BENGALURU  SUNDAY  OCTOBER 13, 2024  `12.00  PAGES 24  LATE CITY EDITION CHENNAI-BASED FIRM GIFTS ITS EMPLOYEES 28 CARS, 29 BIKES MERCEDES BENZ, MARUTI AMONG REWARDS Structural steel design and detailing firm Team Detailing Solutions gifted 28 cars and 29 bikes to its staff to thank them for their contributions PERFORMANCE, SERVICE YEARS KEY CRITERIA “We wanted to show our appreciation for their (employees) tireless efforts in driving the company’s success. We believe our employees are our greatest assets,” Managing Director of Team Detailing Solutions Sridhar Kannan said. A variety of models from top car makers including Hyundai, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki and Mercedes Benz were presented to the employees ■ ■ If an employee feels he or she needs a better vehicle, then they can upgrade by paying the remaining amount, Kannan said He said the firm measured employees’ contribution based on their performance and years of service. “We select those who are highly motivated and a concept of buying a car is like a dream.” 180 NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED BY TEAM DETAILING SOLUTIONS CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Plots testing India resolve, says Bhagwat, raps B’desh violence ‘Sudden increase in incidents inciting fanaticism without reason’ Govt’s sharp rebuke over bomb attack RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi RASHTRIYA Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday cautioned against a rising tide of incidents inciting fanaticism in the country, adding they stem from external conspiracies aimed at destabilising and limiting India’s growth. While the country has become stronger and has enhanced its global reputation since the last few years, sinister conspiracies are testing the nation’s resolve, he warned. In his annual Vijyadasami address in Nagpur on the day the RSS entered its centenary year, he noted a “sudden increase in the incidents in the country that incite fanaticism without reason”, and pointed to violent disruptions as a deviation from a democratic opposition. He characterised it as the “grammar of anarchy”, a phrase borrowed from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Citing unprovoked stone pelting during Ganesh Visarjan as one such example, Bhagwat said while the administration must control law and order, the Hindu society needs to understand that strength and unity are crucial to counter tyranny . He took a swipe at those who identify themselves with the Deep State, wokeism and cultural Marxism, labelling them as enemies of the country’s cultural heritage. He added that Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi such elements aim to destroy values and foster discontent through identity conflicts in India. Friendship between individuals and families cutting across castes and religions is needed for social harmony, he said. Criticised the brutal atrocities on the Hindu community in Bangladesh, he said there are talks of it joining Pakistan as a common front against Bharat. “So long as the tyrannical fundamentalists’ nature exists there, the sword of danger will hang over the heads of all the minority communities there, including Hindus,” Bhagwat warned. Expressing serious concern over atrocities against women, he called for attention to societal issues, including the recent rape-murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, describing it as shameful and indicative of a larger nexus of crime and politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the RSS, saying it is dedicated to the service of the nation, on entering its 100th year. INDIA on Saturday condemned a cocktail bomb attack on a Durga Puja pandal in Dhaka. It was not an isolated incident; as many as 35 incidents of attacks across Bangladesh targeting Durga Puja pandals have been recorded since October 1. “These are deplorable events. They follow a systematic pattern of desecration and damage to temples and deities that we have witnessed over several days now,’’ the Ministry of Exter nal Af f airs said in a statement. The crude bomb was hurled on Friday at a pandal in Dhaka’s Tantibazar area. Fortunately, it didn’t explode. Four persons who tried to nab the attackers were stabbed. “We have noted with serious concern the attack on the Puja pandal in Dhaka and theft at the revered Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira,’’ the MEA said. Meanwhile, Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh, visited the Dhakeshwari temple on Saturday . MORE REPORTS ON: P8 Railway and TNDRF personnel clear the mangled coaches of Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express that crashed into a goods train on Friday night | P