Judgement Day for 26/11 terrorist

Almost one-and-a-half years after 10 Pakistani terrorists struck in the heart of India’s financial and entertainment capital, the country is waiting anxiously for the verdict Monday on Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone gunman captured alive in the bloody 60-hour siege whose live TV coverage had much of the world in thrall.Mumbai Special Judge M.L.Tahilyani  will deliver his judgement  in the case that has seen as many as 653 witnesses being examined, a 675-page written submission being filed and several ups and downs – even as Kasab stayed in a high security cell.On Monday, Kasab will be pronounced guilty or otherwise. Then the quantum of sentence will be argued before the court and the actual punishment will be awarded. The maximum punishment Kasab can get is death penalty.The case may or may not go into the higher courts depending on the judgement.The audacious attack Nov 26, 2008, targeted sites like the World Heritage building of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, Hotel Oberoi-Trident, the Cama Hospital and the Chabad House, a Jewish prayer centre, and the favourite haunt of foreigners, Leopold Café.
The assault and the massacre that followed stunned the world and left 166 people dead and 244 injured.Kasab’s trial, which started April 15, 2009, was completed March 31 this year, after nearly seven months of hearing, excluding breaks and vacations. The prosecution case was led by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.The witnesses included many survivors of the terror attacks, eyewitnesses, family members of the victims, police officials, several foreign nationals, Indian security officials and officials from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).The high-profile trial revolved around Kasab and two Indian co-accused, Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed.Kasab has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including waging war against the nation. Besides, he faces charges under the Explosives Act, the Arms Act, the Passport Act, the Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act, the Customs Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Bombay Police Act, the Foreigners Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.The two Indian co-accused have been charged with conspiracy in the terror attacks – preparing maps of the targeted locations and handing these to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives.The trio was lodged in Arthur Road Central Jail premises in south Mumbai where an air-conditioned Special Court was also set up for the trial, as part of security measures.Kasab was lodged in a solitary ‘anda’ (oval) cell which was reinforced with layers of cement and steel capable of thwarting any major attacks or bomb blast.Several roads outside the jail were made out of bounds for the general public or limited access was granted to vehicles after a thorough security check even before the trial as Kasab and his cohorts were lodged there.A small section of the ongoing Mumbai metro railway project was also held up as it was close to the jail premises.Kasab had come to Mumbai via the Arabian Sea route with nine other associates, all of whom were killed during the 60-hour operation by combined security forces. Their bodies were preserved in the morgue of Sir J.J. Hospital, barely a couple of kilometres away from Arthur Road Central Jail.The Maharashtra government quietly disposed of the bodies in January this year. So far details of how and where the bodies were disposed of continue to elude the media.Kasab seemed to enjoy the trial. At various times, he was seen laughing and giggling in court. He also complained of bad food, illness and attempts to poison him.He made demands for things like perfumes, soaps, newspapers, permission to offer ‘namaz’ and new clothes – many of them rejected by the Special Court. All this prompted Nikam to call Kasab “an actor par excellence” several times.The accused showed all his moods – sombre at times, jovial and cheerful often, crying at times, shocked and awed when shown some of the evidence or by the accounts of witnesses.In July last year, Kasab grabbed headlines by ‘confessing’ to his crimes in the 26/11 attacks.“Hang me, please,” Kasab pleaded two days after he made a dramatic confession and gave a chilling blow-by-blow account of his part in the attacks.“I have committed the crimes on this earth and the people of the world should punish me. I don’t want god’s punishment. But, if somebody feels that I have confessed to escape the death penalty, the court can definitely hang me,” Kasab pleaded.Later, he demanded a trial in an international court of justice, saying he had no faith in the Indian courts, while co-accused Ansari demanded video-recording of the entire trial.The special judge promptly dismissed the pleas on grounds that they were “mischievous” and intended to “delay the proceedings”.Besides Nikam, the defence lawyers, including Kasab’s lawyer K.P. Pawar, Ansari’s lawyer R.B. Mokashi and Ahmed’s lawyer Ejaz Naqvi, were involved when the final arguments were completed.While one lawyer – S.G. Abbas Kazmi – was removed, another representing Fahim, lawyer Shahid Azmi, was killed during the trial in early February. ======================================================

City police on tenterhooks following terror threat

Hyderabad, May 1 : The city police continued their relentless anti-sabotage checks and anti-terror vigil in the wake of central intelligence inputs that extremists were hatching a plot to target commercially-thriving cities in the country, including Hyderabad.The Intelligence Bureau alerts followed the bomb blasts in Bangalore and Pune recently.The City Security Wing Police conducted a mock drill to test the preparedness in shopping malls to tackle any terrorist strike.The security also issued notices to those shopping malls which were found wanting in security systems, police sources said.Public address systems have been installed in vantage positions in shopping complexes, busy market places and places of worship.People have been alerted to take precautionary steps and inform the police about any bomb-like objects and persons moving under suspicious circustances. The City Security Wing Police frisked passersby, particulary those aged between 18 and 35 years in arterial roads. The City Police had directed private shopping malls to frisk all visitors before allowing them inside.
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Minister announces 25,000 new pensions schemes

Kakinada, May 1: Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare minister Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose today announced 25,000 new pensions schemes for the east Godavari district by this June.Addressing the series of gram sabhas as a part of the Praja Patham in Manjeru, Seela, Cheduvada, Kajuluru and Ontithada villages of Kajuluru mandal, he said, the list of the beneficiaries of the new pensions schemes would be finalised by this month end. In order to solve the drinking water problem in Kajuluru permanently, he said, the government had sanctioned a second overhead service reservoir at a cost of Rs 25 lakhs and work would commence soon. He said government had released adequate funds to the collectors to solve drinking water problem in all the villages.
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Rosaiah ask school education depts to work with coordination

Hyderabad, May 1 : Chief Minister K Rosaiah has asked the School Education Department, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and other departments concerned to work in close coordination to access and utilise maximum funds from SSA.''I am really concerned about this. When such huge funds are available for the state from the SSA, why cant we access it? Why are we failing to get the funds? Why there are no proper coordination among the departments? I want this to be solved immediately. I want all the departments concerned to work in tandem and get the maximum funds available under SSA for our schools'', the Chief Minister yesterday said.Rosaiah held a review meeting on the school education with ministers and officials and directed that all the text books should be available on the day of re-opening of the schools. Dr Rosaiah was informed that text book were getting ready and 75 per cent of them were printed. He congratulated the Board of Intermediate Education for the smooth conduct of the Inter Examinations and timely publication of the results. The Chief Minister was also concerned about the large number of school drop-outs in the state in spite of spending such huge funds and having highest number of schools and teachers. He said efforts should be made for rationalisation of schools and teachers throughout the State.The Chief Minister also discussed the mid-day meals scheme in the schools and wanted to tone up the scheme from this academic year. He said he wanted quality food to be served to the students. Rosaiah also discussed the Right To Education Act. He wanted maximum infrastructure to be created in all government schools availing funds also from RIDF, Nabard and SSA.
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ABHIPRAAY- Press Conference at Press Club,

