Pricol Travel plans two acquisitions

Hyderabad, June 27 : Pricol Travel, part of the Coimbatore-based Rs.1,500-crore Pricol Group, is looking at acquiring two companies and hopes for a three-fold increase in its turnover.Vikram Mohan, Director, Pricol Travel, told reporters here Monday that the company planned to acquire two firms in corporate and leisure travel over the next 24 months. The acquisitions are expected to be of the value of Rs.150 crore.The travel management company is already in talks and hopes to complete one acquisition by the end of the current financial year.Pricol expects Rs.120 crore revenues during the current year but with the acquisition it is likely to cross Rs.200 crore. The revenues in the third financial year will be Rs.350 crore, he said.The company, which is focused only in south India, plans to expand its operations to the north with the two acquisitions.It already has a boutique leisure resort in western Ghats close to Coimbatore and three other properties are under construction. "We will add eight new properties in five years under the Tamara brand in the form of boutique hotels, wilderness lodges, and luxury villas," Mohan said.With plans to enter cruise-cum-leisure segment in a big way, Pricol announced launch of CruiseBay lounge in Hyderabad. CruiseBay, which claims to be India's first cruises-only holiday company, will open the lounge at Pricol's office.Nikhil Thakurdas, CruiseBay director, said the lounge, the sixth such in India, would sell cruises for 28 cruise liners across the world. The firm already has sent over 500 passengers on cruise holiday from five cities.He feels cruising has a huge potential in India. The market is growing at 15 percent per year.Out of 12 million outbound travellers in 2010, only 75,000 went on a cruise holiday.He attributed this small number to misconceptions among Indian travelers about cruising as a holiday.
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Another Satya Sai Trust member questioned

Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 27: Police today questioned another Satya Sai Central Trust member V Srinivasan here in connection with the seizure of a huge amount of cash which was being taken to Bangalore.The trustee, Srinivasan, who received summons from police two-days back, arrived here from Chennai in the morning to be present before the police.He was questioning by the police at Satya Sai Deemed University administrative building in connection with the recent seizure of Rs 35 lakh from Puttaparthi in the district.As part of the probe into the cash seizure, police had so far questioned Trust member R J Ratnakar, who was also nephew of the late Spiritual Guru Sathya Sai Baba, besides Pradhan, Chief Security Officer of ''Yajur Mandir'' -- the private chamber of Sai Baba and one Venkatesh, personal assistant of Trustee Srinivasan.Police were also in the process of questioning one more person identified as Sadashiv, who is allegedly related to Harishnanda against whom they had already served a notice. However, he had sought some time to appear before the police.Three people were arrested in connection with the seizure of Rs 35 lakh in cash. However, the trio Harishnanda Shetty, Chandrashekhar Murthy alias Shekhar and engineer Sohan Shetty were granted conditional bail last week.Harishnanda Shetty was driver of a four-wheeler, allegedly belonging to the Sathya Sai Central Trust, which was transporting Rs 35 lakh and was confiscated during a vehicle check at Kodikonda check post under Chilamanthur police station limits bordering Karnataka on June 18.The cash was recovered a day after ''Yajur Mandir'' was opened at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi and it was disclosed that it contained 98 kg of gold, 307 kg of silver, apart from Rs 11.56 crore.
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Light to moderate rain in few places Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Hyderabad, Jun 27: Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over next 48 hours, met office said today.Isolated rain or thundershowers would occur over Rayalaseema during the same period.The outlook for subsequent two days is-- there would be no large change.The sky condition would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood and rain or thundershowers would occur in parts of city. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 33 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively.Observations recorded till 0830 hours today said rain occurred at a few places over Telangana. Isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.Sirpur (Adilabad dist) recorded a heavy rainfall of 9 cm.The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Asifabad (Adilabad dist) 5, Miryalguda (Nalgonda dist), Nizamsagar (Nizamabad dist) 3 each, Nalgonda, Nandigama, Banswada (Nizamabad dist), Paleru Bridge (Krishna dist), Perur (Khammam dist), Ramayampet (Medak dist) 2 each and Adilabad, Hakimpet AP, Ramagundam, Atchampet (Guntur dist), Boath, Chinnoor, Khanapur, Luxettipet & Utnoor (all Adilabad dist), Eluru (West Godavari dist), Eturnagaram (Warangal dist), Ibrahimpatnam & Tandur (both Rangareddy dist), Jagitiyal & Manthani (both Karimnagar dist), Kamareddy (Nizamabad dist), Madhira (Khammam dist), Nuzvid (Krishna dist) one each, the bulletin said.
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Final hearing on TDP rebel MLA's disqualification tomorrow

Hyderabad, June 26 : The final hearing on pending disqualification petition given by TDP over its rebel candidate MLA Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar, is likely to be heard tomorrow while disciplinary action against Congress MLAs will be delayed futher.Speaker Nadendla Manohar will summon rebel TDP MLA tomorrow for a final hearing in connection with the pending disqualification petition submitted by TDP seeking his disqualification for anti-party activities, particularly moving with YSR Congress Party headed by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, according to sources here.It is understood that the Legislature Secretariat had already sent final notice to Mr Reddy, who represents the Kovvur Assembly constitutency in Nellore district.The rebel TDP legislator and the Telugu Desam Legislature Party (TDLP) would appear before the Speaker tomorrow and day after tomorrow respectively and will decide the fate of Prasanna Kumar soon after hearing versions from the both sides, the sources added. Meanwhile, disciplinary action against Congress MLAs loyal to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of YSR Congress is likely to be delayed further as the state leadership intends to wait till a decision by the Secretariat is taken on the disqualification petitions pending against K Surekha (Parakal), G Srikanth Reddy (Rayachoti), C Adinarayana Reddy (Jammalamadugu) and A Amarnath Reddy (Rajampet).Speaker Mr Manohar, who is leaving for foreign tour on June 30, would decide the ruling party petitions only after returning from tour.
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4 killed in road accident

