‘Saints’ oppose end of Kumbh Mela despite rise in covid cases

With the surging demand for air travel between the UAE and India, limited flight capacities are driving up ticket prices. Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE's ambassador to India, has stressed the urgent need for increasing flight operations to curb rising airfares and bolster connectivity.

Addressing the inaugural UAE-India Founders' Retreat at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) on Friday, Alshaali highlighted that the imbalance between demand and available seats is unsustainable. “Airfare has grown significantly due to heightened demand. Without more flights and seat capacities, prices will keep rising,” he cautioned.

Connecting More Cities
Alshaali revealed his proposal to add more flights between the two nations, emphasizing connections to Tier 2 cities in India. “Indians prefer flying to airports closer to their hometowns, especially on specific days. Expanding flight options is vital for meeting this demand,” he explained.

The ambassador stressed that increased connectivity would yield mutual benefits, including boosting tourism, creating jobs, and fostering business opportunities. “This is about redefining our relations to ensure a win-win outcome for both nations,” he remarked.

Strengthening Ties Through Innovation
The UAE-India Founders' Retreat, co-organized by the UAE Embassy in Delhi and the UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC), hosted over 60 Indian startup founders alongside UAE business leaders, investors, and policymakers. The three-day event aimed to deepen collaboration and promote innovation between the two nations.

Prominent attendees included Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, Hadi Badri, CEO of Economic Development at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and Faraz Khalid, CEO of Noon.

CEPA: A Testament to Success
Alshaali lauded the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has significantly boosted trade relations. “Bilateral trade between India and the UAE has exceeded $80 billion, marking over a 15% growth since CEPA. Key sectors like pharmaceuticals and agriculture, including fruits and vegetables, have seen over 30% growth,” he noted.

Enhanced air connectivity, Alshaali emphasized, is not just about convenience. “It deepens people-to-people ties and facilitates easier travel for investors, students, and businesspersons, further solidifying our partnership,” he concluded.

The call for increased flights and better transportation links is poised to redefine the dynamics of UAE-India relations, catering to the evolving needs of both nations.

In a significant milestone, the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School in Newpadpu, Harekala, has introduced a bilingual Kannada-English medium this academic year, a move spearheaded by Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba. The school has so far received 13 admissions for its Class 1 bilingual program.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the state government, which approved 38 schools across the district to launch bilingual mediums. Expressing his delight, Hajabba shared that he had been advocating for a bilingual school for years. "The bilingual medium will greatly benefit students in this region who otherwise rely on private schools. However, we currently face a shortage of classrooms. Construction of two additional classrooms is underway, and once completed, we expect higher admissions," he said.

The school had previously been permitted to introduce LKG and UKG classes in the last academic year. According to the school’s headmistress, Rajeshwari, while the pre-primary sections have seen good enrolment, the bilingual Class 1 faced challenges, securing only 13 students. She attributed this to the late notification of permission, which arrived a month after the academic year began, leading many children to enroll elsewhere.

Rajeshwari remains optimistic about the future. "We expect better admissions next academic year as awareness about bilingual education at this government school grows," she said, adding that the classroom shortage will soon be addressed.

Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) Venkatesha Subraya Patagara noted that bilingual schools across Dakshina Kannada have generally received a positive response, with some schools enrolling more than 100 students. The effort to offer bilingual education in government schools marks a step forward in providing affordable, quality education to underserved regions.

The Supreme Court on Monday while hearing a petition against the stand of Karnataka High Court's view that shouting 'Jai Sriram' inside a mosque was not an offence, sought the stand of the State of Karnataka in the matter.

A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Sandeep Mehta was hearing the matter.

"Alright, they were shouting a particular religious slogan. How is that an offence?" Justice Mehta asked, as bench posted the matter for January 2025.

The bench asked if the accused persons had been identified. Kamat replied that CCT visuals had been collected and the police identified the accused persons, as recorded in the remand report. The bench asked if merely spotting the accused near the mosque would mean that they shouted the slogans.

"Are you able to identify the actual accused? What material you have brought?" the Court asked. Kamat clarified that he was only representing the complainant (caretaker of the mosque) and it is for the police to conduct the investigation and collect the evidence. The FIR need only give information about the offence and need not be an 'encyclopedia' containing all evidence, he added.

This comes after a petition was filed in the Supreme Court questioning the Karnataka High Court's order of September 13, 2024 which quashed an FIR lodged against two men for raising the 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan within mosque premises.

The high court's single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna had said, "It is ununderstandable as to how if someone shouts 'Jai Shri Ram' it would outrage the religious feeling of any class, when the complainant himself states that Hindu - Muslims are living in harmony in the area".