DECCAN SAMACHAR DAILY

US' Maryland signs sister state agreement with Andhra Pradesh

2011-11-29T08:05:00.000-08:00

Hyderabad, Nov 28 : US state Maryland Monday signed a sister state agreement with Andhra Pradesh, the first such agreement with any Indian state.On the first day of his visit to India, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed the agreement with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.The agreement is expected to help in collaboration in various sectors like life sciences, biotechnology and information technology."We hope there will be many opportunities for our two states to collaborate in business, trade, agriculture, education and health," said O'Malley.The Maryland leader, who began six-day visit to India Monday, is leading a 100-member delegation including business leaders, educators and elected officials from his state, situated on the US' east coast."Our states have tremendous in common. We are home to major ports and have strong agriculture traditions and agriculture economies," he said.Describing Andhra Pradesh as one of the most progressive states in India, O'Malley pointed out that both Andhra Pradesh and Maryland were strong in life sciences, biotechnology, IT, cyber security and pharmaceuticals.
Kiran Kumar Reddy said the two states could have greater cooperation in the area of agriculture to improve productivity and to leverage technology for providing better services to people.The chief minister said his government was focusing on education and on employability of the youth passing out of colleges.Earlier, the Maryland governor witnessed signing of three agreements between Maryland and Indian companies.The agreements include one between ANGARAI, a Greenbelt-based management consulting firm and Chennai-based product development company CI to pursue opportunities in mobile and web applications.Rockville-based Sheladia Associates, an engineering, architecture and development company signed an agreement with two Indian firms, SaiMatarani Toll Ways Ltd and Gayatri Projects Ltd.Sheladia will provide design and project management services valued at USD 3.7 million for upgrading Panikoili-Rimouli section of national highway 215 to a four-lane facility.
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Andhra speaker rejects resignations of 61 lawmakers

2011-11-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hyderabad, Nov 28 : Andhra Pradesh assembly Speaker N. Manohar Monday accepted resignations of four lawmakers from the Telangana region but rejected resignations of 61 other legislators, including those belonging to the ruling Congress but loyal to the YSR Congress party.The speaker accepted resignations of three legislators of the Congress and one of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), all of them from the Telangana region, who quit their respective parties to join the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).The legislators whose resignations were accepted include former minister J. Krishna Rao, G. Goverdhan and T. Rajaiah, who quit the Congress to join the TRS early this month. The resignation of TDP's Jogu Ramanna, who switched loyalty to the TRS, was also accepted.In a decision, which is likely to trigger uproar during the winter session beginning Dec 1, the speaker rejected resignations of 61 others but did not take any decision on the resignations of 14 others.A total of 81 lawmakers belonging to the Congress, the TDP and the TRS submitted their resignations for various reasons during the last three months.In all, 53 lawmakers from the Telangana region, including 32 of the TDP, 12 of the TRS and four of the Congress, had submitted their resignations demanding separate statehood to the region.Twenty-eight other lawmakers, including 26 of ruling party and loyal to Jaganmohan Reddy, quit protesting the attempts to link late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to alleged irregularities in land allotments by his government.The speaker accepted the resignations of two rebel legislators of the TDP Nov 12 from the 294-member assembly.While N. Janardhana Reddy had resigned on the Telangana issue, Prasanna Kumar Reddy had joined Jaganmohan Reddy's group.
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Woman IAS officer sent to judicial custody

2011-11-29T07:56:00.000-08:00

Hyderabad, Nov 29 : A special CBI court Tuesday remanded Andhra Pradesh IAS officer Y. Srilakshmi to judicial custody till Dec 12 in an illegal mining case involving former Karnataka minister G. Janardhana Reddy's Obulapuram Mining Co (OMC).The court sent her to CBI custody for three days. The judge directed the CBI to produce her again before the court on the evening of Dec 1.Srilakshmi, presently family welfare commissioner in the state, was arrested Monday evening.The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official, the fourth accused in the case, allegedly favoured OMC by granting iron ore licence when she was secretary in charge of mines in the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government.The CBI sought her custody for 15 days on the ground that it wanted to question her regarding various aspects of the case. The CBI counsel said it needed to gather more information about her role and the involvement of other public servants.Srilakshmi's counsel opposed the investigating agency's plea and pointed out that she always cooperated in the probe by making herself available for questioning whenever she was summoned.The court sent her to CBI custody for three days while remanding her judicial custody till Dec 12. The CBI sleuths later shifted her to the CBI office at Koti for questioning.The investigating officers claim to have evidence that Srilakshmi granted iron ore mining lease for 68.5 hectares at Obulpuram in Anantapur district to OMC in violation of rules.The 1988 batch officer, the wife of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer M. Gopalakrishna, is facing charges of criminal breach of trust by a public servant, criminal conspiracy and cheating.A visibly shattered Srilakshmi reportedly remained awake through the night in CBI custody. Claiming innocence, she told CBI officials that she signed the files under pressure.She is the second official to be arrested in the case.Janardhana Reddy and OMC Managing Director B.V. Srinivasa Reddy were arrested from Bellary in Karnataka Sep 5. Former mines director V.D. Rajagopal was arrested Nov 13. All the three are lodged in Chanchalguda Central Jail.The IAS officer's arrest came days before the Dec 3 deadline for the CBI to file chargesheet in the case.The case against OMC was registered in 2009 for illegal mining in Anantapur district bordering Karnataka.
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Official Date for Eid Al-Adha Announced

2011-10-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

(USA) 29th,Oct,The Hajj Authorities have announced the official day of Eid al-Adha to be Sunday, November 6, 2011. That means that today is the first day of the Islamic New Year, of Hajj, and also the start to the ten most blessed days in the whole year. For those of us who are not able to make Hajj this year, we are still blessed with ten of the holiest days in the year, where Allah multiplies all our good deeds by 700. Just like during Ramadan, we can make sure the extra blessings of Allah are not lost by fasting, giving charity, reflecting in extra prayers, extending forgiveness, and engaging in good deeds all day long.Some of our ISNA youth in MYNA compiled a list of resources to better educate and inspire our community about activities we can engage in during these ten blessed days. We would like to share those resources with you and pray you enjoy a blessed month.
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SEMINAR ON EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT SHREE INSTITUTE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION, TIRUPATI BY Mr. VAJIH KAHN , HR HEAD -VISION LABS

2011-09-04T00:58:00.000-07:00

Chennai-3rd,Sep,2011, HR Head Mr. Vajih Khan from Vision Labs conducted a placement seminar here at Shree Institute of Technical Education, Tirupati (R), on Staurday 3rd Sep 2011.While presenting his tips and techniques on Employability Skills required for B Tech and MBA students during the campus placements, he emphasized on the importance of creativity, communication skills and logical thinking to the students. He also appreciated the facilities being given to the students and also the comprehensive placement training programme being run by the college authorities. Vision Labs is a 25 year old software company catering to government, defence and research organizations with its diversified software products like GIS, CAD, CAM, Image Processing, Remote Sensing, Simulations, Electronic Warfare, Vision Systems etc ,Later in the evening, Mr. Vajih Kahn also took part in a meeting on placements hosted by the institution and assured his services in the future. Mr. T. Damodaram- the Chairman, Mr.V. Anand - the Director Admn, Dr. P. Raghavulu- the Principal, Mr. A. Babu Naidu- the Training and Placement Officer also took part in the meeting,(photo by RSJ Thomas),
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Congress Party accuses Gujarat Govt. of tampering into Godhra riots probe

2011-08-11T19:03:00.000-07:00

New Delhi/Gandhinagar, Aug 11 : In light of another senior police officer of the Gujarat cadre being hauled up for indiscipline, Congress Party on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi Government of trying to tamper into the investigations related to the 2002 Godhra riots."The decision by the Gujarat government to charge sheet another police official re-emphasises that the state government is making all efforts to keep the findings of the Gujarat riots, a secret," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari."We again demand that judicial procedure regarding matters pertaining to the riots should be carried out from outside Gujarat without any interference from the Gujarat government," he added.Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintained that the Gujarat Government is allowing the law to take its own course."Will any state should tolerate gross indiscipline, issue is of discipline not of politics. The Supreme Court is hearing every case so it will take proper decision but you do not allow indiscipline to creep in this way," said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.According to media reports, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DGP) Rahul Sharma has been served with a chargesheet that accuses him of indiscipline during the investigation into the Godhra riots.Sources told television channels like TIMES NOW and NDTV that Sharma is to be chargesheeted under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly passing on crucial information about the post Godhra riots to Nanavati Commission and the Special Investigation Team.Sharma told the SIT that phone records in the Naroda Patia case were destroyed.Sharma is the second Indian Police Service (IPS) officer to be targetted for indiscipline in Gujarat, the first being Sanjiv Bhatt, a 1988 batch IPS officer, who was suspended on Monday by the state Home Department in exercise of powers conferred by Rule 3(1) of All India Services (Discipline and Appeals) Rules, 1969.Bhatt's lawyer claimed that his,client's suspension by the state government was due to a petition filed by him in the Supreme Court and he is weighing legal options to challenge the action.In his 19-page supplementary affidavit filed before the Supreme Court last week, Bhatt alleged someone in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing post-Godhra riot cases was leaking sensitive details related to investigations conducted by it to Additional Advocate General Tushar Mehta.Bhatt had earlier accused Modi of misusing the state machinery during post-Godhra riots and of asking cops to ignore calls for help from Muslims during the riots. Bhatt alleged in the affidavit before the apex court that he had seen e-mails from SIT probing the riots cases in the personal mail account of Mehta. Mehta,on his part, lodged a complaint with the state cyber cell last Friday accusing Bhatt of hacking his e-mails ==================================================

Telangana employees reject invitation for talks

2011-08-11T18:45:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Aug 11 : Government employees in Telangana Thursday rejected the Andhra Pradesh government's invitation for talks over their proposed indefinite strike from Aug 17 to demand creation of separate state and resolution of service-related issues.The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Telangana employees, teachers and gazetted officers took the decision at its meeting to discuss the invitation by the cabinet sub-committee.JAC leaders said that since the government had not accepted their preconditions, they would not hold any talks with the cabinet sub-committee.The JAC wants the government to withdraw orders invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in various departments and also call back para-military and police forces deployed in government offices.The committee's leaders said the government was trying to intimidate them in the name of talks and hence they would not participate. They had boycotted a meeting last week with the five-member cabinet sub-committee. The JAC comprises several unions of employees.Meanwhile, the political JAC which is spearheading the Telangana movement has clarified that the strike would not be postponed. JAC spokesman denied reports that the employees were planning to defer the protest to next month in view of Ramzan festivities and the coming Ganesh Chaturthi.

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Y S Jagan to resume Odarpu Yatra from Aug 15

2011-08-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

Vijayawada, Aug 11: Y S R Congress party President and Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will resume his Odarpu Yatra to console the bereaved families from August 15 Addressing a press conference here today, Y S R Congress party State Committee member Sridhar Reddy said Jagan would tour Krishna district for 15 days.He said Jagan would console the bereaved families in the city on August 28, 29 and 30. He would also unveil the statues of former Chief Minister and his father Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. Jagan was taking Odarpu Yatra to console the bereaved families whose loved ones allegedly committed suicides as they were unable to bear the sudden tragic death of then Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy in helicopter crash. Dismissing allegations that Jagan had amassed huge wealth by unfair and illegal means, he said he had earned money through his business. Expressing confidence in the courts, the State Committee member said Jagan would be exonerated from the charges.Taking a dig at the CBI, Mr Reddy alleged that the CBI had become a 'puppet' in the hands of the ruling party and he did not believe that the agency would act in unbiased manner in the investigation on Y S Jagan's properties.Former MLAs Jaleel Khan, Saminenu Udaybanu and former Mayor Tadi Sekhunthala were also present in the conference.

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Rail Roko: 27 cases booked against agitators

2011-07-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jul 14 : As many as 27 cases were registered and 598 people arrested during the 12-hrs rail roko agitation that started from 0600 hours, called by Telagana Political JAC in Telangana region today.In a release, Director General (Law and Order) M Ratan said the local police booked 18 cases under preventive sections and took the agitators in custody while the GRP and the RPF booked nine cases for trespassing and obstructing movement of trains.The overall situation remained under control, he said, adding that the deloyment of the GRP and RPF was made to ensure safety of railway tracks and movement of trains since last evening. Because of the measures taken in advance, the agitators were unable to stop Hyderabad-Nanded Passenger train at Maraspet in Medak District last night and as they were taken into custody and the train could reach Hyderabad, he claimed.The South Central Railways(SCR) had rescheduled more than two dozen trains and had made arrangements for transportation of stranded passengers by APRTC buses from the places where some of the trains had been terminated after 0600 hours while the MMTS services between Secunderabad and Lingampally were operated during the day,About 17 passenger trains and 12 goods trains were detained for different spans of time by the agitators while most of these could reach their destinations with some delay and some long distance trains like Ernakulam-Patna Express, Darbhanga-Bangalore Express and Nizamuddin-VSP Link Express had to wait at Kazipet, Yeluguru and Nekonda, respectively, till evening, when normal running of trains resumed, he added.
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48-hour Telangana shutdown may hit normal life

