Andhra minister promises probe into slain man's identity

Hyderabad,July 5: Andhra Pradesh Home Minister P.Sabita Indra Reddy Monday said a probe would be ordered to find out if Hemchandra Pandey, killed along with Maoist leader Azad in a gunfight with police, was a leftwing rebel or a journalist as claimed by his family.Reddy gave the assurance when Pandey's wife Babita called on her here. Babita claims that Pandey was not a Maoist and that police killed him in a "fake encounter". The woman from Delhi told the home minister that police arrested Pandey in Nagpur and killed him along with Azad after bringing them to Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Claiming that her husband was a freelance journalist, Babita demanded a probe into his killing and punishment to the guilty. The minister pointed out that the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) released a statement identifying Pandey as a Maoist. She claimed that Azad and Pandey were killed in a real gun battle with police. CPI-Maoist politburo member and spokesman Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad and Pandey were killed in the forests of Adilabad district bordering Maharashtra Friday. Police said they were killed during a three-hour shootout but Maoists and civil liberties activists have alleged it was a stage-managed "encounter". Azad was cremated in Hyderabad Sunday while the body of Pandey has been kept at a mortuary in a government hospital in Bellampally in Adilabad district. Maoists had initially suspected him to be its cadre Sahadev. However, they later said he was a freelance journalist, who wanted to interview Azad. Hailing from Uttarakhand, Pandey was based in Delhi and was reportedly wrote for some Hindi dailies. The mystery over his identity deepened Sunday when a statement purportedly sent by CPI-Maoist said Pandey was a Maoist. However, the CPI -Maoist denied the party issued any such statement.
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Andhra Pradesh CM thanks Prez for her concern towards State

Hyderabad, Jul 5 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today thanked President Pratibha Patil for the concern and consideration she was showing towards the state.Dr Rosaiah also thanked her for bringing a Special Cake on the occasion of his 78th birthday yesterday. ''It was very kind of Her Excellency, President Pratibha Patil, to bring me a cake for my birthday. I have no words to express my gratitude to her for this kind gesture.I regard it as a special honour for me and will remember it forever", he told newspersons.Birthdays will come and go. But such a kind gesture from the President is a special moment in my life", he said.Mr Rosaiah also thanked Ms Patil on behalf of the state government for accepting the invitation and inaugurating the fifth centennial celebrations of Sri Krishnadevaraya's coronation at short notice.He also thanked the President for showing keen interest in agricultural operations and different welfare schemes for farmers in the state. State Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy and Agriculture Technology Mission Deputy Chairman and Adviser to state government D A Somayajulu briefed the President about various measures initiated by the state government for boosting agricultural production and towards farmers' welfare since 2004.Dr Rosaiah said the President had always shown special care for Andhra Pradesh. ============================================

We will intensify agitation: Chandrababu Naidu

Hyderabad,July 5: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said the protest movement against fuel price hike would only intensify if the prices are not rolled back."The government has to roll back the prices, else we will only intensify our agitation," he told reporters here leading his supporters in a protest march in the Congress-ruled state.Chandrababu Naidu also courted arrest in Hyderabad along with other party leaders and supporters. Andhra Pradesh was badly hit by the strike with the plying of about 1200 Road Transport Corporation buses disrupted.There are reports of vandalism too from across the state

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President brings birthday cake for Rosaiah

Hyderabad, Jul 4 : In a special gesture, President Prathibha Devisingh Patil, who is on a two-day visit to the city, brought a special cake from Mumbai for Chief Minister K Rosaiah on his 78th birthday today.The ''Presidential cake'' was cut at the dinner hosted by the Chief Minister in honour of the President at the Chandeliered Jubilee Hall here tonight.The President also presented a Shawl and a marble encrusted wooden artefact to the Chief Minister. The President will inaugurate the 500-year anniversary celebrations of the coronation of the legendary King Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar empire on July 5.
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Prez, VP, PM, Sonia greet Rosaiah on B'day

Hyderabad, Jul 4 : President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hameed Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, were among the prominent personalities who greeted Chief Minister K Rosaiah on his 78th birthday today.While greeting the Chief Minister, the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson said his long experience of over six decades in public life and record stint as Finance Minister of Andhra Pradesh, would help the State to march forward on all fronts. Wishing Dr Rosaiah many more years of healthy and fruitful life, they hoped that with his simple living and high thinking he will set an example to others. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, P Chidambaram, P K Bansal and AICC in-charge of AP Affairs and Law Minister Veerappa Moily greeted the Chief Minister, a press release here said. A P Legislative Council Chairman N Chakrapani, Legislative Assembly Speaker N Kirankumar Reddy, cabinet minister and party colleagues, opposition Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, TRS president K Chandrasekhara Rao and CPI General Secretary K Narayana also greeted Dr Rosaiah. Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi, accompanied by his party leaders, greeted the Chief Minister at his residence. People from various walks of life thronged the Chief Minister's residence to greet him on his birthday.Accepting the greetings, Dr Rosaiah thanked the Almighty and everyone for giving him an opportunity to serve the State. He reiterated his commitment and dedication for the development and welfare of the people of Andhra Pradesh.
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Rosaiah turns 78

Hyderabad, July 4 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Sunday celebrated his 78th birthday with family members, Congress leaders and other well-wishers.The veteran leader performed special prayers at his residence along with his family members. Priests from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam blessed the chief minister and offered prayers for his good health and long life. Congress leaders, ministers and other well-wishers made a beeline to his house to greet him. Youth Congress leaders cut a 78-kg cake on the occasion. Congress workers held various programmes like feeding the poor and blood donation camps in different parts of the state to celebrate Rosaiah's birthday. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, opposition leader N.Chandrababu Naidu, Praja Rajyam Party chief K.Chiranjeevi and leaders of other parties greeted the chief minister. Rosaiah, who has 60 years of political experience, took over as chief minister in September last year after Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy died in a helicopter crash. In a message on the occasion of his birthday, Rosaiah said he considered chief ministership as an opportunity given by god to serve people. "My life's ambition is to attain salvation by serving the people," he said. Rosaiah said the state has a bright future and hoped that all parties will cooperate with him in making the state prosperous.
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Congress approves names of 8, candidates for Andhra Pradesh by-elections

New Delhi,Jul 4: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today approved the names of eight candidates for the bye-elections to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.The candidates included A Indrakaran Reedy from Sirpur, G Vinod from Chennur (SC) constituency, Mohammad Ali Shabbir from Yellareddy and Dharmapuri Srinivas from Nizamabad (Urban).Mr A Lakshman Kumar has been given ticket to contest from Dharmapuri(SC) constituency, Adi Srinivas from Vernulawada, K K Mahender Reddy from Sicilla and Kondapally Dayasagar Rao from Warangal (West).Incharge of Congress Election Committee (CEC) Mr Oscar Fernandes, said in a statement here.
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TDP gives Rs 10,000 to injured Journalist

Kakinada, Jul 4: Telugu Desam Party Polit Buro member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu today handed over Rs 10,000 as party's assistance to the family members of Tangella Nookaraju, city reporter of a Telugu daily, undergoing treatment for the fractures sustained in a road accident recently.Accompanied by district unit secretary Pilli Satyanarayanamurty, and former MLA Kondababu, he visited the government general hospital and enquired about his health. APWJF secretary V Naveenraj and Treasurer A Elia thanked the TDP leaders for the gesture. Ramakrishnudu promised to extend further assistance to the Journalists family to meet the treatment expenditure.
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APCC President, two former ministers to contest Andhra Pradesh bypolls

Hyderabad, Jul 4 : Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President D Srinivas and two former ministers -- G Vinod and Mohammad Ali Shabbir are among those who announced their candidature today to contest the July 27 byelections in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh.Breaking its stand not to nominate defeated candidates, the Congress announced the candidature of Dharmapuri Srinivas from Nizamabad (Urban), G Vinod from Chennur (SC), Mohammed Ali Shabbir from Yellareddy and former MP A Indrakaran Reddy from Sirpur.Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) candidate, who had lost to Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K Chandrasekhara Rao's son T Tharaka Rama Rao from Sircilla by 171 votes and later filed an election petition in Andhra Pradesh High Court, was nominated as the Congress candidate from Sircilla.The other candidates whose names were announced were A Lakshman Kumar (Dharmapuri SC), Adi Srinivas (Vemulawada) and Kondapally Dayasagar Rao (Warangal (West), according to a press release issued by the APCC.The Congress is yet to name its candidates for four other constituencies.The last date for filing nominations is July 9.
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CPI(Maoists) joins BJP, Left Bharat Bandh call on July 5