(PRESS RELEASE)ABHIPRAAY is 12 years old NGO involved in Nation Building and opinion making and also strives for the all round empowerment of our society and the Nation. The Abhipraay has highlighted various socially relevant burning issues.In this connection “ABIPRAAY “ took up cudgels against “BEGGING” issue about 11 years back because it isolates human dignity. We filed petition before High Court of A.P., vide Writ Petition No.4356 of 2000. A professional beggory is a hazard to Society and the sight of pestering beggars is embarrassing to city as tourists both domestic and international visit our State. Begging must be eradicated from the Society from the point of view of dignity of individual and reputation of the city and State. A socio economic survey of beggars had been conducted by P.G.College of Social Work during 1993-1994 and revealed that, there are as many as 3,16,199 beggars in the state of A.P. The Hon’ble High court gave verdict in favour of Abipraay in its writ petition and ordered to take necessary steps for rehabilitation of beggars by the State Govt. It also ordered that the Govt. should establish and maintain morework Houses or special Homes where they find fit or may certify such institution or special House runs by other than Govt. A separate accommodation for Male and female should be provided . The Hon’ble High court also expressed thatState being a Welfare State, statutory obligation is cast upon the Govt. toimplement the provisions of the Act. The Act provides for two fold duties to be discharged by the State. First : To end the means of begging and for that purpose it can take recourse to even prosecuting the persons indulging in the acts of begging.Second: Rehabilitate the persons indulging in the acts of begging.The state must provide sustenance to physically inform , old, sick and abandoned persons who are forced to begging. At the same time the state should prosecute and eliminate professional beggory. The racket of beggoryinto which children both male and female are forced , must be stopped. Our continuous efforts and persuasion with Social Welfare Department, High court, intelligentsia, media and people brought their act into reality after about 11 years of struggle. In this connection, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has notified the prevention of Begging Rules, 2010,to implement the prevention of Begging Act. According to the rules begging, at public places such as streets, traffic junctions, bus station, railway stations including public transport like buses, railway etc, an offence and any authorized person can arrest without warrant. As per rules, if the beggar is an able bodied adult and staying with his family, the anti-beggar regulations will be enforced strictly and severely. The rules provides medical check-up by the doctor not below the rank of an assistant civil surgeon for determination of age, sex, physical fitness of the beggar. If the beggar is found guilty of the offence under Act and physically capable of doing ordinary manual labour, the court would order his detention in a work house for a specified period not exceeding three years. After completion of the term, the person has to given undertaking in writing that he would not commit such an offence under the Act. The Govt. directly or with help of recognized NGOs, would provide elementary education and training in arts and crafts, agriculture and poultry. The Govt. will also provide fixed quantity of coconut oil, soap, toothbrush and powder along with two sets of cloths and bedding. The district administration and local advisory committee will be responsible for the implementation of Begging Act. We “ABHIPRAAY” appreciate the Govt of A.P., to take this progressive state but our aim is not achieved unless all genuine beggars are rehabilitated and professional racket of beggary is eliminated.We expect the co-operation of people and media in this marathon task, Mr Mihir Shah General Secretary,Mr Suresh Pandit. Co-Ordinator,& Bhaskar Polumi,Advocate. also seen in the picture,(photo by RSJ Thomas)
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Rosaiah participated in 'yagam' to overcome problems

Hyderabad, May 1 : To overcome a series of crises he has been facing, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Saturday participated in a special 'yagam' here.Accompanied by his family members, the veteran Congress took part in the 'maha rudra yagam' at Sainathpuram in Malkajgiri area. Rosaiah's relatives and well wishers had organised the week-long 'yagam' to pray for the removal of hurdles in his governance. About 150 priests participated in the event. Amid the chanting of vedic hymns, Rosaiah and his family participated in the rituals. Saturday was the last of the 'yagam'. Ever since he took over as chief minister following the death of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Sep 2 last year, Rosaiah has faced a series of crises. It started with a campaign by the loyalists of the late leader who wanted to see his son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy as the chief minister. This was followed by unprecedented floods in the Krishna river. And just as the 78-year-old leader was trying to have a grip over his administration, the Telangana movement posed the biggest challenge to the government. For three months, protests for and against statehood to Telangana region engulfed the state. As the central government bailed out the state government by setting up the Srikrishna committee, Rosaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, faced a new problem arising out of financial crunch. Falling revenues hit hard the welfare and development schemes. Rosaiah's attempts to convince the Congress leadership to allow him to reshuffle the cabinet has also failed. He continues with a team formed by his predecessor.
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Muaythai Championship -2010 -Inangaration Function,at LB Stadium Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh State Junior and Sub Junior Muaythai Championship will be held from April 30 to may 2nd at Boxing hall of Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad. Addressing the Inangaration Function,Hon'ble chief guest Mr.Abid Rasool Khan.Secretary(APCC) Mr.M.H Abid,President of  Muaythai India(PMI)Mr.P.Mallareddy, Joint Sec(APOA)Mr. Mohammed Salahuddin Jaweed,president Andhra Pradesh Muaythai Association, Mr.Mohd.Murtuza .Editor CNI,Technical Members of Muay Thai, Mr. Zaheeruddin and Mr mohammed Nazeer Ahmed also be seen.*       (PHOTO BY RSJ THOMAS)=======================================================

Position of India in Gold Market ,

(PIB NEWS) According to the World Gold Council, India ranked 13th in the world in terms of official gold holding in March 2008 and 2009. However, with the purchase of 200 metric tonnes of gold by the Reserve Bank of India from the International Monetary Fund under the IMF’s limited gold sales program, India’s rank increased to 10th position in March 2010, with official gold holding of 557.7 metric tonnes. The purchase was part of the Reserve Bank’s foreign exchange reserves management operations.This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question raised in Lok Sabha today.
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Supreme Court Judges Appointed,

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint (1) Shri Justice Hemant Laxman Gokhale, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, (2) Smt. Justice Gyan Sudha Misra, Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, and (3) Shri Justice Anil Ramesh Dave, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in that order of seniority, to be the Judges of the Supreme Court of India with effect from the dates they assume charge of their offices. =======================================================

Meeting Held With Mps From Naxal-Affected Districts Chidambaram Calls for Better Utilization of Funds