Medak, Jun 27 : Four people were killed and three others injured, one of them seriously, when the lorry in which they were travelling overturned at Pulkal mandal in the district, early today.According to Jogipet Circle Inspector Krishna, the mishap occurred when the fertilizer-laden lorry proceeding to Allapuram via Sangareddy from Hyderabad overturned at Hunnapur village in Pulkal mandal. While three people were killed on the spot, another person succumbed to injuries on the way to local area government hospital.The injured were shifted to the local government hospital and the seriously injured lorry driver was shifted to Osmania Hospital in Hyderabad, police added.
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Tulasi Reddy criticises oppn on growth rate

Hyderabad, Jun 25 : 20-Point Economic Programme Chairman N Tulasi Reddy has ridiculed the opposition's criticism that the growth rate and administration has become static and is below expectations.Talking to reporters at Secretariat yesterday, he said what Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has achieved in terms of growth rate was a litmus test to his rule.Mr Reddy said over last year's growth rate, which was 8.55 per cent, this year it registered an increase to 9.22 per cent. In agriculture, the growth rate stood at 9.1 per cent this year, while the National rate was 6.61 per cent, he claimed.On the industrial front, the state had registered a growth of 8.45 per cent while the corresponding figure for National level was 7.87 per cent, and in the services sector growth in state has 9.64 per cent, while the National figure was 9.38 per cent.Mr Reddy further pointed out that the per capita income for Andhra Pradesh has been raised by 18.49 per cent during 2010-2011 as compared to the past two years.He appealed to the opposition not to under estimate Mr Reddy's rule but make estimations over the rule in terms of the data/facts available.
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TDP to convene oppn party meeting on farmers' issue

Hyderabad Jun, 25 : Senior Telugu Desam Party leader Kodela Siva Prasad Rao has said that his party would soon convene all opposition party meeting on the farmers' issue and accused the state government of giving assurances to the farmers that their problems would be solved, even while failing to act on any of those promises.Talking to mediapersons at NTR Trust Bhavan yesterday, Mr Prasad alleged that the government had failed miserably in addressing the farmers' issues. Though the government has given assurances and promised to work for farmers' welfare, it has failed to execute these assurances on the ground level, he stated.Reiterating the TDP would continue its fight against state government until farmers get justice due to them, the senior leader contended that the TDP has decided to convene all-party meeting with like-minded opposition parties to discuss the issue. Mr Prasad stated that the all-party meeting would discuss the issues and try to find a solution to long pending farmers' problems.The meeting would also discuss the steps to be taken for the farmers’ upliftment and their welfare and will be aimed at mounting pressure on the state government to take steps for the welfare of farmers, he said He said the party has also decided to organise a national level workshop on farmers’ problems. The workshop would be attended by agriculture scientists, farm officials and others and guide the farmers.
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister holds review meeting on horticulture

Hyderabad, Jun 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked Horticulture Minister Ramreddy Venkat Reddy and other officials to formulate an action plan as there is every scope of getting more funds from the Planning Commission in the ensuing five year plan.He held the review meeting on horticulture at the secretariat here yesterday, an official release said. Mr Reddy enquired about the progress achieved in the various schemes of the Horticulture department such as National Horticulture Mission, Rashtriya Krushi Vikas and Yojana and Oil Palm Development Scheme. He also reviewed the progress in the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, oil palm under the Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project.Officials informed the Chief Minister that since 2003, the area under cultivation in Horticulture has increased by 22.73 per cent while the production has increased 72.25 per cent. The Annual plan for the year 2011-12 has been prepared with an amount of Rs 1234 crore.New initiatives launched by the department are semi permanent sprinkler system, cold storage rentals, good agriculture practices, assistance to borewells and diesel electric pumps for oil palm cultivation and urban horticulture.In this connection, the Chief Minister launched Horticulture Alert System, a Voice Message system to inform the farmers on horticulture schemes, weather and pesticide related matters.The Chief Minister asked the officials to take immediate steps to set up cold storage units in Rangareddy, Medak and Mahboobnagar districts which supply majority of vegetables and fruits to the twin cities. He also directed the finance department officials to clear the dues amounting to Rs 59 crore of the Micro Irrigation department for the year 2009-10 and ensure phase-wise clearance with regard to the dues pertaining to 2010-11.Mr Reddy recalled his letter to Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar wherein he has asked to provide funds for oil palm cultivation in the State in order to reduce the import of palm oil spending crore of rupees.Mr Reddy asked the officials to take steps in this regard. The Chief Minister has assured to look into the issue of stopping collection of VAT charges from oil palm farmers.
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Rain occurs in Telangana and Costal AP