2011-07-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, July 4 : Normal life in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana is likely to come to a standstill Tuesday and Wednesday even as the government is gearing up to tackle 48-hour shutdown called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) in a bid to intensify its agitation for a separate state.Buses may go off the roads as state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is likely to suspend all its services across the region as a precautionary measure. APSRTC officials have already announced that bus services between Vijayawada and the Telangana region would be suspended from Monday midnight.The South Central Railway (SCR) has announced suspension of Multi Modal Transit System (MMTS) or local trains in Hyderabad. Autorickshaw drivers have also decided not operate three-wheelers in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad in support of the demand for a separate state.Long queues were seen at petrol bunks as people resorted to panic buying. At many petrol bunks, "no stock" boards were displayed.All universities, colleges and schools in the region are also likely to remain closed as students have been actively participating in the separate Telangana movement.Hyderabad Commissioner of Police A. K. Khan has imposed orders banning gathering of people on roads, meetings and rallies. Prohibitory orders would be strictly in force around the assembly complex, the state secretariat, Raj Bhavan and other vital installations.Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the situation with his deputy Damodar Raja Narasimha, some cabinet colleagues and senior police officials. He directed the officials to take all necessary steps to ensure that general public is not put to hardships.The JAC, which is spearheading the movement for separate Telangana state, has called for a series of protests starting with the shutdown to demand that the central government table a bill on the issue in the monsoon session of parliament.The JAC, which comprises the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other political and non-political groups, has also called for a rail blockade July 8 and 9.TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao appealed to people to make the 48-hour shutdown a total success. He also urged central and state government employees, teachers, lawyers and workers of state-owned Singareni Collieries to participate in the strike.JAC convenor M. Kodandaram appealed to the Congress, the Telugu Desam Party and all mass organisations to make the shutdown a huge success.Unions representing employees of APSRTC and the electricity board, who are part of the JAC, have announced their participation in the shutdown.KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said the protest would continue till the central government honours its commitment made on Dec 9, 2009, to carve out a separate Telangana state,Appealing to all sections of people to participate in the protest, KCR said the rail blockade would snap the rail link between south and north India.Telangana students will take out rallies July 6 and 7 in villages, towns and district headquarters while cook-and-eat protests, whereby people from all walks of life will set up kitchens on roads, cook food and eat there, will be held across the region on July 10.
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Telangana will become fireball, warns TRS chief

2011-07-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, July 4 : Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao has warned that Telangana will turn into a fireball from Tuesday if statehood was not given to the region even after the mass resignations of public representatives.He cautioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against going back on his Dec 9, 2009 promise to carve out a separate Telangana state.Addressing a gathering at the site of the hunger strike by four rebel legislators of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), KCR, as Rao is known, said Monday that the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh was inevitable. He advised intellectuals and public representatives of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions not to create any hurdles."If you create any further hurdles, you will be responsible for the consequences," he said.KCR said if the mass resignations failed to achieve the goal of a separate state, the movement could take a violent turn like in 1969. "Telangana will become a fireball from tomorrow. We will block roads and railway lines and bring everything to a halt," he said.The TRS chief said the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) would chalk out the protest programme.The state witnessed a spate of resignations over the issue Monday with 36 legislators of the ruling Congress and 33 from the TDP quitting over the issue of statehood.
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Congress MPs from Telangana resign

2011-07-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, July 4 : Pressing for creation of a separate state of Telangana, Congress MPs from the region in Andhra Pradesh Monday resigned from parliament."Nine MPs from Lok Sabha have submitted their resignation to the Speaker and one from Rajya Sabha to the chairman," Congress MP K. Keshava Rao told reporters outside parliament. The MPs came to Delhi to build pressure on the party-led United Progressive Alliance government to concede their demand for creation of a separate Telangana state.
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11 Ministers, 29 Cong, 33 TDP MLAs quit on 'T' issue

2011-07-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jul 4: As many as 11 Ministers and 29 Congress MLAs submitted their resignation papers to Andhra Pradesh Assembly Deputy Speaker in a bid to exert pressure on the Centre for a separate Telangana StateAmong the 11 Ministers who submitted resignation letters to Deputy Speaker Mallu Batti Vikramarka included K Jana Reddy, K Venkat Reddy and Dr J Geeta Reddy.Thirty-three MLAs from the principal Opposition party, the TDP, led by Mr Yarlappali Dayakar Rao, also submitted resignation letters to the Deputy Speaker as Speaker Nadendla Manohar was currently abroad.Of the 33 TDP MLAs, two of them who were abroad had faxed the resignation letters to the Deputy Speaker, TDP sources said.Earlier, former Minister P Janardhana Reddy's son and Jubilee Hills MLA Vishnuvardhan Reddy of the Congress this morning submitted his resignation to the Andhra Pradesh Deputy Speaker in support of the demand for separate Telangana State. ===================================================

Two Telangana ministers head to Delhi for talks

2011-07-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, July 4 : Two senior Andhra Pradesh ministers, K. Jana Reddy and Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Monday left for Delhi for talks with the Congress leadership on the issue of statehood to Telangana.Immediately after submitting their resignations, along with other ministers and legislators, to the deputy speaker of the assembly, the ministers left for the national capital to join their party MPs from the region in the talks with the leadership.Nine MPs from Telangana are already in Delhi to submit their resignations to press their demand for formation of a separate Telangana state.Jana Reddy, who is leading the Telangana ministers and legislators, wanted the MPs to wait till they arrive in Delhi for talks.The Congress leadership has called MPs and legislators for talks to resolve the Telangana issue. Though the ministers and legislators received the invite in the morning, they decided to go ahead with submitting their resignations before any talks.Jana Reddy denied that their action was a defiance of the party leadership. He claimed that the resignations were in fact to save and strengthen the party in Telangana.The Congress government in Andhra Pradesh plunged into crisis with 36 legislators from the party and all 33 from the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) quitting over the Telangana issue.
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Arvind Kejriwal meets Telugu Desam Party President on Lokpal Bill

2011-07-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jul 2 : To garner support for the Jan Lokpal Bill, a Civil Society team led by its activist Arvind Kejriwal today met Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu here.Mr Kejriwal, who met Mr Naidu at his residence also requested him to lend his party's support for mounting pressure on the Centre to bring the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal.He said it was an illusion that the Jan Lokpal would run parallel to the Judiciary and the government.The civil society activist also said in other countries the CBI and CEC functioned independently. But it was not so in India.He said Mr Naidu told him that there were some dangerous clauses in the bill and added the activists were meeting peoples' representatives as they will be instrumental in getting the bill passed in Parliament.The Civil Society team's visit to the city from New Delhi and meeting Mr Naidu assumed significance as the Centre had called for an all-party meet on Lokpal bill in New Delhi tomorrow.
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Andhra Pradesh youth give up traditional weaving work

2011-07-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

Pochampally (Andhra Pradesh), July 2 : The traditional weaving work is slowly dying out in Pochampally, the biggest silk and cotton-weaving center in Andhra Pradesh, as the younger generation has given up the traditional work considering the lack of profit margins and government support.The increasing rates of silk yarns resulted in the hike in prices of silk sarees, but the traditional weavers failed to reap the profits. "My father is doing this weaving work since his childhood, but his earning is not sufficient to fulfill the needs of the family. So, I don''t want to take up his profession. But I am helping him these days by working with him part time after my college," said Bhaskar, the son of a weaver.The weavers here complain that despite working for the entire day, they manage to earn just hundred rupees in a day, which is too less for them."There is no profit left in this work. We work for entire day and earn just Rs. 120-130, which is problematic. I don''t want my children to take this profession in future. Day by day this traditional work is decreasing and soon it will vanish," said P Buchibabu, a traditional weaver."It is a difficult work with more labour and less profit. The government says that they are funding for it, but nothing has been given to us as yet," he added.Backing their children, some traditional weavers said that they couldn''t take up any other profession due to lack of knowledge. However, their children have many options, which would be more profitable for them.Pochampally is a hub of Ikkat fabrics, an ancient way of creating design by tying and dying. It has come a long way from an ordinary weaving village to a popular centre for cotton and silk tie and dye. Large numbers of weavers here are engaged in creating variety of Ikkat fabrics, which is a lengthy craftwork that requires fixing of the design and pattern before the warp and weft are coloured.
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Telangana Congress lawmakers firm on resignations

2011-07-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, July 2 : Andhra Pradesh's ruling Congress party Saturday began efforts to dissuade its parliament and state legislature members from the Telangana region from resigning Monday, but they ruled out going back on their decision unless the central government agrees to their demand for a separate Telangana state.According to party sources, state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana met ministers and MPs from the region and urged them to reconsider their decision. He said their move would only create a crisis and not help in solving the issue.Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy also held separate talks with ministers, including K. Jana Reddy, Sudershan Reddy and Basvaraj Saraiah, and urged them to act with restraint.The MPs, state ministers and legislators from the Telangana region Friday decided to submit their resignations Monday. The legislators of main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from Telangana also announced they too would quit the same day.Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member K. Keshava Rao and Lok Sabha members G. Vivek and Ponnam Prabhakar ruled out going back on their decision.Stating that resignations alone will not help in achieving the goal of separate Telangana state, Keshava Rao told reporters that they will actively participate in the movement.He also found fault with party leader Gulam Nabi Azad's statement that consensus needed to be evolved over the issue. "The entire parliament is for Telangana. All the major parties have already supported the demand," Keshava Rao said, adding that consensus was evolved through consultations over last one-and-half years.He said that after considering all aspects, the central government Dec 9, 2009, announced that the process for formation of separate Telangana state would be initiated. He also criticised the then chief minister K. Rosaiah for not moving a resolution in the assembly in line with the central government's announcement.Keshava Rao termed as "unwarranted" Azad's statement that the Telangana issue is linked to other states and other regional parties have to be consulted. "I need not go to parties in Meghalaya to discuss Telangana issue," he remarked.Addressing a meet-the-press programme organised by the Telangana Journalists' Forum, Keshava Rao said they decided to quit as a moral duty towards people and not to create a political or constitutional crisis.The Congress has 12 MPs and 50 members of assembly from the Telangana region.
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Pricol Travel plans two acquisitions

2011-06-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, June 27 : Pricol Travel, part of the Coimbatore-based Rs.1,500-crore Pricol Group, is looking at acquiring two companies and hopes for a three-fold increase in its turnover.Vikram Mohan, Director, Pricol Travel, told reporters here Monday that the company planned to acquire two firms in corporate and leisure travel over the next 24 months. The acquisitions are expected to be of the value of Rs.150 crore.The travel management company is already in talks and hopes to complete one acquisition by the end of the current financial year.Pricol expects Rs.120 crore revenues during the current year but with the acquisition it is likely to cross Rs.200 crore. The revenues in the third financial year will be Rs.350 crore, he said.The company, which is focused only in south India, plans to expand its operations to the north with the two acquisitions.It already has a boutique leisure resort in western Ghats close to Coimbatore and three other properties are under construction. "We will add eight new properties in five years under the Tamara brand in the form of boutique hotels, wilderness lodges, and luxury villas," Mohan said.With plans to enter cruise-cum-leisure segment in a big way, Pricol announced launch of CruiseBay lounge in Hyderabad. CruiseBay, which claims to be India's first cruises-only holiday company, will open the lounge at Pricol's office.Nikhil Thakurdas, CruiseBay director, said the lounge, the sixth such in India, would sell cruises for 28 cruise liners across the world. The firm already has sent over 500 passengers on cruise holiday from five cities.He feels cruising has a huge potential in India. The market is growing at 15 percent per year.Out of 12 million outbound travellers in 2010, only 75,000 went on a cruise holiday.He attributed this small number to misconceptions among Indian travelers about cruising as a holiday.
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Another Satya Sai Trust member questioned

2011-06-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 27: Police today questioned another Satya Sai Central Trust member V Srinivasan here in connection with the seizure of a huge amount of cash which was being taken to Bangalore.The trustee, Srinivasan, who received summons from police two-days back, arrived here from Chennai in the morning to be present before the police.He was questioning by the police at Satya Sai Deemed University administrative building in connection with the recent seizure of Rs 35 lakh from Puttaparthi in the district.As part of the probe into the cash seizure, police had so far questioned Trust member R J Ratnakar, who was also nephew of the late Spiritual Guru Sathya Sai Baba, besides Pradhan, Chief Security Officer of ''Yajur Mandir'' -- the private chamber of Sai Baba and one Venkatesh, personal assistant of Trustee Srinivasan.Police were also in the process of questioning one more person identified as Sadashiv, who is allegedly related to Harishnanda against whom they had already served a notice. However, he had sought some time to appear before the police.Three people were arrested in connection with the seizure of Rs 35 lakh in cash. However, the trio Harishnanda Shetty, Chandrashekhar Murthy alias Shekhar and engineer Sohan Shetty were granted conditional bail last week.Harishnanda Shetty was driver of a four-wheeler, allegedly belonging to the Sathya Sai Central Trust, which was transporting Rs 35 lakh and was confiscated during a vehicle check at Kodikonda check post under Chilamanthur police station limits bordering Karnataka on June 18.The cash was recovered a day after ''Yajur Mandir'' was opened at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi and it was disclosed that it contained 98 kg of gold, 307 kg of silver, apart from Rs 11.56 crore.
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Light to moderate rain in few places Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

2011-06-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 27: Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over next 48 hours, met office said today.Isolated rain or thundershowers would occur over Rayalaseema during the same period.The outlook for subsequent two days is-- there would be no large change.The sky condition would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood and rain or thundershowers would occur in parts of city. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 33 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively.Observations recorded till 0830 hours today said rain occurred at a few places over Telangana. Isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.Sirpur (Adilabad dist) recorded a heavy rainfall of 9 cm.The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Asifabad (Adilabad dist) 5, Miryalguda (Nalgonda dist), Nizamsagar (Nizamabad dist) 3 each, Nalgonda, Nandigama, Banswada (Nizamabad dist), Paleru Bridge (Krishna dist), Perur (Khammam dist), Ramayampet (Medak dist) 2 each and Adilabad, Hakimpet AP, Ramagundam, Atchampet (Guntur dist), Boath, Chinnoor, Khanapur, Luxettipet & Utnoor (all Adilabad dist), Eluru (West Godavari dist), Eturnagaram (Warangal dist), Ibrahimpatnam & Tandur (both Rangareddy dist), Jagitiyal & Manthani (both Karimnagar dist), Kamareddy (Nizamabad dist), Madhira (Khammam dist), Nuzvid (Krishna dist) one each, the bulletin said.
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Final hearing on TDP rebel MLA's disqualification tomorrow

2011-06-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, June 26 : The final hearing on pending disqualification petition given by TDP over its rebel candidate MLA Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar, is likely to be heard tomorrow while disciplinary action against Congress MLAs will be delayed futher.Speaker Nadendla Manohar will summon rebel TDP MLA tomorrow for a final hearing in connection with the pending disqualification petition submitted by TDP seeking his disqualification for anti-party activities, particularly moving with YSR Congress Party headed by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, according to sources here.It is understood that the Legislature Secretariat had already sent final notice to Mr Reddy, who represents the Kovvur Assembly constitutency in Nellore district.The rebel TDP legislator and the Telugu Desam Legislature Party (TDLP) would appear before the Speaker tomorrow and day after tomorrow respectively and will decide the fate of Prasanna Kumar soon after hearing versions from the both sides, the sources added. Meanwhile, disciplinary action against Congress MLAs loyal to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of YSR Congress is likely to be delayed further as the state leadership intends to wait till a decision by the Secretariat is taken on the disqualification petitions pending against K Surekha (Parakal), G Srikanth Reddy (Rayachoti), C Adinarayana Reddy (Jammalamadugu) and A Amarnath Reddy (Rajampet).Speaker Mr Manohar, who is leaving for foreign tour on June 30, would decide the ruling party petitions only after returning from tour.
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4 killed in road accident

