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Belagavi, Dec 20 (IANS) Karnataka Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Laxmi Hebbalkar claimed that BJP MLC C.T. Ravi used derogatory language against her, at least 10 times in the Legislative Council.

Addressing a press conference amid high drama surrounding the ‘arrest’ of BJP MLC C.T. Ravi, the minister said that all members in the council stood like ‘Dhritarashtra’ while derogatory words were repeatedly used against her.

She also turned emotional and teary-eyed while addressing the media.

Recalling the incident, Minister Laxmi stated, “After the protest over the remarks against Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the council, we sat for 10 minutes and the House was adjourned by the Chairperson. He went to his chamber, I remained seated quietly.”

“At this juncture, C.T. Ravi called our leader Rahul Gandhi a drug addict three or four times. I still sat quietly. Looking at me, C.T. Ravi once again called Rahul Gandhi a drug addict. I then commented that since he was involved in an accident, he could also be called a murderer,” Laxmi stated.

“Immediately after that, as you all know, C.T. Ravi started using derogatory language against me. It’s disgusting to even repeat the word that he used. I have come up in politics facing many challenges, starting from the position of a common worker, and I represent all the women in the state. That derogatory word was used against me at least 10 times,” she alleged.

“I am also a mother, sister, and wife. Thousands of women now want to enter politics after seeing my journey. If women are addressed in this manner in the House, it hurts deeply,” she maintained.

“In politics, we sometimes deliver emotionally charged speeches. I have not harmed even an ant. I have pursued politics on my own and committed myself to public service. I stay away from bad influences. It is natural in politics to face difficult situations, and we need to be courageous,” Minister Laxmi stated.

“The council is known as the Upper House and the abode of thinkers. Yet, on the floor of the House, C.T. Ravi used such language while everyone stood like Dhritarashtras. My party members came to me and apologized. How should I feel?” she asked.

“When the matter concerned Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, why was Rahul Gandhi dragged into it? I gave a speech along these lines and was targeted,” she stated.

“My daughter-in-law, who was in the hospital, called me and said, ‘You are a warrior.’ My son, who is in Bengaluru, also called me. My people in the constituency and the state stand with me. I don’t want to speak further,” she concluded.

BJP MLC C.T. Ravi was arrested on Thursday evening following a police complaint filed by the women and child welfare minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.

Meanwhile, Ravi has refused the allegation and stated that he used the word “frustrate” and “frustration” not “prostitute” as alleged against him.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) India on Monday signed a landmark Rs 63,000 crore government-to-government deal with France to buy 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets which will give added punch to the Indian Navy, amid growing security concerns over China flexing its maritime muscle in the Indo-Pacific region.

The procurement will proceed under an Inter-Governmental Agreement , ensuring direct deliveries without any intermediaries. The deal has been signed for 22 single-seater jets and four twin-seater trainers, with deliveries expected to be completed by 2031.

The signing of the agreement comes close on the heels of the final approval for the deal by the Cabinet Committee on Security’s (CCS), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, on April 9.

The 26 Rafale-M jets for the Navy, manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France , are expected to be delivered within 37 to 65 months. The delivery of all the planes is scheduled to be completed by 2030-31, a senior official said.

The Rafale procurement will include weapons, simulators, spares, associated ancillary equipment, crew training and logistics support for the Indian Navy from the French government. Besides, it includes indigenous manufacturing of components under offset obligations as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative,

The fighter jets will be deployed on aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, strengthening the Indian Navy’s capability to counter any threat emerging in the Indian Ocean.

The Rafale-M is a multirole fighter jet armed with long-range cruise missiles, AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles, and the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. It has proved its capabilities in French Navy operations and is deployed from the country’s prestigious aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

The fighter jet is equipped with Safran Group’s reinforced landing and also features folding wings, and a reinforced undercarriage to withstand rough sea conditions, deck landing, and tailhooks.

The deal will also ensure logistics support and spares for the 36 Rafale fighter jets already inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2016 under an earlier Rs 59,000 crore deal with France. These Rafale jets comprise two squadrons in the IAF.

The first Rafale squadron is based at Ambala Air Force Station. The second Rafale squadron is based at Hasimara Air Force Station in West Bengal, near the China border. The Rafale squadrons are intended to enhance India’s air power, in the eastern sector, to counter China, and also on the western front against Pakistan.

The French maritime fighter is a sturdy aircraft that incorporates design features to withstand the rough conditions involved in aircraft carrier operations in a highly corrosive environment.

The aircraft’s naval variant, Rafale-M, will bring commonality with the IAF’s fighters, creating advantages in training, maintenance and logistics support, the official said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) A Special NIA court in Delhi has cleared the way for the federal anti-terror agency to collect Pakistani-Canadian national Tahawwur Rana’s voice samples and match them with recordings of his telephonic discussions with 26/11 co-accused David Coleman Headley, an official said on Thursday.

Rana’s handwriting samples will also be matched with written instructions, coordinates, and maps, which he is suspected to have passed on to Headley to help scout terror targets in Mumbai in 2008, said the official, referring to the trial court’s nod given on Wednesday for the purpose.

The NIA is also preparing to take Rana to Mumbai and other cities to reconstruct the chain of events preceding the terror attack that left 166 people dead.

On April 28 last week, the Special NIA court extended Rana’s NIA custody by 12 more days to allow investigators to question him.

Special Judge Charan Jit Singh accepted Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan’s plea that the investigating agency needs more time to uncover Rana’s role in the Mumbai attack of 2008.

Rana’s 18-day remand ended on Monday, and he was presented in court for an extension of his NIA custody.

During the court proceedings, the Special Judge was informed by the NIA about the alleged evasive technique adopted by Rana during questioning.

The NIA also expressed its desire to take Rana to various other cities to reconstruct the chain of events during the accused’s India visits preceding the terror attack.

The court had earlier directed the NIA to conduct a medical test of Rana every 24 hours and allow him to speak to his lawyers every second day.

During his 18-day remand, Rana was also questioned by Mumbai Police officers. During the interrogation, Rana claimed that he had “no connection whatsoever” with the planning or execution of the attack.

He also claimed that his childhood friend and co-accused, David Coleman Headley, was solely responsible for the reconnaissance and planning aspects of 26/11. Headley is currently in a US jail.

Headley, who turned approver in the case, had earlier admitted to conducting recce missions across India, including in Mumbai, on behalf of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

During questioning, Rana said that apart from Mumbai and Delhi, he had also travelled to Kerala. When asked about the purpose of his visit to Kerala, he claimed he had gone there to meet a known acquaintance and had provided the individual’s name and address to the agency.

Rana, a former officer of the Pakistan Army’s Medical Corps, was extradited to India from the US recently to face justice in the Mumbai attack case.

–IANS

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