Hyderabad, Jul 4: CPI(Maoists), under the onslaught of Operation ''Greenhunt'', has joined the 'Bharat Bandh' called by the BJP and Left parties tomorrow albeit on the violation of civil rights.The CPI Maoists themselves have called for a nationwide strike to protest against the killing of its leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad, who was espousing the cause of landless adivasis and toiling masses and had called for stopping the Operation Greenhunt.The party had also warned the Andhra Pradesh Government that it would avenge the 'murder' of Azad along with journalist Hemachandra Pandey of Sahara Naiduniya from Uttarakhand. The Maoists also charged the state government with not being interested in peace though it was calling them for talks. The 'murder' of Cherukuri Rajkumar had exposed its intention. Rajkumar was the spokesman of the Maoist party for the proposed peace talks with Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram.Leading civil rights activist Swamy Agnivesh had also offered to mediate for peace talks. The BJP, the Left parties, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the AIADMK have called for a countrywide bandh tomorrow to protest against the increase in prices of cooking gas and kerosene by the Union Government.The Centre took the decision to increase the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG Gas based on the Kirit Parikh recommendations to deregulate the fuel prices and allow the market to govern the prices.
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Maoists vow to avenge Azad's death

Hyderabad, July 4 : The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) on Sunday vowed to take revenge over the death of its leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad in Andhra Pradesh's Adilabad District."Azad was murdered brutally by Intelligence Bureau of the Central Government and Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of Andhra Pradesh with complete knowledge of Union home minister P Chidambaram," a statement issued by the CPI-Maoist said.The Maoists have also called for a 48-hour 'All India shutdown' from July 7 to protest Azad's killing. The Andhra Pradesh police reportedly shot dead Azad in an encounter in the Jogapur forest area early on Friday morning, while he was attempting to cross into the neighbouring Maharashtra.Azad was a member of the central committee of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) and carried a reward of 1.2 million rupees on his head.Azad, who did his MTech in Warangal, was linked to the Maoist movement for more than 35 years and used to write articles for magazines on Maoist ideology.There are reports that Azad was assigned the task of revising the Maoist movement in India.Meanwhile, there are also reports that Azad's death could could lead to reprisal attacks in Maoist strongholds in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal following which the security agencies have sounded a high alert across these five States.Maoist attacks have increased this year, especially after the Government launched a coordinated security offensive involving tens of thousands of police trying to flush out the rebels from their jungle hideouts in central and eastern India.
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'Maoist' killed with Azad was journalist: Maoists

Hyderabad,July 3: The Communist Party of India-Maoist Saturday claimed that the man killed along with top Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad in an alleged gun battle with police in Andhra Pradesh was a freelance journalist but police said he was a Maoist.According to the outlawed outfit, Hem Chandra Pandey, a native of Dewaltal village in Uttarakhand, was killed along with Azad. Pandey, 32, was a freelance journalist based in Delhi and was working for Hindi dailies Nai Duniya and Rashtriya Sahara, they said. The CPI-Maoist had initially suspected the man to be its cadre, Sahadev. However, Gudsa Usendi, spokesman of the Dandakaranya special zone committee of the CPI-Maoist, claimed that the other slain person was a journalist. He alleged that the police picked them up in Maharashtra, brought them to Andhra Pradesh and killed them in cold blood. Azad and his accomplice were killed in an alleged exchange of fire with police in Jogapur forests in Adilabad district, about 300 km from here. Police had stated that the other Maoist killed in the shoot-out was not identified. Maoist sympathiser Varavara Rao said Pandey was doing a story on the police atrocities on tribals in the name of Operation Green Hunt. Adilabad police said Pandey was a Maoist. Police have also denied allegations by Maoists and their sympathisers that it was a stage-managed gun battle. The autopsy on the bodies of Azad and other man was conducted at the Government Hospital in Manchiryal town of Adilabad district. Azad's body was brought to Hyderabad amid tight security. The last rites will be performed here Sunday. The other body has been kept at Manchiryal hospital.
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TRS MP Vijayashanti arrested, released on bail

Hyderabad, July 3 : Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leader and MP Vijayashanti was released from jail on bail Saturday evening, a few hours after she was arrested for making inflammatory remarks ahead of the July 27 by-elections in Telangana and sent to judicial custody.A city court granted bail to the actress-turned-politician, who alleged that police misbehaved with her and said she had decided to take up the issue with the prime minister and Lok Sabha speaker. After her release from Chanchalguda jail this evening, she told reporters that the way a woman MP was treated by the police was shameful. "My only crime is that I gave a slogan," she said referring to the allegedly provocative remark she made a few days ago. Vijayashanti, who had earlier refused to move a bail petition, said as a disciplined solder of the party and also in view of the law and order situation, she agreed to the party decision to apply for bail. The bail was granted a few hours after a court sent her to 14 days judicial custody. Police arrested her from Road Number 3 Banjara Hills near her residence and brought her before the third additional chief metropolitan magistrate at the Nampally criminal court. The Medak MP was Friday booked for promoting animosity and hatred among people. The TRS leader, while addressing party workers a few days ago, had called upon people in Telangana to "slay" anyone who opposed formation of a Telangana state. Earlier, tension prevailed near her residence in Banjara Hills as police used force to disperse TRS workers who gathered there to resist her arrest. Vijayashanti, who went into hiding Friday after police filed a case against her on the directions of the Election Commission, was taken into custody by police while leaving for Siddipet in Medak. The actress, known as Lady Amitabh for her roles in Telugu movies, had heated arguments with police officials. "I was in my house throughout the night and even this morning but you did not come. Now you are arresting me on the road," the MP told them. TRS workers raised slogans against the police, who had a tough time controlling the crowd. Congress legislator T. Jayaprakash Reddy was also arrested for making provocative remarks. He represents Siddipet assembly, a part of Medak Lok Sabha constituency. Reddy, arrested in Sangareddy, will be brought before a magistrate, police said.
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CBI blames pilots for YSR's chopper crash

Hyderabad, July 3 : Human error, more specifically wrong judgement by the pilots, led to the fatal crash of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajashekhar Reddy's helicopter in September last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has concluded after a probe.The CBI, which submitted its report to the Central and Andhra Pradesh governments on Friday, has ruled out any sabotage or conspiracy angle to the accident.YSR, as the chief minister was popularly known, died in the chopper crash in the state's dense Nalla Malla forests on September 2, 2009. Two state government officials and both the pilots also died in the accident.The CBI, in its report, said that the pilots were late in realizing that the aircraft was losing altitude and they raised an alarm just 18 seconds before the crash."The chopper had started losing altitude and even disappeared from the radar screens of the Air Traffic Control at 9:23:30 hours. By the time the pilots realized what was happening, it was too late," the report states.A detailed study of the Bell-430 VT APG chopper's cockpit voice recorder (CVR) by the CBI led to these findings.The last recorded words on the CVR were: "Go around go around action"."He (YSR's son Jagan) said some prominent people had reasons to eliminate his father. This allegation was looked into and it was found that neither sabotage nor conspiracy was behind the crash. It was an accident which could have been avoided. None other than the pilots are responsible for the crash. They chose to go ahead with the flight despite adverse weather conditions," the CBI said in its report.
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Vijayashanthi arrested for alleged inflammatory speeches

Hyderabad, July 3 : The Hyderabad police on Saturday took into its custody actor-turned politician and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Member of Parliament Vijayashanthi for allegedly making inflammatory speeches.The Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer had earlier issued notice to her in the matter.It has been reported that Vijayashanthi made provocative remarks at a Telangana Rashtra Samiti meeting on June 30.The Hyderabad police had registered a case against her in this regard on Friday. There was also a clash between the TRS supporters and the Hyderabad police on Friday, when they attempted to arrest her.She has been charged under section 505, 153-A for promoting enemity.
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Mother, brother allowed to see Maoist leader's body