2011-06-27T11:06:00.001-07:00

Medak, Jun 27 : Four people were killed and three others injured, one of them seriously, when the lorry in which they were travelling overturned at Pulkal mandal in the district, early today.According to Jogipet Circle Inspector Krishna, the mishap occurred when the fertilizer-laden lorry proceeding to Allapuram via Sangareddy from Hyderabad overturned at Hunnapur village in Pulkal mandal. While three people were killed on the spot, another person succumbed to injuries on the way to local area government hospital.The injured were shifted to the local government hospital and the seriously injured lorry driver was shifted to Osmania Hospital in Hyderabad, police added.
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Tulasi Reddy criticises oppn on growth rate

2011-06-24T21:46:00.001-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 25 : 20-Point Economic Programme Chairman N Tulasi Reddy has ridiculed the opposition's criticism that the growth rate and administration has become static and is below expectations.Talking to reporters at Secretariat yesterday, he said what Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has achieved in terms of growth rate was a litmus test to his rule.Mr Reddy said over last year's growth rate, which was 8.55 per cent, this year it registered an increase to 9.22 per cent. In agriculture, the growth rate stood at 9.1 per cent this year, while the National rate was 6.61 per cent, he claimed.On the industrial front, the state had registered a growth of 8.45 per cent while the corresponding figure for National level was 7.87 per cent, and in the services sector growth in state has 9.64 per cent, while the National figure was 9.38 per cent.Mr Reddy further pointed out that the per capita income for Andhra Pradesh has been raised by 18.49 per cent during 2010-2011 as compared to the past two years.He appealed to the opposition not to under estimate Mr Reddy's rule but make estimations over the rule in terms of the data/facts available.
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TDP to convene oppn party meeting on farmers' issue

2011-06-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad Jun, 25 : Senior Telugu Desam Party leader Kodela Siva Prasad Rao has said that his party would soon convene all opposition party meeting on the farmers' issue and accused the state government of giving assurances to the farmers that their problems would be solved, even while failing to act on any of those promises.Talking to mediapersons at NTR Trust Bhavan yesterday, Mr Prasad alleged that the government had failed miserably in addressing the farmers' issues. Though the government has given assurances and promised to work for farmers' welfare, it has failed to execute these assurances on the ground level, he stated.Reiterating the TDP would continue its fight against state government until farmers get justice due to them, the senior leader contended that the TDP has decided to convene all-party meeting with like-minded opposition parties to discuss the issue. Mr Prasad stated that the all-party meeting would discuss the issues and try to find a solution to long pending farmers' problems.The meeting would also discuss the steps to be taken for the farmers’ upliftment and their welfare and will be aimed at mounting pressure on the state government to take steps for the welfare of farmers, he said He said the party has also decided to organise a national level workshop on farmers’ problems. The workshop would be attended by agriculture scientists, farm officials and others and guide the farmers.
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister holds review meeting on horticulture

2011-06-22T23:22:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked Horticulture Minister Ramreddy Venkat Reddy and other officials to formulate an action plan as there is every scope of getting more funds from the Planning Commission in the ensuing five year plan.He held the review meeting on horticulture at the secretariat here yesterday, an official release said. Mr Reddy enquired about the progress achieved in the various schemes of the Horticulture department such as National Horticulture Mission, Rashtriya Krushi Vikas and Yojana and Oil Palm Development Scheme. He also reviewed the progress in the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, oil palm under the Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project.Officials informed the Chief Minister that since 2003, the area under cultivation in Horticulture has increased by 22.73 per cent while the production has increased 72.25 per cent. The Annual plan for the year 2011-12 has been prepared with an amount of Rs 1234 crore.New initiatives launched by the department are semi permanent sprinkler system, cold storage rentals, good agriculture practices, assistance to borewells and diesel electric pumps for oil palm cultivation and urban horticulture.In this connection, the Chief Minister launched Horticulture Alert System, a Voice Message system to inform the farmers on horticulture schemes, weather and pesticide related matters.The Chief Minister asked the officials to take immediate steps to set up cold storage units in Rangareddy, Medak and Mahboobnagar districts which supply majority of vegetables and fruits to the twin cities. He also directed the finance department officials to clear the dues amounting to Rs 59 crore of the Micro Irrigation department for the year 2009-10 and ensure phase-wise clearance with regard to the dues pertaining to 2010-11.Mr Reddy recalled his letter to Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar wherein he has asked to provide funds for oil palm cultivation in the State in order to reduce the import of palm oil spending crore of rupees.Mr Reddy asked the officials to take steps in this regard. The Chief Minister has assured to look into the issue of stopping collection of VAT charges from oil palm farmers.
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Rain occurs in Telangana and Costal AP

2011-06-22T23:01:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 22 : Rain occurred at a few places over Telangana while isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh.bulletin from Meteorological Centre here today said weather has been dry over Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Kaleswaram (Karimnagar dist), Kamareddy (Nizamabad dist) & Sompeta (Srikakulam dist) 4 each, Parkal (Warangal dist) 3, Asifabad (Adilabad dist) 2 and Adilabad, Bhadrachalam, Medak, Ramagundam, Chinnoor, Khanapur, Nirmal & Sirpur (all Adilabad dist), Mulugu (Warangal dist), Nizamsagar (Nizamabad dist) & Ramayampet (Medak dist) one each.Forecast and Farmers' weather bulletin valid until the morning of June 24, 2011 was that light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar of Telangana. Isolated rain or thundershowers would occur over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & in the remaining districts of Telangana and could occur over Rayalaseema. Outlook for subsequent two days was that there will be no large change. Forecast for Hyderabad City and Neighbourhood valid until the morning of June 24, 2011 was sky condition would be generally cloudy. Rain or thundershowers may occur in some parts of city.The Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 36 & 23 degrees Celsius respectively, the bulletin said.
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Minister distributes Gas stoves to HIV patients

2011-06-22T22:57:00.001-07:00

Kakinada, Jun 22 : The Minister for stamps and registrations Thota Narasimham today distributed gas stoves to 29 HIV patients families at a function held at Immanuel colony in Katravulapalli village near here under the auspices of St Paul Trust, a voluntary service organisation.He has complimented the Trust' Chairman Vijaya for extending the assistance in both cash and kind to the HIV infected and affected families for the past eleven years.also distributed rice to the HIV affected families on the occasion and assured to provide the basic infrastructure facilities and other amenities to the colony residents. Later he visited Kandregula village and distributed Rs 5,000 cash assistance to two fire accident victims families there.He has instructed the Tahasildar to sanction houses under Indiramma scheme to the fire accident victims. Earlier the Minister laid foundation stone for the Rs 55 lakh road works in Jaggampet that were damaged in the recent Jal cyclone.
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Light to moderate rain in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over next 48 hrs

2011-06-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 16: Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the next 48 hours.

The sky would be generally cloudy. Rain or thundershowers may occur in parts of the city. THE maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 35 and 22 degrees Celsius, respectively.Observations recorded till 0830 hours today said rain occurred at a few places over Telangana. Isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Weather has been dry over Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Eturnagaram (Warangal dist), Jagitiyal & Metpalli (both Karimnagar dist), Kalwakurthy (Mahabubnagar dist), Khanapur (Adilabad dist) 2 each and Hakimpet AP, Mahabubnagar, Achampet & Nagarkurnool (both Mahabubnagar dist), Paderu (Visakhapatnam dist), Sriramsagar (Nizamabad dist), Utnoor (Adilabad dist), Venkatapuram (Khammam dist) one each, the bulletin said.
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High Court granted stay on local body elelctions

2011-06-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 16 : In the wake of an appeal made by the AP Sarpanches' Association over the contentious issue of reservations in the ZPPs and MPPs, a division bench of the High Court today granted a 'stay' on the local body elections.The stay was given over the reservation quota system communicated to the Court by the state government and the Court also directed to stall the GO that stipulated the reservation system for the said ZPPs and MPPs.In view of the Court's stay, the much-awaited elections to the Local Bodies have been put under wraps once again by the AP Sarpanches Association, who contended that the cited quota for candidates drawn from weaker sections exceeds the ceiling quota - 50 per cent - as fixed by the Supreme Court.Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner Ramakanth Reddy while talking to the media persons today stated that the government-announced quota details furnished to the state High Court is invalid.He said the elections would be held only after the government sends a revised list of details related to reservations for the Local Bodies.Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana was also discussed with the Chief Minister on the issthe crisis over the local body elections was not cleared, the government has not option to bring an Ordinance for the appointment of Special Officers to the Local Body institutions, according to sources here.
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Two arrested for Hyderabad gold robbery

2011-06-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, June 15 : Hyderabad police Wednesday arrested two people and recovered one kilogram gold a few hours after two Mumbai brothers were robbed of five kilograms of gold, police said.Both the accused are also from Mumbai while the police are still on the lookout for the third accused and four kilograms of gold, police sources said.Three youngsters on a motorcycle attacked two jewellers Tuesday night and snatched a bag containing gold ornaments weighing five kilograms at Gunfoundry area in Abids, a major commercial centre here.As the jewellers, Rakesh and Sonu, were waiting for an autorickshaw after coming out of a jewellery shop, three robbers allegedly attacked them. one of them attacked Rakesh with a knife, inflicting injuries while the others snatched a bag from his brother Sonu. The robbers sped away, police said.Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that the two merchants were going to different shops in the city to sell the ornaments.This was the second robbery in the busy Abids area after a jeweller was robbed of two kilograms gold ornaments in broad daylight in front of Abids police station May 20.Taking a serious note of the robberies, the police commissioner Tuesday night suspended Abids police inspector K. Shiva Kumar and issued a charge memo to Abids Assistant Commissioner of Police P.V.G.Vijay Kumar for alleged negligence in discharge of duties.Meanwhile, during the overnight raids, police recovered eight kilograms gold from a hotel in Ameerpet area and arrested one person. Police were questioning him.
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Speaker suffers minor injury

2011-06-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 15 : Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar sustained minor injury after a bull hit him with the rear leg when he was participating in ''Eeruvaka'' (commencement of farming activities) at Tadikonda Village of the district today.Police said when the Speaker was formally inaugurating 'Eruvaka' programme by symbolically ploughing the field, one of the bulls, which was tethered to the plough, hit him with the rear leg. However, the Speaker sustained only a minor injury to his chest and continued with other programmes.Police said the bull was frightened when a large number of people, who gathered there, acknowledged the inauguration by blowing whistles and applauded. =================================================

Begins Hyderabad-Dubai flight; 2nd city in India

2011-06-15T07:32:00.001-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 15 : Low coat UAE Airlines ''flydubai'' inaugurated its second major Indian route with the start of operations to one of the fatest growing cities in the world -- Hyderabad.The new route is ''flydubai''s second to India and expands its network to 37 operational destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the fringes of Europe. it has been operating from earlier.Flight FZ435, scheduled to fly three times a week, landed at GMR Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport on June 12, following a three hours and 45 minutes flight from Dubai's Terminal 2.Airline CEO Ghaith AI Ghaith told media here today that with 17 new 747 Boeing aircraft, India will account for six of the 530 flights a week for the budget airline. ==================================================

Fire in bogie, train detained

2011-06-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 15: A major accident was averted with the timely detection of fire in one of the bogies of Nizamuddin-Visakhapatnam Link Express (12862) after it was detained at Vatluru Station, near here, today.Railway officials said the fire was noticed in the eighth bogie of the express train. The train was immediately halted at Vatluru Station and the bogie detached. However, the train was allowed to run after a 90-minute delay. Fire broke out in the bogies due to a technical snag, Railway officials said.
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Southwest Monsoon covers entire Andhra Pradesh : heavy rain in Coastal Andhra Pradesh

2011-06-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 15: Southwest monsoon has further advanced over remaining parts of Telangana and Coastal Andhra Pradesh and thus covered entire Andhra Pradesh state today.Under its influence, moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers would occur at many places over Telangana and in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari of Coastal Andhra Pradesh over next 48 hours.Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Rayalaseema and in the remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the same period.The outlook for subsequent two days is there would be increase in rainfall, the Met Office said here today.The sky would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood and rain or thundershowers would occur in parts of city over next two days.The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 34 and 23 Degrees Celsius respectively.
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Mumbai police get cracking in journalist murder case

2011-06-13T23:56:00.000-07:00

Mumbai, June 14 : Under pressure from the government and media organizations, the Mumbai police got cracking on the investigations into journalist Jyotirmoy Dey's murder, transferring an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) suspected of threatening the scribe, police said Tuesday.

