Assets worth Rupees 1.63 crore seized from APIIC Dy Zonal Manager

Hyderabad, Jun 18 : ACB sleuths today unearthed assets worth Rupees 1.63 crore during simultaneous raids at the office and residence of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited Deputy Zonal Manager (Shamshabad Zone) K Gopal Reddy.The sleuths registered a case of disproportionate assets against the accused after conducting simultaneous searches at different places covering his office and residence at Maruthi Nagar, Kothapet and Hyderabad and unearthed movable and immovable assets possessed by the accused in his name and in the names of his family members worth about Rs 1.63 crore, a release here said. The immovable assets include Two G+2 houses (one each at New Maruthi Nagar and L B Nagar in Hyderabad), one Flat at Saroornagar, Eight house plots in and around Hyderabad city. The official value of these immovable properties is to the tune of Rs 1.33 crore. The searches also unearthed Rs 96,000 in Cash, four gold biscuits and gold ornaments weighing about 887 gm worth about Rs 13 lakh, two kg of silver ornaments worth about Rs 50,000, bank balances of Rs 4.18 lakh, one Ford car worth Rs six lakh, one Maruti car worth Rs 1.50 lakh, one Pulsar Motorcycle worth over Rs 40,000 and household articles worth about Rs 3.20 lakh.The total value of the movable assets was about Rs 29.74 lakh. The total recorded value of movable and immovable assets possessed by the accused was about Rs 1.63 crore though the market value of the assets would be more than Rs five crore. The searches were in progress. The accused was arrested and produced before Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases, Hyderabad, the release added.
==============================================

Andhra Pradesh Wakf Board CEO caught taking bribe

Hyderabad,June 17: Andhra Pradesh State Wakf Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) B.S. Farooq Ahmed was Thursday caught red handed while taking a bribe.Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials said the CEO was caught when he was taking Rs.1 lakh from a person who wanted a job in the Wakf Board. An official said Farooq had demanded Rs.2 lakh from Arshad, a youth from Kadapa district, to appoint him as a security guard. Farooq was caught while taking Rs.1 lakh. ACB officials raided Farooq's house to conduct a thorough probe into his assets. Wakf Board, run by the state government, looks after movable and immovable properties dedicated by Muslims for religious and charitable purposes.
===========================================

Man arrested for marrying minor

Hyderabad,June 17: A 58-year-old man was Thursday arrested in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district after he married a minor girl, police said.
The bridegroom, an employee of the state-owned Road Transport Corporation, married a girl - said to be 14 years old - at a temple in Rajahmundry town of the district this morning. However, protests by local people forced him to leave the place in a hurry with his bride. The man, who hails from Vemulawada in West Godavari district, was arrested later on charges of kidnapping and cheating as the marriage reportedly took place without the consent of the girl. Police said they would send the girl for medical examination to establish her age as her parents have claimed that she is 18 years old.
===============================================

Two blast accused brought to Hyderabad

Hyderabad, June 17: Two activists of a Hindu terror group accused in the October 2007 blast in the Ajmer Sharif dargah were Thursday brought here by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning in the Mecca Masjid bombing in May the same year.Devender Gupta and Lokesh Sharma, both members of Hindu terror group Abhinav Bharat, were produced before a court, which sent them to judicial custody for two weeks. CBI sources said the two were later shifted to Chanchalguda Central Jail amid tight security. This is the first time that the accused have been brought to Hyderabad after their involvement in the Mecca Masjid blast came to light in April. Nine people were killed in the blast during Friday prayers at the mosque May 18, 2007. Five more people were killed in the subsequent police firing on protesters outside the mosque. The CBI, which brought the two accused on transit remand, will move a petition to seek their custody for interrogation. The investigating agency will try to find out if they received any local help in carrying out the blast at the 17th century mosque here. On a petition by the CBI, 14th additional chief metropolitan magistrate court had last week issued a warrant to present them in the court. The CBI had informed the court that two other accused, Sandeep and Ramchandra, were absconding and efforts to nab them were on. Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K.Khan told reporters that the city police would provide all assistance to the CBI. Gupta and Sharma were arrested by Rajasthan Police in April this year in connection with October 2007 blast at Khwaja Moinuddin Chisthi dargah in Ajmer, which had claimed one life and injured 30 others. The CBI believes that both the blasts were the handiwork of the same group.
=============================================

Congress to submit views on Telangana before Srikrishna panel

Hyderabad,June 17: The Justice Srikrishna Committee, looking into the demand for separate statehood for the Telangana region, will hear the views of the ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh on the issue next month. The Congress is the only party that is yet to present its views on the contentious matter.Srikrishna told reporters Thursday that the committee has invited the Congress party to submit its arguments on July 5, 6 and 7. Though all the parties, including the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), have submitted their arguments before the panel during last three months, the Congress had been avoiding a meeting. As the party is divided on the statehood issue along regional lines, two to three groups are likely to meet the committee separately to put forth their views. "We don't know how many groups from the Congress party will come to meet us," said Srikrishna, who is heading the five-member committee. The Srikrishna committee had last month heard different groups of the TDP on the Telangana issue. The Congress had postponed its scheduled meetings with the panel on two occasions in the past. Leaders of both TDP and Congress from Telangana support the demand for a separate state while their counterparts from Rayalaseema and Andhra regions are opposed to it. To a query, Srikrishna said the committee would meet TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, if necessary, to elicit his views. The committee met 100 groups and 1,000 individuals during the last three months. "We are in the process of gathering information and inputs. We are sure that the train is progressing on time and will reach the destination on time," he said. The committee, formed by the central government in February after violent protests for and against a separate Telangana, has been asked to submit its report by December 31. The committee, which heard the views of various sections of the Telugu diaspora through video conference, has almost completed its process of consultations with various political and non-political groups. The panel will begin region-wise visits next month to elicit the people's opinion. It held a meeting with Chief Secretary S.V. Prasad as part of the preparations for regional visits and also to seek region-wise information from various departments. The committee's member secretary, V.K. Duggal, said they would not visit those Telangana districts where by-elections to 12 assembly constituencies are scheduled in August. He denied that the committee had urged the Election Commission to postpone the by-polls.
==============================================

Hyderabad artist makes 16-foot long pen for Manmohan Singh

Hyderabad, June 17 : To spread the message of compulsory education for every citizen of India, M. Srinivasa Acharya, an artist from Hyderabad, has created a 16-feet long fountain pen for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.A teacher by profession, 50-year-old Acharya wants to spread the message of compulsory education for every citizen of India through his pen."Education must be made compulsory. That right shall be given to all the Indians. To remove the hurdles in the development of the nation, the illiteracy shall be uprooted. I dedicate this pen on behalf of all Indians to Honorable Prime Minister," said Acharya,Made of brass with a width of a foot, the pen weighs 40 kilograms.The pen has been named "Bharatiya Pali," which means India''s Pen. It took 56 days and about 450 man hours to shape the sheets of brass into pen and to carve the whole structure with illustrations of Indian culture. The entire project cost Acharya Rs 2.5 lakh.
===============================================

Send 'child goddess' to school: AP Commission

Hyderabad, June 16 : The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission has ordered that Sambavi, an eight-year-old girl hailed as a child goddess and a devotee of the Dalai Lama in her previous incarnation, should go to school.

