Smt. Ambika Soni Constitutes Committee to Study Feasibility of Granting Accreditation to Outstation Journalists

New Delhi,(PIB NEWS)Aug,24, In response to requests received from media persons, Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Smt. Ambika Soni has constituted a committee to study the feasibility of granting accreditation to outstation journalists (Outside Delhi). The committee duly constituted, shall also look into the processes likely to be involved for considering the matter.Under the Terms of Reference, the constituted committee shall give its recommendations within a period of six months from the date of its constitution i.e. 20 Aug. 2010. Principal Director General (M&C): Press Information Bureau shall convene the meetings of the committee. The constituted committee has been mandated to give its recommendations to Secretary, I&B within the stipulated time frame of six months. The members of the constituted committee are as follows:
• Shri Raj Chengappa, Editor-in-Chief, (Tribune)
• Ms. Navika Kumar, Political & Economic Editor, (Times Now)
• Shri Asad Raza, Chief of Bureau,( Rozana Rashtriya Sahara)
• Shri Sachidananda Murthy, Resident Editor,(Delhi Malayala Manorama)
• Shri Dinkar Raikar, Group Editor, (Lok Mat, Mumbai)
• Shri Aditya Sinha, Editor-in-Chief,( New Indian Express,Chennai)
• Shri Asim Ali Khan, Editor, (Siasat, Hyderabad)
• Shri Kanaksen Deka, Editor,( Dainik Agradoot,Guwahati)
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Abu Dhabi to raise funds for flood-hit Pakistan

Abu Dhabi, Aug 24 : Abu Dhabi authority will begin a nationwide campaign Wednesday seeking donations from its people to help flood-affected people in Pakistan.As per directives from President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Red Crescent Authority (RCA) will launch a campaign to raise funds in order to provide relief for the flood victims in Pakistan. A meeting held Tuesday at the National Media Council was attended by the directors of television channels, who discussed a unified mechanism for conducting the three-day campaign. Donations will be received at various branches of the RCA, shopping centres as well as through messages sent from mobile phones and pledges registered via call centres.
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Satyam fraud case: Sick Raju makes dramatic appearance in court

Hyderabad, Aug.24 : The tainted founder of Satyam Computer, B Ramalinga Raju, appeared before a local court here today, after avoiding appearance since September last year on health grounds.Raju is being tried for corporate fraud worth between Rs.7, 100 crore and Rs.14, 000 crore.His doctor accompanied Raju, who was granted bail by the Andhra Pradesh High Court last week. The former Satyam chairman, who was arrested on January 9 last year and is currently undergoing treatment for liver infection in the state-run Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences here, was ordered by the court to appear before the trial court once he's discharged.Earlier on July 23, a local court had adjourned the case of examination of Raju through a questionnaire and nine other accused in connection with the scam to July 26. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had on January 20 granted bail to five accused including Raju''s bother B Rama Raju and former CFO of Satyam Computers Vadlamani Srinivas in the case.Raju, resigned as Satyam Computer Services Ltd. Chairman after being charged with corruption and fraud.
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Andhra Pradesh Governor, CM greet people on Raksha Bandhan

Hyderabad, Aug 23 : Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister K Rosaiah today greeted the people of the state on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan In his message, the Governor conveyed his warm and cordial greetings to the people of Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a celebration of emotions and the most sacred relationship between brothers and sisters.''India is known worldwide for its strong family based system at micro level. This festival of Rakhi is a way of expressing care and concern for siblings in the family. On a macro level, this festival fosters the spirit of brotherhood of mankind and unity in diversity. Raksha Bandhan fortifies this relationship,'' the Governor said.Chief Minister K Raosaiah, in his message, greeted Telugu people, specially women and children, in the state and world wide on the occasion of 'Sravana Pournima.' ''Traditionally it symbolises the bondage and love towards the sister and more so the women,'' the Chief Minister added.
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CM to lay foundation for new Kalahasti Temple Rajagopuram

Hyderabad, Aug 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr K Rosaiah will lay foundation for the new Rajagopuram of the Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple at Sri Kalahasthi on August 29 or 30.The Chief Minister held a review meeting on the subject with the Minister for Endowments and senior officials here today.The CVR Group of Companies have volunteered to reconstruct the Rajagopuram, meeting the entire expenditure. Principal Secretary, Revenue, K V Ramanachary showed the designs and blueprints for the new Rajagopuram prepared by the department, to the Chief Minister.He said the new temple tower would be constructed based on the designs of the old structure as per the ''Agama Sastras.'' The construction works would be done under the supervision of the experts and the government, he said. The reconstruction of the Rajagopuram was expected to be completed in two years time, by the end of 2012.
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LSP asks govt to celebrate Telangana Liberation Day on Sept 17