Hyderabad, July 3 : The mother and brother of top Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad, gunned down by the Andhra Pradesh Police a day earlier, were Saturday allowed to see his body.Tension prevailed at Machriyal town in Adilabad district as police prevented revolutionary balladeer Gaddar, writer Varavara Rao and other Maoist sympathizers from entering the Government Hospital. But the police allowed Azad's mother C. Karuna to see his body before the autopsy began as per the directions of the high court. She was accompanied by Azad's brother C. Suresh. Accompanied by other family members, Varavara Rao and activists of various civil liberties groups reached the hospital where Azad's body was bought with that of another Maoist for autopsy. There was a heated argument between police and rights activists as officials refused to allow let except Azad's mother and brother inside the hospital. Mediapersons staged a protest against the police for not allowing them into the hospital premises. Maoist sympathizers alleged that the police killed Azad in cold blood after capturing him in Maharashtra. "The government has killed the man who was to participate in the talks, which shows it is not interested in peace," Gaddar told reporters outside the hospital. The balladeer warned that killings of Maoist leaders in what he called were staged shootouts would lead to "a mass revolution" against the central and state governments. Azad, considered second in the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) hierarchy and also the spokesperson of the outfit, was shot dead Friday by police in a shootout in the forests near Jogapur in Adilabad district, about 300 km from here, police said. Another Maoist who was killed has been identified as Sahadev.
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Rosaiah,meeting with Chidambaram in New Delhi,

Hyderabad,(Deccan Samachar Service,DSS) June,02: Dr. K.Rosaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh is seen with Sri P.Chidambaram, Union Home Minister at his office at New Delhi on 02.07.2010. (Photo by I&PR No.CNR-409)
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AP-CM meeting with pranab mukherjee in new delhi,

Hyderabad,(Deccan Samachar Service,DSS) June,02: Dr K.Rosaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh is seen with Sri Pranab Mukerjee, Union Finance Minister at North Block, New Delhi on 02.07.2010 (Photo by I&PR No.CNR-398)
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Justice Meena Kumari,Inaugurate the"MEGA LOK ADALAT"

Hyderabad,(Deccan Samachar Service,DSS) JUNE,02: Hon’ble, Smt. Justice T.Meena Kumari, Judge High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, is seen Lighting the Lamp to Inaugurate Mega Lokadalat (settlement of cases) at Nampally Courts complex, Nampally,Hyderabad on 02-07-2010. Sri A.K.Khan(IPS) Commisioner of police Hyderabad,also seen in the picture,  (Photo by I&PR No.CNR-1116)
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CM HAS TELECONFERENCE WITH COLLECTORS,

Hyderabad,(Deccan Samachar Service DSS)June,02: The Chief Minister Dr K.Rosaiah before leaving for New Delhi today morning had a teleconference, regarding the heavy rains, with all the District Collectors concerned and directed them to take all precautionary measures to prevent any loss of life and property. The Chief Minister also talked to the Commissioner, Disaster Management, T Radha and top officials of the Departments concerned to monitor the situation constantly and issue guidelines so that crop losses also could be avoided. The Chief Minister, in the meanwhile, expressed happiness over the good rains that the State is receiving. "We need the rains for our agricultural operations. A good monsoon is what we earnestly desire. That will be a boon for our farmers. We have already completed 12 major irrigation projects. If we have a good monsoon and get enough water, all our irrigation projects will provide water to lakhs of acres", Dr Rosiah hoped. The Chief Minister, however, cautioned the officials and District Collectors that we should take preventive measures with the onset of the monsoon season. "We should not allow any minor irrgation tanks to be breached during heavy rains. Water is very precious. We have to save every drop of the rain water. We need them for agriculture and generating hydel power. Let us not waste a single drop of water. Let not the water flow waste into the sea.", the Chief Minister said. Dr Rosaiah said that there should be optimum utilization of rain water and reminded that there was severe drought in the State last year. The Commissioner, Disaster Management informed the Chief Minister that excess rainfall had been reported from the districts of Nellore, Kadapa, West Godavari, Prakasam, Vizianagaram, East Godavari, Hyderabad, Krishna, Visakhapatnam, Chittoor, Kurnool, Rangareddy and Anantapur. These Districts were still receiving good rains and according to forecast there is a likelihood of heavy rains might be there in some areas of these districts. In this backdrop, the Chief Minister hence directed the District Collectors to keep track of all the low lying areas in these districts and whenever and wherever needed, people should be evacuated to safer places. He said if needed temporary shelters and camps should be opened. The Chief Minister also directed the District Collectors to alert the health officials against spread of epidemics in these areas since there is a possibility of epidemics spreading in the monsoon season. He wanted supply of pure and safe drinking water to all the areas affected or likely to be affected by heavy rains. Dr. Rosaiah asked the Health Department officials to keep medical teams ready in case of emergencies. He also asked the Municipal Administration and Pamchayatraj Department to direct the local bodies to clear the silt in all nallas and other streams. Dr Rosaiah asked the District Collectors to keep a close and constant vigil of the heavy rains, likely inundation and the situation in the low lying areas in their respective districts and initiate necessary preventive measures. The Chief Minister assured that necessary funds for all preventive and relief measures will be released as and when required. He also wanted the Collectors to see that not a single acre of crop is inundated. As per the IMD’s long range forecast for the year 2010 South-West monsoon (June to September) the rainfall for the country as a whole is likely to be Normal. Quantitatively, rainfall is likely to be 98% of the long period average. As per the IMD's latest forecast report, dated 25-6-2010, rainfall over the country as a whole for the 2010 southwest monsoon season is likely to be normal. Rainfall for the country as a whole is likely to be 102% of long period average (LPA). Rainfall (upto 30- 6- 2010): Rainfall recorded was 118.3 mm as against the normal rainfall of 112.1 mm in the State. While Coastal Andhra region recorded 142.2 mm as against the normal rainfall of 106.6 mm, Rayalaseema region recorded 99.8 mm as against the normal rainfall of 73.8 mm, Telangana region recorded 105.5 mm as against the normal rainfall of 132.4 mm. Excess rainfall was recorded in Nellore, Kadapa, West Godavari, Prakasam, Vizianagaram, East Godavari, Hyderabad, Krishna, Visakhapatnam, Chittoor, Kurnool, Rangareddy and Anantapur districts. Normal rainfall was recorded in the districts of Khammam, Guntur, Warangal and Srikakulam districts. Six districts namely Karimagar, Adilabad, Medak, Nizamabad and Mahaboobnagar have recorded ‘Deficit’ rainfall. Excess Rainfall recorded in 501 Mandals of the State while 289 Mandals recorded Normal rainfall and 248 Mandals deficit rainfall. The forecast said heavy rains may occur in the coastal districts in next few weeks. The Chief Minister once again cautioned the District Collectors that welfare and safety of the people were the Government's top priority and hence they should monitor the situation constantly and report to him on a day to day basis of the situation.

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Andhra Pradesh Governor pledges to donate eyes along with his wife

Hyderabad,Jul 2: Andhra Pradesh Governor     E.S.L.Narasimhan along with his wife Vimala Narasimhan today signed eye donation pledges at the L V Prasad Eye Institute here. ''Emphasized the need to educate people on the simplicity of the procedure and the attendant effects, the Governor said once this is done many more people would willingly pledge their eyes for corneal transplant so that many more eyes can be opened to see this wonderful world.'' The Ramayamma International Eye Bank at LVPEI is now a recognized ''Global Centre of Excellence,'' according to a release here. It has recently formalised a fresh five-year collaboration with SightLife, one of the world's leading eye banks based in Seattle, US, in the areas of technical consultancy, training of eye bank personnel and eye bank management systems.
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No change in dates of Andhra Pradesh Legislature Session: Rosaiah