RAVIKUMAR NIA begins probe into TN train crash B A N B U S E LV A N @ Chennai A day after the train accident at Kavaraipettai station, 40km north of Chennai, in which nine passengers were injured after the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express rammed a goods train and derailed on Friday night, separate investigations have been initiated by the NIA, Government Railway Police, and RPF to probe the possibility of sabotage. Critical bolts and brackets were found open with missing nuts at the signalling points, sources said. The accident occurred when 1,800 passengers were travelling on the train, but fortunately no fatalities were reported. Both the Bagmati Express’s loco pilots and railway staff were unharmed. In a press statement late on Friday the Railway Board said , the passenger train was given a green signal for the main line but it experienced a jerk and entered the loop line, resulting in the collision with the freight train. On Saturday, Commissioner of Railway Safety South, ern Circle, Bengaluru, A M Chowdhary initiated a thorough inspection of the tracks, points and blocks, signals, station electronic interlocking systems, control panels and other significant safety, signal and operational aspects, a release said. Meanwhile, over 500 workers are engaged in clearing the tracks, and partial train service resumed around 9.05 pm on the Gudur-Chennai section. Around 20 express trains to Vijayawada, Hyderabad, and other destinations, and daily MEMU services on the section were suspended. On Friday, the Bagmati Express departed from Perambur at 7.50 pm and reached Kavaraipettai near Gummidipundi around 8.30pm. Travelling at 109 km/h, the express reduced speed to 75 km/h before entering the loop line and collided with the rear coaches of the freight train near the guard’s coach. The impact derailed the locomotive and eight coaches of the Bagmati Express, while two others – a power car and motor van – caught fire. Two coaches of the freight train also derailed. The accident severely dam- aged two tracks (the down main line and down loop line) for about 500 metres, signal and telecommunication cables, overhead lines, and power cables. Rescue and accident relief equipment were transported using the two up lines (toward Chennai) to facilitate track clearance work. To remove the wreckage, five earthmovers, three JCBs, two 140-tonne cranes from Tondiarpet, heavy-duty re-railing equipment, and accident relief trains have been deployed. Additionally a self-propelled acci, dent relief train is on the site. Two coaches have been rerailed, and the remaining derailed coaches have been cleared from the main line. MORE REPORTS ON: P5 NCP leader Baba Siddique shot dead, 2 held BJP is a terrorist party, says Kharge, reacting to PM’s urban Naxal comment S U D H I R S U R YA W A N S H I @ Mumbai EXPRESS NEWS SERVICES @ Kalaburagi FORMER Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister and a member of Ajit Pawar-led faction of the party, Baba Siddique, was shot dead in Mumbai on Saturday night. As many as six rounds were fired by three unidentified assailants while he was at his son Zishan’s office in Bandra. Zishan is an MLA. Bullets hit him in the head and chest. He was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital, where he was declared dead. Siddique had received a threat message about 15 days ago, following which he was provided Y category security . He was reportedly attacked due to the controversy surrounding the slum redevelopment project in Zishan’s Bandra West constituency. Hundreds of shanties were demolished in July as part of the project. Police have arrested two accused. One of them hails from Haryana and the other from UP . Baba Siddique was famous for arranging grand iftaar parties attended by Bollywood A-listers, including Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. The attack comes days after another leader of the Ajit Pawar faction—Byculla Taluka president Sachin Kurmi—was stabbed to death. I WITH THIS ISSUE ISRAEL AT WAR RAN SOLATED NSECURE MPLODING PLUS 12 PAGES MAJESTIC MARCH Abhimanyu carries the 750-kg golden howdah, with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, during Jamboo Savari on the occasion of Vijayadashami, on the final day of Dasara, at Mysuru Palace on Saturday | UDAYASHANKAR S | P2 20,805HA OF FOREST LAND GIVEN TO INFRA PROJECTS IN 20 YEARS B O S K Y K H A N N A @ Bengaluru THE forest department has diverted around 20,805.72 hectares of land under it for various projects in the state in the past 20 years. As per information on forest land diverted for non-forestry purposes under the Forest Conservation Act (1980) from 2004-05 to 2023-24, 534 proposals were submitted to the department