Hyderabad, Aug 23 : The Lok Satta Party (LSP) today demanded that the Government must celebrate Telangana Liberation Day officially on September 17 since integration of Telangana with the Indian Union was a continuation of the country's freedom movement.Addressing a media conference, party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao and Eeda Chennaiah recalled that both Maharashtra and Karnataka celebrate September 17 as the Liberation Day in the districts, which were under Nizam's rule earlier and became part of those states following the states' reorganisation. ''None should ignore that September 17 was the day when the country was actually united,'' they said.''September 17 should be an occasion to introspect to what extent the present day leaders sought to realise the dreams of those who fought for the Nizam state's liberation and union with India. We don't know what happened to the children of Sardar Patel who integrated the princely states with the Indian Union. ''We do not know the inheritors of K M Munshi and Vellodi who served as Governors of the Hyderabad state. The children of Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, the first Chief Minister of Hyderabad, did not live off their father's reputation. Even the children of Mahatma never ran after office. Raj Mohan Gandhi became an MP in his own right and not as a Mahatma Gandhi's scion. In contrast, present day politicians viewed politics as a means to enrich themselves and further the growth of their children and grandchildren and not to serve the public. It is such politicians who are mortgaging the country's freedom and not left wing extremists or terrorists. The Telangana Liberation Day should inspire every one to work for uprooting the politics of loot and plunder and dynastic rule and ushering in people-oriented politics,'' they said.The party leaders announced that LSP President Dr Jayaprakash Narayan would take part in a sit-in at the municipal office in Ongole as part of the party's programme to organise demonstrations at all municipal offices on August 25 demanding elections to urban civic bodies on time. The party's demands include direct election to the positions of municipal chairpersons and Mayors, elected ward governments, and corruption-free rule.
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YSR's son defies Congress leadership, resumes his yatra

Hyderabad, Aug 23: Defying the Congress leadership again, parliament member Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Monday launched the third leg of his "Odarpu (consolation) yatra" in his native Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.The young MP began his road shows in Pulivendula constituency after paying floral tributes at the grave of his father, the late chief minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy (popularly known as YSR), at their Idupulapaya family estate. YSR, a practising Christian, was laid to rest at his family estate after he was killed in a helicopter crash last year. Jagan held back from making any attacks on Chief Minister K. Rosaiah or party leadership. "You all know what is happening in the state today," was all that he said while addressing the gathering in Pulivendula town. Jagan unveiled statues of YSR, addressed ac few road shows and consoled the families of those who died of shock following the death of his father in the helicopter crash. During the two-day yatra, the Kadapa MP would visit parts of the assembly constituency which is being currently represented by his mother Vijayalakshmi. The mini yatra is seen as a prelude to the main yatra Jagan will be launching in Prakasam district Sep 3. A day before that, he will address a public meeting at the temple town of Tirupati to mark the first death anniversary of his father. The Jagan camp is unfazed by the warning of the party's central leadership to either call off the yatra or face disciplinary action. Party sources said the central leadership could take some action against YSR's son after Sep 2. Jagan loyalist and state Mines Minister B.Srinivas Reddy and six of the eight Congress legislators in Prakasam district have announced that they would participate in the yatra despite the warning by the party leadership. Meanwhile, Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammed Ahmedullah Monday said he too would accompany Jagan during the yatra. Social Welfare Minister P.Subhash Chandrabose and two dozen legislators participated in Jagan's yatra in East Godavari district last month. The Congress leadership sees Jagan's yatra as an attempt to mobilise support from both the party and public to destabilise the Rosaiah government.
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Telugu film actresses arrested for prostitution in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Aug 23 : Hyderabad Police on Monday busted a prostitution racket and took Telugu film actresses Saira Banu and Jyoti into its custody along with a host of other girls.The two actresses were arrested along with a woman from Uzbekistan and their customers from an apartment in the posh Kundan Bagh locality here.The identity of the others, who have been arrested on the same charges has, however, not been revealed.Earlier in 2009, another Telugu film actress was arrested for prostitution in Hyderabad.
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