Andhra Pradesh invites Russian firms to invest in space ecosystem

Ahmedabad, June 14 (IANS) Two days after the catastrophic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, the process of identifying and handing over the remains of the 265 victims remains underway at the Civil Hospital. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called for “accountability and transparency”, demanding the “Centre provide clear answers on the causes and lapses leading to the tragedy”.

“The government must give compensation to kin of plane crash victims and fix accountability,” he added.

Among the deceased is former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. His wife and son have reached Gandhinagar and are awaiting the DNA confirmation before his body is formally handed over. Like many families, they are navigating the wait as DNA testing remains the only way to identify severely charred remains.

A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived at the crash site and has formally proposed to the Gujarat government that it join the investigation. With 17 central and state agencies already involved, the probe is expanding as authorities seek to determine whether sabotage, technical failure, or systemic lapses played a role.

While the NIA has not yet been officially assigned investigative charge, their interest signals the gravity of the incident. On Saturday, rescue teams recovered another body — believed to be that of a female crew member — from the aircraft’s tail section.

A strong stench near the debris led to the discovery, and the body was retrieved by cutting through wreckage. It was immediately sent for postmortem and identification. Sources suggest it is the body of a female cabin crew member who was previously unaccounted for.

Civil Hospital authorities confirm they have received 265 bodies, many of which are severely burned and unrecognizable. DNA matching is being conducted on a war footing to ensure remains are handed over to the right families. Officials say the process may take several more days.

Meanwhile, speculation about the cause of the crash continues.

Saligram J. Muralidhar, former Deputy Director of National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), has suggested that fuel adulteration could have played a role. “If the fuel was adulterated, it may not have provided the thrust required for stable takeoff. That could have led to the aircraft stalling or failing mid-air,” Muralidhar said, while cautioning that only a formal investigation can confirm this.

–IANS

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Patna, June 2 (IANS) A high-level review meeting with senior officials of the Home Department was held at the Sankalp Auditorium in the Chief Minister’s residence, where the implementation of the country’s three new criminal laws and the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) was comprehensively reviewed.

The meeting, chaired by CM Samrat Choudhary, emphasised the need to strengthen a transparent, technology-driven, and citizen-centric law enforcement and justice delivery framework.

During deliberations, officials assessed the progress of ongoing initiatives to modernise the criminal justice system and improve coordination among law enforcement and judicial departments.

The meeting stressed the need to leverage modern technology to make the justice delivery mechanism more efficient, accessible, and responsive to citizens’ needs.

Officials were directed to ensure that technological tools are effectively integrated into administrative and legal processes to improve service delivery and reduce procedural delays.

Special emphasis was also placed on increasing public awareness about the Citizen Services Portal.

Authorities were instructed to undertake extensive outreach and awareness campaigns to ensure citizens can fully utilise the services and facilities available on the digital platform.

A key focus of the review meeting was the strengthening of the Speedy Trial mechanism to ensure the timely disposal of pending criminal cases.

Officials were directed to further streamline legal and administrative procedures for speedy trials to deliver justice more efficiently.

The meeting underscored that swift resolution of cases is essential for maintaining public confidence in the justice system and ensuring accountability.

The review also highlighted the importance of strengthening information-sharing mechanisms among various government departments and agencies.

Officials were instructed to improve coordination and communication channels to ensure seamless information exchange, thereby increasing administrative efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness.

Better inter-departmental collaboration was identified as a critical factor in the successful implementation of the new legal and technological frameworks.

Samrat Choudhary directed District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police across the state to hold regular interactions with industrialists, businesspersons, and representatives of major institutions.

Through these engagements, officials are expected to understand concerns related to security, business operations, and administrative support, and take appropriate corrective measures wherever necessary.

The objective is to create a secure and business-friendly environment that encourages investment, economic activity, and institutional growth.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Oct 10 (IANS) As the Supreme Court heard a petition seeking the immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, along with the implementation of directions passed by a constitutional bench in December 2023, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam on Friday urged caution, stating that the court must consider the public sentiment and the sensitivity of the region, especially since it is a border area.

Speaking to IANS, Nirupam said: “After the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has significantly improved, and terrorism has come under control. This is a major achievement. However, it is also true that when Article 370 was repealed, the state was split into two parts – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. These are now Union Territories with their own specific demands. The Supreme Court should respect public sentiment in the region and make a decision considering the sensitivities involved. These are sensitive border areas, and any hasty decision could have serious implications. One must ask if Jammu and Kashmir is now ready to regain statehood, why is the process still pending?”

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has granted the Central government four weeks to respond to multiple petitions demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Nirupam also commented on the seat-sharing issue in the NDA as the nomination process for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections started on Friday.

“The issue of seat-sharing within the NDA has been unnecessarily exaggerated in the media. Disputes over seat-sharing are normal in a three-party alliance. While the BJP and the JD-U are the major partners, smaller parties like Chirag Paswan’s and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s are demanding more seats. Several rounds of discussions are ongoing, and I am confident that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a balanced decision will be reached. Bihar stands firmly with the NDA, and no party will be able to disrupt this positive environment.”

Reacting to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s criticism of Prime Minister Modi’s praise of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Nirupam said it was wrong of Owaisi to use derogatory language.

“Israel is a friendly country. Netanyahu is currently engaged in freeing Israeli citizens after the Hamas attacks. This is a fight against Hamas, not against Palestinians. If Palestinians want peace, they must free themselves from Hamas. The US President is leading peace efforts, and PM Modi has supported them. Owaisi has no right to object.”

–IANS

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