Justice B.Subhasan Reddy,chairman of the Commission, directed the collector of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh to get her admitted in school if her parents failed to do so, media reports said on Wednesday. Sambhavi is almost worshipped as a god in Kurnool as "she can foretell the future". People are flocking to visit this "child goddess".Sambhavi's parents are, however, upset with the direction and are planning to move court against the direction.The state human rights commission earlier banned a reality TV show involving children in Andhra Pradesh.
===============================================

Suven gets 2 product patents from Japan

Hyderabad, Jun 16 : Suven Life Sciences Limited (Suven) today announced that the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) has issued two product Patents to their New Chemical Entities (NCE's) for treating disorders associated with Neurodegenerative diseases.The patents -- 4455992 and 4473120 -- were valid till 2022. With this, a total of three Japanese product patents were granted to Suven, a company release said.The granted claims of the patent include the class of selective Serotonin receptor affinity compounds discovered by Suven and were being developed as therapeutic agents. According to the invention 4460446 patent disclosure, the compounds were useful in the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimers, Attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Huntington's disease, Parkinson and Schizophrenia.Suven had secured intellectual property protection for several of its NCEs in major markets like US, Canada, Europe, China, Russia, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Mexico. These patents were exclusive intellectual property of Suven and achieved through the internal drug discovery research efforts. Products from these inventions would be outlicensed at the stage of clinical Phase-I or Phase-II.''We are very pleased by the grant of these patents to Suven by Japanese Patent Office for our pipeline of molecules in CNS arena that are being developed for cognitive disorders which has an estimated market potential of 20 billion US Dollars globally,'' Suven CEO Venkat Jasti said.
==============================================

Instant Money Order system at 257 centres in AP circle

Hyderabad,Jun 16: Chief Postmaster General, Andhra Pradesh Circle, K V Sundar Rajan today said Instant Money Order (IMO), launched by India Post for customers to remit large amounts of money within India, was taken up by 257 centres in Andhra Pradesh.Addressing a press conference here, he said the number of IMO centres was growing very fast in the state.He said IMO, which was instant, convenient, reliable, safe and affordable, was a web-based transfer offered by India Post between two individuals within India.Mr Rajan said the money booked through IMO could be disbursed the very next minute with a facility to send a message along with the money.Money Order Videsh (MO Videsh), another facility launched by the India Post, was available in 95 head post offices in Andhra Pradesh.Both inward and outward remittances were possible with this facility and maximum value per transaction was 5000 US Dollars.He said for outward remittances, the minimum amount one could send was 100 US Dollars while the maximum limit was 5000 US dollars at a time and for inward remittances, maximum 12 transactions were allowed in a year, with 2500 US dollars per transaction. He said 95 head post offices in Andhra Pradesh were identified as Point of Presence Service Provider for accepting New Pension Scheme (NPS) of the Government of India.He said the NPS was available to all citizens of India, both resident and non-resident, with effect from May last year to promote old age income security. The Scheme was flexible and the member could prefer pension fund manager and keep changing investment pattern through active choice option. He said the scheme was regulated by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority with transparent investment norms and regular monitoring and performance review of fund manager by NPS trust.
==============================================

Rain in coastal AP, Telangana, isolated rain in Rayalaseema

Hyderabad, Jun 16 : Rain occurred at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while isolated rain occurred over Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Kaleswaram (Karimnagar district) 5, Bapatla 4, Ongole and Dummagudem (Khammam district) 3 each, Nizamsagar (Nizamabad district) 2, Adilabad, Bhadrachalam, Kakinada, Jurala Project (Mahabubnagar district) and Kunavaram (Khammam district) one each, Met department said today. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers may occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Isolated rain or thundershowers may occur over Rayalaseema.There are chances of rain in parts of the city. Maximum and Minimum temperature would be around 35 and 24 degree celsius.
==============================================

Andhra Congress chief meets Sonia

New Delhi, June 15 : Andhra Pradesh Congress chief D. Srinivas Tuesday met party president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the upcoming assembly by-elections in the Telangana region of the state.Srinivas, who also met Law and Justice Minister M. Veerapa Moily, told reporters that the high command had asked the state party unit to prepare for the assembly by-elections. He said that strategy for the by-elections will be decided in due course. The meeting comes in the backdrop of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) urging the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party not to contest the polls in response to the call given by Telangana Joint Action Committee. Twelve legislators - ten from the TRS and one each from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) - had resigned in February in support of the demand for creation of Telangana.
================================================

Media scribe taken under custody for selling tickets

Tirumala, Jun 15 : Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Vigilance officials have taken into custody a media scribe for enquiry here tonight in connection with selling seva tickets.While checking the tickets of pilgrims, a four-member pilgrim party from Thadepallegudem in West Godavari district stated that they had purchased two Archana, four Suprabhatam and two Astadala Pada Padmaradhanamu seva tickets from a leading electronic media scribe, working in Tirumala.The tickets were taken under discretionary quota from Joint Executive camp office in Tirumala for Rs 40,000 against the actual price of Rs 6,840, a TTD vigilance official said.After receiving the recorded statement from the pilgrim party, the scribe and former APUWJ district secretary Mr Reddy, who is also state executive member for APUWJ, were taken into custody for investigation, the official added.However, TTD Executive officer Mr I Y R Krishna Rao has not confirmed the custody of Mr Reddy.
================================================

Demand for Andhra minister's resignation embarrasses Congress

Hyderabad, June 15: The ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh is facing an embarrassing situation with a section of party leaders from Telangana demanding that Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah resign for alleged irregularities in 'Jalayagnam', a massive irrigation programme.Senior Congress leader P. Goverdhan Reddy Tuesday claimed he had evidence to prove his allegations against the minister. Defending his remarks, he offered to provide the evidence if the government holds a meeting on the issue. He told reporters that he would also meet the governor and submit a memorandum on the matter. M.S. Rajalingam, a member of the Legislative Council belonging to Congress party, has also levelled allegations against Ponnala and said he had no right to remain in the cabinet. Ponnala, who also hails from Telangana, has dismissed allegations against him as baseless and rejected the demand for his resignation. On Sunday, a group of Congress leaders from Telangana, including three MPs, held a meeting and demanded Ponnala's resignation. They also decided to take up the issue with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. As the division in the party became public, a group of ministers from Telangana came to the defence of their colleague and suggested that the leaders demanding Ponnala's resignation raise their objections at a proper forum in the party. The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) demanded that the minister be sacked forthwith. "If the minister fails to tender his resignation, the chief minister should sack him immediately to prove that he has zero tolerance for corruption," TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu told reporters here Tuesday.
===============================================

Court dismisses plea to defer Andhra Pradesh by-polls

Hyderabad, June 15 : The Andhra Pradesh High Court Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking postponement of by-elections to 12 assembly constituencies in the Telangana region.A division bench dismissed the petition, saying the court will not interfere in the functioning of the Election Commission of India. It suggested to the petitioner to move the commission if he had any objections with regard to the elections. Elections to 12 constituencies are likely to be held in August and the poll schedule is expected to be announced by month-end. Lawyer J. Narayanswamy, who belongs to Anantapur district, filed the petition seeking court orders to the commission against issuing the poll notification. The petitioner argued that the situation in Telangana was not conducive to holding polls. The petition had assumed significance in view of the pressure on both the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from groups seeking a separate state of Telangana not to contest the by-polls.
The by-elections were necessitated by the resignation of all 10 legislators of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and one legislator each of the TDP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to press the demand for separate Telangana state. The TRS, BJP and other pro-Telangana parties and groups have appealed to the Congress and TDP not to enter the fray and ensure the unanimous election of the legislators who resigned for the cause of Telangana. A section of Congress leaders in Telangana region have also urged the party leadership not to field candidates. State Congress chief D. Srinivas met party president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi Tuesday to discuss the developments. Congress sources said the central leadership would take a decision on the issue after deliberations with all sections within the party.
===============================================

PM-handig over the "GHILAF-E-MUBARAK"to DARGAH SHAREEF KHAJA GHARIB NAWAZ,

(PIB NEWS) June,15, The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh handing over the ‘Chaadar’ to be offered at the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Ajmer Sharif to the Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office and Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Prithviraj Chavan, in New Delhi on June 15, 2010. (Photo by PIB No.CNR - 32061)
==================================================

TDP to launch agitation against indiscriminate sale of liquor

Vijayawada,Jun 15: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will launch a state-wide agitation to protest against the indiscriminate sale of liquor and setting up of belt liquor shops across the state, Senior TDP leader and MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao announced here today.Addressing a press conference here, he alleged that the Andhra Pradesh Government had given green signal for the sale of liquor and setting up of belt liquor shops.He alleged that the government had ignored all norms in issuing licences to the liquor shops in the state.Mr Rao said the TDP would launch a state wide-agitation by staging 'dharnas' in front of all the Collector Offices in the state, demanding the government to take steps to regularise the sale of liquor and do away with belt liquor shops.The liquor traders were selling liquor at an exorbitant prices, he claimed and demanded the government to ensure that liquor was sold at Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
===============================================

