the Swachh Bharat (clean India) Mission is immense,” Modi said while launching the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’.

“Youngsters are ambassadors of social change. The way they have furthered the message of cleanliness is commendable. The youth are at the forefront of a positive change in India,” Modi said while interacting with the students of Assam via his NaMo App.

Modi also said that till October 2, which is Gandhi Jayanti, “let us rededicate ourselves towards fulfilling Bapu’s dream of a Clean India”.

Highlighting the success of the clean India mision, Modi said: “The Swachata coverage is now above 90 per cent which used to be 40 per cent four years ago. This happened in just four years.

“The credit for the success of Swachhata Abhiyan goes to the people of this nation and not the government alone,” he said, adding that over nine crore toilets have been built in last four years and over 4.5 lakh villages have been declared as open defecation free.

“Did anyone thought four years ago that over 20 states and union territories would become ODF? This is the power of the people of India.”

Modi also stressed that by only building toilets India won’t become clean.

“Cleanliness is a habbit in which one has to indulge himself everyday and change in behaviour is also required,” he said.

In an outreach to the Dawoodi Bohra community, a Shia sect of Muslims, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India treats the world as family and takes everyone along which distinguishes it from other countries.

Speaking at Ashara Mubaraka — Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Imam Husain — organized by the Dawoodi Bohra community at the Saifee Mosque here, he praised the community for its honesty and said it has always played a key role in India’s progress and growth story.

“We are people who treat the world as a family and follow the tradition of taking every one along. This is the strength of our society, our heritage that distinguishes us from other countries,” Modi said.

Remembering the sacrifices of Imam Husain, the prime minister said the Imam always stood against injustice and attained martyrdom for peace.

Modi said the Bohra community had imbibed the message of Imam Hussain and taken it to the world and his message has a greater relevance in today’s world.

Appreciating the work done by Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the head of the Bohra community, which has a good number of business people, Modi said love and dedication towards the nation are hallmarks of his teachings.

He said the government was encouraging honest businessmen through laws like the GST and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and has succeeded in sending a clear message in the past four years that business should be carried out according to rules.

He said the country has achieved an over 8 per cent GDP growth rate due to the fair business practices encouraged by his government.

“The businessmen and traders are the backbone of economy. They are an important unit to produce employment. They are being encouraged to the extent possible. But this is also true that all five fingers are not alike. There are people in society who treat dishonesty as business,” Modi said.

“In the last four years, the government has succeeded in giving a clear message that all activities should take place within the rules. The honest businessmen are being encouraged through GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy code,” Modi added.

He said trust among global investors has increased in the last four years and investment is at a record level.

He said India is the fastest growing economy among the major economies and is seeking to achieve a double digit growth rate now. “And the way we are progressing, the country can achieve it despite the challenges before us.”

The Prime Minister said that the kind of esteem India had in the past, “we have the opportunity to get the same respect for New India.”

“We have pride on the past, faith on the present and self-confidence of a bright future. We will keep marching together for rebuilding the country,” he said.

Modi said his relationship with the Bohra community was very old and they supported his endeavours when he was chief minister of Gujarat.

“It is my good fortune that I have always got your affection. There will probably be no village in Gujarat which does not have a businessman from the Bohra community. When I was chief minister, they gave me support at every step. Your warmth has brought me here,” Modi said.

He said the Bohra community had helped the Gujarat government cope with the water problem and malnutrition and had built 11,000 houses for the poor.

Noting that the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’ will begin on Friday, Modi said he will interact through video conferencing with every section including religious leaders, artists, entrepreneurs and citizens.

Referring to Ayushman Bharat, which will be launched on September 25, Modi said it has come like a “sanjeevni (lifeline)” for 50 crore poor people in the country and was in a trial phase at present.

Referring to Indore, he said the city was the leader in the cleanliness drive and Bhopal has also done good work in the area. “The youth in entire Madhya Pradesh are giving speed to this campaign.”