Karnataka Guv, CM Siddaramaiah, ISRO chief pay last respects to Kasturirangan
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were among the dignitaries who paid their final tributes to former ISRO Chairman K Kasturirangan on Sunday.
Kasturirangan, who led the space agency for nearly a decade (1994 to 2003), passed away in Bengaluru on Friday at the age of 84.
His mortal remains, wrapped in the national flag, were kept at the Raman Research Institute (RRI) for the public and well-wishers to pay their last respects, ahead of the last rites with full state honours.
Gehlot, who offered condolences to the family members of Kasturirangan, later recalled his interactions with him on numerous occasions, while speaking to reporters.
"He lives on through his works for the nation and the world," he added.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after paying floral tributes, said Kasturirangan's death is an unbearable loss for the country, especially for the scientific community.
"His contribution to the field of space science is immense. He was the ISRO chairman for a long time, and his contributions to education are also remarkable. He cannot be forgotten. He won awards and accolades from across the world. He also played a key role as the Chairman of the high-level working group on the Western Ghats. His contribution to Karnataka is immense," he added.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, BJP State President B Y Vijayendra, and former ISRO chiefs A S Kiran Kumar, K Sivan, and S Somanath were among those who paid their last respects to Kasturirangan.
A number of people from the scientific and academic community, as well as the ISRO fraternity, also paid their tributes.
Recalling his 50-year association with Kasturirangan, Kiran Kumar described him as a great personality who brought a personal touch through his interactions with people and had a tremendous ability to articulate ideas.
His contributions, not just to ISRO but to the country, cannot be forgotten. His work spanned various fields—not only space technology but also as a Rajya Sabha member, the head of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, and through his studies on the Western Ghats. His contributions to the country and society are enormous. We will all miss him, as leaders like him are rare, he said.
Sivan stated that Kasturirangan's death is a loss for the entire country. He made immense contributions to science, academics, and ISRO's current form.
"During his tenure as ISRO Chairman, the transformation from the experimental phase to the operational phase occurred. Under his leadership, PSLV and GSLV became operational, along with some advanced satellites. When I was Chairman, I frequently sought his advice, which was always helpful," he said.
Earlier in the day, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan remembered Kasturirangan as a transformative figure who profoundly shaped India's space ambitions, educational framework, and envisioned the future.
In his condolence message, he said, "Kasturirangan's life, marked by an unwavering pursuit of knowledge and its application for the nation's advancement, has left an enduring legacy."
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Over 350 illegal religious structures removed along Nepal border
Lucknow, May 11 (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday said that more than 350 unauthorised religious sites, including madrasas, mosques, mazars and Eidgahs, have been identified and subjected to sealing or demolition in recent days, an official statement issued here said.
Acting on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's clear directive that no religious encroachment will be tolerated, the administration in districts such as Pilibhit, Shravasti, Balrampur, Bahraich, Siddharthnagar and Maharajganj has launched a sweeping campaign, it said.
The authorities have systematically identified illegal structures and taken strict action, continuing operations even on Sunday.
The chief minister has made it clear that encroachment in the name of any religion will not be allowed and all violators, especially those running unrecognised religious institutions, will face legal consequences, the statement said.
On May 10 and 11, 104 madrasas, one mosque, five mazars and two Eidgahs built illegally on public and private land were identified in Shravasti. All were issued notices and sealed, it said.
One illegal madrasa on public land was demolished and two unrecognized madrasas on private land were sealed, the statement added.
In Bahraich, officials identified 13 madrasas, eight mosques, two mazars and one Eidgah illegally constructed on government land.
After issuing notices, five were sealed and 11 were demolished, including eight madrasas, two mosques and one mazar, the statement said.
In Siddharthnagar, the authorities identified four mosques and 18 madrasas and one more madrasa for illegal construction. Notices were issued to these structures. Five madrasas were sealed and nine were demolished. In total, action was taken against 23 illegal structures in the district, it said.
In Maharajganj’s Nautanwa tehsil, Parsamalik village, an unrecognized madrasa operating on Maktab land was shut down based on a report submitted by the District Minority Welfare Officer.
The building’s keys were handed over to the local police station in-charge. So far, 29 madrasas and five mazars constructed through encroachment on public and private land have been demolished in the district.
In past two days in Lakhimpur Kheri, two mosques, one Eidgah on public land along with eight madrasas on private land were found to be illegally constructed.
Of the 13 structures identified, one was served a notice, nine were sealed and three have been demolished so far, the statement said.
The district authorities in Pilibhit have identified an illegal mosque built on public land in Bharatpur village, covering an area of 0.0310 hectares.
According to the district magistrate, a notice has been issued to the parties involved, seeking a response within 15 days. Action against the illegal construction will be taken after the notice period ends, it said.
On Sunday, an under-construction madrasa on public land in Virpur Semra village, Tulsipur tehsil, was demolished in Balrampur. So far, 30 madrasas, 10 mazars and one Eidgah have been demolished in the district.
Ten of them were built illegally on public land, while 20 were constructed without authorization on private land, the statement said.