ACP Anil Mahabole, the in-charge of the Azad Maidan division of south Mumbai, was abruptly shunted late Monday to an insignificant post in the local arms constabulary in Naigaon, an officer said.Mahabole already has several pending inquiries against him and has been under a cloud for threatening another Mumbai journalist, T. K. Dwivedi, a colleague of Dey."A few weeks ago, when I was arrested in connection with an Official Secrets Acts case, Mahabole came and threatened me inside the Governemnt Railway Police lock-up room. I have lodged a separate complaint in this regard and the matter is being investigated," Dwivedi, who goes by the alias of 'Akela', told IANS Tuesday.Two weeks before Dey was killed, Mahabole had spoken to him, but Dey did not reveal the nature of the conversation, he added.Dey was allegedly threatened by Mahabole a few years ago when he had named him as one of the Mumbai police officers having connections with underworld mafia don Dawood Ibrahim's gang.Mumbai police on Monday also released a sketch of one of the four suspected killers who pumped bullets into Dey Saturday. The sketch, prepared following inputs of eyewitnesses, described the suspect as a youth aged between 20-25 years, dark complexioned, 5.5 feet tall and of medium build.Over 500 journalists of various print and electronic media organisations and associations, including the Press Club, Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Mumbai Crime Reporters' Association and TV Journalists Association, Monday took out a protest march to Mantralaya, the state secretariat.The journalists had met Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who rejected a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Dey's killing.Now, the journalists plan to launch a protest after June 15, including a relay hunger strike and moving the Bombay High Court, seeking directions to the state government to hand over the Dey murder probe to CBI.Dey was shot dead by four unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants near his residence in Powai Saturday afternoon, sending shock waves in the city's media circles.His funeral was held Sunday.
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Southwest Monsoon further advanced in Saurastra and Andhra Pradesh

2011-06-13T23:53:00.000-07:00

Visakhapatnam, Jun 14 : The Southwest Monsoon has further Advanced into Saurastra and more parts of Andhra Pradesh upto rentachintala, Kalingapatnam and coastal Orissa upto Puri and most parts of Bay of Bengal.According to the CWC here last night the conditions are favourable for further advancement of south west monsoon into Gujarat, Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa remaining parts of Bay of Bengal and Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and some parts of Gangetic West Bengal during the next two to three days.A trough on sea level chart now runs from Orissa to south coastal Tamil Nadu across the coastal Andhra Pradesh. Under its influence the Rain or thundershowers were likely occur at many places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and few places over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 24 hours.
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Violence mars dharna at Warangal

2011-06-13T23:50:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 14 : Tension prevailed at Warangal in Andhra Pradesh, when YSR Congress party activists, who were observing dharna in front of district Collectorate office over farmer issues, clashed with pro-Telangana of Kakatiya University JAC(KU-JAC) activists yesterday.The dharna was part of a state-wide call given by the party.The trouble started when the pro-Telangana KU JAC activists removed the YSR Congress party flags and burnt the vehicle belonging to YSR Congress party.The fire was put out and some of the KU JAC students were taken into custody by the police after a round of mild lathicharge there.Ranga Reddy district also witnessed some uproarious protests at dharna venue. The police had to arrest a few party-workers, including women. They were taken to the Nampally Police Station. The Pro-Telangana KU JAC activists demanded to announce the party stand on separate Telangana statehood.The YSR Congress Party's chief Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy also observed dharna at Chittoor collectorate office. His mother and MLA Vijayamma and her supporters also sat on dharna in front of Collectorate office at Kadapa district, demanding a host of farmers' relief measures.At several districts across the state including Telangana regions saw these dharnas being staged by YSR party workers. ===================================================

Rajanarasimha appointed Deputy Chief Minister

2011-06-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 10 : Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture and Higher Education C Damodar Rajanarasimha was appointed as Deputy Chief Minister by the Governor ESL Narasimhan here today.In a notification, Government Chief Secretary SV Prasad said in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 164(1) of the Constitution, the Governor, 'on the advice of the Chief Minister N.Kiran Kumar Reddy' appointed C.Damodar Raja Narasimha as Deputy Chief Minister with effect from the fore-noon of today.Mr Rajanarasimha, was elected to the Assembly from Andole constituency in Medak District, for the third time in a row. He was elected during 1989, 2004 and 2009 elections and had served as minister for Marketing during Y S Raja Sekhar Reddy's rule in 2004-2009 and continued in the cabinet of Mr K Rosaiah. In Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy's cabinet, he was given the important portfolio of Higher Education and additional charge of Agriculture after Vivekhananda Reddy resigned.The 53-year-old Dalit, Damodar, who born in Hyderabad, had entered active politics only after his father and former MLA Cilarapu Rajanarsimha's death. He also served as Chairman for the SC Finance Corporation earlier.
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AP Licences cultivators ordinance 2011 promulgated

2011-06-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 10 : The state government today promulgated 'AP Licensed Cultivators’ Ordinance-2011' aiming to bring the tenant farmers under coverage of bank loans facility, seed subsidy, input subsidy and crop insurance on par with the landlord farmers.While announcing this to the mediapersons here , Minister for Revenue Mr N Raghuveera Reddy said some 26 lakh tenant farmers were denied bank loans, seed and input subsidies offered by the state government. The efforts of the state government to draft an Act in the budget session to deal with the situation did not bear fruit. As it was necessary to wait for the start of the Assembly to bring an Ordinance, there was some delay in promulgating the Ordinance, he said, adding that the order was issued after it was approved by the Governor.The government would issue 'Loan Eligibility Cards' to the tenant farmers, who are eligible for bank loans, seed subsidy, input subsidy and crop insurance coverage.He further said the Ordinance was formulated to benefit the tenant farmers simultaneously without affecting the rights of the owners on the land, he added. The validity of the Ordinance was one year from the date of issuance, the Minister, who held a review meeting with the officials concerned, said and fixed road map and rules for implementation of the Ordinance.A notification on rules of the Ordinance will be released on June 13, he said, adding that they would also conduct a video conference on June 16 with the district Collectors, Joint Collectors and the officers concerned to discuss the rules and road map.The Minister said the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was busy with North coastal tour, would launch the distribution of 'Loan Eligibility Cards' to the tenant farmers in any one of the districts of East Godawari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur, wherever the tenant farmers were more in number.The function would be held between July 8 and 15, he added.
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Despite Deputy Chief Minister post, Telangana agitation will continue

2011-06-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 10 :TRS party Floor Leader in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Etela Rajender today stated that the Deputy Chief Minister post was given to Telangana region to appease the leaders.While responding on the appointment of C Damodar Rajanarasimha as Deputy Chief Minister by the Congress government, he said the Telangana agitation will continue despite the Centre’s attempt to pacify the region’s leaders by offering posts.He alleged that the Ranabheri was organised under the aegis of Seemandhra leaders, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, to water down the Telangana agitation. ====================================================

Thousands of asthma patients take 'fish prasadam'

2011-06-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, June 9 : Thousands of asthma patients from different parts of the country, hoping to be cured, took 'fish prasadam' which has been distributed by a family here for more than 160 years.Despite the controversies which hit the popularity of the 'miracle drug' in recent years, people continue to throng the venue in the hope of finding some relief to their nagging respiratory problems.Since Wednesday night, about 20,000 people gathered here at the sprawling Exhibition Grounds have taken the 'prasadam' being distributed by the Baithini Goud family in the heart of the city. Hundreds more were standing in queues Thursday morning.They gulped down a live 'murrel' fish with a yellow herbal paste in its mouth, which is believed to provide the much-needed relief, if taken for three consecutive years. For vegetarians, the family gives the medicine with jaggery.The turnout, however, was not in lakhs as claimed by the family, which changed the name of the fish medicine to 'fish prasadam' four years ago to avoid legal problems.The free distribution of 'prasadam' began at 10.30 p.m. Wednesday at 32 counters after the Goud family performed 'puja' at their ancestral house in Doodhbowli in the old city.Family head Bathini Harinath Goud said the counters would remain open till 10 p.m. Thursday or till the last patient gets 'prasadam'.Men, women and children lined up for taking the medicine several hours before the counters opened. It was sheer faith which brought many to the venue. "This is the third time I have come here as I got some relief earlier," said Bhumiya Naik, who came from Latur, Maharashtra.There were many first-timers like Ajmal Khan from Bidar, Karnataka. He heard about the medicine from his friends. "I have been suffering from asthma for the last seven years. I have tried everything but nothing worked. Now I want to try this," he said.The fisheries department has supplied 40,000 murrel fingerlings for the annual event held every year on the first day of 'Mrigasira Karti', which heralds the onset of monsoon.Over 600 policemen have been deployed at the venue as part of security measures. Various departments are providing water, sanitation and other basic amenities to the patients. Voluntary organisations have also chipped in by distributing free food and water packets.On the directions of the Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission, the Hyderabad district administration was ensuring that no child is forcibly given the fish medicine. The rights panel had issued the order early this week on the petition by an organization for children's rights, Balala Hakkula Sangham.The NGO argued that forcibly giving fish medicine was a violation of children's rights. It also alleged that distribution of the medicine under unhygienic conditions may cause more harm than good.fish medicine lost its popularity in recent years after some groups, working to inculcate scientific temper among people, termed it as a fraud. They also approached a lower court, claiming that since the herbal paste contains heavy metals it can cause serious health problems.But the Goud family claims that the tests in laboratories conducted as per court orders revealed that the herbal paste is safe.The Goud family has been distributing the 'fish prasadam' free of cost for the last 165 years. It claims that the secret formula for the herbal medicine was given to their ancestors in 1845 by a saint after taking an oath from him that it would be administered free of cost. ===================================================

2011-06-09T07:43:00.001-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 9 : The sleuths of Commissioner’s Task Force (West Zone) Team have arrested an absconding convicted cine Producer who has allegedly cheated people to the tune of Rs 2 crore.Producer Donthireddy Achyutha Reddy, resident of Masab in Hyderabad, decided to produce Telugu Films, for which he took loans to the tune of Rs 2 crore from several people, according to a police release yesterday.The accused was involved in as many as 27 civil cases. Out of 27 cases, he was convicted in 14 under NI Act.All these cases are pending in the Higher Courts. The accused Achyutha Reddy was involved in 5 criminal cases of cheating. The accused was absconding since long time as he was convicted by the VII Additional CMM Court, Hyderabad and sentenced to undergo one year simple imprisonment. The Magistrate directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Task Force, Hyderabad for execution of convicted warrant in CC No 34 of 2007. The West Zone Task Force Team made efforts and executed the warrant yesterday under the supervision of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police ( Task force, Hyderabad) Dr K Raghuram Reddy, the release added.
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TDP leader takes exception to 'selling seeds by lottery'

2011-06-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

Guntur, AP, Jun 9 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) senior leader and former Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Kodela Shiva Prasad today took strong exception to taking lottery for the selling of quality cotton seeds to the farmers.Talking to newspersons here, he said selling of quality cotton seeds on the basis of lottery to the farmers amounted to auctioning lives of farmers. The government hiked prices of cotton seeds, yielding to the pressure of the multinational companies, he alleged.He charged the government with failing to make the required quantity of cotton seeds available to the farmers which helped the traders to sell the seeds in black market. The cotton seeds bag was being sold hiking the original price by Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000 in the black market, he claimed.He pointed out that large number of farmers were forming beelines in front of seeds selling shops to by quality seeds.
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Pulivendula MLA YS Vijayalakshmi sworn-in as MLA

2011-06-05T04:48:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 3 : Pulivendula MLA YS Vijayalakshmi was sworn-in by Protem Assembly Speaker JC Diwakar Reddy on the Assembly premises here today.Ms Vijayalakshmi, widow of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was re-elected by a thumping majority on the YSR Congress party ticket in the recently held by-elections at Pulivendula. Among who attended in the brief swearing-in ceremony were Ms Vijayalakshmi's son YS Jaganmohan Reddy, who also recently got elected from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat with majority in the by-election, MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, 12 MLAs, including Konda Surekha, Jayasudha, Shobha Nagireddy, K Srinivas, Dwarampudi Chandrasekhar, Dharmanna Krishnadas and MLCs, including Pulla Padmavathi and Konda Murali.
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Congress boycotts Karnataka assembly, seeks speaker's resignation

2011-06-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

Bangalore, June 3 : The Congress Friday stayed away from the Karnataka assembly and decided not to attend the remaining eight days of the session, demanding Speaker K.G. Bopaiah's resignation following the Supreme Court's "strictures" against him over the disqualification of 16 legislators.The Congress had walked out of the assembly Thursday, the first day of the 10-day session, protesting Bopaiah's decision to disallow an immediate discussion on the Supreme Court's comments on his action to disqualify the 16 members - 11 of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and five Independents - last October."We will stay away from the session for the remaining period also as the speaker has no right to continue in office after the Supreme Court's observations," Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah told reporters here.The Supreme Court, restoring the membership of the 16 legislators on May 13, had said the speaker's action of disqualification was against the principles of natural justice.The other opposition party, Janata Dal-Secular, has also boycotted the session, seeking Bopaiah's resignation.Siddaramiah said the boycott decision was only for this session.Bopaiah has ruled out resigning, saying the Supreme Court has not passed any "strictures" against him but only commented on his decision to disqualify the 16 legislators.
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Muslims take out funeral procession to Nashik civic body's office

2011-06-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

Nashik, Jun 3: In yet another unusal protest, the members of the Muslim community took out a funeral procession to the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) office here today, demanding the 'Qabristan (Graveyard) in the new Nashik (Cidco) area.A retired person who was working in NMC died today. The Cidco Masjid Trust had earlier warned the civic administration that if it did not solve the problem of funeral ground for Muslim community, they would take out a funeral procession to the municipal corporation and bury the body in its premises.The police rushed to the spot and assured the protestors that the problem of burial ground would be solved shortly. Thereafter, the Muslim people took back the body from NMC office.Police has made heavy bandobast near the civic office.The issue of burial ground has been pending till date because the Nashik district collector has been given the additional charge of municipal commissioner following the transfer of Bhaskar Sanap.Today's was the second such incident. Earlier on May 21, the members of Muslim community had taken the body of a woman for her funeral procession to the NMC office.
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SW Monsoon further advances in Rayalaseema, Coastal AP

2011-06-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 3 : Southwest Monsoon has further advanced over some more parts of Rayalaseema and parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh today.Conditions are favourable for further advance ment of Southwest Monsoon over remaining parts of Andhra Pradesh during the next two to three days.Under its influence, moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers may occur at many places over Rayalaseema over the next 48 hours.Light to moderate rain or thundershowers may occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the same period.Outlook for subsequent two days was that there would be no large change, the Met Office said here today.The sky would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood and rain or thundershowers may occur in parts of city over the next two days.The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 37 and 24 Degrees Celsius respectively.
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TDP to submit fresh notice for no-trust motion

