SHIVAMOGGA  SUNDAY  JANUARY 24, 2021  `8.00  PAGES 24  CITY EDITION LARRY KING, LEGEND OF U.S. TV TALK SHOW, PASSES AWAY AT 87 Staple of US television for decades, King lost his battle with Covid at Cedars-Sinai Med Centre in Los Angeles on Saturday CELEBRITIES, LEADERS JUST A CALL AWAY SANG WITH SINATRA, KISSED BRANDO The Larry King Show ran from 1978 until 1994, winning King a coveted Peabody Award in 1982. He started Larry King Live on CNN in 1985, a show that covered a wide range of topics. In 1995 he presided over a Middle East peace summit. His show featured everyone from Dalai Lama to Elizabeth Taylor, from Mikhail Gorbachev to Barack Obama, Bill Gates to Lady Gaga ■ ■ Frank Sinatra, who rarely gave interviews, appeared in King’s show in 1988 in what would be the singer’s last major TV appearance More elusive than Sinatra was Marlon Brando, but the latter appeared in King’s show in 1994. They hit it off so famously that they ended their talk with a song and an on-the-mouth kiss 50,000 ON-AIR INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY KING IN HIS FIVE-DECADE CAREER CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ WARANGAL ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI CM DRAWS FIRE OVER CALL TO GET ILLEGAL QUARRIES ‘REGULARISED’ K S H I V A K U M A R @ Mysuru/Bengaluru EXPRESS READ AAP MLA gets 2 years jail in assault case New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party MLA Somnath Bharti was on Saturday sentenced to two years in jail by a court here in a 2016 case related to assaulting AIIMS security staff. Another underground tunnel found in J-K Jammu: The BSF on Saturday found a second underground tunnel, constructed by Pakistan in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, to facilitate the infiltration of terrorists. P8 WITH THIS ISSUE TECH 21 TRENDS FOR THE YEAR PLUS 12 PAGES VACCINE DRIVE IN STATE Karnataka continues to be on the top among states in the number of beneficiaries taking the vaccine. Here’s a look at how the vaccination drive went off in the past week (Jan 16 - Jan 23) 4,106 Sessions planned 4,049 Sessions held 3,28,478 Target beneficiaries 1,84,154 Achieved 56% Coverage 9 Adverse events (AEFIs) TOTAL VACCINE DOSES RECEIVED 12,52,000 1,66,240 55,00,000 Covishield Covaxin Syringes Mamata Banerjee participates in a foot march to mark Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary, in Kolkata on Saturday | PTI Strong India following in Netaji footsteps: PM Bitter political fight to appropriate Bose’s legacy E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Kolkata PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought to draw a parallel between Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s vision and his government’s action at an event to mark the legendary freedom fighter’s 125th birth anniversary in Kolkata. Modi said Netaji would have been proud to see that the country has become strong and is following in his footsteps from the Line of Control (LoC) to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with Pakistan and China, respectively “Netaji had dreamt of a strong . India, from LAC to LoC. We are following in his footsteps. Whenever our sovereignty was challenged, we have given a befitting reply he said at a programme ,” held in the Victoria Memorial Hall here. “Netaji wanted to build an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Today India is heading towards , the same goal,” said Modi. The PM’s visit assumed significance ahead of the Assembly polls in West Bengal. Apart from recalling Netaji’s contribution, Modi’s speech projected the Bengal icon as the leading light of India’s Independence whose dreams the present government is trying to realise. He also likened his party’s Sonar Bangla slogan with Netaji’s dream. The ‘Sonar Bangla’ slogan has become a political tool of the BJP to attack Mamata’s “poor” governance. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also attended the event, was visibly angry as a section of the crowd chanted Jai Shri Ram when her turn came to speak. Announcing her decision not to deliver her address, she said: “I think the government’s programme should have dignity It (slogan) doesn’t suit . you to insult an invitee,’’ Mamata said and returned to her seat on the dais next to Modi. P7,8 Why not four national capitals, asks Mamata E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Kolkata AS West Bengal politics heated up ahead of the makeor-break Assembly elections later this year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee set the cat among the pigeons on Saturday demanding four separate capitals , in the country with four parliament sessions in these cities on rotation. Speaking at an event to mark Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 125th birth anniversary hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Kolkata to participate in another Netaji function, Banerjee asked: “The British ruled the entire country from Kolkata. Why should there be only one capital in our country why , not four national capitals in North, South, East and West?” She went on to ask: “Why can’t four parliament sessions be held on a rotational basis?” Earlier, Banerjee took part in a road show stretching 5.5 kms. She inaugurated Netaji’s birthday celebration by blowing conch shells and visited the Netaji Bhavan, the late Indian National Army leader’s home in the city Taking a dig at the Centre’s unilateral deci. sion to mark January 23 as Parakram Diwas (day of valour), Banerjee said: “We celebrate Netaji’s birthday every year, we don’t celebrate it only in the year of elections.” The contrasting moods of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Victoria Memorial Hall event | TWITTER What is Parakram Diwas (day of valour)? How could they unilaterally decide to mark January 23 as Parakram Diwas without consulting the state government? We have called it Desh Nayak Diwas — Mamata Banerjee, CM Big bold moves put Karnataka’s economy back on growth path A N U S H A R A V I @ Bengaluru “THERE will be no lockdown in Bengaluru or anywhere in the state from now on. People need to get back to their lives. The state has to consider reviving the economy too,” Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had said in July 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision came at a time many states were still extending PICTURE the lockdown and imposing curfews in an attempt to curtail the spread of coronavirus. It was perhaps this risky and bold, but much-needed decision that has put Karnataka’s economy on the road to recovery. Six