Prez conveys sympathies to cyclone-hit people

Hyderabad, May 27 : President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has conveyed her sympathies to the people affected in the recent ''cyclone Laila'' in the State.In a letter to the Chief Minister dated May 21, 2010, a copy of which was released to the press here today, the President said, ''I have learnt about Cyclone Laila, which hit certain districts of Andhra Pradesh, causing loss of lives and damage to property and road networks and destroying crops.'' ''I am sure that the State Government and other authorities are making all efforts to bring relief to those affected and also in providing all support to the people who have incurred losses.Kindly convey my sympathies to the affected people,'' she added.
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ISNA Joins President Obama's Call for Courage, Respect and Unity to Confront Extremism

(Deccan Samachar Service) May 27, - The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) joins President Obama's call, during his commencement speech at West Point this past weekend, to not give in to fear, and to respect freedoms and not allow a "small band of men on the wrong side of history" to "discard our freedoms" or "to drive us apart." In his clearest statement on how we should react as Americans to the ongoing attempts by violent extremists to commit terrorist acts on our soil, the President described the terrorists as "small men on the wrong side of history. They lead no nation. They lead no religion." He added, "We need not give in to fear every time a terrorist tries to scare us. We should not discard our freedoms because extremists try to exploit them. We cannot succumb to division because others try to drive us apart. We are the United States of America, and we have repaired our union, and faced down fascism, and outlasted communism. We've gone through turmoil, we've gone through civil war, and we have come out stronger -- and we will do so once more." Muslim Americans are particularly pleased with the President's acknowledgement of the positive contribution the growing Muslim American community has made, and continues to make, to America's well-being and prosperity in every field. The President stated, "Extremists want a war between America and Islam, but Muslims are part of our national life, including those who serve in our United States Army. Adversaries want to divide us, but we are united by our support for you -- soldiers who send a clear message that this country is both the land of the free and the home of the brave."ISNA appreciates President Obama's commitment to diplomacy and dialogue and his rejection of unilateralism. It is refreshing to see the President shift the focus from differences among religious traditions to common values based on justice and shared aspirations. ISNA calls on all people to join the President's hopeful tone and ability to reach out and connect with all people.ISNA is the largest Muslim umbrella organization in the United States and Canada. Its mission is to provide a common platform for presenting Islam, supporting Muslim communities, developing educational, social and outreach programs, and fostering good relations with other religious communities, civic and serviceorganizations ===========================================

Heat wave conditions prevail in coastal AP, Telangana

Hyderabad, May 27 : Heat wave conditions prevailed over the districts of East and West Godavari and Guntur of Coastal Andhra Pradesh; Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Medak, Nizamabad and Warangal of Telangana, with the highest maximum temperature of 46 degrees Celsius being recorded at Ramagundam.The maximum temperatures significantly rose at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh but fell at a few places over Telangana and at one or two places over Rayalaseema. They were significantly above normal over remaining districts of Telangana and above normal at many places over remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, Met Department said today.Heat wave conditions are likely to prevail over Telangana and the districts of Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur of Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next two days. Strong surface winds, at time gusty, will prevail in the city, with maximum and minimum temperatures hovering around 42 and 27 degrees Celsius respectively
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Police asked to take precautionary measures on Jagan's tour: CM

Hyderabad, May 27 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today said he had asked the police department to take precautionery measures on the proposed tour of Congress MP and former Chief Minister Y S R Reddy's son Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in Warangal district commencing tommorow in view of the apprehansions on the tour.Addressing a press conference here, Mr Rosaiah said Mr Jagan was Member of Parliament and member of AICC and the Congress High Command had taken note of the matter.Asked whether the government had given permission for the tour, he said Mr Jagan had not applied for the permission from the government stating that there was no need for any individual or organisation to obtain permission from the government. Normally for rallies and public meetings, people had to take permission from the Police. ''I do not know whether Jagan has sought permission from the police department or not,'' he said.When asked why the government had given permission to Mr Jagan when it rejected the permission to the Osmania University Students' rally and the tour of BJP leadar Sushma Swaraj, he said the Osmania University students had submitted an application with the police for permission which was rejected by the police.''I have not talked with Mr Jagan on the tour. However, I asked the police department to take all measures to maintain law and order in view of the opposition from some sections of the people and leaders,'' he said
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Showdown inevitable as YSR's son set to visit Warangal

Hyderabad, May 27 : A showdown between supporters and opponents of Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy appears inevitable as the Congress MP is determined to go ahead with his planned 'odarpu' yatra in Telangana region.The industrialist-turned-politician is set to arrive in Warangal district Friday amid threats by Telangana activists to stop his yatra "at any cost". The Kadapa MP is visiting the district as part of his state-wide yatra to console family members of those who died of shock or committed suicide following the death of his father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash last year. Alleging that the yatra is aimed at campaigning against the movement for separate statehood to Telangana, the Joint Action Committee (JAC), Telangana Rashtra Samiti and other pro-Telangana groups have decided to stop his tour. Leaders of opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and BJP have also announced their plans to stall the yatra. A section of pro-Telangana leaders within the ruling Congress party are also opposed to the yatra and they have appealed to party president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi to stop Jagan. Jagan has termed as unfair objections to his yatra on political grounds. "There were no political statements nor any issue was politicised by me," he said in a statement. As a face-off appeared certain, police have made elaborate security arrangements at Mahabubabad in Warangal district where Jagan is set to begin his tour. Director General of Police Girish Kumar said the police would provide necessary security. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Thursday refused to comment on Jagan's yatra and said he had not approached the government for permission for the same. "Police will take all necessary measures to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident," the chief minister told reporters here, hinting that Jagan's yatra would not be stopped. As the yatra threatens to create law and order problems, Rosaiah met state Congress president D. Srinivas and also held a meeting with state ministers to discuss the situation and the options available to the government. Like his father, Jagan is also opposed to the demand for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He along with other MPs from Rayalaseema and Andhra regions had voiced their opposition to the demand for Telangana state in Lok Sabha.
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TDP President resorting to gimmicks for political mileage:CM

Hyderabad, May 27 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today alleged that opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu was resorting to gimmicks to gain political mileage and cheap popularity as he could not survive without media coverage.Reacting to the remarks made by Mr Naidu on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Chief Minister at a press conference here said Mr Naidu appeared to be 'intemperate and desperate' on his comments on Prime Minister's performance.''Mr Naidu should know where he stands before making such uncalled-for comments on national leaders like AICC President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Mr Manmohan Singh,'' he said, adding there was nothing wrong in taking the advise from Sonia Gandhi in her capacity as the Chairperson of UPA.Unlike Mr Naidu, both the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson had set indelible milestones and footprints in the political and economic history of the country with their stellar contributions as Mr Singh was the architect of humane economic reforms and Ms Gandhi even denounced the post of Prime Minister.He said the sole agenda of Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson was the welfare of common man whereas Mr Naidu's focus was only hi-tech, forgetting the very basic roots.Mr Rosaiah said the people had renewed their mandate for the UPA and personalities behind it, in view of the high standards of trustworthiness and transparency in public domain the Prime Minister and Ms Gandhi) had established.Stating that at least now Mr Naidu must understand how and why the people had rejected him, Mr Rosaiah said the TDP was rejected by the people for Mr Naidu's ''anti-people stand and anti-welfare policies and programmes which lacked human face''.
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