seeking its approval for land for various projects. Large and small land parcels were given for major projects, including mining and irrigation. For Upper Tunga Project in Shivamogga, 449.55 hectares, 335.04ha and 232.76ha for mining in Ballari, 215.55ha for wind power generation in Belagavi, 0.78ha in Belagavi and Raichur districts for road projects and 0.4ha for a sewage treatment plant were given. Interestingly, in most cases, applications seeking less than one hectare of land were submitted. The state government has also given forest land for setting up cell phone network towers. In the last one year, under the Union government’s project to enhance internet and mobile connectivity, lands were given for installing 256 BSNL towers, most of them in Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga and other places in the Western Ghats. A senior forest official said the list of land diversion also includes around 500 acres for Yettinahole and 50ha for KalasaBanduri projects. In most cases, applicants sought clearance for small plots. This is because of the stringent rules. Forest land has also been given for road and drinking water projects and other infrastructure projects, P5 the official said. CONGRESS president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged that BJP is a ‘terrorist party’, while reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark that Congress is an ‘urban naxal party’. Kharge told reporters here that atrocities on Dalits and those from Backward Classes and tribal communities have increased across the country. BJP supports such cases, but makes allegations against opposition parties, he alleged. The saffron party has made it a habit of calling progressive thinkers as “urban naxals” and insulting them, he alleged. Instead of blaming other parties for various crimes, Modi should take steps to prevent atrocities against SCs, STs and BCs as the BJP-led NDA is ruling the country Let Modi also . EXPRESS READ Samson ton powers India to 133-run win HYDERABAD: Sanju Samson’s maiden T20I hundred dotted India’s 133-run victory and 3-0 series sweep over a listless Bangladesh here on Saturday. India posted 297 for 6 after electing to bat, while Bangladesh ended up with 164/7 | P11 EX-DU PROF G N SAIBABA PASSES AWAY AT A GOVT HOSPITAL IN HYDERABAD He was acquitted in March in a case of alleged links with Maoists after 10 years in prison. He died due to gall bladder infection Congress is analysing the reasons for its defeat in Haryana. I have sought a booth-wise report from across Haryana Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC president take measures to tackle terror activities in various parts of the country Kharge said. , On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s call for unity Kharge said , Bhagwat says one thing, but does another. When Bhagwat calls only for the unity of Hindus, does it mean all those from India should come together? Why is Bhagwat’s organisation supporting only BJP if it really Kharge barb his own reflection on Cong: BJP The BJP hit back at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, saying the opposition party which always supported terrorists is now levelling allegations against it. wants to unite all Indians? On the debacle of Congress in the recent Haryana Assembly elections, Kharge said exit polls predicted that his party would win comfortably. Even BJP leaders and their alliance partners were ready to accept defeat in Haryana. “I do not know what miracle happened. Congress is analysing the reasons for its defeat in Haryana. I have sought a booth-wise report from across Haryana. Only after getting the report, I will comment,” the AICC chief added. Kharge, however, refused to comment on the change of guard in Karnataka and the demand for a Dalit CM. HDK, Nikhil threatened me in mining case, says ADGP EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru ADDITIONAL Director General of Police (ADGP) M Chandra Sekhar on Friday filed a complaint with Sanjay Nagar police against Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy for making false allegations against him and threats to obstruct SIT’s investigation into an illegal mining lease case when he (Kumaraswamy) was CM. Meanwhile reacting to this, Kumaraswamy said on Saturday that he has not threatened anybody and added that he is ready to face the ADGP’s complaint. The ADGP heads the Lokayukta SIT and the state’s Internal Security Division (ISD), which is probing the allegations against Kumaraswamy. The investigation pertains to allegations that Kumaraswamy illegally approved the lease for mining in 550 acres of land in favour of Sri Sai Venkateswara Minerals (SSVM) in Ballari district in P5 violation of rules.