Hyderabad, Jun 22 : Rain occurred at a few places over Telangana while isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh.bulletin from Meteorological Centre here today said weather has been dry over Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Kaleswaram (Karimnagar dist), Kamareddy (Nizamabad dist) & Sompeta (Srikakulam dist) 4 each, Parkal (Warangal dist) 3, Asifabad (Adilabad dist) 2 and Adilabad, Bhadrachalam, Medak, Ramagundam, Chinnoor, Khanapur, Nirmal & Sirpur (all Adilabad dist), Mulugu (Warangal dist), Nizamsagar (Nizamabad dist) & Ramayampet (Medak dist) one each.Forecast and Farmers' weather bulletin valid until the morning of June 24, 2011 was that light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar of Telangana. Isolated rain or thundershowers would occur over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & in the remaining districts of Telangana and could occur over Rayalaseema. Outlook for subsequent two days was that there will be no large change.  Forecast for Hyderabad City and Neighbourhood valid until the morning of June 24, 2011 was sky condition would be generally cloudy. Rain or thundershowers may occur in some parts of city.The Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 36 & 23 degrees Celsius respectively, the bulletin said.
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Minister distributes Gas stoves to HIV patients

Kakinada, Jun 22 : The Minister for stamps and registrations Thota Narasimham today distributed gas stoves to 29 HIV patients families at a function held at Immanuel colony in Katravulapalli village near here under the auspices of St Paul Trust, a voluntary service organisation.He has complimented the Trust' Chairman Vijaya for extending the assistance in both cash and kind to the HIV infected and affected families for the past eleven years.also distributed rice to the HIV affected families on the occasion and assured to provide the basic infrastructure facilities and other amenities to the colony residents. Later he visited Kandregula village and distributed Rs 5,000 cash assistance to two fire accident victims families there.He has instructed the Tahasildar to sanction houses under Indiramma scheme to the fire accident victims. Earlier the Minister laid foundation stone for the Rs 55 lakh road works in Jaggampet that were damaged in the recent Jal cyclone.
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Light to moderate rain in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over next 48 hrs

Hyderabad, Jun 16: Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the next 48 hours.

The sky would be generally cloudy. Rain or thundershowers may occur in parts of the city. THE maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 35 and 22 degrees Celsius, respectively.Observations recorded till 0830 hours today said rain occurred at a few places over Telangana. Isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Weather has been dry over Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Eturnagaram (Warangal dist), Jagitiyal & Metpalli (both Karimnagar dist), Kalwakurthy (Mahabubnagar dist), Khanapur (Adilabad dist) 2 each and Hakimpet AP, Mahabubnagar, Achampet & Nagarkurnool (both Mahabubnagar dist), Paderu (Visakhapatnam dist), Sriramsagar (Nizamabad dist), Utnoor (Adilabad dist), Venkatapuram (Khammam dist) one each, the bulletin said.
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High Court granted stay on local body elelctions

Hyderabad, Jun 16 : In the wake of an appeal made by the AP Sarpanches' Association over the contentious issue of reservations in the ZPPs and MPPs, a division bench of the High Court today granted a 'stay' on the local body elections.The stay was given over the reservation quota system communicated to the Court by the state government and the Court also directed to stall the GO that stipulated the reservation system for the said ZPPs and MPPs.In view of the Court's stay, the much-awaited elections to the Local Bodies have been put under wraps once again by the AP Sarpanches Association, who contended that the cited quota for candidates drawn from weaker sections exceeds the ceiling quota - 50 per cent - as fixed by the Supreme Court.Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner Ramakanth Reddy while talking to the media persons today stated that the government-announced quota details furnished to the state High Court is invalid.He said the elections would be held only after the government sends a revised list of details related to reservations for the Local Bodies.Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana was also discussed with the Chief Minister on the issthe crisis over the local body elections was not cleared, the government has not option to bring an Ordinance for the appointment of Special Officers to the Local Body institutions, according to sources here.
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Two arrested for Hyderabad gold robbery

Hyderabad, June 15 : Hyderabad police Wednesday arrested two people and recovered one kilogram gold a few hours after two Mumbai brothers were robbed of five kilograms of gold, police said.Both the accused are also from Mumbai while the police are still on the lookout for the third accused and four kilograms of gold, police sources said.Three youngsters on a motorcycle attacked two jewellers Tuesday night and snatched a bag containing gold ornaments weighing five kilograms at Gunfoundry area in Abids, a major commercial centre here.As the jewellers, Rakesh and Sonu, were waiting for an autorickshaw after coming out of a jewellery shop, three robbers allegedly attacked them. one of them attacked Rakesh with a knife, inflicting injuries while the others snatched a bag from his brother Sonu. The robbers sped away, police said.Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that the two merchants were going to different shops in the city to sell the ornaments.This was the second robbery in the busy Abids area after a jeweller was robbed of two kilograms gold ornaments in broad daylight in front of Abids police station May 20.Taking a serious note of the robberies, the police commissioner Tuesday night suspended Abids police inspector K. Shiva Kumar and issued a charge memo to Abids Assistant Commissioner of Police P.V.G.Vijay Kumar for alleged negligence in discharge of duties.Meanwhile, during the overnight raids, police recovered eight kilograms gold from a hotel in Ameerpet area and arrested one person. Police were questioning him.
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Speaker suffers minor injury

Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 15 : Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar sustained minor injury after a bull hit him with the rear leg when he was participating in ''Eeruvaka'' (commencement of farming activities) at Tadikonda Village of the district today.Police said when the Speaker was formally inaugurating 'Eruvaka' programme by symbolically ploughing the field, one of the bulls, which was tethered to the plough, hit him with the rear leg. However, the Speaker sustained only a minor injury to his chest and continued with other programmes.Police said the bull was frightened when a large number of people, who gathered there, acknowledged the inauguration by blowing whistles and applauded. =================================================

Begins Hyderabad-Dubai flight; 2nd city in India

Hyderabad, Jun 15 : Low coat UAE Airlines ''flydubai'' inaugurated its second major Indian route with the start of operations to one of the fatest growing cities in the world -- Hyderabad.The new route is ''flydubai''s second to India and expands its network to 37 operational destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the fringes of Europe. it has been operating from earlier.Flight FZ435, scheduled to fly three times a week, landed at GMR Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport on June 12, following a three hours and 45 minutes flight from Dubai's Terminal 2.Airline CEO Ghaith AI Ghaith told media here today that with 17 new 747 Boeing aircraft, India will account for six of the 530 flights a week for the budget airline. ==================================================

Fire in bogie, train detained

Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 15: A major accident was averted with the timely detection of fire in one of the bogies of Nizamuddin-Visakhapatnam Link Express (12862) after it was detained at Vatluru Station, near here, today.Railway officials said the fire was noticed in the eighth bogie of the express train. The train was immediately halted at Vatluru Station and the bogie detached. However, the train was allowed to run after a 90-minute delay. Fire broke out in the bogies due to a technical snag, Railway officials said.
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Southwest Monsoon covers entire Andhra Pradesh : heavy rain in Coastal Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, Jun 15: Southwest monsoon has further advanced over remaining parts of Telangana and Coastal Andhra Pradesh and thus covered entire Andhra Pradesh state today.Under its influence, moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers would occur at many places over Telangana and in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari of Coastal Andhra Pradesh over next 48 hours.Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Rayalaseema and in the remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the same period.The outlook for subsequent two days is there would be increase in rainfall, the Met Office said here today.The sky would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood and rain or thundershowers would occur in parts of city over next two days.The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 34 and 23 Degrees Celsius respectively.
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Mumbai police get cracking in journalist murder case

Mumbai, June 14 : Under pressure from the government and media organizations, the Mumbai police got cracking on the investigations into journalist Jyotirmoy Dey's murder, transferring an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) suspected of threatening the scribe, police said Tuesday.

ACP Anil Mahabole, the in-charge of the Azad Maidan division of south Mumbai, was abruptly shunted late Monday to an insignificant post in the local arms constabulary in Naigaon, an officer said.Mahabole already has several pending inquiries against him and has been under a cloud for threatening another Mumbai journalist, T. K. Dwivedi, a colleague of Dey."A few weeks ago, when I was arrested in connection with an Official Secrets Acts case, Mahabole came and threatened me inside the Governemnt Railway Police lock-up room. I have lodged a separate complaint in this regard and the matter is being investigated," Dwivedi, who goes by the alias of 'Akela', told IANS Tuesday.Two weeks before Dey was killed, Mahabole had spoken to him, but Dey did not reveal the nature of the conversation, he added.Dey was allegedly threatened by Mahabole a few years ago when he had named him as one of the Mumbai police officers having connections with underworld mafia don Dawood Ibrahim's gang.Mumbai police on Monday also released a sketch of one of the four suspected killers who pumped bullets into Dey Saturday. The sketch, prepared following inputs of eyewitnesses, described the suspect as a youth aged between 20-25 years, dark complexioned, 5.5 feet tall and of medium build.Over 500 journalists of various print and electronic media organisations and associations, including the Press Club, Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Mumbai Crime Reporters' Association and TV Journalists Association, Monday took out a protest march to Mantralaya, the state secretariat.The journalists had met Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who rejected a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Dey's killing.Now, the journalists plan to launch a protest after June 15, including a relay hunger strike and moving the Bombay High Court, seeking directions to the state government to hand over the Dey murder probe to CBI.Dey was shot dead by four unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants near his residence in Powai Saturday afternoon, sending shock waves in the city's media circles.His funeral was held Sunday.
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Southwest Monsoon further advanced in Saurastra and Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam, Jun 14 : The Southwest Monsoon has further Advanced into Saurastra and more parts of Andhra Pradesh upto rentachintala, Kalingapatnam and coastal Orissa upto Puri and most parts of Bay of Bengal.According to the CWC here last night the conditions are favourable for further advancement of south west monsoon into Gujarat, Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa remaining parts of Bay of Bengal and Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and some parts of Gangetic West Bengal during the next two to three days.A trough on sea level chart now runs from Orissa to south coastal Tamil Nadu across the coastal Andhra Pradesh. Under its influence the Rain or thundershowers were likely occur at many places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and few places over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 24 hours.
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Violence mars dharna at Warangal