2011-06-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, June 3 : The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh will Saturday give a fresh notice for no-confidence motion against the state Congress government as the one submitted Friday has become infructuous.As the state assembly is meeting Saturday to elect the speaker and deputy speaker, the TDP decided to meet protem speaker J.C. Diwakar Reddy to give a fresh notice before the sitting.The opposition party also decided to field its candidates for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker.TDP chief N. Naidu told reporters that there was no question of going back on the decision to move a no-confidence motion against the government for failing to address the problems of people, especially farmers.Since the assembly is meeting for one day to elect the speaker and deputy speaker, the TDP may have to wait for its no-trust motion.Naidu said the debate on the motion has to take place within 10 days from the date of submitting the notice.The TDP, which has 88 legislators in the 294-member assembly, Friday submitted notice for the no-confidence motion to the legislature secretary as Deputy Speaker N. Manohar was not available. However, according to the assembly rules, the notice has to be submitted before commencement of the sitting for that day.The former chief minister said the TDP was sincere in moving the motion without banking on the support of any party.Meanwhile, the TDP has also decided to field its legislators K.E. Krishna Murthy and Suddala Devaiah for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker respectively. The move is being seen as an attempt to test the waters ahead of the no-trust motion.Deputy Speaker N. Manohar appears set to become speaker as the ruling Congress has 155 legislators and it also enjoys support of the Praja Rajyam Party and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, who have 18 and seven legislators respectively.The post of speaker has been vacant since November last year when N. Kiran Kumar Reddy became the chief minister.Government chief whip Mallu Batti Vikaramarka is the ruling party's candidate for the post of deputy speaker. According to political observers, the TDP plans to assess the support enjoyed by YSR Congress party among Congress legislators as its leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, or Jagan as he is popularly called, had once claimed that the government was at his mercy Though only 10 legislators are being seen with Jagan, some leaders of the party have claimed that they have the strength to pull down the government.
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Proposal to upgrade 6 municipalities into Corporations: Minister

2011-06-02T09:07:00.001-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 1: Andhra Pradesh Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Maheedar Reddy today said there were proposals to upgrade six municipalities into municipal corporations and some major gram panchayats into municipalities in the state.The proposals were under active considerations of the State Government, the Minister said in a press conferenc here.Announcing that 4,038 vacant posts in the municipal bodies would be filled in the next three months, he said the viability and public opinion on upgradation of panchayats as municipalities would be taken into consideration while taking a decision in the matter.Stating that it would not be possible to conduct elections to newly-formed municipalities along with the existing ones, the Minister said time would be required to conduct elections in newly-formed municipalities as there was a need to settle the reservations and other issues.The list of gram panchayats, to be upgraded into municipalities, would be announced before the release of election notification for Panchayat elections, he added.He said the government would present the details of census enumeration in urban bodies to the State Election Commission after it was completed by June 29.About 4,038 vacant posts in urban bodies would be filled within three months in a phased manner, the Minister said "we will try to fill these posts through APPSC to bring transparency in the recruitment".If the APPSC did not respond positively to the request of the State government for recruitment of the posts, an official Committee would be set up and seek help of the universities in conducting recruitment test, he added.
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Jagan asks party to be ready for snap polls

2011-06-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, June 1 : YSR Congress Party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Wednesday asked his party leaders and cadre to be ready for snap polls to Andhra Pradesh assembly.Addressing a meeting of the central governing council of the party here, the Kadapa MP said the cadre should be ready for elections whenever they are held.His call has assumed significance as it came a day after the party claimed that it had the requisite number to pull down the Congress-led government and dared the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to move a no-trust motion.The TDP, on the other hand, has been challenging the son of late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to first prove his party's strength before the governor.The leaders of the main opposition party said they were ready to vote against the government if the governor calls a special session of the assembly.The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has also stated that it would support a no-trust motion moved by any party.The ruling Congress, which has 156 members in 294-member house, is confident of facing the no-trust motion with support from the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), which has 18 legislators and has announced its merger with the former. The government is also confident of support from Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), which has seven legislators.It was still not clear as to how many Congress legislators were with Jagan, as Jaganmohan Reddy is popularly known.Soon after he quit the Congress in November last year, he claimed to have the support of as many as two dozen legislators but the number dwindled after the Congress won back some rebels and also warned others of disqualification.The TDP has 88 legislators while the TRS tally stands at 11.For the second day, Jagan held talks with members of his party's governing council and his close aides. He told them that it was the right time to build the party from the grassroots levels.The young leader, who floated the party in March, retained the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency last month with a record margin of over 500,000 votes while his mother Vijayalaxmi retained Pulivendula assembly constituency.
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SCR to run 8 Spl trains to Jaipur for Urs-E-Shareef Hazrath Khawja Moinuddin Chishti

2011-06-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 1 : South Central Railway (SCR) will run eight Special Trains to Jaipur from Hyderabad, Kacheguda and Ongole/Machilipatnam to clear extra rush of pilgrims traffic attending annual Urs-E-shareef of Hazrat Khawja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer.A release from SCR said here today, Train No 07125 Hyderabad-Jaipur Special Train will depart Hyderabad at 2030 hrs on June 3 and arrive Jaipur at 0615 hrs on June 5.In the return direction, Train No 07126 Ajmer-Hyderabad Special train will depart Ajmer at 1815 hrs on June 10 and arrive Hyderabad at 0730 hrs on June 12.Train No 07129 Kacheguda-Jaipur Special will depart Kacheguda at 2030 hrs on June 5 and arrive Jaipur at 0615 hrs on June 7.In return direction, Train No 07130 Ajmer-Kacheguda Special train will depart Ajmer at 1930 hrs on June 11 and will arrive Kacheguda at 0700 hrs on June 13.Train No 07227 Ongole-Jaipur Special train will depart Ongole at 0900 hrs on June 4 and arrive Jaipur at 0240 hrs on June 6.
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GHMC bill collector in Anti-Corruption Bureau net

2011-06-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, June 1: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today caught red handed Mohd Rafi (29), Bill Collector, GHMC when he demanded and accepted Rs. 2,500 as bribe from the complainant for processing the file relating to changing the owner`s name in the property documents.The tainted amount of Rs. 2,500 was recovered from Mr Rafi after chemical test yielded positive results, a release from ACB here said.Mr Rafi was being arrested and would be produced before the Additional Special Judge for SPE and A.C.B. Cases, Hyderabad, the release said.
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Indian Journalists Union condemns Shahzad killing

2011-06-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 1 : The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) today strongly condemned the brutal murder of prominent Pakistani Journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad.The Pakistani journalist went missing in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad on Sunday and his dead body with marks of torture was found in Punjab province yesterday.In a joint statement, IJU Secretary-General K Sreenivas Reddy, President-elect S N Sinha and Secretary-General-elect Devulapalli Amar said there was strong suspicion that Mr Shahzad was kidnapped, tortured and killed by the notorious Pakistani Spy Agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as he exposed chinks in the Agency and its handling of the recent attack on naval base, PNS Mehran in Karachi.Shahzad, the Pakistani Bureau Chief of the Asia Times Online, was an expert in reporting about terrorists and their activities and in the past, the ISI picked him up and interrogated him on his writings, they said."This was an attack on the freedom of expression in Pakistan and we call upon the journalists' community and all those who cherish the freedom of the press in India to rally round the Pakistani journalists in the fight against the tyranny and attacks on the freedom of the press and the practitioners of journalism," they said.They demanded that the Pakistani authorities should investigate the case thoroughly and bring the killers of the journalists to book, the statement added.
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Prostitution racket bust, pimp held, 2 sex workers rescued

2011-06-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 1: Sleuths of Commissioner's Task Force, North Zone Team today conducted raid on a private hotel at Amerpet and apprehended a pimp and rescued two sex workers.Police seized Rs 9000 and two cell phones from their possession, a release said.Police said Mohan Jadav (26), an Automobile Engineer of Borabanda, here and a native of Bangalore, was working as a driver with Amith and Rohit.At the instigation of Amith, he started brothel business in Hyderabad.Amith and Rohit were doing brothel business through websites. offering contact details of agents/pimps in various cities in India.Mohan Jadav also took a room at the hotel and was conducting brothel business clandestinely with two sex workers supplied by Amith and Rohan.
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Rowdy-sheeter murdered by his rival group

2011-06-02T08:47:00.001-07:00

Hyderabad, Jun 1 : Two persons including rowdy-sheeter and his associate were murdered when they were attacked by a sharp knife at a function hall located at Kishenbagh in the old city here today.According to police here, deceased rowdy-sheeter was identified as Azaj. He along with his two associates has gone to attend a marriage function when suddenly unidentified assailants attacked them with a sharp knife and killing Azaj on the spot. His associate Imran succumbed to injuries at Osmania Government hospital.Another associate Isman, who also injured in the attack, is also admitted to Osmania hospital, where his condition was stated to be serious, police said.Old rivary between the two groups is stated to be the reason for the incident.
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No 'fish medicine' for kids, says Andhra rights panel

2011-05-31T22:48:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad,May-31: A fresh controversy hit the famous 'fish medicine' therapy for asthma patients as Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission Tuesday ordered that children below the age of 14 should not be administered it.

Acting on a petition by Balula Hakkula Sangham, an NGO working for children's rights, the commission asked the Hyderabad district administration to ensure that no child below 14 years is given the 'fish medicine'.The annual event of distribution of fish medicine is to take place at Exhibition Grounds here June 8-9.The Bathini Goud family of Doodhbowli in the old city of Hyderabad has been administering the medicine free of cost for 165 years.Asthma patients from different parts of India every year gulp down a live 'murrel' fish with a yellow herbal paste in its mouth. The herbal paste, the contents of which remain a family secret, is believed to cure asthma and other respiratory diseases.The NGO president Achyut Rao said since the 'medicine' is given by the family members under unhygienic conditions, it may also spread infection.fish medicine lost its popularity in recent years after NGOs, working to inculcate scientific temper among people, termed it as a fraud and approached court.They argued that the herbal paste contains heavy metals and caused more harm than good to the patients.After the controversy, the Goud family began calling it 'fish prasadam' or holy offering.The Goud family claims that the secret formula for the herbal medicine was given to their ancestor in 1845 by a saint after taking an oath from him that it should be administered free of cost.
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Minister from Telangana quits

2011-05-31T22:43:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 31 : An Andhra Pradesh cabinet minister Tuesday submitted his resignation to the governor over the delay in carving out a separate Telangana state.Endowments Minister J. Krishna Rao, who had sent his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi March 3, met Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan and submitted his resignation.He later told reporters that he had fulfilled his promise made to the students of Osmania University by submitting his resignation."I have resigned as the Congress leadership has failed to make a clear-cut announcement for formation of separate Telangana state," he said.The minister later met Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to explain the reasons for his decision.He demanded that all the ministers and legislators from Telangana resign to exert pressure on the leadership to accord separate statehood to the region.He also announced that he would resume his 'padyatra' for the separate state on Wednesday and cautioned the government against making any attempt to stop it.The minister's 'padyatra' in Mahabubnagar district May 21 had sparked a row with the police arresting him and his cabinet colleague D.K. Aruna to avert a clash between them.Aruna opposed the 'padyatra' saying the minister had not taken her permission to undertake the visit in her constituency.Krishna Rao has resigned at a time when Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising various pro-Telangana groups, plans to intensify the agitation in the first week of June.
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NDA ready to support bill for Telangana state: Sushma Swaraj

2011-05-31T22:39:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 31: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj Tuesday urged the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to bring a bill for formation of separate Telangana state in the next parliament session, assuring support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).Addressing a public meeting at Karimnagar Tuesday night, she said if the government brings a bill in the parliament session beginning in July, she would ensure that it is passed with two-third majority.Stating that she had come to the region to draw the battle-lines, Sushma Swaraj reminded Telangana MPs of Congress party of June 1 deadline set by them for their party leadership to make a clear-cut announcement on the Telangana bill.The BJP leader said her party would not rest till a separate state is achieved. "If the government brings a bill in parliament, we are ready to support it but if it fails to do so we will bring the bill and pass it after we come to power," she said.She said ever since the forcible merger with the Andhra region in 1956, the people of Telangana got only commissions, committees, formulas, documents, promises and assurances.On the Srikrishna committee, the BJP leader said it crossed all the limits by suggesting to the government the Telangana movement be suppressed through political and media management."I am ashamed at reading the contents of the secret eighth chapter of the report, in which the committee expressed the apprehension that separate Telangana state will become a Maoist state or a BJP-ruled state," she said.She however said by supporting the demand for separate Telangana state, she was not opposing the people of Andhra and pointed out that three new states were carved out during BJP-led NDA rule.Sushma Swaraj said the demand for Telangana state arose from the imbalanced growth, injustices and discrimination. She termed the movement for separate state a struggle to keep alive the region's culture and its own identity.If it is not a fight for self-esteem, 600 people would not have laid down their lives and citizens from all walks of life would not have come on to the streets," she said.
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Shutdown in Andhra town against power plant

2011-05-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 30 : Protests broke out again in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district against an upcoming thermal electricity project, police said.

