Vijay Bhaskar to be Karnataka's new Chief Secretary
Bengaluru, June 30: Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer T.M. Vijay Bhaskar will be Karnataka's new Chief Secretary, replacing K. Ratna Prabha who retired on superannuation on Saturday, an official notification said.
A 1983-batch officer of the Karnataka cadre, Bhaskar, 57, was earlier the Additional Chief Secretary to the state government.
He was the former Bengaluru civic body's administrator.
Prabha, 59, was on a three-month extension since April 1 due to the Assembly poll on May 12 in the southern state.
She was the first Dalit woman to become Chief Secretary in Karnataka and the third woman officer to hold the top administrative post.
On her retirement from office, Prabha in a tweet said: "It is time to hang my boots and cannot believe 37 years of service is over...My USP has been public grievances."
"...I appeal to my fellow officers to make it a habit to meet people and help at least one person a day no matter how busy you are...I have followed this all my life and it has never let me down."
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said Prabha has been a pillar of strength to women in Karnataka.
"Good officers lead by example. Your zeal to solve people's problems will always be remembered. You are a pillar of strength to many women in Karnataka..," Parameshwara tweeted.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