APSHRC directs admin to get Sambhavi admitted to school

Hyderabad, Jun 15 : The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission has directed the Kurnool district administration to get Samhavi, proclaimed 'god child', enrolled to a school by June 21.Human Rights Commission Chairman B Shubhashan Reddy, acting on petitions filed by NGOs and human rights activists, yesterday ordered that the eight-year-old girl be enrolled in an elementary school and not be restrained at home.The APSHRC also directed the District Collector for compliance of its order and report to the Commission by June 21. It also prohibited her parents from propagating of ''her super natural powers''.
================================================

Realty sector revives in Hyderabad after political crisis

Hyderabad,June 15: The Realty sector in Hyderabad has bounced back after the recent political crisis, as demand for residential and commercial properties is growing.The trend is growing evidently in Tier I and Tier II areas, as these are high-demand markets."Market is improving as of now because of these developments happening in the Hyderabad areas like outer ring road area, Infosys campus and many other areas, so this is the right time to invest and to buy a customer," said Prabhakar, Sales Officer in Real Estate Company.Some customers feel that Hyderabad is the right place for investing money in the realty sector."NRIs, doctors and Information Technology (IT) people are coming forward for the investment and even some of the central government employees are also coming forward. Now a days comparing with the facilities what we are giving on what rates we are giving, people are seeing benefits and on these bases they are coming forward for investments and showing interest," said Raj Kumar, Marketing Manager in Real Estate Company.The realty sector is anticipated to grow at the rate of 30 percent annually over the next decade, which will attract foreign investment worth 30 billion dollars.The sector is one of the largest employers in the country, and has backward and forward linkages with about 250 industries, such as cement, brick, steel, building material and many more.
=================================================

Monsoon update

(PIB NEWS) JUNE,14, Southwest monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada, Vidarbha, most parts of Telangana, some parts of Chhattisgarh, remaining part of Coastal Andhra Pradesh, some more parts of Orissa and some more parts of Gangetic west Bengal. Condition are favorable for further advance of southwest monsoon into remaining parts of central Arabian Sea, some parts of north Arabian Sea and south Gujarat, Maharashtra, of Madhya Pradesh, f Chhattisgarh, Orissa and West Bengal and some parts of Jharkhand and Bihar. Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) Guidance states that Monsoon flow over Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify during next 2-3 days. The western disturbance will affect western Himalayan region and adjoining plains during next 3-4 days. A major feature of weather forecast for next 3 days as per midday bulletin of India Meteorological department suggests widespread rain/thundershowers would occur over Kerala, Lakshadweep, Coastal Karnataka and Konkan & Goa. Fairly widespread rain/thundershowers would occur over Interior Karnataka, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, West Bengal & Sikkim and northeastern states and scattered over Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Vidarbha, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Scattered rain/thundershowers would occur over Jammu & Kashmir and isolated over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during next 48 hours and increase thereafter. Isolated dust storm/thunderstorms may occur over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Rainfall activity would increase over Uttar Pradesh after 48 hours. Isolated rain/thundershowers would occur over Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh during next 24 hours and increase thereafter. Maximum temperature will increase by about 1-2°C over parts of northwest and Central India during next 48 hours.
==============================================

PM Asks Bhopal Disaster Gom to Report to Cabinet in Ten Days

(PIB NEWS) JUNE,14, The Prime Minister has directed that the Group of Ministers, headed by the Home Minister, constituted to look into all issues relating to the Bhopal gas leak disaster, may meet immediately to take stock of the situation arising out of the recent court judgement, to assess the options and remedies available to the Government on the various issues involved and to report to the Cabinet within ten days.

================================================

Send 'child saint' to school, rules Andhra rights panel

Hyderabad, June 14: Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Monday ordered that 'child saint' Sambhavi, who claims to be a childhood friend of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in her previous life, should go to school.Delivering its verdict on petitions filed by a group of rationalists and human rights activists, SHRC Chairman Subhashan Reddy directed the collector of Kurnool district to enrol her in a school within a week. He said the girl should have all the rights of a child and the parents should not claim that she is a 'child saint'. The panel noted that Sambhavi's parents themselves claimed the girl possessed "supernatural" powers. "Whoever may be the parents, they can't do whatever they want with their child," Reddy said. Ruling that Sambhavi is a 14-year-old, the Commission said that the authorities should make arrangements to enrol her in a school. Sambhavi had attracted people's attention last year by claiming to be the Dalai Lama's disciple in her previous life. She also predicted that Tibet would get independence in 2012. After her claims, people started thronging an old temple at Suryanandi in Kurnool district for her "darshan". For the last one year, the child had been at the centre of a row between Usha Rani, her caretaker, and rationalists and human rights activists who were demanding that the child be sent to school. They alleged that her 'caretaker' and some others with vested interests were exploiting her childhood and demanded her release from their 'illegal detention'. Rani gave a new twist to the case in December last year by revealing that she was the mother of the girl. She also revealed that after the death of her first husband in Guntur district, she had gone to an "ashram" in Varanasi, where she married yoga teacher Saumya Acharya. She claimed Sambhavi was born at Tirupati in 2002.
===============================================

Schools re-open in AP after summer vacation

Hyderabad,Jun 14: All the government schools in Andhra Pradesh reopened today after a nearly 45-day-long summer vacation with the government planning to improve the teaching standards in schools.Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah who would be launching the  'Badibata' (Way to School) Programme later today, said the State Government was spending huge funds on education, especially on school education. He mooted a six-point action Plan for teachers to achieve excellence in school education, particularly in Government Schools, which included constant monitoring of teachers and students' attendance, improving teaching standards, providing text books to all classes on the reopening day, making optimum use of programmes like SSA to improve the infrastructure facilities, besides putting an end to drop outs and ensure that teaching standards were on par with corporate schools. In a statement here, Mr Rosaiah said the state was also leveraging funds from the Central Government schemes like Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) for improving infrastructure facilities like school buildings, compound walls and recruitment of teachers, He expressed satisfaction that school and secondary education in the state of late had vastly improved, universalisation of elementary education had been achieved to a very large extent, and there was improvement in gross enrolment ratio, especially of girls and those belonging to the marginalised group. With the enactment of Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, it was expected that issues of drop-out, out-of-school children, quality of education and availability of trained teachers would be addressed in the short to medium term. Gender Parity at the elementary stage has improved appreciably. It is also a matter of satisfaction that Andhra Pradesh has attained 100 per cent access by providing at-least One Primary School within the reach of one km.A massive training programme for the School Assistants handling classes nine and ten for all Government and Local Body Schools was organised in Summer 2010 and 50,000 teachers trained with the main objective of improving quality in secondary schools, the release said.
=================================================

Andhra Police arrest another Maoist Central Committee member

Mahbubnagar (Andhra Pradesh), June 14 : In another major success for anti-Naxal operations in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the security forces have arrested Maoist Central Committee member and Karnataka committee chief Chandrashekhar Gorebal.Gorebal was arrested near Aija village of Mahbubnagar District in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. According to police, two other top Maoist leaders--Takkelapalli Vasudeva Rao alias Ashanna and Kanumukkala Ramesh alias Vijay managed to escape during the raid. All the three Naxal leaders are members of the Maoist Military Commission and the Central Action Team. Police have recovered one carbine gun, two pairs of Andhra Pradesh Police uniforms, one GPS set, walky-talky and a radio set from Gorebal. Earlier, intelligence agencies alerted both states about Maoists' plan to carry out violent activities at many places along the Karnataka- Andhra Pradesh border. Police claimed that all these three Naxals planed to carry out attacks on political leaders of both states by using police uniform. Gorebal, 45, who hails from Mudiyanur village in Koppal District of Karnataka, holds a postgraduate degree in Economics and was a lecturer in Sindhanur Government College of Karnataka's Raichur District before joining Maoists ranks.Gorebal went underground in 2004. He was earlier member of the Karnataka Vimochana Ranga (Karnataka Liberation Front) active along Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Three of his students from Sindhanur College--Hajima, Shivalingu and Chinnappa, who were drawn towards the Maoists ideology, were killed in three different encounters in last seven years. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Police has sent a team to Andhra Pradesh to seek Gorebal's custody. Earlier this month, Police arrested Nandakumar the Maoists Karnataka state committee secretary, and senior leader Neelaguli Padmanabh.
==============================================

