U.S. Engagement with Muslim Communities Worldwide

Hyderabad, july,08, State Department launches third installment of'Conversations with America'On Friday, July 9,2010, Steven Clemons, Director of the New America Foundation's American Strategy Program will hold a conversation with Farah Pandith, Special Representative to Muslim Communities, on theUnited States' engagement with Muslim communities around the world.The discussion will be moderated by Cheryl Benton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Public Affairs. The event will be streamed live on DipNote, the Department of State's official blog at 11:15 a.m. (EDT). You will have the opportunity to participate through the submission of questions, some of which will be selected for response during the live broadcast. Submit your questions now here on DipNote. This is the third in the new Conversations with America video series recently launched by the Bureau of Public Affairs in which the State Department's senior leadership holds monthly conversations live online with leaders of prominent non-governmental organizations. Discussion topics include foreign policy and global issues. The forums provide views of how leaders from the foreign affairs community engage the Department on pressing foreign policy issues and how both the U.S.government and civil society are working across the globe on issues that concern Americans most, ============================================

Congress plays down Jagan’s decision to resume yatra

Hyderabad,july,08, The Congress Wednesday sought to play down party MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy’s decision to resume his ‘Odarpu’ yatra’ despite reservations on the part of the central leadership.“I am sure the honourable MP knows what the party line is. It is not an issue we are worried about,” party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said here.Asked if disciplinary action would be taken against Jaganmohan Reddy, Natarajan said she was not aware of any such move.Though the party had given Jagan, as the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s son is popularly known, an implicit warning Tuesday against breaching party discipline, a senior party leader later said that the yatra was an emotional issue for the MP.Jagan Wednesday left for Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh to resume his yatra amid speculation that he plans to float a new political party. In Srikakulam, he is to visit families of those who died of shock or committed suicide following the death of his father in a helicopter crash Sep 2 last year.Party sources said that Union Law Minister M. Veerapa Moily, who is party incharge of Andhra Pradesh, is expected to give his assessment of Jagan’s decision to resume his yatra once he return from a visit abroad.
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YSR's son resumes yatra, attracts huge crowds

Hyderabad, July 8: Defying the Congress leadership, party MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Thursday launched his 'Odarpu' yatra in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district attracting huge crowds on the birth anniversay of his father and deceased chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.Unfazed by the central leadership's warning not to cross the limit, the young leader set out on a three-day tour to console family members of those who died of shock after the death of his father YSR in a helicopter crash last year. Visiting different villages, Jagan called on the families, consoled them and spent time with them. He also had food with the bereaved families. Though no minister or party legislator was present, the Kadapa MP received tremendous public response in towns and villages. Jagan made no reference to the Congress leadership, which had warned him of disciplinary action over the yatra.Party sources said the leadership may take some action against him after a few days. It did not want to move in haste as Jagan would then get public sympathy. Thousands lined up both sides of the streets and stood on rooftops to welcome Jagan in Itchapuram town. He unveiled a statue of his father at the site where YSR ended his 68-day padyatra in 2003. The 1,400-km-long padyatra had catapulted YSR to power a year later. Addressing people in a style which reminded people of his father, Jagan was impressed by the huge turnout. "My father has not left me orphaned. He has left behind such a huge family," he said to loud cheers. Meanwhile, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah denied that the party leadership has changed its stand on the Jagan issue. He also denied that he took a U-turn. Rosaiah had asked his cabinet colleagues and legislators to stay away from Jagan's tour. On Wednesday evening, Rosaiah said in New Delhi that the leadership was not against the yatra but the manner in which it was conducted. The leadership appears worried over the possibility of Jagan emerging powerful in the party. After YSR's death last year, the followers of Jagan wanted to make him the chief minister but the leadership declined to. Jagan has already visited a couple of districts to console some families. However, his attempt to visit Warangal district in Telangana May 28 despite a warning by the leadership and protests by pro-Telangana groups triggered violence.
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South West monsoon vigorous over coastal AP, active over Telangana

