Umesh Katti laid to rest with full state honours, K'taka govt announces 3-day state mourning
Belagavi/Bengaluru, Sep 7: Karnataka Minister Umesh Katti, who died due to heart attack, was laid to rest with full state honours, and the state government has declared state mourning till September 9, across the state, as a mark of respect to the departed leader.
Hundreds of people took part in the final journey of the 61-year-old minister for food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, and forest, from Belagavi to his native Belladbagewadi in Hukkeri taluk, where last rites were performed as per Veerashaiva-Lingayat traditions, on Wednesday.
The state government had declared a holiday today to all schools and colleges, along with government offices in Belagavi district, as a mark of respect to Katti, who was an eight-time MLA from Hukkeri assembly constituency.
Katti had died due to heart attack at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Tuesday night. He is survived by wife, son and daughter.
According to sources, Katti collapsed in the bathroom of his 'Dollar's Colony' residence here and was rushed to the hospital.
Earlier in the day, his mortal remains were flown by air to Belagavi, from where it was taken in a decked up military vehicle to his native village of Belladbagewadi, where the last rites were performed late in the evening.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa and Siddaramaiah, several of Bommai's cabinet colleagues, legislators and BJP leaders were present.
The government had earlier announced one-day state mourning across Karnataka, but it was later extended till September 9.
During the period of state mourning, no official entertainment programmes will be conducted and the national flag will be flown at half mast on all official buildings and places, the notification said.
Bommai in Belagavi said the state government has decided to observe three days of state mourning from today. Other than works related to the management of floods and other emergencies, there will be no official functions on these days.
Also BJP's 'Janotsava' rally to mark the completion of the party being in power for three years and his government's one year in office, in Doddaballapura scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed to September 11, he said, as he emotionally recalled his long association with Katti, calling him a "close friend and brother".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet said, "Shri Umesh Katti Ji was an experienced leader who made rich contributions to Karnataka's development. Pained by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this tragic hour. Om Shanti."
Katti had entered politics following the death of his father Vishwanath Katti in 1985, and went on to become MLA from Hukkeri eight times and also served as Minister in various governments.
Before joining the BJP in 2008, he was with the Janata Party, Janata Dal, JD(U) and JD(S), and had served as a minister in the Cabinet headed by J H Patel, B S Yediyurappa, D V Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar.
Katti was a dominant figure in politics of Belagavi, considered to be one of the most politically significant districts in the state.
He was often in news for his statements demanding statehood for the north Karnataka region and also for openly expressing his chief ministerial ambitions.
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Intend to allow feeding of pigeons for 2 hours in morning at Dadar Kabutarkhana: BMC to HC
Mumbai, Aug 13 (PTI): The city civic body on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court it intends to allow controlled feeding of pigeons for two hours each morning at the Dadar Kabutarkhana subject to conditions.
A bench of Justices G S Kulkarni and Arif Doctor, however, stated that before granting any such permission, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has to first issue a public notice inviting objections and then take a decision on allowing controlled feeding of the birds at the popular site in Dadar.
Since the BMC's decision to close kabutarkhanas (pigeon feeding spots) in the city and prohibit feeding of pigeons was in larger interest of public health, the sanctity of the same has to be maintained, the court noted, while hearing a bunch of petitions.
Last week, tarpaulin sheets were placed at the Dadar Kabutarkhana, a popular pigeon feeding site, by the BMC to prevent people from offering grains to the birds, a move which had led to protest during which the covers were forcibly removed by agitators.
Pursuant to this, a few individuals submitted an application to the BMC seeking interim arrangements for controlled feeding of the pigeons.
On Wednesday, BMC counsel Ram Apte told the court the civic body intends to permit controlled feeding of the birds from 6 am to 8 am subject to certain conditions.
The bench then questioned if the civic body had first invited objections to the application (seeking nod for controlled pigeon feeding) before taking its decision.
"You (BMC) cannot just allow feeding now once you have already taken a closure decision keeping public health in mind. You will have to take a well considered decision," the HC observed.
Once an application is received, you need to issue a notice and invite objections from people and then take a decision. Once you have taken a decision keeping people's health in mind then you need to maintain that sanctity, the bench affirmed.
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday also submitted a list of 11 names to be part of a committee that would carry out a scientific study on the issue of pigeon feeding at public places and its impact on human health.
The court said the government shall notify the committee by August 20.
Advocate General Birendra Saraf, appearing for the state government, said the committee would comprise officials from state public health and town planning departments and medical experts.
The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by people who regularly feed pigeons at kabutarkhanas. The petitioners have challenged the civic body's decision to ban such feedings and close down kabutarkhanas in the metropolis over potential health hazards from the exercise.
The high court had last month refused to grant any interim relief to the petitioners, but had asked the civic authorities not to demolish any heritage kabutarkhanas. The court had also said the BMC could take action as per law against those feeding pigeons at public places.
The Supreme Court had earlier this week refused to intervene in the HC order.
Senior counsel Anil Sakhare, appearing for the petitioners who have sought permission to offer grains to pigeons at the Dadar Kabutarkhana, said once the BMC takes a decision permitting controlled feeding, then they would move the HC seeking modification of the earlier order refusing interim relief.