Nine killed in wall collapse in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, June 14 : At least nine people were killed and 20 others injured when the wall of a vegetable market collapsed Monday in Andhra Pradesh's Mahabubnagar district, police said.The accident took place at Gadwal town. The dead include three women and a child. Rescue work is on as some more victims are feared trapped under the debris. The incident occurred when the municipal vegetable market was crowded with buyers. Eye witnesses said the wall had weakened due to rain during the last three days.Chief Minister K.Rosaiah announced a probe into the incident. Minister for Small Scale Industries D.K.Aruna, who hails from the same area, has reached Gadwal.
==============================================

SW monsoon covers entire AP

Hyderabad,Jun 14: Southwest monsoon today covered entire Andhra Pradesh, with rain occurring at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and at a few places over Telangana while isolated rain were experienced over Rayalaseema.Gajapathinagaram (Vizianagaram district) and Venkatapuram (Khammam district) recorded heavy rainfall of seven cm each, Met Department said today. The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm were Araku Valley (Visakhapatnam district) six, Bhimadole (West Godavari district), Dummagudem (Khammam district), Narsipatnam and Paderu (both Visakhapatnam district) five each, Hakimpet, Visakhapatnam, Ichapuram, Patapatnam and Tekkali (all Srikakulam district), Narsampet (Warangal district), Polavaram and Tadepalligudem (both West Godavari district), Rajahmundry (East Godavari district) and Srungavarapukota (Vizianagaram district) three each, Bhadrachalam, Anakapalle, Chintapalli and Chodavaram (all Visakhapatnam district), Bobbili, Salur and Terlam (all Vizianagaram district), Cumbum (Prakasam district), Palakonda (Srikakulam district) and Peddapuram (East Godavari district) two each.The maximum temperatures significantly fell at many places over Telangana. They were below normal in Telangana. The highest maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius was recorded at Adilabad. Moderate to rather heavy rain/thundershowers would occur at many places over the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Telangana, Rayalaseema and in the remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Spells of rain/thundershowers may occur in parts of the city. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 34 and 24 degrees respectively, the Met Department added.
===============================================

Andhra monuments to be developed as World Heritage site

Hyderabad, June 14: The Andhra Pradesh government is making efforts to develop the Kakatiya monuments in Warangal district as World Heritage sites.A steering committee headed by Tourism Minister J. Geeta Reddy constituted for the purpose held its first meeting here Monday. The minister told reporters that the meeting discussed the action plan to preserve and renovate three Kakatiya monuments - Ramappa temple in Venkatapur mandal, Thousand Pillar temple in Hanamkonda and the Warangal Fort. The steering committee would meet once every three months to review the progress of the work and prepare a dossier to be submitted to UNESCO for declaring the monuments World Heritage sites. "It is a long process as there are several norms for monuments to be declared World Heritage sites," he said. The committee comprises Kakatiya Heritage Trust founders B.V. Papa Rao and M. Panduranga Rao, public representatives from the districts, officials of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), director of archaeology and museums and the Warangal district collector. The meeting discussed public private partnership model for building restaurants and cottages and for reconstruction and renovation of Ramappa temple. The government Saturday constituted a committee for the promotion of Kakatiya monuments. The steering committee will make efforts to conduct the 8th centenary celebrations of Ramappa temple in 2013. Warangal, about 150 km from Hyderabad, was the capital of the Kakatiya kingdom. The fort there withstood attacks during the 13th and 14th centuries. The Thousand Pillar temple and Ramalingeswara temple, popularly known as the Ramappa temple, are some of the famous Kakatiya monuments in and around the town.
=============================================

Railways to run URS Special Trains for Ajmer Sharif from different parts of the Country

(PIB NEWS)JUNE,13, In a special gesture to facilitate movement of devotees from different parts of the country to Ajmer Sharif for participating in 798th Urs of Hazrath Khwaja Moinuddun Chishti(RA), Ministry of Railways has decided to run several Urs special trains from 18 different locations in the country.Minister of Railways Mamata Banerjee has taken keen interest and initiative in planning of these special trains for the convenience of lakhs of devotees visiting Ajmer Sharif for the Annual Urs.These specials will run between 14th June to 25th June 2010 from 18 major cities which include Mumbai, Saharanpur, Sultanpur, Haridwar, Chennai, Delhi, Ongole, Hyderabad, Ernakulam, Chhapra, Barauni, Kamakhya, New Jalpaiguri, Jaipur, Asansol, Sealdah, Jamshedpur and Patna. There will be in all 84 trips by these special trains during this period.These specials have been allotted suitable numbers and the ticket bookings for them could be done from any reservation centre situated across the country. Time table and broad routes of these trains are also being released by Railways through public notices being published in National and regional newspapers.One of these special trains has been specially planned between Delhi and Ajmer for the Zayreen coming from Pakistan. Following is the detailed list of Urs specials;
 ===============================================

New law to end ambiguity on marriageable age

To put an end to ambiguity over the minimum age of marriage mentioned in numerous laws, the government is contemplating a new law that will spell it out as 18 years for women and 21 years for men.For this, the government has asked the National Commission for Women (NCW), the apex body that deals with women’s issues, to begin consultations on the parameters of such a law.NCW chairperson Girija Vyas said that the commission is organising a national-level workshop in July in New Delhi to discuss the need to have a common law prescribing the age of marriage.Eminent legal experts, women’s activists and social workers will discuss the spirit and letter of the legislation, Vyas said.“Various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) list the minimum age for having sex and thereby, of marriage, differently. It ranges years. This ambiguity must end,” Vyas said.Ideally, she said, the minimum age of marriage for a woman and a man should be 18 years and 21 years respectively.However, the National Law Commission had proposed that both men and women should be allowed to marry at the age of 18 years, she added.The urgency for the new law arose from the recent judgments of various courts. The judgments pointed to ambiguities in the existing law and asked the government to come up with a single and clear law defining the age of marriage for women and men.“The courts asked several questions about the existing laws, which the government and we want to address,” Vyas said.“For a discussion on this, we have invited various stake holders – women’s groups, advocates and child rights activists from all over the country.”The recommendations of this meeting will be sent to the government for drafting the new law.According to Vyas, jurisprudence has “ambiguous” provisions on the issue of women having sex. Under the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, the right age for a girl’s marriage and for her to make a choice to have sex is 18 years, while various sections of the IPC treat women differently on this.Vyas said the “ambiguity happened because the Child Marriage Restraint Act was amended, while the corresponding IPC sections were not fully changed.”She pointed to the IPC provisions that deal with rape, marital rape and consent to point out the ambiguity.The NCW chief said the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act added to the confusion on the age of adulthood.It defines an adult as a person who is 18 years old (and who can marry). “This violated the spirit of the Child Marriage Restraint Act according to which a man has to be 21 years to be called an adult and thereby to have the right to marry,” she added.She said the new legislation will remove the confusion on the minimum age for marriage. “But implementation of the law will remain a challenge for administrators and activists,” Vyas added, ============================================

