Ganesh procession passes off peacefully in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Sep 22 : The mammoth Ganesh procession passed off peacefully here Wednesday amid unprecedented security.The main procession, comprising hundreds of big idols, passed through the communally sensitive Old City ahead of the immersion of idols in Hussain Sagar Lake. Officials said over 1,000 idols were immersed in the lake since early morning and the process was expected to continue till early Thursday. Heavy rains which lashed the city disrupted the immersion procession for a couple of hours on Wednesday evening. The downpour accompanied by strong winds also hampered immersion. The tallest idol this year was at Khairatabad. Heavy cranes were deployed to lift the 50-feet idol and put it on a truck ahead of immersion. Police said though the main procession had passed off peacefully, they would continue the vigil. Thousands of idols from all parts of state capital Hyderabad and its outskirts were brought to Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city for immersion. More than a million people took part in the festivities. About 35,000 policemen were deployed as part of the massive security while the army was kept on stand-by. Earlier, the afternoon and evening prayers at the historic Mecca Masjid also passed off peacefully. The main procession was stopped some distance away to allow smooth conduct of prayers at the mosque near the historic Charminar. The procession resumed through the communally sensitive area after the prayers. Police Commissioner A.K. Khan was supervising the security arrangements in the area where communal clashes took place in the past. With the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court is set to deliver its verdict in the Ayodhya title suit Sep 24, police have made additional security arrangements in the city. State Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy addressed the gathering from the welcome stage set up by Ganesh procession organisers at Charminar. She stressed the need to maintain peace and communal harmony. State ministers D. Nagender, Mukesh Goud, Hyderabad Mayor Kartika Reddy, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president G. Kishan Reddy and others addressed the devotees. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and other ministers earlier offered prayers to the Ganesh idol at Khairatabad - the tallest idol in the state. This year the idol was 50-foot-tall and had five-heads with a 500-kg laddu in its palm. Meanwhile, two people sustained minor injuries at Moazzamjahi Market when a huge idol fell on the road. A crane was arranged to remove the idol. There was a festive mood in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad with slogan-shouting youth wearing saffron scarves marching towards the lake with the Ganesh idols for immersion. From a cycle to a long truck, the devotees used every possible mode of transport to carry the idols for immersion. More than 50 cranes have been installed at the lake for the immersion of big idols. The main procession with huge idols in different sizes began from Balapur in the Old City in the morning. It covered a distance of 20 km to reach the lake. The procession began after the auction of the traditional 'laddu' at Balapur. Businessman A.G. Sridharbabu bought it for Rs.5.35 lakh. However, the auction was marred by controversy as a woman devotee Sarita accused the organisers of cheating her. Sarita, who had bought the laddu for Rs.5.10 lakh last year, claimed that it was given to another man even though she had offered a price of Rs.5.50 lakh. Meanwhile, the chief minister congratulated the police for peaceful and smooth conduct of the 11-day Ganesh festival and the immersion procession.
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Blast at Andhra hospital, none hurt

Hyderabad, Sep 22 : A blast took place in a hospital owned by an environmental activist at Sompeta in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district. No one was injured but a portion of the hospital was damaged, police said.The blast occurred on the third floor of Mahalakshmi Nursing Home. There was still no word from the police about the nature of explosives used and who could be behind the attack. Y.Krishna Murthy is the convenor of environment protection committee, which is fighting against the proposal to set up a thermal power plant at Sompeta, 600 km from here. His supporters allege that the blast was to threaten him to silence. The committee took out a peace rally after the blast, demanding action against the guilty. The environment protection committee along with other NGOs have been opposing the proposed thermal power project by Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC). It was on their petition that National Environmental Appellate Authority (NEAA) in July overruled the environmental clearance given for the 2,640 MW project coming up at a cost of Rs.12,000 crore. Earlier on July 14, two people were killed and over 100 injured in police firing on protesters. The groups had been protesting against the project on the ground that it would destroy the ecology and endanger their livelihood.
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TRS allays industry apprehensions over Telangana