months down the line, with subsidies, incentives, facilitation, heavy borrowings, fund rationalisation, labour and land law amendments, along with a whole lot of cost-cutting measures, Karnataka’s economy is steadily picking up pace. Whether in terms of revenue receipts or sector-wise growth, Kar nataka is doing better month after month while, at the same time, managing to keep the number of Covid19 cases in check. Though the state may still fall short of achieving revenue and growth targets due to the impact of the pandemic, its recovery has been better than anticipated, according to the State Finance department. On Friday, Union Minister for Chemical and Fertilisers D V Sadananda Gowda said the Central Government had given its in-principal approval for setting up a Plastic Park in P5 Mangaluru. BIG -TICKET PROJ ECTS B1,702 cr for Vasantha Narasapura industrial hub expected to create 88,500 jobs in 5 years Koppal toy cluster with an investment commitment of D1,540 crore expected to create 40,000- one lakh jobs in five years B323 crcorridor for elevated at Rani Chennamma Circle in Hubballi city and construction of fourlane road and minor bridge near Dastikoppa, Kalaghatgi taluk, on NH 63 under national highways projects ON a day the death toll in the Shivamogga stone quarry explosion increased to six and explosives experts from Hyderabad joined the investigation, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s statement asking unauthorised miners to apply for regularisation triggered a major political slugfest on Saturday . In an indicator of the gravity of the situation, the Centre has taken serious note of the blast and directed the state to probe how such a huge quantity of explosives was procured and stored. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the state to consider the case seriously . Speaking to mediapersons in Mysuru before taking a chopper to visit the blast site in his home district Shivamogga, the CM asked illegal miners to apply Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa visits the quarry where six labourers died in a blast near Shivamogga, on Saturday | SHIMOGA NANDAN with the respective District Deputy Commissioners for regularisation. His remarks drew sharp criticism from the Opposition Congress, prompting an immediate clarification from Home and Law & Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basavaraj Bommai. “Shivamogga has witnessed a major tragedy. I have ordered a Nod to farmers’ tractor rally after R-Day parade H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh IN the end, it seems both sides have had their way. Agitating farmers will hold a tractor rally in Delhi on Republic Day following permission given by Delhi Police. But, budging from their demand that the rally will be held on Outer Ring Road, the farmers are likely to opt out of it. Over one lakh tractors are expected to be part of the rally . Sources said the parade will have five routes over a stretch of more than 100 km. The farmers are likely to take the inner roads of the Capital instead of Outer Ring Road. Delhi Police have agreed to remove barricades from Singhu and Tikri borders to allow the tractors to enter Delhi. The tractor parade is likely to take place after the official Republic Day parade. “In a breakthrough after talks with Police officials of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, farmers leaders were able to finalise routes for the Kisan Republic Day Parade. Preparations are in full swing for disciplined conduct of the rally. Response from farmers has been tremendous from all over the country,” Samyukt Kisan Morcha said in a statement. After a meeting with the Police officials on the route, president comprehensive inquiry into the cause of the blast, if the explosives were stored illegally, who permitted the transportation of explosive substance in a lorry and all other aspects. The officers have also been directed to look into whether the mine is legal,” the CM said. Responding to a question on illegal mining in many places, the CM said mining activities will continue as development works like construction of national highways and other projects are being taken up in a big way. “I have directed the deputy commissioners not to permit illegal mining. Those carrying out illegal mining should apply for regularisation or face action. I have no objection to operation of stone-crushing units. If necessary, the DCs concerned will inspect the spot and take appropriP4 ate decisions,” he said. B’luru will have separate body to manage traffic E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Bengaluru Farmers stage a protest during the ‘Kisan Sansad’ at Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial in New Delhi on Saturday | PTI of Swaraj India Yogendra Yadav said: “The farmers and Delhi Police have reached an agreement on the route. Final details are to be worked out.” The tractors will have national flags other than flags of different farmer unions. As for the Delhi Police, they said they are yet to get the full details of the proposed routes of the kisan tractor parade. In a related development, Samyukt Kisan Morcha leaders said they did not discuss the Centre’s proposal to put off the operationalisation of the new farm laws for over two years, as they had already rejected it and conveyed their decision to the Modi P7 government. WITH Bengaluru ranking sixth among 10 cities with the worst traffic across the world as per the recent Tom Tom Traffic Index, the state is planning to have a a separate Traffic Management Authority for the city . Speaking at the launch of the Road Safety Awareness month, Home and Law Minister Basavaraj Bommai said Bengaluru’s traffic population is fast catching up with the human population. In Bengaluru alone, there is 85 lakh vehicles for the 1.35 crore people. The numbers have increased manifold over the last 10 years and hence, a proper management system is necessary. For this, the Home Department, along with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, will come up with a Traffic Management Authority that will ensure the easing of traffic congestion in the city he explained. , “The vehicle population in Bengaluru is about 85 lakh while in the rest of the state, it is around 2.32 lakh. This means we have to ensure there is proper management to decongest traffic,” Bommai said. “It is important that the Home department works with BBMP and the IT sector to implement traffic discipline and also good traffic management. We will be bringing in sophisticated systems with modern technology soon,” he said.