SUNDAY FOCUS

Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has introduced a 19-seater aircraft in a first major attempt to develop small civil transport aircraft. Hindustan 228 can be operated even in semi-prepared and unpaved airstrips, reported news agency ANI.

“The design has been transferred to us from Dornier GmbH. This particular aircraft is under type certification and will have it in the name of Hindustan 228. All the testing parameters have been completed,” ANI quoted Apurba Roy, General Manager, HAL as saying.

Roy said that there is a huge potential for small civil transport aircraft in the market as there are few in India and across the world that are designed for short-haul travel and can operate on a semi-prepared runway. The multi-utility aircraft can be used as an ambulance, cargo, and parajam or paradrop, among others.

India slammed OIC yet again on Thursday for its statements and resolutions adopted in the meeting in Islamabad, saying these only demonstrate both the irrelevance of the OIC as a body and role of Pakistan as its manipulator. References have been made to India that are based on falsehoods and misrepresentation, said an India statement.

“The absurdity of this body commenting on the treatment of minorities, that too at the instance of a serial violator of human rights like Pakistan, is so evident,” said the MEA spokesperson, adding nations and governments that associate themselves with such exercises should realise the impact it has on their reputation. Alleging human rights violations in J&K, the OIC said that lasting peace in south Asia cannot be achieved without a settlement of the Kashmir issue.

The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which seeks to merge the Capital’s three municipal corporations, will be introduced by Union home minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha on Friday morning, according to the list of business issued by the Parliament on Thursday night.

The unified MCD, which will be “a single, integrated and well equipped entity”, will not have more than 250 wards, and a special officer may be appointed to oversee its functioning till the first meeting of the body is held, according to the statement of objects and reasons that was signed by the Union home minister on March 22, but made public late on Thursday evening.

A war of words erupted between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators in the Delhi assembly on Thursday after AAP MLA Somnath Bharti alleged that a BJP councillor has opposed the installation of a high-mast Tricolour at a park in his constituency of Malviya Nagar. He also alleged that the councillor was acting at the behest of the BJP and the RSS.

The Delhi government is currently installing 500 high-mast national flags across the Capital as part of its celebrations to mark the country’s 75th year of Independence. The government, through the project, aims to instil a sense of patriotism among citizens.

Raising the matter in the assembly, Bharti said permission was taken from the south corporation to install a high-mast tricolour in Maharaja Sursaini Park in Malviya Nagar.

Uttar Pradesh's chief minister-designate Yogi Adityanath will take oath tomorrow at a grand ceremony in Lucknow's Ekana stadium, expected to be attended by many. The BJP's legislative party elected Yogi Adityanath as its leader earlier in the day at a party meeting, following which the CM-designate met the Governor to stake claim to form the state's next government.

Invitations have been sent to chief ministers, Union ministers, ministers of other states, and industrialists.

Yogi Adityanath personally called former UP chief ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati and invited them.