Prime Minister discusses wide range of issues with President Obama

(PIB NEWS) The Prime Minister spoke this evening with United States President Barack Obama. The two leaders discussed the forthcoming Strategic Dialogue between the two countries scheduled next week in Washington. Both sides attach great priority to the dialogue as a means to strengthen bilateral engagement on a wide range of issues including high technology trade, science & technology, civil nuclear cooperation, agriculture, human resource development, security and other strategic issues. The two leaders took the opportunity to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. President Obama conveyed condolences on the loss of lives resulting from the air crash in Mangalore last week. The Prime Minister said that a warm welcome awaited the President and his family when they visit India.

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PM’S COUNCIL ON CLIMATE CHANGE MEETS

(PIB NEWS) The Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change, which met today approved in principle the National Water Mission and suggested that its basic approach should be to make water conservation a peoples’ movement in India. For this it is essential to make available all data on water in the public domain to be able to mobilise citizens, local and State Governments for focused action on water conservation and augmentation. The Prime Minister chairing the Council highlighted the need to create a general consciousness of the need to use water in the most sustainable manner. Given the fact that there are multiple uses for water and an integrated approach based on basin development planning needs to be evolved, he said that political leadership at the local body level, state level and civil society organizations need to be involved in activities of the Water Mission. Ministers and other members of the Council endorsed these views. It was stated that the first step in this direction would be to prepare a comprehensive water data base in the public domain and assessing the impact of climate change on water. Action needs to be focused on vulnerable areas, where ground water is overexploited. It was also decided that water use efficiency should be raised by 20% through the promotion of water- positive and water- neutral technologies. Members felt that a structure of incentives should be created for using water in a sustainable manner. It was also felt that the Research and Development requirements of the Mission should be focused upon. Many Members stressed the need to use the opportunities from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which already prioritizes community-level water security as the first charge in MGNREGA which is being led by panchayats and offers an opportunity to convert water conservation into a peoples movement. The Ministers of Finance, Power, Water Resources, Non- Conventional and Renewable Energy Resources, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Minister (Independent Charge) Environment and Forest and Members of the Council were present in the meeting.
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Heatwave in Port City continues,

Visakhapatnam, May 28 : The heat wave conditions which started in the aftermath of Cyclone Laila a week ago continues to torment people of this Port City with the mercury touching 42.6 Deg Celsius.The cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) Officials here today attributed rise in temperatures to the presence of north Westerly Winds over the coast. Dry winds were hitting the coast obstructing sea breeze due to which there is no moisture build up. The conditions are not favourable for the seasonal thunderstorms, though in the nighttime there may be some cloud formation Strong dry winds were likely to prevail and the heatwave conditions would continue for the next 24 hours.
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Despite High Command's nay, Jagan begins yatra

Hyderabad, May 29 : Despite Congress High Command's refusal and obstruction by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), JAC of Osmania Students Union and several other organisations in Telangana, Congress MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy started his 'Odarpu Yatra' in Warangal amid high tension. According to party sources here today, Mr Jagan did not heed the advise of the Congress leaders in the state against the tour.The Congress High Command had not given persmission for the 'yatra' and Union Law Minister and Incharge of Party affairs in Andhra Pradesh M Veerappa Moily had conveyed this to Mr Jagan.Chief Minister K Rosaiah held an emergency high-level meeting with Ministers last night to discuss the issue and deputed Ministers N Raghuveera Reddy and P Sabita Indra Reddy to Mr Jagan's residence last evening to advise him to postpone the tour. But he was eluctant.Mr Jagan and his supporters left for Mahbubabad by train this morning amid protests from Telangana people and organisations.
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YS Reddy arrested after refusing to call of yatra

Hyderabad, May 28 : Congress MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy, son of late Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, was on Friday taken into preventive custody by the Andhra Pradesh police, apprehending violent clashes after he refused to call off a controversial yatra (rally).Reddy was arrested from a train at Vangapalli in Nalgonda district while he was on way to Warangal to console the family members of those who died of shock or committed suicide after his father's death in a helicopter crash last year.He is being brought to Hyderabad.Reddy was on a yatra to meet the bereaved family members and even after his arrest, he has reportedly stated of resuming his travel at a later date.His yatra was seen as a move to give air to the anti-Telangana lobby, of which Reddy and his late father were supporters.Like the late chief minister, the younger Reddy is also against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and he had, along with MPs from Rayalaseema and Andhra regions, voiced their opposition to formation of Telangana state in the Parliament.The yatra could have fuelled clashes between Reddy's supports and pro-Telangana activists.The Joint Action Committee (JAC), Telangana Rashtra Samiti, other pro-Telangana groups, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had announced their plans to stall the yatra.Some Congress leaders were also against Reddy's yatra and had even reportedly got Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to ask Reddy to stop his rally.But Reddy had decided to go ahead with the yatra, which he has now stated of resuming at a later time.He has maintained that the yatra was not a political statement, and his detractors were trying to defame him.
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Jagan supporters, Telangana activists call for shutdowns

