Karnataka, Bavaria to draft roadmap for deeper bilateral ties: Minister Patil
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka and the German state of Bavaria have significant potential for bilateral collaboration and investment, and a detailed roadmap will be prepared and finalised to advance this, Minister M B Patil said on Monday.
Minister of Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development said both Karnataka and Bavaria have made notable progress in information technology, aerospace, defence, research and development, semiconductors and innovation.
Patil held discussions with a high-level delegation led by Ilse Aigner, President of the Bavarian State Parliament, who called on him here.
The delegation expressed interest in designating Karnataka as a "privileged partner" of Bavaria, his office said in a release.
Patil said further in-depth discussions would be needed and noted that the current environment is favourable for technological cooperation.
Highlighting Bavaria’s global leadership in supercomputing and quantum technologies, he said Karnataka has formulated an exclusive quantum technology policy.
With the presence of Lam Research in the state, he added, there are strong prospects for collaboration.
Bavaria has maintained a representative office in Bengaluru for nearly two decades.
Its higher-education system is well regarded, Patil said, adding that Bavarian universities may consider setting up campuses in the upcoming KWIN City (Knowledge, Wellbeing and Innovation City). Academic partnerships with local institutions would also be beneficial, he noted.
He said more than 200 Indian companies currently operate in Germany, while over 2,000 German firms have a presence in India.
The delegation expressed pleasant surprise at the high number of young women pursuing technical education in Karnataka and showed interest in adopting similar initiatives in Bavaria.
Patil said girls in the state have traditionally excelled in academics and that Karnataka has created a strong enabling environment for them, which will continue.
Earlier in the day, the delegation met Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh.
The chief secretary briefed the delegation on the government’s women-centric policies and its commitment to democratic values of equality, a release said. She also outlined the five guarantee schemes implemented by the state government.
She expressed happiness over the delegation’s participation in the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS), which she said would help enhance cooperation in deep tech, manufacturing, and research and development.
The 28th edition of BTS, organised by the Department of Electronics, IT and BT and Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on November 18.
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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