New Delhi, Jul 2 : Asserting that there would be no change in the dates of the Andhra Pradesh Legislature Session slated to commence from July 8, state Chief Minister K Rosaiah today said the Cabinet had taken a unanimous decision on the dates for the Session. The Chief Minister, who is here on a two-day visit to the capital to discuss the strategy and selection of candidates for the by-elections to 12 Assembly seats in Telangana region, told newspersons that if the Speaker permits he would pay homage to former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in the highest democratic forum available for the state. ''If some of the party legislators want to attend a private meeting they are free to do so,'' he said, without referring to a private function organised by the family members of the former Chief Minister.Asked what advice he had to offer to defiant Jaganmohan Reddy since he considered him as a son, Mr Rosaiah said he had not changed his relationship with Mr Reddy. ''Even today he is like a son to me and I will not tender any advice without being solicited,'' he said.Mr Rosaiah said he had discussions with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Congress Treasurer Motilal Vohra on the organisational matters in Andhra Pradesh and he had no hesitation to say that the party's national leadership would take appropriate decision to win maximum number of seats in the by-elections.''Congress held no seat in the constituencies were by-elections caused by the resignations of 10 TRS MLAs and one each from Telugu Desam and BJP parties so whatever the results will be, it will be a gain for us,'' he said. To a question on the arrest of Telugu filmstar-turned TRS MP Vijaya Shanti, Mr Rosaiah clarified that it was not the state administration, which had clamped case against her but it was the Election Commission of India and he certainly had no influence on that independent constitutional body,'' he said. Regarding the death of top Maoist leaders in police operations, the Chief Minister said he had nothing to add to the encounter details given by the authorities back in the state. Meanwhile, during his meetings with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, he requested a release of Rs 6000 crore under National Calamity Contingency Fund as advance to AP to take up relief and rehabilitation work on a war footing. He had also requested him to advice the Planning Commission to provide additional grant to 'Arogya Sri' for AP and declare Polavaram project as National Project. In his meeting with Home Minister P Chidambaram, Mr Rosaiah raised the issue of including four districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Vishakapatnam and East Godavari in the list of extremist-affected districts besides Khammam, which was already in the list. The Home Minister is said to have agreed to include Vishakhapatnam district for augmenting infrastructure to counter challenges posed by the Left Wing Extremism. He had also sought the Home Ministry's approval for the establishment of a CRPF Training Institution with Field Firing Range in Chittoor district.
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Open new chapter in people's lives in Andhra Pradesh: LSP

Hyderabad,Jul 2: President of Lok Satta Party and MLA Jayaprakash Narayan today called upon the educated and the youth to seize the golden opportunity to transform politics in Andhra Pradesh and open a new chapter in people's lives.Addressing the media on the two-day deliberations of the State Working Committee, he said LSP had realised that pursuing a transformational political agenda was an uphill task.Traditional parties over the years had kept people in a state of stupor and managed to win in election after election by buying their votes with money or liquor or raining short-term sops. ''The Congress Party in the State is steeped in a deep leadership crisis while the Telugu Desam Party(TDP) has lost all credibility,''he said. ''Successive traditional party Governments have abdicated their basic responsibilities of ensuring quality education, healthcare, employment and livelihood opportunities through skills enhancement, optimum utilization of natural resources and rule of law.'' ''Traditional party politicians have turned politics into a means for personal aggrandizement at the cost of the people who elect them. Against such a dismal backdrop, the Lok Satta with a credible, specific and practical agenda and committed and dedicated leadership comes as a fresh breath of air,'' he said.''It was never too late to transform the political scene since there are legions of honest people in society who are thirsting for change. As of now they feel they are helpless,'' the LSP leader added.
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Cases against TRS MP for poll code violation

Hyderabad, Jul 2 : Echoing BJP MP Varun Gandhi's now famous ''cut the hand'' incitement, popular South Indian actor and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP, Vijayasanthi is facing the wrath of the Election Commission, leading to registration of cases against her for violation of poll code.Banjara Hills police have registered a case against her for allegedly making inflammatory remarks while addressing an election meeting of party workers at the TRS office here on June 30.At the meeting organised in connection with July 27 by-polls to 12 Assembly segments in the Telangana region, she had allegedly made the remarks against those opposed to the formation of a separate Telangana state.A case has been registered under IPC sections 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth and residence) and 505(2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, ill-will or hatred between classes), police said.High drama was witnessed when police went to the residence of Vijayashanti at MLA Colony today.
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Take steps to prevent loss of life,property due to rain: Andhra Pradesh CM

Hyderabad, Jul 2: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today directed the District Collectors concerned to take all precautionary measures to prevent any loss of life and property due to heavy rains.Before leaving for New Delhi this morning, Mr Rosaiah, interacted with the Distrct Collectors concerned through teleconference and also asked Disaster Management Commissioner T Radha and top officials of the Departments concerned to monitor the situation constantly and issue guidelines so that crop losses could be avoided.The Chief Minister said welfare and safety of the people were the Government's top priority and the District Collectors should monitor the situation constantly and report to him on a day-to-day basis of the situation.Mr Rosaiah, meanwhile, expressed happiness over the good rains.''We need rains for our agricultural operations. A good monsoon is what we earnestly desire. That will be a boon for our farmers. We have already completed 12 major irrigation projects. If we have a good monsoon and get enough water, all our irrigation projects will provide water to lakhs of acres.'' ''Water is very precious. We have to save every drop of the rain water as we need them for agriculture and generating hydel power.
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Maoist leaders killed in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, July 2 : At least two Maoists, including a top leader belonging to the core committee of the CPI-Maoist outfit, were killed in an encounter in a remote area of Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday night, police said.One of the two killed is C Rajakumar, also known as Azad. He was a spokesperson of the rebels in the north Telangana region.The bodies were yet to be brought to the town area.The encounter took place in Jogapur forest area, police said. Several firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, were recovered from the scene of encounter.
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Top Maoist leader gunned down in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, July 2 : In a major blow to the Maoists, their top leader and spokesperson Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad was killed in a gunfight with police in Andhra Pradesh Friday, police claimed.The shootout took place near Jogapur in Adilabad district, about 300 km from here. Another Maoist guerrilla, who is yet to be identified, was also killed. Police also recovered an AK-47, a 9mm pistol and two kit bags from the scene of the gunfight. Azad, who carried a reward of Rs.12 lakh on his head, was a member of the central committee of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist). Hailing from Krishna district, he was associated with the Maoist movement for four decades. Following the killing of Azad, security agencies have sounded a high alert in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chhatttisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Azad was gunned down by police two days after Maoists killed 27 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Chhattisgarh.
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265 arrested for poll code violation in AP: CEO

Hyderabad, Jul 1 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer I V Subbarao today said as many as 265 people were arrested for violating electoral code.He said 237 cases were booked against the violators.Cautioning of stern action against the violation of electoral code, Dr Subbarao said all the liquor shops in 12 Assembly constituencies, which are sheduled to go for polls on July 27, have been closed.The authorities will also keep a watch on the expenses of the candidates, he told media persons here, a day before the poll notification was to be issued.
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Kashmir’s instigated violence: Who benefits?