(PIB NEWS) The Union Home Minister, Shri P.Chidambaram has called for better utilization of funds, provided by the Centre for development of the districts, worst affected by Left Wing Extremism(LWE). He was chairing here today a meeting held with the Members of Parliament, representing 34 such districts and West Medinipur district of West Bengal. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the present trends and review the steps needed for integrated development of these districts. Citing statistics, the Home Minister said that as on 25th April, 2010, utilization of the funds released for these districts under major development schemes varied from scheme to scheme. The utilization was 46.23 per cent under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 62.83 per cent under the National Rural Health Mission,72.92 per cent under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana, 85.81 per cent under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, 80.35 per cent under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 86.37 percent under Drinking Water Supply, 86.70 per cent under Integated Child Development Services , 71.52 per cent under Indira Awas Yojana, 5.86 per cent for Ashram Schools and 66.01 per cent under the Forest Rights Act. The Minister said that there was a need to improve the financial and physical performance of major developmental schemes in the worst-affect districts. Taking part in the discussions, MPs welcomed the Home Minister’s initiative to call the first ever meeting of Members of Parliament representing the Districts, worst affected by LWE. Members said that MPs and MLAs from these districts must have a role to play in monitoring implementation of the major developmental schemes. Suggestions which came up at the meeting included setting up of a major Vocational Centre in each block, relaxation of norms for setting up schools and building roads, etc. in the worst-affected districts, imparting knowledge of local dialects to security force personnel working in the LWE- affected areas, involving local tribals in implementation of various developmental schemes and providing employment to local tribals in security forces, etc. Some members pointed out that Naxal leaders have amassed huge wealth through extortion. In his concluding remarks, the Union Home Minister said that a plan would be worked out on the basis of concrete suggestions, received from the MPs and would be presented to the Chief Ministers. The discussion remained inconclusive and another meeting would be held in the second half of next month to enable more Members to participate. Those present at today’s meeting included the Ministers of State for Home S/Shri Mullappally Ramachandran and Ajay Maken and senior officers from the concerned Ministries/ Departments of the Central Government. The Districts worst affected by Left Wing Extremism include Khammam in Andhra Pradesh, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Jamui, Arwal, Gaya and Rohtas in Bihar, Dantewada, Bastar, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Sarguja from Chhattisgarh, Gadchiroli and Gondia from Maharashtra, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Lohardaga, Gumla, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Garhwa, Lathehar and Palamau from Jharkhand, Balaghat from Madhya Pradesh , Gajapati, Rayagada, Devogarh, Malkangiri and Sambalpur from Orissa, Sonebhadra from Uttar Pradesh and West Medinipur from West Bengal.
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Sarosh Homi Kapadia to be India’s new chief justice

Supreme Court Justice Sarosh Homi Kapadia has been appointed the new chief justice of India. Kapadia will assume charge May 12.Kapadia takes over from Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, India’s first Dalit chief justice.A press release from the ministry of law and justice stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Justice Sarosh Homi Kapadia, judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from May 12, 2010.”
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Armed policemen maintain tight vigil in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, April 30: Gun-totting policemen kept a tight vigil in Hyderabad for the third consecutive day Friday in view of warnings by intelligence agencies of possible terror attacks. Police also cracked the whip on some shopping malls for poor security measures.Police continued large-scale searches in the city amid warning of possible terror attacks. Armed security personnel maintained a tight vigil at busy traffic intersections and around major shopping malls, hotels and public places. Dozens of policemen were searching vehicles and frisking people near the City Centre, a shopping mall which also houses popular family restaurant McDonalds, in the upmarket Banjara Hills. Security has been further tightened around popular food joints, hotels, bus and railway stations, places of worship and key installations. Police also sealed three shopping malls and an entertainment centre after security agencies detected major loopholes in their security systems. Despite instructions by police to beef up security, they failed to take adequate steps. The malls were sealed after security personnel managed to enter them with dummy bombs while checking the establishments' security system. The private security personnel deployed at these malls and metal detectors failed to detect the "explosives". The malls, however, reopened after a couple of hours following an assurance by the managements to take corrective measures. Police are on high alert in the city in view of reported warnings by central intelligence agencies of possible terror strikes. Police Commissioner A.K. Khan said they were not taking any chances as the city is heading for third anniversary of the bomb blast at historic Mecca Masjid. Nine persons were killed in the blast during Friday prayers on May 18, 2007. Five protestors diedin the subsequent police firing on a mob near the mosque. Two near simultaneous blasts at Lumbini Park near the state secretariat and at Gokul Chat, a popular eatery, had killed 43 people on Aug 25 the same year.        (photo by R S J.Thomas)
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Hyderabad police crack 'Nigerian fraud', one arrested

Hyderabad, April 30: Cyber crime sleuths here Friday claimed to have cracked a case of 'Nigerian fraud' with the arrest of one person in Maharashtra for duping a resident of Hyderabad.Alok Raj Saxena, a resident of Hussaini Alam in the Old City of Hyderabad, was duped to the tune of Rs.10.7 lakh by internet fraudsters on the pretext of providing a job in the Emirates Airlines in Britain. Rahul Koshte was arrested in Badlapur in Thane district of Maharashtra two days ago and remanded to judicial custody. Three others, including two residents of Mumbai and a Nigerian, are absconding. 'Nigerian fraud' is referred to the online fraud wherein internet fraudsters lure people through promises of jobs and claims of winning lotteries. Crime Investigation Department (CID) officials said the amount which the complainant sent was traced to three ICICI bank accounts of Mumbai. One of the accounts was in the name of Dyaneswar Bhimrao Thupe. He was lured with a promise of commission by Rahus Koshti, who had taken 25 cheques and an ICICI ATM card from Thupe and made transactions on his behalf. Two other accused, Sanjeev Bose and Om Chand Choudhary, had contacts with Nigerian fraudsters, and they used Thupe's current account to receive the money. The police had detected a similar fraud early this year and arrested a travel agent from Delhi, Mukesh Munjal, for duping a priest to the tune of Rs.43.26 lakh. The money sent by Anthony Sneharaj, a priest from Vijayawada, was deposited into Mukesh's bank account. Mukesh was working for his Nigerian bosses for commission. The priest was lured by Ben Jean James, who claimed herself to be a Catholic widow suffering from cancer. Ben Jean James said her husband left USD 2.8 million, which she intended to donate for the service of orphans and the less privileged. Priest, who took interest in running the orphanage, was asked to send money to claim the entire amount. (newkerala.com)
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Hunt to nab medico for attemting to molest girl student

Hyderabad, Apr 30 : The Cyberabad police are on the look out to nab a fourth-year MBBS student of a medical college at Elkapally on the city outskirts who allegedly tried to sexually molest a junior girl student of the same college recently.According to police, a case under section 376 (rape) read with 511 (attempt) of IPC has been registered by the Moinabad police against the accused D Satish, who has been suspended from the college following a complaint from the parents of the girl student.The accused had been harassing the third year student and pestering her to speak with him. Worried over his threats, she spoke to Satish a couple of times but stopped interacting with him as he continued to intimidate her, police said.He followed her and went inside the room meant for girls on April 24 and when she was alone, Satish allegedly tried to 'sexually molest' her but fled after the she raised an alarm.The parents of the girl approached the college Principal, who suspended Satish after an inquiry, police added.
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Corporation tax collection achieves target in AP

Visakhapatnam, Apr 30: The Visakhapatnam region has achieved a Corporation Tax collection targets of Rupees 1,285 crore during the 2009-10 financial year.Addressing a press conference here yesterday, the Regional Income Tax Chief Commissioner K V Chowdary said, the five districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari districts in the region collected Rs 920 crore of Corporation Tax, Rs 704.80 crore of Income Tax and Rs 12.1 crore of other taxes with total of Rs 1636.90 crore, showing an overall growth of 0.2 per cent compared to previous financial year's (2008-09) collection of Rs 1634.60 crore.The target was to collect Rs 1,285 crore Corporation Tax, Rs 614 crore Income Tax and Rs 2.54 crore other taxex, with total of Rs 1,901.54 crore during the financial year 2009-10.He said the Corporation Tax collections are under the shortfall mainly on account of one large tax payer paying an amount of Rs 430 crore only during this year as against Rs 750 crore in the preceeding year. However, excluding the contributions by the said large tax payer, the region collected an amount of Rs 488 crore under the head CT against the corresponding payment by others of Rs 312.70 crore in the last year showing a healthy growth rate of 56.06 Per Cent. The growth of Income Tax collections is 24.14 per cent. ======================================================

