PM Modi’s meeting with BSY prompts leadership talk in poll-bound Karnataka

Mangaluru, Mar 22: The month-long Ramadan fast will begin in coastal Karnataka from Thursday, March 23, with the sighting of the crescent moon on Wednesday night which was followed by a declaration of the same by a leading religious figure.

“As the crescent moon was sighted tonight (Wednesday) over the coastal region, Qazi Twaka Ahmed Musliayar and other Qadhis of the region, declared the start of the holy month of Ramadan, with fasting from Thursday in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and areas across the southern state’s west coast,” an official sources said..

In Kerala too, Ramdan begins on Thursday, while, in the rest of Karnataka, it is yet to be announced. 
 
Most of Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, too, has announced observance of Ramadan from Thursday after the sighting of the new moon.
 

Mangaluru, Mar 15: In an embarrassment to Hindutva chauvinists of coastal belt of Karnataka, a BJP MLA from Dakshina Kannada has taken exception to his own party’s stand on Muslims and Christians. 

Umanath Kotian, who represents Moodabidri constituency in Karnataka legislative assembly, while campaigning for upcoming elections at Kinnigoli near Mangaluru last week, claimed that he doesn’t agree with BJP leaders’ stand on Muslims and Christians. 

“What BJP people say is that Muslims and Christians do not vote for us, so why should we do their work? I am a straight talker. Members of our party have some arrogance and ask why we should do their (minorities) work as they do not vote for us. I am working in contrast to these views,” he told a small gathering.

Kotian said that he had worked for the development of mosques too during his tenure as MLA. “In the last five years, were there any communal riots or provocative speeches made in my constituency?” he can be heard saying in a video that went viral in parts of coastal Karnataka.

The speech clip has sparked a debate among netizens. Meanwhile, a hardline Hindtuva activists have launched a ‘campaign’ against the Moodabidri MLA and urged the BJP not to field him again. 

An IndiGo Airline Delhi-Doha flight, 6E-1736, was diverted to Karachi airport in Pakistan after a medical emergency. The passenger, a Nigerian, was declared dead on arrival by the airport medical team, IndiGo Airline said.

“IndiGo flight 6E-1736, operating from Delhi to Doha was diverted to Karachi due to a medical emergency on board. Unfortunately, on arrival, the passenger was declared dead by the airport medical team,” IndiGo said.

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson in Karachi confirmed that a flight of an Indian airline was going to Dubai from Delhi when the health of a passenger worsened mid-flight.

The pilot of the IndiGo flight sought emergency landing permission due to a medical emergency, which was granted by the Air Traffic Controller at the Karachi airport.