The current evidence in Kashmir is that the Valley is on fire, with serious widespread discontent and repeated protsts against alleged human rights violations by the security forces fanning violent demonstrations, resulting in mayhem and death. But this is only a partial, possibly distorted, reflection of the situation fanned by the mass media. Till a week ago, the Kashmir Valley was having one of its best tourist seasons in years. People from the rest of the country thronged the place, packing its hotels, restaurants, shops, shikaras and scenic spots. Buses and tourist taxis raced from one destination to another.It was difficult to get an airline reservation to Srinagar and, if available, it was at an astronomical cost. Any change in flight travel plans would make an even more serious dent on your wallet. The option was to return home by bus.There is no doubt that business – handicrafts, hospitality and tourism – was booming. Ordinary people in Kashmir were pleased by the extra work and income that such an invasion from out of the state brings. And they were hoping for continued normalcy, so that they could go on with their normal lives and earn a decent living. Now, who would want to disrupt that?The reality is that ordinary Kashmiris are sick of the disruptions and bandhs that plague the state and in the end impoverish them. They are also sick of the politicians who encourage such disruptions.The people are smart enough to know that many politicos have a vested interest in the continuing violence, have bled the state white and taken money from all sides, while ensuring their children enjoy luxurious sanctuary abroad. If the violence ceased, and Kashmir secured the normalcy essential for development and the betterment of its people, politicians of various hues would be out of business, like the terrorists.It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the pattern of instigated violence. A group of youths is encouraged to start pelting stones at the security forces to ensure retaliation. At some point it forces the latter to do so, either with stones, tear gas or bullets. Sometimes the shells or bullets injure protesters or even kill. The perpetrators have now manufactured a full-blown incident, which they can beat the state and the Indian government with, and milk politically.This pattern is repeated time and time again, mainly in Srinagar but elsewhere in the Valley as well. By and large in Srinagar the violence is contained within a small area in the heart of the town, while the rest of it goes about its business. But it does get worse.It is not often that voices of sanity dare speak out against the disruptors, possibly fearing a militant’s bullet to their head. Criticism of human rights violations by the Jannu and Kashmir Police or Indian security forces, whether deserved or not, comes fast and furious from all quarters. There is not a murmur about worse atrocities against ordinary Kashmiris by terrorists and Pakistani sympathizers.But people are fed up and some are beginning to take a public stand. There is every reason to believe they have the support of the silent majority in the Valley. Even editorials in newspapers, otherwise critical of India, have begun to question the politics of hartals.As the Greater Kashmir newspaper observed, “…the real concern right now should be this: Is it any way working to the advantage of the people? If not, why should this situation persist……. So our major and dominant concern should be to find ways that could stop this mayhem. Going beyond the conspiracy theories and moralistic assessment of stone pelting, people who matter in this situation must sit down and work for some solution. We cannot afford dying every day. We cannot afford going on strikes every day. If we have problems here, which we certainly have, there must be some way other than this to fight them out”.A private citizen, Ghulam Jeelani, was moved to put out a large advertisment in the newspaper titled “Beyond the Politics of Hartals”. Among other things he said: “However, it is also a fact that the frequent hartals bring the normal life to a grinding halt as no economic activity takes place. The daily wagers, the labourers who eke out their living after putting in hard labour, find it impossible to earn enough for their sustenance on a hartal day…….“It is for those who claim to be in the leadership role to introspect and dispassionately assess the impact of frequent hartals,” he continued, ending with the critical question: “Finally, who gets benefited out of the interruptions due to frequent hartals?“Somebody has to answer this vital question some day.”Jeelani has it right. Someone is clearly benefiting from the frequent disruptions, hartals and fatalities. And it is neither Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, for whom the knives are out, nor the people of the Kashmir Valley.
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SCR to run 32 special trains till July 31

Hyderabad, Jul 1: To ease the passenger rush, South Central Railway will run 32 special trains between Secunderabad-Guntur, Secunderabad-Mancheriyal and Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam from July 2 to July 31.Ten services of special trains on the Secunderabad- Guntur-Secunderabad route, 18 services on the Secunderabad- Mancherial-Secunderabad route and four services on Hyderabad- Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad route, will be run, a SCR release said here today.Train No 0714 (A) Secunderabad - Guntur special train will depart Secunderabad on Fridays, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th July at 2250 hrs and would arrive at Guntur by 0445 hrs next day. In the return direction, Train No 0713(A) Guntur-Secunderabad special train will depart Guntur on Saturdays, ie., 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st July at 2200 hrs and would arrive Secunderabad at 0400 hrs next day. En route these special trains will stop at Nalgonda, Miryalguda, Nadikudi, Pidugurala and Sattenapalli in both the directions.Train No 0752 Secunderabad-Mancherial special train will depart Secunderabad on Tuesdays and Fridays, i.e, 2nd, 6th, 9th, 13th, 16th, 20th, 23rd, 27th and 30th July at 0530 hrs and would arrive Mancherial at 0935 hrs same day. In the return direction, Train No 0751 Mancherial-Secunderabad special train will depart Mancherial on Tuesdays and Fridays, i.e., 2nd, 6th, 9th, 13th, 16th, 20th, 23rd, 27th and 30th July at 1030 hrs and would arrive Secunderabad at 1430 hrs same day. En route these special trains would also stop at Bhongir, Aler, Jangaon, Kazipet, Uppal, Jammikunta, Potkapalli, Odela, Kolanur, Peddapalli and Ramagundam in both the directions. These Special trains will comprise of ten general second class and two second class luggage cum brake van coaches totaling to twelve. Train No 0748 Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam special train will depart Hyderabad on Fridays ie. 2nd and 9th July, 2010 at 1930 hrs, arrive/depart Secunderabad at 1950/2000 hrs and arrive Visakhapatnam at 0830 hrs on the next day. In the return direction, Train No 0747 Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad special train will depart Visakhapatnam on Saturdays ie. 3rd and 10th July at 1910 hrs, arrive/depart Secunderabad at 0815, 0825 hrs and would arrive Hyderabad at 0850 hrs next day Enroute, these special trains will also stop at Kazipet, Warangal, Khammam, Madhira, Vijayawada, Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Annavaram, Tuni, Anakapalli and Duvvada in both the directions, the realease said.
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Halt for Krishna express at Malkajgiri extended

Hyderabad, Jul 1: South Central Railways has decided to continue the stoppage of Krishna Express at Malkajgiri till December 31.Train no 7406-7405 running on Adilabad-Tirupati-Adilabad route will continue to stop at Malkajgiri in both the directions, a SCR release said here today.Meanwhile, the Malakavemala Passenger halt station on Dharmavaram-Madanapalle section of Guntakal division on South Central Railway has been reopened for a period of one year from June 28, 2010 till June 27, 2011, the release added.
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2 new missile units in Andhra Pradesh by BDL

Hyderabad, Jul 1 : In a major boost to India's strategic and tactical missile capabilities, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), the only missile maker of the country, will put up two new facilities in Andhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore.The Andhra Pradesh government had suggested a 500-acre site at Ibrahimpatnam and a 600-acre stretch at Lepakshi in Anantpur to meet BDL's expansion of integrated guided missiles programme. The allotment and transfer of the land to BDL is in the process, a top BDL source said.Chief Minister K Rosaiah had announced that BDL officials had a meeting yesterday with him on the logistic support for their expansion schedule. ''They (BDL) will make huge investment in the two new missile manufacturing facilities,'' the Chief Minister today said while releasing the State's new industrial policy for the year 2010-2015, seeking to attract Rs 75,000 crore investment and 25-lakh jobs over the next five years.BDL has two facilities at Kanchanbagh here and at Bhanoor in Medak district which is a special weapon system facility. Besides anti-tank missile Nag, BDL was commissioned to provide variants of Prithvi Missile to the three wings of Indian Armed Force.
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Govt blamed for improper representation in Almatti FRL

Hyderabad, Jul 1 : Former Union Minister and Senior BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya today blamed the Andhra Pradesh Government for not effectively representing the case against the Karnataka government regarding the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of Almatti dam in the Water Tribunal.In a statement here, he said the approved FRL of Almatti dam was about 519.60 feet though the existing FRL was about 520.20 feet. ''Karnataka Government does not agree to this point...the only alternative is to request the Survey of India to conduct the survey again to verify the present FRL of the Almatti Dam.'' He criticised State Irrigation Minister Ponnala Laxmaiah for stating there was no loss to the state. ''This is deplorable and shameful; unless the government takes this issue seriously and fights out in the Tribunal on justified grounds, we may have to cut a sorry figure again.'' Mr Dattatreya also asked the Rosaiah Government to take seriously the issue of the Maharashtra Government erecting gates on Babli Projects by fighting it out in the Supreme Court and ensure that gates on Babli Project are demolished. The Chief Minister should see that Telangana does not become a desert, he added.
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Bypolls to all 12 vacant Assembly seats in AP on July 27

New Delhi, Jul 1 : By-elections to all 12 vacant Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh will be held on July 27, the Election Commission announced today.

