Miss George Fernandes' speeches now: Advani
New Delhi, June 3: Veteran BJP leader L.K Advani on Sunday said that he missed the speeches of former Union Minister and anti-Emergency crusader George Fernandes in Parliament.
Advani's observation came as he, along with veteran socialist leader Sharad Yadav, launched a website publishing articles and write ups on George Fernandes by his close associates, on the occasion of the latter's 88th birthday.
Fernandes, who served as the Defence Minister in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpyee between 1998 and 2004, has been crippled by Alzheimer's disease, and his last stint as a Parliamentarian was as a Rajya Sabha MP between August 2009 to July 2010.
"Geroge has done a great service to the nation. I always remember his speeches and miss them now," Advani said, adding that he was surprised by the fact that Fernandes had command over 10 languages.
A native of Mangaluru, Fernandes is the founder of the Samata Party. He rose to fame as an anti-Emergency crusader and civil rights activists and served as a Union Minister in the Janata Party government headed by Morarji Desai that came to power in 1977 to 1980.
Fernandes stepped down as the Defence Minister in 2004 after the "coffingate" scandal broke out. He was later absolved by two commissions of inquiry.
Fernandes' wife Leila Kabir said that the disease had affected Fernandes' sharp brain, that he could no longer tell his own story.
"George is very much alive, but not there to tell his story, since the disease has devoured his sharp brain," Kabir said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too took to Twitter to greet the socialist leader on his 88th birthday. Both leaders lauded Fernandes' contribution in the public life.
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Bengaluru: Four South African cheetahs arrive at Bannerghatta Biological Park
Bengaluru: Four cheetahs, including two females, have arrived at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) from South Africa, NDTV reported.
The animals, brought from Induna Primate and Parrot Park in South Africa, landed at Kempegowda International Airport at around 1:15 am on Saturday. The transfer was carried out in accordance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, BBP said in a statement.
Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre received the cheetahs at the airport cargo terminal.
The Minister asked officials and veterinary teams to ensure strict quarantine protocols, a prescribed diet, and close health monitoring for 30 days to help the animals acclimate smoothly.
Highlighting that cheetahs, locally known as “Sivangi,” have disappeared from Karnataka’s forests, the minister stressed the need to raise public awareness through zoological institutions. He also instructed Dr Sunil Panwar, Member Secretary, Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK), to prioritise the safety and well-being of the animals.
The BBP officials said that before transportation, the cheetahs underwent thorough health inspections and quarantine in South Africa as per the guidelines of the Department of Animal Husbandry.
Required No Objection Certificates (NoC) were also obtained from Animal Quarantine Services prior to import.
"Upon arrival at BBP, the animals have been placed in a designated quarantine facility for post-import health checks and observation, after which they will be shifted to their enclosures for public viewing," the BBP said.
This import underscores BBP's commitment to international collaboration in wildlife conservation, scientific management of animals, and strict adherence to regulatory protocols. It further strengthens the park's role in ex-situ conservation and environmental education, official said.
