15-Telangana legislators submit resignations

Fifteen legislators from the Telangana region Sunday submitted their resignations to the state assembly speaker to protest the terms of reference of the Srikrishna panel set up by the central government to study the demand for a separate state.Stating that the terms of reference were not favourable for the formation of Telangana state, all 10 legislators of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) submitted their resignations to Speaker Kiran kumar Reddy. Two legislators from ruling Congress and one each from Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) also gave their resignations.The legislators reached the assembly premises in a rally from the office of the all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading the movement for a separate Telangana.The JAC, at its meeting Saturday night, had decided that all legislators would submit their resignations. There are 119 legislators from Telangana region in the 294-member assembly. Congress has 50 and TDP has 39 legislators. BJP and PRP have two legislators each.Though four Congress legislators had Saturday night announced their decision to quit, only two put in their papers. Party legislators held a meeting at the residence of senior leader Jana Reddy to discuss their strategy. However, they failed to take any decision and agreed to meet again in the evening. TDP legislators from Telangana also held a separate meeting. Party sources said it was decided that they would resign only after Congress legislators come forward to quit.The JAC has rejected the terms of reference of the five-member panel formed by the central government as it has also been asked to look into the demand for maintaining the present status of united Andhra Pradesh.JAC has alleged that the terms of reference were against the spirit of the Dec 9 statement by the central government to initiate the process for forming Telangana state.Meanwhile, assembly speaker told reporters that he would take a decision on the resignations within the framework of the Constitution and as per the rules and procedures of assembly.The speaker had last month rejected the resignations of over 100 legislators from Telangana, Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, saying the resignation letters were invalid.TRS legislators have claimed that this time they have submitted their resignations in the prescribed format.Meanwhile, TRS chief K. Chandra shekhar Rao and actress-turned-politician Vijayshanti, both of them MPs, would be leaving for New Delhi Monday to submit their resignations to Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, (thanks to way2online)
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Nine killed in Pune BLAST: police

Two foreigners – an Italian woman and an Iranian student – were among the nine people killed in the Pune eatery blast, the city police chief said here Sunday.The two foreign nationals were identified as Nadia Materinia, 37, who was associated with the Osho Ashram nearby, and Syed Abdul Khali, 26, a student of Symbiosis College, Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh said at a press conference.A third unidentified body among the killed was of Gokul Nepali, a waiter at the German Bakery where the blast took place at 6.52 p.m., the police official said.He added that 60 people were injured in the blast of whom 41 were still in hospital under treatment.The explosive was kept in a blue and red “haversack”, he said.(thanks to way2online)
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Home Ministry’s Statement on Pune blast

(PIB NEWS)The following is the text of the statement made by the Union Home Secretary, Shri G.K. Pillai here yesterday evening after the Pune blast.“According to information available from State Police sources and the Intelligence Bureau a bomb/explosive blast occurred at the German Bakery in Pune District around 7.30 p.m. this evening. It appears that an unattended package was noticed in the German bakery by one of the waiters who apparently went and attempted to open the package when the blast took place. As per latest available reports, 8 people are reported dead and 32 injured in the blast. The State Police, the Maharashtra ATS squad and forensic experts have already reached the scene and are conducting investigations. A team of forensic specialists from the CBI are being airlifted from Delhi to Pune shortly to assist the State Police in their investigations.It may be noted that the Osho Ashram which is around 200 yards from this bakery was one of the sites surveyed by the LeT Operative David Headley. The Maharashtra Police had been issued alerts on this by MAC on 12.10.2009. Following the blast, the Maharashtra Government has issued an alert in Maharashtra State. The MHA have issued advisories to all State Governments to be alert and to warn all citizens not to approach or open any unidentified objects/baggage and to report all such cases to the nearest Police Station/Control Room.The situation is being monitored by the Home Minister who is in Tamil Nadu . The MHA is reviewing the situation continuously.”
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PM reviews situation following Pune blast

(PIB NEWS)The Prime Minister met the Home Minister earlier today to review the situation arising out of the bomb blast that occurred in Pune yesterday. The Home Minister briefed the Prime Minister on his visit to Pune and on the state of investigations. The Prime Minister directed that the union and state governments should take coordinated and effective action to speedily investigate the matter so that the culprits responsible for this heinous act are identified and brought to justice at the earliest. The Prime Minister expressed his deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of all those killed and injured in the incident and announced relief from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund of Rs. 2 lakh to the next of kin of those deceased and Rs. 1 lakh to those injured. He said that the government would extend whatever help was required by the families of those killed and injured in the incident. =======================================================

STATE –LEVEL URDU CONVENTION FROM FEB-19 AT AURANGABAD

Aurangabad: Syed Khaja Sohel (Correspondent)

The minority department of state government is going to host state level Urdu convention in the city from February-19.While speaking to newsmen minister of state (Minority Affairs) Fauzia Khan said Urdu is not restricted to one community. Besides, the city had played a vital role in the promotion of the language.The venue of the event has been named as walinagari, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan wold inaugurate the three day convention at Marathwada Sanskrutik Mandal. Noted poet Javed Aktar would preside over the second session in the evening .Guardian minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, industry minister Rajendra Darda, Rural development minister Jayant patil and power minister Ajit pawar would be the chief guests. Wakf Minister and Chairman of the reception committee Aref Naseem Khan and Minister of state for food and civil supplies Abdul Sattar would also grace the event.Fauzia Khan further said a cultural programme Shaam -e- Gazal would be organized before and after the inaugural session. Padmashree Awardee Fatma Rafiq Zakeria would be honored with Faqr-e-Maharashtra award during the inaugural session.On second day, noted author Sagar Sarhadi would inaugurate book exhibition ,followed by various programmes like seminar, qawwali and mushaira.The last day would see a seminar on literature in the morning session , while noted poet Bashar Nawaz would be presented with Iftekhar-e-Adaab award in the evening session ,she added.
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