People in Sompeta town of the district in north coastal Andhra Monday observed a shutdown demanding that the government stop work on the project which, they claimed, threatens the ecology and endangers the livelihood of local communities.Shops and business establishments remained closed in response to the shutdown call given by the Environment Protection Committee, a group of environmentalists and NGOs.Protestors, including fishermen and farmers, likely to be affected by the project, staged road and rail blockades.Police arrested dozens of protestors when they tried to stop the convoy of Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao as the latter was visiting Ichapuram.The arrested include opposition Telugu Desam Party's legislator Sai Raju's father Raja Rao.Some activists alleged that the minister was instrumental in approving the plant wo Raising slogans against the project, the protestors also squatted on the railway tracks, bringing rail traffic to a halt.The Environment Protection Committee is also demanding compensation to the families of those killed in police firing during the protests in July last year.Two people were killed and several others were injured July 14 when police opened fire at people protesting against the project by Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) at Sompeta.The National Environmental Appellate Authority (NEAA) later overruled the environmental clearance given for the 2,640-MW project coming up at a cost of Rs.12,000 crore. Locals claim that the work had resumed on the project.Meanwhile, a group of ruling Congress leaders Monday began a visit to north coastal Andhra region to inspect thermal power project sites, special economic zones, mines and ports amid allegations that irregularities were committed in approving the projects.Member of Parliament V. Hanumantha Rao, who is leading the group, said they would urge the government to cancel the Sompeta project as it would harm the interests of farmers and fishermen.
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Auto strike from May 30 midnight

2011-05-30T00:48:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 29 : Telangana Auto Drivers' Joint Action Committee (TADJAC) today appealed to the auto drivers to participate in the 'auto bandh' from May 30 midnight to press for their demand of hike in fare in tune with the increased fuel prices.TADJAC convenor Mohd Amanullah Khan said the income of auto drivers has come down and affected their livelihood due to non-revision of auto fare in tune with the hiked diesel and petrol prices.He demanded that the minimum auto charge should be hiked to Rs 20 from Rs 14 and from Rs 10 to 20 per kilometer afterwards.Mr Khan said sealing of auto meters should also be stopped immediately until further increase of auto fares.He also demanded cancellation of e-Challan system, which was launched to target the auto drivers. The government also has responsibility to find a permanent solution to the problem of auto parking in the city, he added.
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TTDP promises to bring Telangana statehood within year

2011-05-30T00:45:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 30 : The Telangana Telugu Desam Party (TTDP) senior leader Mr Yerrabelli Dayakara Rao has said that they would bring ' Telangana statehood' within a year if everybody support the movement.Speaking on the last day of three-day annual conclave of the party after supporting the political resolution introduced by party Polit Bureau member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu yesterday here, he said all the 35 TDP Telangana MLAs were ready to work unitedly if the side cornered TRS President K Chandrasekhara Rao, who was provoking the people of Telangana and keeping silent on the issue in Parliament by siding with the Congress.The party's stand was clear and the party leader also favour the Telangana agitation, he said and lambasted the TRS supremo for failing to accost the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for its dilatory tactics on the separate Telangana issue.He also questioned why the TDP was being asked to set its flag aside when the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) , BJP and every other political party hoist their flags at the events they conduct." We will fight in favour of Telangana by holding party flags and there is no compromise," he said.Appealing to JAC Chairman Prof Kodandaram and Osmania JAC students to understand the issues, he said its party President was clear on the Telangana issue and also ready to join agitation without holding party flag if other political parties, including TRS, also followed the same suit.He also found fault with the TRS President statements that no political party except the TRS would survive in the Telangana region.Interestingly, Mr Dayakar Rao also appealed to its co-members belonging to Seemandhra at the Mahanadu stage to support Telangana issue and said the Telangana leaders would not humiliate the Seemandhra region people.Accusing the estranged party senior leader, Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, of confusing the party and Telangana TDP leaders, he said the former himself remained confused and forced the party to take drastic action against him. said the TDP leaders of the region were always ready to fight for Telangana collectively, but they could not tolerate if any one dared to belittle the party and its leadership.
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Moderate to rather heavy rain in Coastal AP in 48 hours

2011-05-29T03:27:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 28: Moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers would occur at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh over next 48 hours.Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Telangana and over Rayalaseema during the same period.The outlook for subsequent two days is there would be no large change, the Met office said here today.Skies would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood and rain or thundershowers would occur in parts of city over next two days.The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 36 and 23 degrees Celsius respectively.Observations recorded till 0830 hrs today said rain occurred at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Isolated rain occurred over Rayalaseema.The heavy rainfall recorded in cm are Nuzvid (Krishna dist) 11, Tanuku (West Godavari dist) 10, Narsapur, Bhimavaram (West Godavari dist), eight each and Gudivada (Krishna dist) seven.
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ACB unearths assests worth Rs one crore

2011-05-29T03:20:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 28 :Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials today unearthed disproportionate assests worth Rs 1 crore from the house and office of Gowrishetty Amruth Kumar, Assistant City Planner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Hyderabad.The ACB officials conducted searches at various places, including his office, residence at Srinagar Colony and unearthed assets including a house at P and T Colony, Hyderabad, 3 flats at Kutbiguda, Kundanbagh and Srinagar Colony and 4 plots at Rangapur Village, car, a scooter, gold weighing 897 grams and 800 grams of silver.Household articles worth about Rs ten lakh, fixed deposits of Rs four lakh and bank balances of about Rs 2.30 lakh and cash of Rs 46,000 were found, a release from ACB here said.
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CM approves 1,341 new posts in Andhra Pradesh Genco

2011-05-29T03:17:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 28: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today approved the appointment at 1,341 new posts in A P Genco to strengthen the power generation in the state.The posts included 350 Assistant Engineers, 881 Junior Plant Attendants and 110 LDC posts, a release from the Chief Minister's Office said here today.In these, Assistant Engineers and Junior Plant Attendants will be appointed through direct recruitment and LDC posts will be taken through outsourcing basis.Within the projects budget, the expenditure will be borne by A P Genco, the release added.As a special case, the Chief Minister has approved the compassionate appointments to the dependents of the employees who died in harness in Andhra Pradesh State Roard Transport Corporation (APSRTC) against the sanctioned vacancies, the release said.
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Andhra Pradesh Government,Israel to sign MoU on IT

2011-05-29T03:10:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 28: Andhra Pradesh government and Israeli government are poised to enter into a partnership to promote Information Technology and as part of it, an Israel-based IT company will spread its technical know-how in Hyderabad shortly.Both the State Government and the Hitech Industries Association (HIA) of Israel will sign a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) shortly.Prior to it, an international meet will be held in Tel Aviv, capital of Israel, from May 29 to June 3 where Andhra Pradesh State Minister for Information Technology Ponnala Laxmiah, who has been invited by the Israeli Government, will deliver his keynote address on the first day of the meet.
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BJP to hold public meeting on May 31 on 'T'issue

2011-05-29T03:05:00.001-07:00

Hyderabad, May 28: To bring pressure on the Union Government to introduce the separate Telangana Bill in the ensuing Parliament Session, the BJP is organising a public meeting at Karimnagar on May 31.Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj would address the meeting, BJP State General Secretary Ramachander Rao said at a press conference here today.The party considers the Telangana meeting as very crucial, he said adding the party was expecting a larger turnout at the meeting, he said.In addition to anticipating huge turnout, the meeting would be marked with a lot of sensitivity with the display of Telangan a ethnic tradition and cultural programmes, he added.It may be mentioned here that the BJP has been supporting the cause of the smaller states.The proposed meeting at Karimnagar is going to be a show of strength by the party in Telangana Region as the BJP has two members in the Legislative Assembly and both from the Telangana region
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Govt having strength in Assembly:CLP

2011-05-29T03:03:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 28 : Reacting sharply to the TDP's Purported statement announced at its Mahanadu meeting yesterday that they would move no-confidence motion against Congress Government in the coming Assembly Session, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today made it clear that the Congress Government had the strength to face the no-confidence motion if the TDP or any other party moves it in the Assembly.Speaking to the mediapersons at CLP office here, Government Chief Whip M Bhatti Vikramarka said that the no-confidence motion would be against the democratic system as the Congress Government was elected by people's confidence.Alleging Mr Naidu always concentrated on Chief Minister's post instead of serving the people, he said this was proved his speeches at the ongoing Mahanadu.Expressing happiness over the statement issued by TDP on free power to the farmers for nine-hours if it comes to power, he said that TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu was following the footsteps of the Congress Party, he added.
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Police Commissioner appreciates auto driver

2011-05-28T02:57:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 27:Hyderabad City Police Commissioner A K Khan today appreciated Hyder Ali, an autorickshaw driver who had honestly handedover NRI's bag to the police and in turn the police called Mr Jilani (UK) who had forgotten the same in his auto on May 23 night and handedover the same to him.

The Commissioner announced a rewarde of Rs 2000 for his sincerity.He also appealed to all the auto drivers to follow Hyder Ali's example to gain good-will by the people in the city, a police release said here.
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Haj Committee requests to submit passports

2011-05-28T02:49:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 27 : Haj Committee chairman Janab Syed Khaleeluddin Ahmed requested all the selected Haj pilgrims and the pilgrims confirmed under reserved categories to submit their original passports in the office of the AP State Haj Committee along with a photograph before June 15.

The Chairman, in a press release, stated that the selection letters to all the selected Haj pilgrims have been dispatched to their given addresses along with their bank reference number, which they will have to enter invariably on every bank transaction.The prescribed pay-in-slip of the State Bank of India has also been sent along with the selection letters.He also requested those pilgrims who do not possess the passports to contact immediately the office of the Haj Committee in Nampally Hyderabad or the Haj society concerned in the district so that the process of obtaining passports for them could be started before June 15, the last date for submission of the passports and payment of first instalment of Rs 31,000.Chairman said the delay in this matter will forfeit the seats and after the due date is over, the seats will be allotted to the waiting list applicants automatically as per their priority numbers.

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Telugu Desham Party challenges YSR Cong party to move no-confidence motion

2011-05-28T02:47:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 27 : The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu today challenged YSR Congress party chief Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, to move no-confidence motion against Congress government in the state.Delivering the inaugural address at the TDP's annual conclave Mahandu at Gandipet near here, Mr Naidu said its party was strongly committed for farmers' issues and ready to move no-confidence motion against Congress party if need be.Mr Naidu asked the YSR Congress party chief, who always threatens to pull down the Congress in the state, to approach the Governor and move a no-confidence motion with his loyalists, against Congress if the latter was confident that he could topple the government. He said the TDP would support such a move.The TDP had moved a no-confidence motion on then YSR government four-years back on Obulapuram mining issue, he said and predicted that the YSR Congress party would also merge with Congress on the lines of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) soon.Alleging that the YSR Congress party was a branch of "poisonous tree" of YSR, who completely spoiled the state with rampant corruption during his tenure, Mr Naidu said Jagan Mohan has formed new party for not giving up Chief Minister's post after his father Dr YSR's death.He charged that the regime of the ruling party was full of corruption and spoiled Telugu glory achieved during the TDP regime.Meanwhile, reacting on the TDP President remarks, the YSR Congress party official spokesperson Gattu Ramachandra Rao in a press conference said his party was ready to support if the TDP moved no-confidence motion against the Congress government.
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Tributes paid to NTR on birth anniversary

2011-05-28T02:44:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 28: Rich tributes were paid to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao Saturday on his 88th birth anniversary.NTR's family members, TDP leaders and prominent personalities from different walks of life paid tributes at NTR Ghat on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake here.His services to the people were also remembered during Mahanadu or the state-level conclave of TDP which began here Friday. Led by TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, the party paid glowing tributes to the founder.NTR's sons Harikrishna, Balakrishna, Ramakrishna, grandson Junior NTR, son-in-law N. Chandrababu Naidu, daughter Bhuwaneswari and other family members paid floral tributes at NTR Ghat.NTR's second wife Lakshmi Parvathi paid separate tributes at NTR Ghat. Addressing Mahanadu, Naidu demanded that the centre confer the Bharat Ratna on NTR in recognition of his services to the people.NTR, a popular Telugu actor, had launched TDP in 1982 and created a record of sorts by coming to power within nine months, ending the single party rule of the Congress.NTR died in January 1996, a few months after he was unseated from power by his son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu.
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Disabled persons call on Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy

2011-05-27T06:59:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 26: Physically challenged people and their representatives today called on Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and voiced their long pending demands.The Chief Minister patiently heard them and directed the officials to look into the issues and resolve them, a release from Chief Minister's Office here said.The Chief Minister announced hike in marriage incentive to those marrying a physically-challenged person from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000.The Chief Minister also announced that the economic support scheme or subsidy for them had been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 30,000 on par with SCs and STs.The Chief Minister said that Aarogyasri Scheme will be extended to all the physically-challenged and he also agreed to positively consider Indiramma houses and agricultural lands for them.The Chief Minister also agreed to consider bus travel concessions for them within the districts and promised stringent action against harassment of physically-challenged women.
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TRS, YSR Congress woo suspended TDP leader

2011-05-27T06:54:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 26 : After being suspended Tuesday from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the party's politburo member and senior leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy is mulling his future action as opposition parties are wooing him.

Nagam began consultations with his colleagues and followers Thursday as Telanga Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and YSR Congress party initiated efforts to woo him to their ranks. But the former minister is keeping his cards close to his chest.With the TDP also planning to urge assembly Deputy Speaker N. Manohar to disqualify Nagam as legislator, the senior leader from Mahabubnagar district is contemplating to quit the assembly.Two TDP legislators from the Telangana region, Harishwar Reddy and Jogi Ramna, have already thrown their weight behind Nagam. Harishwar has even claimed that 25-30 legislators would join hands with them.Nagam, who served as minister for 12 years in the Andhra Pradesh cabinets led by the late N.T. Rama Rao and Chandrababu Naidu, told reporters that he would decide on his future action after consultations with other like-minded leaders and followers.At its emergency meeting Tuesday night, the TDP politburo suspended Nagam for what it called anti-party activities.For the last few days, the senior leader had been targeting party president Chandrababu Naidu for his "u-turn" on the demand for separate Telangana state. He even organised two public meetings without party flag."I only want Mr. Naidu to abide by the stand taken by the party before last elections," said Nagam.Continuing his tirade against Naidu, he said by suspending him Naidu had proved himself a leader of seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions).He said if Naidu goes on suspending leaders for raising the demand for Telangana, the party would have no future in Telangana.Meanwhile, TRS leader Jitender Reddy called on Nagam and reportedly requested him to join the party. YSR Congress party leader Gone Prakash Rao also called on the suspended TDP leader to join the newly-floated outfit.
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Chief Minister directs steps cut down to IMR, MMR

2011-05-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 26: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy directed the officials to take steps in a focussed manner to reduce the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternity Mortality Rate (MMR) in the State.The Chief Minister said the IMR and MMR, which is comparatively high in the State, has to be brought down and all steps towards this taken immediately, a release from Chief Minister's Office said here.Mr Reddy said steps like motivating institutional delivery and providing nutritional food to pregnant woman should be taken up on a mission mode throughout the State and in a fast expanding progressive State like Andhra Pradesh, "there is no reason why we cannot cut down the IMR and MMR drastically." The Chief Minister held a detailed review of the Women, Child Welfare and Disabled Welfare Departments, functioning of the Juvenile Welfare and Women Cooperative Finance Corporation and AP Foods with the head of the departments and said that large scale Skill Development and Job Training programmes should be taken up with the Women Coop Corporation as the nodal agency.The Chief Minister said huge funds could be leveraged from the Centre as the Finance Commission is very much focussed on Skill Development and job training to various sections of the people
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Railway booking clerk attacks woman passenger