Another Telugu student murdered in US

Hyderabad,June 13: Another Telugu student has been found murdered in the US. Adarsh John, a student of Texas University, was murdered by unidentified people Saturday, his relatives said.Adarsh, who was doing MS at Texas University, was found murdered, according to information received by his family Sunday at Tandur in Ranga Reddy district, about 100 km from here. The details including the motive behind the crime were not immediately known. Union Minister for Urban Development S.Jaipal Reddy Sunday visited Adarsh's house in Tandur and consoled his parents. The minister spoke to officials regarding the arrangements to bring home the body. Adarsh is the latest victim in a series of incidents involving students and professionals from Andhra Pradesh. In March, 28-year-old Prashanth Goinaka was shot dead by unidentified robbers at a convenience store in Oklahoma. He was studying MBA in International Technological University at California and had taken up a part-time job. Rudraraju Sudheer Kumar, a mechanical engineer, was found murdered in his flat in Atlanta in February last year. Akshay Vishal, 26, a software engineer from Hyderabad, was shot dead by unidentified people in Little Rock in Arkansas on Jan 13. As many as 11 Telugu students and techies were murdered in the US during last three years.
===============================================

Female TV artist held for attack on fiance

Hyderabad, June 13 : Hyderabad Police Sunday arrested television artist Dimple for the recent attack on her fiance Sridhar Verma after he allegedly refused to marry her following a love affair.Police said the 23-year-old was not only behind the attack on Sridhar but also stage-managed an attack on herself to mislead the police. Her assistant Mani and Nagaraju were also arrested while another accused Prabhakar is at large. A case of attempt to murder was booked against Dimple and three others at Kukatpally police station. Dimple, who acted in TV serials for various channels, had claimed June 9 that she along with her assistant Mani came under attack by an unidentified woman when they were on their way for shooting in Manikonda on the city outskirts. Dimple, who along with her assistant got themselves admitted in a corporate hospital, told police and media that a woman lying across the road blocked their way. When they got down to find out what the matter was, she attacked them with chilli powder and iron rod. She claimed that the attacker used a sharp object and showed the gashes on her body. The actress also claimed that the attacker kept repeating that she was taking revenge and disappeared. She pointed fingers at another TV artist Selvaraj who was blamed for a similar attack on Sridhar June 8 at Kukatpally neighbourhood in the city. Sridhar had complained to police that an unidentified attacker threw acid on him but police found that it was only spirit. Sridhar later received a phone call purportedly made by Selvaraj saying it was revenge for replacing him in TV serial 'Aradhana'. After thorough investigations, police found that Dimple hatched a conspiracy with Mani and two others to take revenge on Sridhar for refusing to marry her after an affair. She used the name Selvaraj and also orchestrated an attack on herself to mislead the police. Actor Selvaraj told reporters that he would file a defamation case against Dimple.
============================================

Andhra rights panel bans children's reality shows

Hyderabad, June 12 : The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission Saturday banned television reality shows involving children.Pronouncing its verdict on the petitions filed by some NGOs, the commission banned with immediate effect "Aata" a dance reality show on Zee Telugu channel and directed the police to take action against such shows on other channels.Commission chairman Justice Subhashan Reddy said human rights were being violated in shows like "Ata" as they portray children in an objectionable manner. The commission observed that such shows were badly affecting the health of children and creating several problems. "These children don't even know what they are doing and how they are being used. The physical and psychological growth of children continue till 18 years of age and such reality shows are having bad effect on their growth," he said. The commission's verdict came on a batch of petitions filed in April by groups working for children's rights. They sought a ban on reality shows for making children perform obscene numbers. The commission also directed police to take action against obscene advertisements and programmes on television channels. It called for framing guidelines for the TV programmes especially the reality shows. Subhashan Reddy allowed channels to submit their arguments against the ban. The commission will conduct a public hearing on the issue July 3. In April, the commission had found fault with parents for encouraging their children to participate in such realty shows. "Don't you feel uncomfortable with the way your children have been dressed up for the show," Reddy had asked the delegation of six parents, who had opposed the petitions for banning the reality show.
==============================================

Andhra Pradesh CM moots 6-point plan for excellence in school education

Hyderabad, Jun 12 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K.Rosaiah today mooted a six-point action Plan for teachers and School Education Department to achieve excellence in school education as a whole in the state, particularly in the Government Schools.The Chief Minister suggested constant and close monitoring of attendance in the schools, both of teachers and students, improvement in teaching standards in schools; all text books to all classes should be made available on the day of the reopening of schools; all available schemes and programmes like SSA should be made use of to improve the infrastructure facilities in the schools; Parents - Teachers Committees should see that the standards of Government schools catch up with that of private and Corporate schools and drop-outs in the schools also should be put an end to. The Chief Minister, who would launch the 'badibata' (Way to School) Programme on Monday, said the State Government is spending huge funds on education, particularly school education in the state. The state was also leveraging funds from the Government of India schemes like Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) for increasing infrastructure like school buildings, Compound Walls and for recruitment of teachers, a release here today quoted him as saying. The Chief Minister today discussed the issues pertaining to School Education with Secondary Education Minister Manikya Varaprasad and officials.
=============================================

Lok Satta to survey impelementation Of Right to Education Act

Hyderabad, Jun 12 : The District units of the Lok Satta Party would undertake a random survey of elementary schools to ascertain the steps Andhra Pradesh Government had taken to implement the Right to Education Act (REA)which came into force recently.The Act provides for free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 from Classes I to VIII. In a statement the party said society would have to share the responsibility with the Government in making the implementation of the legisation a success as the future of the country depended on children in schools. The LSP teams would examine whether the schools have the basic infrastructure like buildings, toilets and drinking water facility and adequate number of qualified teachers and whether they were accessible to students in both urban and rural areas.
===============================================

Pressure on Congress, TDP not to contest Telangana by-polls

Hyderabad, June 12 : Pressure is mounting on the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh against contesting the upcoming by-elections in the 12 assembly constituencies in Telangana.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Saturday urged both parties to stay away from the poll in response to the call given by Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading the movement for separate statehood to Telangana. TRS chief K.Chandrasekhara Rao told reporters that JAC was working to protect the self-respect of Telangana people and hence all the political parties should abide by its decision. JAC convenor M.Kodandaram said the JAC was not afraid of a contest if Congress and Telugu Desam Party entered the fray. A day after appealing to both Congress and TDP not to contest the by-polls, he said JAC was ready for a contest if it becomes inevitable. He, however, said if Congress and TDP field their candidates, it would amount to a betrayal of the Telangana cause. The TRS is the main constituent of JAC while Telangana leaders of both Congress party and TDP quit the apex body following differences with Kodandaram. The JAC was formed by pro-Telangana groups for a united struggle for Telangana state after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government decided to put on hold its Dec 9 statement to initiate the process for formation of separate state. The statement was made after 11-day hunger strike by Chandrasekhara Rao. Elections to 12 assembly constituencies in Telangana are scheduled to be held in August. The vacancies were caused in February this year when 10 legislators of TRS quit over the demand for separate Telangana state. One legislator each of the TDP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also quit. The by-elections are seen as a major test for both the Telangana slogan and the popularity of TRS. The sub-regional party has already declared that those contesting against its candidates in 10 constituencies would be traitors to Telangana. Meanwhile, serious differences have cropped up both in the Congress party and the TDP over contesting the by-polls with their leaders from Telangana strongly opposing the move. Congress' state unit has left the decision to the central leadership while a discussion is on in the TDP.
================================================

SW Monsoon brings rain in AP

Hyderabad, Jun 12 : Southwest monsoon has been vigorous over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and active over Rayalaseema, with rain occurring at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema and at a few places over Telangana.The heavy rainfalls recorded in cm are Kavali ten, Avanigadda (Krishna district) and Kandukur (Prakasam district) eight each, Bapatla, Ongole, Amalapuram (East Godavari district) and Repalle (Guntur district) seven each. The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Kurnool, Addanki (Prakasam district) and Prathipadu (East Godavari district) received five each, Nandyal, Bhimavaram (West Godavari district), Podili (Prakasam district) and Punganur (Chittoor district) received four cm each, Narsapur, Nellore, Alampur and Wanaparthy (both Mahabubnagar district), Darsi (Prakasam district), Gudivada (Krishna district), Gudur, Sullurpet, Tada and Vinjamur (all Nellore district) and Ichapuram (Srikakulam district) three each. The maximum temperatures fell at one or two places over Telangana. They were significantly above normal at a few places over Telangana. The highest maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius was recorded at Adilabad and Khammam. Moderate to rather heavy rain/thundershowers would occur at most places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and may occur at many places over Rayalaseema. Light to moderate rain/thundershowers may occur at a few places over Telangana. A spell of rain/thundershowers would occur in parts of the city.Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 36 and 24 degrees respectively.
==============================================