India’s voting machines are open to fraud, says group

The electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in India are vulnerable to fraud, and it is important for votes to be counted in a manner that can be seen and verified, a group of experts said Thursday.In a collaborative study, a team of Indian and international experts has revealed that even brief access to the voting machines can allow criminals to alter election results.As details of the machines’ design have never been publicly disclosed, and they have not been subjected to a rigorous, independent security analysis, the experts said in a statement that their research findings acquire vital significance.These findings, they said, were at odds with the Election Commission claims that weaknesses found in other EVMs around the world do not apply to the Indian product.But the statement said the findings of this group’s research “clearly show that India’s EVMs are far from being perfect and suffer from serious security vulnerabilities”.
This collaborative study was performed by a team of researchers from NetIndia Ltd, based in Hyderabad, the University of Michigan in the US and a non-profit organisation in the Netherlands specialising in electronic voting related issues.India has around 1.4 million EVMs, which record votes only for internal memory and provide no paper records for later inspection or recount. Here, trust is placed in the hardware and software of the voting machines.The researchers said they had shown that the EVMs can be attacked, either by replacing a small part of the machine with an identical component that can be silently instructed to steal a percentage of the votes in favor of a chosen candidate.These instructions can even be sent from a mobile phone.Another attack would involve the use of a pocket-sized device to change the votes stored in the EVM between the day of polling and when the votes get counted.“The simple design of the EVMs lends itself for such attacks. Our study has demonstrated two attacks on the EVMs. More such attacks are possible. These attacks are possible despite the existence of procedural checks and safeguards that the Election Commission has introduced,” said Hari Prasad, a computer engineer from Hyderabad who organised the study.The design of EVMs relies entirely on physical security of machines and the integrity of election insiders, including private technicians hired by the EVM manufacturers.The EVMs have no provisions for storing secrets to prevent manipulations by attackers having physical access to the machines.Rop Gonggrijp, a security researcher from the Netherlands, said: “Such machines have already been abandoned in Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Florida (US) and many other places. India should follow suit.”Gonggrijp added: “Computers can be programmed to count votes honestly. But since nobody can watch them, they might just as easily be programmed to count dishonestly.”Political analyst G.V.L. Narasimha Rao said the distrust among political leaders of all hues on voting machines was high. “It is about time India shunned paperless voting to make its election outcomes credible and verifiable.”
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Weather has been dry over CAP: Adilabad recorded highest 45 C

Hyderabad, Apr 29 : With the maximum temperatures rising at one or two places over Telangana and Rayalaseema and falling at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh(CAP), the weather has been dry over Coastal Andhra Pradesh today.According to the MET office here, isolated rain occurred over Telangana and Rayalaseema, while the weather has been dry over Coastal Andhra Pradesh.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded at Hakimpet(AP), Rayadurg (Anantapur dist) 2 each and Lakkireddipalli (Cuddapah dist) one cm.The temperatures were significantly above normal at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and above normal at a few places over Rayalaseema. The highest maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius was recorded at Adilabad.The weather office predicted that isolated rain or thundershowers would occur over Telangana and Rayalaseema and over Coastal Andhra Pradesh durng the next 48 hours. The maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 40 and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.
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Amendment in Right To Information Act ,

(PIB NEWS) The Right to Information Act, 2005 provides that the State Information Commission shall consist of the State Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed necessary. No amendment of this provision is under consideration The Act has an inbuilt system of monitoring of the implementation of the Act. It provides that the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions shall prepare reports on the implementation of the provisions of the Act each year which are to be laid before each House of the Parliament or each House of Legislature, as the case may be. This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
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Manmohan, Gilani to meet on SAARC summit margins

 

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Yousaf Raza Gilani and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina at a banquet hosted by the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Mr. Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley, at Thimphu, in Bhutan on April 28 ,2010. (Photo By PIB No.CNR-31444)
================================================                                          Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani here Thursday on the margins of the SAARC summit, an Indian official said Wednesday, ending the suspense over the much anticipated talks between the two South Asian rivals.Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said the two prime ministers would meet on Thursday in the Bhutanese capital after the two sides agreed through diplomatic channels to hold the dialogue.“It has been agreed through diplomatic channels that the prime ministers of India and Pakistan will hold a bilateral meeting tomorrow at Thimphu,” Prakash told reporters.There was no official word on the timing and venue of the meeting but Pakistani foreign office sources said that the two leaders would meet at 6.30 p.m. Thursday.
Peace talks between India and Pakistan were stalled after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that left 166 people dead. India blamed terrorists based in Pakistan for the attack.This will be the first meeting between the two leaders after their talks at Sharm el-Sheikh in July 2009.The foreign secretaries of the two countries – Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir – had met in the Indian capital in February but the talks ended in a stalemate after India insisted that the composite dialogue would resume only after Pakistan prosecutes the terrorist leaders responsible for the Mumbai carnage.
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Appointments in National Wage board for print Media

(PIB NEWS) The Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Shri Harish Rawat has denied in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today that the Finance Ministry had instructed the Ministry of Labour & Employment to make the appointments of the Staff for the National Wage Board for Working Journalists and non-journalist Newspaper Employees only on deputation basis. The Board is headed by Justice (Retired) G.R. Majithia.

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Heat wave prevails in Telangana, isolated rain in other parts

Hyderabad, Apr 28 : Heat wave conditions prevailed over Adilabad district of Telangana with the maximum temperature recorded at 45 degrees Celsius while isolated rain occurred over coastal Andhra Pradesh and other parts of Telangana.The maximum temperature fell at a few places over Rayalaseema and changed little over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They were significantly above normal at one or two places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and remaining districts of Telangana and above normal at one or two places over Rayalaseema, the Met department said today.The weather has been dry over Rayalaseema.Tuni and Tanuku recorded 3 mm each rainfall, Bhimavaram Peddapuram, Ramannapet 2 mm each and Koyyalagudem, Polavaram and Tadepalligudem one mm each.Isolated rain or thundershowers would occur over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and may occur over Rayalaseema. With the chance of thundery development towards evening or night, maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 42 and 27 degrees respectively.
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Hyderabad on alert after warning of possible terror attacks

Hyderabad, April 28 : Police in Hyderabad Wednesday went on alert following a warning by central intelligence agencies about possible terror strikes in the city.Police personnel with the help of dog squads took up search operations at railway and bus stations, markets and some other crowded places. Security has been beefed up at places of worship, historical monuments and vital installations.Police Commissioner A.K. Khan said the alert was sounded in view of the recent bomb blasts in Bangalore and also to apprehend some suspected terror operatives believed to be hiding in the city.As the intelligence agencies warned that terrorists could strike crowded place, the dog squads searched Begumbazar, a major trade hub, whrere communal riots occurred early this month.Security personnel stopped vehicles and checked them at several points in the city.All police stations in the city have been alerted and leave of police personnel cancelled till May 18, the third anniversary of the bomb blast at historic Mecca Masjid.The police commissioner appealed to people to inform police about any person moving suspiciously or about any unclaimed object. He advised shopping malls, cinema theatres and shops to install metal detectors, CCTV cameras and deploy private security personnel to gear up security."There is no need for panic but people should be alert about their surroundings," said the police commissioner.Khan said police were trying to arrest Viquaruddin and his associates who were believed to be in city.The alert comes a few days ahead of the third anniversary of the blast at Mecca Masjid. Nine people were killed in the blast during Friday prayers at the mosque May 18, 2007.Last year on the second anniversary of the blast, unidentified persons had opened fire at policemen in the old city killing one policeman and injuring another.Police believed Viquaruddin, an alleged terror operative, was involved. In a similar attack Dec 3, 2008, two policemen were injured. The incident took place when police were trying to arrest Viquaruddin. One of the two people accompanying him opened fire on policemen. The three then managed to escape.
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TRS warns of civil war over Telangana statehood