Hyderabad, Jun 14 : Tension prevailed at Warangal in Andhra Pradesh, when YSR Congress party activists, who were observing dharna in front of district Collectorate office over farmer issues, clashed with pro-Telangana of Kakatiya University JAC(KU-JAC) activists yesterday.The dharna was part of a state-wide call given by the party.The trouble started when the pro-Telangana KU JAC activists removed the YSR Congress party flags and burnt the vehicle belonging to YSR Congress party.The fire was put out and some of the KU JAC students were taken into custody by the police after a round of mild lathicharge there.Ranga Reddy district also witnessed some uproarious protests at dharna venue. The police had to arrest a few party-workers, including women. They were taken to the Nampally Police Station. The Pro-Telangana KU JAC activists demanded to announce the party stand on separate Telangana statehood.The YSR Congress Party's chief Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy also observed dharna at Chittoor collectorate office. His mother and MLA Vijayamma and her supporters also sat on dharna in front of Collectorate office at Kadapa district, demanding a host of farmers' relief measures.At several districts across the state including Telangana regions saw these dharnas being staged by YSR party workers. ===================================================

Rajanarasimha appointed Deputy Chief Minister

Hyderabad, Jun 10 : Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture and Higher Education C Damodar Rajanarasimha was appointed as Deputy Chief Minister by the Governor ESL Narasimhan here today.In a notification, Government Chief Secretary SV Prasad said in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 164(1) of the Constitution, the Governor, 'on the advice of the Chief Minister N.Kiran Kumar Reddy' appointed C.Damodar Raja Narasimha as Deputy Chief Minister with effect from the fore-noon of today.Mr Rajanarasimha, was elected to the Assembly from Andole constituency in Medak District, for the third time in a row. He was elected during 1989, 2004 and 2009 elections and had served as minister for Marketing during Y S Raja Sekhar Reddy's rule in 2004-2009 and continued in the cabinet of Mr K Rosaiah. In Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy's cabinet, he was given the important portfolio of Higher Education and additional charge of Agriculture after Vivekhananda Reddy resigned.The 53-year-old Dalit, Damodar, who born in Hyderabad, had entered active politics only after his father and former MLA Cilarapu Rajanarsimha's death. He also served as Chairman for the SC Finance Corporation earlier.
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AP Licences cultivators ordinance 2011 promulgated

Hyderabad, Jun 10 : The state government today promulgated 'AP Licensed Cultivators’ Ordinance-2011' aiming to bring the tenant farmers under coverage of bank loans facility, seed subsidy, input subsidy and crop insurance on par with the landlord farmers.While announcing this to the mediapersons here , Minister for Revenue Mr N Raghuveera Reddy said some 26 lakh tenant farmers were denied bank loans, seed and input subsidies offered by the state government. The efforts of the state government to draft an Act in the budget session to deal with the situation did not bear fruit. As it was necessary to wait for the start of the Assembly to bring an Ordinance, there was some delay in promulgating the Ordinance, he said, adding that the order was issued after it was approved by the Governor.The government would issue 'Loan Eligibility Cards' to the tenant farmers, who are eligible for bank loans, seed subsidy, input subsidy and crop insurance coverage.He further said the Ordinance was formulated to benefit the tenant farmers simultaneously without affecting the rights of the owners on the land, he added. The validity of the Ordinance was one year from the date of issuance, the Minister, who held a review meeting with the officials concerned, said and fixed road map and rules for implementation of the Ordinance.A notification on rules of the Ordinance will be released on June 13, he said, adding that they would also conduct a video conference on June 16 with the district Collectors, Joint Collectors and the officers concerned to discuss the rules and road map.The Minister said the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was busy with North coastal tour, would launch the distribution of 'Loan Eligibility Cards' to the tenant farmers in any one of the districts of East Godawari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur, wherever the tenant farmers were more in number.The function would be held between July 8 and 15, he added.
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Despite Deputy Chief Minister post, Telangana agitation will continue

Hyderabad, Jun 10 :TRS party Floor Leader in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Etela Rajender today stated that the Deputy Chief Minister post was given to Telangana region to appease the leaders.While responding on the appointment of C Damodar Rajanarasimha as Deputy Chief Minister by the Congress government, he said the Telangana agitation will continue despite the Centre’s attempt to pacify the region’s leaders by offering posts.He alleged that the Ranabheri was organised under the aegis of Seemandhra leaders, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, to water down the Telangana agitation. ====================================================

Thousands of asthma patients take 'fish prasadam'