Ambika Soni, Mohsina elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni and Congress leaders Mohsina Kidwai and Satish Sharma were among the 27 candidates across five states elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha Thursday, the last date for withdrawing nominations for the biennial elections to the upper house of parliament.Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and five others were June 7 declared elected unopposed from Andhra Pradesh. Elections will, however, be held across seven states June 17 but the candidates of the major political parties are assured of victory.The Congress’ Soni and Akali Dal’s Balwinder Singh Bhunder were elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab without a contest as they were the only candidates in the fray.Kidwai and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tribal leader Nand Kumar Sai were re-elected from Chhattisgarh.In Tamil Nadu, six candidates – K.P. Ramalingam, T.M. Selvaganapathy and S. Thangavelu from the ruling DMK, P.H. Manoj Pandian and K. Ramalingam from the AIADMK and Sudarshan Nachiappan from the Congress, were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha.In Maharashtra also, six candidates from various parties were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from after an independent candidate withdrew at the last minute.The Congress’ Vijay Darda and Avinash Pandey, the Nationalist Congress Party’s Tariq Anwar and Ishwarlal Jain, the BJP’s Piyush and Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut were the successful candidates.Congress leader Kanhaiyalal Gidwani, who filed his nomination as an independent, withdrew at the last minute paving the way for the unopposed election of the remaining six party supported candidates.In Uttar Pradesh, the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party got seven of the 11 seats. Congress leader Satish Sharma and BJP’s Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi were among those elected uncontested. Two seats were won by the Samajwadi Party.In Karnataka, liquor baron Vijay Mallay’s bid to enter the Rajya Sabha for the second time as an Independent rests on the ruling BJP as the Congress did not withdraw its second nominee Thursday, leaving five candidates in the fray for four seats.Two nominees of the BJP, former president M. Venkaiah Naidu and state leader Ayanur Manjunath, are sure of victory as the party has 116 members in the 225-member assembly and has the backing of five of the six Independents.A candidate requires 45 first preference votes of the legislators, who make up the electoral college, to win.The BJP will be left with 26 surplus votes which Mallya, backed by the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) which has 27 members in the assembly, hopes will see him through.The Congress, with 74 members, is assured of one seat for which it has re-nominated party general secretary and former union minister Oscar Fernandes.It has also fielded T.V. Maruthi, a Karnataka businessman, as its second nominee and retained him in the field to give Mallya a fight.
==============================================

CBI to quiz Ajmer blast accused on Mecca Masjid attack

Hyderabad, June 11 : Two activists of a Hindu terror group accused in the October 2007 blast in the Ajmer Sharif shrine will be brought here by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning in the Mecca Masjid bombing in May the same year.The CBI, which has made headway in investigations into the Mecca Masjid bomb blast case, will bring Devender Gupta and Lokesh Sharma here next week. Both are members of the Abhinav Bharat and are currently lodged in Ajmer jail, Armed with a prisoners's transit warrant issued by a city court, the federal agency will shift the accused in the Ajmer dargah blast to Hyderabad for further investigations. The CBI believes that the blasts at both the mosque and dargah were the handiwork of the same group. A team of CBI officials is already in Hyderabad as part of the preparations to carry forward the investigations. They met Police Commissioner A.K. Khan, who assured them of all assistance. On a petition by the CBI, a local court had Thursday issued a prisoners' transit warrant to produce Gupta and Sharma in court. The CBI also informed the court that two other accused, Sandeep and Ramchandra, were absconding and efforts to nab them were on. Five people were killed in the bomb blast during Friday prayers at the historic Mecca Masjid on May 18, 2007. Nine people were killed in the subsequent police firing on protestors outside the mosque. Five months later, a blast in the Khwaja Moinuddin Chisthi dargah in Ajmer claimed one life and injured 30. The Hyderabad police had blamed Bangladesh-based Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI) for the Mecca Masjid terror attack. It also arrested nearly a dozen local Muslim youth but could find no evidence against them. There have also been allegations of police torturing the youth in custody. The CBI could not make much progress in the case during the last three years. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had also gone on record last year that the blast case had turned "cold" as the two primary suspects are dead. Police claimed that Shahid Bilal, a key suspect in the case working for HuJI, was killed in a shootout in Pakistan a few weeks after the mosque blast. Another suspect was also presumed dead. The case took a new turn in April this year when Rajasthan's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS)arrested Gupta and Sharma in connection with the Ajmer blast.

==============================================

SOUTH WEST monsoon advances, brings rain in AP

Hyderabad, Jun 11 : Southwest monsoon today further advanced over some parts of Telangana and some more parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and remaining parts of Rayalaseema, with Gooty in Anantapur district recording a heavy rainfall of nine cm.Southwest monsoon has been vigorous over Rayalaseema. Isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Met Department said today.The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Kanekal (Anantapur district) and Muddanur (Cuddapah district) six each, Anantapur, Kamalapuram (Cuddapah district), Kuppam and Punganur (both Chittoor district) and Rayadurg (Anantapur district) five each, Cuddapah, Penukonda (Anantapur district) and Venkatagiri Kota (Chittoor district) four each, Arogyavaram, Chittoor, Allagadda, Alur and Yemmiganur (all Kurnool district), Bhimadole (West Godavari district), Jammalamadugu, Pulivendala and Vempalli (all Cuddapah district), Jangaon (Warangal district), Kadiri and Tadipatri (both Anantapur district) and Venkatapuram (Khammam district) three each, Hyderabad, Chilamattur, Dharmavaram, Hindupur, Kalyandurg and Pamidi (all Anantapur district), Holagunda, Koilkuntla, Mantralayam and Pathikonda (all Kurnool district), Ibrahimpatnam (Rangareddy district), Palamaner (Chittoor district), Proddatur and Rayachoty (both Cuddapah district) and Veeraghattam (Srikakulam district) two each.The maximum temperatures rose at one or two places over Telangana and changed little over Coastal Andhra Pradesh. They were significantly above normal at many places over Telangana but significantly below normal at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh. The highest maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius was recorded at Khammam. Moderate to rather heavy rain/ thundershowers may occur at many places over Rayalaseema and in the districts of Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore of Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Light to moderate rain/thundershowers may occur at a few places over Telangana and in the remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh. A spell of rain/thundershowers would occur in parts of the city. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 37 and 24 degrees Celsius respectively.
================================================

Bardhan blames Congress for injustice to Bhopal gas victims

Hyderabad, June 11 : Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A.B. Bardhan Friday blamed the Congress party for injustice to the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy.Talking to reporters here, he demanded that all those responsible for the industrial disaster, including the Union Carbide Corp's then chairman Warren Anderson, be punished. The CPI leader wanted Anderson to be brought to India and tried in a court of law. "Unfortunately for the government, relations with the United States are more important than 20,000 deaths in the disaster," he said. He said the Congress should own the responsibility for its failure to try and punish all those responsible, including Anderson. Stating that a great injustice has been done to the victims by a meagre punishment to the guilty, the CPI leader demanded enactment of new law to prevent such industrial disaster and also to hold responsible the heads of the multi-national companies in such cases. Bardhan admitted that some policies of the West Bengal government did not find favour with the people, resulting in the defeat of the Left Front in the recent municipal elections in the state. He felt that industrialisation at the cost of agriculture land and prioritisation for chemical hubs and car factories were the wrong policies adopted by the state government. He advised the Left Front to introspect and go into the reasons for their defeat. It would be an uphill task to win the ensuing assembly election, he said. On food security bill, he said the bill was of no use in its present form. He suggested Universal Public Distribution System irrespective of the Below Poverty Line to provide nutritious food to all at an affordable cost. On Telangana issue, Bardhan said everyone should abide by the report of the Srikrishna Committee set up by the central government to look into the demands for and opposition to separate statehood to the region.
================================================

