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Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Veteran journalist, Siddaramaiah aide set to make it to Karnataka Legislative Council: Who is Dinesh Amin Mattu?
Following intense speculation for weeks, the Congress has seemingly finalised senior journalist and Siddaramaiah aide Dinesh Amin Mattu for one of the seats in the Legislative Council. Dropping a hint regarding Mattu's candidature being finalised, Karnataka Deputy CM and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar on Wednesday told the media in Delhi, 'A tentative date has been fixed to announce the candidates. (The names will be announced) before the Assembly session starts. We are accommodating one media person.' A well-known Kannada journalist, Mattu was associated with popular daily Prajavani, starting in 1989 and served as the publication's Delhi correspondent for around a decade. He gained recognition due to his column 'Dehali Nota (Delhi view)'. Mattu, who has also authored several books, was appointed Siddaramaiah's media advisor during his first term. He is counted as part of progressive Left-leaning circles in the state and participated in several movements in Karnataka. He was conferred with the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2023 for his contributions to journalism. Sources said the list of candidates was revised several times as factions within the Congress wanted to ensure that their candidates made the cut. 'The Siddaramaiah camp is pushing Mattu's candidature, saying he will be an effective voice in the Council to counter the Opposition,' a source said. At present, four seats in the state's Upper House are vacant. Two of them have remained vacant since October last year after the terms of Congress MLCs Venkatesh and Prakash Rathod ended. Another fell vacant in November last year after former BJP MLC C P Yogeshwar crossed over to the Congress and won the Assembly bypoll from Channapatna, the seat vacated by Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy after he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Mandya. The fourth seat fell vacant this January after the term of JD(S) leader K A Thippeswamy's term ended. The Congress is set to win all four seats in the 75-member House, taking its tally to 37. While the names of the other three candidates are still under wraps, sources said Aarti Krishna, the deputy chairperson of the NRI Forum of Karnataka, is one of the front runners along with former MLCs Ramesh Babu and B L Shankar, KPCC treasurer Vinay Karthik, and filmmaker Baraguru Ramachandrappa. Meanwhile, amid the buzz of a change of guard in the state, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar arrived in Delhi. On Wednesday, Shivakumar met AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and a group of legislators from the state. The two then held a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and are likely to meet Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.
Hans India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Former ISRO Chief Kasturirangan's demise an irreparable loss to the nation and field of science: Karnataka CM
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Sunday that the death of former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman and Padma Shri awardee, K. Kasturirangan, has caused an irreparable loss to the country, especially to the field of science. Speaking to the media after paying his final respects to the mortal remains of former ISRO Chairman Kasturirangan, Siddaramaiah added, "He was a renowned scientist the country had seen, with immense contributions to the field of space. He served as ISRO Chairman for a long period. His contributions to the field of education are unforgettable." He also said that Dr. Kasturirangan was the recipient of numerous national honours, including the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award conferred by the Karnataka government. Highlighting his significant contributions to the environment sector and Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said that the government has already undertaken efforts to honour his legacy. "I pray to God to grant eternal peace to his soul," the Chief Minister added. "We have lost an immense treasure of knowledge with the passing of renowned scientist Dr. Kasturirangan. I pray for his soul to rest in peace," said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Shivakumar was speaking to the media on Sunday after paying his final respects to the mortal remains of Dr. Kasturirangan. "Dr. Kasturirangan took bold decisions to protect the wealth of our land and forests. As one of India's and the world's greatest scientists, he made significant contributions to society as the Chairman of the Knowledge Commission and as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Death is certain, but what matters is the legacy and contributions we leave behind," the Deputy CM said. He also recalled, "The government will deliberate on his contributions and take steps to preserve them. His contributions in bringing great prestige to ISRO are immense." State BJP President and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra, said, "Dr. K. Kasturirangan, who had earned a prominent place among the country's space scientists and was a recipient of numerous honours, including the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, was a distinguished personality." After paying his respects and offering condolences to the mortal remains of former ISRO Chairman K. Kasturirangan, Vijayendra spoke to the media. He recalled that during B.S. Yediyurappa's tenure as Chief Minister, Dr. Kasturirangan had offered valuable advice to the then BJP government through the Knowledge Commission and on various other occasions. He also noted that Dr. Kasturirangan had served as a member of the Rajya Sabha. "Such a senior and eminent figure is no longer with us. Praying for the peace of his soul, I hope that God grants strength to his family, the scientific community, and the lakhs of students who admired him, to bear this loss," Vijayendra said. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, who passed away on Friday morning, was a distinguished Indian space scientist and visionary leader who significantly advanced India's space and education sectors. He made invaluable contributions to both the space and education sectors of the country. Dr. Kasturirangan passed away on Friday at the age of 84 in Bengaluru. His visionary leadership in space exploration and education reform has left an indelible mark on India's scientific and academic landscapes. Born on October 24, 1940, in Ernakulam, Kerala, Dr. Kasturirangan pursued his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in physics at the University of Mumbai. He later obtained his doctoral degree in experimental high-energy astronomy from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. Dr. Kasturirangan's exemplary work earned him numerous accolades and he was awarded the Padma Shri (1982), Padma Bhushan (1992), and Padma Vibhushan (2000) by the Indian government. Dr. Kasturirangan served as the ISRO Chairman from 1994 to 2003. During his tenure, he oversaw several pivotal developments. He played a crucial role in the development and operationalisation of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), enhancing India's self-reliance in space technology. He supervised the launch of key remote sensing satellites like IRS-1C and IRS-1D, as well as the advancement of INSAT communication satellites and ocean observation satellites such as IRS-P3 and IRS-P4. Under his leadership, ISRO initiated studies that laid the groundwork for India's first lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1. Beyond his work in space science, Dr. Kasturirangan made significant contributions to India's education sector. He chaired the committee responsible for drafting the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, aiming to revamp India's educational framework. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and as the Chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, influencing higher education and research policies. Dr. Kasturirangan was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 2003 to 2009 and served on the erstwhile Planning Commission of India, contributing to national policy-making in science and education.