Hyderabad, June 9 : Thousands of asthma patients from different parts of the country, hoping to be cured, took 'fish prasadam' which has been distributed by a family here for more than 160 years.Despite the controversies which hit the popularity of the 'miracle drug' in recent years, people continue to throng the venue in the hope of finding some relief to their nagging respiratory problems.Since Wednesday night, about 20,000 people gathered here at the sprawling Exhibition Grounds have taken the 'prasadam' being distributed by the Baithini Goud family in the heart of the city. Hundreds more were standing in queues Thursday morning.They gulped down a live 'murrel' fish with a yellow herbal paste in its mouth, which is believed to provide the much-needed relief, if taken for three consecutive years. For vegetarians, the family gives the medicine with jaggery.The turnout, however, was not in lakhs as claimed by the family, which changed the name of the fish medicine to 'fish prasadam' four years ago to avoid legal problems.The free distribution of 'prasadam' began at 10.30 p.m. Wednesday at 32 counters after the Goud family performed 'puja' at their ancestral house in Doodhbowli in the old city.Family head Bathini Harinath Goud said the counters would remain open till 10 p.m. Thursday or till the last patient gets 'prasadam'.Men, women and children lined up for taking the medicine several hours before the counters opened. It was sheer faith which brought many to the venue. "This is the third time I have come here as I got some relief earlier," said Bhumiya Naik, who came from Latur, Maharashtra.There were many first-timers like Ajmal Khan from Bidar, Karnataka. He heard about the medicine from his friends. "I have been suffering from asthma for the last seven years. I have tried everything but nothing worked. Now I want to try this," he said.The fisheries department has supplied 40,000 murrel fingerlings for the annual event held every year on the first day of 'Mrigasira Karti', which heralds the onset of monsoon.Over 600 policemen have been deployed at the venue as part of security measures. Various departments are providing water, sanitation and other basic amenities to the patients. Voluntary organisations have also chipped in by distributing free food and water packets.On the directions of the Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission, the Hyderabad district administration was ensuring that no child is forcibly given the fish medicine. The rights panel had issued the order early this week on the petition by an organization for children's rights, Balala Hakkula Sangham.The NGO argued that forcibly giving fish medicine was a violation of children's rights. It also alleged that distribution of the medicine under unhygienic conditions may cause more harm than good.fish medicine lost its popularity in recent years after some groups, working to inculcate scientific temper among people, termed it as a fraud. They also approached a lower court, claiming that since the herbal paste contains heavy metals it can cause serious health problems.But the Goud family claims that the tests in laboratories conducted as per court orders revealed that the herbal paste is safe.The Goud family has been distributing the 'fish prasadam' free of cost for the last 165 years. It claims that the secret formula for the herbal medicine was given to their ancestors in 1845 by a saint after taking an oath from him that it would be administered free of cost. ===================================================

Hyderabad, Jun 9 : The sleuths of Commissioner’s Task Force (West Zone) Team have arrested an absconding convicted cine Producer who has allegedly cheated people to the tune of Rs 2 crore.Producer Donthireddy Achyutha Reddy, resident of Masab in Hyderabad, decided to produce Telugu Films, for which he took loans to the tune of Rs 2 crore from several people, according to a police release yesterday.The accused was involved in as many as 27 civil cases. Out of 27 cases, he was convicted in 14 under NI Act.All these cases are pending in the Higher Courts. The accused Achyutha Reddy was involved in 5 criminal cases of cheating. The accused was absconding since long time as he was convicted by the VII Additional CMM Court, Hyderabad and sentenced to undergo one year simple imprisonment. The Magistrate directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Task Force, Hyderabad for execution of convicted warrant in CC No 34 of 2007. The West Zone Task Force Team made efforts and executed the warrant yesterday under the supervision of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police ( Task force, Hyderabad) Dr K Raghuram Reddy, the release added.
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TDP leader takes exception to 'selling seeds by lottery'

Guntur, AP, Jun 9 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) senior leader and former Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Kodela Shiva Prasad today took strong exception to taking lottery for the selling of quality cotton seeds to the farmers.Talking to newspersons here, he said selling of quality cotton seeds on the basis of lottery to the farmers amounted to auctioning lives of farmers. The government hiked prices of cotton seeds, yielding to the pressure of the multinational companies, he alleged.He charged the government with failing to make the required quantity of cotton seeds available to the farmers which helped the traders to sell the seeds in black market. The cotton seeds bag was being sold hiking the original price by Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000 in the black market, he claimed.He pointed out that large number of farmers were forming beelines in front of seeds selling shops to by quality seeds.
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Pulivendula MLA YS Vijayalakshmi sworn-in as MLA

Hyderabad, Jun 3 : Pulivendula MLA YS Vijayalakshmi was sworn-in by Protem Assembly Speaker JC Diwakar Reddy on the Assembly premises here today.Ms Vijayalakshmi, widow of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was re-elected by a thumping majority on the YSR Congress party ticket in the recently held by-elections at Pulivendula. Among who attended in the brief swearing-in ceremony were Ms Vijayalakshmi's son YS Jaganmohan Reddy, who also recently got elected from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat with majority in the by-election, MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, 12 MLAs, including Konda Surekha, Jayasudha, Shobha Nagireddy, K Srinivas, Dwarampudi Chandrasekhar, Dharmanna Krishnadas and MLCs, including Pulla Padmavathi and Konda Murali.
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Congress boycotts Karnataka assembly, seeks speaker's resignation

Bangalore, June 3 : The Congress Friday stayed away from the Karnataka assembly and decided not to attend the remaining eight days of the session, demanding Speaker K.G. Bopaiah's resignation following the Supreme Court's "strictures" against him over the disqualification of 16 legislators.The Congress had walked out of the assembly Thursday, the first day of the 10-day session, protesting Bopaiah's decision to disallow an immediate discussion on the Supreme Court's comments on his action to disqualify the 16 members - 11 of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and five Independents - last October."We will stay away from the session for the remaining period also as the speaker has no right to continue in office after the Supreme Court's observations," Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah told reporters here.The Supreme Court, restoring the membership of the 16 legislators on May 13, had said the speaker's action of disqualification was against the principles of natural justice.The other opposition party, Janata Dal-Secular, has also boycotted the session, seeking Bopaiah's resignation.Siddaramiah said the boycott decision was only for this session.Bopaiah has ruled out resigning, saying the Supreme Court has not passed any "strictures" against him but only commented on his decision to disqualify the 16 legislators.
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Muslims take out funeral procession to Nashik civic body's office

