BANGALORE, November 24, 2009: Three Left parties – the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI) and All India Forward Block – have decided to hold a state level rally on Wednesday at the Freedom Park in the city against the price rise of essential commodities, demanding the right to food and relief to flood victims.

V J K Nair, State secretary CPI (M), M C Venkataramu, secretariat member of CPI and G R Shivashankar, president, AIFB, told reporters here on Monday that CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and leaders of Left parties would address the rally.
The Central Government led by Manmohan Singh has been implementing “anti-people” policies and some of which they could not do earlier due to pressure from the Left parties. Both Union and State governments have not taken any steps to control the rising prices of essential commodities, they charged.

Farmers’ suicides and atrocities on dalits and the poor has become a common factor in the State. The BJP ruled Karnataka has failed to ensure security to minorities. Hoarding of foodgrains by multi-national companies for the future trading was one of the major reasons for the steep increase in prices. Even after two months of rain and floods, relief measures have not reached to the affected people in north Karnataka, they alleged.

K'taka to lease horticulture farms to pvt sector

To attract more investment and research activities in the Horticulture, the Karnataka Government had decided to give on lease about 7,500 acres of state-owned Horticulture Farms on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Model, State Horticulture Minister Umesh Katti said here today.

Speaking to newsmen, he said the State Government, in a bid to infuse more investment into Horticulture, had decided to allow private participation.

The government had shortlisted about 20 farms owned by State Horticulture Department for the purpose and had already received overwhelming response from the public for the proposal. ''We will apply extreme caution before leasing out the farm lands to prevent any misuse for real estate activities,'' the Minister said.

Scientist honoured

Eminent Scientist and Academician, Prof Goverdhan Metha has been honoured as a National Research Professor by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the fields of Chemical Sciences and Higher Education.

Prof Mehta thus joined a select band of 11 other distinguished personalities and academicians, including Sir C V Raman, Satyajit Ray, Dr S N Bose, Ustad Bismillah Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar, according to a release here today.

Prof Mehta, who is currently the Chairman, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), had been recognised the world over for his pioneering contributions, particularly in the area of organic synthesis related to design of biologically active molecules. He was former President of the Paris-based International Council for Science (ICSU).

K'taka Gov inaugurates SZ Varsity Youth Fest

Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj inaugurated five-day 'Silver Unifest-2009', the 25th South Zone Inter-University Youth Festival, at the Open Air Theater here today.

The event is being organised under the joint auspices of University of Mysore, Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. About 1,500 students, including girls, from 28 Universities of South Zone, comprising Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, would take part in the fest. There would be about 30 different types of competitions covering folklore, theater, literature, quiz and dance to be held daily at different venues in the university. Colourful exhibitions of various arts and welcome arches have been erected throughout the university campus in Manasa Gangotri giving a festive look.

Our Correspondent