Telangana observes shutdown after Friday's violence

Hyderabad,May 29: Normal life was affected in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday in wake of a general shutdown called by Telangana-Joint Action Committee (T-JAC) to protest violence in Mahbubabad town during the tour of Congress MP and son of former chief minister late Y.S.R. Reddy, Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy, that left 24 people injured.Business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in Warangal, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Karimnagar, Nalgonda and Nizamabad districts. Several T-JAC leaders were taken into preventive custody at Kazipet, Narayankhed and Siddipet towns, police said. The pro-Telangana activists had called for the shutdown, blaming Jagan Mohan Reddy responsible for Friday's violence. Nine people were injured when police fired to quell protesters while seven others were injured in clashes, police said. Eight policemen were also hurt in the violence that broke out in protest against his yatra (rally) to meet families of people who committed suicide or died of shock after his father's death in a helicopter crash last year. Reddy was finally taken into preventive custody by the police on Friday from a train while on way to Warangal. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Osmania University JAC, Kakatiya University JAC and Bharatiya Janata Party have supported the shutdown. According to media reports, lawyers blocked roads near L B Nagar in Ranga Reddy district, while Telangana activists took out motor-bike rallies in Warangal, Karimnagar and other Telangana districts shouting anti-Jagan slogans. Tight security arrangements have been made in Telangana and additional forces were deployed near Osmania University, considered the nerve centre of the statehood movement.
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No merger with Congress in future: Chiranjeevi

New Delhi,May 29: Telugu cine star and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) President Chiranjeevi on Saturday ruled out any merger with the Congress party in the future."The Congress has asked PRP to withdraw from Rajya Sabha polls," said Chiranjeevi after his meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi at 10, Janpath."The PRP has allied with Congress only for Rajya Sabha polls," he added The meeting gained significance after Congress MP and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajshekhar Reddy's son Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy defied the party orders and decided to go ahead with his planned 'Odarpu Yatra,' which caused a lot of violence in the Telangana region. The Praja Rajyam Party, which has 18 MLAs in the 295-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly, is keen on contesting the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The actor-turned politician was asked by the Congress High Command to come here for discussions to reach an understanding on the biennial Rajya Sabha polls, after he announced that his party would contest the election.
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Telangana shutdown: Andhra Govt. asks police to ensure security

Hyderabad,May 29: The Andhra Pradesh Government has instructed the state police to prevent untoward incidents during a shutdown call given by the opposition Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) on Saturday.The Telangana Joint Action Committee (T-JAC) is observing the shutdown in the Telangana region against the 'Odarpu Yatra' that was being led led by former Chief Minister Y S Rajshekhar Reddy's son and Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. Police said all preventive measures have been put in place to avoid any untoward incident in the region, including taking Reddy into custody. The Director General of the Andhra Pradesh Police, R R Girish Kumar, said security forces have been asked to take stern action against those indulging in violence during the shutdown. On Friday, 24 people, including eight policemen, were injured in violence that broke out during Reddy's Yatra in Telangana.Reddy has said he will continue with his week-long 'Odarpu Yatra.'The Yatra was to begin from Mahbubabad in Warangal District on Friday, but opposition activists resisted Reddy's plan.Holding Reddy responsible for the violence in Warangal, the Telangana Joint Action Committee (T-JAC) has called for a shutdown in ten districts of the region. Meanwhile, incidents of pro-Telangana activists resorting to road blockades and stone pelting have been reported from Warangal and Nalgonda and Hyderabad.Reddy's followers created road blockades in Tirupati and set two bogies of Padmavathi Express on fire in Kadapa. They have also given a call for a shutdown in Kadapa District in protest against his arrest.
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87th birth anniversary of NTR observed in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad,May 28: The 87th birth anniversary of matinee-idol, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder-president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N T Rama Rao was observed by his family members by paying floral tributes at 'NTR Ghat' here today.Former AP Chief Minister and NTR's son-in-law N Chandrababu Naidu and his wife Bhuvaneswari, daughter Union Minister for Human Resources Daggubati Purandeswari,son and Rajya Sabha member Harikrishna, another son and actor Balakrishna, his grandsons and others laid wreaths at the NTR Ghat.While remembering her father, Ms Purandeswari said he had secured a place in the hearts of people, who were affectionate to him even now. NTR, who strived hard for the welfare of the people in the state, had launched several welfare programmes for the poor and downtrodden, she said. A doyen of Telugu film industry, Rao was also responsible for safeguarding the self-respect of Telugu people, she said.Meanwhile, NTR's elder son-in-law and Congress MLA Daggubati Venkateswara Rao unveiled the statue of NTR in Karamchedu in Prakasam district where all his family members were present.Dr Venkateswara Rao, husband of Ms Purandeswari, said he has been making arrangements for unveiling the statue since the last six months. All family members of NTR, irrespective of their political affiliation, were invited for the programme.As a mark of respect to the founder-president of the party, the leaders of the TDP had been organising three-day 'Mahanadu' every year, coinciding with the birthday of NTR. This year the 'Mahanadu' began yesterday where the party would pass a number of resolutions.
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Rupees 605 crore under 'Pavalaa Vadee' scheme loans to SHGs

Kakinada, May 29: Andhra Pradesh government has fixed Rupees 605 crore as the target for extending loans under the Pavalaa vadee scheme to the SHGs in East Godavari district during the current year, district collector M Ravichandra has said.Presiding over the bankers' district level advisory committee meeting here yesterday he assured the bankers that the administration would extend all assistance to them for total recovery of the loans.A community based recovery mechanism had already been introduced for this purpose. He advised the bankers to ensure that each branch adopts one village and extends assistance to villagers for their economic uplift, formulating suitable plans. NABARD assistant General Manager Somayajulu said the banks would face difficulties in sanctioning loans to SHGs unless the recovery mechanism was improved and sought the cooperation of the district administration to lay more stress on this aspect.
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