Hyderabad, April 28 : On the occasion of its ninth anniversary Wednesday, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) once again warned of civil war if Telangana was not made a separate state soon.
Unfazed by the criticism from other parties and even demands for booking him for sedition, TRS chief K.Chandrasekhara Rao said civil war would be inevitable if Telangana state was not carved out.Addressing a gathering of hundreds of party workers here Wednesday evening, Rao dismissed speculations that the TRS would merge with the Congress party.He declared that the TRS would remain as a separate entity even after formation of Telangana state and that it would not have an alliance with any party in future."Some people are calling me traitor and demanding that the TRS be derecognized. This for raising voice against injustices to four crore people of Telangana. Are those who snatched our water resources and jobs not traitors?" asked the Mahabubnagar MP.KCR, as Rao is popularly known by initials of his name, said people would teach a lesson to the parties that want to field candidates against the TRS in assembly by-elections.Bypolls to 10 assembly seats, which fell vacant following resignations by TRS legislators over Telangana issue, are likely to be held in August this year. Earlier, TRS ideologue K. Jayashankar said war-like situation would be inevitable if the Srikrishna Committee failed to give a report in line with the aspirations of Telangana people.Addressing the anniversary celebrations of the party here, he said the panel formed by the central government to look into the issue was the last hope for people demanding a separate state of Telangana."If Telangana state is not formed even after the Srikrishna Committee submits its report, struggle will be the only option before the people. We can't say what will be the shape of this movement," said the former vice chancellor of the Kakatiya University."People will decide the nature of the movement. They have no options as despite an announcement by the central government in parliament their dream of a separate state has not been fulfilled," he said.The five-member committee formed by the central government in February is currently holding consultations with all stake holders. The panel headed by former Supreme Court Justice B.N. Srikrishna has been given time till Dec 31 to submit its report.The TRS is celebrating its formation day at a time when the Srikrishna Committee is engaged in consultations over Telangana issue. The party conclave, attended by delegates from all 10 districts of the region, including Hyderabad, also reviewed the developments of last six months.It was KCR's fast-unto-death in November-December last year which intensified the movement for Telangana state. Rao called off his fast after 11 days Dec 9 when the central government announced that the process for formation of Telangana state would be initiated.However, the statement by Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram plunged Andhra Pradesh into crisis with massive protests in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. Mass resignations by public representatives and street protests forced the central government to backtrack and it decided to hold consultations with all the stakeholders.All 10 state legislators of TRS resigned en masse after the central government made a second statement Dec 23. However, legislators from other parties refused to follow the TRS line.TRS, which initially opposed formation of the Srikrishna Committee, later submitted a memorandum to it and also put forward its arguments in favour of a separate Telangana state.It was on this day in 2001 that KCR had quit Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and floated TRS to revive the three-decade old movement for a separate Telangana state.Over 300 people were killed in police firing during violent protests for Telangana in early 1970s.  (PHOTO BY RSJ THOMAS)
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Hunger Strike by "HYDERABAD UNION OF JOURNALISTS"(HUJ) at Press Club

In protest attacked on journalists by police one day hunger strike organised by Andhra Pradesh Union of Working journalists(APUWJ), CPM leader B.V Raghavulu atteneded the strike with senior journlists Mr K.Amarnath, Mr D. Amar, HUJ president Mr Khaleel Quadri, HUJ Executive Member Mr SSK Hussaini Iqbal, and others can be seen,                        (photo by R S J.Thomas)========================================================

Opposition shutdown hits transport in Andhra Pradesh

 The day-long shutdown called by opposition parties against price rise evoked partial response in Andhra Pradesh affecting transport services.State-owned Road Transport Corp (RTC) stopped plying buses in several places in Andhra Pradesh as opposition workers held demonstrations outside bus depots and staged road blockades, police said.Shops and business establishments in some towns were partially closed. Normal life largely remained unaffected in Hyderabad as buses plied normally while shops and business establishments were open.The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Forward Block and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) called for the shutdown to protest price rise.Leaders and activists of the five parties were arrested in Hyderabad and 22 other districts of the state as they tried to forcibly close shops, staged road and rail blockades, and took out rallies Mild tension prevailed at RTC cross roads here when TDP, CPI and CPI-M workers blocked vehicular traffic and police used force to disperse them. CPI state secretary K. Narayana and CPI-M state secretary B.V. Raghavulu were among the leaders who were arrested.In Uppal on the city’s outskirts, TDP leaders led by former minister T. Devender Goud took out a motorcycle rally to enforce the shutdown.Police arrested opposition activists in Ongole town in Prakasam district when they stopped RTC buses from plying. Dozens of protesters were also taken into custody in Nalgonda.Vehicular traffic came to a standstill on National Highway 9 near Vijayawada as leaders and workers of the opposition parties squatted on the road.Blaming the policies of the central and state governments for the price rise, CPI leader Narayana demanded that the government immediately reduce VAT on food items in Andhra Pradesh. ======================================================

CTAC submits report to CM on organ transplantation

Hyderabad, Apr 27 : The Cadaver Transplantation Advisory Committee (CTAC) today suggested implementation of a new scheme 'Jeevandaan' with the objective of promoting the transplantation of organs harvested from cadavers or brain dead persons.In its report, submitted to Chief Minister K Rosaiah at Secretariat here, the Committee recommended constitution of the Appropriate Authority for Cadaver Transplantation (AACT) and housing it in the premises of NIMS, establishment of a network of Non-Transplanting Organ Harvesting Centres (NTOHC) to be registered in the hospitals with specified infrastructure and manpower, a real-time information will be provided on availability of organs and allocate them to needy patients with matching requirements. A copy of the report submitted by the CTAC will be posted on the website of the AP Government, inviting comments of experts and citizens for two weeks from April 28, 2010. The Government intends to issue the required policy orders on the cadaver transplantation, taking into consideration the report of the Committee as also the suggestions to be received from experts and citizens. The Chief Minister hailed the Cadaver Transplantation Advisory Committee (CTAC) for their comprehensive report, a press release here said. Medical Education Minister P Sudarshan Reddy, Principal Secretary (Health) J Satyanarayana, Principal Secretary (Finance) L V Subramanyam and others were also present.
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Andhra Pradesh achieves 4th position in IT related exports