2011-05-27T06:26:00.000-07:00

Vijayawada, May 26: A petty altercation over issuing of a railway ticket led a railway booking clerk to attack a woman passenger in which she sustained head injury at the railway station here.police said the victim, Varalakshmi, tried to take ticket to Palasa in Srikakulam district in general queue which led to the altercation with booking clerk Mohan Babu.The booking clerk, in a fit of rage, hit on her head with a wooden plank 'She received injury and was shifted to the railway hospital'.The Divisional Commercial Manager suspended the accused and the railway police took the clerk into custody.
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Adilabad TDP MLA says will sail with Nagam

2011-05-27T06:23:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 26: TDP MLA of Adilabad District Jogu Ramanna said he would sail along with TDP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy who was suspended from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).talking to the newspersons after meeting Dr Nagam here, Mr Ramanna said that suspending the senior leader was an arbitrary action of the TDP and criticised the party leadership saying that they had suspended Dr Nagam, a senior man in the party, without even serving him a showcause notice.alleging that the TDP leadership had chosen to suspend Dr Nagam simply because he raised the Telangana issue boldly, Mr Ramanna said that Ranga Reddy District Parigi MLA Hareeshwar Reddy also would be with Dr Nagam.
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'T'TDP Ranabheri a big success

2011-05-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 26:The Telangana Telugu Desam party (TTDP) Convener and TDP senior leader Yerrabilli Dayakara Rao today said that his party would fight for Telangana till the end.Addressing at a press conference here, he thanked the party cadres who made the Telangana Rranabheri at Karimnagar held yesterday a big success.He called upon all those who were cheated by the TRS to join on a single platform to achieve Telangana.He said that he was ready to participate in any debate on any issue with Nagam stating that attacking each other could not help achieve Telangana.
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Sibal lauds Gujarat's senior cop for speaking out

2011-05-25T23:34:00.000-07:00

Ahmedabad, May 25: Union Human Resource Minister Kapil Sibal Wednesday praised Gujarat's senior police officer Sanjeev Bhatt without directly naming him.The courage shown by a police officer in revealing details about what transpired during the 2002 communal riots in the state showed that the soul of India is not dead, Sibal told reporters here.Bhatt has been appearing before the Nanavati Commission, which is probing the riots. His statements against Chief Minister Narendra Modi and some of his colleagues in the police had created a major controversy.Sibal said that the process of justice for the 2002 riot victims has been painfully slow.He said he was pained at the lack of urgency and sensitivity in which the cases are being dealt."While constituting the Nanavati Commission to probe the riots, the Bharatiya Janata Party had said that its report would be available in four months. Nine years later, it is yet to submit the report," Sibal added. =========================================================

Tension prevails at Telangana Ranabheri

2011-05-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 25 : Tension prevailed at Karimnagar district, where just a few hours before the commencement of 'Ranabheri', being organised by Telangana Telugu Desam Party (TTDP) forum in the evening as TRS and Pro-Telangana activists, including students prevented and detained TTDP leaders proceeding to the meeting.large number of Pro-Telangana activists, including students and JAC leaders prevented the TTDP leaders, who had arrived at the venue to participate in the meeting.
police took nearly 50 agitators who termed the forum a ''Telangana betrayal'' meeting, into custody.Following the arrest, some of the agitators pelted stones on the vehicles of TDP MLAs and in which two policemen were injured.Police restored to lathicharge to disperse the agitators.A similar incident was reported in Chinakoduru mandal of Medak district when TDP leaders, including MLA Reventha Reddy and TTD forum convener Eerraballi Dayakar Rao who were proceeding in a vehicle to Karimnagar from Hyderabad to participate in forum, were attacked and detained by Pro-Telangana agitators near Imbrahimnagar.Meanwhile, Political JAC Chairman Prof.Kodandaram ,BJP state Unit President Kishen Reddy and TRS MLAs, including Harish Rao, participating in different meetings, alleged that TD Telangana leaders were tyring to dilute the ongoing movement for separate state.Kakatiya University (KU) JAC , Osmania University (OU) JAC and TTDP leader Nagam Janardhana Reddy, against whom resolution were passed by TTDP forum to expel him from the party, were among those who vehemently opposed the forum.
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Police arrest 500 TRS activists following dharna

2011-05-25T23:15:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 25:Police today arrested several Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders and pro-Telangana activists at various Telangana districts in the state when they were observing protests in front of Districts Collectorate offices as part of call given by TRS demanding immediate carving of separate Telangana state by the Centre.Police also made preventive arrests at Medak district before laying siege of Collectorate Office by TRS leaders. TRS leaders led by party MLA T Harish Rao staged a rasta roko on the National Highway road near Patancheruvu and later he was arrested by Patancheruvu police.Earlier talking to reporters, Mr Rao alleged that the Medak Superintendent of police has issued preventive custody of TRS leaders despite their requesting permission to protest in front of Collectorates in various districts. A large number of pro-Tenangana activists also observed dharna in front of Collectorate office in the city located at Lakdikapul, where heavy police force was already deployed to prevent the agitators.At Nizamabad district, as many as 100 activists and TRS leader Pocharam Srinvias Reddy were arrested by police when they tried to siege the collectorate office and the police also used water canons to disperse the agitators.According to reports reaching here, overall 500 TRS activists including leaders were arrested at various Telangana districts including Mahaboobnagar, Warangal and Karimnagar when they were observing dharna.Condemning the police arrests of legislators and leaders, who were observing dharnas in a democratic manner at various districts in Telangana region, TRS President .K.Chandrasekhara Rao demanded immediate release of their leaders.
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister appeals to Ministers to set aside difference

2011-05-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 24 : In view of the recent cold war between ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and D Aruna over padayatra in favour of Telangana separate statehood at Mahaboobnagar, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy appealed to Cabinet Ministers not to degrade the Congress image and instead work unitedly.According to sources, this figured during the Cabinet Meeting where the Chief Minister also requested his Cabinet colleagues to set aside their differences and not to give scope to the press to speculate.The difference would affect the party's image, he added.During the Cabinet Meeting, the ministers also discussed procurement of paddy lying at various market yards in the state and enhancement of MSP besides permission for rice exports.During the meeting, the official informed the Chief Minister that 43.66 lakh MTs of paddy was procured at various market purchasing centres in the state and necessary steps taken to procure 45 lakh MTs more. ======================================================

Cabinet gives nod to fill above 4726 posts in various govt sectors

2011-05-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 24 : The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet gave the nod for filling up of more than 4726 posts at various government departments including municipalities in the state, while resolved to remove 80 Deputy Surveyor posts appointed against the government norms.Briefing the reporters after the Cabinet meeting held at Secretariat here, Information and Public Relations Minister D K Aruna said the cabinet had decided to fill up 563 posts at various polytechnic colleges across the state besides giving nod for filling up one each post of Chief Engineer and Chief Technical Examiner in Roads and Building Department.It also decided to recruit 4,048 posts at Municipalities except Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada corporations, in the state.The Cabinet also decided to fill up posts of three Chief General Managers in Electricity department, she said adding the Cabinet also decided to fill 69 posts under Deputy Surveyor category in Srikakulam district while the Cabinet decided to remove 80 deputy Surveyor posts filled in 1994 against the government norms.The meeting also resolved to fill nine Joint Director and 14 Deputy Director posts besides suspending of the existing 23 Assistant Director posts in the Women and child Welfare Department while four more posts sanctioned in Tribal Welfare department, she informed.
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HMR calls bids for Rs 4,132 cr mega metrol rail project

2011-05-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 24 : The Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMR), which is overseeing implementation of the mega Rs 14,132 crore Hyderabad Metro Rail project in public private partnership (PPP) mode, has today invited competitive bids from reputed chartered accountancy firms for appointment as Statutory Auditors for the Hyderabad metrorail project.In a release, HMR Managing Director Mr NVS.Reddy has stated that HMR will announce a panel of five top chartered accountancy firms from among the applicants scoring the highest points on the basis of their experience in the past five years and forward the panel to the Concessionaire L and T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd.
L and T MRHL will then appoint one of the firms from the panel as Statutory Auditors for certifying the books of accounts and all other financial statements which will have to be maintained by the Concessionaire L and TMRHL as per the Concession Agreement.L and TMRHL will have to maintain proper records and books of accounts for all income, expenditure, payments, assets and liabilities as per good industry practice and applicable laws, and periodically submit financial statements certified by the Statutory Auditors to HMR for verification.L and TMRHL will bear the fee payable to Statutory Auditors.In order to maintain strict vigil over the cash flows of the project, it is made mandatory that the cash flows of the project are routed through a special Escrow Account, he said.All the funds received by the Concessionaire including bank loans, passenger fares, real estate rentals and VGF grant amounts will have to be deposited in this Escrow Account, the release added.
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Tell me about my mistakes: Nagam

2011-05-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 24 : In the wake of the resolution passed by Telangana Telugu Desam (TTD) forum to expel Nagam Janardhan Reddy from the Telugu Desam party (TDP), the latter today said if the party wanted to take action against him they should tell him what mistake he had committed .Addressing a press conference at TDLP office here, Mr Nagam said he has been rendering unstinted service to the TDP for the past 30-years and given strong fight against the Congress.He said that he was only striving to save the party in Telangana and the party should announce its stand on separate Telangana statehood.Recalling that the party had passed a resolution calling for Telangana state in 2008, he said he only asked party president N Chandrababu Naidu that a copy of that resolution be sent to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.Alleging that it was the Seemandhra leaders who had violated the party policy decision, he asked how the party could take action against him without first taking action against them.Dual play would not survive in the Telangana issue, he said and warned that the party had already lost people's confidence and the party president should at least now take action to restore it.Referring to the remarks that he was alone, he said even the TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao was also alone when he left the party.
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Several welfare measures for Minorities: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister

2011-05-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 24 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said his government had initiated several welfare measures for Muslim Minorities in the State in recent times.He informed this when a delegation of Muslim Elders from United Muslim Forum, Andhra Pradesh under Former Minister Mohd Shabbir Ali called on Mr Reddy at the Camp Office here today and thanked him for extending reservation in jobs for Muslims for a further period of ten years and implementing several other welfare measures, according to an official release here.Addressing the delegation, the Chief Minister reiterated his government's commitment to development and welfare of poor in general and Muslims in particular.He recalled several welfare measures initiated by his government, including extending reservation in government jobs for a further period of ten years for Muslims and free reimbursement for 1.5 lakh minority students costing about Rs 20 crore.
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Kasab's security costs govt over Rs 10 crore

2011-05-24T11:54:00.001-07:00

Mumbai, May 24: The Indo-Tibetan Border police (ITBP) commandos have been guarding the lone surviving terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab, at the Arthur road jail since his capture and conviction for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks but it now appears this arrangement has come at a great price for the Maharashtra government.ITBP, with their sophisticated arms and communication devices are on guard 24/7 at the prison, helping the country's judiciary conduct a smooth and fair trial on their most high profile inmate. The ITBP has presented a bill of Rs 10 crore to the Maharashtra government, for the services rendered.The turn of events has left the officials from the government in a tizzy, owing to the astronomical figure quoted by the ITBP.In a move, which follows standard procedure, the ITBP forwarded a bill of Rs 10,87,12,041 as reimbursement for its services from March 28, 2009 to September 30, 2010.Usually whenever the Para-military is called into action, it is the State government, which has to pay the bills as Law and order is a state subject, an official source said.According to another source in Ministry, the state government has asked the ITBP for a waiver stating that the attack was on the country and not limited to the state.The state government, which has spent as much as Rs 6 crore on the construction of the special cell setup for Kasab, along with the expenses incurred for additional security and construction of the Special court.
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Maharashtra not pay Kasab bill?

2011-05-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

Mumbai, May 24 : A stunned Maharashtra government has refused to foot the Rs 11 crore-bill sent to it by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for guarding Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist in the 26/11 Mumbai attack facing a death penalty, reports said on Tuesday.The state government was apparently shocked after the special paramilitary force that provides 200 commandos to guard Kasab sent the astronomical bill -- a fraction of what it actually costs to keep the Pakistani-trained terrorist alive at the Arthur Road jail of Mumbai.State officials are now in the process of writing to the ITBP arguing that that 26/11 terror attack was “not only an issue limited to Maharashtra but a national issue”, hinting that it wants the Centre’s help to fill the buck.While the Rs 10.87 crore bill sent by the ITBP sent eyeballs rolling, the actual cost of keeping Kasab alive is estimated to be much more owing the bulletproof arrangements, food and other essentials in a high security environment.Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said he would take a decision on the bill soon, but he did not seem too happy with it.On Feb 21 on expected lines, the Bombay High Court upheld the death sentence of Ajmal Kasab earlier passed by a lower court.Kasab, who the court said killed 56 people along with another terrorist Abu Ismail and alone killed seven, has the option to move the Supreme Court.He was responsible for the killing of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare and Kamte Ashok Kamte, the Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police.The 24-year-old Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was one of the ten terrorists from Pakistan who arrived by seawaters and attacked several locations in Mumbai in Nov 2008 that left 166 people dead and 238 injured.The court said the attack of 26/11 was an attack on the government and upheld that the attack was waging war on India. The court said Kasab's crime was "diabolical and brutal" and he has a "scheming mind".
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Telangana issue diff from UPA Cong resolution on small states:BJP

2011-05-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 23 : Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ch Vidyasagar Rao said the latest demand for division of UP through second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) had nothing to do with creation of a separate Telangana state.

Addressing at a press conference here, he took serious exception to some ministers advocating setting up of second SRC for bifurcation of the state after the UP Congress committee passed a resolution to constitute a second SRC for division of the country's largest state.AICC General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi's support to UP Congress resolution for the constitution of second SRC revealed that the Congress-led UPA government was committed for creating of smaller states, he said.In this backdrop, formation of separate Telangana state was inevitable and could not be linked to Second SRC, he added.Stating that the agitation for Telangana had reached its peak and the sentiment was very strong among the people of the region, the former Union Minister appealed to all political parties to set aside party and agendas, and move forward with the sole agenda of bifurcation of the state.The BJP will hold a mammoth public meeting in Karimnagar on May 31 on Telangana issue, he said and appealed to leaders of all political parties to attend the rally and declare their resolve for a separate Telangana state.
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High alert in Andhra Orissa Border for Maoist bandh in AP

2011-05-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

Visakhapatnam, May 22 : Security was beefed up across the Andhra Orissa Border (AOB) in three North coastal districts of Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam to control any untoward incidents in the 48 hour country-wide bandh.