Earlier, bypolls were to be held to ten seats -- Sirpur, Chennur (SC), Mancherial, Yellareddy, Nizamabad (Urban), Koratla, Dharmapuri (SC), Huzurabad, Siddipet and Warangal West Assembly constituencies. The Election Commission, in its June 21 order, decided against holding the bypolls to two Assembly seats - Vemulawada and Sircilla - as the election petitions against the winning candidates in last year's elections were still pending in court. The High Court, however, yesterday ordered that by-elections to Vemulawada and Sircilla Assembly constituencies have to be held along with the other 10 segments that are going to the polls on July 27.The court passed the orders on a petition by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) challenging the decision of the Election Commission not to hold bypolls to Sircilla and Vemulawada Assembly constituencies in view of some election petitions pending in the court. ''Now, the Commission has decided to hold by-elections to fill the two vacancies, Vemulawada and Sircilla Assembly constituencies also, along with the 10 clear vacancies already announced,'' the poll watchdog said today.
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South West monsoon active over Telangana, rain in other regions too

Hyderabad, Jul 1 : Southwest monsoon has been active over Telangana, with rain occurring at many places and at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh while isolated rain occurred over Rayalaseema.Rainfall recorded in cm: Dowlaiswaram and Tadepalligudem 8 each followed by Sriramsagar 7, Met department said today.The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Chodavaram and Eluru 6 each, Adilabad, Medak, Mahabubabad, Mangalagiri, Narayanakhed, Navipet and Peddapuram 5 each, Jagitiyal, Metpalli Khanapur and Nirmal 4 each, Khammam, Nizamabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Achampet, Armoor, Nizamsagar, Kaikalur, Mudhol, Utnoor, Prathipadu, Rajahmundry, Ramannapet and Tanuku 3 each, Visakhapatnam, Avanigadda, Gudivada, Bhimavaram, Boath, Bodhan, Kamareddy, Madnoor, Dubbak, Ramayampet, Elamanchili, Jangaon, Repalle, Salur, Srungavarapukota and Satyavedu 2 each.Moderate to rather heavy rain/thundershowers would occur at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam of Telangana. Light to moderate rain/thundershowers may occur at a few places over Rayalaseema and in the remaining districts of Telangana.A spell of rain/thundershowers would occur in parts of the city.Maximum and Minimum temeratures would be around 33 and 23 degrees celsius respectively, it added.
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ATC denies permission for Naidu to fly

Hyderabad, July 1 : The Air Traffic Control (ATC) Thursday denied permission to former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to fly in a helicopter due to bad weather.The leader of opposition had to cancel his visit to Warangal and Ongole towns as ATC refused permission to his chopper to take off from here in view of bad weather. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president was to fly to the towns to attend marriages of the children of two party leaders, party sources said. This is the first incident where ATC has denied permission to a VIP to fly after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) framed new safety rules for VIP operation of planes and helicopters. That followed the death in a helicopter crash of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy or YSR. Naidu enjoys Z-plus category security and is protected by the Special Protection Group. According to the new rules, no flight would be allowed when "weather conditions are not conducive to safe operations". YSR and four others were killed when the chopper that had taken off from here for Chittoor district crashed in bad weather in Kurnool district Sep 2 last year.
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2 new missiles units in Andhra Pradesh: CM

Hyderabad, Jul 1 : Two new missile manufacturing facilities will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah announced here today.The new units similar to the Bharath Dynamics Limited (BDL), country's premier missile making facility, will be located with ''huge investment,'' the Chief Minister said, while releasing the state 2010-2015 new industrial policy here.''We had a discussion with Defence authorities yesterday and the locations for the new missile manufacuturing facility are be identified,'' the Chief Minister said, indicating that huge investment would be coming to the state. He, however, did not indicate the location for the new facilities.
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Terrorism has to be fought together: Patil

President Pratibha Patil Wednesday stressed the need for a collective and “firm commitment” of the international community to fight terrorism.“Fighting terrorism requires a firm commitment by the international community to act collectively and decisively,” she said at a ceremony to accept credentials by seven new ambassadors.She said the prospects for peace in the contemporary world were threatened by forces of extremism and terrorism.The envoys who presented their credentials were Ruben I. Zamora of El Salvador, Ronald B. Allarey of the Philippines, Thongphanh Syackhaphom of Laos, Doulat O. Kuanyshev of Kazakhstan, Nanguyalai Tarzi of Afghanistan, Marco Piccinini of Monaco and Byron Escobedo Menendez of Guatemala.The presentation ceremony was attended by the members of the diplomatic community and senior officials of the ministry of external affairs.

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Judicial custody of Mecca Masjid blast accused extended

Hyderabad,June 30:A city court Wednesday extended the judicial custody of one of the two accused in the Mecca Masjid blast case by 10 days.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing 2007 blast, produced Devender Gupta in the court after his CBI custody ended. On a petition by the CBI, the 14th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate extended Gupta's remand. The accused was later shifted to Cherlapally jail on the city's outskirts as he was reportedly facing threat to his life from some inmates in Chanchalguda jail. The CBI brought Gupta with another accused, Lokesh Sharma, here from Ajmer June 17. The two are also accused in the blast at the Ajmer dargah in Rajasthan. The investigators grilled Sharma during the 10-day custody to gather evidence of his involvement and of others in the blast. The court Tuesday sent Sharma to CBI custody for 10 days. The agency moved for Sharma's custody after he was identified by two witnesses during identification parade at the Chanchalguda jail last week. Nine people were killed in the blast during Friday prayers at the 17th century mosque May 18, 2007. Five people died in subsequent police firing on protestors near the mosque. Both Sharma and Gupta are members of Hindu extremist group Abhinav Bharat and are also accused in the October 2007 blast at Khwaja Moinuddin Chisthi dargah in Ajmer, which claimed one life and injured 30 others. According to the CBI, two other accused in the mosque blast are absconding.
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SCR announces new exp, passenger train timings

Vijayawada,Jun 30: The Vijayawada division of South Central Railway (SCR) today announced change in timings of three express and two passenger trains in the new time table which comes into force from tomorrow.Vijayawada Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Koganti Sambasiva Rao said the Yesvantpur-Lucknow-Yesvantapur Express was speeded up and changed to Super Fast.He said Train No.7255 Narsapur-Hyderabad Express will depart Narsapur at 1855 hrs. instead of 1845 hrs, Train No.7402A Narsapur-Tirupati Express will depart Narsapur at 1720 hrs. Instead of 1715 hrs, Train No.2710 Secunderabad-Gudur Simhapuri Express will depart Secunderabad at 2230 hrs instead of 2200 hrs.Mr Rao said Train No.D.130 Guntur-Vijayawada Passenger will depart Guntur at 2010 hrs.Instead of 2050 hrs and Vijayawada at 2115 hrs. Instead of 2150 hrs and Train No.498 Narsapur-Guntur Passenger will depart Narsapur at 1245 hrs instead of 1300 hrs.Train No.2578 Bangalore-Darbhanga, Bagmati (Weekly) Express will depart Bangalore on every Friday at 1015 hrs, arrive/depart Chennai Central at 1505/1615 hrs, Vijayawada at 2255/2305 hrs and arrive Darbhanga at 1435 hrs on every Saturday.
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Rosaiah announces Rs.25 lakh for Saina Nehwal

Hyderabad, June 30 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Wednesday announced a cash award of Rs.25 lakh to badminton champion Saina Nehwal for winning three international titles in a row and being ranked world number three.Rosaiah announced the award when Saina called on him at his camp office here this evening. "You have done a great job. The country, particularly Andhra Pradesh, is proud of you. All my best wishes and greetings to you," the chief minister told the champion. Rosaiah, who presented a bouquet and a shawl to Saina, said he is sure that she will become world's number one player in the near future. He described Saina as a role model for upcoming young players. Saina, who returned to the country Tuesday, was accompanied by her coach Pullela Gopichand, her father and sister. Saina won the Indonesian Open Super Series Sunday to make a hat-trick of badminton titles in three weeks. She earlier won the Indian Open Grand Prix and the Singapore Open Super Series to move up to the third position in world rankings. The Haryana Badminton Association Tuesday announced a cash award of Rs.5 lakh for Hisar-born Saina while Andhra Pradesh Badminton Association presented her a cheque of Rs.1 lakh.(photo by bollywodsargam.com) 
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Election panel asked to hold by-polls in Telangana

Hyderabad, June 30: The Andhra Pradesh High Court Wednesday asked the Election Commission to hold by-elections to two assembly seats in Telangana along with 10 other seats going to polls July 27.The court passed the orders on a petition by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) challenging the decision of the Election Commission not to hold by-polls to Sircilla and Vemulawada assembly constituencies in view of some election petitions pending in the court. The Election Commission June 21 announced an election schedule for 10 assembly seats but not in these two seats. TRS general secretary K. Yadagiri Reddy said in his petition that the Election Commission had no power to defer the by-elections. The petition pointed out to the court that the elections can be put off only if the situation is not conducive to holding them or if the general elections were scheduled within a year. He argued that once the speaker of an assembly declares a seat as vacant and conveys this to the Election Commission, it becomes the statutory duty of the election panel to conduct the polls within six months. The seats fell vacant in February after all 10 legislators of TRS and one each of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Telugu Desam Party resigned over the demand for separate statehood to Telangana region. TRS chief K.Chandrasekhara Rao's son K.Tarakarama Rao was elected from Sircilla constituency in last year's elections by a thin majority of 171 votes. A petitioner has claimed that the votes were not counted properly. In Vemulawada,Ch. Ramesh of TDP was elected but a contestant filed a petition contending that Ramesh was not a citizen of India.
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ISNA Announces Bonus Convention Event: Monday Islamic Knowledge Intensive With Shaykh Suhaib Webb and Imam Mohamed Majid