Visakhapatnam, Apr 27 : The Andhra Pradesh Information Technology and Communication Principal Secreatry K Ratna Prabha said the state has risen to fourth position in IT related exports in the current fiscal.Talking to the media here today she said, the state of affairs of IT industry and the basic infrastructure facilities needed to be extended with the IT company representatives and officials from Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority(VUDA), Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL), and road transport Corporation. She further said Andhra Pradesh is aiming to achieve Rs 5000 crore from IT related exports in the next five years time. Visakhapatnam has currently two IT hubs in Madhuravada and Rushikonda. The third hub will be Gambhiram. So far more than 25 companies were provided land ranging from 2 to 15 acres for setting up their offices. However, nearly 12 companies did not make any beginning so far. The companies which have started functioning have pointed out lack of amenities such as transport services, scarcity in water supply, and power shortage and the recently clamped power holiday by the EPDCL. She also instructed the companies to make all positive initiatives to start their business activity within six months time in the respective lands allotted to them for the purpose, failing which the government would consider other companies which are evincing interest. The state government would bring forth a new IT policy. It will be implemented from next year which is under proposal stage now, she revealed.
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Train Fare Concession Increased to 100% for Cancer Patients

(PIB NEWS)As announced by the Minister of Railways, Mamata Banerjee in her Budget Speech 2010-11, the Ministry of Railways has decided to enhance the element of concession to caner patients in 3-AC and Sleeper class from existing 75 per cent to 100 per cent. The element of concession for escort in 3-AC and Sleeper remains unchanged i.e. 75 per cent. It has become effective from 20th April, 2010.Cancer patients and their escorts are given concession in railway fares for going to (and returning from) recognized hospitals for treatment and periodic checkup. The 100 per cent concession to the cancer patient is admissible only in the basic fares of Mail/Express trains and all other charges will be realized in full. The element of concession for cancer patients and their escorts in other classes i.e. 2nd, 1st Class AC, Chair-Car and 2 AC/1AC shall remain unchanged at 75 per cent and 50 per cent respectively. This concession will be admissible on tickets purchased on and after April 20, 2010. In cases of tickets already issued for travel on & after April 20, 2010, refund of difference of fares will not be admissible. There are no changes in other terms and conditions. ======================================================

Health and Wellness Clubs to be Set up in Schools: Shri Kapil Sibal National School Sanitation Iniative Launched: Aamir Khan Declared Brand Ambassador

(PIB NEWS) The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Kapil Sibal has said that Health and Wellness Clubs will be set up in schools. These clubs will instill among children values of good health and sanitation. He was speaking at the launch of the National School Sanitation Initiative, being undertaken by the Union Ministry for Human Resource Development, Union Ministry of Urban Development, CBSE and GTZ, here today. Shri Sibal underlined that partnership with children is required as they are the future. He exhorted the children to take the lead and inspire all towards high standards of sanitation. He pointed out that what we have got from mother nature must be preserved.Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Urban Development, Shri Jaipal Reddy stated that it was required to sensitise people about the issues of sanitation, energy efficiency and conservation of natural resources. He talked about the National Urban Sanitation Policy and how this new initiative could play a large role in improving sanitation levels in the country. A School Sanitation Manual was released by Shri Sibal which will be part of the CBSE curriculum. A Bio-dynamic waste Segregation Programme was launched by Shri Reddy which seeks to educate children about use of waste as a resource. Smt. D. Purandeswari, Minister of State for Human Resource Development released the School Sanitation Report on the occasion. Shri Saugata Roy, Minister of State for Urban Development, released a number of colourful posters focusing on the theme of sanitation. Noted film actor, Aamir Khan was declared the Brand Ambassador for the initiative. He congratulated the two ministers on this important initiative and stated that it was now up to the citizens and children to take this forward. He, along with Shri Sibal and Shri Reddy, interacted and took questions from a large number of school students present on the occasion.
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Togadia fails to appear before SIT

Summoned by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the 2002 post-Godhra communal riots, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international general secretary Pravin Togadia struck a defiant note when he sent in his proxy with a set of queries. The SIT turned down the plea and refused to accept the proxy appearance.Named in the petition submitted to the Supreme Court by Zakia Jaffri, widow of former congress MP Ehsan Jaffri who died in the communal killings at the Gulberg society in Ahmedabad, Togadia was summoned by the SIT to appear before it through a letter faxed to his office on April 19.On Saturday, instead of appearing in person Togadia sent his lawyers to the SIT office to enquire under what rule he had been summoned and what was the focus of the questioning he would have to submit to.Togadia’s advocate, Deepak Shukla, said Monday that he had sent two of his lawyer colleagues to the SIT office with Togadia’s letter raising the issues. But the SIT official did not accept the letterShukla charged that the SIT official had also insulted the two lawyers who had gone to the office.The petition filed by Zakia Jaffri names the chief minister, Narendra Modi, and 62 others as accused. The SIT refused to entertain Togadia’s lawyers and demanded that the VHP leader appear in person. The SIT also refused to accept from the lawyers some documents sent by Togadia.Shukla said that the SIT officer pointed out to the lawyers that even the chief minister had responded positively to the SIT summons and answered its questions for nearly nine hours in two sessions last month, and wondered why was Togadia reluctant to appear before it.Meanwhile, SIT chairman, R.K. Raghavan, arrived here Monday. He is due to submit the final report of the investigation before the apex court April 30.
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Congress not in favour of JPC probe into phone taps

The Congress Monday indicated it was not in favour of a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into allegations of phone tapping of senior political leaders.“It (JPC) does not have coercive powers possessed by regulatory agencies…. (The) history of JPC in terms of penal outcomes is not very encouraging,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.Singhvi said it was possible a JPC may inhibit ongoing investigations.“A final decision on JPC will be taken by the government,” Singhvi said while appealing to the opposition not to disrupt proceedings of parliament on the issue.The phone tapping issue rocked parliament Monday following a report in a newsmagazine that the government had tapped telephones of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Prakash Karat and Congress leader Digvijay Singh.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some other opposition parties have demanded a JPC to look into issues concerning the Indian Premier League and the phone tapping row.The CPI-M has sought an independent inquiry into the phone tapping allegations.With the demands of grants of several ministries scheduled to be taken up in the Lok Sabha Tuesday, Singhvi appealed to the opposition allow parliament to function.“It is not necessary to disrupt parliament on demand for JPC,” he said. Referring to Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s statement in parliament refuting allegations about the government involvement in phone tapping, Singhvi said the remarks were “fair, balanced and pointed”.
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PM’s Statement to the Media at the Joint Press Meet With President Hamid Karzai

(PIB NEWS)Following is the statement of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the joint press meet with the President of Afghanistan, Mr. Hamid Karzai:“It is a great honour for me to welcome His Excellency President Hamid Karzai to India on his first visit to India after his re-election as President. I have had extremely productive discussions with President Karzai. We discussed a broad range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. We exchanged views on regional cooperation in the context of forthcoming SAARC Summit and our common vision of freer and more unfettered regional trade and transit. Greater economic integration has the potential of transforming our region. India and Afghanistan enjoy a strategic partnership based on unique historical and civilizational bonds and shared goals. I conveyed to President Karzai our deep admiration for his courageous leadership in difficult times, and our support to the Government and people of Afghanistan as they build a strong, peaceful, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan. India believes that this process should be led and owned by the Afghan people. We reviewed the development partnership between our two countries. India remains committed to assisting the Government and people of Afghanistan in their efforts towards the reconstruction and development of their country. I conveyed to the President that India is ready to augment its assistance for capacity building and for skill and human resources development to help strengthen public institutions in Afghanistan. We discussed the issue of terrorism, which threatens our region. President Karzai assured me that the Government of Afghanistan will take all possible measures for the security of Indians in Afghanistan. We were of the view that the attacks of February 26, 2010 in Kabul were the handiwork of those who do not wish to see the emergence of a strong, independent and pluralistic Afghanistan. I conveyed to President Karzai that the perpetrators of such attacks will not succeed in undermining India’s commitment to assist the Afghan people. I look forward to continuing to work together with President Karzai for further enhancing our close cooperation. This is in the interest of our two peoples and peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
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Three language formula for Linguistic Minorities

