Maoist sympathiser Gaddar takes up Telangana cause

Maoist sympathiser and revolutionary balladeer Gaddar Saturday formally launched his new outfit Telangana Praja Front (TPF) to advocate a separate state of Telangana.Stating that mass struggle is the only way to achieve the goal, he said the TPF was not a mere political party but would develop into a strong political force.Addressing the first meeting of the TPF, Gaddar, born and known a Gummadi Vithal Rao, announced that the immediate goal of the TPF would be to put pressure on the central government to table a bill in the winter session of parliament for granting statehood to Telangana.“The ball is in the centre’s court,” said Gaddar, who is likely to wrest the leadership of the Telangana movement from Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao.Gaddar vowed not to rest till the goal is achieved, and said the movement to be launched by the TFP would bring the state and central governments to a standstill.The day-long meeting, attended by representatives of over 60 organisations from various parts of the region, will finalise the aims and objectives of the TPF.“We want our Telangana, self-rule and self-respect. We don’t want anything else,” said Gaddar, who also sang songs in his inimmitable style.Without naming the TRS or its leader, Gaddar said electoral politics alone cannot achieve separate Telangana. “Delhi, which was unmoved by the electoral wins (of TRS), was rattled by the mass movement,” he said, referring to the protests by students and other groups late last year.He pointed out that for 60 years the parties fighting for Telangana could not achieve anything because their struggle was not mass-based.Gaddar, who had actively participated in Telangana movement of 1969, declared that the TPF would try to bring all forces working for a separate Telangana and who are above selfish politics on a common platform.Gaddar accused the Congress of betraying the cause of Telangana. Gaddar said the TPF had not born overnight and pointed out that the consultations with various mass organisations were going on for over a year.Telangana comprises 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh, including Hyderabad. It was after a nine-day fast by TRS chief in December last year that the central government decided to initiate the process for formation of a Telangana state.The government later constituted the Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee to look into the issue after angry public reaction in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.The committee is scheduled to submit its report to the government by Dec 31.
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Shiv Sena attacks Rahul Gandhi, Omar Abdullah

In a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over their recent controversial utterances, the Shiv Sena Saturday said both “crown princes” needed to get their “heads examined at mental hospitals”.In a no-holds barred editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamna, the Sena has said that the manner in which the two youthful leaders have been shooting off their mouths, they pose “a threat to the nation’s integrity”. It said that both “need to get their heads examined at government expense in government mental hospitals”.Starting with Rahul Gandhi, the editorial said that he has completely lost his mental balance and must be immediately shunted to his “mother’s land” (Italy). It suggested that there they could carry out a research on his brain for its “rotten thinking” and the utterance that there is not much difference between the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI ) and the Rahtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).The editorial said that the SIMI has been banned for indulging in terrorist and anti-national activities with its involvement in many terror incidents around the country, including Mumbai.“It is functioning like a ‘chhote miya’ (junior) of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Al-Qaeda in India. On the other hand, the RSS is the fountainhead of nationalism, the Sangh symbolises sacrifices and selfless service to society – How could Rahul compare the two?” the editorial demanded.Hinting at a hidden agenda, the Sena said that Rahul is trying to please the Muslim vote-bank by his utterances.“It will be better if the Muslims themselves put an end to his statements. The difference between SIMI and RSS is the same as the difference between Italian scamster Quattrochi and Shahid Bhagat Singh, or the distance between India and Italy,” the editorial noted sarcastically.In a below-the-belt remark, the editorial pointed out that the reason Rahul is making such statements is he is not getting settled in life though he is 40, though his younger cousin Varun’s marriage has already been fixed.Going on to tackle Omar Abdullah, the edit said that the statements of this crown prince also could not be ignored by anybody.Terming as “kiddish” Omar’s reported remark that Jammu and Kashmir was compelled to join India and that India and Pakistan must discuss the Kashmir issue, the Sena demanded his outster.“His (Omar’s) views are blatantly anti-national and he deserves to be kicked out as the chief minister,” the edit thundered.It reminded how Indian soldiers have been waging a war against Pakistani infiltrators and terrorists on the borders since the past 60 years and over 25,000 Kashmiris have laid their lives so far.“Someday, Pakistan will have to pay the price for all this,” the editorial warned.
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Chandrababu Naidu raises hand on tribal woman

Hyderabad, Oct 9 : Did former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu assault a tribal woman during a meeting in East Godavari district? Yes, says a television channel, which repeatedly telecast the scene but Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) denies it.The visuals show TDP chief raising his hand to beat a woman, snatching the mike from her and even hitting her on her arm to force her to sit down. The main opposition party, however, clarified that Naidu was only trying to restrain her.The incident took place late Friday at Prattipadu in East Godavari district when Naidu was meeting people after visiting laterite mines in Vantada village.During the interaction, a woman supporting the mines criticised politicians for frequently visiting the area. She snatched the mike from another woman to express her views. Fuming at her action, Naidu admonished her and raised his hand as if to hit her. The leader of opposition then snatched the mike from her and hit her arm to force her to sit down.Sakshi television channel, owned by Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, repeatedly telecast the visuals, claiming that Naidu attacked a tribal woman. It said Naidu lost his cool as the woman wanted to pose a question to him.Leaders of the ruling party demanded Naidu's arrest and that he be booked under the Scheduled Castes/Schedukled Tribes Atrocities (Prevention) Act. They also demanded that Naidu immediately resign from the post of leader of opposition."It is shameful for a man who served as chief minister for nine years and leader of opposition for over six years to raise his hand on a woman," said state Minister for Tribal Welfare P. Balarju.Congress legislators and tribal leaders demanded action against the TDP chief.The TDP, however, clarified that Naidu was only trying to pacify two groups of women who were quarrelling with each other. TDP leader Ramesh Rathod alleged that the television channel spread false propaganda against Naidu as the latter was on a campaign to expose illegal mining.
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Andhra government reconstitutes infrastructure corporation board

Hyderabad, Oct 8: Andhra Pradesh government Friday reconstituted the board of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), removing B.P. Acharya as the director following allegations against him in a deal with Emaar Properties.

The government issued orders bringing Ajay Mishra, principal secretary, investment, as the director in place of Acharya, who is the principal secretary of industries department.
The government also named five other bureaucrats as directors - B.R. Meena, Anantaramu, K. Madhusudhana Rao, T. Satyanarana Rao and Vikas Raj.The government continued Shivarama Subramanyan as APIIC chairman.The board has been constituted at a time when the opposition has stepped up the campaign demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the APIIC-Emaar deal.The APIIC has already admitted that Emaar Properties had sold its stake in 535-acre Boulder Hills to Emaar MGF, an offshoot of the Emaar Group without informing it.The APIIC had leased the prime land in Gacchibowli area here, estimated to be worth Rs.2,500 crore, to Dubai-based Emaar Properties for the joint venture, a township-cum-golf course, in 2003.Under the joint venture, APIIC had 49 percent stake but it was reduced to 26 percent and that of Emaar raised to 74 percent after Congress came to power in 2004. Emaar in 2006, without the knowledge of APIIC, signed a development agreement with Emaar MGF for the development of a township. The government realized after nearly four years that it had been taken for a ride and recently issued a legal notice to Emaar.The APIIC chairman Thursday exuded confidence that the issue would be resolved with Emaar as the latter has agreed to take action after verifying the records.The opposition, however, has alleged that APIIC's stake was diluted with the connivance of APIIC officials and is demanding a CBI probe to bring out the facts. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has even alleged that former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and government advisor K.V.P. Ramchandra Rao were also involved in the irregularities.
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