According to Information reaching here, the bandh was largely effective in AOB areas, including Pedhabayalu and G K Veedhi and Sileru in the district, called by the Communist Party of India(Maoist).Second day of the bandh began amid high security and alert in five Naxal-infested states.The Iron ore transportation by National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NMDC Ltd), India's largest iron ore producer and exporter in the public sector, was affected in Chhattisgarh on the second day of a Maoist shutdown, an official said.'The transportation of iron ore has been hit by upto 20 per cent of daily dispatches of some 48,000 tonnes because the railways have refused to provide rakes during night, fearing attacks by Maoists, a senior NMDC official told UNI here.The guerrillas had damaged tracks at two locations in Dantewada district yesterday which disrupted traffic for several hours between Visakhapatnam and KK Line Kothavala- Kirandul.The NMDC has several mines at Bacheli and Kirandul hilly areas of Dantewada, which produce 75-80 per cent of its total annual iron ore output.A part of the iron ore is also exported to Japan and other Asian countries through Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam Port Trust(VPT).The outlawed CPI-M had called for a 48-hour shutdown in several central and eastern parts of the country yesterday to protest against the arrest of its three central committee members in Bihar last month.The rebels had killed a policeman and a civilian and also set three vehicles on fire yesterday in Bastar, a sprawling 40,000 sq km mineral-rich heavily forested area which has been a Maoist stronghold since the 1980s.Normal life was partially disturbed in the agency areas. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation(APSRTC) night halt services in the region and Malkangiri in Orissa were cancelled here this evening. The RTC authorities planned to divert the bus services to key destinations including temple town of Bhadrachalam here tonight, he added.
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Telangana forum warns Nagam for defaming party

2011-05-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 22: The Telangana forum of Telugu Desam Party (TTDP) today said its party would take stern action against its co-leader Mr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, who was defaming the party.Addressing a press conference, TTDP leader Raventha Reddy said, "We are not against Telangana agitation but against Nagam's ideology, who was taking his own decisions and commenting like an opposition party on TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu." Alleging that Nagam was taking Telangana agitation for his own image and maintaining anti-party activities, he said that the party would take stern action against him if needed.To intensify the Telangana agitation its forum would conduct a "Telangana Ranabari" on June 25, he added.In another press conference, Nagam Janardhan Reddy said he had acted against the party ideology and demanded the party chief to discuss the Telangana issue in the upcoming Mahanadu, and take an unambiguous stand supporting a separate Telangana.He also demanded that the Telugu Desam Party should write a letter thereafter to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram demanding the introduction of a bill for the formation of Telangana in the upcoming Parliament session.
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Former Govt Whip joins YSR Congress

2011-05-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

Vijayawada, May 22 : In a big blow to the Congress in it its stronghold Krishna district, former Government Whip and senior Congress leader Saminani Udayabhanu resigned the Congress and joined YSR Congress along with Sarpanchas, MPTCs and ZPTCs at Jaggaiahpet in Krishna district, today.Samineni Udayabhanu is considered to be a popular leader in Krishna district. He was MLA and Government Chief Whip in the regime of late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy.He along with 38 Sarpanchas, 22 MPTCs and two ZPTCs joined YSR Congress, launched by former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s son and Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.Talking to reporters at Jaggaiahpet after joining the YSR Congress, Mr Udayabanu said he had joined YSR Congress party as per the wishes of the people of his constituency.He said he had met the leaders of the YSR Congress party in Hyderabad and informed about his decision.The YSR Congress party was gaining strength hour by hour, he said and claimed that it would become a major political party in the state soon.
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Chief Minister suggests dedicated team on Indiramma Housing scheme

2011-05-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 22 :Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has instructed the officials to take the State Government's flagship programme of Indiramma Housing scheme as challenge and complete all the houses grounded."We have to put the scheme on a fast track and grounding lakhs of houses for benefit poor people on time, handed over to the beneficiaries and ensure their occupation," Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said in reviewing programme meeting recently held on the the progress of the Indiramma housing scheme with the officials concerned here.He agreed with the officials that the very face of Andhra Pradesh will change when all the 46.97 lakhs are completed and all these houses are provided with basic amenities like drinking water, electricity and infrastructural facilities like roads and drainage, according to an official release here.Reddy pointed out the Indiramma Housing Colony layouts in his constituency and said these could be replicated elsewhere in the State.The Chief Minister suggested that the scheme should be taken up in a focussed manner.A team of officials should be constituted in each Mandal or constituency and this team should constantly monitor the progress of construction and resolve impediments if any, he said and asked the officials that a week should be dedicated as "Indiramma Housing Week" and the ministers, MPs, MLAs and other public representatives along with the officials concerned should concentrate on the Indiramma Housing Programmes grounded in their respective constituencies, the release said.
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Majils not to pursue politics of murder, says Asaduddin Owaisi

2011-05-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 22 : Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) will not pursue the politics of murder to avenge the assassination attempt on its leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, but wants a probe into the attack, says party president and older brother Asaduddin Owaisi.The MP was addressing a massive public meeting organised by the party at the First Lancer neighbourhood here Saturday night to condemn the April 30 attack."MIM never believed in the politics of murder. We don't want to turn Hyderabad into another Rayalaseema," he said referring to the bloody faction war in Rayalaseema region.He, however, said the party would give a fitting reply if the rivals resorted to another physical attack on the leadership. "If they do it again, no graveyard in the city will accept their bodies for burial," he warned.Thanking people for their prayers, which, he said, gave new life to his younger brother, Asaduddin called upon people to socially boycott elements which are committing murders and repression.Alleging a deeprooted conspiracy behind the attack to eliminate the strong Muslim leadership in Hyderabad, he said Akbaruddin, the MIM legislature party leader, has been at the forefront of raising his voice against injustice and repression.The MP targeted editors of two Urdu dailies saying they were morally responsible for the attack. He said MIM exercised restraint even when the two newspapers published insulting cartoons of the leaders.He claimed he has all the details of who hatched the conspiracy of the attack, how many meetings were held and who attended them.Akbaruddin was stabbed and shot at in the attack by a group of 10 to 15 assailants April 30 when he was visiting his Chandrayangutta assembly constituency. The young leader was discharged from hospital Friday. Asaduddin said he would undergo another surgery after six weeks.MIM, which has been dominating Hyderabad politics for four decades, has seven legislators in the Andhra Pradesh assembly.
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President Obama Pledges Comprehensive U.S. Support for Transitioning Arab World

2011-05-22T00:31:00.000-07:00

USA-May-21,(Deccan Samachar) This afternoon, ISNA President Imam Mohamed Magid and Muslim Youth of North America President Amin Gharad joined leaders from across the nation at the State Department for President Obama’s address on the Middle East and North Africa. ISNA welcomes President Obama’s strong support for the people of the Arab world as they struggle to develop their new democracies and become free of oppressive dictators. The President’s message has remained consistent on this issue: the United States will not support any nation that chooses oppression for its people, and we thank him for his persistence in support of the Arab people.While the President reaffirmed the commitments he made in his 2009 Cairo speech, ISNA also welcomed the comprehensive plan he delivered to support the newly emerging Arab democracies, along with his promises to provide economic, political, and humanitarian support to these nations as they strengthen their education, economic, and political institutions. Most importantly, we supported the President’s position in support of a universal code of human rights.“The United States opposes the use of violence and repression against the people of the region. We support a set of universal rights. Those rights include free speech; the freedom of peaceful assembly; freedom of religion; equality for men and women under the rule of law; and the right to choose your own leaders – whether you live in Baghdad or Damascus; Sanaa or Tehran,” said President Obama.These peaceful revolutions have united people of all faiths, gender, and race, around universal human rights, and we support any policy on the part of these nations and the United States to ensure that people of all faiths are free to pray, speak, and live in the new Arab world. Here in the United States, ISNA has forged partnerships with national interfaith leaders, most recently through the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Campaign, to support religious equality here in the U.S. and has repeatedly condemned all acts of violence motivated towards religious minorities abroad.In his speech today, the President made a strong distinction between the people of the Arab world and the leaders of the Arab world, an important clarification that ISNA and Muslims across the world have been making for years as we provide outreach and education to the public on Muslims and Islam.“The story of this Revolution, and the ones that followed, should not have come as a surprise. The nations of the Middle East and North Africa won their independence long ago, but in too many places their people did not. In too many countries, power has been concentrated in the hands of the few,” said President Obama. We were reassured to hear the President reiterate that it has been the mis-guided actions of Arab dictators, not Arab people in general, that have for too long, oppressed the people of the Arab world and tainted the image of peaceful Arabs to other nations along the way. “We were pleased to hear the President’s promise that the U.S. would not put the interests of those in power above the desires of those oppressed and his comprehensive plan to support reform in the Arab world as the people free themselves of oppression. However, we do continue to worry about the rising levels of violence used against peaceful protesters in countries like Libya, Syria, and Yemen, along with the continued plight of the people of Palestine,” said ISNA President Imam Mohamed Magid.ISNA is an active partner in a large interreligious coalition, the National Interreligious leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East; which is committed to providing active leadership to help achieve Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peace by way of supporting the President's plan for a two-state solution.Imam Magid added, “We sincerely hope that President Obama will translate his promises today into action, and press for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, put an end to settlements, occupations, and oppression across the Arab world, and implement foreign policies that are fair and just.”
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Ahamadullah Minister for Minorities Welfare,"The Launch of Seaplane Bases and its corelated technologies"

2011-05-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad,21th.May(Deccan Samachar)"The Launch of Seaplane Bases and its corelated technologies of 'Air Excel Tech' took place on the 21.05.11 at 7 PM by the Hon'ble Minister for Minorities Welfare,Wakf, Haj &Urdu Academy Government of Andhrapradesh Ahamadullah.The CMD of the company Sri.Manish Kapoor and the other Director Dr.Smt.Indu Kapoor are seen
along with the Hon'ble Minister in the photographs attached.These corelated Technologies of Seaplane Bases are legally copyrighted tech's owned by the company M/s Air Excellence Aviation Pte Ltd,India.The brouchure of the Tech is updated on the official website which can be downloaded or printed by companies / government arms willing to sign an order / contract with the company.The Seaplane Bases Technology document being the fourth technology launched along with its corelated Techs launched in series will now be marketed technology by the company officials (PHOTO BY RSJ THOMAS)
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Notification of WB recommendations on May 27: APWJF

2011-05-21T23:25:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 21 : The Andhra Pradesh Working Journalists Federation (APWJF) today said the notification for the recommendations of Justice Majithia Wage Board for Journalists and Non-Journalists and other newspaper employees will be issued on May 27.In a statement here, APWJF President M S Hashmi and General Secretary G Anjaneyulu said Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge had signed on the final report and sent it to the Union Cabinet Committee for approval and notification.In a open letter sent to the Union Cabinet Committee through the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry by APWJF, it appealed for immediate announcement of the notification and consider the issues proposed in the submissions presented by the APWJF.The APWJF is only one organisation in the list of representatives of stake-holders of Justice Majithia Wage Board from Andhra Pradesh which expressed its views and proposals by focusing the problems of working journalists before wage board, the statement claimed.
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South Central Railway(SCR) to conduct intensive ticket checking drives

2011-05-21T23:12:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 21 : South Central Railway(SCR) will conduct massive ticket checking drives in trains, in an effort to curb ticketless travel, in its jurisdiction.

Special ticket checking squads with the assistance of Railway Protection Force personnel, will check the passengers on various trains and at platforms on May 23, 24 and 25, a press release from SCR said here today.Intensive ticket checking drives will also be conducted throughout the year, it said.SCR requested the passengers to travel with valid tickets-season tickets to have a safe and comfortable journey.Those passengers found travelling without valid ticket-authority will be fined-prosecuted or both, the release said.
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TWO State ministers arrested, 1 released on personal surety

2011-05-21T23:08:00.000-07:00

Mahbubnagar,Andhra Pradesh, May 21 : High drama was witnessed as Information and Public Relations Minister D K Aruna and Endowments Minister Jupally Krishna Rao from the district were arrested by police at different places in order to avoid a clash between their groups over the latter's padayatra.Police said Mr Krishna Rao was arrested at Aiza town when he was about to embark on his yatra and shifted him to Pebberu Police station.At the same time, when Ms Aruna was on her way with her supporters in Gattu Mandal, she was also arrested at Dharur and taken to police station.Enraged over the arrest of Mr Rao, his supporters enforced a bandh in Aiza town besides reportedly damaging windscreens of three APSRTC buses while the Congress workers in support of Ms Aruna staged a Rasta Roko on the Aiza-Raichur Highway and called for Gadwal Bandh.Mahbubnagar Superintendent of Police S Sudheer Babu said the arrests were made to avert law and order problems and the situation was well under control.Mr Krishna Rao, who had submitted his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi in March demanding creation of Telangana state, had undertaken the Pada Yatra in this district from April 24 for the cause of Telangana and also to win back the party cadres who were deserting the organisation.
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AP-CM agrees to extend reservation for physically CHALLANGED

2011-05-21T23:05:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 21: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.Kiran Kumar Reddy today said his government would extend reservation for Physically Handicapped (PH) people, including the percentage of quota for posts, age concession of ten years for recrutiment and exemption from payment of the prescribed application fee in respect of applications submitted to Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) for selection to various posts till May 31, 2021.An official release here tonight said the decision would go a long way in helping the physically handicapped people in the state.Another release from Chief Minister's office said Mr Reddy also announced that the pay scales of employees of Girijan Cooperative Corporation Limited, Visakhapatnam would be brought on par with the government employees, as per their demand.
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Kiran Kumar Reddy- administers Anti-Terrorism day oath

2011-05-21T23:02:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, May 21: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy administered 'Anti-Terrorism' day oath on the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's death anniversary at AP Bhawan in New Delhi today.An official press release here said after taking oath, the Chief Minister said late 'Rajiv Gandhi was a great administrator and a good visionary of modern India'. During his five-year term as Prime Minister, he brought many reforms in administration and took up several programmes for the welfare of the people.He led the country towards 'modernization and strengthened the country economically and scientifically', the Chief Minister said.
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