Op Sagar Bandhu: Another C-130J deployed, Mi-17 helicopters positioned in Colombo
New Delhi (PTI): The IAF has deployed another C-130J transport aircraft as part of India's humanitarian assistance extended to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu, and positioned Mi-17 V5 helicopters in Colombo for swift relief operations, officials said on Sunday.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has stepped up its efforts to assist the island nation in its hour of crisis in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah that has left a trail of destruction.
The aircraft, carrying equipment meant for a National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) team deployed as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, landed in Colombo on Sunday, a senior official said.
This transport aircraft will now be used to bring back Indian citizens, who have got stranded in that country, the official said.
The IAF also shared an update related to the ongoing operation on its X handle on Sunday.
"#OperationSagarBandhu | IAF Humanitarian Assistance As part of India’s ongoing relief efforts in Sri Lanka, the Indian Air Force has positioned Mi-17 V5 helicopters in Colombo for swift HADR operations," it said.
The IAF's transport aircraft are earmarked for "large-scale evacuation" of Indian nationals, with "multiple missions" planned from Trivandrum in Kerala and Hindan in Uttar Pradesh, the post said.
"Alongside evacuation, essential relief material, including Bhishm cubes and medical supplies are also being airlifted to support affected communities. The IAF remains steadfast in safeguarding lives and extending timely assistance to our neighbours in need," it added.
On Saturday, two transport aircraft of the IAF – C-130J and IL-76 – delivered nearly 21 tonnes of relief material in Colombo under Operation Sagar Bandhu. These two aircraft were deployed from the Hindan air force base in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
The IL-76 aircraft, carrying nine tonnes of relief material, 80 NDRF personnel, four canines, eight tonnes of NDRF HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) equipment had landed in Colombo on Saturday morning.
Also, INS Sukanya, carrying more humanitarian aid, had left Visakhapatnam and was expected to reach Sri Lanka soon, a senior official had said on Saturday evening.
Besides, two Chetak helicopters from the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant were participating in the search and rescue operations with Sri Lanka Air Force personnel on board, they had said.
In an update issued a day ago by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in Colombo, the death toll in Sri Lanka stood at 132, with 176 missing over the preceding four days as Cyclone Ditwah left a trail of destruction and widespread damage to infrastructure.
Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, the first tranche of relief material was handed out after the consignments were transported by INS Vikrant and frontline ship INS Udaigiri.
More than 43,900 people from 12,313 families have been hit by the extreme weather conditions, according to the Sri Lankan authorities.
Also, the Indian High Commission in Colombo is assisting the stranded Indian passengers at the Bandaranaike International Airport there.
In the wake of severe air traffic disruptions, Indian passengers facing difficulties are being provided food, water and other assistance, the officials said.
The senior official said, for providing aid in Tamil Nadu, one C-17 transport aircraft carried an NDRF team and equipment load from Pune to Chennai on November 29 night.
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Siddaramaiah in 'helpless situation', under some 'compulsion', claims Cong MLA Rajanna
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Bengaluru (PTI): Amid claims that Siddaramaiah's confidants are being targeted within the ruling Congress in Karnataka, following recent actions against some party leaders, senior MLA K N Rajanna on Friday alleged that the chief minister is "helpless" and under some "compulsion" as he is not standing up to defend his people.
The comments from the former minister, who is considered close to Siddaramaiah, came after Congress took action against some of its minority community leaders--considered close to the CM--following allegations of an internal conspiracy against the party candidate in the Davanagere South bypoll held on April 9.
Rajanna himself was sacked from the Ministry last August on the instructions of the party high command, following his alleged comments criticising top party leader Rahul Gandhi's "vote theft" charge.
"There will be vested interests in the party who will try to conspire against those who have been loyal to the party and want the party to grow for the welfare of the people. Nothing can be done about it. What we expect from our chief minister is that when such a situation arises, he should stand strong, but he is not standing and that is a sad thing," Rajanna said in response to a question whether Siddaramaiah's followers were being targeted in Congress.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "... I don't know what his thinking is. But we did not expect such a helpless situation from Siddaramaiah."
When asked who had made Siddaramaiah helpless, the former minister said, "I won't say who, you understand it yourself."
"People are saying that those close to Siddaramaiah are being targeted...I don't know what compulsions Siddaramaiah has. If he tells, we can know, but he won't say. I don't know under what compulsion he is following this neutrality," he said, adding that the CM is helpless and a person becomes "helpless" when his/her voice shrinks.
The Congress recently suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from the party's primary membership and relieved another MLC Naseer Ahmed from the post of chief minister's political secretary. This action came after a group of Muslim leaders accused members of their own party of "conspiracy" to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action against Jabbar and Naseer Ahmed, speculation is that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face action during the next cabinet rejig, as these three wanted a Muslim to get the bypoll ticket in Davanagere South, which the party gave to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa's grandson Samarth Mallikarjun. They also did not actively participate in campaigning.
Citing a Kannada saying that there is no punishment for the mistakes committed by the King, Rajanna, in what seemed to be a veiled dig at Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, asked, "Does sharing a stage with a person (referring to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev) who said, 'Who is Rahul Gandhi? I don't know,' not amount to indiscipline?"
Referring to AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge's statement on whether poverty could be ended by taking a dip in the Ganga at Prayagraj, he said, "...but this person (again referring to Shivakumar) goes there and compliments UP CM Yogi Adityanath for arrangements made for the Kumbh Mela. He also goes to Ambani family marriage, while Rahul Gandhi did not even accept the invitation."
"I'm not saying that action should be taken against this person too, but the party will have to observe these things also," he added.
Rajanna further pointed out that no action was taken when veteran Congress leader and late MLA from Davanagere South Shamanur Shivashankarappa made a speech seeking votes for BJP candidate B Y Raghavandra during Shivamogga Lok Sabha polls, and asked if this did not amount to indiscipline.
"The same people were at the helm then (referring to Shivakumar as KPCC chief), even a verbal warning was not given to him (Shivashankarappa)," he said, adding that, similarly no action was taken when Samarth Shamanur filed his nomination in Davanagere South before the party announced its candidate for Davanagere South-- that was also an act of indiscipline.
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