Hyderabad, May 28: Andhra Pradesh will see two shut downs Saturday, one by supporters of Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy over his detention Friday and another to condemn the death of a Telangana activist.The shutdown by Reddy's supporters has been called in Kadapa district over their leader being taken into preventive custody while he was on his way to a rally in Warangal in the Telangana regions. The planned rally led to widespread violence in Warangal district as Reddy's supporters clashed with those supporting the demand for statehood to Telangana. Reddy is opposed to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. A Telangana activist was killed near Mahbubabad railway station in Warangal district when Reddy's supporters allegedly fired at the crowd gathered to prevent the Congress MP's entry. Police also fired to quell the violence. To condemn the killing of the supporter, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) have called for a Telangana shutdown. Reddy has planned a state-wide tour to console the families of those who committed suicide or died of shock following the death of his chief minister father Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash last year. While Reddy has been escorted back to Hyderabad by police, the Kadapa shutdown is being organised by the district Congress committee. Visakhapatnam, Krishna, Guntur, Anantapur, Chittoor and Kadapa districts in Andhra region of the state Friday saw widespread protests by Reddy's followers following his detention. Telangana political parties joint action committee convener M. Kodandaram said the Telangana bandh Saturday was against the killing of the Telangana activist. Students' Joint Action Committees of Osmania University and Kakatiya University, which are in the Telangana region, have extended support to the shutdown. Telangana activists also held demonstrations and burnt Reddy in effigy at Osmania University and in Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda and Nizamabad districts in Telangana.
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Jagan plays Telangana card, one injured in firing

Hyderabad, May 28: One man was critically injured in Andhra Pradesh Friday when violence broke out between supporters and opponents of Congress parliamentarian Y.S.Jaganmohan Reddy as he was taken into preventive custody while on his way to a controversial rally in Warangal in the state's Telengana region.Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police R.R.Girish Kumar said that Prabhu, a student and activist of the Ambedkar Students' Federation, was in critical condition after sustaining two bullet injuries in firing by Jagan's supporters at Mahbubabad in Warangal district. "We mistook him to have succumbed to the injuries. But, his condition is critical," Girish Kumar told reporters here. Earlier, Home Minister P.Sabita Indra Reddy declared that Prabhu died in firing by gunmen of Jagan's staunch followers, Konda Murali and former minister Surekha, and not in police firing. Girish Kumar said that the gunmen and police opened fire only after the agitators threw stones at the guest room at Mahbubabad railway station where the couple, both legislators, was waiting to receive Jagan. He said a total of nine people, including Prabhu, were injured in the firing and all were being treated at different hospitals. A total of seven cases have been registered and 129 people protesting Jagan's visit to Warangal taken into custody, he added. Jagan was taken into preventive custody at Vangapalli in Nalgonda district, was taken to Hyderabad and set free on a personal bond, the police chief said. The rally was part of a state-wide tour planned by Jagan to console family members of those who committed suicide or died of shock following the death of his father, then chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, in a helicopter crash last year. Supporters of Jagan and Telengana statehood have called for separate shutdowns Saturday. The Kadapa district Congress Committee is also organising a shutdown to protest Jagan's detention. The Telangana political parties joint action committee plans a shutdown in entire Telengana region of the state to condemn the firing against its supporters. Students' Joint Action Committees of Osmania University and Kakatiya University, both of which are in Telengana region, extended support to the protest. Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam, Krishna, Guntur, Anantapur, Chittoor and Kadapa districts in Andhra region of the state saw widespread protests by Jagan's fsupporters following his detention. Telangana activists also held demonstrations and burnt Jagan's effigy at Osmania University as well as in Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda and Nizamabad districts in Telengana region. To prevent Jagan from reaching Warangal by train, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) activists and others seeking a separate Telangana state had blocked railway tracks. This forced the railway authorities to stop the train. Several other trains were also held up. Like his father, Jagan is also opposed to the demand for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh while the TRS is fighting for a separate Telangana state. Jagan was stranded at Vangapalli for three hours while his supporters waiting at nearby Mahbubabad station clashed with Telangana supporters, police said. High drama preceded Jagan's detention. As soon as he began the train journey to Mahbubabad in Warangal district, TRS activists and various other Telangana forums came onto the streets to protest his entry. A group calling itself Telangana Liberation Army came into existence Thursday and issued a statement that it had planted seven bombs on the railway tracks on Jagan's route. However, police dismissed the claim. With violence erupting in Mahbubabad, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah met the home minister and the police chief, where it was decided to take Jagan into custody. Within minutes of Jagan's detention, Konda Surekha swallowed what she said were sleeping pills in front of the media at Mahbubabad. She was shifted to a nearby hospital. Another Jagan supporter and legislative council member P. Padmavathi fainted. She too was admitted to hospital. Jagan told reporters at the Vangapalli railway station that TRS leaders deliberately instigated violence at Mahbubabad to spoil his programme. He said he would return to Warangal to meet members of the bereaved families. "They died after coming to know about YSR's death. It's my duty to pay them tribute," he said as police escorted him back to Hyderabad.
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SCR cancels two trains, partially cancels 10 trains