Hyderabad, Jul 8 : Southwest monsoon has been vigorous over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and active over Telangana, with rain occurring at most places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and at a few places over Rayalaseema.The rainfall recorded in cm are Nandigama 9, Koyyalagudem 8, Avanigadda, Gudivada and Nuzvid, Kunavaram, Piduguralla and Sattenapalli 7 each.The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Armoor, Atchampet and Mangalagiri, Madhira, and Narsipatnam 6 each, Bapatla, Guntur, Bheemgal, Chintalapudi, Mancherial, Metpalli, Narsampet, Paleru Bridge, Repalle and Tenali 5 each, Machilipatnam, Ongole, Vijayawada, Jangaon, Kandukur, Karimnagar, Sultanabad, Miryalguda, Suryapet, Mudhol, Navipet, Paderu, Rajahmundry and Tiruvuru 4 each. Narsapur, Addanki, Yerragondapalem, Atmakur, Bhimadole, Bhimavaram, Eluru, Koderu, Polavaram, Tanuku, Bhongir, Bodhan, Nizamsagar, Chinnoor, Dummagudem, Yellandu, Kaikalur, Peddapuram, Ramayampet and Sangareddy 3 each. Moderate to rather heavy rain/thundershowers would occur at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and may occur over Telangana.Light to moderate rain/thundershowers would occur at a few places over Rayalaseema. Intermittent spells of rain/thundershowers are likely in the city. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would hover around 28 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively, Met office here said.
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Rosaiah offers CM's post to Naidu for a week

Hyderabad, July 8 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Thursday offered his post to opposition leader N.Chandrababu Naidu for a week.The offer was made during a debate in the assembly on the alleged illegal projects constructed by the Maharashtra government across the Godavari river. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief criticised the government for failing to stop the projects and protect the state's interests. "If the chief minister wants, this problem can be solved in 10 minutes," Naidu said. The Congress leader said: "Why 10 minutes? I will give you one week. I will leave the office. You come here and solve the problem." Rosaiah asked the opposition parties to cooperate with the government in dealing with the issue. He advised the TDP president to give his suggestions in writing so that these are incorporated in the letter to be written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "If you want I will show you the letter before sending it to the PM," Rosaiah said. Earlier, Naidu said though the Congress was ruling both the state and the country, the state government had failed to stop Babli project being built by Maharashtra. The TDP alleged that the illegal projects will take away the state's share of waters and badly hit farmers in Telangana region.

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SCR to run 6 Spl trains between Hyderabad and Ajmer

Hyderabad, Jul 8 : The South Central Railway (SCR) will run six special trains between Hyderabad and Ajmer to clear the extra rush of passengers.The Hyderabad-Ajmer Special train will depart Hyderabad on July 16, 23 and 30 (Fridays) at 2135 hrs and arrive Ajmer at 1430 hrs on the second day (Sundays).In return the train will leave Ajmer on July 18 and 25 and August 1 (Sundays) at 2245 hrs and arrive Hyderabad at 1400 hrs on Tuesday.The trains will stop at Medchal, Kamareddi, Nizamabad, Basar, Dharmabad, Mudkhed, Nanded, Purna, Parbhani, Jalna, Aurangabad, Manmad, Bushawal, Khandwa, Itarsi, Bhopal, Sehore, Shujalpur, Berchha, Ujjain, Nagda, Kota, Bundi, Maldalgarh, Chanderia, Bhilwara, Bijaynagar and Nasirabad in both directions, a press release here said.
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Kadapa district named after YSR

Hyderabad, July 8 : Andhra Pradesh government Thursday renamed Kadapa district as YSR district on the birth anniversary of late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who was popularly known by his initials.The state government issued a notification, renaming the native district of YSR. Ignoring objections from the opposition parties and using the powers under Andhra Pradesh Districts (Formation) Act, 1974, the government issued the order. The records in the state gazette have also been accordingly changed. The state cabinet last month decided to name Kadapa district as YSR district as a mark of tribute to the chief minister who was killed in a helicopter crash Sep 2 last year. The Congress government initially wanted to rename Kadapa as Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Kadapa district. Since the name was too long and also since the former chief minister was popular as YSR, the cabinet decided to rename it as YSR district. Kadapa, in the Rayalaseema region, was part of the area ceded to the British by Nizam, the ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad State.
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Andhra Pradesh remembers YSR on birth anniversary

Hyderabad,July 8: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K.Rosaiah led the state in paying tributes to his predecessor Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy on his birth anniversary Thursday. The popular leader died in a helicopter crash Sep 2 last year. "A heartfelt remembrance of the winner of people's hearts. Our government will work every second to ensure that your immortal smile shows up on every face of the state," said a government advertisement in newspapers. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) held a meeting to remember YSR, as the late leader was popularly called. Addressing the legislators, Rosaiah said people could never forget YSR for the welfare schemes he initiated. He denied that his government was trying to belittle YSR by holding an assembly session on his birth anniversary. Instead, he said, the government was celebrating the birth anniversary on a grand scale. He also denied that he was trying to stall the 'Odarpu' yatra of YSR's son and Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. As part of the yatra, Reddy will visit families of those who died of shock following YSR's death. Rosaiah unveiled a portrait of YSR in the state assembly building.
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