The Government has informed the Rajya Sabha that the report of National Commission for Religious & Linguistic Minorities( NCRLM), inter alia, states that a three-language formula should be implemented everywhere in the country making it compulsory for the authorities to include in it the mother tongue of every child – including especially, Urdu and Punjabi. Giving this information in written reply to a question the Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid, informed the House that the report of NCRLM says that all necessary facilities, financial and logistic, should be provided by the State for education in accordance with the dispensation suggested by it.The Minister said that the recommendations of NCRLM are under consideration of the Government.
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Women Beggars and Prostitutes,

(PIB NEWS)The number of women beggars hauled up in NCT of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata during the last three years is 319, 1818 and 19 respectively.A study on Girls and Women in Prostitution in India conducted between 2002-04 with the support of the Ministry of Women and Child Development had estimated that there were about 1,50,000 to 2,00,000 prostitutes in 6 metro cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. The Government is already taking a number of measurers for economic empowerment of women which help in prevention of such destitution. A scheme ‘Ujjawala’ is being implemented for prevention of trafficking for sexual exploitation and also for rescue and rehabilitation of victims. In addition, Swadhar Shelter Homes provide shelter and other facilities such as food, health care etc. to women in difficult circumstances including trafficked victims. The States also have their own schemes and programmes to prevent such destitution. This information was given by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State(Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Women and Child Development in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
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PM’s Statement to the Media at the Joint Press Meet With President Hamid Karzai

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the President of the Republic of Afghanistan, Mr. Hamid Karzai, at the joint press conference, in New Delhi on April 26, 2010.                          (Photo by PIB No.CNR -31404)
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(PIB NEWS)Following is the statement of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the joint press meet with the President of Afghanistan, Mr. Hamid Karzai:“It is a great honour for me to welcome His Excellency President Hamid Karzai to India on his first visit to India after his re-election as President. I have had extremely productive discussions with President Karzai. We discussed a broad range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. We exchanged views on regional cooperation in the context of forthcoming SAARC Summit and our common vision of freer and more unfettered regional trade and transit. Greater economic integration has the potential of transforming our region. India and Afghanistan enjoy a strategic partnership based on unique historical and civilizational bonds and shared goals. I conveyed to President Karzai our deep admiration for his courageous leadership in difficult times, and our support to the Government and people of Afghanistan as they build a strong, peaceful, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan. India believes that this process should be led and owned by the Afghan people. We reviewed the development partnership between our two countries. India remains committed to assisting the Government and people of Afghanistan in their efforts towards the reconstruction and development of their country. I conveyed to the President that India is ready to augment its assistance for capacity building and for skill and human resources development to help strengthen public institutions in Afghanistan. We discussed the issue of terrorism, which threatens our region. President Karzai assured me that the Government of Afghanistan will take all possible measures for the security of Indians in Afghanistan. We were of the view that the attacks of February 26, 2010 in Kabul were the handiwork of those who do not wish to see the emergence of a strong, independent and pluralistic Afghanistan. I conveyed to President Karzai that the perpetrators of such attacks will not succeed in undermining India’s commitment to assist the Afghan people. I look forward to continuing to work together with President Karzai for further enhancing our close cooperation. This is in the interest of our two peoples and peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
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No statement by PM as Lok Sabha adjourned for day

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day Monday as the opposition continued its protests over reports that politicians’ phones were tapped by government agencies. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was supposed to speak in the Lok Sabha over the allegations at 3.30 p.m.When the house reassembled after the lunch at 2 p.m., opposition MPs from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Samajwadi Party (SP) shouted slogans against the goverment and gathered near the speaker’s podium. They were supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Left party MPs.Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Raghuvansh Prasad Singh also raised the issue of the Indian Premier League (IPL) controversy.As the opposition continued its protest, Deputy Speaker Karia Munda adjourned the house for the day.Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had earlier told the house amid furious protests by opposition MPs: “PM is ready to speak in the house at 3.30 pm.”

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Bill on punishment for torture introduced in Lok Sabha

A bill proposing punishment for torture inflicted by public servants or torture inflicted by someone with the consent of public servants was introduced in the Lok Sabha Monday. Introducing the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said: “The proposed legislation, inter alia, defines the expression ‘torture’, provides for punishment to those involved in the incidents of torture and specifies the time limit for taking cognizance of the offence.”
He said an amendment of the existing laws such as Indian Penal Code (IPC) or bringing in a new legislation was necessary for India to ratify the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Dec 9, 1975.
“Ratification of the Convention requires enabling legislation to reflect the definition and punishment for ‘torture’. Although some provisions relating to the matter are existing in the IPC, yet they neither define ‘torture’ as clearly as in Article I of the Convention nor make it a criminal offence as called for by Article 4 of the Convention,” the home minister said.Chidambaram said the matter was examined “at length in consultation with the Law Commission of India and the Attorney General of India”.“After considerable deliberations on the issue, it was decided to bring in a standalone legislation so that the Convention can be ratified,” the minister said. =======================================================

Heatwave in Telangana, rain in coastal AP, Rayalaseema

Hyderabad, Apr 26 : Heat wave conditions prevailed over the districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar and Warangal of Telangana, while isolated rain was reported in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.The maximum temperatures changed little over the state. They were significantly above normal at a few places over the remaining districts of Telangana and above normal at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. The highest maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius was recorded at Ramagundam, Met department said today.Heat wave conditions may prevail over the districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Warangal of Telangana during next two days. Isolated rain/thundershowers would occur over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema. Kalakada in Chittoor District recorded a rainfall of one cm.Thunder clouds would develop towards evening/night in the city.The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 41 and 26 degrees respectively, it added.
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AP Governor launches Census 2011 in AP

Hyderabad, Apr 26 : Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan today launched the commencement of house-listing operations of census of India 2011 by providing details at Raj Bhavan here.A team of officials visited the Governor's bungalow and obtained the details from him. Later, the Governor called upon the people to extend their cooperation by providing all the details sought by enumerators as this was very much needed for implementing the welfare schemes effectively for the benefit of the poor people.''Census of India is perhaps the largest administrative exercise in the entire world and has an enviable tradition of achievement and competence. The first Census was taken way back in 1872, in the then British India, and the first Census in Independent India was conducted in 1951,'' he said.''The decennial Census is a landmark event in the socio-economic history of our country. The data will provide the basis for the formulation of sound socio-economic policies at all levels,'' he said.Director of Census operations in State Y V Anuradha said the exercise would be carried out in two phases-- house-listing and housing census Operations -- from today till June 10, this year and population enumeration from February 9 to 28, next year. She said the details collected would be the foundation for all developmental programmes in the state. About 1.6 lakh enumerators and 26,000 supervisors were engaged in the exercise and each enumerator would cover 120 to 150 households.State Ministers of respective districts too launched the programme in the districts.
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Cartoonist Subhani Shaik to receive Yudhvir Memorial award