CPI demands extradition of Warren Anderson

Hyderabad, Jun 11: Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary A B Bardhan today demanded immediate steps for extradition of then Union Carbide Chief Warren Anderson, the main accused in the Bhopal gas tragedy in which around 20,000 people lost their lives.Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists(APUWJ) here, Mr Bardhan said the entire country was shocked over the judgement on the tragedy whose effects were still on thousands of people even now.''There is not only delay in justice, but it (verdict) is mockery and denial of justice even 26 years after the incident.'' He also said the Centre should initiate steps to book all those responsible for the incident. The persons responsible -- both at the Centre and in the state government for the safe passage of Anderson soon after the incident-- should be booked, he added.Mr Bardhan alleged that ''the Congress was expert in finding a scapegoat and leaving the main accused free in the criminal incidents.'' He said ''it is very difficult for a Chief Minister of state alone to allow the accused to leave the country without the nod of the Centre.'' The Centre was not pressing the United States for extradition of the accused in several cases, including the present case, in view of its political and economic relations with that country, he alleged. He said the relation between the two countries was secondary and the first and foremost important thing was safeguarding the interests of the people of India.
==============================================

Congress and TDP trade charges over rising liquor sales

Hyderabad,June 11: Is rising rural income to be blamed for the increasing liquor consumption in Andhra Pradesh? The government believes so, but the opposition disagrees.The Congress government is under attack from different quarters for encouraging liquor consumption as it earned a record Rs.7,000 crore (Rs.70 billion) from auction of liquor shops for two years earlier this week. Liquor shops in rural areas were sold at a much higher price than in towns and cities. Some shops were sold for as high as Rs.5 crore each. The rise in income of rural households under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is said to have pushed the liquor sales in rural areas. Under the NREGS, which guarantees 100 days of rural employment in a year, a beneficiary is earning a minimum of Rs.100 daily. The state, which is a leader in implementing the NREGS in the country, got Rs.6,500 crore from the centre in 2009-10 and is expected to get Rs.10,000 crore in the current fiscal. The number of beneficiaries under the scheme is over 27.5 million. The revenue from the auction has come as a boon for the government facing a financial crunch. But the opposition is targeting it for encouraging liquor consumption in the state. "The government can't be blamed. The people are getting addicted to vices like liquor due to an increase in their income," said Revenue Minister D. Prasada Rao. Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumantha Rao too blamed people, saying the government could not be faulted if people were addicted. However, the opposition blames the government for encouraging liquor business. Leader of opposition and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu Thursday demanded the government to come out with a white paper on liquor business. "It is very painful that the government is encouraging liquor consumption and backing liquor traders instead of supplying drinking water and providing other basic amenities to people," said Naidu. The former chief minister pointed out that it was the same Congress party which had promised prohibition in a phased manner in the 2004 elections. Naidu alleged that the government relaxed maximum retail price printed on liquor bottle to help liquor traders earn more money in violation of rules and also facilitate kickbacks from them. Congress leaders, however, hit back at Naidu saying he had no right to speak on liquor as it was he who lifted total prohibition in the state. Naidu had lifted prohibition after he unseated his father-in-law and TDP founder N. T. Rama Rao from power in 1995. NTR had imposed prohibition in 1994 following a massive anti-liquor movement by women groups.
===============================================

Rosaiah invites President to inaugurate 500 year celebrations

Hyderabad, Jun 11 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah has invited President Prathibha Devi Singh Patil to inaugurate the 500th year of coronation of the Vijayanagaram King Srikrishna Devaraya which Andhra Pradesh Government plans to celebrate later this year.In a letter to the President, released to the media here yesterday, Mr Rosaiah said, ''During his rule, Srikrishna Devaraya encouraged and patronised the development of- Telugu language, art, sculpture and culture. Some of the major irrigation tanks constructed by Srikrishna Devaraya are available even today and he is remembered by the people even after 500 years. Srikrishna Devaraya's ''Amukthamalyada'' is a grand original Telugu epic depicting the rich culture, literary traditions and life of the Telugus in those days. The government of Andhra Pradesh have, therefore, decided to celebrate this occasion in a very grand manner.'' The inaugural function will be held on July 5 in Hyderabad and the concluding function will be on August 8, 2010 at Penukonda in Anantapur district (nearer to Bengaluru) which was considered to be the second capital of Srikrishna Devaraya. ''I learnt that Her Excellency takes a lot of interest in preserving the composite culture of the country, and that Her Excellency has planned to inaugurate the Tamil Classical Conference on June 23 at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu'', he added. Mr Rosaiah also said he would be extremely grateful, if Her Excellency conveyed her willingness to grace the celebrations as soon as possible so that necessary arrangements could be made at earliest.
===============================================

Verdict on Nityananda’s bail plea Friday

The Karnataka High Court Thursday reserved for Friday its verdict on the bail plea of sex-scam hit self-styled godman Swami Nityananda who has been behind bars for the last 50 days.B.V. Acharya, Nityananda’s lawyer, told the court that his client never claimed he was a ’sanyasi’ (one who has renounced all worldly pleasures) and couples were welcome to attend his teachings. Nityananda, facing several criminal charges, including rape, is a spiritual teacher, he said.Pleading for early bail to his client, Acharya said married couples too attended his discourses and he never opposed marriage or married life.The bail plea was opposed by the prosecution which said he was facing serious charges and investigation was still on The court then reserved its verdict for Friday. Nityananda, who has a sprawling ashram at Bidadi, about 30 km from Bangalore, was arrested from Himachal Pradesh April 21, more than a month-and-a-half after a TV channel telecast video footage showing him in a sexual act with a woman, believed to a Tamil film actress.Nityananda claimed the footage was morphed.
=============================================

Andhra BJP chief receives threatening letter

Hyderabad, June 10 : The president of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Andhra Pradesh unit Thursday received a threatening letter allegedly from Lashkar-e-Taiba, asking him to leave Hyderabad.G.Kishan Reddy, the lone BJP legislator in the state assembly, received the letter written in Urdu through post. He handed over the same to the police. The letter asked Kishan Reddy to leave Hyderabad. The sender, who claims to be from "suicide bomber cell of Islamic Republic of Hyderabad, Lashkar-e-Taiba" threatens to kill "Hindus" if Kishan Reddy fails to leave Hyderabad. The letter also threatens to destroy the RSS office in Begum Bazar area. The sender accused Kishan Reddy of creating trouble during the recent communal clashes in the old city of Hyderabad. Kishan Reddy handed over the letter to Abids police station. Police said they would investigate if the letter was sent by some terror group or not. A row over the land of a 'Gowshala' (cow shed) is suspected to be the reason behind the threat. The 'Gowshala' was set afire by some unidentified persons during the riots in April. The BJP leader later met Director General of Police R.R. Girish Kumar to brief him about the threatening letter.
===============================================

New industrial policy soon

Hyderabad, Jun 10 : Andhra Pradesh major industries minister Kanna Laxminarayana today said the state government would soon announce the industrial policy for 2010-2015.Talking to newspersons, here he said the department would submit the recommendations to Chief Minister K Rosaiah tomorrow and the new policy would be "better" than the earlier one of 2005-2010.The minister denied reports in a section of the press that some incentives for industries which were announced in 2005-2010 would be discontinued in the new policy.He said more incentives would be given for industries with a view to attract investments. He said the state had attracted investments worth Rs 3.49 lakh crore for 2007-2010. Out of this, Rs 1.10 lakh crore projects are in various stages and a project worth Rs 37000 crore would be going on stream soon.While admitting that there were some obstructions in investments during the disturbances over Telangana and other issues, he said industry captains were eager to investment in the state in view of the incentives provided by the state government for industrial growth.He denied reports of slowdown in industrial growth due to lack of new investments, stating that Andhra Pradesh was in the forefront in attracting the industrial bigwigs in the state.In the recent report of World Bank, Andhra Pradesh stood second in attracting investments and a private firm in their survey stated that Andhra Pradesh was number one in attracting the investments.Stating that the investments in Andhra Pradesh were increasing by 20pc every year for the last four years, Mr Laxminarayana said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would soon lay the foundation stone for an electrical equipment company to be set up by BHEL and NTPC at Mannavaram in Chittoor District.He said two major industries will come up with an investment of Rs 9000 crore in Kadapa and some other major projects in various districts of the state.Out of 110 Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in the state, the highest number in the country, at present 73 SEZs were working and there was no problem for land acquisition as the government was acquiring lands at 15pc from the private parties. The remaining land was provided by the state from waste lands, assigned and government land, he added.
=============================================

