Will gather info on Cong leader's statement about 'Godhra-like incident' in K'taka: HM Parameshwara
Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said the state government will gather information following senior party leader B K Hariprasad's claim that a 'Godhra like incident' was likely in the state.
On the other hand, the state unit of BJP mounted attack on the ruling Congress over the issue and demanded the immediate arrest of Hariprasad.
MLC Hariprasad had on Wednesday claimed that there is a possibility of Godhra-like incident in Karnataka in the run up to the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. The Karnataka government should be alert because in Gujarat during the same occasion, the Kar Sevaks were set on fire at Godhra, he cautioned.
ALSO READ: Godhra-like incident possible in Karnataka in the run up to Rama temple consecration: B K Hariprasad
The 2002 Godhra train burning case had plunged Gujarat into one of the worst communal riots. Reacting to Hariprasad's statement, Parameshwara said, ''We don't have any information. If a situation like that rises then our department (police) is capable of handling it. We will not let such things happen.'' Responding to a reporter's query on summoning the MLC to get details, he said it can be considered because he is a senior leader and he must have the information.
The Minister, however, said there was no need to issue notice to Hariprasad as of now. ''When there is a sensitive matter we will first gather information. We will handle the case the way it should be,'' Parameshwara explained.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai charged the Congress MLC with 'instigating' people to commit such incidents.
''The Home Minister says he as no information while the MLC says he has inputs. This means there is intelligence failure. The police would have registered an FIR if an ordinary person would have given a similar statement,'' Bommai told media persons.
Accusing the government of using different yardstick, he demanded that Hariprasad be summoned to the police station for inquiry.
Former minister K S Eshwarappa said the statement gives an impression that Hariprasad has information. Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel also demanded the arrest of the Congress MLC saying he has all the information about the incident.
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New trains to ease crowding on Namma Metro Purple-Green lines in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: Commuters on the crowded Namma Metro Purple and Green lines may soon get relief, as the Railway Board has issued provisional sanction for induction of new train sets, Deccan Herald reported.
The Railway Board communicated the provisional sanction to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) in a letter on April 1, raising hopes that additional trains could be deployed during peak hours by May-June.
According to the Railway Board, the approval comes with conditions, including a maximum speed of 80 kmph in fully inflated mode and 25 kmph in deflated mode of the secondary air spring.
The BMRCL will also need a separate sanction from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) by submitting the Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) report confirming the trains’ integration, operation, and compatibility with the Direct To Go (DTG) signalling and train control system for the Purple and Green lines.
The BMRCL has received three DTG trains, including a prototype delivered in January 2025, for the Purple and Green lines. The trains must pass 37 statutory clearances before entering passenger service.
The BMRCL had approached the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), under the Ministry of Railways, to conduct statutory trials related to oscillation, braking, speed and system integration tests for the trains. The CMRS will issue the final sanction after receiving the ISA certificate.
Officials said the ISA certification process is already underway, with new signalling software currently being tested. Final approvals are expected by May-June, after which the trains can be introduced into service.
The new trains have been supplied by China's CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co Ltd, which will deliver a total of 21 trains for the Purple and Green lines in partnership with the West Bengal-based Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL). Currently, the network operates with 57 trains supplied by BEML.