(USA)Deccan Samachar Service,DDS) June,29,2010) Greetings ISNA Convention attendees and all community members who have not yet registered! ISNA is happy to announce a new and exciting opportunity for this year's Convention attendees. In response to high public demand for additional spiritual sessions during the 2010 Annual ISNA Convention, the Programs Committee has added an additional half day Knowledge Intensive to the weekend's events. On Monday July 5th, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Shaykh Suhaib Webb and Imam Mohamed Majid will lead four fulfilling hours of spiritual education and commentary on Imam Ghazali's published work, "The Duties of Brotherhood in Islam." The session will be held in the Paris Room at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and seats are limited to this exclusive event! Shaykh Suhaib Webb received his bachelors degree in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and is currently training to be a Mufti in Cairo, Egypt. He also received private studies in Islam and Arabic under a Senegalese Shaykh and has many years experience leading spiritual education courses in the U.S. and abroad. Imam Mohamed Majid is the current Executive Director of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center in Sterling, Virginia, where he delivers regular Jummah khutbas and teaches classes in many aspects of Islamic studies. He is the son of a leading Islamic Scholar, who was an Azhar graduate and the Mufti of Sudan, and studied at the hand of his father and other notable scholars, gaining ijaza in several disciplines, including Ghazali's Ihya-Uloom-al-Deen. Mukhtar Ahmad, ISNA Programs Director, states, "Ghazali is considered by many to be one of the revivers of Islam, offering inspirational guidance that transcends time to strengthen each generation of our Ummah." Remember, only ISNA Convention registrants may attend this enlightening event. Mukhtar Ahmad, ISNA Programs Director, states, "This half day event is just one of the many enlightening sessions offered and reasons to register for the ISNA Convention today!" ISNA staff are excited to meet you in Chicago for this year's convention and have already begun traveling to the convention center for set-up of the events. To allow ISNA staff time to travel to Chicago and prepare this wonderful convention, online registration has closed at this time. Please visit us as early as 9:00 AM on the morning of Friday July 2nd to register on site. Registration booths will remain open each day until approximately 11:00 PM. Registration is fast, easy, and ISNA staff and volunteers cannot wait to welcome you! ===========================================

Chief minister,inaugurating of new TRAIN,

Hydrabad (Deccan Samachar Service,DSS )June,29,Dr.K.Rosaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister is seen inaugurating and flagging off New Train no 275 (Tirupathi to Guntakal) Passenger of new Railway Broad-Gauge Section at Rail Nilayam, Sec,bad 29.6.2010. Sri Marri Shashidhar Reddy, MLA., Smt.Banda Karthika Reddy, Mayor, GHMC, Hyderabad and others are also seen. (Photo by I&PR No.CNR-7828)
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CM-Reviewing Arrangements for celebration,

Hyderabad,(Deccan Samachar Service, DSS) JUNE,29,Dr.K.Rosaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister Reviewing Arrangements for Celebrations of “Sri Krishna Devaraya-500 years Coronation” at Secretariat on 29-06-2010. Dr.J.Geeta Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for I&PR and Tourism, Sri N. Raghuveera Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture and Higher Official & concerned are also seen. (Photo by I&PR No.CNR-9225)
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Hyderabad Police bans massage parlours

Hyderabad, June 29 : With massage centres in and around Hyderabad being used for flesh trade, Hyderabad Police has banned massage parlours where female employees massage male customers.

Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that the ban on all such massage parlours and body massage centres would come into force from July 1. The police chief also warned the owners of the buildings who offer their shops on rent for such massage parlours that action will be taken against them.he pointed out that during last three months 123 cases were registered against massage parlours and 31 female sex workers and 19 massage parlour owners were booked under Anti-Trafficking Act. Khan said police would also take action against bar dancers indulging in dirty dancing.   (file photo by RSJ Thomas) 
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YSR's widow, Jagan meet Sonia, seek permission for yatra in AP

New Delhi, Jun 29: Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's widow Y S Vijaylakshmi Reddy along with her son and Congress MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and daughter Sharmila today met Party President Sonia Gandhi and sought her permission to continue with the Odarpu yatra in the state.
The meeting at 1830 hrs lasted for 15 minutes after which the family left for Hyderabad. Ms Vijaylakshmi told mediapersons that her husband used to keep all the promises made to the people and her son also wanted to keep the family tradition and fulfil the promise he had made to the people to visit all the families whose members died due to shock of sudden death of Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash,She denied that there was ''arrogance'' behind Jagan's decision to continue with the yatra despite party high command's disapproval.Refuting the charge that Jagan was indulging in ''indiscipline'' in not following party high command's dictat to stop the yatra, she said the yatra was just meant to fulfil the promise made by the former and there was no politics involved. She urged the Congress President to give permission for continuing the yatra.However, after the meeting with Ms Gandhi, the three avoided interaction with media.
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Andhra remembers Narasimha Rao on 90th birth anniversary

New Delhi,June 28 : Andhra Pradesh Monday remembered its native son and late prime minister P.V.Narasimha Rao on his 90th birth anniversary, with the state's Congress government paying"heartful homage to the humanitarian beyond compare". In an advertisement published in some of the leading dailies, the K. Rosaiah government described Rao, who ruled the country from June 21, 1991 to May 16, 1996, as "the father of Indian economic reforms" and "the dynamic leader who refused to be afraid". Rao was India's 10th prime minister. Rao had initiated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is an acclaimed economist, into politics by appointing him as his finance minister to steer the country's economic reforms. Meanwhile, no function was organised at the Congress headquarters here to commemorate the birth anniversary of Rao, who was also its president at one time. "I have no idea about any function," said a top party functionary. When asked whether any function was organised in parliament to commemorate the birth anniversary, a parliament official said there was no photograph or portrait of Rao, who died December 2004, to pay floral tributes. Meanwhile, Rosaiah paid floral tribute to Rao in Hyderabad. Speaking at P.V. Jnana Bhoomi in the city, the chief minister said Rao was the first Telugu to become the prime minister of the country. Some party workers and Congress legislators also paid tribute to Rao.
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APCC President discusses election strategy with Venkataswamy

Hyderabad, Jun 27: In an effort to strengthen the party cadre in the ensuing byelections in the state, Andhra Pradesh Congress President D Srinivas today held discussions with Congress Working Committee member and senior leader of the party from Telangana region G Venkataswamy on strategy to be adopted during the elections.Mr Srinivas went to the residence of Mr Venkataswamy and discussed various matters and the party's efforts and strategies in the election.Mr Srinivas along with Chief Minister K Rosaiah had already held consultations with the leaders and aspirants of all the 10 Assembly constituencies to impress upon them the need to stay united and jointly address constituency level meetings.The APCC President has already written a letter to senior leaders of the party from Telangana region and sought their cooperation in the elections to strengthen the party to win majority of the seats.Senior party leaders of Telangana region held a discussion with Mr Srinivas and decided to represent their views unitedly before the Sri Krishna Committee appointed by the Central Government to look into the situation in Andhra Pradesh on Telangana issue.
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IT sector in the state was encouraging

Hyderabad, Jun 27 : The emergence of Informaton, Communicaiton and Technology(ICT) industry in Andhra Pradesh has resulted from a strong Vision of the State Government and the State's business environment being conducive to the growth and expansion of Information Technology Industry.The provisional performance of IT sector in the State during 2010 has been quite encouraging, a release here today said.During the year, new IT Multi National Corporations like JP Morgan and United Health Group came forward to set up their operations. Existing companies were significantly expanding their operations. The IT companies have started their annual recruitment and hiring plans. Further, the recession did not have any impact on the creation and filling up of office space in IT SEZs by the Infrastructure Developers, it claimed. At the recent Unit Approval Committee meeting of the Development Commissioner, AP IT SEZs,five IT companies have been accorded permission to set up their offices on a total area of 3.91 lakh sft in different IT SEZs. Prominent MNC IT companies approved were Facebook India Online Services PVT Ltd and Accenture. Now, Tier-II cities in the State like Warangal, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Vijayawada, and Tirupati are being promoted as IT Hubs in the State, the release added. Vijayawada is being preferred as an alternative Tier-II IT location in view of its strategic location. Visualizing the potential of Vijayawada as a promising IT locations, IT companies are setting up and expanding their operations there, the release added.
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CLP ask leaders not to obstruct Polavaram project

Hyderabad, Jun 27 : The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today urged the leaders of various political parties, including the ruling Congress, not to pose ay objections to the construction of Polavaram Irrigation Project in the state.

