Verdict on Nityananda’s bail plea Friday

The Karnataka High Court Thursday reserved for Friday its verdict on the bail plea of sex-scam hit self-styled godman Swami Nityananda who has been behind bars for the last 50 days.B.V. Acharya, Nityananda’s lawyer, told the court that his client never claimed he was a ’sanyasi’ (one who has renounced all worldly pleasures) and couples were welcome to attend his teachings. Nityananda, facing several criminal charges, including rape, is a spiritual teacher, he said.Pleading for early bail to his client, Acharya said married couples too attended his discourses and he never opposed marriage or married life.The bail plea was opposed by the prosecution which said he was facing serious charges and investigation was still on The court then reserved its verdict for Friday. Nityananda, who has a sprawling ashram at Bidadi, about 30 km from Bangalore, was arrested from Himachal Pradesh April 21, more than a month-and-a-half after a TV channel telecast video footage showing him in a sexual act with a woman, believed to a Tamil film actress.Nityananda claimed the footage was morphed.
=============================================

Andhra BJP chief receives threatening letter

Hyderabad, June 10 : The president of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Andhra Pradesh unit Thursday received a threatening letter allegedly from Lashkar-e-Taiba, asking him to leave Hyderabad.G.Kishan Reddy, the lone BJP legislator in the state assembly, received the letter written in Urdu through post. He handed over the same to the police. The letter asked Kishan Reddy to leave Hyderabad. The sender, who claims to be from "suicide bomber cell of Islamic Republic of Hyderabad, Lashkar-e-Taiba" threatens to kill "Hindus" if Kishan Reddy fails to leave Hyderabad. The letter also threatens to destroy the RSS office in Begum Bazar area. The sender accused Kishan Reddy of creating trouble during the recent communal clashes in the old city of Hyderabad. Kishan Reddy handed over the letter to Abids police station. Police said they would investigate if the letter was sent by some terror group or not. A row over the land of a 'Gowshala' (cow shed) is suspected to be the reason behind the threat. The 'Gowshala' was set afire by some unidentified persons during the riots in April. The BJP leader later met Director General of Police R.R. Girish Kumar to brief him about the threatening letter.
===============================================

New industrial policy soon

Hyderabad, Jun 10 : Andhra Pradesh major industries minister Kanna Laxminarayana today said the state government would soon announce the industrial policy for 2010-2015.Talking to newspersons, here he said the department would submit the recommendations to Chief Minister K Rosaiah tomorrow and the new policy would be "better" than the earlier one of 2005-2010.The minister denied reports in a section of the press that some incentives for industries which were announced in 2005-2010 would be discontinued in the new policy.He said more incentives would be given for industries with a view to attract investments. He said the state had attracted investments worth Rs 3.49 lakh crore for 2007-2010. Out of this, Rs 1.10 lakh crore projects are in various stages and a project worth Rs 37000 crore would be going on stream soon.While admitting that there were some obstructions in investments during the disturbances over Telangana and other issues, he said industry captains were eager to investment in the state in view of the incentives provided by the state government for industrial growth.He denied reports of slowdown in industrial growth due to lack of new investments, stating that Andhra Pradesh was in the forefront in attracting the industrial bigwigs in the state.In the recent report of World Bank, Andhra Pradesh stood second in attracting investments and a private firm in their survey stated that Andhra Pradesh was number one in attracting the investments.Stating that the investments in Andhra Pradesh were increasing by 20pc every year for the last four years, Mr Laxminarayana said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would soon lay the foundation stone for an electrical equipment company to be set up by BHEL and NTPC at Mannavaram in Chittoor District.He said two major industries will come up with an investment of Rs 9000 crore in Kadapa and some other major projects in various districts of the state.Out of 110 Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in the state, the highest number in the country, at present 73 SEZs were working and there was no problem for land acquisition as the government was acquiring lands at 15pc from the private parties. The remaining land was provided by the state from waste lands, assigned and government land, he added.
=============================================

APCC President meets Rosaiah discusses various matters

Hyderabad, Jun 10 : Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President D Srinivas met Chief Minister K.Rosaiah and discussed party matters including fee reimbursement of backward classes students in the state. According to party sources, Mr Srinivas held discussions with the Chief Minister at camp office yesterday and urged him to continue with the scheme of fee reimbursement of students for the backward classes. He also reportedly discussed the ensuing by-elections in the state as the party has decided to contest the elections.There was a rush for the Congress ticket as the aspirants made a beeline to the party headquarters 'Gandhi Bhavan' and the party Chief reportedly directed them to concentrate on their constituencies instead of making the rounds of the leaders' houses.By-elections are due in August in Sirpur, Mnncherial, Chennur, Warangal West, Yellareddy, Nizamabad urban, Siddipet, Huzurabad, Dharmpapuri, Korutla, Siricilla and Vemulawada constituencies. Mr Srinivas has already convened a meeting of aspirants and elected representatives of Adilabad and Karimnagar district giving enough indications that the ruling party was ready to enter the fray and the leadership is now grappling with the problem of shortlisting the candidates.Mr Srinvias himself was quite serious about his plans to contest from Nizamabad urban seat and had held consultations with his supporters in the last two weeks, sources said.The Congress is confident of winning majority seats in Telangana area, sources said.
===============================================