Hyderabad, Apr 26 : Noted cartoonist Subhani Shaik has been selected for the 19th Yudhvir Memorial Foundation Award for his contribution in the field of cartoon journalism.The award, comprising a citation and a purse of Rs 50,000, would be given to him by Andhra Pradesh Information Minister J Geeta Reddy at an impressive function here on April 30.Awards won by Mr Subhani, now serving as Cartoon Editor in Deccan Chronicle, included ''Award of Success'' in the second FCW International Cartoon Festival, China in 2004 and Special prize in the Leng Mu International Cartoon Festival in China.Previous recipients of the Yudhvir award, instituted in memory of eminent freedom fighter, journalist and founder of daily Hindi Milap, included Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, classical musician Pandit Jasraj, Space scientist U R Rao and eminent filmmaker Shyam Benegal.
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Muaythai Championship - from April 30th to may 2nd at LB Stadium Hyderabad,

Hyderabad,April-26, Muaythai Association of Andhra Pradesh an Affiliate of Muaythai India(MTI)National Federation(recognized by Indian Olympic Association)is organizing its Andhra Pradesh State Junior and Sub Junior Muaythai Championship will be held from April 30th to may2nd at Boxing hall of Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad. Mr M.H.Abid,National President(MTI) Addressing the media at Hotel Grand Plaza Nampally today,Hafiz Mohammed Salahuddin Jaweed,State president Muay Thai Association of Andhra Pradesh, (MTA-AP),Mr Aziz Ahmed (Bangalore) also be seen.(PHOTO BY R S J THOMAS)***********************************************************************************

India calls for ‘future-oriented’ SAARC summit declaration

Ahead of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Bhutan next week, foreign secretaries of the regional grouping’s eight member-states met Sunday with India pitching for a “visionary and future-oriented” summit declaration that spurs greater intra-regional cooperation.“Each of the areas of cooperation under SAARC has a direct bearing on the lives and livelihoods of the people of our region. Our leaders have correctly identified the focus of SAARC as being development oriented,” Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said at the standing committee meeting of SAARC.“In this 25th year of SAARC, we can take satisfaction from the fact that SAARC has evolved into a service provider for the economic and development needs of the people of the region,” she said.Rao stressed that it was “an opportunity to introspect on the experience of the last 25 years and the course we need to chart in the future not only to maintain, but to accelerate, the momentum SAARC has achieved in the recent past.”She lauded Bhutan, the chair and host of the 16th SAARC summit, for taking the lead to put climate change at the centre of the SAARC agenda. “Bhutan has led the way among all of us in enshrining respect and sensitivity for environmental concerns and the preservation of our precious environmental space,” Rao said.“Let us derive impetus from this to work towards a Summit Declaration that is focused, incisive, visionary, and future-oriented as a lasting outcome of our summit,” she said.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will join other leaders of South Asian countries in Thimphu April 28, the first time Bhutan is hosting a summit of SAARC countries that account for nearly one-fourth of the world’s humanity.The April-29 summit is expected to culminate in a joint declaration entitled “Towards a Green and Happy South Asia” and will see the signing of two pacts on environment and trade in services. A separate Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change will also be issued at the end of the summit.At the summit, India will focus on improving regional connectivity through the development of new trade, transport and telecommunication links, Rao said days ahead of the summit.   (way2online)

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CPM, TDP to press for JPC to probe 'IPL-Gate'

Siliguri / Hyderabad, Apr 25 : The Communist Party of India (Marxist), has reiterated its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe into alleged financial irregularities in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Addressing media on Saturday in West Bengal's Siliguri, CPM politburo member Brinda Karat asked for a probe by the parliamentary panel."All the names that have come up, the reports that are coming, so the probe is very essential...it is the violation of government's rules and regulations, so we demand a joint paramilitary committee on this," said Karat.In Hyderabad, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president Chandrababu Naidu also echoed Karat's view. "This is a national shame and all of us have to take the responsibility. Even country has to face the guilt all over the world; everybody is thinking what is happening in India. On one side we are talking that India will become a developed nation and it will be among top three nations," Naidu said. "India will become one of the biggest and efficient democracies of the world. We are facing this type of problem, so the government of India has to come out," he added.Meanwhile, IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, who is under pressure to resign following controversy, has tweeted that he won't quit."People pressurising me to resign - I can tell you will not happen. Let them remove me then," Modi put out his message on Twitter.Income tax officials continued their searches in offices of IPL franchisees, following allegations of corruption in the world's richest cricket tournament.
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IISc campus likely to come up in Anantapur

The second campus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, is likely to come up in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district.Union Minister for Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal in a letter to Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Saturday said the central government was examining a proposal of Andhra Pradesh in this regard and had discussed the idea with IISc, Bangalore. The IISc, Bangalore, has informed that internal discussions have been held and initial proposals were to create an advanced research centre, a science park and an incubation centre, said a statement from the chief minister’s office.Sibal wrote that a Memorandum of Understanding for the sale of land, the time frame for making available the basic infrastructure, among other things, was under preparation and further developments would be communicated on receipt of fresh inputs from IISc, Bangalore.
Rosaiah thanked United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sibal and IISc, Bangalore, for the move to establish the second campus of IISc in the state. He said it would be a boon for the backward district of Anantapur.The chief minister said the entire credit for this goes to former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who made efforts to get the IISc campus.YSR, as the late chief minister was popularly known, had even identified 1,000 acres of land in Anantapur district, about 70 km from Bangalore International Airport
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Panel report on schedule: Srikrishna

Hyderabad, Apr 24 : Expressing happiness over interaction with three major political parties since yesterday, Justice B N Srikrishna today said interactions were going on as per schedule and its report would be submitted by December-end without any delay.Talking to reporters after interacting with a delegation of CPI(M) Leaders, he said, ''we have interacted with three parties -- PRP, CPI and CPI(M). ''They have given very useful inputs though they look at the issue in their own way. ''We will analyse their inputs and arrive at our conclusion at the end of our journey.''Our interactions are going on smoothly and on time. We will be able to complete our job as per schedule,'' he added.''We will interact with four more parties once the Budget session of Parliament is over. ''Thereafter, we will hold wider consultations with all concerned for the rest of May and also in June,'' he said.
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Dr.Akkineni Nageswara Rao is releasing the Book "Vuhala Vasantham"

Dada Saheb Phalke Awaardee Dr.Akkineni Nageshwara Rao is releasing the Book of "Vuhala Vasantham" written by Smt. Kethavarapu Rajya Laxmi in Ravindra BharaMr.P.Vijaya Babu, Editor-Andhra Prabha, Dr. O.SrinivasaReddy,Chairman-Jagruthi Educational Institutions,
Dr.M.Sulochana,HOD,Commerce,OU,Dr.B.EeswarReddy,Dr.P.S.Murthy,Sri.PV.Subba Rao,Sri.Pedduri Venkata Das,SriMallela Sudhakar also seen in photos.thi mini hall in Hyderabad.  (photo by RSJ.THOMAS)=======================================================

State Bank of Hyderabad(SBH) Finacial Highlights March-2009-10,

Managing Director SBH, Ms.Renu Challu Addressing the"Annual Press Meet" Finacial Highlights-March 31,2010,Mr N,K Padhi.Also seen,(photo by RSJ THOMAS)=======================================================