Hyderabad, Sep 22 : Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) President K. Chandrasekhar Rao Wednesday assured top honchos of the Indian industry that his party would ensure that the movement for separate Telangana does not affect the ongoing business ventures in the region.Allaying apprehensions of industrialists regarding investment climate in view of the ongoing agitation, Rao said TRS was for a peaceful movement for a separate Telangana, bifurcating the Andhra Pradesh state. The industry leaders voiced their concern that the Telangana movement could again affect the industry and business like it did late last year and early this year. They raised questions on chances of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and if it happens, its implications for industry and governance. Rao exuded confidence that a separate Telangana state would soon be a reality with Hyderabad as its capital. The process for state formation would be initiated soon after Srikrishna committee submits its report to the central government by Dec 31. Rao was addressing a CEOs forum organised by the International Market Assessment (IMA). About 150 business leaders including those from leading companies like DuPont, Bank of America, GVK Bio, Matrix laboratories, SabMiller, Apollo Hospitals and Gati attended the closed-door session. "We will also develop Hyderabad as international business hub and in and around the city satellite townships will be created. To create industrialisation throughout the state, we will revitalize district industries centres," said K. Taraka Rama Rao, Rao's son and a legislator. Rama Rao pointed out Hyderabad already has a dominant position in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry producing about 33 percent (worth USD 1.6 billion) bulk drugs of the country. "We will also develop places like Sircilla, Gadwal, Pochampally, Dubbaka which are strong in weaving and handicraft. Telangana will compete with industrially progressed states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka and try to surpass them in terms of growth and progress," he told the industrialists. He said more districts would be created in Telangana state to provide responsive and accountable governance. The meeting of TRS and industry leaders was significant in view of the recent remarks made by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah at national executive committee meeting of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Rosaiah had said that movements like the one for separate Telangana affected investments in the state.
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Army on standby for Ganesh procession in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Sep 22 : The mammoth Ganesh procession began here Wednesday amid unprecedented security with the army on standby in case of an emergency, officials said.Thousands of idols from different parts of the state capital and its outskirts headed towards Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city. There was a festive mood in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad with slogan shouting youth, wearing saffron scarves, marching towards the lake with the idols. From a cycle to a long truck, the devotees used every mode of transport to carry the idols for immersion. More than 50 cranes have been installed at the lake for the immersion of big idols. The main procession with huge idols in different sizes and shapes began from Balapur in the old city. It will reach the lake late in the evening after covering 20 km and passing through several communally sensitive localities. The procession began after the auction of the traditional 'laddu' at Balapur. A.G. Sridharbabu bought it for Rs.5.35 lakh. However, the auction was marred by controversy with a woman devotee Sarita accusing the organisers of cheating her. Sarita, who had bought the laddu for Rs.5.10 lakh last year, claimed that it was given to another man though she had offered a price of Rs.5.50 lakh. Unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the annual procession, which is attended by over a million people. About 35,000 policemen and personnel of the paramilitary Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed. Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K.Khan hoped that the procession would pass off peacefully with the cooperation of all sections of people. He said tight vigil was being maintained at the places of worship to prevent any untoward incident. He said the army was being asked to standby to meet any eventuality. "If necessary we will also use the anti-terrorist force Octopus," he said. With the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court set to deliver the verdict in the Ayodhya title suit on Sep 24, police have made additional security arrangements. Security was also on high alert at the historic Mecca Masjid in the old city, where communal clashes broke out in the past. The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti has set up welcome stages at the Charminar and Moazzamjahi Market to welcome the idols. Labour Minister Mukesh Goud and other political leaders offered prayers to Ganesh idol at Khairatabad. The tallest idol in the state attracts large number of devotees. This year it is a 50-ft, five-headed idol with 500-kg laddu in its palm.
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Army on standby for Ganesh procession in Hyderabad

Sep,22, The mammoth Ganesh procession began here Wednesday amid unprecedented security with the army on standby in case of an emergency, officials said.Thousands of idols from different parts of the state capital and its outskirts headed towards Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city.There was a festive mood in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad with slogan shouting youth, wearing saffron scarves, marching towards the lake with the idols.From a cycle to a long truck, the devotees used every mode of transport to carry the idols for immersion. More than 50 cranes have been installed at the lake for the immersion of big idols.The main procession with huge idols in different sizes and shapes began from Balapur in the old city. It will reach the lake late in the evening after covering 20 km and passing through several communally sensitive localities.The procession began after the auction of the traditional ‘laddu’ at Balapur. A.G. Sridharbabu bought it for Rs.5.35 lakh. However, the auction was marred by controversy with a woman devotee Sarita accusing the organisers of cheating her.Sarita, who had bought the laddu for Rs.5.10 lakh last year, claimed that it was given to another man though she had offered a price of Rs.5.50 lakh.Unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the annual procession, which is attended by over a million people. About 35,000 policemen and personnel of the paramilitary Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed.Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan hoped that the procession would pass off peacefully with the cooperation of all sections of people. He said tight vigil was being maintained at the places of worship to prevent any untoward incident.He said the army was being asked to standby to meet any eventuality. “If necessary we will also use the anti-terrorist force Octopus,” he said. With the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court set to deliver the verdict in the Ayodhya title suit on Sep 24, police have made additional security arrangements.Security was also on high alert at the historic Mecca Masjid in the old city, where communal clashes broke out in the past.The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti has set up welcome stages at the Charminar and Moazzamjahi Market to welcome the idols.Labour Minister Mukesh Goud and other political leaders offered prayers to Ganesh idol at Khairatabad. The tallest idol in the state attracts large number of devotees. This year it is a 50-ft, five-headed idol with 500-kg laddu in its palm.
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Women empowerment important for a powerful nation: Patil

Sep,22, President Pratibha Patil Wednesday said women empowerment is very important for developing India into a powerful nation.“Women empowerment is very important for the development of the nation. If women become powerful, the nation will also become powerful along with them,” Patil said while addressing the platinum jubilee celebration of the All India Marwari Federation here.She said just like a car cannot move without wheels, a nation cannot also progress without its two wheels — men and women.Talking about the business sector, the president said it plays an important role in the prosperity of the country, but it is even more important to maintain ethics in business.“…In an era where newer technological innovation is the need of the hour, it is even more important to maintain ethics at workplace,” she said.Patil said the characteristic of “unity in diversity” in India has made it unique in the world. “In our country we have people of various religions, castes, languages. This uniqueness sets India apart from all other countries,” she said.
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