Addressing a press conference, State Endowments Minister G Venkata Reddy and Panchayati Raj Minister B Satyanarayana said the project was very important for the state and it was not good on the part of the political parties and leaders to create obstacles. Mr Venkata Reddy said the state government had already urged the Union Government to treat Polavaram project as a national project to get more funds.Meanwhile, the Congress leaders from Telangana said they were not against the project and were only demanding a change in project design. Congress MLC Yadav Reddy said the leaders from Telangana were not objecting to the project.He said the interests of the tribals should be taken into consideration before taking a final decision on the project.
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Trimex Unlocks India's Industrial Minerals Potential, Joins the Global top-tier

Hyderabad: The Trimex Group, India's top specialty value chain provider for industrial minerals, today announced the commencement of commercial production at its Srikurmam Mineral Sands Project in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, and the shipment of high-value industrial heavy minerals.

The custom-built, fully-integrated, multi-mineral facility currently extracts, processes, and produces 200,000 TPA of Ilmenite, 6,000 TPA of Rutile, 6,000 TPA of Zircon, 60,000 TPA of Garnet, and 50,000 TPA of Sillimanite. The project represents a major milestone for the development of natural resources in Andhra Pradesh.The project, which will play a pivotal role in helping meet the demand for high quality heavy minerals in the supply-deficit global market, will be formally inaugurated by Dr K Rosaiah, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, on 26 June 2010.The products from this project are used in the manufacture of paints, ceramics, abrasives, insulation, cosmetics, paper, leather, glass products, artificial gems, aircraft parts, artificial human joints, and filtration media, among others. The successful initial phase of the project required an investment of INR 250 crore for pilot studies; bulk samples; extensive hydrology; extensive environmental, social and public perception studies; complete detailed engineering; and the finalization of the mining license agreement with the government and private land owners. The company has acquired the mining lease for 7.2 square kilometers in the coastline of Srikakulam for 30 years from the date of the lease award, renewable for another 30 years.The company has now firmed up plans for an INR 4,000 crore investment until fiscal 2017-18. The investment will go towards the expansion of extraction areas, increase of processing capacity, technology upgradation, and research and development of high value and premium products.
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CM inaugurated srikurmam mineral sands in Andhra Pradesh

Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 27 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah Inaugurated the Srikurmam Mineral Sands Major project in the Gara Mandalm in Vatchavalasa Village in the Backward District.Speaking after inaugurating the Mineral sands Project here yesterday, he called upon the non-recident Indian(NRI) investors to come farward to set up more Industries in state and generate more employement in the backward districts. Now Gujarat is first state for developing more industries and Andhra Pradesh was at second position in terms of developing more industries in the country.
He also said Visakhapatnam Port city would see phenominal growth in the Industrial sector. The State government had proposed to lay a gas pipeline from Kakinada to Visakhapatnam and six more Nuclear Power plants in the state.Several minister of Andhra Pradesh, Revenue, D Prasada Rao, Rural Development, V Vasath Kumar, Transport minister.S Vaijayaramaraju and Major Industries and Commerce and Export promotion Minister K.Lakshmi Narayana and MP K Kruparani, MLC, MlA, sand P Rajasekharam Zilla parishad chairman were participated in the inaugural function in a grand way.The high value heavy minerals are used across wide spectrum of industries like paints, ceramics, abrasives, aircraft parts and artificial gems. Prasad R Koneru, Group Chairman in his welcome address here, said the project got approvals from 15 agencies. The company would take up expansion for value addition to ilmenite by end of this year or early next year at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore and production should start in 30 months at Bhavanapadu through equity and debt funds in the ratio of 30:70. Overall, Rs 4,000 crore would be invested over eight years towards expansion and production of high value titanium dioxide used in paint industry and titanium metal, he said.
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Hyderabad Collector,addressing to youth

Hyderabad(Deccan Samachar Service) june,26, HYDERABAD DISTRICT COLLECTOR NATARAJAN GULZAR ADDRESSING YOUTH ON THE EVE OF INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DRAG ABUSE & ILLICIT TRAFFCKING ON 26.06.2010 AT BADRUKA COLLEGE AUDITORIUM KACHIGUDA  (Photo by I&PR No.CNR-3)

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No option for government but to hike fuel prices: Congress

The ruling Congress party Friday supported the government’s move to decontrol petrol prices and hike rates of other fuel products, asserting that it had no other option.“However, we believe that the government must have been constrained to take these steps and ensure that the impact is minimal,” Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters here.She said the Congress is “always concerned about the welfare of common man and woman”.Natarajan, however, refused to talk about any roll-back in prices, saying it was for the government to decide.The spokesperson also did not comment on Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s voicing unhappiness over the move.Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, defending the hike, said that “it is for the first time since 2002 that the prices of kerosene have been increased.”“The petroleum minister has said time and again that oil companies find it difficult to keep themselves viable unless there is some rationalisation (of fuel prices). If the government has announced a hike, you will be convinced that there was no other option,” she told reporters.The Indian government Friday freed petrol from administrative control and hiked the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas in a major policy reform that is aimed to help improve its fiscal position and release funds for other programmes.Petrol will now be costlier by Rs.3.50 per litre, diesel by Rs.2 a litre, kerosene by Rs.3 a litre and cooking gas by Rs.35 per cylinder.
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Four swine flu deaths, 23 infections in Andhra

Hyderabad,june,26, Four people died of swine flu in Andhra Pradesh while 23 were found infected by H1N1 virus this year, officials said Saturday.Three deaths and a majority of the cases were reported during last 10 days. The monsoon is believed to be the main cause for the virus becoming virulent. Officials have advised people not to use preventive medicines without advice from the doctors.“People should take the medicines only under the supervision of doctors,” said P.V.Ramesh, principal secretary, health and family welfare.The authorities have urged people to contact the 104 Mobile health service and call toll free number 1056 to clear their doubts about swine flu and seek any assistance.The health department said arrangements had been made for treatment of swine flu in 17 district hospitals, 11 teaching hospitals and 28 private hospitals across the state.As many as 54 people died of swine flu in the state last year. Nearly 800 cases were reported.The first swine flu case in India was detected at Hyderabad airport May 16 last year.
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Unitedworld school of business organises interactive seminar

Hyderabad, Jun 26 : Unitedworld School of Business, an open economy focused business school which recently opened its South India centre here organised interactive seminar 'Magic of MBA' today.Industry stalwarts and students addressed the doubts and queries regarding a career in management at the seminar.Addressing a press conference here, Prof Anamitra Chatterjee, Dean, Executive Education, Unitedworld School of Business said the school would have its campuses in Kolkota, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi.He said the aim of the school was to groom Indian talents for the South East economy.
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Andhra Pradesh Govt has taken measures to contain Swine Flu: Official

Hyderabad, Jun 26 : The Andhra Pradesh government has taken all measures to contain Swine Flu and rain-related diseases across the state, with strengthening of the government and private hospitals in the state for treating the Swine Flu cases.Addressing a press conference here today, Principal Secretary to Government (Medical Health and Family Welfare) P V Ramesh said so far, 23 Swine Flu cases and four deaths had been reported since January this year in the state.He said 17 district hospitals, 11 teaching hospitals and 28 private hospitals in the state were equipped with facilities, including with isolated wards, to treat the Swine Flu patients. He said the state government had utilised 60,000 Swine Flu vaccines so far out of 80,000 sent by the Centre. He appealed the people not to take Anti-Swine Flu medicines without the advice of the doctors.Mr Ramesh said the government had also taken measures to contain the rain-related diseases and steps to prevent the supply of contaminated water through the pipes.
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