APCC President meets Rosaiah discusses various matters

Hyderabad, Jun 10 : Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President D Srinivas met Chief Minister K.Rosaiah and discussed party matters including fee reimbursement of backward classes students in the state. According to party sources, Mr Srinivas held discussions with the Chief Minister at camp office yesterday and urged him to continue with the scheme of fee reimbursement of students for the backward classes. He also reportedly discussed the ensuing by-elections in the state as the party has decided to contest the elections.There was a rush for the Congress ticket as the aspirants made a beeline to the party headquarters 'Gandhi Bhavan' and the party Chief reportedly directed them to concentrate on their constituencies instead of making the rounds of the leaders' houses.By-elections are due in August in Sirpur, Mnncherial, Chennur, Warangal West, Yellareddy, Nizamabad urban, Siddipet, Huzurabad, Dharmpapuri, Korutla, Siricilla and Vemulawada constituencies. Mr Srinivas has already convened a meeting of aspirants and elected representatives of Adilabad and Karimnagar district giving enough indications that the ruling party was ready to enter the fray and the leadership is now grappling with the problem of shortlisting the candidates.Mr Srinvias himself was quite serious about his plans to contest from Nizamabad urban seat and had held consultations with his supporters in the last two weeks, sources said.The Congress is confident of winning majority seats in Telangana area, sources said.
===============================================

President, welcomes the President of Sri Lanka,

(PIB NEWS) June,09,The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil welcomes the President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and his wife Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa, at the ceremonial reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on June 09, 2010. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh is also seen. (Photo by PIB No.CNR-31974)
=============================================

Jaipal Reddy Workshop Inauguration,

(PIB NEWS)June,09, The Union Minister of Urban Development, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy addressing at the launch Workshop for inauguration of Sustainable Environmentally friendly transport mode in the country, in New Delhi on June 09, 2010. The Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Dr. M. Ramachandran is also seen. (Photo by PIB No.CNR-31986)
===============================================

Booklet releasing"Performance of Ministry of textiles"

(PIB NEWS) June,09, The Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Dayanidhi Maran releasing a Booklet ‘One year’s Performance of Ministry of Textiles’, in New Delhi on June 09, 2010. The Minister of State for Textiles, Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi and the Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Smt. Rita Menon are also seen.
(Photo by PIB No.CNR- 31990)
==============================================

US presses Pakistan to stop India infiltration, try 26/11 suspects

Underlining its hands off policy on the Kashmir issue, the US has asked Pakistan to first show progress in stopping cross-border infiltration into India and the trial of the Mumbai terror attack suspects.“No, there’s no change right now” in US policy on Kashmir, US assistant secretary of state for South Asia, Robert Blake said in an online conversation Tuesday with Teresita Schaffer, director of the South Asia Programme at Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank.“I think at this point the top priority for India and Pakistan is, first, to kind of get their own bilateral dialogue going in a more systematic way,” he said noting that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “is personally and deeply committed to achieving peace with Pakistan”.“But he needs to see progress on these two important issues… that is, progress to stop some of the cross-border infiltration that’s taking place into India, but also progress on the trial of the Mumbai suspects.“And if we can see that, I think that there will be a flourishing of the dialogue that could take place. But those are very important things that need to take place.”He agreed with Schaffer that the main interest of the United States is that they be able to agree on something that makes the risk of a war that could go nuclear disappear.Nothing that “from 2004 to 2007, in fact, the two countries did make quite a lot of progress on Kashmir”, Blake said: “And that, again, could be picked up, I think, relatively quickly if they can sort out some of these other issues.” “This is going to have to be a kind of incremental process to build up to that stage where they can tackle this very hot button issue (Kashmir) for both of those countries.”At the State Department, spokesperson Phillip J. Crowley too made a similar point. Asked to comment on Manmohan Singh’s offer to open peace talks with the separatist and extremist elements in Kasshmir, he said: “All I would say is that we recognise that this is a very, very important issue between India and Pakistan.”“And as the dialogue between India and Pakistan continues to expand, including at the leader level, that we would hope that India and Pakistan can make progress in understanding this issue and moving forward, just as they did a few years ago.”
============================================

10 TRS, BJP, TJAC activists held

Mahbubabad, Jun 9 : Police have arrested ten activists of Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS), BJP and Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) for their involvement in the violence that rocked the town on May 28 during former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's son and Congress MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's 'Odarpu yatra'.Circle Inspector of Police R Prabhakara Rao told UNI today that the accused were arrested on specific charges and booked under Sections 307(Attempt to Murder) and 147(destruction of public property) of IPC.He said seven accused were arrested for their involvement in the violence and three for damaging a private car and burning a government vehicle on that day.The accused were picked up last evening and later produced before the Sub Divisional Magistrate. Search was on to arrest some more accused involved in the incident, he added.
===============================================

Conditions favourable for advance of southwest Monsoon in AP

Hyderabad, Jun 9 : Conditions were favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon over some more parts of Andhra Pradesh as a low pressure area formed over Westcentral Bay and neighbourhood today, leading to rains at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and isolated rain over Telangana and Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm were Avanigadda (Krishna district) and Salur (Vizianagaram district) four each, Bobbili (Vizianagaram district) and Vikarabad (Rangareddy district) three each, Tirupati, Chevella (Rangareddy district), Gajapathinagaram and Parvathipuram (both Vizianagaram districts), Mandasa and Patapatnam (both Srikakulam districts) and Mulugu (Warangal district) two each and Hanamakonda, Nellore, Cumbum (Prakasam district), Gudur (Nellore district), Jangaon and Mahabubabad (both Warangal districts), Komarada, Srungavarapukota, Terlam and Vizianagaram (all Vizianagaram districts), Nuzvid and Tiruvuru (both Krishna districts), Sangareddy (Medak district) and Satyavedu (Chittoor district) one each, Met Department said today.However, heat wave conditions prevailed over the districts of West Godavari of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar, Medak and Warangal of Telangana. The maximum temperatures significantly fell at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana but rose at a few places over Rayalaseema. They were significantly above normal at one or two places over Rayalaseema and over the remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The highest maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius was recorded at Ramagundam and Rentachintala. Moderate to rather heavy rain/ thundershowers may occur at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh while Light to moderate rain/thundershowers would occur at a few places over Telangana and Rayalaseema. Isolated heavy rain could occur over Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 48 hours. A few spells of rain/thundershowers may occur in the city.Maximum and Minimum temperatures may be around 38 and 25 degrees respectively.
===============================================

Study Circle to select candidates for coaching for UPSC exam

Hyderabad, Jun 9 : The Andhra Pradesh Study Circle, established by the Social Welfare Department for the purpose of giving residential coaching to candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) to prepare for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Civil Services Examinations, will select the new batch for 2010-11.Addressing a press conference here today, Social Welfare Commissioner K Praveen Kumar said the study circle would select 184 meritorious students from SC and ST and Backward Classes students from rural areas.He said in view of some allegations on the entrance tests for the selection of candidates, the department had decided to select the candidates based on the marks attained by the student from tenth class to degree-level and those who got the highest marks would be selected for coaching.The selection committee with nine officers would select the candidates.He said so far in the past 31 years, Andhra Pradesh Study Circle had given residential coaching to 5,757 students of whom 43 got into IAS, 42 into IPS and 372 got into other services. He said 75 per cent of the seats would be given to SC and ten per cent to ST and 15 per cent to BCs.Stating that 50 per cent of seats were reserved for women belonging to SC, ST and BC in each category, he said three per cent were reserved for physically handicapped across all categories.He said the last date for submission of application was June 25.
===============================================