Nashik, Jun 3: In yet another unusal protest, the members of the Muslim community took out a funeral procession to the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) office here today, demanding the 'Qabristan (Graveyard) in the new Nashik (Cidco) area.A retired person who was working in NMC died today. The Cidco Masjid Trust had earlier warned the civic administration that if it did not solve the problem of funeral ground for Muslim community, they would take out a funeral procession to the municipal corporation and bury the body in its premises.The police rushed to the spot and assured the protestors that the problem of burial ground would be solved shortly. Thereafter, the Muslim people took back the body from NMC office.Police has made heavy bandobast near the civic office.The issue of burial ground has been pending till date because the Nashik district collector has been given the additional charge of municipal commissioner following the transfer of Bhaskar Sanap.Today's was the second such incident. Earlier on May 21, the members of Muslim community had taken the body of a woman for her funeral procession to the NMC office.
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SW Monsoon further advances in Rayalaseema, Coastal AP

Hyderabad, Jun 3 : Southwest Monsoon has further advanced over some more parts of Rayalaseema and parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh today.Conditions are favourable for further advance ment of Southwest Monsoon over remaining parts of Andhra Pradesh during the next two to three days.Under its influence, moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers may occur at many places over Rayalaseema over the next 48 hours.Light to moderate rain or thundershowers may occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the same period.Outlook for subsequent two days was that there would be no large change, the Met Office said here today.The sky would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood and rain or thundershowers may occur in parts of city over the next two days.The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 37 and 24 Degrees Celsius respectively.
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TDP to submit fresh notice for no-trust motion

Hyderabad, June 3 : The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh will Saturday give a fresh notice for no-confidence motion against the state Congress government as the one submitted Friday has become infructuous.As the state assembly is meeting Saturday to elect the speaker and deputy speaker, the TDP decided to meet protem speaker J.C. Diwakar Reddy to give a fresh notice before the sitting.The opposition party also decided to field its candidates for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker.TDP chief N. Naidu told reporters that there was no question of going back on the decision to move a no-confidence motion against the government for failing to address the problems of people, especially farmers.Since the assembly is meeting for one day to elect the speaker and deputy speaker, the TDP may have to wait for its no-trust motion.Naidu said the debate on the motion has to take place within 10 days from the date of submitting the notice.The TDP, which has 88 legislators in the 294-member assembly, Friday submitted notice for the no-confidence motion to the legislature secretary as Deputy Speaker N. Manohar was not available. However, according to the assembly rules, the notice has to be submitted before commencement of the sitting for that day.The former chief minister said the TDP was sincere in moving the motion without banking on the support of any party.Meanwhile, the TDP has also decided to field its legislators K.E. Krishna Murthy and Suddala Devaiah for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker respectively. The move is being seen as an attempt to test the waters ahead of the no-trust motion.Deputy Speaker N. Manohar appears set to become speaker as the ruling Congress has 155 legislators and it also enjoys support of the Praja Rajyam Party and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, who have 18 and seven legislators respectively.The post of speaker has been vacant since November last year when N. Kiran Kumar Reddy became the chief minister.Government chief whip Mallu Batti Vikaramarka is the ruling party's candidate for the post of deputy   speaker. According to political observers, the TDP plans to assess the support enjoyed by YSR Congress party among Congress legislators as its leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, or Jagan as he is popularly called, had once claimed that the government was at his mercy Though only 10 legislators are being seen with Jagan, some leaders of the party have claimed that they have the strength to pull down the government.
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Proposal to upgrade 6 municipalities into Corporations: Minister

Hyderabad, Jun 1: Andhra Pradesh Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Maheedar Reddy today said there were proposals to upgrade six municipalities into municipal corporations and some major gram panchayats into municipalities in the state.The proposals were under active considerations of the State Government, the Minister said in a press conferenc here.Announcing that 4,038 vacant posts in the municipal bodies would be filled in the next three months, he said the viability and public opinion on upgradation of panchayats as municipalities would be taken into consideration while taking a decision in the matter.Stating that it would not be possible to conduct elections to newly-formed municipalities along with the existing ones, the Minister said time would be required to conduct elections in newly-formed municipalities as there was a need to settle the reservations and other issues.The list of gram panchayats, to be upgraded into municipalities, would be announced before the release of election notification for Panchayat elections, he added.He said the government would present the details of census enumeration in urban bodies to the State Election Commission after it was completed by June 29.About 4,038 vacant posts in urban bodies would be filled within three months in a phased manner, the Minister said "we will try to fill these posts through APPSC to bring transparency in the recruitment".If the APPSC did not respond positively to the request of the State government for recruitment of the posts, an official Committee would be set up and seek help of the universities in conducting recruitment test, he added.
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Jagan asks party to be ready for snap polls