Hyderabad, May 28 : The South Central Railways today cancelled two trains and partially cancelled ten trains due to tense situation in Telangana Area following Congress MP Y Jagan Mohan Reddys insistence on visiting Warangal as part of his Odarpu Yatra despite strong protests by pro-Telangana agitators.The trains that have been fully cancelled are Train No 338 Vijayawada-Kazipet passenger and Train No 322 Sirpur Town-Kazipet passenger, a press release here said.The trains that were partially cancelled include Train No:2706 Secunderabad-Guntur express, which will run up to Kazipet and return as Train No:2705; Train No:7406 Adilabad-Tirupati Krishna Express that will run up to Kazipet and return as Train No:7405; Train No:7035 Secunderabad-Sirpur Khagnagar express that will run up to Kazipet and return as Train No:7036; Train No:0752 Secunderabad- Manchiryal special that will run up to Kazipet and return as Empty rake; Train No:323 Bhadrachalam-Sirpur Khagnagar passenger that will be terminated at Yelgur and rake will be moved to Kazipet; Train No:2713 Vijayawada-Secunderabad Satavahana express will return from Kesamudram to Vijawayada as Train No:2714; Train No:7201 Guntur-Secunderabad Golconda express will return from Dornakal to Guntur as Train No:7202; Train No:357 Bhadrachallem-Kazipet will return from Chimalpahad; Train No:7234 Sirpur Khagnagar-Secunderabad Bhagyanagar express will run up to Kazipet and return as Train No:7233; and Train No:7405 Tirupati-Adilabad Krishna express will run up to Vijayawada and return as Train No 7406 from Vijayawada-Tirupati.
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Jaganmohan Reddy detained ahead of controversial yatra

Hyderabad, May 28: Police Friday arrested Congress MP Y.S.Jaganmohan Reddy to prevent a showdown between his supporters and opponents as he went ahead with his planned yatra in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh.

Reddy, the son of late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, was held at Vangapalli in Nalgonda district while he was on his way to Warangal by train to console the family members of those who died of shock or committed suicide following his father's death in a helicopter crash last year. The industrialist-turned-politician told reporters after his detention Friday that he would try to visit Warangal again. He is being brought to Hyderabad.
Reddy had refused to drop the yatra despite threats by Telangana activists to stop it at any cost. 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 opposition to the demand for Telangana state in the Lok Sabha. 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 the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party had also announced their plans to stall the yatra. A section of pro-Telangana leaders within the ruling Congress 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.
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Police-agitators clash before Jagan's 'Yatra'

Mahbubabad, Andhra Pradesh, May 28 : Police fired rubber bullets to quell stone-pelting Telangana protestors attacking former Congress Minister Konda Surekha when she arrived at the Mahbubabad railway station just hours before YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was to step down here to start his 'Odarpu Yatra' in Warangal district today leaving at least four injured.A large number of pro-Telangana protestors descended at the railway station this morning, raising slogans and holding demonstrations against Jagan's arrival at Warangal on a six-day tour to console the families who have lost their kins in the wake of Former Chief Minister YSR Reddy's death in a helicopter crash on September 2 last year.Agitating protestors turned furious seeing Konda Surekha and her husband Murali at the Railway Station.
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Train movement between Hyd-Warangal badly affected

Hyderabad, May 28 : The movement of various trains was badly effected between Hyderabad-Warangal in the South Central Railway (SCR) Division due to the disturbance on this route by Telanganaites protesting against Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's 'Odarpu Yatra' in Warangal which began here today.Accoding to the SCR sources several trains in this section were stopped at various places for hours together in view of the reports of removing fish plates and placing tree branches on track and also squatting by the agitators between Warangal-Hyderabad. Reports as many as 20 express trains including Bhagyanagar, A P Express, Krishna Express, Satavahana and Trivandrum Express were stopped at various places giving much inconvenience to passengers.Reports also said that the agitators removed the fish plates at Ghanapur and Raghunathpally and at Mahbubabad and Jangaon and Nalgonda-Warangal Section and stopped movement of trains in the division.
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