Hyderabad, June 1 : YSR Congress Party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Wednesday asked his party leaders and cadre to be ready for snap polls to Andhra Pradesh assembly.Addressing a meeting of the central governing council of the party here, the Kadapa MP said the cadre should be ready for elections whenever they are held.His call has assumed significance as it came a day after the party claimed that it had the requisite number to pull down the Congress-led government and dared the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to move a no-trust motion.The TDP, on the other hand, has been challenging the son of late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to first prove his party's strength before the governor.The leaders of the main opposition party said they were ready to vote against the government if the governor calls a special session of the assembly.The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has also stated that it would support a no-trust motion moved by any party.The ruling Congress, which has 156 members in 294-member house, is confident of facing the no-trust motion with support from the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), which has 18 legislators and has announced its merger with the former. The government is also confident of support from Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), which has seven legislators.It was still not clear as to how many Congress legislators were with Jagan, as Jaganmohan Reddy is popularly known.Soon after he quit the Congress in November last year, he claimed to have the support of as many as two dozen legislators but the number dwindled after the Congress won back some rebels and also warned others of disqualification.The TDP has 88 legislators while the TRS tally stands at 11.For the second day, Jagan held talks with members of his party's governing council and his close aides. He told them that it was the right time to build the party from the grassroots levels.The young leader, who floated the party in March, retained the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency last month with a record margin of over 500,000 votes while his mother Vijayalaxmi retained Pulivendula assembly constituency.
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SCR to run 8 Spl trains to Jaipur for Urs-E-Shareef Hazrath Khawja Moinuddin Chishti

Hyderabad, Jun 1 : South Central Railway (SCR) will run eight Special Trains to Jaipur from Hyderabad, Kacheguda and Ongole/Machilipatnam to clear extra rush of pilgrims traffic attending annual Urs-E-shareef of Hazrat Khawja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer.A release from SCR said here today, Train No 07125 Hyderabad-Jaipur Special Train will depart Hyderabad at 2030 hrs on June 3 and arrive Jaipur at 0615 hrs on June 5.In the return direction, Train No 07126 Ajmer-Hyderabad Special train will depart Ajmer at 1815 hrs on June 10 and arrive Hyderabad at 0730 hrs on June 12.Train No 07129 Kacheguda-Jaipur Special will depart Kacheguda at 2030 hrs on June 5 and arrive Jaipur at 0615 hrs on June 7.In return direction, Train No 07130 Ajmer-Kacheguda Special train will depart Ajmer at 1930 hrs on June 11 and will arrive Kacheguda at 0700 hrs on June 13.Train No 07227 Ongole-Jaipur Special train will depart Ongole at 0900 hrs on June 4 and arrive Jaipur at 0240 hrs on June 6.
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GHMC bill collector in Anti-Corruption Bureau net

Hyderabad, June 1: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today caught red handed Mohd Rafi (29), Bill Collector, GHMC when he demanded and accepted Rs. 2,500 as bribe from the complainant for processing the file relating to changing the owner`s name in the property documents.The tainted amount of Rs. 2,500 was recovered from Mr Rafi after chemical test yielded positive results, a release from ACB here said.Mr Rafi was being arrested and would be produced before the Additional Special Judge for SPE and A.C.B. Cases, Hyderabad, the release said.
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Indian Journalists Union condemns Shahzad killing

Hyderabad, Jun 1 : The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) today strongly condemned the brutal murder of prominent Pakistani Journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad.The Pakistani journalist went missing in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad on Sunday and his dead body with marks of torture was found in Punjab province yesterday.In a joint statement, IJU Secretary-General K Sreenivas Reddy, President-elect S N Sinha and Secretary-General-elect Devulapalli Amar said there was strong suspicion that Mr Shahzad was kidnapped, tortured and killed by the notorious Pakistani Spy Agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as he exposed chinks in the Agency and its handling of the recent attack on naval base, PNS Mehran in Karachi.Shahzad, the Pakistani Bureau Chief of the Asia Times Online, was an expert in reporting about terrorists and their activities and in the past, the ISI picked him up and interrogated him on his writings, they said."This was an attack on the freedom of expression in Pakistan and we call upon the journalists' community and all those who cherish the freedom of the press in India to rally round the Pakistani journalists in the fight against the tyranny and attacks on the freedom of the press and the practitioners of journalism," they said.They demanded that the Pakistani authorities should investigate the case thoroughly and bring the killers of the journalists to book, the statement added.
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Prostitution racket bust, pimp held, 2 sex workers rescued

Hyderabad, Jun 1: Sleuths of Commissioner's Task Force, North Zone Team today conducted raid on a private hotel at Amerpet and apprehended a pimp and rescued two sex workers.Police seized Rs 9000 and two cell phones from their possession, a release said.Police said Mohan Jadav (26), an Automobile Engineer of Borabanda, here and a native of Bangalore, was working as a driver with Amith and Rohit.At the instigation of Amith, he started brothel business in Hyderabad.Amith and Rohit were doing brothel business through websites. offering contact details of agents/pimps in various cities in India.Mohan Jadav also took a room at the hotel and was conducting brothel business clandestinely with two sex workers supplied by Amith and Rohan.
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Rowdy-sheeter murdered by his rival group

Hyderabad, Jun 1 : Two persons including rowdy-sheeter and his associate were murdered when they were attacked by a sharp knife at a function hall located at Kishenbagh in the old city here today.According to police here, deceased rowdy-sheeter was identified as Azaj. He along with his two associates has gone to attend a marriage function when suddenly unidentified assailants attacked them with a sharp knife and killing Azaj on the spot. His associate Imran succumbed to injuries at Osmania Government hospital.Another associate Isman, who also injured in the attack, is also admitted to Osmania hospital, where his condition was stated to be serious, police said.Old rivary between the two groups is stated to be the reason for the incident.
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